"The Kitchen Table" Presented by TPI Canada

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In today’s episode, we introduce what we’re calling the experience slider. Every experience is a stimulus. From there, our response tends to slide in one of two directions — toward cognitive reaction (thinking, analyzing, interpreting) or toward emotional reaction (feeling, sensing, reacting from the heart or gut). Neither side is wrong, but where we land shapes what happens next.

Layered onto that is what we call the concern continuum — a mental-state progression that helps us understand how our internal reaction can escalate.

Concern is the healthy starting point. It’s awareness with proportion. Something matters, and we’re attentive, but we remain steady and capable of thoughtful response.

Worry emerges when concern loops. The mind revisits the issue repeatedly, often imagining outcomes. Worry narrows our focus and can begin to crowd out perspective.

Anxiety is worry amplified. The body joins the mind. There is tension, urgency, a felt sense of threat or loss of control. The emotional slider has moved further to the right.

Panic is the far end of the continuum — when regulation drops significantly and the nervous system overrides reflection. Thinking becomes difficult, and reaction dominates.

In this conversation, we explore how the experience slider and the concern continuum interact — and how the intentional pause between stimulus and response allows us to notice where we are, regain balance, and slide back toward wisdom

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In our previous podcast, we looked at the relationship with uncertainty, anxiety, and suffering 

Today will focus on application on loss &  suffering

Ron is just returning from Singapore, and while we’ll talk more about the trip itself in a future episode, this one carries a deeper life experience.

While they were there, Calli’s beautiful mom & and lifelong friend Lily passed away. 

Being far from home in a moment like that creates a kind of sacred pause. And in that pause, Ron did what we’ve often talked about in the Wisdom Project — he leaned into the ology’s that have shaped him.

·      Catholicism as a theology.

·      Buddhism as a philosophy of lived experience.

Both traditions, in their own way, acknowledge something central to our Study on uncertainty, anxiety, and suffering: suffering is real. It is unavoidable. But it is not meaningless. In fact, as the Buddha teaches, suffering can be a teacher — if we allow it to be.

Not in a sentimental way. In a maturing way.

So this episode really sits in that space — how do we respond wisely when life confronts us with loss? How does faith, philosophy, and lived experience help move us from reaction toward wise action?

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In this episode, we’re taking a pause—a moment to check in, reflect, and go a little deeper into the questions that have surfaced during our exploration of uncertainty, anxiety, and suffering in Wisdom Study 2.0.

But this time, the spotlight gently shifts to the circular nature of wisdom itself. Dave brings forward a few powerful questions about how wisdom doesn’t just move us forward—it often invites us back, full circle, to reflect on how we’ve changed and what we now see with clearer eyes.

At the heart of this episode is Ron Medved—our friend, guide, and longtime companion in this work—whose personal practice of consciously engaging with the Creator or Source has shaped how he navigates the afternoon of life. Now in his 80s, Ron shares how his responses to life’s challenges have evolved from the striving of his 40s into something calmer, deeper, and—dare we say—wiser.

His story is not just inspiring—it’s instructive. It shows what it means to live the wisdom formula, not just talk about it.

So whether you’re new to this conversation or have been with us since the beginning, we invite you to listen in, reflect, and consider how your own relationship with uncertainty, anxiety, and wisdom has shifted over time.

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As we head into our 10th season, we’re continually humbled by how far this conversation has traveled. We’ve had listeners tuning in from more than 120 countries around the world, and that global community means a great deal to us. From time to time, we’ve invited feedback, comments, questions, and curiosities—and we want you to know that invitation is always open. If you’re willing, we’d love for you to click on the comments and share a thought or a wonder. We’ll keep everything private, and we promise we won’t respond directly. Your reflections simply help shape the ongoing conversation

In  this podcast, we continue our ongoing exploration of the relationship between uncertainty, anxiety, and suffering, turning our attention more deliberately toward suffering itself—how it arises, how we interpret it, and how it can become a catalyst for wisdom rather than a source of ongoing distress.

We begin by revisiting the anxiety continuum, moving from concern to worry, anxiety, and ultimately panic. Using several real-life stories, we examine how suffering shows up differently at each point along this continuum—not only as an emotional experience, but as a story we tell ourselves about what is happening and what it means.

In this episode, suffering becomes the central focus. Rather than treating suffering as something to eliminate or avoid, we explore how different wisdom traditions understand suffering as an inevitable part of the human condition—and, when approached wisely, a profound teacher.

To ground this exploration, we draw insight from five influential wisdom voices and traditions, including the Buddha, the Stoics, and depth psychologist Carl Jung. Each offers a unique perspective on how humans relate to pain, uncertainty, and meaning.

A key part of the conversation centers on Jung’s description of the stages of life—particularly his distinction between the morning, noon, and afternoon of life. We explore how much of our early life is driven by achievement, control, and certainty, and how the “noon” of life often brings heightened anxiety when those strategies stop working. Jung’s afternoon of life, however, invites a different posture: one marked by integration, acceptance, and a deeper capacity to hold suffering without being defined by it

Episode 117 invites listeners not to bypass suffering, but to slow down, examine the stories they are telling, and consider how suffering—held with awareness and compassion—may be shaping them toward greater wisdom.

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In this podcast Gregg, Ron, and Dave continue their exploration of the relationship between uncertainty, anxiety, and suffering — but this time through the lens of practice. Drawing on the idea of a wisdom dojo, they look at how anxiety isn’t just something to understand, but something to train with. Just like a martial artist builds strength and skill through repeated drills, we can build a stronger pause — that space between stimulus and response — by doing small, deliberate “workouts” that help us recognize uncertainty, soften anxiety, and reduce suffering before it hijacks our judgment. This episode invites listeners into the dojo with us: to reflect, to practice, and to develop the inner strength required for wiser decisions in everyday life

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Over the last several podcasts, we’ve been deepening our work on what we’re calling Wisdom Study 2.0, an extension of our Wisdom Project. The driving question behind this phase of our study has been simple, but profound: how can we apply wisdom in ways that actually mitigate the psychological and emotional impacts of uncertainty—especially the anxiety that so often leads to personal and collective suffering?

In our last episode, we shared a couple of stories—from illness to travel to politics—that illustrated just how disorienting uncertainty can be, and how easily it can pull us into anxiety or reactive judgment.

Today, we want to build on that. We’re going to explore the significant challenge uncertainty presents in our daily lives—how it shapes our decisions, how it influences our well-being, and how it affects the people we care about. And, as always, we’ll be asking the practical question: What can we do about it?

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In this episode, I want to share a bit of personal background that shaped today’s conversation. Earlier in 2024, my grandson Peter was diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, a condition I’ve spoken about in earlier Kitchen Table podcasts. Through the spring, our family’s anxiety deepened when we learned that Peter also had spots on his kidneys, which were later confirmed to be carcinoma.

So, while our Wisdom Project continues to explore the relationship between uncertainty, anxiety, and suffering, this chapter became very personal. We were witnessing those three forces up close — in real time — and learning how they intertwine.

Then something beautiful happened. A couple of dear friends offered our entire family the use of their lakefront cottage while they were away this summer. It was the perfect gift at the perfect time — a reminder to stay in the present moment, to breathe, and to find peace even amid uncertainty.

This experience became the backdrop for today’s conversation, where we look more deeply at how we live with uncertainty, how we manage anxiety, and how we can transform suffering into a source of wisdom

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In this episode, Ron and Gregg open up a bit more. We sharing some stories that get into the harder side of anxiety and suffering. They’re honest, sometimes uncomfortable, but also very real. And they help us see that even in those darker places, there’s room for learning, growth, and—ultimately—wisdom.

So as you listen, think about the moments in your own life when you’ve struggled, or felt overwhelmed, and how those experiences might have shaped you. Because that’s really what this conversation is about—finding the threads of wisdom woven through our suffering and uncertainty.

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In this episode of the Wisdom Project, (Wisdom Study #2.0)  Gregg shares a personal but highly relatable story that brings to life the emotional continuum from concern to anxiety to borderline panic. It’s the kind of story we’ve all lived in some form—especially if you’ve ever been asked to cook for a group of very competent, very transparentx friends.

Here’s the setup:

• Gregg and his crew—six high school buddies and six university pals—have been meeting annually for over 3 decades for a weekend of golf, food, drinks, and laughter.
• Each year, different guys take turns hosting meals, and this year… Gregg got tapped for the job. “Oh no!”
• On paper, it’s just dinner. But in reality? It stirred up a storm of comparison, performance pressure, and self-doubt.
• Gregg found himself spiraling into worry, feeling out of his depth when stacked up against his buddies—some of whom could probably moonlight as chefs.

What followed was a humorous, insightful journey that became a perfect case study in the Wisdom Project’s ongoing exploration of how we move along a spectrum:

• From concern (“I hope I don’t mess this up…”)
• To worry (“What if my dish doesn’t stack up?”)
• To anxiety (“They’ll all remember this meal—for the wrong reasons…”)
• And finally, to a kind of reflective awareness and growth (“Wait a minute—what’s the story I’m telling myself here?”)

Rather than let the inner critic win, Gregg used the experience as a kind of film review session:

• What triggered the anxiety?
• What was true?
• What was narrative?
• And how can something so small become a mirror for something much larger?

It’s a story that perfectly illustrates how our inner narratives shape our outer experiences—and how self-awareness and reflection can turn even a BBQ into a wisdom practice.

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In this episode, Gregg (Afi) opens up about his own vulnerabilities, sharing uncertainties in his life and the impact they have on anxiety and suffering. By bringing his personal experience into the conversation, we aim to shed light on how wisdom practices can guide us through life’s challenges and help transform uncertainty into growth,

 Both TSC and Parkinson’s bring real challenges — but also real opportunities for connection, creativity, and courage. This episode brings those stories to light, through the lens of family, love, and wisdom across generations.

What is Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)?

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, or TSC, is a rare genetic disorder that causes non-cancerous tumors to grow in various parts of the body — most often in the brain, skin, kidneys, heart, eyes, and lungs.

TSC is caused by a mutation in either the TSC1 or TSC2 gene, which regulate cell growth. When these genes aren’t working properly, cells can grow uncontrollably, leading to these benign tumors.

We often call it “Confetti Brain” to reflect the beautiful, scattered uniqueness of grandson Peter affected — and to reframe the condition with compassion and imagination rather than fear.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, muscle control, and over time, cognitive and emotional functioning.

It is primarily caused by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing cells in a part of the brain . Dopamine is a chemical messenger that helps regulate movement and coordination.

Common symptoms include:

·       Tremors

·       Stiffness

·       Slowness of movement

·       Changes in speech or handwriting

·       Balance issues

·       Fatigue or depression

While Parkinson’s progresses over time, many people live long, full lives by managing symptoms through medication, exercise, therapy, and staying mentally and emotionally engaged.