Link to more info: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/05/29/drrondel/

A CONVERSATION ON EXISTENTIAL ANXIETY 

I am pleased to share with you my recent conversation on a topic that haunts many of us: anxiety. 

Today, we dive into the connection between philosophy and anxiety with Dr. David Rondel, a philosophy professor and author of "A Danger, Which We Do Not Know: A Philosophical Journey into Anxiety." 

In his work, Dr. Rondel explores his journey through anxiety. From the wisdom of thinkers like Kierkegaard and William James to the challenges of modern anxieties like eco-anxiety and social media stress, Dr. Rondel shows us how embracing anxiety can lead to personal growth and a greater understanding of ourselves.

I would be thrilled for you to join this poignant and perennially relevant discussion! 

About Dr. Rondel

David Rondel is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Nevada. He is the author of Pragmatist Egalitarianism (Oxford University Press, 2018), and editor or co-editor of four additional books: Pessimism of the Intellect, Optimism of the Will: The Political Philosophy of Kai Nielsen (University of Calgary Press, 2012), Pragmatism and Justice (Oxford University Press, 2017), The Cambridge Companion to Rorty (Cambridge University Press, 2021), and The Moral Psychology of Anxiety (Lexington, 2024).

His website: https://www.davidrondel.com/about

The book: https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Which-Not-Know-Philosophical/dp/0197767249

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Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

FULL SUMMARY: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/05/22/andrew_belfour/

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Balfour, a clinical psychologist, couples therapist, and psychoanalytic psychotherapist. He is the author of Life and Death: Our Relationship with Ageing, Dementia, and Other Fates of Time. In this conversation, we delve into the intersection of aging, relationships, and the search for meaning. Dr. Belfour shares his research on fostering emotional connections for couples in which one partner has dementia, and how small, everyday moments can create meaning even in the most challenging circumstances.

Dr. Balfour also reflects on society’s neglect of aging and mortality as crucial topics, attributing this to our collective fear of vulnerability and a cultural obsession with youth. This discussion doesn’t shy away from the realities of aging, such as dependency, increased vulnerability, and existential regrets, but it also offers hope. Dr. Balfour shares valuable insights on navigating the challenges of aging, loneliness, and regret, providing practical ways to foster resilience and connection.  I hope this conversation resonates with you and offers a meaningful opportunity to consider these important themes.

About Dr. Andrew Balfour:

Andrew Balfour trained as a clinical psychologist at University College London and then as an adult psychotherapist at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust. He subsequently trained as a couple psychotherapist at Tavistock Relationships, where for more than 10 years he was Clinical Director before becoming Chief Executive in 2016. 

Dr. Balfour’s book: 

Life and Death Our Relationship with Ageing, Dementia, and Other Fates of Time, published by Routledge in 2025

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Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are lik

Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com
About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com
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Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz
Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers

Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Full text here: https://eggshelltherapy.com/lovelanguages/

"Your preferred love language is what you missed the most in childhood."

The other day, I stumbled across a quote on social media that caught my attention: “Your preferred love language is what you missed most in childhood.” I think that is quite true. Indeed, psychoanalysts and couples' counselors have long observed that many of us unconsciously attempt to fill the gaps of our past in our adult lives—whether through our intimate relationships, friendships, or even at work.

I started wondering if this differs slightly for a gifted person. How does being intense and sensitive change one's love language, or does it? What happens when a child with exceptional emotional depth, intellectual curiosity, and heightened sensitivity grows up in an environment laden with misunderstanding or even emotional abuse? How does intellectual or emotional deprivation affect the ways they express and seek connection in their adult relationships?

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Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/04/30/brianearp/

In this episode, we discuss

- Dr. Brian Earp’s prolific academic work in philosophy, psychology, and medical ethics.
- how his conservative religious upbringing sparked his curiosity about morality and ethics.
- his transition from professional theater to academia and his commitment to a PhD at age 30.
- his research on love, obsession, and addiction, and his critique of monogamy as a societal default.
- his book Love Drugs and the ethics of using medical technologies to enhance relationships.
- ethical challenges in AI, his stance on bodily autonomy.
- his current projects on AI, personalized digital tools, and more!

Some Quotes from Dr. Earp

 “Whether it’s harmful can be kind of contingent on historical and social attitudes.”

“If you think love is about fundamentally wanting to contribute to the flourishing of another person… then the question of whether you should possess them… might not be conducive to their flourishing.”

 “We should advocate for a view of love according to which it’s something that is rooted fundamentally in care and respect.”

“Addiction can be part of one’s identity… if you cure yourself of this addiction, you almost change who you are.”

About Dr. Brian Earp 

Associate Professor Brian D. Earp, PhD, is director of the Oxford-NUS Centre for Neuroethics and Society (OCNS) and the EARP Lab (Experimental Bioethics, Artificial Intelligence, and Relational Moral Psychology Lab) within the Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS). Brian is also an Associate Professor of Philosophy and of Psychology at NUS by courtesy.

See www.brianearp.com for more information.

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Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Summary: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/02/27/darkmoods/

This episode stands out as one of my most special conversations! In this thought-provoking episode, I sat down with Dr. Mariana Alessandri, a modern philosophy professor whose work inspired me. We specifically explored the often misunderstood and undervalued role of "dark moods"—emotions like sadness, anger, anxiety, grief, and depression. In our conversation, we challenged the cultural obsession with happiness and optimism, critiquing "toxic positivity" and the societal tendency to label these emotions as problems to be fixed. Drawing on insights from her book, The Defender of Dark Moods, Dr. Alessandri reframed, rigorously and passionately, that dark moods as meaningful, natural, and even valuable aspects of the human experience. 

Our conversation also examined the harm caused by suppressing emotions, the limitations of modern self-help, Stoicism, and the liberating potential of existential philosophy. By reclaiming space for authentic emotional expression—without judgment or shame—we can move toward a richer, more authentic life. 

What we discussed: 

How society undervalues dark moods like sadness, anger, and anxiety
Why toxic positivity is harmful
Why the binary view of emotions as “positive” or “negative” is limiting
Why modern self-help version of Stoicism can be problematic
Why we need more nuanced language for emotions
Why dark moods are essential to a meaningful life


About Dr. Alessandri:

Website: https://www.marianaalessandri.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mariana.alessandri/

The book: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691215457/night-vision



** 
 

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Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Full text: https://eggshelltherapy.com/emotional-blackmail/

Emotional blackmail takes on a complex dimension when it comes from parents who may not be intentionally malicious but are limited by their trauma, neurodivergence, or psychological limitations. Some manipulative parents may genuinely love their children and try their best, yet still emotionally blackmail their children through guilt, obligation, and fear. Their emotional blackmail often manifests through seemingly innocent phrases that exploit their children's empathy and sense of duty. This creates a confusing dynamic where children must reconcile their parent's genuine love and good intentions with harmful, manipulative behaviors, often leading to complex trauma and self-doubt.

Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com
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Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

FULL SUMMARY AND LINKS:
https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/01/16/ai-therapist/

I have recently released a new podcast episode, where I interviewed Dr. David Burns, the author of 'Feeling Good' and CBT pioneer! 

In his latest research, he showed that AI therapist platforms can sometimes outperform human practitioners in providing consistent, empathetic responses to patients.

Here are some quotes from the interview that may surprise you: 

"We more or less proved that this idea that depression is due to a deficiency of this neurotransmitter, serotonin, can't possibly be a valid theory."

"Empathy from a computer outperforms by a big margin human empathy."

"Empathy, whoever gives it, sucks in terms of healing power. It's not enough to cure depression or panic attacks or anything else."

"The app, if anything, is just as effective or slightly more effective, the more severe the patient's problems are."

https://youtu.be/QF8GYvlTmfU?si=L_LA0QJItKpjCmii

About Our Guest 

Stanford psychiatrist Dr. David Burns, renowned for developing high-speed, effective approaches to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), joins us today. His 1980 book "Feeling Good" is probably the most recommended self-help book by mental health professionals in the United States. His follow-up work "Feeling Great" builds on decades of clinical innovation, introducing his TEAM-CBT methodology that has revolutionized how we approach rapid recovery from depression and anxiety.

In his latest research, Dr. Burns has explored the intersection of AI and psychotherapy, examining how machine learning could transform our understanding of cognitive distortions and therapeutic interventions. His findings suggest that AI therapist platforms can sometimes outperform human practitioners in providing consistent, empathetic responses to patients.

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Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Today we're joined by Nicole Matusow, a psychoanalyst who's going to take us on a deep dive into the fascinating world of limerence - that overwhelming, obsessive state of romantic infatuation that can completely take over our lives. With her extensive background in psychoanalysis, Nicole will help us understand the unconscious mechanisms driving this intense experience, from the early attachment patterns that set the stage to the role of fantasy and emotional regulation. 

We'll explore why some of us are more prone to limerence than others, how early experiences shape our romantic patterns, and most importantly - what we can actually do about it. Whether you're currently experiencing limerence or supporting someone who is, I hope this conversation will be useful to you. Imi

About Nicole: 

Nicole Matusow is a New York City psychotherapist practicing in the Flatiron area. She sees both individuals and couples/family members, taking a contemporary psychoanalytic and feelings-based approach. Her practice addresses limerence, judgmental self-talk, people-pleasing, difficulties in conveying thoughts and feelings, and familial ruptures.

She offers both in-person and teletherapy services.

https://www.nicolematusow.com

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Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

FULL TEXT: https://eggshelltherapy.com/bpd_limerence/

Limerence is an experience unlike any other. It is beyond pure infatuation, but an all-consuming experience that can bring us to the highest ecstasy and the lowest depths of despair. It floods our brains with neurons and turns everything into a breathless roller coaster ride. However much we 'know' it is irrational, and try to shake it off, we cannot seem to escape the constant loop of hope and disappointment, longing and devastation.  This state of all-consuming romantic obsession is what Dorothy Tennov termed as limerence in her groundbreaking 1979 work.

Limerence is a complex and often painful experience for most people, as few of us would choose to have our whole sense of being taken over by intrusive thoughts and fantasies. But it is never as simple as a conscious choice. Behind these overwhelming feelings lies a deeper story—one that begins in our earliest experiences of love and loss and speaks to the very heart of how we learn to attach and bond with others.

The picture gets even more complex for those with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in limerence. When you have BPD, your emotional thermostat is already set at a different level, and with limerence in the mix, it can become truly unbearable chaos.

In this piece, we shall explore the underlying psychological mechanisms of limerence and how these dynamics take on unique dimensions for those with BPD. By understanding these patterns more deeply—from both psychoanalytic and neurobiological perspectives—we can hopefully help you chart a path forward that honors the intensity of your experience and your capacity for healing.

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Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Even when no one sees it at all.

Keep going. 

The world needs those who dare to work differently.

The ones who create their own definitions of meaning.

The ones who choose authenticity over appearance.

You’re not alone in this journey

We’re here too, working in our own invisible ways.



Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com
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Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/
Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz
Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers

Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.