Tell Me Something True Trailer

FromTell Me Something True with Laura McKowen

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Tell Me Something True Trailer

FromTell Me Something True with Laura McKowen

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Length:

5 minutes

Released:

May 27, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

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Released:

May 27, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (68)

Tell Me Something True is for people who want to fall in love with the mystery of life again. Practical, fun, and provocative conversations that use the lenses of psychology, philosophy, creativity, science, and spirituality to help us discover the surprising things that make life meaningful. Laura McKowen, the host, is the best-selling author of We Are The Luckiest, a "raw, deep and hopeful" memoir. Laura brings hard-won life experience, a searing curiosity, and deep passion for others to every conversation.

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Nabil Ayers on Finding Your Voice: What does it feel like to live with feet in multiple worlds? Nabil Ayers can give a masterclass. He’s both a musician and businessman, bi-racial, the US GM of 4AD, a legendary record label, and writer with a growing profile. Nabil has quietly, persistently engaged in a life of lifting up the work of others, while also carving out his own creative space. Nabil’s memoir hits in 2022 and we’re excited to have caught him as he’s entering lift-off on the long trajectory of publishing his first book. If you’re a music fan, someone walking their own evolving creative path, a person who is figuring out how to make all the pieces fit together - or all of the above - Nabil’s quiet determination will resonate. Nabil’s collected writing at nabilayers.com For the music fans who want to go deeper on 4AD Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST com by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
53 min listen
Elena Brower on a Life of Openness: It’s possible to joyfully embrace the life of a student. We’ve seen it and now you will, too. Elena Brower is a yoga and meditation teacher. She’s also the author of many books, including “The Art of Attention,” the beloved “Practice You” journal, and the follow-up, “Being You.” She’s an artist and a poet, too. And yet none of those labels really encompass all of her. Elena is a point of clarity in a world that can feel very fuzzy at times and in this episode of TMST, Elena is a passionate advocate for the role of elders - and why we need to embrace aging and becoming elders ourselves! There is power and joy in aging and Elena speaks to that with such eloquence. Say hi to Elena here: https://elenabrower.com/ The Practice You journal: https://practiceyou.com/ Support TMST and keep it ad-free: https://tmst.supercast.com/ Join our free on-line community (it’s NOT a Facebook group!): https://www.tmstpod.com/ by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
58 min listen
Cheryl Strayed and The Savage Truth: What are Savage Truths? Facing your own mediocrity. Accepting the finality of something profoundly tragic by turning it into something beautiful. From Dear Sugar, to WILD, TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS, TORCH and BRAVE ENOUGH, Cheryl Strayed has been quietly, persistently challenging us to discover the Savage Truth by stopping, getting quiet and truly listening to our own voice. We’re thrilled and grateful she joined us for the premiere episode of TMST. Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Support TMST and keep it ad-free: https://tmst.supercast.com/ Join our free on-line community (it’s NOT a Facebook group!): https://www.tmstpod.com/ by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
57 min listen
Dr. Anna Lembke on Our Dopamine Nation: Have you ever said, “I’d love to stop scrolling/ drinking/ shopping/ gambling, but…?” That’s the power of dopamine. Dr. Anna Lembke is one of our most brilliant science communicators. She’s the New York Times bestselling author of Dopamine Nation, the program director for the Stanford Addiction Medicine Fellowship, and the chief of the Stanford Addiction Medical Dual Diagnosis Clinic. Simply, if there is ONE VOICE you should listen to on why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain, it’s Anna Lembke. In this episode she helps us understand massive topics like self-binding and see that escaping the vicious cycle of compulsive behaviors is so much more than abstinence or will power. This is a hopeful and encouraging episode and one to share with everyone you know who’s said, “I’d love to stop scrolling, but…” Dr. Anna Lembke: https://www.annalembke.com/ Further reading: https://www.annalembke.com/selected-publications Dopamine Nati by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
64 min listen
Annie Grace on What Animates You: What do you do when you’ve impacted the lives of MILLIONS and you want to walk away because you’re miserable? Annie Grace’s book, This Naked Mind, and her free online course, The Alcohol Experiment, blew open the conversation around alcohol. It’s a legit cultural phenomenon. But after years of making a difference, she had to face the fact that some of the things that had animated her drinking - the scarcity, the unhealthy competition, the never-enoughness - were still there. Her old animating energy was still running the show and it was tainting all the good things. Annie’s willingness to share how she confronted that old animating energy is inspiring and she was so generous in sharing her hard-earned wisdom. Also, she answered a bunch of questions from our TMST PLUS members. The paid community plays a key role in helping us make this show and you can get in on that at https://tmst.supercast.com/ Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent pod by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
69 min listen
Peter Rollins and The Happiness Paradox: We don’t often hear the word POLYMATH, probably because there aren’t very many. It’s the perfect way to describe Peter Rollins, though. He’s that rare person who can deftly weave a huge range of ideas to help us think through big, complex issues. Also… bonus! Peter Rollins is a hell of a hang. Integrating psychology, history, theology, philosophy, and the X factor of the Irish storyteller, Peter Rollins provides us with his singular view on human nature. We found many moments during post-production where we replayed sections over and over to savor what Peter shared - we think you will, too. Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Peter’s site: https://peterrollins.com/ Support TMST and keep it ad-free: https://tmst.supercast.com/ Join our free on-line community (it’s NOT a Facebook group!): https://www.tmstpod.com/ by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
64 min listen
Tell Me Something True Trailer: Coming Thursday, June 24 - a new show from Laura McKowen, author of We Are The Luckiest and founder of The Luckiest Club, & Mikel Ellcessor, co-creator of Radiolab and Limina House. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
5 min listen
Frank X. Walker on Poetry's Urgent Intimacy: When was the last time an artist took you by the hand and said, “Here, let me show you how the world looks through my eyes”? Frank X. Walker is Kentucky’s former poet laureate and one of the co-founders of the Affrilachian Poets - a grassroots group of poets of color living in the Appalachian region. Thirty years after their founding, the Affrilachian Poets continue to dismantle the idea that Appalachia is a white region, devoid of literature and the arts. For decades, Frank’s work has embodied a deeply personal approach and challenged us to see poetry as an urgent voice that can touch on our experience of living in a way other written works can’t. Today, Frank is the Director of the MFA program of the University of Kentucky and he’s mentored hundreds of artists along their path. He’s the author and editor of a dozen books of poetry and, as you’ll hear, Frank is a lovely, thoughtful, and really cool guy. You can find Frank here: http:/ by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
60 min listen
Africa Brooke on Freedom from Self-Censorship: Where are you self-censoring and what is it costing you? Africa Brooke is on a mission to get us to ask these questions... and then cut it out! Hailing from Zimbabwe via London, Africa is a mindset coach who works with high profile individuals to navigate the world’s accelerating complexity. Laura came to know her a few years back as the enigmatic woman in the UK who talked about sex and pleasure (in sobriety). But then, in 2020, she started talking about self-censorship in a striking, clarifying way and the world stood up and said, “tell me more!” We love the nuance and grace towards others that she brings to tough subjects. Dig in. Enjoy! Africa Brooke’s site & her essay that has been read +3M times: An open letter: why I'm leaving the cult of wokeness Laura’s essay: Leaving The Bouncy House of Social Media Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We ar by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
53 min listen
Kristoffer Carter on Your Epic Life: What would life be like if we gave ourselves PERMISSION? Permission to truly chill, to feel deeply, to open up and express ourselves in ways that serve us - and others? Kristoffer “KC” Carter has A LOT of ideas about this. He’s the exact opposite of aspirational hustle culture and warmed over self help -- and he’s Laura’s coach! In this episode, Kristoffer shows us what happens when a disaffected sales dude goes deep into the world of meditation and spirituality and emerges as a Fortune 100 executive coach and unwavering advocate for every. single. one. of us. Have a pen and paper handy for this one, because the wisdom is flowing. The Four Permissions: https://www.thisepiclife.com/manifesto/ KC’s Book Permission To Glow: https://www.thisepiclife.com/book/ Meet KC: https://www.thisepiclife.com/about/ Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the T by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
48 min listen
Rob Bell on Doing What You Love: How would your life look if you arranged it so you could do what you love? Rob Bell has one of the most pure, electric, inspiring and infectious energies for life. He’s truly engaged in the mystery and is such a model for doing things your own way. A former megachurch pastor, who is the New York Times bestselling author of “Love Wins” and ten other books has been encouraging us to engage in the joy of life for many years. In a time of “influencers,” cheap fixes, social media narcissism, hustle culture, self-improvement by meme, and increasingly shallow teachers, he’s a rare example of someone who walks the talk. He’s far more interested in remaining curious than appearing to have all the answers and we love that about him. Rob Bell: https://robbell.com/ Rob’s Everything Is Spiritual Tour: https://robbell.com/event/all-new-everything-is-spiritual-tour/ Rob Bell: An Introduction to Joy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA7LmEn3xyc Spotify playlist f by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
73 min listen
Laura McKowen on Social Media & The False Self: How is social media rewiring us, and what’s the cost? Laura has been living with this question for years. In her writing and on the show, she’s shared how social media has affected her mental health, some of the eerie parallels to her alcohol addiction, and what ultimately led to her decision to bow out of social media earlier this year. Following her exit, Laura’s been diving deep into this topic, and this week, she goes solo on the mic, exploring one specific psychological framework she’s chewing on: the false self vs. the true self. She talks about what it is, how it plays out on social media, and how it might provide one answer to why social media is linked with high rates of depression and anxiety. This episode will likely be part of an ongoing series about social media. To that end, we REALLY want to hear from you about it. Join us at the TMST community (it’s not Facebook) and share your experience, what’s working and not working by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
53 min listen
yung pueblo on The Search for Equanimity: What’s it like to FULLY embrace being a work in progress? yung pueblo is the pen name for Diego Perez. Over the course of two books and a growing on-line presence, Perez is showing what it means to live a life of becoming. In this episode of TMST, Diego Perez shares how he grew into his meditation practice, what it means to keep social media and outside influences in perspective, and why the search for equanimity is vital. In a conversation that’s candid, approachable, practical, and funny, Laura and Diego explore the ways we’re all practicing, evolving and growing. Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Support TMST and keep it ad-free: https://tmst.supercast.com/ Join our free on-line community (it’s NOT a Facebook group!): https://www.tmstpod.com/ by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
45 min listen
Melissa Urban on Going First: How do you find freedom and peace in the act of going first? It was something Melissa Urban had to learn. Melissa Urban is the CEO and co-founder of Whole30, a NY Times bestselling author, a mom, a podcast host, a recovering addict, and, according to Laura the author of the VERY BEST book reviews on Instagram. She has set the bar in so many ways as a model of strength, willingness, and resilience. In this episode of TMST, Melissa opens up and shares the ways that she’s softened since founding Whole30, why she’s chosen to share the more vulnerable parts of her life now, and to be the one that goes first. Get the complete, unedited interview with Melissa when you join TMST+ : https://tmst.supercast.com/ Join our free on-line community (it’s NOT a Facebook group!): https://www.tmstpod.com/ Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Essa by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
65 min listen
AMA with Laura on Intimacy, Creativity, Making Friends, and Early Sobriety: This week, we turned it over to you! In the first Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode, Laura answers four questions from our listener community. She talks about why she does this show, whether or not she’d ever do another sobriety-specific show, how to choose creative projects, the truths and fallacies of the whole “you must love yourself before you can be loved by others” saying, talking about new sobriety and the importance of choosing who you tell, and making friends as an adult, especially a sober one! This was really fun and we’ll do it again. Ira Glass on creativity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbC4gqZGPSY 650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/20/learning/lesson-plans/650-prompts-for-narrative-and-personal-writing.html Submit a question for future episodes by becoming a member: https://tmstpod.circle.so/c/submit-qs-for-laura/submit-a-question-to-be-answered-live-on by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
57 min listen
Laura McKowen on 7 Years of Sobriety: This week, Laura takes the mic solo to reflect on hitting seven years of sobriety. She goes deep on four ideas that feel most important now as she looks back - ideas that are both urgent and grounding, timely and timeless - whether you’ve struggled with addiction or not. Since Laura got sober in 2014, cultural ideas and discussions around sobriety and addiction have massively changed. A “condition” once cloaked in anonymity and dark church basements has become both vocal and visible as more and more people choose to recover out loud, new recovery modalities surface, and movements like #sobercurious #oneyearnobeer #soberoctober and #dryjanuary have brought alcohol-free experiments and lifestyles into the mainstream, Amidst this shift, Laura encourages us to play the long game. She touches on the many layers of her sobriety from quitting Ambien to body issues, money, emotional sobriety, relationships with men, and finally quitting social media, an by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
59 min listen
Anna Sale on Finding Connection by Talking About Hard Things: What if the hard thing you didn’t want to share was also the thing that made you most human and brought people closer? Anna Sale knows A LOT about this. Anna is the creator of Death, Sex & Money, a podcast about “the things we think about a lot and need to talk about more.” She is also the author of Let’s Talk About Hard Things, which is an invitation to discuss the tough topics that all of us encounter. The New Yorker said it’s “like a good conversation with a friend” and we agree! Anna has this calm, resolute quality that zeroes in on what matters and then the patience to let some magical moments rise to the surface. In this episode, Anna and Laura talk about working through issues around money, how we see ourselves after divorce, and the power of going first. If you haven’t already, please make sure you check out Death, Sex & Money and enjoy! You can find Anna here: https://www.annasale.com/ Get your Death, Sex & Mo by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
56 min listen
Anne Helen Petersen on Burnout and The Myth of “Having it All”: “Rachel Hollis is a manifestation of a larger ideology about women's place in society. That if you just try hard enough, all of these structural issues that are making your life really, really hard can be solved if you just wash your face. .” - Anne Helen Petersen Anne Helen Petersen is one of our most essential cultural observers. Her work at Buzzfeed culminated in her 2020 book, Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation. Now she’s using Culture Study, her Substack newsletter, to explore everything from The Unified Theory of Peloton to how to make friends. In the episode, Laura and Anne unpack the faux empowerment of Rachel Hollis, the ways we sell quick fixes to systemic problems (like how a bath bomb will overcome the ways our society devalues women, and, particularly mothers) and the myth of “having it all.” More than ever, this is one to share with your favorite people! Readings mentioned in the by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
64 min listen
Leonard Perlmutter on a Life of Experimentation: What if life wasn’t an endless series of zero-sum, high stakes experiences? Leonard Perlmutter is asking these and many other questions, and he's doing it in a lovely, humble way. He’s a meditation teacher, an author, and has a unique ability to make complicated things clear. He founded the American Meditation Institute in Albany, New York in 1996, and in the years since they've touched tens of thousands of lives through their classes and meditation, yoga and integrated health. Don’t be fooled by his easy-going, humble manner - Leonard drops solid gold every few minutes. This is an episode that you’ll go back to several times to wring out all of the goodness. Why Meditate?: https://americanmeditation.org/why-meditate/ The American Meditation Institute: https://americanmeditation.org/ AMI’s Foundation Meditation Course: https://americanmeditation.org/ami-meditation-course/ Spotify playlist for this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playl by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
59 min listen
Jim Zartman on The 4 Types of Relational Energy: How do you show up in relationships? Jim Zartman is a certified Enneagram teacher, a former Midwest megachurch producer, a father, husband, and the Co-Founder of The Art of Growth, a top-rated Enneagram podcast and company of the same name. He also happens to be one of Laura’s best friends. Laura brought Jim on to break down the three types of relational energy we tend to inhabit, how each can cause pain and dysfunction in our relationships, and the magical fourth type, or “with” energy, that he believes is the path through to peace. Jim’s the first to tell you that he doesn’t have the answers, but he’s a hell of an example of how awesome the process of growing up can be. Get to know Jim better: You can connect with him through his site or you can reach him and the entire team at The Art of Growth. Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funde by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
62 min listen
Amanda White and Our Desire for Control: Janet was right. It’s all about CONTROL. Amanda White has some wise, and life-earned, things to say about the illusion of control. If we’re honest, our desire for control is inseparable from all of our motivations, and can lead us to extreme places. Amanda is a therapist, a woman in recovery from both disordered eating and alcohol, and she’s the author of NOT DRINKING TONIGHT, a terrific book that is a huge contribution in the sobriety space because it bridges the gap between memoir and clinical programming. Amanda breaks down important and often misunderstood topics like self-care, boundaries, reparenting, and trauma, as well as diving deep into WHY we drink. Whether or not alcohol is a thing for you is pretty much irrelevant to this conversation, because almost anyone can relate to issues of control: over our surroundings, other people, and especially our feelings. Show notes: Not Drinking Tonight: https://amandaewhite.com/book Episode by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
42 min listen
Julie Menanno on The Secure Relationship: How many times have you looked at your relationship partner and wondered, “Why do they do that?” Have we got an episode for you! Julie Menanno’s “The Secure Relationship” (@thesecurerelationship) Instagram account is a touchstone for many folks in the TMST community. In a sea of glib, pop psychology, and low nutrition, feel-good content, she's taken her work as a couple’s therapist and scholar and turned it into a feed that’s operating at a much higher level. In recent years, the concept of attachment styles - anxious types, avoidant types - has crept into our consciousness. Julie brings these concepts, and other ideas like attachment needs, emotional safety, and healthy vulnerability, to life in a smart, accessible way for almost half a million followers. Her first book, The Secure Relationship, and her latest, Secure Love, are shining a light on ways we can be more centered in our relationships - and how we can enjoy them more. Juli by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
51 min listen
Caroline Dooner on Saying F*ck It to Hustle & Diet Culture: This week, we’re revisiting one of our most discussed and asked-for topics: BURNOUT. Caroline Dooner’s first book, The F*ck It Diet: Eating Should Be Easy is a massively popular and influential book for good reason. It’s that helped so many of us reframe diet culture and to finally drop the 10,000 lb gorilla that is our obsession with food. After several years of feeling the effects of her work, and the way she approached her life and success, Caroline is back with a second book - Tired as F*ck: Burnout at the Hands of Diet, Self-Help, and Hustle Culture This is the conversation we NEED and Caroline is the perfect person to get us going. She doesn’t sit on high and issue pronouncements about how we’re supposed to live. Her work is very personal and, as she says, she uses her stories as a cautionary tale. Show notes: Caroline Dooner: https://carolinedooner.com/ Caoline’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/thefuckitdiet/ The F by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
53 min listen
Sara Kuburic on becoming The Millennial Therapist: What would you do if someone said you could “find comfort for the most vexing questions in our digitized lives in the wisdom of 19th c. European philosophers”? Sara Kuburic has taken up that challenge. Through her online persona as The Millennial Therapist and in private practice, Sara’s training as an existential psychotherapist integrates modern mental health knowledge with some of the most complex Western thought. Sara’s work provides a thrillingly lucid, concise and grounding response to The Big Questions. Bonus… she’s funny, engaging, and our time together flew by! You can find Sara here: https://www.sara-kuburic.com/ The Millennial Therapist IG account (a must-follow:) https://www.instagram.com/millennial.therapist/ Spotify playlist for this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4KkM9nu9EV2Jhe9SHbcusX?si=a9550c0642444b87&nd=1 Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
41 min listen
John Richards on Mental Health, Music & Community: John Richards is the morning drive host at KEXP, Seattle. For decades, he’s been the soundtrack to the lives of people starting their day, handpicking every record and building a global fanbase. The thing to understand about John is that he’s on a mission than transcends playing cool tunes. John and KEXP are using their collective platform to carry the message that we’re not alone. That we are loved. That there’s a reason to get up every day. He is charming and funny, even when sharing about his battles with anxiety and depression. I think he’s a powerful role model for how our struggles don’t define us - and that we can put the hard times to good use. John’s site: https://djjohnrichards.com/ The Dr. & the DJ podcast: https://thedrandthedj.com/ Spotify playlist for this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2KC79Kr9eZ24TVXrwnBL7E Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
52 min listen
Nadia Bolz-Weber on How We’re REALLY Doing: This week, we asked a big question... what can Timothée Chalamet’s character in “Don’t Look Up” teach us about finding faith in tough times? No, seriously… we dig into it in a real way and Nadia Bolz-Weber is exactly the person to explore what we can take away from what she admits is a “deeply cynical movie.” Nadia is an ordained Lutheran pastor, the New York Times best selling author of three memoirs including Pastrix and Accidental Saints; Finding God In All The Wrong People, and a woman in long-term recovery. She’s an example of the ways faith can exist without dogma, exclusion, or shaming. She speaks candidly and generously as a woman with decades of sobriety and a life spent as the person who “always sits in the corner with the other weirdoes.” In this conversation, Nadia urges us to take a breath and step forward into life with courage, an open heart of acceptance, a hell of a lot of humility, and especially, a sense of humor. Show by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
55 min listen
Jenn Wasner on Being vs. Performing: What do you do when the music stops and there’s no dancing in the distraction machine? For Jenn Wasner, like so many of us, that was her pandemic year. She had become “incredibly adept at outrunning myself,” so when her life as a touring musician was paused and two relationships ended she realized that picking up the guitar was not going to bring peace. Jenn Wasner’s band Wye Oak, her collaboration with Andy Stack, is connoisseur-grade indie rock and her deep musicality has earned her spots on the Bon Iver and Sylvan Esso touring line-ups. She just released her best solo work as Flock of Dimes and the moving, evocative songwriter that has won over so many showed up in our interview. Even if you’ve never been in the spotlight, we think you’ll identify with Jenn’s poignant, often funny and piercingly true reflections on why we can’t let the outside give us our inside. Plus, you get a surprise detour discussion about the Enneagram. Get to kno by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
58 min listen
Jamie Lee Finch on Purity Culture, Sex, and Befriending Your Body - part 1: What if your body was your closest friend instead of…whatever it is now? Jamie Lee Finch is a wise guide for so many women who are asking - what would a healthy relationship with my body look like? In this conversation we go deep into why we need to relate to our bodies like A PERSON and the healing that can come as a result. Virtually NONE of us are free of body issues, whether they’re around our shape, or desire, or how we change with aging. Jamie’s unwavering stance for our health, wholeness and living an integrated life is the message we need to hear right now. Jamie is also the author of You Are Your Own: A Reckoning with the Religious Trauma of Evangelical Christianity. Next week, in the second half of our conversation, we’ll explore what it’s been like to deal with the lasting effects of having been raised in purity culture and so much more. Spotify playlist for this episode: https://open.spotify. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
37 min listen
Jane Clapp on Escaping the Social Media Labyrinth: What if social media scrolling was the latest version of the mythical Labyrinth? An elaborate, confusing structure intended to keep the Minotaur (you) from escaping. Jane Clapp is a Toronto-based Jungian Somatics teacher who left social media because she knew it was making her sick. Her answer to the question “WHY is it making me sick?” tapped the deep wisdom of concepts like archetypes, complexes, and the collective unconscious. That twitchy anxiety we feel from all the FOMO and YOLO isn’t an accident. It’s proof that technologists and advertisers are succeeding in tapping our deepest desires to keep us trapped in the labyrinthine scroll. This one went to places we weren’t expecting and we can’t wait to hear what you think! You can find Jane here: https://www.janeclapp.com/ Jane has a pre-recorded webinar “Social Media: Your Body and Your Psyche:” https://www.janeclapp.com/products/socialmedia Spotify playlist for this episode: by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
63 min listen
Veronica Valli on The Promise of Emotional Sobriety: What if you could step off the rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows? What if the pain that comes with taking everything personally could taper and largely disappear? THAT’S the promise of emotional sobriety, and Veronica Valli is one of the most steady, sane, helpful voices when it comes to that murky topic. Veronica is a woman in long-term recovery, a therapist, a sobriety coach, founder of the Soberful program, a co-host of the Soberful podcast, and the author of three books, the most recent of which, Soberful: Uncover a Sustainable, Fulfilling Life Free of Alcohol, will be published on January 25. On this episode of TMST, we get into how emotional sobriety does, and doesn’t, relate to abstinence from substance or process addictions. What emotional sobriety actually means, why it’s something everyone (not just people in recovery) has to do if they want healthy relationships, because no matter what, “the hardest thing any h by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
52 min listen

More Episodes from Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen

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Laura on Why We're Wrapping TMST: In this final episode of Tell Me Something True, Laura explains why we made the choice to wrap after 67 episodes, 600,000 downloads and say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to the quarter of a million folks who have said YES to an uncompromising show dedicated to falling in love with the mystery of life again. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
37 min listen
Melissa Urban on How Boundaries Will Set You Free: Do your relationships often feel one-sided or unbalanced? Are you always giving in just so things will go smoothly? Do you wish you could learn to say no—but, like, nicely? Then step right up as Laura and Melissa Urban break it all down as they discuss Melissa's new book: by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
54 min listen
Jennifer Moss on The Burnout Epidemic: Burnout is one of the most widespread - and misunderstood - issues plaguing our society, and Jennifer Moss is here to peel back what we need to about something that's killing +750,000 people a year. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
62 min listen
Ali Shapiro on Healing our Relationship to Food, Weight, and Body Image: Thank heavens for Ali Shapiro because this week we dig into food, our bodies, and the stories we tell ourselves about our self-worth. Ali is the creator of the Truce with Food Process, which combines psychology and behavioral change so we can break all the absurd, dangerous and shaming ways we approach food and our bodies. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
60 min listen
Larissa May and Our Journey to Digital Wellness: Larissa May has “...a vision for a future where kids learn how to develop healthy relationships with technology.” In this episode of Tell Me Something True, Laura and Larissa dive into a nuanced view on the ways the technology we can't escape can be something we can live with. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
42 min listen
Erin Lane on the Scripts That Hurt Mothers (and non-mothers, too!): When we hear things like “Motherhood is the toughest job…” or "You don't know love until you become a mother" we’re encountering the social scripting that defines what’s “normal” for the majority of American women. Erin S. Lane's book "Someone Other Than A Mother" shows us how these scripts shape the lives of mothers, and non-mothers, too, and how they hold us back. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
59 min listen
Jeff & Debra Jay on Intervention & Family Recovery: One of the hardest things when a loved one is struggling with addiction is the question: what can I do? Jeff and Debra Jay are the people you need to know. They have been at the forefront of intervention and family recovery for decades and are the calm clear-eyed and deeply experienced voices someone needs to hear when they're at their wits end. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
64 min listen
Anne Helen Petersen on Burnout and The Myth of “Having it All: Anne Helen Petersen unpacks burnout, mommy wine culture, the lies of "having it all" and why we need to pay attention to what the rise of Peloton is saying about our society. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
64 min listen
Branden Collinsworth on Lessons Learned from 1,000 Books: Branden Collinsworth is a Nike Master Trainer, Yoga Teacher, Human Performance Coach and Humanitarian whose journey of curiosity has shaped him into a man of extraordinary empathy and joy for life - much of it shaped by a personal a challenge to read 1,000 books because he knew it would help him unlock a world beyond the streets and generational trauma. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
47 min listen
Mary Laura Philpott on the Joy & Dread of Being Human: Mary Laura Philpott brings her captivating wit and sharp insight to a discussion of her latest book, “Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives." by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
42 min listen
Chris Marshall on How Connection Can Save Your Life: Being human means sometimes we feel deeply alone. For those who also suffer from addiction, that feeling of isolation is persistent. It’s a low hum that follows a person everywhere. Chris Marshall knows these feelings well and he’s here today to share how listening to those voices have almost killed him on several occasions. And how he’s developed a support network to make them less loud. Chris learned how powerful the experience of connection can be and it, literally, helped to save his life. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
52 min listen
Marissa Moss on Not Getting Chicked: Marissa Moss has a lot to say about powerful women, making their own rules, and finding solidarity when the world is pitting them against each other. It's bigger than country music, the world she covers brilliantly, AND it shapes Music Row and the lives of the artists who are trying to make it there. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
59 min listen
Laura McKowen on Jealousy & Envy: Laura dishes in a solo ep. on her experience with jealousy, including a bonus conversation with author Christie Tate. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
54 min listen
Dr. Kate Pate on Vets, First Responders and why “Being Triggered” is More Complicated Than You Think: We are never more than one connection away from a veteran or first responder. They are the ULTRA helping professions. During the pandemic, many were the first line of protection and care. But how many of us have asked how we can be part of THEIR solution network? Meet Dr. Kate Pate, a neurophysiologist who is laser-focused on the health and healing needs of our veterans and first responders, which means she’s focused on matters that impact our entire society. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
66 min listen
Veronica Valli on The Promise of Emotional Sobriety for TMST’s 1st Birthday: Author Veronica Valli describes emotional sobriety and why it matters. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
52 min listen
Brianna Madia on Surviving the Lie That Was Killing Her: Brianna Madia’s journey as a vagabond lifestyle influencer was extraordinary. It was her, her van, her dogs and, for a time, her husband. And according to her it was really good. Until it wasn’t. And then, it got really scary. Brianna takes us behind the curtain of the IG influencer life - and then we go 100 levels deeper. While the world was fixed on her very attractive-appearing life, she was living with a slow, gnawing truth that was killing her. When she came clean, the geyser of vitriol was horrific. The extreme shaming she received after admitting that she made some, admittedly, desperate life choices - was topped only by the brutality she inflicted on herself. A brutality that had her considering some irrevocable actions. Brianna is able to talk about some big truths and hard things - and yet it never feels like trauma porn. There’s no voyeuristic charge to her story, so you’re left being able to see where we’ve all ma by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
27 min listen
Kelly McDaniel on Mother Hunger: An insatiable need for romantic attention and love. Periods of overeating or starving. Using alcohol, food, or over-working to numb out. A pattern of unstable and painful relationships. Does this sound painfully familiar? Kelly McDaniel is a trauma therapist who saw these traits over and over in clients who felt trapped in cycles of harmful behaviors and were unable to stop. In 2008, she coined the term Mother Hunger as a way to describe this pattern and has since helped countless women. In this conversation, Kelly and Laura talk about: – What Mother Hunger is – How Mother Hunger shows up in our relationship to food – The three critical elements of mothering and what happens when those needs aren’t met – What Mother Hunger looks like in other relationships, like friendships and at work – The link between food and unstable relationship patterns – The concept of “frozen grief” – The double-bind women face when it comes to sexual expression – How to by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
61 min listen
Michael Slepian on Knowing the Difference Between Secrets, Lies & Privacy: What could be heavier than the secrets we carry? The constant vigilance and concealment can be exhausting. But can you tell the difference between what’s a secret and what’s being kept private? Michael Slepian does and he can back it up with research. Slepian studies the psychology of secrets and, as he’s discovered, the real problem with keeping a secret is not that you have to hide it, but that you have to live with it, and think about it. But here’s the trick - we confuse secrets, lies and privacy all the time! And we hurt ourselves in the process. Slepian helps us figure out where we’re hurting ourselves -and where we can give ourselves a break, drop the guilt and free up some mental space! Episode link: https://www.tmstpod.com/episodes/50-michael-slepian-knowing-difference-between-secrets-lies-privacy Spotify playlist for this episode: Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are n by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
50 min listen
Laura on Protecting Your Energy using “Energy Dollars”: Every day, every hour, every minute, there’s a request. More time. More attention. More engagement. More space in our brains and our lives. Laura feels the pinch like everyone and she frequently fields questions on how she allocates her time, attention and life passion. In this solo episode, Laura shares how she found inspiration in the way the comic Whitney Cummings thinks about it - ENERGY DOLLARS. We aren’t infinite people (no matter what society and our conditioning tells us.) For all the things that energize us and fill our tank, we also have to come to terms with how much each demand, activity, and engagement asks us to spend our energy dollars. Laura brings her experiences as a mom with an increasingly independent kid, who is facing a new summer rhythm. A creative person who has to feed that glorious beast. And as… a human, who values her sobriety relationships and sense of peace and is making choices every day, every h by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
40 min listen
Shauna Niequist on Thriving After Life Goes in the Blender: Everyone has a day, or week, go sideways. What happens when life hits the blender - and it goes on for years? Shauna Niequist has a lot to offer because she’s lived it. Her latest book, I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet, covers a time in her life when Every. Single. Thing. was, as she says, tossed in the blender. Family. Vocation. Faith. Sense of belonging. And then, also… menopause. Shanua has the rare gift of being able to inspire while never getting saccharine, to be honest without overexposing, to impart wisdom without being preachy. She came ready to talk and even if you feel like you know her through her previous books, Cold Tangerines, Bittersweet, Bread & Wine, Savor, and Present Over Perfect, we promise you - you are going to discover a whole new side to the amazing Shauna Niequist Shauna’s site: https://www.shaunaniequist.com/ Shauna’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/sniequist/ Episode link: https://www.tmstpod. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
46 min listen
Jodi White on Love Addiction, Mother Hunger and Codependency: Let’s be real. The words “Love Addiction” can trigger a massive eye roll. Jodi White gets it and she’s here to show us that it’s real and a lot more common than we think. Jodi draws on the groundbreaking work of Pia Mellody and builds on it in a way that is comforting, clarifying and hopeful. Jodi is open about the ways SHE’s struggled in this area and we talk about what it’s like to be love anorexic (yes, that’s a thing). We dig into Mother Hunger and some of the other behaviors that prime us for love addiction. Wondering if this is for you? The three primary symptoms of love addiction are: assigning too much time and value to another person, neglecting ourselves while in relationships, and expecting unconditional positive regarding from partners. This is one of those you may need to listen to a few times. There’s a lot in it and it’s packed with goodness from Jodi. Don’t forget…there’s a Spotify playlist that accompa by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
60 min listen
Ana Marie Cox on Trusting The Process (even when she doesn’t want to): When Ana Marie Cox said, “I can’t wring self-worth out of the universe,” we felt that hit like a mountain. Ana spent the better part of two decades as a political columnist and culture critic. She started the political blog Wonkette in 2004, and worked at outlets like The New York Times, Time magazine, GQ, Air America, and The Guardian. After living behind a professional persona for a long time, Ana started to talk about more personal parts of her life publicly, like being bi-polar and struggling with alcohol addiction. She moved away from politics and we talk about why, as well as what getting sober was like for her, but not just from alcohol. We talk about breaking the addiction to productivity, busy-ness, approval, and co-dependency. Ana has some VERY poignant things to share about mother / daughter relationships, forgiveness, and real recovery. As you’ll hear, Ana is willing to get very real and we get an i by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
49 min listen
TMST @ SXSW with Jason Isbell, Jan Rader and Wes Hurt: When Laura got the call to host a SXSW panel called “Front Lines of Addiction: Supporting Recovery in America,” we said, “you have our attention.” When they told us the panel included Jason Isbell, Jan Rader and Wes Hurt, we said, “HELL YES!” Everyone brought so much insight, wisdom and inspiration. There were lots of feels and that very dark humor that is soooo goood. We could’ve gone on for twice as long and still barely scratched the surface. by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
58 min listen
AMA with Laura on Impostor Syndrome + Bonus on Writing and Publishing a Book: Laura mines more gold from the TMST community this week with a MUCH requested topic: Imposter Syndrome. Hands up - who doesn’t face some version of this, and would we want to hang with someone who doesn’t??? In this episode, Laura leaves us with three key ideas to help us deal with Imposter Syndrome and we close the show with a note for people who are looking for more recovery support. Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Support TMST today so you can hear the uncut interviews, attend private events with Laura and help keep TMST ad-free: https://tmst.supercast.com/ by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
40 min listen
Mishka Shubaly on Getting Through Your Worst Year: What do you do when a friend tells you he’s just gone through his worst year? Well, when he’s a brave and bright light in the world, and he’s Mishka Shubaly, you invite him on the podcast! Seriously, Mishka Shubaly is a brilliant writer, a profound soul and the owner of one of the darkest senses of humor EVER. As he says early in our conversation, “I'm here to bring you the inspirational message that there's always a fresh hell available to you.” And…somehow, it’s a laugh line! Alternating between raw, courageous vulnerability and pungent insight, this conversation with Mishka reminds us that getting clean, looking inward, and being committed to the well being of others doesn’t make you exempt from the pain - but it does give you a place to stand when the world goes upside down. Mishka’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/mishkashubaly/ Mishka’s linktree: https://linktr.ee/mishkashubaly Spotify playlist for this episode: https://open by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
68 min listen
Peter Rollins on Grappling with Uncertainty: Peter Rollins is back! Our first return guest to TMST, we asked Peter back to talk about how we contend with uncertainty (e.g. life). If you don’t know Peter, he’s an Irish theologian, philosopher, author, and speaker who got an international reputation for turning traditional ideas of religion on their head. As is typical with Peter, the conversation went down many useful tangents. We started by talking about the role of liturgical structures in our lives, what they mean and why we need them (they’ve got nothing to do with religion, by the way) and then wove our way into talking about anxiety, trauma, and so much more. Peter is one of those people who makes us feel hopeful, inspired, and challenged by life at the same time. He’s a joy to talk with and listen to and we’re so happy to have him back on the show. Peter’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/peter_rollins Peter’s website: https://peterrollins.com/ Episode link: https://www.tmstpod by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
63 min listen
Brenda Davies on Purity, Hook-ups & Life In the Grey: When the world is screaming “It’s all black or white,” how do we remember that we mostly live in the grey area? Brenda Davies might be onto something. She’s the author of “On Her Knees: Memoir of a Prayerful Jezebel,” which chronicles the pendulum swing experienced as she left Christian purity culture and then embraced LA’s hook-up culture. She’s also the creator of In The Grey a Youtube channel and podcast that “champions curiosity, sex positivity, compassion & healthy debate.” Whether it’s with religion, or sex, or our relationships, Brenda is encouraging us to open up our thinking. We get into the ways we disconnect from our bodies during sex - and disconnect from our intuition when people want us to adopt an ideology that may not serve us. This is a fast, fun conversation and we’re excited for you to meet Brenda. Show notes: Brenda’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/godisgrey/ Brenda’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/God by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
45 min listen
Johann Hari on Regaining our Ability to Focus: What if there’s more to our collective struggle to FOCUS than we’ve considered? And what do we have to do to regain what we’ve lost? Those are the questions Johann Hari is exploring in his new book, “Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention - and How To Think Deeply Again.” It’s a surprising look at how our struggle with attention isn’t just about tech. In this conversation, Johann brings the same inquisitive, roving gaze that led him to observe, “the opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety - it’s connection.” When he dropped that nugget in his legendary TED Talk (link in the notes below,) he articulated something that we didn’t know we had been searching for. While the statement isn’t totally accurate - most of us know addiction is more complicated than one thing – it still illuminated something fundamental about the misunderstanding our society has had about addiction forever. Johann’s view on our individual power to address the coll by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
38 min listen
AMA with Laura on Friendship: “Nothing is personal” is easy to say, but our adult friendships can truly test our ability to hold on to that vital lesson from Don MIguel Ruiz. In this AMA Laura takes on two different questions from listeners about how we navigate adult friendships. How do things change when one friend gets sober? How do we navigate the reality that we can grow apart as friends, just as we can in a romantic relationship? How do our patterns in friendships mirror our patterns in family dynamics and in our love life? What do we even WANT from our adult relationships? We don’t talk about this enough and we were so glad when we saw these questions come in. As usual, the TMST community brings the good stuff and we love making this show with you! Show notes: Episode link: https://www.tmstpod.com/episodes/39-laura-mckowen-ask-me-anything Spotify playlist for this episode: Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers back by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
63 min listen
Sharon McMahon on the Power of Saying “I Don’t Know”: What if one of the most powerful things we can say is, “I don’t know?” Sharon McMahon came to our attention through her hugely popular @sharonsaysso Instragram account. Sharon’s ability to share clear, relevant and non-partisan facts about the US government and democracy with her followers has built one of the few sane, healthy communities on the internet. More than anything, Sharon is SUCH a clear thinker on why we need to have more places in our lives to say those three magical words: “I don’t know.” And to give ourselves permission to say, “I need to think about that. Let me get back to you.” Or to even give ourselves permission to say - or post - nothing at all. Laura and Sharon sat down Tuesday afternoon and we’re getting the conversation in your hands at top speed. We know there’s a real hunger for reliable information in the world, so we wanted you to meet her (if you hadn’t discovered her already) and take advantage of w by Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen
44 min listen

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