Episodes

At first glance, most everyone would say that the empathizing with another person is a good thing; to understand how they feel and even share some of thosefeelings. Nowadays, however, there are more and more voices that are suggesting that to empathize with others is the path of giving too much away or letting people get away with the things they do. Remember Jean Valjean? He was hungry and stole food. Do we justify it because he was starving, or do we believe that stealing is wrong no matter th...

It used to be that a lot of one's identity was wrapped up inwhat one did for a living. For many people that remains true and not so much along gender lines as it used to be. Is this a bad thing? Is it bad to achieve and feel pride in one's achievements? Can it go too far and what happens whenone retires or can no longer do that thing which supplied identity? These are the questions that drive today's conversation.

Where is home for you? Is it a place? Is it a group of people? Is it a state of mind? Maybe you're feeling a little "homeless" in some ways at this point in your journey. Today's episode takes on this very nuanced and emotionally fraught subject of the "longing for home".

In honor of the recent passing of Pope Francis, we thought it good to spend a moment reflecting on his story and legacy, even from three non-Catholics. We also talk about the messages and attitudes that connect him with many leadersof spiritual movements throughout history. Finally, we wonder, if these messages and attitudes are so respected as righteous, why are we not doing a better job of seeking to live up to them in these strange days.

Part of the normal human experience is sometimes feeling less than others but it seems now days that the messages of less-than are permeating society. There are sharper lines being drawn between "good enough" versus "never good enough" people. Issues of race, gender, sexuality, country of origin, religion, wealth, political affiliation, and so many others have become measuring sticks of human worthiness. What do you think Mr. Rogers would say about that? I think it would make him very, very sad.

Has the world finally killed kindness or is it possible for it to again be on the rise? Is it possible to be kind and strong at the same time or does one necessarily preclude the other? We talk about kindness with the deep hope that it is not dead, and that it can yet be a healthy AND functional way to live.

In this episode, we take on what might be the elephant in the room. We are, admittedly, from that demographic that has held power in this country for a long, long time. We're white, we're male, and we're certainly NOT young! Does the worldwant/need more of the same old same old or could we perhaps offer up something a little different despite how we look and sound? You decide!

Since and because of the Covid 19 pandemic, Americans have grown more and more disconnected and isolated from one another. But this "epidemic of loneliness" has its beginnings years before that. Among other things, the wonderful tech advances that define the last several decades have brought and grown difficult and unintended consequences. These consequences are experienced on personal, local, and global scales. Our mental health, physical health, and relational health is under assault as well a...

We are built to connect and be in relationship with others. Very few people actually thrive alone but we also know that sometimes being in relationship is not easy and even takes some very intentional work. We believe that there are things that, though they may be difficult to do, are things that strengthen, deepen, and secure those relationships that matter most to us. Here are our initial thoughts on thesubject along with some ideas that might lead you to a more productive relational path.

What do you do or what do you stop doing when it feels likethe world is burning? Regardless of ideologies and political positions, most would agree that things seem mighty rough "out there" right now. So many people are feeling overwhelmed at the very least and sometimes evendevastated. Listen to our discussion in response to a very timely question from one of our listeners.

We again use a Ted Lasso quote to get the conversation started. We wonder what optimism is including can one who has their "head in the sand" and denies reality truly be optimistic. Do optimists take more risks? Is this a wisemindset? All this and more in this next Exploracast!

One of the many things the great Ted Lasso told us is that "happiness is a choice." But is it really possible to be happy in this crazy world? Is it possible to be happy while being fully aware all the things around that are difficult, sad, and tragic? Disease. war, conflict, divisiveness, political and social upheaval, and global climate change are for real, and yet Ted has the audacity to suggest that we can choose to be happy!

Everyone knows the word mindfulness and pretty much what it means. Still, something counselors and therapists often see while working with people is that what is known and what is actually practiced is not always the same. Listen to ourdiscussion of some of the nuances of mindfulness and then take the challenge to do a better job in 2025 of being more present in your life and relationships.

We are born being curious about everything! But it seems that over time, many people grow comfortable with what they already know and what makes them feel safe andin control. But is it not true that when we stop learning, we have stopped growing? In this episode of Exploracast, we consider the importance of and hinderances to being and remaining curious.

We generally think of trauma and PTSD in relation to people like soldiers and survivors of other horrific events. This is certainly true, but it is also true that our world, society in general, politics, international war and unrest, climate change, or the pandemic and all that came out of that has been traumatizing to most, if not all of us. Dealing with it healthily requires a lot of honesty and courage.

Most of us were taught to have humility as a foundational value. But what if we work so hard to remain humble and not come off as conceited that we limit what we are capable of doing and downplay who we are capable of being? It's an interesting and, we believe, important tension to acknowledge. Do you play small unnecessarily or do you"think too highly" of yourself?

The industrial revolution began around 1900. As nuclear families began to move away to larger cities for work, one of the major consequences was some loss of thecentrality of the extended family. How can we as a society reclaim the importance of the elders' wisdom and how do we as the elders understand and respectfully convey what they need to hear.

What roles do the lives, histories, and stories of the older generation play in the lives of the younger generation? Have we lost something important by not rememberingthe wisdom of our elders or are their stories no longer relevant in this modern and fast changing world?

We continue our discussion on the subject of trust. We talk about those people and those larger agencies that have done things that have created a lack of trustand how the loss of trust can be used to manipulate. Can we forgive? Should we forgive? What can those others do or say that will make us feel safe enough again to offer trust? We discuss apologies and the willingness to admit fault on the altar of regaining trust.

Who doyou trust? Who do you not trust? Who have you lost trust in? How important isit to have trust in relationships and also with entities like the medicalcommunity and so on? These are the questions that Ken, Larry, and Raleigh beginto tackle in this episode. This is part one of what we believe is a discussionon an important topic.

In this episode, James Fowler's and Lawrence Kohlberg's theories on the development of moral reasoning set the frame around our discussion of how thinking and moral constructs change over time - or not! Is growth/change inevitable? Do we have to let go of old ideas and beliefs, even those that brought comfort in the past? Why are these sorts of changes scary but also why is never allowing for challenges, doubts, and questions at least as scary, if not more so?

In his song The Secret of Life, James Taylor wrote that"It's okay to feel afraid but don't let it stand in your way." Inthis episode of Exploracast, we acknowledge and discuss the fears that are inall of us and those that are exacerbated by the very nature of society andgovernment

This talking stuff can be hard! In this episode, Ken, Larry and Raleigh deal with some of the necessary components of genuine civil discourse. They discuss how to create safe spaces for being vulnerable and the necessary courage it takes for others and ourselves to take that risk, especially when we disagree.

I am convinced that men hate each other because they fear each other. They fear each other because they don't know each other, and they don't know each other because they don't communicate with each other, and they don't communicate with each other because they are separated from each other.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.