The Real Question

Sophie loves her home in the village. She's surrounded by nature and she feels like she can be herself. But with climate events on the rise, is it wise to stay somewhere that may become increasingly dangerous? Should she move into town? This week, Mauricio and Sophie figure out how to weigh what your heart wants against the 'sensible' option. The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at...

Clinton applied to medical school five times after graduating college. He never got in and eventually resigned himself to that reality. And he's been living a good life since! He runs a business, he has hobbies, he's very happy. But now there's a new medical school opening in his province and therefore a new opportunity for admission. Should he try one more time? This week, Mauricio and Clinton ev...

This week’s guest is anonymous—but their question is one many people wrestle with: Should I come out to my family? Their family is conservative and religious and they worry that being honest about who they are could mean being cut off entirely. But if they don't come out, are they being true to themselves? This week, Mauricio and our guest explore what it means to feel like the black sheep of the...

Hallie has started to notice a pattern in her life: once she gets a year and a half into a job, she feels the urge to 'job hop' – to quit and move on. Is that an urge she should be listening to? Or are her job expectations unrealistically high? This week, Mauricio and Hallie discuss how to evaluate a job to know whether it's 'good enough.' The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our...

Bailey—an ordained minister in a progressive church—recently got married. But their conservative Christian cousin didn’t attend the wedding, citing his opposition to queer marriage. Until now, they’ve had a good relationship, and Bailey knows a conversation needs to happen. The question is: should theology be part of it? This week, Mauricio and Bailey explore the intersection of faith and family,...

Sophie has been a songwriter ever since she was 12 years old. She put out her first album when she was 16 years old. But as she's gotten older, she's been recording less and feeling more uncomfortable with the label 'musician.' She has such a mix of feelings connected to making music – joy, embarrassment, disappointment. It's all led to the question: What kind of relationship does she want to...

Today we’re breaking our normal format to speak with Brooke Williams , the author of Encountering Dragonfly: Notes on the Practice of Re-Enchantment.   Mauricio and Brooke discuss the Jungian concept of ‘synchronicity’, the practice of active imagination, and the power of attention.  The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram -- This show...

Elyse's mom died of breast cancer a few years ago. Recently, she's tested positive for the same cancer-causing gene that her mom had. That puts her at high risk of getting breast cancer too. There are two paths forward: she can rigorously test and monitor her health, or she can get a preventative mastectomy. This week, Mauricio and Elyse explore our relationships to our bodies and our own mortalit...

Jolie Doggett struggles with boundaries. She's a classic 'yes' person – when someone asks her to jump, she says "how high?" She knows this about herself and she wants to change it. But how do you change something like that? Should she just go cold turkey? Spend a month telling everyone 'no'? This week, Mauricio and Jolie explore why we sometimes preference other people's needs and desires ove...

Stefanie and her parents have never quite seen eye-to-eye about the best way to live. Stefanie has sought passion and spontaneity. Stefanie's parents would much prefer she choose a life of stability and family. Now, Stefanie's parents have offered to buy her an apartment. But what would it mean for her to accept it? Would it feel like a concession to their priorities? This week, Mauricio and Stefa...

Theodora is starting law school in the fall and she's nervous about the workload and intensity. She's a hard worker and she's worried that she'll get totally wrapped up in school and won't be able to slow down and attend to the other things in her life. Does she need to change her relationship to work before it all starts? This week, Mauricio and Theodora explore how to hold yourself to your prior...

Gillian doesn't eat pork and doesn't eat shellfish. It's her version of keeping kosher and she's been doing it for the past decade. Recently, however, she realized that she doesn't really know why she's doing it anymore. Is it still a meaningful practice in her life? Or is it something it's time to set aside? This week, Mauricio and Gillian reflect on the difference between 'habits' and 'rituals.'...

This week we have a special episode on the topic of divorce. Vanessa calls her friend, couples and family therapist Colette Potts , to discuss common issues for couples, infidelity, and the practicalities of divorce. Next week, we're back to our regular format with Mauricio! The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram -- This show is completely funde...

There's certainly been a theme with our submissions lately! Just like our guest from Should I: Have a Child?, Emily feels pulled in two directions about having kids. She can imagine a very full life for herself either way. As she nears the end of of her biological opportunity for kids – is she ready to shut the door on that possibility? This week, Mauricio and Emily discuss how to make a deci...

Brandon runs a successful restaurant group with his husband. Things are stressful, it’s a lot to manage, and they just got a great offer to open another restaurant in a hip part of town. Brandon is seriously tempted, but he’s also suspicious of his own temptation. Does he want to expand for the right reasons?  This week, Mauricio and Brandon explore how various stories from our past influence...

Natalie has been ‘low-contact’ with her dad for a while now – she doesn't reach out or put any effort into the relationship, but hasn't totally cut him out of her life. Her upcoming wedding is putting some pressure on that resolution. If she does invite him, and he makes a scene or disappoints her, it will hugely impact the joy of the day. But if she doesn't invite him, that feels like a...

In the course of Sarah’s life, she often finds that she has to talk about her migraines. But the reactions she gets from people are frustrating and sometimes really hurtful. Can she take another approach to these conversations? This week, Mauricio and Sarah discuss the large and small ways that chronic illness interrupt life. The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Fol...

Our guest this week has always wanted to have a kid. He’s also aware that having a kid will totally transform his life! Is he willing to give up parts of his life to make room for a baby? This week, Mauricio and our guest explore how to make space for aspects of our identity that sometimes compete.  The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --...

About five years ago, River left Christianity. He felt constrained and needed space to explore and ask questions. Recently, he has been thinking about a return – but can he bring everything he learned on the outside back in? Or would he have to hide the new parts of himself to belong again? This week, Mauricio and River discuss the joys and drawbacks of religious community. The Real Question is a...

Meghan lives with her partner and daughter in Costa Rica, far away from the rest of their family. They travel frequently to see their family, but it always feels like a huge effort to do so. Should they quit traveling so much? Or would that deprive themselves and their daughter of necessary family time? This week, Mauricio and Meghan discuss the duty we feel towards family and how to balance that...

Elizabeth Rowe 's bookclub reading has started to feel like homework. She loves to read, but after a long day of work she wants romance and adventure and fantasy. Her bookclub, on the other hand, wants Tolstoy. Should she leave the club? This week on the show Mauricio and Elizabeth discuss the importance of community space. Elizabeth Rowe is a leadership coach. She's teaching an upcoming class for...

Ray is graduating with a Masters of Divinity this year but they know they don't want to pursue a traditional path towards ordination. They do want to continue providing spiritual care and counseling to their community. But should they be charging for that work? Shouldn't care be accessible to people who need it, without being a financial burden? On today's episode, Ray and Mauricio explore what it...

Anna knows she wants to be a parent and she doesn't want to do it alone, but she's never particularly wanted a life partner. Should she reconsider that position for the sake of raising a child? On today's episode, Anna and Mauricio explore Anna's relationship to partnership and uncover some of the deeper anxieties at play for her. The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website...

Anna Goldfarb is a journalist and self-titled 'friendship expert' who is the author of the recent book Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections. This week she joins Vanessa to talk all about why we make friends, why we lose them, and how to keep them. Next week, we're back to our regular format with Mauricio! The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website |...

Devon always said that when she moved back to Ohio, she would start planning for the future. She'd think about all the big things: about finding a partner, about whether she wants kids, about buying a house, about planning for retirement. But now that's she's finally moved home, she's been avoiding all those big topics. Is she avoiding them because she doesn't want them? Or is she avoiding them be...