"For me the finger represents the thing that you can turn to no matter what is going on, that helps keep you sane." In the world today, it sometimes feels like there is a never ending tug of war taking place for our time. We are constantly being pulled this way by that thing, and that way by this thing, and slantways and longways and backways... when so many things are demanding so much from us, how do we try and maintain some balance, and keep ourselves from getting lost in the fray? In this episode I talk about just that. An adapted concept I call, the "one thing". I'll share with you the completely random thing that spurred the theory, what it means to me, a brief look into what my "one thing" is, and try and give a little guidance on how you might be able to figure out your own "one thing". And maybe, just maybe along the way even make sense of what giving them the finger is all about. A huge thanks goes out to Nyk Fry for contributing a few tracks of his amazing foley work, that I was able to piece together for use in this episode!

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"Like so many things that we go through grief can be masked by other things." In this episode I talk about the unavoidable thing called grief. Maybe you don't know you're grieving, or maybe like a lot of us do, you're trying to NOT feel grief. We can't escape it, but if we can understand something, we can work through it. Analogies abound, playing in the mud, out dated models of thinking about grief, correlations to ancient human beings and so many things in between. It all ties together, I promise. So come on in, take a seat and take a peak inside the world of grief.

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"Watching someone step on a nail, isn't the same as having stepped on a nail." Empathy, sympathy, Self-other overlap, bones, brains, nails and you've got mail. How do these all tie together? In this episode I respond to another requested topic, and cover the differences between Empathy and Sympathy. I share examples of things in my own life that have helped me to find an understanding of how they differ and make some completely random connections along the way. There's even a touch nostalgia for the Gen X crowd.

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"There can be confusion around the difference between self-medicating and coping mechanisms, and they are different." Coping isn't just a river in... wait... that's not right... Life is hard. Sometimes we get battered on the rocks by the rapid river of the day to day, and we need to grasp at anything we can to keep from drowning. In those instances many people turn to self-medicating, activities that can be used to distract us from or escape reality all together. Sometimes we don't even realize we are doing it. While these methods may offer temporary relief, they often lead to more significant issues later on. Thanks to a wonderful suggestion, in this episode I discuss ways to recognize if we or someone else may be self-medicating, touch on a few ways to develop healthy coping mechanisms, and what it is that separates the two.

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"You are not lazy. You are not broken. You are not defective" In this episode, I challenge outdated and harmful beliefs that society holds about mental health. I explore the different types of stigmas and discuss their immense impact on those struggling with mental health issues.

This episode isn’t just about highlighting problems—it’s about encouraging change. I touch on the importance of open conversations and how acknowledging and confronting stigmas can pave the way for a more inclusive and supportive society, as well as cover how self stigmas can be affecting us, maybe with out even being aware of it.

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"Be like a child, just identify that you are sad." Here I talk about sadness, how it isn't necessarily a bad thing, why we should all be a little more childlike with our emotions, and ways we can process broad emotional states, using food analogies (wait... what?) I share an off beat theory, personal stories and talk about how an amazing boy named Titus helped me to gain new perspective on where an emotion like sadness might really stem from. A special thank you to Amber Maurice-Ponder for allowing me to share a story about my experience with her most amazing son.

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"Isn't it weird how one of the most vital questions in human history, becomes less of an actual question and more of a colloquialism?" In our very first episode, I ask the seemingly simple question: "How are you?" This episode sets the stage for our journey together, examining why this crucial question often receives superficial answers, and what it means to truly listen and care. I'll touch on the societal norms that encourage surface level responses , how breaking this cycle can lead to more meaningful interactions and you shouldn't shy away from emotional honesty.

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Not sure what you're in for? Maybe this will help clear things up. A quick look into what Melancholy & Bacon is all about.

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