Good to Talk

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss what it means to come together in a world that often feels fractured and distant.  Though we are not experts on politics or international  relations, we believe we are in a particularly difficult time where seeking understanding and empathy can be profoundly challenging for all of us, especially when so many of us believe that those around us are ill-intenti...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss what it means to really intentionally connect to our selves. It begins with the practice of slowing down and taking inventory of what we notice and experience in our bodies and senses.   From there we can start to analyze what is most important about our experiences and release what isn't ours to carry forward.  From this awareness comes the work of con...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss how to process well.  As we discussed in our last episode, we are all going through a lot in this day and age, and it can feel a bit like swimming in too deep of water for too long without being able to make it back to the shallows. That has led us all to feel a bit more on edge, a bit more tired and exhausted, with a little less to give and a lot more to ma...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E explore existential dread.  Jeremiah has increasingly noticed folks in therapy with him feeling an overarching sense that things aren't okay and the that they're only going to get worse.  Not quite the same as depression, anxiety, or ennui, this uncertainty and insecurity is more in the camp of dread and despair that is focused on everything and nothing al...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the ways in which our strengths and weaknesses can often be two sides of the same coin.  This paradox of our gifts and curses can often be so ingrained in our behaviors that we don’t always see the ways we become stuck.  Understanding our strengths will hopefully help us better see that our weaknesses often come from choosing (or defaulting) to our usual app...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss what it means to approach ourselves and others with grace and dignity, and find some reframes that empower us all as we live in our bodies, care for our bodies, and share them with others.  Because it is such a complex topic, we tried to keep containment around broad ideas of body image and won’t be diving deeply into specifics on nutrition, exercise, issues...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E revisit what healthy friendship looks like.  Healthy friendship revels in shared experiences, joys and troubles.  Healthy friendships find balance and allow space for curiosity, celebration, vulnerability, and companionship. As always, thank you for listening along with us! If you'd like to message us or find more content, please visit our website at goodtotalk...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the process of building habits.  As Will Durant says, "We are what we repeatedly do."  Success, then, is not so much an act of will, as it is a series of smaller choices.  Our habits ultimately determine our longterm progress.  Celebrating daily milestones, rather than destinations, understanding the cost of saying yes or no, and framing our action...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss what it means to be conscious of our patterns and make changes as the demands on our time shift.  Most of us would say that we are currently carrying something in our lives that we should probably just let go, though humans are at the same time a notoriously sentimental group who don’t do well with change.  At our base level, saying goodbye and moving on is...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E explore the importance of apologies along with some strategies for better relational communication.  No matter how great your relationships are or how much you love and care for your loved ones, friends and family, at some point in time, you will have conflict and need to apologize. One of the most common topics in therapy, and not just in couples counseling, is how...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the often unexplored space in between that we too frequently pass over for productivity or purpose.  Letting ourselves stop to smell the proverbial roses can actually be a profoundly important part of our mental and emotional well being.  If we can create the space and mindfulness in our everyday lives to curate curiosity,  we might find that wonder and joy...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the path to and value of simplifying our lives amidst all our ever-present complications and distractions.  While there are profound needs that continue to exist around the globe, we also live in a time of overwhelming abundance. Not just abundance of goods and services, but a glut of access to information and entertainment. This overabundance creates a fasc...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss how to define a good life and then what it means to make daily choices to move us in a direction of growth and health. Enter virtue ethics .  Thankfully, we are not the first to contemplate what a good life looks like or how to pursue an integrated self that lives out our personal virtues with authenticity and dignity.  Humans have been exploring this topic...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E explore how to make progress.  Feeling stuck or struggling to make progress can be a point of frustration for many of us.  In this episode, we unpack some of the meta-narratives standing in our way and highlight some of the important ideas to make sense of in moving forward.  Planning long-term, acting short-term, and taking radical ownership of our stories all help...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E continue discussing the benefits of open-mindedness.  If you haven't already, check out Episode 45, part one of this topic.  In part two, we discuss some of the ways in which we can become more self aware, keep an open mind, and not stand in the way of our own rational thinking and growth.  Open-mindedness offers us a freedom to be helped by the strengths and p...

In this episode, we are interrupting our two part series on open mindedness to discuss Romantic Communication in honor of Valentine's Day.  Though Valentine's day can feel a bit like a marketing scheme, it is also an excellent opportunity to purposely focus on gratitude and celebration of the ones we love and hold dearest.  In this episode, we explore the importance of good communication...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the difficulties and dangers of being close minded.  It can be difficult to remain open minded when we derive much of our relational security from being right.  Our egos tell us that being right means gaining power, having autonomy, and ultimately finding acceptance.  Our sense of emotional security and even our own physiology can work against us making main...

Jeremiah and E are kicking off Season 3 with an episode about the importance of Creativity.  From our earliest ancestors, creativity has played a massive role in finding fulfillment in existence.  Invention, abstract thinking, imagination can help us serve others and expand our worlds in positive ways and be a place of much purpose across the human lifespan.  As always, thank you for joining us! V...

Happy New Year!  The first episode of 2023 is also the final episode of Season 2.  In this episode, Jeremiah and E consider what it means to name goals and keep ourselves motivated while achieving them.  As we often begin, doing the work of reflection is an important first step in accomplishment.  Understanding the deeper threads running through our desires will ultimately help us set appropriatel...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the challenges of living and giving generously.  Because the holidays can often represent a season of stress for many of us,  we wanted to examine how we can make this time of year less about obligations and frantic plan-making and more of a chance to slow down, reflect, celebrate, and enjoy our time with friends and family.  We wish you a very happy holiday...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the impact movies can have on our lives.  A good film can expose us to new ideas and opportunities and offer us a glimpse of a life we may never otherwise see.  Inspiring our imaginations and broadening our perspectives, this is a lighthearted episode about appreciating cinema.

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss why counting our blessings works.  Gratitude is desire fulfilled.  It's the culmination of what we want and what now get to enjoy.  Sadly, few of us actively engage our desires in this way and thus miss out on our full potential for feeling fulfilled and to be at peace.  Gratitude takes awareness and practice, but it gives joy and brings peace.

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the finding calm in the midst of chaos.  The Stoic disciplines of desire, assent, and action help us focus on what is in and what is out of our control.  Moderation is not punishment, but rather finding the balance and ultimate place of peace in all things.

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss the stoic philosophy of "memento mori" in honor of Halloween.  The latin, "memento mori" or in english, "remember that you must die," gives us pause and has us consider the fleeting nature of existence and the value of the present.  The slightly less macabre extension of "memento mori" is "memento vivere" or...

In this episode, Jeremiah and E discuss how to wield technology well, appreciating it for its uses while staying conscious of life in the analogue.  Jeremiah and E also share a few of their personal favorite technologies.  After a few serious episodes in a row, this conversation stays a bit more lighthearted.