In this archived episode of The Soul of Life, Keith Miller sits down with Deirdre Wolownick, author of The Sharp End of Life and mother of world-renowned climber Alex Honnold.

The conversation lands at a moment when Alex has once again captured global attention—this time for scaling the exterior of Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world, without ropes. The climb, carried out as a public stunt rather than a wilderness ascent, brought his unique relationship to risk, preparation, and consequence back into public view.

From that context, Keith speaks with Deirdre about what it's actually like to parent someone whose work regularly triggers awe, fear, and judgment. She reflects on Alex's early temperament, the discipline behind his climbs, and the difference between recklessness and lifelong preparation. She also shares her own story—of endurance, late-in-life climbing, a difficult marriage, depression, and what it means to live on the "sharp end" of life herself.

👉 If you enjoyed this conversation, come join us on our new podcast Tripping Over Love — where we explore relationships, psychedelics, healing, sex, conflict, and what it really takes to love without losing yourself.

Subscribe on YouTube: @trippingoverlove Podcast links:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC

Substack: https://trippingoverlove.substack.com/

Instagram: @trippingoverlovepodcast

TikTok: @trippingoverlove

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrippingOverLovePodcast/

In this episode of The Soul of Life, Keith Miller sits down with Jay Earley, one of the most influential teachers of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and the author of Self‑Therapy.

Jay breaks down IFS in clear, practical terms—explaining how our inner critics, procrastinators, taskmasters, and other "parts" aren't enemies, but protectors with positive intent.

Together, Keith and Jay explore how inner polarizations create suffering, how Self-leadership brings relief, and why working with our inner system—not against it—creates real change. The conversation goes beyond therapy to look at:

Why parts are not what they seem How the Self becomes the true healing agent The difference between intellectual insight and experiential change Why polarization shows up in both personal lives and modern culture How inner work may be essential for collective healing This episode is ideal for therapists, coaches, and anyone curious about IFS, trauma healing, or learning how to make peace with internal conflict.

👉 If you enjoyed this conversation, come join us on our new podcast Tripping Over Love — where we explore relationships, psychedelics, healing, sex, conflict, and what it really takes to love without losing yourself.

Subscribe on YouTube: @trippingoverlove Podcast links:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC

Substack: https://trippingoverlove.substack.com/

Instagram: @trippingoverlovepodcast

TikTok: @trippingoverlove

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrippingOverLovePodcast/

In this episode from the Soul of Life archives, Keith Miller sits down with Dr. Rachel Rubin, a board-certified urologist and sexual medicine specialist, for a deeply practical and myth-busting conversation about sexual health, desire, and the biology we rarely talk about.

Dr. Rubin explains why many sexual concerns — including erectile dysfunction, low libido, orgasm difficulty, and pain — are often biological first, not psychological. She breaks down how sexual health connects to cardiovascular health, hormones, nerves, muscles, and blood flow, and why ignoring these factors leaves many people feeling confused, ashamed, or untreated.

✨ And if you enjoyed this archive episode, check out Keith's new podcast Tripping Over Love, now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Substack.

LISTEN TO TRIPPING OVER LOVE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC

In this archival episode of The Soul of Life, Keith Miller sits down with award-winning science fiction writer Ken Liu for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, storytelling, technology, and what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world.

Liu explores the illusion of a single, stable self, drawing from philosophy, psychology, and his own writing to examine how identity continuously evolves over time. He challenges the modern obsession with "pure rationality," arguing that emotion quietly underpins every value system we claim is objective.

✨ And if you enjoyed this archive episode, check out Keith's new podcast Tripping Over Love, now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Substack.

LISTEN TO TRIPPING OVER LOVE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC

In this episode, Keith speaks with Lou Lucas, Chief of Palliative Medicine at the Nebraska and Western Iowa Veterans Health Care Systems, about the deep connections between mind, body, and spirit in healing.

They explore what palliative medicine actually is, why communication and meaning matter as much as treatment, and how stress, trauma, and emotional suppression can shape physical illness. Lou explains how our immune systems respond to chronic stress, why autoimmune conditions often reflect deeper internal conflict, and how healing begins when we stop fighting parts of ourselves.

The conversation also dives into Internal Family Systems (IFS), the concept of Self or soul, and how working with inner parts can restore balance and resilience. Lou introduces her concept of "pallia-delic" medicine—relieving suffering by revealing the mind—and explains how psychedelic-assisted therapy differs fundamentally from recreational drug use.

✨ And if you enjoyed this archive episode, check out Keith's new podcast Tripping Over Love, now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Substack.

LISTEN TO TRIPPING OVER LOVE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC

Substack: https://trippingoverlove.substack.com/

📱 Follow us Instagram: @trippingoverlovepodcast

TikTok: @trippingoverlove Facebook: Tripping Over Love Podcast

In this in-depth archival conversation from The Soul of Life, Keith Miller speaks with Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, about how the modern mental-health system misunderstands trauma—and why that misunderstanding matters.

Van der Kolk reflects on the original creation of the PTSD diagnosis, why the term "trauma" has become dangerously imprecise, and how psychiatric labels like narcissism or borderline personality disorder can interfere with genuine human connection.

He shares his sharp critique of the DSM, the insurance-driven logic behind diagnosis, and why clinicians must learn to see the whole person—not just symptoms.

The conversation also explores emerging and often misunderstood treatments, including MDMA-assisted therapy, psychedelics, and neurofeedback, along with a powerful reflection on the late Rich Simon and the limits of any single "miracle cure."

✨ If you enjoyed this archive episode, check out Keith's new podcast Tripping Over Love, now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Substack.

LISTEN TO TRIPPING OVER LOVE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC

Substack: https://trippingoverlove.substack.com/

📱 Follow us Instagram: @trippingoverlovepodcast

TikTok: @trippingoverlove Facebook: Tripping Over Love Podcast

In this episode of The Soul of Life I speak with Dr. Langer about how a comfort with uncertainty and curiosity--mindfulness--creates powerful changes in the brain. We discuss her famous "counterclockwise" studies and her claims that mindfulness leads to powerful improvements in health generally, and specific improvements in memory, vision, and hearing.

✨ And if you enjoyed this archive episode, check out Keith's new podcast Tripping Over Love, now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Substack.

LISTEN TO TRIPPING OVER LOVE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC

Substack: https://trippingoverlove.substack.com/

📱 Follow us Instagram: @trippingoverlovepodcast

TikTok: @trippingoverlove Facebook: Tripping Over Love Podcast

What really makes a marriage thrive—not just survive?

In this episode, Keith Miller sits down with Dr. Corey Allen, marriage and family therapist and host of Sexy Marriage Radio, to explore the honest, funny, and sometimes uncomfortable truths about intimacy, faith, and long-term desire.

From mismatched libidos to shame, spirituality, and the "long game" of real connection, Corey brings years of wisdom about how sexual issues are life issues—and why every couple can grow, no matter where they start.

If you've ever wondered how to stay connected through change, conflict, and real-life stress, this one's for you.

💬 Leave a comment: What's been the hardest part of keeping intimacy alive in your relationship?

✨ And if you enjoyed this archive episode, check out Keith's new podcast Tripping Over Love, now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Substack.

LISTEN TO TRIPPING OVER LOVE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC

Substack: https://trippingoverlove.substack.com/

📱 Follow us Instagram: @trippingoverlovepodcast

TikTok: @trippingoverlove

Facebook: Tripping Over Love Podcast

In this archived episode of The Soul of Life, Keith Miller speaks with Vybarr Cregan-Reid, British scholar and author of Footnotes: How Running Makes Us Human. They explore barefoot running, the biomechanics of human evolution, the psychology of running outdoors, the science of the runner's high, shoe design myths, and how modern life has weakened our bodies.

This conversation is full of insights for lifelong runners, beginners, or anyone curious about what the human body is actually designed to do.

Enjoying this episode? Keith's new show is live — Tripping Over Love, a podcast about relationships, psychedelics, emotional healing, conflict, sex, and the parts of ourselves that trip us up. Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@trippingoverlove Or find Tripping Over Love on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

We're launching Tripping Over Love on Tuesday, November 25th. It's the podcast about breakups, breakdowns, and breakthroughs.

We're Courtney Laydon, former journalist, and Keith Miller, a marriage and IFS therapist who found each other while tripping over love.

We ask one big question: What if the secret to lasting love isn't getting it right… but getting real?

Next week, we're launching our first four episodes—and they're a ride:

• Molly Roden Winter on open marriage, jealousy, honesty, and why real intimacy is way less "sexy" and way more human.

• Dr. Tammy Nelson on sex, intimacy, psychedelic healing, and how ketamine can open more than just your mind.

• Dr. John Krystal, one of the inventors of intranasal ketamine, on the future of psychedelic medicine

• And wild stories from the Keith and Courtney dating experiences...including one that became "ecstatic" and opened Keith up to the kind of dance parties he missed out on as a teen

Tripping Over Love is not a podcast about perfect love. It's about conscious love—the kind that asks you to laugh, feel, grow, and sometimes completely fall apart.

Subscribe now. The mess begins next week.

👉 Watch the new show here: / @trippingoverlove

✍️ Substack: https://trippingoverlove.substack.com/

📸 Instagram: @trippingoverlovepodcast

🎬 TikTok: @trippingoverlove 🔗 Facebook: / trippingoverlovepodcast