This week on the podcast, we are diving deeper into one subcategory of the physical dimension: Exercise! Join us for a meaningful and body positive conversation about moving our bodies, breaking a sweat, and freeing ourselves from the cycle of exercise as punishment. The Rapid Fire segment brings us back to a lighter note before we move into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to chat about all things exercise and movement.

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

0:49 - Our exercise and fitness journeys

11:43 - Why do people exercise?

15:11 - The impact of social media on exercise habits

17:18 - Reframing exercise in a positive light

24:25 - How important is rest?

26:16 - Rapid fire!!!

29:35 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?

36:03 - How ya feelin’?

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast:

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/

Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green - https://everythingistb.com/

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/donna-tartt

Amazing Glaze - https://www.amazingglaze.net/

Six Seasons of Pasta by Joshua McFadden - https://www.joshuamcfadden.com/projects/six-seasons-of-pasta

Find Us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theyearwegotbetter/

Find Us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheYearWeGotBetter

We wouldn’t be a wellness podcast without a deep dive into body image. Our topic for week fifteen touches on many different dimensions of wellness but particularly on physical and emotional health. We’re talking about everything from societal pressures to fatphobia to boobs. As always, we bring back some silliness in the Rapid Fire segment before moving into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to learn more about where we’re at with our body image these days.

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

1:00 - Our current relationships with our bodies

5:24 - Early messaging about body image

11:43 - Weight-loss drugs

15:04 - Where we find positive body image

17:43 - How body image changes over time

26:58 - Tips and tricks to improve your body image

32:39 - Rapid fire!!!

34:13 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?

39:21 - How ya feelin’?

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast:

Nicola Coughlan represents the “perfect breasts community” - https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/on-bridgerton-nicola-coughlan-proudly-represents-women-with-perfect-breasts

Tapas Teatro Baltimore - http://www.tapasteatro.com/

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/donna-tartt/the-goldfinch/9780316055437/?lens=little-brown

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/

Social media: Is it actually social anymore? For week fourteen, we are focusing on the social dimension, diving deeper into the landscape of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more. We talk about our own experiences as social media users, the impact of AI, and the addiction factor. As always, the Rapid Fire segment brings back the levity before we move into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to learn more about our social media hot takes.

The Rundown

0:00 - Intro

1:13 - The stats on social media

2:08 - What is happening with social media these days?

6:20 - Connection and disconnection on social media

12:21 - Does social media make our lives better?

17:30 - Fundamental shifts in social media and the impact of AI

24:01 - Balancing analog and digital lives

27:05 - Rapid fire!!!

29:07 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?

34:13 - How ya feelin’?

Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast:

“Can’t Look Away” documentary - https://www.jolt.film/watch/cantlookaway

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250391230/carelesspeople/

“AI-altered photos and videos of Minneapolis shootings blur reality” (NBC News) - https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/ai-altered-photos-videos-minneapolis-shootings-blur-reality-rcna256552

L.L. Bean Sherpa Jacket - https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/128413

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/donna-tartt/the-goldfinch/9780316055437/?lens=little-brown

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/

Small Thing Like These by Claire Keegan - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/small-things-like-these-claire-keegan/1139228770

Roasted White Bean and Tomato Pasta - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024062-roasted-white-bean-and-tomato-pasta
Dessert Person cookbook by Claire Saffitz - https://www.dessertperson.com/dessert-person-cookbook