Megan never saw herself working behind prison walls. But when family expectations collide with personal values, she finds herself donning a uniform—not out of passion, but out of a quiet hope to be seen, accepted, and maybe even understood.  This episode explores Megan's journey into the correctional system, where she learns to navigate the tension between duty and identity. She makes observations about her peers who seem to judge her the same way they judge the ones they oversee.  Do you choose approval for others or yourself?

I hope I haven't bit off more than I can chew but I'm going to start a youtube channel. Podcast numbers have been dwindling with the rise of short form video and tiktok. The Peripheral is my passion project and I hope to keep it going with youtube. It will always be available on every podcast platform so no worries there! 

Thank you to all my patreon supporters you make this all happen. 

Justin

https://www.youtube.com/@theperipheralpodcast

https://www.patreon.com/peripheralpodcast

In this heartfelt episode, I speak with Marissa realities of adult children stepping into the caregiver role for their aging parents. Our guest shares a deeply personal story of navigating healthcare decisions, managing finances, and balancing their own life while caring for a parent in decline. We discuss the unexpected challenges, the moments of connection, and the ways this journey reshapes the parent-child relationship. Whether you're currently in this position or anticipating it in the future, this episode offers insights, support, and a reminder that you're not alone.

Today, I speak with Ben Schmidt, a licensed funeral director and content creator. I ask him questions about what happens after you die, how the body is prepared for last rites, and what families should expect during the process. We also delve into the case of Kendrick Johnson—the teen who died under mysterious circumstances in a gym mat—and the condition in which his body was returned to his family.

We really get into the weeds, nerding out on the details surrounding embalming and cremation. I even ask Ben about the pros and cons of smoking formaldehyde.

Ben shares some fascinating scientific insight into the embalming process, especially in the first 20 minutes. Personally, I love the level of detail, but don’t worry—we mix up the topics regularly throughout the episode.

I met Xavier many years ago at a meetup in California. He’s incredibly talented and radiates positivity. Over the years, he’s been involved in several music projects as a singer and songwriter, and we hit it off immediately.

In today’s episode, we discuss a family vacation he took with his father—what should have been a relaxing getaway in a tropical paradise instead turned into a tense ordeal, navigating family conflicts. Adding alcohol to the mix doesn't help. 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ai61DeA6TloJOZ8TYcqMf?si=Mx9Anxn1RCCbybz3QgE_WQ

https://www.instagram.com/virtualnobodies/

"Consent is the voluntary, informed, and enthusiastic agreement to engage in an activity, particularly when it comes to personal boundaries or intimate situations. It involves clear communication, mutual respect, and understanding that any party has the right to say "no" at any time, without facing pressure or consequences. Consent is crucial for building trust, ensuring safety, and promoting healthy, respectful interactions in all areas of life." I pulled this definition of consent from ChatGPT because even a robot gets it when the rest of the world seems to struggle. 

CONSENT CAN BE WITHDRAWN AT ANYTIME

 Today's episode I speak with Kenna about a situation she found herself where she became intimate with a man who did not respect her wishes, care about her as a person and only wanted to take. She shares details about the attack, the actions she took and the emotional toll it left. 

As much as I like to mix my topics up, I felt this was needed to piggyback off the last update episode. I have many more topics coming up, from morticians to healthcare. 

On today's episode, I welcome back Lisa, who was featured on episode 21, "Why We Don't Report Rape." A quick recap: she served in the Coast Guard and was attacked in her room while stationed there. She couldn’t identify her attacker, nor was she allowed to put a lock on her door for security. It was a very upsetting episode, and when she reached out, I was thrilled to hear from her. I was hoping for good news, but instead, she shares how she was attacked again. From there, she confides in me the treatment that worked for her, and we discover that we have something in common.

I was really excited to speak with her and had some unexpected surprises during the conversation.

Happy Halloween! For tonight's creepy episode, I interview Joe Diamond (what a name!) who is a mentalist and magician. He's had a storied career and life growing up in a conservative town while pursuing his dreams of becoming a magician. We talk about his time on Penn and Teller's Fool Us, delve into philosophy, and even do a few magic tricks.

https://www.joediamondlive.com/

https://www.instagram.com/joediamondlive/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kql5oar-UIE&t=2s

Here on the peripheral, we talked a lot about drinking and alcoholism. Something we've never discussed is what happens once you stop drinking.

What is it like to live a sober lifestyle? How does the rest of the world treat somebody who chooses not to consume alcohol? You might not realize how intertwined drinking is in our culture and society. In everything we do, alcohol is available. In any event or situation, even at church, alcohol will be provided.

It's accessible anywhere, and even when there's a global pandemic, liquor stores are considered vital or essential. I stopped drinking several years ago, and at every event I attend or outing I go on, I face peer pressure, shaming, and even ridicule for not drinking.

Today, I speak with Rebekah, who recently celebrated her seventh year of sobriety. I decided to have a conversation with her and ask about her experiences after choosing to give up alcohol.

Check out Rebekah's new podcast!

https://www.tyfyipod.com/

https://www.instagram.com/hi_itsrebekah/

https://linktr.ee/neurospicycounseling