How do you recognize your role in an unhealthy relationship dynamic? This is the question Tracey and I are asking on this week’s episode of Curious and Curiouser. Using the framework of the drama triangle — a social model originally conceived by Psychologist Stephen Karpman — Tracey and I talk about how to recognize when you’re falling into an unhealthy …
Curious & Curiouser Podcast, Episode 56: Loneliness, Self-Reliance, & Why It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
Good news! Tracey’s back this week, y’all. Hooray! And our topic for today’s show is loneliness. Specifically: What is loneliness actually about? Both Tracey and I had challenging weeks last week. While Tracey was recovering from a medical procedure and I was dealing with some emotional turmoil, we both found ourselves struggling to reach out for help and finding ourselves …
Curious & Curiouser Podcast, Episode 55: How Anxiety REALLY Feels & Why Deep Breathing Might Not Be the Answer
Hey y’all! Today’s episode of Curious & Curiouser is a little bit different. With Tracey out of commission this week (more on this in a future episode), we had planned to just skip a week of recording and give our listeners a chance to catch up on past episodes. But then, I decided to record this little mini episode on …
Everything Is In Flux (or, On Adulting, Impermanence, & Accelerated Greying)
“We are bathing in mystery and confusion on many subjects, and I think that will always be our destiny. The universe will always be much richer than our ability to understand it.” ~Carl Sagan Yesterday, I woke up with three new moles on my abdomen and about eighteen new grey hairs. Ok, so I didn’t actually count the moles or …
Curious & Curiouser Podcast, Episode 54: Identity, Ego, Existential Crises, & How We Define Ourselves Over Time
This week, Tracey and I are talking all about identity and how it changes over time. We discuss our experiences of getting older, how we’ve had to let go of old identities along the way, and ways in which this process has been challenging for us personally. We also talk about the role social media plays in how we establish …
Curious & Curiouser Podcast, Episode 53: Rejection, Bullying, & Why It’s Okay Not To Like People
Is it okay not to like people? Tracey and I are tackling this question in this week’s episode of the podcast, talking about our own experiences of not liking people and times we haven’t been liked by others. Tracey also offers some great advice on what to say to kids who are being excluded, and explains why she doesn’t think …
Curious & Curiouser Podcast, Episode 52: Why You Are Allowed to Feel Overwhelmed Regardless of Your Circumstances
Today’s episode is all about overwhelm. Specifically, Tracey and I are asking the question: Who gets to feel overwhelmed? Are you allowed to feel overwhelmed if you don’t have children? Are you allowed to feel overwhelmed if you have a flexible schedule that you design yourself? Are you allowed to feel overwhelmed by things you love? Short answer: YES. Listen …
Curious & Curiouser Podcast, Episode 51: Why We Procrastinate & What To Do About It
Let’s face it. We all procrastinate. ALL of us. Which is why Tracey and I decided to tackle this topic on the podcast. Today’s question: What is procrastinating really about? Because here’s the truth: It’s usually not about being lazy. And in this conversation, Tracey and I discuss some of the underlying reasons why we procrastinate and put things off. …
Curious & Curiouser Podcast, Episode 50: Resilience, Struggle, Masculinity, & How We Talk About Mental Health
Today’s episode of the podcast evolved out of an article Tracey wrote recently to address what she believes the connection is between mental health and gun violence. I highly recommend reading that article here either before or after listening to the episode. The conversation Tracey and I have around these ideas is potentially sensitive, and includes mention of eating disorders, …
On Saying No, Opting Out, & Disappointing Other People
“We’re all busy. We’ve all taken on too much. Saying yes to less is the way out.” ~Derek Sivers Here’s a fun fact: We all have a finite amount of time and energy. Which means that being discerning about how we allocate that time and energy is essential. I was reminded this week what it feels like to let your …