This week the Perfectionists (I’ve decided that’s what Ellen and Dennis are called–it’s canon now) welcome motion graphics designer and storyteller Jenny Bee to the studio to talk about mental health in art. We get into how school and work cultures wrongly glorify sacrificing our bodies to get ahead.

Mentioned in this episode:

Kelly McGonigal’s TED Talk on stress: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/looking-up-with-dr-deepika-chopra/id1519100248?i=1000482856868

Health writer and wonderful human Hannah Chase gabs with the perfectionists (aka Ellen and Dennis) about being a perfect patient, advocating for yourself, and people pleasing–and we learn what a mustache does for your resting neutral face.

Check out our Instagram for more fun with mustaches and wigs! @pursuitofperfectness

You can find Hannah’s writing at hannahchase.medium.com where she mostly writes about chronic illness.

Ellen and Dennis have their first guest, and it’s–spoiler alert–Ellen’s brother! Greg Matthews is a data scientist and visual artist, an improviser, a fledgling standup, and a father. He talks about which of these things fill him with anxiety and how he copes, plus he shares some cool data art. You can find Greg’s art at statsinthewild.com and on our instagram @pursuitofperfectness.

In this inaugural episode, Ellen and Dennis introduce the concept of perfectionism and the specific shapes it tends to take in their lives and in the broader culture. They also talk about what the show is, what the show isn’t, and what’s coming up in the first season.

Hosts Ellen Matthews and Dennis Pacheco introduce The Pursuit of Perfectness, a podcast for perfectionists and people who are just a bit too hard on themselves. New episodes every Thursday.