Filter Optional

When was the last time you truly got curious—about yourself, your partner, or even the world around you? In this episode of Filter Optional, Chico and Shannon West explore how curiosity can transform your relationships, deepen your connection with God, and help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Drawing from real-life stories—family trips, tough conversations, and moments of self-reflection—they unpack:

- Why curiosity is the antidote to control and fear

- How childlike wonder helps us reconnect to the parts of ourselves we’ve silenced

- The difference between chaotic curiosity and compassionate curiosity

- What it looks like to get curious with others—without “shoulding” on them

- How curiosity opens the door to true intimacy (“into me you see”)

From raising kids and caring for aging parents to facing anxiety, loss, and faith in uncertain times, Chico and Shannon show that curiosity isn’t just about asking questions—it’s about holding space. Because when you get curious, you create connection.

Takeaway: When you stop trying to control and start getting curious, you’ll rediscover the freedom to learn, listen, and love—yourself and others—more deeply than ever before.

Thirty years of marriage and thirty-six years of sobriety—two milestones that shaped Chico and Shannon West’s lives and marriage. In this heartfelt episode of Filter Optional, the couple celebrates their anniversary by unpacking what truly sustains a relationship over decades: not just love, but the willingness to step into the messy middle.

Through honest reflection, humor, and real-life examples (yes, even about a forgotten hammer), Chico and Shannon explore:

From faith to codependency, solitude to physical touch, Chico and Shannon share the lessons that keep their love grounded, real, and resilient.

Takeaway: Marital bliss isn’t about avoiding pain—it’s about learning to walk through it together. When you investigate your feelings and hold space for each other’s humanity, your marriage becomes the thing that sustains your love.

What if the “messy middle” isn’t something to avoid—but the very place where real growth happens?

In this episode, Chico and Shannon West open up about what it really means to live—and love—through life’s in-between moments. From golf games and everyday disagreements to deeper conversations about fear, vulnerability, and communication, they unpack how stepping into discomfort can lead to stronger relationships and genuine connection.

Key themes:

The messy middle isn’t chaos—it’s where transformation begins. Join Chico & Shannon as they learn to trade perfection for presence and find peace in the process.

Ever find yourself spiraling into fear or frustration—only to realize it wasn’t really about what just happened? In this episode of Filter Optional, Chico and Shannon West get vulnerable and real about one of their own messy moments.

While navigating a high-stress meeting with their architect, emotions flared, assumptions took over, and a simple scheduling mix-up turned into a lesson in emotional awareness. Together, they unpack:

From passive-aggressive comments to honest communication, Chico and Shannon show how self-awareness and compassion can turn conflict into growth.

Takeaway:When you learn to identify—not suppress—your emotions, even the most uncomfortable moments become opportunities for clarity, healing, and deeper connection.

We all do it — get stuck in our own heads, replaying the same negative thoughts on repeat. In this episode of Filter Optional, Chico and Shannon West unpack the cycle of “stinking thinking” — how our thoughts shape our emotions, behaviors, and even relationships — and what it really takes to break free.

From golf course frustrations to old family messages, they explore how thoughts can become repetitive, paralyzing, and self-sabotaging — and how to regulate them with awareness, faith, and a little humor.

You’ll hear:

Through raw honesty, laughter, and a few vulnerable examples, Chico and Shannon remind us that awareness is the first step toward freedom. Because when you take your thoughts captive — instead of letting them take control — you can start living with clarity, peace, and purpose.

Takeaway:
Negative thoughts aren’t always the enemy — but believing them without question is. Learn how to pause, get curious, and filter your thinking through truth, connection, and grace.

After some time away, Chico and Shannon West return with renewed energy, deeper insight, and a clear mission: to help you investigate your feelings and live with intention. In this relaunch of Filter Optional, they open up about where they’ve been—stepping into new seasons of life, expanding their work in coaching and emotional wellness, and learning what it means to evolve without losing purpose.

Together, they unpack:

Takeaway:
If you want to create meaningful change in your life, start here. Investigate how you feel about the problems that have you stuck—and discover how awareness sets you free.

Knowing and living with your real identity.

Chico discusses the personal and societal impact of Perception vs Reality.

Chico and Shannon dive into triggers and their roots.

Episode 127: Holding Space