The Next Ideal

By The Next Ideal

Real lessons from a fantasy world - we approach the Stormlight Archive as a therapy text, working our way through The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, using modern psychology theories and practic

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FAQs about The Next Ideal:

How many episodes does The Next Ideal have?

The podcast currently has 39 episodes available.

The Next Ideal episodes:

July 14, 2026 Hero and Villain
Light can illuminate difficult and complicated truths, but wisdom is learning that the seemingly conflicting perspectives can both be true.

Thank you to @audonalsium for joining us on these episodes!

Steven Pond ( @TheCosmerenaut ) and Dr. Ben Jeppsen explore what Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings" can teach us about mental health.
This week, The Way of Kings Chapter 37!

The Next Ideal Podcast is available on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! For more information, visit TheNextIdeal.com

The Next Ideal Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenextideal

The Next Step Coin by Dragonsteel: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/next-step-coin
NerdHQ direct link: https://nerdhq.org/

NerdHQ Cosmere Nerds for Mental Health Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CosmereNerds

The Next Ideal Podcast is not affiliated with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel Entertainment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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48min
July 07, 2026 Jasnah & The Lesson
Now matter how much we may wish otherwise, there are no simple answers, morality is made up of shades of grey, and the people with whom we most strongly disagree usually have some good points.

Real lessons from a fantasy world!
Steven Pond ( @TheCosmerenaut ) and Dr. Ben Jeppsen explore what Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings" can teach us about mental health.
This week, The Way of Kings Chapter 36!

The Next Ideal Podcast is available on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! For more information, visit TheNextIdeal.com

The Next Ideal Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenextideal

The Next Step Coin by Dragonsteel: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/next-step-coin
NerdHQ direct link: https://nerdhq.org/

NerdHQ Cosmere Nerds for Mental Health Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CosmereNerds

The Next Ideal Podcast is not affiliated with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel Entertainment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
49min
June 30, 2026 The Reality of Pessimism
Looking on the *not* bright side can help us prepare for bad things, as long is it doesn't close us off from the possibility of good things happening.

Real lessons from a fantasy world!
Steven Pond ( @TheCosmerenaut ) and Dr. Ben Jeppsen explore what Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings" can teach us about mental health.
This week, The Way of Kings Chapters 34 & 35!

The Next Ideal Podcast is available on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! For more information, visit TheNextIdeal.com

The Next Ideal Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenextideal

The Next Step Coin by Dragonsteel: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/next-step-coin
NerdHQ direct link: https://nerdhq.org/

NerdHQ Cosmere Nerds for Mental Health Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CosmereNerds

The Next Ideal Podcast is not affiliated with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel Entertainment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
35min
June 23, 2026 Palates of Personality
We all have tendencies, ways we usually approach life. But that doesn't always dictate how we behave in every situation. And also jam is delicious.

Real lessons from a fantasy world!
Steven Pond ( @TheCosmerenaut ) and Dr. Ben Jeppsen explore what Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings" can teach us about mental health.
This week, The Way of Kings Chapter 33!

The Next Ideal Podcast is available on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! For more information, visit TheNextIdeal.com

The Next Ideal Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenextideal

The Next Step Coin by Dragonsteel: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/next-step-coin
NerdHQ direct link: https://nerdhq.org/

NerdHQ Cosmere Nerds for Mental Health Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CosmereNerds

The Next Ideal Podcast is not affiliated with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel Entertainment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
45min
June 16, 2026 Side Carry
New ideas can be lifesaving, but can also be chaotic in the larger context.

Real lessons from a fantasy world!
Steven Pond ( @TheCosmerenaut ) and Dr. Ben Jeppsen explore what Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings" can teach us about mental health.
This week, The Way of Kings Chapters 30, 31, & 32!

The Next Ideal Podcast is available on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! For more information, visit TheNextIdeal.com

The Next Ideal Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenextideal

The Next Step Coin by Dragonsteel: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/next-step-coin
NerdHQ direct link: https://nerdhq.org/

NerdHQ Cosmere Nerds for Mental Health Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CosmereNerds

The Next Ideal Podcast is not affiliated with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel Entertainment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
50min
June 09, 2026 Errorgance
Being confident in our positions while still allowing the for possibility of being wrong is an ideal I think we ALL can strive for.

Real lessons from a fantasy world!
Steven Pond ( @TheCosmerenaut ) and Dr. Ben Jeppsen explore what Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings" can teach us about mental health.
This week, The Way of Kings Chapter 29!

The Next Ideal Podcast is available on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! For more information, visit TheNextIdeal.com

The Next Ideal Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenextideal

The Next Step Coin by Dragonsteel: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/next-step-coin
NerdHQ direct link: https://nerdhq.org/

NerdHQ Cosmere Nerds for Mental Health Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CosmereNerds

The Next Ideal Podcast is not affiliated with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel Entertainment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
42min
June 02, 2026 How to Think Differently
Rysn, Axies, and Szeth teach us to change our viewpoints on the future, present, and past. And also maybe about nudity.

Real lessons from a fantasy world!
Steven Pond ( @TheCosmerenaut ) and Dr. Ben Jeppsen explore what Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings" can teach us about mental health.
This week, The Way of Kings Interludes 4, 5, & 6!

The Next Ideal Podcast is available on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! For more information, visit TheNextIdeal.com

The Next Ideal Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenextideal

The Next Step Coin by Dragonsteel: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/next-step-coin
NerdHQ direct link: https://nerdhq.org/

NerdHQ Cosmere Nerds for Mental Health Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CosmereNerds

The Next Ideal Podcast is not affiliated with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel Entertainment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
40min
May 26, 2026 Move Your Body!
The act of physical exertion fundamentally can help our minds work through hard stuff too. If you're struggling emotionally, do some jumping jacks, go for a run, or even just close your eyes, balance, and breathe.

Real lessons from a fantasy world!
Steven Pond ( @TheCosmerenaut ) and Dr. Ben Jeppsen explore what Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings" can teach us about mental health.
This week, The Way of Kings Chapter 28!

The Next Ideal Podcast is available on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! For more information, visit TheNextIdeal.com

The Next Ideal Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenextideal

The Next Step Coin by Dragonsteel: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/next-step-coin
NerdHQ direct link: https://nerdhq.org/

NerdHQ Cosmere Nerds for Mental Health Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CosmereNerds

The Next Ideal Podcast is not affiliated with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel Entertainment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
52min
May 19, 2026 Chasms & Stew
The degree to which we can influence our minds by connecting with our bodies is incredible. Everything is interrelated.

Real lessons from a fantasy world!
Steven Pond ( @TheCosmerenaut ) and Dr. Ben Jeppsen explore what Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings" can teach us about mental health.
This week, The Way of Kings Chapter 27!

Featuring Dr. Jerome Lubbe, author of The Brain-Based Enneagram:
https://www.drjerome.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Based-Enneagram-You-are-number/dp/173329452X

The Next Ideal Podcast is available on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! For more information, visit TheNextIdeal.com

The Next Ideal Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenextideal

The Next Step Coin by Dragonsteel: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/next-step-coin
NerdHQ direct link: https://nerdhq.org/

NerdHQ Cosmere Nerds for Mental Health Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CosmereNerds

The Next Ideal Podcast is not affiliated with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel Entertainment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 9min
May 12, 2026 Candles in the Darkness
What walls are we imposing on ourselves because we just assume they're there? Seriously, Taskmaster is an excellent case study of that.

Real lessons from a fantasy world!
Steven Pond ( @TheCosmerenaut ) and Dr. Ben Jeppsen explore what Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings" can teach us about mental health.
This week, The Way of Kings Chapter 26!

The Next Ideal Podcast is available on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! For more information, visit TheNextIdeal.com

The Next Ideal Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thenextideal

The Next Step Coin by Dragonsteel: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/next-step-coin
NerdHQ direct link: https://nerdhq.org/

NerdHQ Cosmere Nerds for Mental Health Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CosmereNerds

The Next Ideal Podcast is not affiliated with Brandon Sanderson or Dragonsteel Entertainment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
41min

FAQs about The Next Ideal:

How many episodes does The Next Ideal have?

The podcast currently has 39 episodes available.