Fresh Aesthetic with Stephen Garton

Welcome to season 2 of the show! This first episode is all about showing up, and the relentless search for truth and meaning through art. I'm joined by my co-host Matt Guddat and we talk about the highs and lows of everyday life and what it means to show up even when you don't feel like it. If you like the episode, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or a comment on our Instagram page.

Do you struggle to engage in conflict in a way that doesn't burn bridges and destroy relationships? In this episode my wife joins me to discuss how we have grown in conflict resolution over the years, and to discuss techniques for engaging in effective dialogue when the conversation gets heated. 

Do you want to have better control of your emotions? Have you struggled with the less desirable ones such as anger and sadness? In this episode we take a deep dive into the world of emotions in order to regulate what goes on inside of us. Without knowledge in this area, we are prone to overthinking and over identifying with our emotions and therefore making our inner state much worse than it already was. With the techniques discussed in this episode you will be able to effectively regulate your emotions and live a more peaceful and content life. 

CW: Suicide is briefly discussed from 13:41 - 14:10

Death is the ever looming notion that we strive to forget. But perhaps acknowledging its existence can provide a key to living wholly present in the now. This is a very simple idea, but one that is profoundly difficult to live out every day.

Welcome to the start of 2022, where the world collectively holds its breath in nervous anticipation for the year to come. We can't help but wonder if this new year could be even more volatile than the last two years combined. Whatever happened to normality or any sort of map of the future? All things considered, perhaps it is for the better that we have been thrust into such uncertain times, as it has tried to teach us to be more present.  

This special New Years' Eve episode is all about change! The possibilities of a new year are usually very exciting, brimming with untapped potential. However, coming into 2022 many people are tired, overworked, and facing crippling uncertainty about the future. How do we keep an optimism about the future while in the middle of challenging times? How do we not get completely overwhelmed at the myriad of things to worry about in 2022 and beyond? It can be so hard to stay thankful for what we have in front of us in the present moment while still being open and receptive to the beckoning call of adventure. Change disrupts our comfortable lives in very real and often scary ways - let's talk about it! 

Ableism can be explained as "discrimination in favour of able-bodied people", while able-bodied is defined as "fit and healthy; not physically disabled." In this episode I talk to good friend Nicholas Cullen about his journey through multiple sclerosis and the ongoing impact it has on his life.

Links:

Terms to Avoid When Writing About Disability

When Architecture Disables: Teaching Undergraduates to Perceive Ableism in the Built Environment

The ongoing climate crisis can feel very overwhelming to think about. The sheer weight of the task required to mitigate disaster feels out of reach. This can be daunting when considering what sort of planet we will be handing onto the next generation. 

We can educate ourselves into making everyday decisions that have less harmful effects on the environment. If you're stuck, start with these ten simple actions. 

If you want to find out more about climate change, head to https://climate.nasa.gov/ 

The oceans are filling with plastic, and we aren’t getting any happier, yet still consumerism is as rampant as ever. Why is that? What is the void that is trying to be filled with things like “retail therapy”? Black Friday was only a week ago, and already stores are moving to Christmas sales as another way to lure us in. Perhaps there is something deeper at play here, and if so, how do we fight it?

Links:

What Does Lacan Say About Desire?

Problems of Capitalism 

Mental health is a hot topic at the moment and for very good reason. We live in a system that correlates success with owning more things,   achieving more at work, having as much screen time as possible and maintaining a poor work-personal balance. This is not sustainable as evidenced through a huge spike in anxiety and depression in recent years. Couple this with COVID-19 disruptions and you have a recipe for constantly rising levels of stress and anxiety. These can also lead to burnout, which can be a painful and debilitating experience. In this episode we look at our own journeys through mental health issues and share some tips for a more fulfilled and peaceful life. 

Links: 

Correlates  of symptoms of anxiety and depression and mental wellbeing associated  with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study of UK-based respondents