In Praise of the Slow Song: Finding Meaning in Sadness

In this reflective episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn explores the quiet, necessary role of sadness in our lives. While the world urges us toward constant positivity and quick fixes, this episode makes a case for slowing down and listening to what sadness might be trying to say.

Drawing on Stoic philosophy, emotional intelligence, and modern psychology, Michael invites you to consider sadness not as something to escape, but as something to learn from. Along the way, he weaves in wisdom from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Leonard Cohen, reminding us that “There is a crack in everything — that’s how the light gets in.”

With a nod to the music of the '60s and '70s and one unforgettable line from a record shop long ago, this episode is an invitation to make peace with the low notes that give life its emotional depth.

In this special Best Of edition of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn reflects on the journey through the first 33 episodes — revisiting the ideas, quotes, and stories that stayed with listeners long after the episodes ended.

From Stoic wisdom to emotional intelligence, from regret and recovery to noble goals and impostor feelings, this episode is a chance to pause and gather what has truly mattered.

You’ll hear:

• What sparked the podcast on a rainy afternoon in July 2024
• Listener favourites and recurring themes
• Memorable quotes from Marcus Aurelius, Viktor Frankl, and Seneca
• A heartfelt reflection on the value of sincerity over certainty

This is a quiet moment to honour what we’ve learned, before stepping into what’s next.

And speaking of what’s next…

A new podcast series, Echoes from the Margins, is launching later this month. Episode 1, “The Wisdom of the Quiet Ones,” will explore the wisdom of the quiet ones among us.

Thank you for listening, sharing, and reflecting. Your time here matters.

Description:

Have you ever found yourself solving a crisis you didn’t create? Taking on tasks you never agreed to? You’re not alone. In this episode, Michael explores the subtle but powerful difference between being trusted with a responsibility and being taken advantage of under the guise of delegation.

With the help of Stoic philosophy, emotional intelligence, and classic leadership thinking (including the legendary “Who’s Got the Monkey?” article from Harvard Business Review), we unpack how and why we end up carrying burdens that aren’t ours. And more importantly, how to stop.

In this episode:

• A real-world story about workplace boundaries gone blurry
• Quotes from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca on protecting your time and energy
• Insights from Stephen Covey, Greg McKeown, and Brené Brown on priority-setting and empathy
• The emotional intelligence skills that help you say no, with grace
• Phrases you can use to draw healthy boundaries at work and in life

Takeaway:

Delegation is a sign of trust. Dumping is a misuse of it. The difference lies in how you respond. Your time, energy, and emotional bandwidth are valuable—guard them wisely.

🛠️ Resources & References:

• “Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey?” by William Oncken Jr. and Donald L. Wass, Harvard Business Review
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
• Essentialism by Greg McKeown
• Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
• Stoic quotes from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca

Rethinking Time in a World That Wastes It

“You’re on hold—the music loops. The voice says your call is important. But is your time?”

In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn reflects on a moment we’ve all experienced — twenty-five minutes on hold, listening to polite apologies and pan-pipe music — and uses it to explore a deeper question: how much of our time is quietly being taken from us?

Drawing on Stoic philosophy, emotional intelligence, and a modern tool known as the Boston Matrix, this episode is a calm but pointed meditation on how we spend what we can never get back.

If you’ve ever felt a quiet frustration at wasted minutes — or want to reclaim your attention in a world full of demands — this one’s for you.

Subscribe, share, and join Michael every Saturday for more mindful reflection in the space between stimulus and response.

Why do the loudest voices so often rise—while the most capable hesitate in the shadows?

In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn explores the strange tension between Impostor Syndrome and the Dunning-Kruger Effect. One causes deeply competent people to question their worth, while the other leads the unskilled to overestimate theirs. Somewhere in between is the path to real confidence.

Drawing from Stoic philosophy, emotional intelligence, and modern psychology, Michael unpacks the stories we tell ourselves about competence—and why society often rewards the wrong kind of certainty.

Along the way, we meet the archetypal Irish “chancer,” revisit the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, and discover practical strategies for reclaiming grounded self-belief in a world full of bravado.

Whether you're the Quiet Expert or working with a Confident Fool, this episode offers insights and tools to help you lead with clarity, courage, and self-awareness.

Have you ever felt judged—not for your mistakes or flaws—but for your strengths, education, or even how you speak? In this thoughtful and introspective episode, Michael Comyn explores the uncomfortable reality of being judged for having "too much" of something good.

He explores the hidden biases that shape how we perceive each other, whether based on age, gender, accent, intelligence, race, or class. Drawing insights from psychology, Stoic philosophy, and Jungian thought, Michael examines the subtle and obvious ways we judge and are judged.

Highlights include:

• Understanding top-down discrimination (structural bias) and bottom-up discrimination (personal resentments).
• How Carl Jung's concept of "projection" reveals our hidden insecurities.
• Stoic wisdom from Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus on choosing how to respond to judgment.
• The role of emotional intelligence in managing our biases, featuring insights from Daniel Goleman.
• Viktor Frankl's powerful reminder of the space between stimulus and response as a key to freedom.

Quotes from this episode:

• "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." – Carl Jung
• "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." – Epictetus
• "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response." – Viktor Frankl

Join Michael in exploring how we can notice—and ultimately challenge—our quick judgments. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and keep minding the gap!

You know that voice in your head that won’t stop replaying awkward conversations or predicting disaster before you’ve even begun? We all have it. But what if you could teach it to speak differently instead of trying to silence that voice?

In this episode of Mind the Gap, we explore the surprising science behind self-talk — the silent, internal dialogue that shapes how we think, feel, and act.

Drawing on the work of psychologist Ethan Kross, ancient Stoic philosophy, and the principles of emotional intelligence, we unpack practical tools to help you shift from inner critic to inner coach.

• Why do we spend nearly one-third of our waking life in silent conversation with ourselves?
• The health costs of unchecked mental chatter
• How to use “distanced self-talk” to reduce reactivity and regain perspective
• What Marcus Aurelius and Seneca knew about reasoning with your thoughts
• How awe, self-awareness, and the right kind of listener can calm the storm inside

Whether you're a leader, a partner, a parent, or a human, learning how to talk to yourself more wisely is a game-changer.

Key quote:

“You are not your thoughts. You are the one hearing them.”

Resources mentioned:

• Chatter by Ethan Kross
• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
• Daniel Goleman on Emotional Intelligence.

In this episode of Mind the Gap, we dig deep into the human habit of procrastination—what it is, why we do it, and how we can finally move from delay to action.

Drawing from Stoic philosophy, emotional intelligence, and modern psychology, Michael explores how fear, perfectionism, and emotional avoidance often lie beneath our tendency to put things off. With references to Marcus Aurelius, Viktor Frankl, and leading researchers like Dr. Piers Steel, this conversation offers insight and practical strategies—from the Two-Minute Rule to the viral 'Scary Hour' technique.

If you've ever told yourself, "I'll do it tomorrow"—and meant it—this episode is for you.

Enjoyed this episode?

Follow Mind the Gap and share it with a friend, a colleague, or anyone stuck in the cycle of putting things off.

How do we separate truth from manipulation in a world where information moves faster than ever?

Propaganda isn’t just a relic of history—it’s alive and well, shaping how we think, vote, and engage with the world. From political campaigns to corporate spin, propaganda exploits psychological biases, repetition, and emotional appeal to control the narrative. And the scariest part? It often doesn’t look like propaganda at all.

In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn breaks down the propaganda playbook—where it came from, how it’s used today, and why figures like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and media giants like Fox News have mastered its techniques.

We’ll explore key strategies like the Illusory Truth Effect, scapegoating, and undermining institutions, and most importantly, how to resist falling for these tactics.

Not all leaders are created equal. Some open doors, while others keep them firmly shut. In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn explores the two fundamental leadership styles we all encounter in the workplace—the Gatekeeper, who resists change and stifles innovation, and the Champion, who fosters growth and clears the way for progress.

How do you work with these different types of leaders? How can you navigate resistance, build influence, and ensure you don’t become a Gatekeeper yourself?

Drawing on insights from Stoicism, modern psychology, and emotional intelligence, this episode unpacks strategies for thriving under any leadership style—and ultimately becoming the kind of leader you wish you had.