The Problem With Perfect

Death. It's the one thing we can count on and the one thing we'd like to avoid. So we try not to think about it, talk about it or plan for it. As a result, difficult conversations go unspoken and last wishes go unknown - further complicating the emotional, stressful, and heartbreaking process of death.  In this inaugural series of the podcast, we're focusing on the critical issues w...

So often we look at our lives as ordinary and uneventful. We don’t see ourselves as artistic, or talented, and we question if anyone would be interested in what we have to say. Our guest, BJ Jewett, is a gifted author and photographer who put these doubts aside and shared her talents with the world. In 2017, BJ published Letter Trees , a beautifully photographed book encouraging readers to discove...

This episode marks the beginning of a new chapter for The Problem With Perfect. With Denise Bickel now a permanent co-host, we are excited to bring you Season 5 of the podcast and all that comes with the rebirth of something we love. But the podcast isn't the only thing being renewed right now. It's officially Spring and everything is coming alive: the trees bud, flowers bloom, and green...

This week’s podcast is both a look back and a look ahead. As many of you know, Rachel has been on sabbatical for the past few months taking some time to prioritize her time and talents. How did someone so young get so wise? We could all use that kind of wisdom and forethought.  Join us as we catch up with Rachel to take a walk down memory lane and learn more about her plans for the future.   In ad...

Do you find yourself putting things off until the last minute? Me too. I am not proud to admit it, but I am a chronic procrastinator. But what's the harm, anyway? How bad can procrastination be? It turns out that procrastination is connected to anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression.   So, if you're putting off doing your taxes, starting that project, or having a tough conversation, th...

Fred Parry enjoys being a man-about-town. As such, a lot of people think they know him. I often beg to differ.  Fred was one of my first bosses. In a city filled with journalists, he gave me my “big break” and believed in me when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself.  His faith in me changed my life and faith in God changed his.  Join us for this episode as I pull back the curtain and get personal a...

If you had told me 29 years ago when Tom and I got married that we would get to attend the Super Bowl AND cheer our beloved Kansas City Chiefs to a victory, I would have thought that was the craziest thing I'd ever heard.  But guess what? That's precisely what we did last week and it was an absolute dream come true! Join us for this episode as Denise asks me all the questions about this...

Songs tell us that love will keep us together. First Corinthians tells us love is patient, love is kind. Hallmark tells us Valentine’s Day is a holiday replete with beautiful flowers and romantic verses. But what do we really believe to be true about love? Not on the one day a year dedicated to love, but on the other 364? When there are financial struggles, illness, competing careers, and babies a...

Leslie Knope, a fictional character played by Amy Poehler, brought the idea of Galentine's Day to life in a 2010 episode of Parks and Recreation. In it, she described what February 13 is truly all about: “Ladies celebrating ladies." In true Leslie Knope fashion, welcome to the Galentine's episode of The Problem With Perfect. In this episode, Kate Lunn and Jill Sartain, friends and c...

The world tells us that we need to DO it all and HAVE it all to be enough. As a result, many of us struggle to chase success and the almighty dollar that comes with it. We marvel at our stuff and want others to do the same. Or we compare ourselves to others and wonder why we can't afford what everyone else has.  Financial stress can cause insomnia, prompt us to battle anxiety and feelings of...

Have you heard? Public health experts now define loneliness as an epidemic in our country. But just what is an epidemic? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says epidemics can refer to a disease or other specific health-related behavior (smoking, for example) with rates clearly above the expected occurrence in a community or region. This is why in a country where the internet and...

In Genesis 2 God said it is not good for man to be alone, but let's face it; relationships are hard. They require constant nurturing and consistent effort. But how do we nurture them? And how do we begin to right our wrongs and begin again with a clean slate? In this episode, Dr. Denise Bickel is back as Robin's guest co-host and they discuss this and much more. Whether we want to streng...

And just like that it's nearly the middle of January. Do you know what that means? It means that the majority of New Year's resolutions are starting to unravel, leaving us once again feeling defeated and discouraged. But don't despair, there's still time to rethink your resolution and transform it into an aspiration that provides productive direction to 2023.  Not sure the diff...

Happy New Year from The Problem With Perfect! Another year is upon us and with it, we are hopefully gifted with 365 days to make this world a better place.  So, how will you do it? How will you be intentional with your days? What will help you stay focused and determined to reach your goals? For us, we have found choosing a word for the year helps us do just this. A word that gives life to our hop...

Choosing a word for the year has become an annual ritual for many of us who want an alternative to the traditional New Year’s resolution.  So we pick a word as a way to help set our intentions for the year: our North Star to keep us on track.  But before we embark on the process for the year ahead, it’s helpful to reflect on the year behind. How did we do keeping our word at the forefront? Letting...

Have you found yourself experiencing a dull ache this holiday season? Or maybe you're frequently on the verge of tears? Or ready to scream at someone at the drop of a hat? Or maybe you're just so tired that you can barely force yourself to get out of bed, let alone do Christmas shopping. If so, then you may be experiencing what psychologists call Anticipatory Grief. In this episode, Dr....

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, or is it?  For many of us, Christmas reminds us of people lost, broken relationships, and dreams unfulfilled. It's a time when all is supposed to be hopeful and bright, yet the pain of living in this broken world threatens to overshadow any holiday cheer. So how do people find hope, even in the hopeless?  In this episode, we interview Dr. Mark...

Don't know what ikigai is? Neither did I until I was put on the hot seat in this week's episode. Interviewed by Dr. Denise Bickel, I share the details of a significant career change I've recently made in an effort to fully embrace my ikigai (pronounced icky guy). Simply put, ikigai is a Japanese term for your purpose; what gives your life meaning. For me, as another birthday is cele...

I had a trainer years ago whose mantra was, "May things be happening just the way you planned them."  His words still haunt me as my days turn into years and years into decades. The older I get, the more I realize that if I don't plan it, it doesn't happen. And if doesn't happen now, when will it? If you're ready to take charge and stop letting time pass without makin...

Happy Thanksgiving! This week marks the official start of the 2022 Holiday season and the beginning of a six-week eating fest.  And as delicious as that sounds, for many of us, the holiday eating season brings more than just extra calories.  The guilt, shame, and anxiety around what we are eating and drinking and how it might derail any progress we've made around controlling our eating habits...

Tonya and Jason Goodin's lives are divided distinctly into befor e and after and the divider is something unimaginable.  Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency (MSD) is an ultra-rare disease that attacks children and leads to premature and horrific death. The chances of it striking your children are about one in a million and a half.  Despite these odds, not one, but both of the Goodins' children...

In her recent blog post, Dr. Denise Bickel contemplates a quote she heard on a podcast: "You’ll have a happier life if you are an optimist. Choose that.” Not an optimist by nature, Denise explores what it means to be an optimist, a pessimist, and a realist. This week, Denise joins Robin on the podcast to further the conversation. If you've ever wondered where you're at on the optimi...

Sources cited: Atlantic Article: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/07/why-success-wont-make-you-happy/614731/ The Drive Podcast : https://peterattiamd.com/arthurbrooks/ If you achieve success, you'll finally be happy, right? Wrong. In this episode, Rachel breaks down the meaning of success addiction. You'll discover what it is, how to tell if you have it, and what to do abo...