Life can be both physically and mentally fragile – as Michael Holden explores with candid humour. His most recent book, The Reluctant Carer, describes moving in with his ailing parents, and trying to look after them while navigating multiple personal setbacks.

One of these – not featured in the book – involved being handcuffed and taken to hospital from a meditation retreat. He subsequently wrote about that for Esquire, discussing the potential risks of contemplative practice, and a fine line between psychosis and self-transcendence.

Our conversation reflects on identity from multiple perspectives – spiritually, culturally and psychologically. We also talk about learning from liminal states, however they’re triggered. And we consider what it means to have a therapeutic dialogue, which at times we embody – you’re welcome to eavesdrop.

The Reluctant Carer began as an anonymous Guardian article, and Michael later outed himself as the author in the same publication. Find out more about his other work here, or subscribe to him on Substack for regular updates.

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