Immersion

What if you could disappear into your tasks and emerge happier, more productive, and less stressed? That "magical" feeling - one you have likely experienced from time to time - is called Flow. And it’s more than just a catchy term thrown around these days; it’s a scientifically backed state of peak performance. In this video, we dive into the groundbreaking research of Mihaly Csikszentmi...

How do exercise, sleep, and nutrition actually impact our mood and mental health? You have likely felt the difference between weeks when you are caring for your body versus weeks when those habits fall away. Sometimes, we need to consciously recognize how much better we feel - physically and emotionally - before those healthy habits finally stick. In Part 4 of our Positive Psychology series, we ar...

Ever feel like you have the talent, but you just can't seem to finish what you start? In this episode, we’re looking at why we "hit the wall" and quit when things get difficult. It’s a dive into the science of Grit, Resilience, and Hope - tools that many believe we are born with, but research proves we can actually build. Using the foundational work of Martin Seligman, Carol Dweck,...

Why do we recover from heartbreaks, job losses, and injuries faster than we could ever imagine? For example, if you were fired today or left at the altar, how long would you be miserable? You probably guess "months or years." But the science suggests this is not necessarily the case.  We often underestimate our ability to heal because we don't realize we have a Psychological Immune...

We spend our whole lives chasing happiness, but we rarely stop to ask: Are we chasing the right things? Or more importantly - do we even have control over how happy we are? Research suggests that while a portion of our happiness is genetic, a significant amount is firmly within our control - if we know which levers to pull.  In this episode, we dive into the science of building a happier life. We...

In this video, we explore why millennials are not having kids, looking at the declining birth rate through the lens of history, economics, and sociology. We go beyond the usual headlines about money to discuss intensive parenting, modern developments, demographic transitions, environmental concerns, and the real cost of raising a family in the modern world. Throughout this journey, we ask the cent...

In Part 2 of our deep dive into the decision to be a parent in the modern world, we move from the statistics to the emotional reality. We explore the fear of regret, the definition of legacy, and how to navigate intense societal pressure. Whether you are currently weighing this choice or have already made it, I hope this episode offers you clarity and compassion. In this episode, we cover: The Fea...

Do you feel stuck between the desire for flexibility while also craving for structure?  In a world of infinite options, "keeping your doors open" feels like the smart move. But often, it leads to a specific kind of misery: the anxiety of feeling untethered and lost in a sea of possibilities. So how do we commit to what matters to us?  We cover: The "Haircut vs. Tattoo" Rule: Wh...

Branding is difficult because you are trying to turn a complex, 3D human or experience into a flat, 2D logo. In this episode we cover the psychology of branding and how to simplify your message without losing your authenticity. In this episode, we cover: 00:00 The Thesis: "3D Humans" vs. "2D Brands" 01:20 Personal story and rebranding the podcast  02:00 How Nike does this well ...

Welcome to the trailer for Immersion ! The show is getting a new name and a renewed focus, right here on this feed. I’m still your host, Pam Carey, and while the voice is the same, we are bringing more depth and structure to the conversations. I can’t wait to explore alongside you and immerse ourselves in the topics that fascinate us. Important note: The artwork will be updated in a few weeks! Kee...

Felt chatty - may delete later ;)  Just wanted to keep you posted on where the pod is headed and when we’ll be back in full force posting more regularly. Excited for what is ahead!  Leave a voice message here Newsletter sign up YouTube - channel  Instagram - we will be posting here soon

Have you ever felt stuck in one role with friends? Often we rely on the same social skills in group dynamics. They start as assets based on our strengths and preferences, but over time they can become a crutch - limiting growth in other areas. For example, always being the supportive friend or the jokester. I argue we can become a social Swiss army knife by developing other skills - even if it’s u...

Let’s organize everything in your mind! From the tasks you need to complete, to calendars and planners, to your notes, ideas, and the random sticky notes floating around your house - it’s time to streamline your system so you can focus on what matters most. This episode draws inspiration from David Allen’s classic productivity book Getting Things Done , but updated with my own modern approach to t...

Let’s explore how travel, memory, and presence can help us reclaim a slower sense of time: Have you noticed that time seems to move faster with each passing year? What if we could slow it back down? In this episode, we explore the psychology of time perception - and how it shifts as we age, as we travel, and as we live through global disruptions like the pandemic. Drawing on my recent travels thro...

In this episode we discuss a main reason people fail to achieve their lists of goals they set around New Years or their birthdays during “life resets.” It is because we often fail to evaluate the scope of our goals. We will do that here with a framework for breaking our objectives down into four categories, calculating how much energy and time is required for each, and go through practical steps y...

In this episode we will examine the psychology of goal setting through personal anecdotes and the research to see if we should share about our projects, goals, and dreams or if we are more likely to stay motivated and achieve them if we keep our objectives to ourselves. We will explore how this ties in with extrinsic vs intrinsic motivation and how identity shapes actions. We will also discuss fra...

Because, it's not just screen time, it's your life:  So many of us feel compulsive with the internet, our phones, screens of all sorts, and constant external stimulation. This started about 10 years ago as social media became more popular and has been increasing ever since. Many, for instance, find it hard to ever go for a walk or do chores without a podcast, and this lack of solitude ha...

Have you ever finished a LONG workday without much to show for it? One reason for this is being stuck in a "productivity limbo state" where you are in between working and relaxing. You may start to get a task done and then check a text. You then get back to work and then find yourself reading a news article soon after. A few more minutes of work then you are watching a video on social me...

If you have been feeling like something is missing lately - like a spark or a sense of excitement. Or if your life feels lacking in meaning -- empty, or dull. This episode dives into these feelings. I share a story about going through this recently and the 9 reasons I found this to be the case through exploration - with potential action steps. 1) Purpose -- not just having one but working it into...

Have you ever finished a book or show and felt an overwhelming wave of sadness—like you’ve just lost a friend or left a world you loved behind? That’s book hangover (which can also happen with TV shows)—an emotional cocktail of grief, longing, and nostalgia that can hit harder than we expect. In this episode, we explore: Why stories leave such a lasting emotional imprint and why they feel so real...

In this episode we are discussing how to listen to the cues your body is sending you, so that you can care for it. Your body will often tell you exactly what it needs -- and hearing this, and acting in accordance with what it needs, is a skill we can grow. If you have a hard time knowing if you are hungry or full, if you have a hard time motivating yourself to eat well or meditate, if you have a h...

In this free verse poem, I explore the feeling of being "behind in life" and the frustration of missing opportunities, while talking about something that happens to all of us - missing the bus. But what happens when we stop chasing the past and start embracing what lies in front of us now? Life isn’t linear, and sometimes the most meaningful growth comes from missed chances, detours, and...

In this episode, we explore how to build community and address why so many of us feel isolated and disconnected today. We dive into the concept of the atomization of society—how the traditional webs of connection have been broken—and discuss the so-called loneliness epidemic. Is it caused by increasing social isolation, or are we just more open about our feelings now? Key topics we cover include:...

Here we will discuss how to actually finish work and "SHIP IT" - in the words of Seth Godin. So many of us hide behind revision after revision. Or we start a project and completely abandon it because it does not meet the standards we had in our minds. Or we do finish it and polish it but then it sits in a desk drawer. In this podcast we will discuss how to actually put your art or busine...

I wrote this free verse poem because when I was 22 I feared getting older. Society makes us feel as women, that we will lose our value, or have less to offer as we age. But the older I get the more I see the opposite is true. I hope this helps some women lean into the idea of getting better over the years. Would love to hear your thoughts on this idea in the comments where you are listening if the...