Where do you go to socialize, learn and connect, outside of work and home? The third place. 

In this episode of Hold That Thought hosts Taylor and Becca explore the concept of the “village innkeeper” and “village tavern keeper” — the archetype of place makers and creators of third spaces. They use these archetypes to explore elements of place making, and interrogate the fact that while third places may have been easier to find in the past, we have no less a need to find or create our own third places in the present. 

Themes: Third places, socializing, archetypes, medical archetypes, social connection, history, politics, coffee houses, taverns, bars 

Resources:

My favorite definition of the third place

A writer’s perspective: medieval innsCaravanserai

Medieval inns

Monastic Doors Are Open for Travelers

The Symbolism & Meaning of Inn

Tavern HistoryHow Coffee Fueled Revolutions—and Revolutionary Ideas

The Coffee House: A Cultural History
 London Pubs

The hardest truths are hardest to hear, but the ones most worth paying attention to. In this episode of Hold That Thought hosts Taylor and Becca explore how the ‘Town Fool’ or ‘Jester’ character throughout history has been the person who uses humor to tell the hardest truths. They explore everything from the science of humor, to the imperative of political satire in political freedom, to how accepting the fool within ourselves is instrumental in making us more whole. 

Who in your life is your Town Fool? Who uses humor to help you see the things you might be most afraid of looking at directly? 

Let us know in the comments below.

Resources:

The Paradox of the Fool

Jimmy Kimmel rejects White House criticism over Melania widow joke

Happy together and sad together: Impact of emotional similarity on task motivation in groups.

Humor, Laughter, and Those Aha Moments

Political humor is no laughing matter

How Trump’s America changed political satire – for both liberals and conservatives

CBS Cancels Itself, Not Just Colbert

Stephen Colbert Announces The Cancellation Of “The Late Show”

Strike Force Five Returns to Celebrate Stephen Colbert

The Psychology of The Fool

The Jester’s Scepter: How Political Satire Shapes Our Democracy While Making Us Laugh

‘Packaging evil into something funny’: is making fun of Trump now just ‘clownwashing’?

Oyez, Oyez! In this episode of Hold That Thought, hosts Becca and Taylor continue their fourth mini-series “Archetypes of a Village,” this time following the infamous ‘Town Crier’. From his origins in ancient Greece, his heyday in medieval Europe and his presence in Colonial America they chat through the many (often sordid) hats this town-person has worn across time. Becca and Taylor end the episode by exploring elements of our modern day news that are similar to characteristics of the Town Crier’s time.

Topics: Town Crier, News Cycle, Social Media, News, Gossip, Society, Psychology, Village Archetypes, Ancient Greece, Roman Empire

References:

Town Criers Were the Original Social Media

The Town Crier

American Guild of Town Criers

Fact-checking misinformation about the Correspondents' Dinner shooting

How Propaganda Shaped History

The Guelphs vs. Ghibellines Feud That Turned Italian Cities Into Battlefields

The Tree of Fertility in Massa Marittima

Column: Why a correspondents’ dinner at a White House ballroom could endanger press freedomApril 27, 2026: White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect charged with attempting to assassinate the president

What does it mean to be a caregiver, and what does it mean to receive care?

In this episode of Hold That Thought, hosts Becca and Taylor continue their fourth mini-series “Archetypes of a Village.” This week’s episode focuses on the Healer/Caregiver and explores the patterns, character traits and origins of the archetype. It explores the concept of the Wounded Healer and shares stories of people who use their personal experiences to better administer care to others. Becca and Taylor challenge the ways in which our current models make caregiving harder but also explore and celebrate the alternative models of care and community that can make all the difference.

Topics: Healing, Caregiving, Care, Illness, Community, Village, Modalities of Healing

Resources:

The Healer Archetype Explained

The Wounded Healer

Wounded Healer

The Wounded Healer Project

The International Center for Reiki Training

Tai-Chi For Health Institute

How I Survived Caregiving

PBS: Caregiving

Surviving the Unthinkable: My Journey Back From Jumping Off The Golden Gate Bridge

Lessons from Traditional Societies on Raising Children, Caring for the Elderly

I Knew the Data on Caregivers. My Stroke Made It Real

Valuing the Invaluable 2026

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." — Aristotle

In this episode of Hold That Thought, hosts Becca and Taylor kick off their fourth mini-series ‘Archetypes of a Village’, where they will be exploring and celebrating the different character motifs that make up our proverbial village. The first episode focuses on the archetype of the Sage, exploring teachings, perspectives and philosophies on wisdom, how we acquire it, and the people who portray it best. They also discuss wise teachers they’ve experienced in their own lives and reflect on ways to bring knowledge of self, and by extension wisdom, into our village each day. 

Topics: Wisdom, sage, archetypes, philosophy, spirituality, motifs, characters, learning

Resources:
The Sage Archetype (and why our world needs it)
5 Techniques To Develop Wisdom Over Time

What is an Archetype?

Richard Rohr: Center for Action and Contemplation

Tara Brach: Accessing Innate Wisdom

“I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention”. -Mary Oliver

In this episode of Hold That Thought hosts Taylor and Becca explore the power of paying attention. They admire artists and authors who bring the practice of noticing alive through their work and capture micro-moments themselves by sharing three mental snapshots from their own lives. They share the stories and follow the ideas sparked by the act of noticing. 

Topics: Mindfulness, Journaling, Art, Noticing, Stillness, Friendship, Meditation, Sonder, Photography, Ross Gay, Poetry

Resources:
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
It’s the 1970s Again. Democrats Should Study Up on Reagan.
Why Is Everyone Talking About Brown?
How Ross Gay Finds Joy In The Smallest of 'Delights'

How to Strengthen Your Happiness Muscle
How Can We Break the Cycle of Focusing on Negative Experiences?
STILL: The Art of Noticing with Mary Jo Hoffman
After the Fire: Rebuilding After Loss and Making Life a Total Work of Art with Steve & Mary Jo Hoffman
Pursuit of Happiness: Martin Seligman

At the intersection between outcome and agency is a hidden world of untold factors: Dating app algorithms. Sport betting odds. Consumer finance incentives. They impact our lived experience, but we often don’t know they exist at all. 

In this episode of Hold That Thought hosts Taylor and Becca explore everyday situations where hidden mechanics and misaligned incentives are rigging the odds and changing outcomes, right under our noses without us even knowing. From the matches we see on Hinge, to stock prices traded on the NYSE, the devil is in the factors behind the scenes. 

Topics: Algorithms, Odds, Stacked Odds, Sports Betting, Dating Apps, Ticketmaster, Stock Exchange, CFBP, Consumer Finance 

Resources:
The Algorithms of Dating Apps, Explained
Legal Issues to Know Before Offering a Sale or Coupon
Hinge’s CEO insists the app doesn’t have an ‘attractiveness score’ after users’ frustration. Here’s how he says the algorithm works—and why the free version is ‘sacred’
FTC Sues Live Nation and Ticketmaster for Engaging in Illegal Ticket Resale Tactics and Deceiving Artists and Consumers about Price and Ticket Limits
Justice Department and Live Nation reach settlement over Ticketmaster illegal monopoly case
Who Benefits from Trump’s Move to Shut Down Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?
Trump administration attempts to close the CFPB, block agency’s work
Against the Rules: The Seven Minute Rule
Against the Rules: The Magic Shoebox
“Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service” by Michael Lewis

The new Postmaster General said that the USPS is a beautiful ballet that nobody understands. It’s a machine that chugs behind the scenes to connect us from coast to coast, but the mechanics are a mystery. 

In this episode of Hold That Thought hosts Taylor and Becca peek behind the curtain to understand how USPS works. They discuss the nostalgia of letter writing and the symbolism of USPS’ service mandate. They explore the postal service’s history, from the first post office in the 13 colonies to the pivotal role mail played in the American Revolution and building the political ethos of the US. They unpack how the voting power of millions relies on USPS, and the sobering fact that that right is in jeopardy today. 

Topics: USPS, Postal Service, United States History, Mail, In Plain Sight, Universal Service Mandate, Democracy, Politics

Resources:
Quadruple increase in rejected California mail-in ballots signals problems with Trump meddling in future elections
How we generated a response rate of 63% by ignoring the brand guidelines

MIT Election Lab
Why the Short-Lived Pony Express Still Fascinates Us
Voting by Mail: Center for Election Confidence

On mail, meaning and the artwork that appears on US postage

The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
How the US Post Office Has Delivered the Mail Through the Decades

BBC: Denmark postal service to stop delivering letters

USPS: Postal Facts
The US Postal Service's Fiscal Crisis

We accept as reality (and even forget to recognize) the everyday ways our modern world has been built for men. But as soon as you peek under the hood,  the perniciousness of the male default emerges in plain sight. 

In this episode of Hold That Thought hosts Taylor and Becca discuss the role of the gender data gap in creating this inequity. From healthcare practices and medication, to automobile development and snow clearing practices, they unpack how a dearth of data on women impacts our policies, innovations and daily life. 

Topics: Gender data gap, data bias, inequity, bias, clinical trials, modern day, inequity, circadian rhythms, infradian rhythms, human biology

Resources:

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez

“If men didn’t exist, who would protect you?”

AT,TP x The Dish: Cycle Syncing

Infradian Rhythms: What They Are and Why They Matter

How Period Tracking Birthed the Calendar

Buckle Up Women; Cars Still Aren’t Built For You

Why we know so little about women’s health

Barriers to Accessing Effective Treatment and Support for Menopausal Symptoms: A Qualitative Study Capturing the Behaviours, Beliefs and Experiences of Key Stakeholders

Dr. Paula Johnson Is Breaking Down the Barriers to Better Health

Dr. Paula Johnson: When Does Medicine Leave Women Behind
Are Cars More Dangerous for Women? Understanding the Risks and How to Protect Yourself

Podcast 186: The Gender Gap in Research – And How It's Affecting Women’s Health
Life-Saving Intel: Amanda's Breast Cancer Surgeon Dr. Lucy De La Cruz

How Sex and Gender Bias Skews Medical Research with Dr. Kate Womersley

Airplanes, airports, air travel: it’s all anyone can talk about these days. 

In this episode of Hold That Thought hosts Taylor and Becca chat through the rules, regulations and human idiosyncrasies that dictate flying. They discuss the history of the first air travel and consider how airplanes and travel expose fundamental elements of human behavior and social interaction. They dive into the roots of one of our most common fears and how news today has us questioning timeless protocol.

Topics: Plane etiquette, Social norms, The social contract, Boeing Whistleblower, Behavioral psychology, Travel culture 

Resources:

This Is Your Captain Speaking

Boeing 737 Max Factory Was Plagued With Problems, Whistle-Blower Says
How To Avoid The Dreaded Post-Flight Breakout

Air Travel: CDC
Portable Electronic Devices Presser
Air Rage: What Factors Influence Airline Passenger Anger?

Stuff You Should Know: A Brief History of Air Travel 

It's been 20 years since smoking was completely banned on all US flights. Here's how smoking on planes went from normal to banned.
Why do we put seatbacks up for landing? An aviation expert explains.
WKYC Channel 3 TikTok
Delta is replacing engines on Airbus aircraft to address toxic fumes issue

Why Boeing’s Problems with the 737 MAX Began More Than 25 Years Ago