Cathy and Todd discuss Caroline Adams Miller’s book Getting Grit, about what grit really means, and why we need to be thoughtful about the kind of grit we are using and promoting. They share some clips from her interview with Jonathan Field’s on The Good Life Project, and explain why self-awareness, compassion, and connection are essential in becoming a force for good. They also discuss the challenges with participation trophies or awards and offer new insight into why these are only a symptom rather than the problem. They discuss why giving our kids space to find their own grit is essential, and why humility, community, and confidence are essential in keeping our goals healthy and manageable.

Cathy and Todd discuss what a hell yes feels like, and why saying no is so important. They share an interview with Oprah on the Dear Sugar podcast where she explains how she learned to say no, and why a no can be the best decision for all involved. They also share why letting go can be just as important as holding on, and what it really means to be impeccable with your word. They discuss the proposed military transgender ban, and why proximity to people different than us will decrease fear, increase compassion, and create unity.

Todd and Cathy discuss why humans are like porcupines, and why it’s important to stay open and use “relational ethics”, when communicating with our loved ones. They discuss Andy Murray’s subtle equality comment after Wimbledon, they share a quote about compassion from Pema Chodron, and explain what Tim Ferriss means when he says, “Hard Choices/Easy Life”. They also discuss a bill that could affect teens who are caught sexting - teen expert Rosalind Wiseman explains, “We understand why adults don’t want young people sending these kinds of pictures but it’s dangerous and unethical for lawmakers to write and pass laws that can’t tell the difference between a sexual predator and a young person who is going through adolescence.”

Todd and Cathy discuss how to have honest communication with friends and why it can be helpful to be “called out” by the people we love. They also discuss why our understanding of healing is oversimplified, and how it’s a daily action rather than a destination. They share a quote from Brad Pitt about toxic masculinity, explain the difference between shame and guilt, and discuss how marriage is handled on Friday Night Lights.

Cathy and Todd discuss how to embrace a challenging past by accepting it as a given rather than viewing it as a “gift” (which can sometimes feel inauthentic). This concept is taken from Sharon Salzberg’s book, Real Love: The Art of Mindful Connection, and it allows us to acknowledge our experience and move forward as a force for good. They also discuss how kids can be sensitive to clothing and why it’s important to find ways to keep them comfortable. They share why joy+sadness are a team, why trying to defend our emotional state can cause conflict, and explain why The Soupdragons I’m Free is Todd’s empowerment song.

Cathy and Todd share a quote from Gutsy Girl author Caroline Paul about how we can use “micro-bravery” to handle our fear. They discuss why bravery can mean different things to men and women, and why it’s hard to differentiate between fear, excitement, and other strong feelings. They talk about ball players who get the “yips”, the movie Get Out, and explain why The Babadook represents repressed grief and anger.

Todd and Cathy discuss gender inequality and why Todd gets frustrated talking to men about this issue. They discuss why it’s difficult to understand inequality, how we can be better listeners, and why the impact can negatively affect women and men. They reference an article from the New York Times titled Talking to Boys the Way We Talk to Girls by Andrew Reiner and discuss how we can make changes in our own home that will impact the world. They answer a listener question about a challenging four-year-old, talk about their vacation and the Backstreet Boys, and share some movie clips.

Cathy and Todd discuss Mary Oliver’s poem Wild Geese, specifically this line – you only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. They discuss that the things we love may not be cool or trendy, but sometimes embracing this uncoolness is the first step toward creating a more joyful home. They discuss Hamilton, the Backstreet Boys, and the most important scene from Revenge of the Nerds.

Todd and Cathy discuss how money contributes to happiness and how our relationship with money affects our feelings of success. They reference an episode of The Good Life Project called The Truth About Money and Happiness and discuss documentaries such as Happy, Born Rich, and the 1%. They also discuss how to talk with our girls about body image and why it’s important to find a new and true definition of beauty.

Cathy’s dad recently passed away so Cathy and Todd share how he lived and what he taught them. Most importantly why culture literacy leads to a bigger heart and mind, why willingness is the key to a deep and meaningful life, and why we are all simply “walking each other home”.