The Better: True Community, Purpose, and Rest

Summary This episode is all about how I get obsessed with where my packages are and when they will arrive and how I watch the flight trackers on airplanes and how none of that tells me how large the world is and so I start to think it is small. Small enough that I am the only one who will fit. It is about how we should at least acknowledge that there is distance and danger and, perhaps, other peop...

Summary A chance encounter at a pizza place led me on a journey to understand why it made me so happy. Through conversations with three childhood friends - Tony, Marc, and Andy - I discover something profound about how authentic relationships actually form. This isn’t just nostalgia; it’s an investigation into what made these friendships different and why they’ve lasted over 30 years. The answer c...

Summary The karate kid inspired me. Not to do anything important like train to become like Danny Larusso. To kick trees and hurt myself. So often we think it is enough to pretend or live vicariously through the things we consume. But we will never be able to build the kind of vulnerable communities, communities that form the foundation of the better, if all we do is hope for the communities to ser...

When I set out to write this podcast, I was hoping to capture something that seems to be a universal experience these days — overwhelming fragmentation of self. You will notice a fragmented feel as you first start to listen, but have no fear that is not unfocused blathering… it is there to serve the point. Our attention is so divided and confused, that we often don’t even know where to look for th...

What happens when you’re on the team but everyone hopes the ball never comes your way? In this episode, Eric shares his experience of being “bumped up” to his brother’s baseball team, where he wore the uniform but never truly belonged. This personal story opens a deeper exploration of the difference between performative inclusion and authentic community. Discover why simply bringing diverse people...

In this thought-provoking episode, Eric explores how we build fences in our communities long before we construct physical barriers. Beginning with reflections on his high school performance in “Oklahoma!” and its famous song about farmers and cowmen, he examines the tensions that arise from our desire to control resources and define belonging. Through contrasting post-apocalyptic fiction with real...

What makes us want to be on the inside of a community, even one with seemingly arbitrary membership rules? In this episode, Eric shares his childhood experience with “The Gray Gang” to explore how communities create and maintain boundaries – and what happens when we find ourselves on the outside looking in. From playground exclusivity to ancient Trojan conflicts, discover how boundaries both prote...

In this powerful episode, Eric Tomeo explores the transformative nature of endings through parallel stories of execution and exile. Beginning with his own abrupt professional “death” - being fired without explanation after years of service - he weaves his experience alongside Fyodor Dostoevsky’s near-execution in 1849 that led to the author’s creative rebirth. Through these stories, Tomeo examines...

What draws thousands of strangers to huddle together in freezing temperatures to cheer for men they’ve never met? In the season premiere of “The Better,” Eric explores a Chicago Bears game to uncover the paradox at the heart of thriving communities—the delicate balance between stability and change, tradition and growth. Like musicians finding harmony between different notes, healthy communities re...

This is just a preview of what is to come in Season 2. More great stories. More philosophical musings. More of the Better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erictomeo.substack.com

In this season finale, we discover the simple yet profound revelation that ties everything together: relationship is presence and response. From a toddler chatting on the toilet to a married couple sitting in comfortable silence, we explore how human connections reveal the fundamental nature of relationship with God. What if experiencing "the better" isn't about perfecting religious systems or fin...

Eric explores how Jesus offers a unique solution to humanity's search for the better by demonstrating perfect security through perfect vulnerability. Through personal stories about learning guitar and the transformative power of relationship over systems, the episode examines how Jesus doesn't just teach about the better—He embodies it. Unlike other religious traditions that offer systems or escap...

What if our search for the perfect formula is keeping us from experiencing something better? From parenting books to religious systems, we keep trying to reduce life's complexities into step-by-step guides. But what if these attempts at control are actually preventing us from experiencing the relationship we're seeking? In this episode, we explore why our systems keep failing us and what it might...

Why do our attempts to build a better world often fail? From summer camp memories to modern religious practices, host Eric Tomeo examines why our shortcuts to community, purpose, and rest often lead to dead ends. Discover why controlling our way to vulnerability never works. Essential listening for anyone questioning traditional approaches to faith and meaning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Are we always caught between where we've been and where we're going? Through a mountain climbing adventure gone wrong, host Eric Tomeo explores how we can experience transcendent reality while living in the everyday world. Learn practical ways to tune into the deeper reality that surrounds us. Ideal for those seeking practical spirituality and authentic living. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

How did Nelson Mandela choose reconciliation over revenge after 27 years of imprisonment? Host Eric Tomeo explores how accessing 'the better' breaks expected patterns and transforms nations. Through Mandela's extraordinary example, discover how unexpected responses to injustice can create new possibilities. Perfect for anyone interested in social change, forgiveness, and transformational leadershi...

Can beauty emerge from humanity's darkest moments? Through the powerful stories of Maximilian Kolbe in Auschwitz and Martin Luther King Jr.'s final speech, explore how accessing a deeper reality can transform even the most desperate situations. Host Eric Tomeo examines how ordinary people find extraordinary courage and create lasting change. Essential for those seeking hope and purpose in challeng...

What happens when fear meets faith on a dark highway? Through a gripping midnight journey through the Badlands, host Eric Tomeo explores how our fears and perceived dangers keep us from experiencing true community. Discover the paradox of vulnerability and security, and how sacrificial love can transform our relationships. For anyone wrestling with fear, trust, and the desire for genuine connectio...

What if paradise isn't just a future dream, but a reality we can experience now? Through ancient wisdom and modern insight, explore what true rest, genuine community, and meaningful purpose look like. Host Eric Tomeo unpacks how vulnerability and security work together to create transformation in our lives. Essential listening for those seeking deeper meaning and authentic relationships. Opening S...

Why do we all believe in a better world, even when everything seems broken? Join host Eric Tomeo as he explores our universal search for meaning, purpose, and genuine community. From daily news overload to life's deepest questions, discover how the 'better' we're all seeking might be more accessible than we think. Perfect for anyone interested in personal growth, spiritual development, and finding...