Trails of Thought podcast

By Penny Atkinson

Do you love sending long voice notes....but you've exhausted everyone on your contact list (even your mum's not listening anymore)? Some of us just have to talk out loud! Think of Trails of Thought as... more

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FAQs about Trails of Thought podcast:

How many episodes does Trails of Thought podcast have?

The podcast currently has 42 episodes available.

Trails of Thought podcast episodes:

October 24, 2024 Let women be women
Don't you find it a bit weird that society often refers to women between the age of 20-40 'girl'? I'm a big fan of the Golden Girls (RIP) and we'll let the name slide since it uses a nice bit of alliteration. But that's the last time anyone should refer to women as girls. Let's leave that in the 80s. We live in a world that loves to diminish and infantilise women. You know, shave off all body hair like a little girl, take on your husband's name, be quiet, pretty and agreeable, don't take up too much space, wear clothing that's hard to move in etc. etc. This common labelling of grown women as 'girl' is just another iteration of this. Calling any female from the age of 20-40 'woman' feels odd - yet that's literally what they are! Why is it that we feel more comfortable with the connotations of being a 'girl' but not a 'woman'. It's like everyone is a 'girl' up until they reach perimenopause and then we drop them into 'woman' territory. What's up with that? I talk about my own personal boycotting of the label 'girl' for anyone over 20.
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21min
October 23, 2024 Ghosting a kn*bhead
Sure, ghosting isn't good manners. And generally, I don't do it. But with a caveat. Like, when someone is a kn*bhead, and I realise that responding to them would take way more time and energy, than they've put into their messages to me. It seems, some people feel entitled to your respect and consideration when they haven't extended the same to you? Yes, 'No' is a full sentence. But also, total silence can be the best answer. Turns out some men really don't like being ghosted though, and he certainly gave me his own 'one word' response when I later passed him in the street.
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17min
October 22, 2024 Martyr Mothers and Passive Padres
I went a bit off piste yesterday talking about the drama triangle and my own personal grievances. So today I have my final attempt at explaining the drama triangle. I don't think I do the victim role justice in this description. Basically, the point of the triangle is when we get into unhealthy relationship dynamics that we repeat over and over, with no one taking accountability for their own emotional experience. The persecutor takes a place of righteous anger, wanting to punish others. The victim feels like everything is done 'to' them and basically disempowers themself or puts the blame on others. And the saviour - to deal with their own discomfort or anxiety etc. - tries to rescue everyone else, coming in to fix things and try and make everything ok.
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10min
October 21, 2024 Mini vendettas and being overly polite
If you're like me, you're overly polite and conscious of other people's needs and space...to the point that you needlessly go out of your way to make yourself uncomfortable. If you're also like me, you put anyone else who doesn't do this on your mental black list. The recent additions to my list are an older man in a yoga class, who didn't move his shoes out of the way, and a young buck in my apartment building who parked his motorbike almost on top of my scooter. Entitled or what?! I wonder whether I'm projecting my own 'drama triangle' on these random strangers. Putting myself as both victim and persecutor.
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19min
October 18, 2024 The Drama Triangle part 1
Do you ever find yourself constantly trying to fix things for other people? Like mediating between your mum and dad, or rescuing your latest 'broken beau'? Or perhaps it seems like everything happens to you, and other people just need to stop being kn*b heads. This morning was supposed to be a mindful walk, but my wandering mind decided to talk about the model from psychology, known as the Drama Triangle - victim, persecutor, savior. Towards the end, my walk takes me into a temple area. So, in an attempt to be respectable, I lower my voice. But I reckon I just go too quiet and muffled. Which would have been annoying to listen to. So I've cut the voice mail off there, and will continue chatting about it tomorrow.

Also, I said ipad at the beginning, but I meant ipod...I don't walk around talking into an ipad!
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22min
October 16, 2024 Hospital fantasies
Do you ever secretly wish you could have a non-life threatening illness, just so you can rest for a bit? Perhaps you've caught your brain fleetingly considering a loved one's death? Don't worry, you're not a weirdo, a psycho or a wrong-un. I talk about what your subconscious is telling you when you have these random thoughts. A lot of it ties into society's fixation with progress and productivity. Especially if you're socialised as female. The 'loved-one's death fantasy' is likely your brain trying to resolve tricky relationships. Obs, this is not something you'll ever act on! I also share the time I stayed anonymously in a hotel for a month, and still felt incredibly guilty. What a waste! Recorded on my old old iphone (and not my old ipod), so the sound quality is a bit better today.
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20min
October 15, 2024 Cats vs. Dogs
Are you a cat or dog person??? It's not like I'm fighting off lovers, but I'd mark it as a red flag if someone asked me that. The question is basic and boring as! It's on the same level as asking someone if they consider pineapple as a legitimate pizza topping. Seriously, who cares. You'll also notice that people who identify as dog lovers, often demand on telling you why cats are so sh*t. Chill out, mate. I also think people who use a pet as a personality extension need to build a bit of self-esteem. It's an animal, not an accessory. Sorry for the poor sound quality, I'll sort out a proper recording environment eventually.
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12min
October 14, 2024 Why lefties move to the right
You might have noticed over the past 5 years, that a few big left-leaning figures have made their way to the right. What's up with that? Using Naomi Wolf as the main example, I talk about their penchant for fame, the need to be loved and admired, and the pattern of narcissistic tendencies - even in those fighting for good causes. Basically, it's not about the ideology, but aligning themselves with a cause. Any cause! p.s I think I sound like a cross between an older woman on Coronation Street, and a character from Wallis & Gromit on this voice recording. Don't let it put you off!

Also, the name I kept forgetting is Steve Bannon (not Hannon or Gammon). I was also searching for the word 'conflate' - but it only came to me after I'd stopped recording. Oh and sorry about the plane flying overhead.
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15min
October 10, 2024 Why I'm a hairy Mary
Thinking about the massive affect of having trees in a city. Includes a great tree fact. Why I'm choosing to live with the discomfort of being a woman with body hair. It's been over a year now, here's how I've found it so far. FYI the discomfort of being hairy is conditioned, and not due to any logical or practical reasons. The idea of what is 'feminine' is a construction, but we all prescribe to so many aspects of it.
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12min
October 09, 2024 Clean sheets & shaved legs conditioning
Today's voice note talks about why people love getting into a bed with clean sheets, and why women say they love 'the feeling' of being in a clean bed with shaved legs. I think it's something to do with good girl syndrome. I reveal the ultimate freedom of not having a duvet.
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8min

FAQs about Trails of Thought podcast:

How many episodes does Trails of Thought podcast have?

The podcast currently has 42 episodes available.