The Edge of Reckoning Podcast

Who are you without your job, your roles, or the stories you’ve been telling yourself for years? In this episode of The Edge of Reckoning, Sue and Neil dive deep into ego and identity, how they’re formed, why they cling so tightly to familiarity, and what happens when a reckoning pulls them apart. Together, they explore how conditioning from family, culture, trauma, and expectation shapes our sens...

In this episode of The Edge of Reckoning, Sue Merlino and Neil Freebern explore what comes after the emotional intensity of a reckoning begins to soften. They step into the liminal space, that quiet, often uncomfortable pause between who we were and who we are becoming. When identities dissolve, certainty disappears, and the urge to “fix” everything rises, how do we stay present without prematurel...

In this episode, we explore the heart of emotional resilience: equanimity. What does it mean to stay steady in praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and pain? How do we respond without reacting? How do we build the muscle that creates space between what happens and what we choose next? Through personal stories; ranging from hearing loss to LA traffic, we they unpack how naming emotions, practi...

In this episode of The Edge of Reckoning, we dive into one of the most subtle and transformative skills we can develop during life’s biggest pivots: the ability to notice what’s happening before we turn it into a story. Together, we explore how emotional pain so easily becomes suffering when we immediately judge, label, and spiral into mental narratives. Through real examples (including spilled co...

In this episode of The Edge of Reckoning, Sue and Neil dive into the subtle yet powerful language of the body. They explore somatic awareness; how our physical sensations often speak before our minds do — and how learning to pause, name, and feel can transform cycles of emotional looping and judgment. Through real stories and insights from neuroscience and mindfulness, they discuss how to turn dis...

In this episode of The Edge of Reckoning, Sue and Neil explore the quiet, disorienting space between who we were and who we’re becoming, the liminal space after a rupture, when old identities have fallen away but new ones haven’t yet formed.  Grief that isn’t just about loss, but about the unraveling of identity. Neil shares how losing his hearing challenged his lifelong self-concept as a musician...

We’ve all faced a moment of reckoning, that point where the old story ends and there’s no going back. In Episode 3, we share our own ruptures, from career loss to heartbreak, and the tools we’ve used to ground ourselves in the aftermath. If you’re navigating a transition, we would love to hear: what has helped you through your “sacred pause”?   We are also starting a book club. This group will mee...

In this episode of Edge of Reckoning, Sue Merlino and Neil Freebern explore the hidden patterns that shape our daily lives — the routines, habits, and subconscious scripts that keep us in “conditioned living.” Together, they dive into how the default mode network (that inner “roommate” in your head) influences self-talk, decision-making, and emotional reactions. Sue and Neil discuss the difference...

In our very first episode of Edge of Reckoning, Sue and Neil open up about life’s turning points, the messy, heartbreaking, and strangely beautiful moments that force us to change. Together, we explore: How endings can spark unexpected new beginnings What it feels like to stand at the edge of a life you once knew The role of gratitude when saying goodbye Finding resilience in heartbreak, loss, and...

The Edge of Reckoning is a podcast about personal upheaval, spiritual questions, and creative reinvention. Hosted by Gen X friends Sue and Neil, it’s a space for honest conversations about heartbreak, change, and staying present when life gets hard. We’re not experts—just two people navigating the messy middle and asking: What now? Who am I, really? When the old story no longer fits, this is where...