The Real Question

This week we have a special episode on the topic of divorce. Vanessa calls her friend, couples and family therapist Colette Potts , to discuss common issues for couples, infidelity, and the practicalities of divorce. Next week, we're back to our regular format with Mauricio! The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram -- This show is completely funde...

There's certainly been a theme with our submissions lately! Just like our guest from Should I: Have a Child?, Emily feels pulled in two directions about having kids. She can imagine a very full life for herself either way. As she nears the end of of her biological opportunity for kids – is she ready to shut the door on that possibility? This week, Mauricio and Emily discuss how to make a deci...

Brandon runs a successful restaurant group with his husband. Things are stressful, it’s a lot to manage, and they just got a great offer to open another restaurant in a hip part of town. Brandon is seriously tempted, but he’s also suspicious of his own temptation. Does he want to expand for the right reasons?  This week, Mauricio and Brandon explore how various stories from our past influence...

Natalie has been ‘low-contact’ with her dad for a while now – she doesn't reach out or put any effort into the relationship, but hasn't totally cut him out of her life. Her upcoming wedding is putting some pressure on that resolution. If she does invite him, and he makes a scene or disappoints her, it will hugely impact the joy of the day. But if she doesn't invite him, that feels like a...

In the course of Sarah’s life, she often finds that she has to talk about her migraines. But the reactions she gets from people are frustrating and sometimes really hurtful. Can she take another approach to these conversations? This week, Mauricio and Sarah discuss the large and small ways that chronic illness interrupt life. The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Fol...

Our guest this week has always wanted to have a kid. He’s also aware that having a kid will totally transform his life! Is he willing to give up parts of his life to make room for a baby? This week, Mauricio and our guest explore how to make space for aspects of our identity that sometimes compete.  The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --...

About five years ago, River left Christianity. He felt constrained and needed space to explore and ask questions. Recently, he has been thinking about a return – but can he bring everything he learned on the outside back in? Or would he have to hide the new parts of himself to belong again? This week, Mauricio and River discuss the joys and drawbacks of religious community. The Real Question is a...

Meghan lives with her partner and daughter in Costa Rica, far away from the rest of their family. They travel frequently to see their family, but it always feels like a huge effort to do so. Should they quit traveling so much? Or would that deprive themselves and their daughter of necessary family time? This week, Mauricio and Meghan discuss the duty we feel towards family and how to balance that...

Elizabeth Rowe 's bookclub reading has started to feel like homework. She loves to read, but after a long day of work she wants romance and adventure and fantasy. Her bookclub, on the other hand, wants Tolstoy. Should she leave the club? This week on the show Mauricio and Elizabeth discuss the importance of community space. Elizabeth Rowe is a leadership coach. She's teaching an upcoming class for...

Ray is graduating with a Masters of Divinity this year but they know they don't want to pursue a traditional path towards ordination. They do want to continue providing spiritual care and counseling to their community. But should they be charging for that work? Shouldn't care be accessible to people who need it, without being a financial burden? On today's episode, Ray and Mauricio explore what it...

Anna knows she wants to be a parent and she doesn't want to do it alone, but she's never particularly wanted a life partner. Should she reconsider that position for the sake of raising a child? On today's episode, Anna and Mauricio explore Anna's relationship to partnership and uncover some of the deeper anxieties at play for her. The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website...

Anna Goldfarb is a journalist and self-titled 'friendship expert' who is the author of the recent book Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections. This week she joins Vanessa to talk all about why we make friends, why we lose them, and how to keep them. Next week, we're back to our regular format with Mauricio! The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website |...

Devon always said that when she moved back to Ohio, she would start planning for the future. She'd think about all the big things: about finding a partner, about whether she wants kids, about buying a house, about planning for retirement. But now that's she's finally moved home, she's been avoiding all those big topics. Is she avoiding them because she doesn't want them? Or is she avoiding them be...

Serena, like all of us, wants to spend less time scrolling on her phone. She wants to make more time for community and deep conversations and joy. She wants to have some kind of sabbath practice. But what does that look like when you don't have a religious tradition to dictate the terms? This week on the show Mauricio and Serena walk step-by-step through designing a sabbath ritual. -- This show is...

Daniel Schroeder's dad is Methodist minister, so he grew up in the church. But about 10 years ago, after he graduated college, he stopped going. Now, after all this time, he's wondering if it's time to go back. This week on the show Mauricio and Daniel discuss the process of coming out and how to carve out a sense of individual identity within your family. Daniel is the host of Let's Ask Taylor Sw...

A lot of us have a checklist for dating – things we're specifically looking for (or not looking for) in a partner. After a string of unsuccessful dates, Katie is re-evaluating her checklist. Are these things she really needs? What if they're getting in the way of her finding the right person? This week on the show Mauricio and Katie discuss how past relationships can continue to influence you long...

Leading up to the election, Marina and their girlfriend started joking about marriage. Once the idea was in the air, the question became more and more real. Sure they're young, sure they haven't been together that long, but they really love each other. Plus, heading into a conservative administration, LGBTQ+ rights aren't guaranteed. Is now the time to get married? This week on Should I Quit? Maur...

About a year ago, Evie completed a Master’s course in acting. But actually pursuing acting professionally feels like a whole different thing – like she’d have to really commit to it as her life’s dream and struggle for years and maybe still not ever make it. Thinking about that, Evie’s not sure if she good enough or feels passionately enough to commit to trying. This week on Should I Quit? Maurici...

It's a new year and we're bringing you a new season with a new host! Today Mauricio is entertaining a very special guest – Vanessa Zoltan. Maybe you've head of her? Vanessa is reflecting on what she wants for 2025 and is wondering whether she should take an art class this year. Art used to be a big part of her life and she misses it! But does she truly have the motivation to leave the house regula...

That's a wrap on Should I Quit ! Today Vanessa shares what she's learned over the past two years of making this show. In exactly a week we'll be back with our first episode of the new season with Mauricio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our final 'Did They Quit' of the year! We're wrapping things up with the lovely Sophy. We originally talked to Sophy in April about how her career intersects with her caretaking responsibilities. Tomorrow: a final reflection and goodbye (for now!) from Vanessa. -- This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please consi...

As promised, we're following up today with the other half of Pantsuit Politics : Beth Silvers. Back in March Beth decided she was going to stop making political donations beyond the local level. Was she able to stick to those convictions through the election? -- This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering...

Today we're checking back in with Sarah Stewart Holland from Pantsuit Politics to find out if she quit cussing. -- This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merry Christmas and Happy Channukah to those who are celebrating today! Today we're checking back in with Katie, our guest from Should I Quit: Waiting for a Partner to Have a Baby? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're checking back-in with Meghan from Should I Quit: Trying to Date Without the Apps? -- This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.