What is the Meaning behind different celebrations during this time of year? Why do we celebrate different Christmas or Chanukkah traditions? What about other spiritual or cultural traditions today, or throughout history?

In this episode, my good friend Dr. Baruch "B" HaLevi and I explore the Meaning of The Season - and what you can do to enjoy this "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" meaningfully. Enjoy!

To contact Dr. Dan go to www.DanielAFranz.com or email me directly at [email protected]

To find out more about what we have going on over at The Meaning Academy, go to: https://www.themeaningacademy.com/

To support your favorite podcast on Mental Health & Meaning, pick up some meaningful The Meaning Project Podcast merch in our store at https://the-meaning-project-podcast.creator-spring.com/

And finally, if you would like to support our efforts to improve the podcast and maybe even connect with Dr. Dan in different ways, become a Patron on our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/themeaningprojectpodcast

Your Search for Meaning is the flagship course from The Viktor Frankl Meaning Academy scheduled to start in January 2024. This will be a 6-month program, working with the team of logo-philosophers from The Meaning Academy, to work through your personal journey to discover meaning in your life. In this episode, B. and I take a deep dive into the program, what it will look like, what the different components are, and why we think it will be an awesome journey for YOU to invest in youself.

To contact Dr. Dan go to www.DanielAFranz.com or email me directly at [email protected]

To find out more about what we have going on over at The Meaning Academy, go to: https://www.themeaningacademy.com/

To support your favorite podcast on Mental Health & Meaning, pick up some meaningful The Meaning Project Podcast merch in our store at https://the-meaning-project-podcast.creator-spring.com/

And finally, if you would like to support our efforts to improve the podcast and maybe even connect with Dr. Dan in different ways, become a Patron on our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/themeaningprojectpodcast

For the past 10-15 years, every year that I have been in private practice; I have written or recorded a "Holiday Gift Guide" on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Back when I started, I don't even think it was called "Cyber Monday" yet. In the beginning, it was a few ideas of what I thought people would find helpful in their lives, or maybe what I had been reading. Then, as Amazon began to take over the world, I would include "affiliate links" that would pay me a shiny nickel each time a person bought that item or a related item. But now, as I am sure you are well aware, it is all about MEANING for me. Those shiny nickels don't matter as much. But what does matter, is how we make our choices in being present and giving presents to one another during this holiday season. I hope you enjoy the podcast, and, more importantly, I hope you enjoy a wonderful, meaningful, blessed holiday season! - Dan

To contact Dr. Dan go to www.DanielAFranz.com or email me directly at [email protected]

To find out more about what we have going on over at The Meaning Academy, go to: https://www.themeaningacademy.com/

To support your favorite podcast on Mental Health & Meaning, pick up some meaningful The Meaning Project Podcast merch in our store at https://the-meaning-project-podcast.creator-spring.com/

And finally, if you would like to support our efforts to improve the podcast and maybe even connect with Dr. Dan in different ways, become a Patron on our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/themeaningprojectpodcast

This was definitely not a topic I ever intended to cover. However, when a good friend calls and says he needs your opinion for a paper he is writing - well, I decided to hit the record button to see where it went. And, in my opinion, it went pretty well.

In this podcast, my good friend, Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Joseph O. Paul and I discuss the mental health industry's responsibility in gun control and gun violence, and my personal/professional opinions on what we can and should do. Of course, like any conversation with a good friend, we meander through solving quite a few of the world's problems, if more people would just listen to us...

Enjoy!

To contact Dr. Dan go to www.DanielAFranz.com or email me directly at [email protected]

To find out more about what we have going on over at The Meaning Academy, go to: https://www.themeaningacademy.com/

To support your favorite podcast on Mental Health & Meaning, pick up some meaningful The Meaning Project Podcast merch in our store at https://the-meaning-project-podcast.creator-spring.com/

And finally, if you would like to support our efforts to improve the podcast and maybe even connect with Dr. Dan in different ways, become a Patron on our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/themeaningprojectpodcast

The 12-Step industry says FEAR is "False Emotion Appearing Real". However, for many of us FEAR, and the related emotion ANXIETY, can feel VERY REAL. Sometimes, they can be debilitating. In this episode of the podacst, Dr. B. and I discuss the modern manifestion of fear and anxiety, and what you can do to turn them into motivating emotions.

To contact Dr. Dan go to www.DanielAFranz.com or email me directly at [email protected]

To find out more about what we have going on over at The Meaning Academy, go to: https://www.themeaningacademy.com/

To support your favorite podcast on Mental Health & Meaning, pick up some meaningful The Meaning Project Podcast merch in our store at https://the-meaning-project-podcast.creator-spring.com/

And finally, if you would like to support our efforts to improve the podcast and maybe even connect with Dr. Dan in different ways, become a Patron on our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/themeaningprojectpodcast

It's that time of the year again! The time when many of us clinicians get early morning calls to reschedule or cancel appointments due to "cold", "flu", or "feeling terrible", and we graciously accept so that we may keep those particular ailments out of our offices. Although, I feel like the steady flow of a variety of viral infections has helped to innoculate me over the years, that's a story for another podcast...

This is also the time of year we start to discuss the prevention of Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) and begin preparing for the stress, expectations, and overall health impact of the holidays. Hopefully this helps you to enjoy the upcoming "Most Wonderful Time of the Year"!

To contact Dr. Dan go to www.DanielAFranz.com or email me directly at [email protected]

To find out more about what we have going on over at The Meaning Academy, go to: https://www.themeaningacademy.com/

To support your favorite podcast on Mental Health & Meaning, pick up some meaningful The Meaning Project Podcast merch in our store at https://the-meaning-project-podcast.creator-spring.com/

And finally, if you would like to support our efforts to improve the podcast and maybe even connect with Dr. Dan in different ways, become a Patron on our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/themeaningprojectpodcast

With everything growing so quickly at The Meaning Academy, Dr. B. & Dr. D. crossed paths and calendars this week, and somehow missed each other's schedule.

So, after many weeks, I return to share a solo podcast!! I thought some recent research into Frank's "The Will to Meaning" really related to what I was seeing in my clinical office, and perhaps to what you might be going through lately.

In this podcast, I illuminate The Three Pillars of Logotherapy, and discuss how they might help our modern, multiple, forms of compulsive and addictive behavior. I hope you find it meaningful.

To contact Dr. Dan go to www.DanielAFranz.com or email me directly at [email protected]

To find out more about what we have going on over at The Meaning Academy, go to: https://www.themeaningacademy.com/

To support your favorite podcast on Mental Health & Meaning, pick up some meaningful The Meaning Project Podcast merch in our store at https://the-meaning-project-podcast.creator-spring.com/

And finally, if you would like to support our efforts to improve the podcast and maybe even connect with Dr. Dan in different ways, become a Patron on our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/themeaningprojectpodcast

We say it at the end of the Viktor Frankl Meaning Academy podcast every week, "now go live your life with Meaning, Purpose, & Resilience."

But how do you do that?

We've probably discussed it different ways at different times, in brief. So, in this episode, we decided to tackle all three together. And, I've got to tell you, B. came up with a beautiful metaphor for the combination! Enjoy!

To contact Dr. Dan go to www.DanielAFranz.com or email me directly at [email protected]

To find out more about what we have going on over at The Meaning Academy, go to: https://www.themeaningacademy.com/

To support your favorite podcast on Mental Health & Meaning, pick up some meaningful The Meaning Project Podcast merch in our store at https://the-meaning-project-podcast.creator-spring.com/

And finally, if you would like to support our efforts to improve the podcast and maybe even connect with Dr. Dan in different ways, become a Patron on our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/themeaningprojectpodcast

In 'Man's Search for Meaning', Dr. Frankl writes; “There are two races of men in this world, but only these two -- the "race" of the decent man and the "race" of the indecent man. Both are found everywhere; they penetrate into all groups of society. No group consists entirely of decent or indecent people.”

Our world has seen much indecency; it has seen the face of evil recently. Evil that has had a significant on B., and therefore the team at The Meaning Academy. Therefore, we took some time to discuss, but also educate - as B. has extensive knowledge, and, admittedly, mine is limited. So he took some time help me understand better, and therefore, hopefully, give you, our audience an informed perspective. From there, of course, we share where Meaing, Purpose, and Resilience can be found in such difficult times.

To contact Dr. Dan go to www.DanielAFranz.com or email me directly at [email protected]

To find out more about what we have going on over at The Meaning Academy, go to: https://www.themeaningacademy.com/

To support your favorite podcast on Mental Health & Meaning, pick up some meaningful The Meaning Project Podcast merch in our store at https://the-meaning-project-podcast.creator-spring.com/

And finally, if you would like to support our efforts to improve the podcast and maybe even connect with Dr. Dan in different ways, become a Patron on our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/themeaningprojectpodcast

What does it mean to "be a good human"?

I had the opportunity to take a good friend and business owner out to dinner recently. The hope, other than some good chicken wings, was in to pick his brain about his business success for a new project I am working on helping family businesses. The main point of our discussion - he has build a successful family business in under a decade on a very simple principle - just be a good human. Now, that manifested itself in several different ways, but in the end, the message was clear - be good to your people, be good to your family, be good to your customers, and the business, as well as life, will take care of itself.

So I wanted to posit this question to my friend Dr. B. - "what does it mean to be a good human?"

Hopefully, you find some key take-aways to put to work in your life! Enjoy!

To contact Dr. Dan go to www.DanielAFranz.com or email me directly at [email protected]

To find out more about what we have going on over at The Meaning Academy, go to: https://www.themeaningacademy.com/

To support your favorite podcast on Mental Health & Meaning, pick up some meaningful The Meaning Project Podcast merch in our store at https://the-meaning-project-podcast.creator-spring.com/

And finally, if you would like to support our efforts to improve the podcast and maybe even connect with Dr. Dan in different ways, become a Patron on our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/themeaningprojectpodcast