The Manic Episodes

Mary & Wyatt do some breathing exercises, get grounded, and chat about anxiety. They talk about how humans evolved to be susceptible to stress and anxiety, how marginalized communities experience anxiety differently, and what we can do to treat our symptoms. Wyatt tells a cautionary tale about benzodiazepines and talks about the magical wonders of cognitive behavioral therapy. Also on the agenda: we answer Yahoo! Answers, Mary has a Christmas album coming out, our dog got injured again, and poems by Rae Armantrout and Nina Powles. 

*Note: I am deeply sorry for the awful sound of a dog chewing on a bone in the background for most of this episode. -Wyatt* Mary and Wyatt give the dogs some long-lasting chews and settle in for a discussion about how we measure success in ourselves and others. How do some people excel and achieve in spite of hardships and setbacks while others can’t seem to get unstuck? Also on the agenda: Top 5 scary movies, pupillary distance is a scam, and poems by Zaina Alsous and Rachel Eliza Griffiths.

Mary & Wyatt settle in and cast their ballots for a political episode of the pod. They talk about their political awakenings and their perspectives on electoral politics and the vast political divide. Also on the agenda: TV Show Reviews for Shows We Haven’t Seen Yet, Wyatt is addicted to murder interrogations, and a poem by Ada Limón. Mary closes out the episode with a heartbreaking and powerful poem by Camonghne Felix. 

Mary & Wyatt are fresh-faced and bright-eyed after a restful week off. After recapping the first Presidential debate, they talk about the art of assertiveness and why it’s so hard to stand up for yourself and say no. They discuss the gendered dimension of assertiveness and how capitalism plays into a culture of obedience and complacency. Also on the agenda: Read My Lips, Wyatt & Mary’s house is infested with fruit flies, and poems by June Jordan and Haya Alyan. 

Wyatt kicks off this discussion of gender identity with a story about a recent experience they had with a stranger. Mary & Wyatt then talk about the recent spate of transphobic rhetoric from J. K. Rowling and Joe Rogan, and the consequences of misconceptions about gender reaching such a huge audience. Also on the agenda: Our dog is in a cast, a new segment called Potato Salad, and poems by Mohja Kahf and Nicole Homer. 

Mary and Wyatt settle in for a long and winding chat about childhood. They talk about the incredible wonders of language acquisition and psychological development, then get into the nitty gritty of cycles of trauma. Also on the agenda: bacon used as bandaids, Wyatt learns how to use sound effects, and poems by Sam Sax and Lydia Davis. 

Mary & Wyatt, fresh off of a leek quiche dinner, settle in to chat about food and diet culture. Mary discusses her reading and research in the areas of dieting, heart health, and "bad"/"good" foods. They talk about the junk food industry, the relationship between fatphobia and racism, and the deep injustice of food deserts. Also on the agenda: disastrous celebrity impressions, Wyatt slanders the macrame industrial complex, and poems by Philip Metres and Melissa Lozada-Oliva. 

Mary and Wyatt floss their teeth, wash their faces, and sit down to talk about habits. Wyatt talks about reading James Clear’s Atomic Habits and the philosophy behind the power of small changes. They chat about why it’s so hard to break a bad habit and so difficult to start a good one. Also on the agenda: Bartleby the Scrivener, a heated round of Gay or Straight?, and poems by Alison Luterman and Dean Young. 

Mary & Wyatt put on their listening ears and talk about communication. Is anybody ever really good or bad at it, or do we just have different communication styles? They also talk about some nerdy linguistics stuff (indirectness strategies, anyone?! Universal grammar? Where are the Daniel Everett fans at?!) and give some tips for communicating your needs clearly, even if it scares you. Also on the agenda: Mary & Wyatt’s farm stay/off-grid experience, Top 5 Controversial Opinions, Wyatt’s love of chickens, and poems by Taylor Johnson and Marianne Boruch. 

Live from their new studio, Mary & Wyatt talk about their experiences with therapy. They discuss finding a therapist, making a connection with a therapist, and how to take care of yourself after an appointment. They also talk about what to do if you can't afford therapy. And Wyatt goes pretty deep into some weird stuff about Freud and Jung. 
Also on the agenda: Wyatt wants to live in a fancy hotel lobby, Mary & Wyatt are going off-grid, and poems by Tiana Clark and Juan Felipe Herrera.