This week on the podcast, we are diving deeper into one subcategory of the physical dimension: Exercise! Join us for a meaningful and body positive conversation about moving our bodies, breaking a sweat, and freeing ourselves from the cycle of exercise as punishment. The Rapid Fire segment brings us back to a lighter note before we move into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to chat about all things exercise and movement. 

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

0:49 - Our exercise and fitness journeys 

11:43 - Why do people exercise? 

15:11 - The impact of social media on exercise habits

17:18 - Reframing exercise in a positive light

24:25 - How important is rest? 

26:16 - Rapid fire!!!

29:35 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 

36:03 - How ya feelin’? 

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: 

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/ 

Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green - https://everythingistb.com/ 

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/donna-tartt 

Amazing Glaze - https://www.amazingglaze.net/ 

Six Seasons of Pasta by Joshua McFadden - https://www.joshuamcfadden.com/projects/six-seasons-of-pasta 

Find Us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theyearwegotbetter/ 

Find Us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheYearWeGotBetter

We wouldn’t be a wellness podcast without a deep dive into body image. Our topic for week fifteen touches on many different dimensions of wellness but particularly on physical and emotional health. We’re talking about everything from societal pressures to fatphobia to boobs. As always, we bring back some silliness in the Rapid Fire segment before moving into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to learn more about where we’re at with our body image these days. 

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

1:00 - Our current relationships with our bodies

5:24 - Early messaging about body image 

11:43 - Weight-loss drugs

15:04 - Where we find positive body image

17:43 - How body image changes over time

26:58 - Tips and tricks to improve your body image

32:39 - Rapid fire!!!

34:13 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 

39:21 - How ya feelin’? 

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: 

Nicola Coughlan represents the “perfect breasts community” - https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/on-bridgerton-nicola-coughlan-proudly-represents-women-with-perfect-breasts 

Tapas Teatro Baltimore - http://www.tapasteatro.com/ 

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/donna-tartt/the-goldfinch/9780316055437/?lens=little-brown 

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/

Social media: Is it actually social anymore? For week fourteen, we are focusing on the social dimension, diving deeper into the landscape of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more. We talk about our own experiences as social media users, the impact of AI, and the addiction factor. As always, the Rapid Fire segment brings back the levity before we move into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to learn more about our social media hot takes. 

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

1:13 - The stats on social media

2:08 - What is happening with social media these days? 

6:20 - Connection and disconnection on social media

12:21 - Does social media make our lives better? 

17:30 - Fundamental shifts in social media and the impact of AI

24:01 - Balancing analog and digital lives

27:05 - Rapid fire!!!

29:07 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 

34:13 - How ya feelin’? 

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: 

“Can’t Look Away” documentary - https://www.jolt.film/watch/cantlookaway 

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book 

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250391230/carelesspeople/ 

“AI-altered photos and videos of Minneapolis shootings blur reality” (NBC News) - https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/ai-altered-photos-videos-minneapolis-shootings-blur-reality-rcna256552 

L.L. Bean Sherpa Jacket - https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/128413 

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/donna-tartt/the-goldfinch/9780316055437/?lens=little-brown 

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/ 

Small Thing Like These by Claire Keegan - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/small-things-like-these-claire-keegan/1139228770 

Roasted White Bean and Tomato Pasta - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024062-roasted-white-bean-and-tomato-pasta 
Dessert Person cookbook by Claire Saffitz - https://www.dessertperson.com/dessert-person-cookbook

You asked for it, we brought it! For week thirteen, we are focusing on values. We talk about how to live a value-driven life, why understanding your values builds empowerment, and how they change over time. Plus, we share some of our core values and discuss what happens when values collide. As always, the Rapid Fire segment takes a chaotic turn before we move into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to learn more about our key values and how we embrace them in everyday life. 

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

0:45 - What does the term “values” mean?

1:34 - Why is it important to determine your values?

2:30 - Our values stories

7:53 - How do values influence decision-making?

11:32 - False binaries and the black and white thinking fallacy

18:37 - The values sort exercise

25:04 - Living into our values in real life

33:41 - Rapid fire!!!

36:58 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 

43:57 - How ya feelin’? 

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: 

Printable values sort template - https://psychwire.com/free-resources/clinical-tools/resource-1homhnz/personal-values-card-sort 

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/ 

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755600/the-correspondent-by-virginia-evans/ 

Get a Letter From Quinn - https://forms.gle/vk1wmSFo71HSVtoHA 

Quinn’s Substack - https://thisismyyear.substack.com/

How does failure fit into the overall equation of mental health? On week twelve of the podcast, we are diving into societal expectations, the false dichotomy of failure and success, and making your own rules. As always, we get rowdy on the Rapid Fire segment before moving onto our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to learn more about our latest failures and how we constantly renegotiate the concept of success!

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

1:08 - What does failure mean to us? 

8:10 - What can we learn from failure?  

16:27 - Failure and self-worth

18:30 - Fear of failure

21:19 - Rapid fire!!!

24:45 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 

35:35 - How ya feelin’? 

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: 

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755600/the-correspondent-by-virginia-evans/ 

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - https://www.allenlevi.com/the-book 

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf - https://heathergudenkauf.com/the-overnight-guest/ 

Vegetarian bean and cheese burritos - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022532-bean-and-cheese-burritos 

Pea stew - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026665-spiced-pea-stew-with-yogurt 

Red lentil soup - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016062-red-lentil-soup 

TBR Writing and Publishing Conference - https://www.tbr.boston/ 

Quinn’s Substack - https://thisismyyear.substack.com/

Welcome back to week eleven of the podcast! We dive into the environmental dimension of wellness, exploring topics like sustainability, travel, and the Marie Kondo method. Of course, we love our Rapid Fire segment and our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to find out if we manage to get a handle on what environmental wellness means!

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

1:01 - What does environmental wellness mean?

4:48 - The importance of nature and spending time outdoors

6:30 - Sustainability X environmental wellness

10:30 - Travel and shaking up your environment

13:29 - Tips and tricks for environmental wellness

15:04 - Rapid fire!!!

17:00 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 

26:03 - How ya feelin’? 

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: 

“Eight Dimensions of Wellness” (UC Davis) - https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/health-and-wellness/eight-dimensions-wellness 

“Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall” documentary  - https://www.netflix.com/title/82053197 

Costiera Baltimore - https://costierabaltimore.com/ 

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755600/the-correspondent-by-virginia-evans/ 

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - https://www.allenlevi.com/the-book 

Before I Forget by Tori Henwood Hoen - https://toryhenwoodhoen.com/before-i-forget 

Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel - https://isabelleengel.com/books/most-eligible 

Creamy Tortellini Soup - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026148-creamy-tortellini-soup 

TBR Writing and Publishing Conference - https://www.tbr.boston/ 

Welcome back to week ten of the podcast! We dive into the occupational dimension of wellness, exploring topics like hustle culture, work-life balance, and our dream jobs. Of course, we would never skip over our Rapid Fire segment and our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to find out if we discover deeper meaning in our careers! 

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

1:58 - What does occupational wellness mean?

5:21 - Live to work vs. work to live

8:25 - Hustle culture

11:25 - Professional growth and development

16:27 - Tips and tricks

22:18 - Rapid fire!!!

25:39 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: 

Into Thin Air by John Krakauer - https://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/0385494785 

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb - https://www.amazon.com/Maybe-You-Should-Talk-Someone/dp/1328662055 

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory - https://www.jasmineguillory.com/party-of-two 

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez - https://www.amazon.com/Friend-Zone-Abby-Jimenez/dp/1538715600 

Half Baked Harvest Super Simple by Tieghan Gerard - https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/cookbook/half-baked-harvest-super-simple/ 

Six Seasons of Pasta by Joshua McFadden - https://www.joshuamcfadden.com/projects/six-seasons-of-pasta 

Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz - https://www.dessertperson.com/dessert-person-cookbook 

Quinn’s Substack - https://thisismyyear.substack.com/ 

Welcome back to week nine of the podcast! We are interrupting our usual programming to bring you a special New Year’s episode. We dive into the hype around New Year’s resolutions, exploring topics like goal-setting, self-improvement, and some toxic trends. Of course, we would never skip over our Rapid Fire segment and our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness.  

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

1:08 - New Year’s resolutions fun facts 

3:52 - Why are New Year’s resolutions so popular? 

8:37 - Do we make New Year’s resolutions?

13:40 - Resolutions versus goals

17:42 - Tips and tricks for sticking to our goals 

20:38 - Our 2026 New Year’s resolutions

25:17 - Rapid fire!!!

28:43 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?

37:40 - How ya feelin’?  

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: 

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory - https://www.jasmineguillory.com/flirting-lessons 

Into Thin Air by John Krakauer - https://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/0385494785 

Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz - https://www.dessertperson.com/dessert-person-cookbook 

THE Bread Pudding Recipe - https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/vermont-maple-bread-pudding-with-walnut-praline-230662 

Tiramisu Recipe - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018684-classic-tiramisu 

Holiday Cheese Log - https://carolefood.com/recipe/cranberry-cheese-log#google_vignette 

TBR Conference - https://www.tbr.boston/ 

Welcome back to week eight of the podcast! We are taking a closer look at the financial dimension, discussing topics like financial decision paralysis, the taboo around talking about money, and each of our financial journeys. Tune in to hear us get real about the challenges of navigating financial education and imposter syndrome as young adults. 

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

1:06 - Why is it so hard to talk about finances? 

3:37 - Education around financial topics

10:24 - Drew’s personal finance journey

20:28 - Quinn’s personal finance journey

33:55 - Budgeting and finances as a couple

39:13 - Rapid fire!!!

44:19 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?

53:10 - How ya feelin’? 

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: 

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-psychology-of-money-morgan-housel/1136394564 

Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap - https://herfirst100k.com/financial-feminist-book 

Holiday Baking Substack - https://thisismyyear.substack.com/p/week-8-holy-christmas-cookies 

Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015819-chocolate-chip-cookies 

Lemon Turmeric Crinkle Cookies - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026302-lemon-turmeric-crinkle-cookies 

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024782-mexican-hot-chocolate-cookies 

Brown Butter Rice Krispies Treats - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023659-rice-krispies-treats 

Vietnamese Coffee Swirl Brownies -  https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1027498-vietnamese-coffee-swirl-brownies 

Three-Ingredient Dog Treats: https://tastythriftytimely.com/3-ingredient-dog-treats-home-made-with-love/

The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad - https://www.suleikajaouad.com/the-book-of-alchemy 

Into Thin Air by John Krakauer - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/95441/into-thin-air-by-jon-krakauer-new-afterword-by-the-author/ 

WriteHQ - https://www.write-hq.com/ 

Welcome back to week seven of the podcast! We are taking a closer look at the creative dimension, exploring topics like the relationship between creativity and boredom, myths about not being creative enough, and the possibility of scheduling creativity. Obviously, there is a chaotic rapid fire segment and plenty of tangents. 

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

00:38 - Creativity as a dimension of wellness

4:35 - Nature or nurture, creativity edition

6:55 - Myths about creativity

12:51 - How is boredom related to creativity? 

17:00 - Can creativity be scheduled? 

19:30 - How we practice creativity 

23:40 - Rapid fire!!!

29:20 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?

41:15 - How ya feelin’? 

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: 

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-psychology-of-money-morgan-housel/1136394564 

Untamed by Glennon Doyle - https://untamedbook.com/