A reflective look at the world of celebrity and fame; the breakdowns, perfectionism, and the pressures we place on ourselves in an image-obsessed culture.

Why do the people we admire most celebrities, influencers, icons so often collapse under the very success we crave? And more importantly, what does their anxiety, addiction, and burnout reveal about our own silent struggles?

Reference:

The Myth of Normal Gabor Maté

Self-Compassion Kristin Neff

The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life Erving Goffman

Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention Johann Hari

The Gifts of Imperfection Brené Brown

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

An episode about hose moments of anxiety on a train, the sting of failure, the tenderness of grief, and the surprising freedom that came when we stopped trying to control everything. When relationships act as mirrors, how memory shapes meaning, and why small, identity-based habits often matter more than grand transformations.

Massive thank you to Kelly P for this notion of how we learn to be present with ourselves and others.

 For anyone who’s tired of chasing the “next” and ready to practice being fully "HERE"

Reference:

Emotional Intelligence Daniel Goleman

The Untethered Soul Michael A. Singer

A New Earth Eckhart Tolle

The Gifts of Imperfection Brené Brown

Emotional First Aid Guy Winch

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

Our Book Review of the Month is on how to confront the one truth we all share: we’re all going to die. Inspired by Irvin D. Yalom’s profound book "Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death", We explore what it really means to live with the awareness of our own mortality and how that awareness, far from paralyzing us, can actually set us free.

Through storytelling, hard-won insights, modern psychology, and ancient philosophy, I unpack how death anxiety affects our relationships, our work, our choices—and how to transform it into courage, purpose, and deep presence.

References

Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death Irvin D. Yalom

The Denial of Death Ernest Becker

Man’s Search for Meaning Viktor E. Frankl

Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole Susan Cain

The Five Regrets of the Dying Bronnie Ware

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

How are you really? What happens when the online world collides with the real one; like meeting internet friends for the first time?

And what does it truly take to show up for others while staying grounded in your own healing?

Reference:

.The Creative Act A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

Digital Relationships & Mental Health (2017).

Lost Connections Johann Hari

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

Some of us feel everything, others not so much move through life with steadiness and calm. Psychologists call this the difference between high neuroticism and low neuroticism. The strengths and challenges of each emotional style. How worriers and warriors can connect without clashing. Tools to balance warmth and competence in communication. Personal stories of growth, friendship, and letting go of perfection. Practical, science-backed exercises you can start using today.

Reference:

The Highly Sensitive Person Elaine N. Aron

Emotional Agility Susan David

Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication Vanessa Van Edwards

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

Today let's explore the Celtic festival of Samhain, the ancient New Year marking the end of summer and the thinning of the veil between worlds. The origins of today’s most beloved Halloween customs—bonfires, costumes, lanterns, divination games—and the communities that kept them alive through centuries of change. Along the way, we’ll see how Irish people have adapted their traditions without losing their essence, holding fast to the values of connection, protection, and shared storytelling.

Reference:

Samhain: The Roots of Halloween Luke Eastwood

Archaeology Ireland Excavations at the Hill of Ward

The Ritual Process Victor Turner

History.com Halloween Origins & Irish Influence

Derry Halloween – Festival Programme & History

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

Spoiler Disclaimer: This episode contains detailed discussion of the plot and characters of Martyr!

Our Book of the Month to reflect on is Martyr! by Kaveh Akbara.

A story that forces us to confront the weight of attention, grief, and meaning in our own lives with characters that define what matters, how their choices of where to place attention shape the novel’s themes, and what lessons we can draw for wellness, identity, and connection.

A very special shoutout goes to @ShawneeAtTheLake for putting this book in my hands. Martyr! landed like an immense slap in the face—demanding not passive reading but active reflection, both literary and personal.

Reference:

Martyr! Kaveh Akbar

Man’s Search for Meaning Viktor E. Frankl

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts Gabor Maté

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

key insights from books like Irresistible by Adam Alter, Influence by Robert Cialdini, and Extremely Online by Taylor Lorenz, Stuart unpacks what it really means to live for likes and what we lose in the process. The mental toll of constant performance. How social media rewires our self-worth. The difference between true influence and online popularity. Why not all visibility is valuable.

Irresistible by Adam Alter

Influence by Robert Cialdini

Extremely Online by Taylor Lorenz

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

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

Lessons from the Living and the Dying. Why “Don’t Wait” may be the most important life advice you’ll ever hear. How mortality can become a mirror for living with purpose. The emotional and scientific cost of distraction. Why slow, intentional mornings can reshape your mind and mood. The healing power of “I’m sorry” in relationships. And the five most common regrets at life’s end and how to avoid them now.

What it means to live fully and love deeply without carrying regrets to the end.

References:

Frank Ostaseski’s The Five Invitations,

Bronnie Ware’s The Top Five Regrets of the Dying,

Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning,

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