The Real Question

Zoe was always proud of the fact that she didn't own a car. It reflected her environmentalist values and helped her stay more deeply in community. But after a recent move to Colorado, it's clear that a car would make her life a lot better. So she's wondering: when is it important to stick to your values even when it's hard? And when it is okay to revise your values to make your life easier?

This week on Should I Quit? Vanessa and Zoe explore how keep yourself from complacency.

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shannon recently withdrew from her PhD program – with two young kids and a full time job, it wasn't the right time. Now, a few weeks out from the decision, she's asking herself: what's the plan? Does she set aside her dream of getting a PhD? Or should she plan on going back? If so, when?

This week on Should I Quit? Vanessa and Shannon explore how to make slow decisions.

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Megan believes in doing the ‘right thing’ even when it’s a little inconvenient, so she bought herself an ethical phone. This phone is supposed to be 'forever' – the answer to our cultural habit of constantly buying new technology every few years. This phone is also really annoying. But is it annoying enough to give up on her ideals and switch to a ‘normal’ phone? 

This week on Should I Quit? Vanessa and Megan discuss which small actions matter and how to stick with them.

If you’re interested in reading more about the ethics of mining cobalt, we highly recommend this piece from NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/02/01/1152893248/red-cobalt-congo-drc-mining-siddharth-kara

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After two years of Should I Quit?, Vanessa is moving on to other projects. The Real Question is sticking around though, with a brand new host and a new question!

If you'd like to submit a final question for Should I Quit? or be one of the first voices in our next season, you can submit here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephanie used to call her dad every day. Then she realized: she was the only one putting work into their relationship. If she stopped calling, they stopped talking. So now, they don't really talk. But their relationship (or lack thereof) has been hanging over her head. Should she put the work in to try to fix it? Or is it time to just let go of the hope of a close and reciprocal relationship with her dad?

This week on Should I Quit? Vanessa and Stephanie discuss how to have honest, loving and realistic relationships.

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrea keeps having this problem: as soon as her single guy friends get a serious partner, it feels like she can't be close friends with them anymore. This doesn't happen with her female friends. It feels gendered, and it hurts. Is this going to keep happening? Should she stop investing in relationships with single, straight men?

This week on Should I Quit? Vanessa and Andrea explore the unspoken rules and fears among single friends.

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're thrilled today to be joined by story-telling coach Micaela Blei – the co-teacher of our upcoming memoir writing class. Micaela enjoys making her home beautiful. She's good at scouring thrift stores and finding just the right touch to bring everything together. She's also a little bit ashamed of how much time and attention she puts into buying home goods. Is she making her days at home easier and better through small improvements? Or is she frivolously spending on un-important things?

This week on Should I Quit? Micaela and Vanessa discuss how to know if our self-soothing techniques are positive or over-indulgent.

If you enjoyed hearing Vanessa and Micaela on this episode, you can sign-up for their class: https://notsorryworks.com/writing-workshops-2024#memoir

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Megan has always hated the dating apps. She's tried them – they're awful! Recently, however, she's been wondering if she should suck it up and give them another try. Is online dating truly the best way to find a romantic partner? Or should she continue waiting and hoping to meet someone 'organically' in the world?

This week on Should I Quit? Vanessa and Megan discuss how to be clear-sighted and intentional while dating.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hope Rehak has been trying to treat her acne for the last 20 years. She's bought all kinds of things to 'help' – pills, shots, serums, and creams – but nothing has really worked long term. Is it finally time to just accept her skin for what it is?

This week on Should I Quit? Vanessa and Hope discuss the struggles and limits of body positivity. 

If you enjoyed listening to Hope today be sure to check out her Substack, Obsessions this Week, and her upcoming screenwriting class!

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For most of their life, Kat had a plan: move in with someone, get married, have kids. But recently they’ve been re-evaluating. They live with a long-term partner and are very happy. Would being ‘married’ change anything? Or do they just want marriage because that's what society has guided them towards?

This week in Should I Quit? Vanessa and Kat explore why we want the things we want and how to ask for them.

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.