In today's episode, we embark on a chilling journey into the life and mind of the writer H.P. Lovecraft. We'll explore his personal story and the philosophies behind his writng. We'll look at the psychological methodologies employed in his work, and how these techniques impact us as the reader. Finally, we get a taste of Lovecraft's cosmic horror as I read his short story "Dagon".

This episode is sponsored by my book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon.

Much love,
David

In this episode, we're going to peel back the layers of consumerism. We'll be lookking at its historical roots, exploring the psychology behind our behaviour in relation to it, the role that advertising and media plays in our consumer culture, and the impact that it can have on our mental health.

I'll also be looking at ways that we can break free from the cycle, and be more considered in our approach to materialism.

This episode is sponsored by my book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon.

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re delving into the life and works of one of the founders of humanistic psychology - Abraham Maslow. We’ll explore his hierarchy of needs and how it relates to our day to day lives, the influence that it’s had on modern psychology, and the broader impact of his ideas on business, design, and education.

We’ll dive into what it means to “self actualise” and give some examples of how you can work towards it. Plus, I’ll be sharing my own personal reflections on Maslow’s work and how it’s influenced my own life since I discovered it when I was training as a therapist 15 years ago.

It also happens to be my longest episode yet. There’s a lot to say about Maslow and his work. As always, if anything in this episode has resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon.

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re exploring the nature of authenticity, delving into what it means to live a true and genuine life. Join us as we unravel the concept of authenticity through the lenses of philosophy, psychology, and theology, and discover what each of these disciplines has to teach us about aligning our actions with our values.

In our final segment, we integrate the insights from philosophy, psychology, and theology to create a holistic understanding of authenticity. Discover how these perspectives converge on key themes such as self-awareness, alignment with true values, and embracing our vulnerabilities. There’s some good lessons to be learned here.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon.

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re exploring the ways in which narratives shape our minds, influence our beliefs, and connect us to our cultural heritage. We’ll examine the psychological impact and ideas around storytelling and the human experience, what philosophy has to say on the matter, and the importance of mythology in conveying our cultural history.

We’ll look at how media and technology has changed the landscape of storytelling, including the emergence of transmedia narratives, and we’ll dive into some case studies that show the multifaceted impact that storytelling has had on our society at large.

Stay curious, stay connected, and remember - the stories we tell shape the world we live in.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon.

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re venturing into the world of embracing our imperfections. We’ll look at what it means to be imperfect and what philosophy has to say on the matter, from Aristotle’s idea of Eudaimonia to Buddhism’s teachings on impermanence.

We’ll explore what psychology has to teach us about the damaging effects of perfectionism, drawing on the wisdom of Carl Rogers, and the popular CBT framework, to come up with practical strategies for moving away from “getting it right” and having a healthier relationship with ourselves.

Throughout the episode, we emphasise that imperfection is not a barrier but a stepping stone to personal growth, resilience, and genuine happiness. By accepting and celebrating our unique qualities, we can lead a life that is more authentic and in line with our own values.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re challenging that common advice of “follow your passion” and looking at why focusing on your talents instead can lead to greater fulfilment and success.

Is there a point where, if we focus on our talents enough, they can become our passions? And what happens to our passions if, after years of effort, they never come to fruition? These are questions that I am hoping to answer.

By the end of this episode, my hope is that you’ll see the value in finding and nurturing your talents, along with understanding some ways to identify and align with your natural aptitudes

As always, I’d love you to join the conversation. Did you follow your talent or your passion? What was the outcome of that choice? Did it help or hinder you? Share your experiences with us via our social media, or drop us a comment below.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into the world of parasocial relationships - those emotional connections we form with celebrities, influencers, streamers, and YouTubers.

We’ll explore what a parasocial relationship is, and some of the psychological motivators behind them. We’ll weigh up whether they’re beneficial to us or harmful, and take a look at two real life examples from each side of the coin.

This one’s a bit meatier than usual, so I decided to start doing a few episodes every now and then called Deep Dives that go into much more detail on the chosen topic. If they prove popular, then I’ll do some more. They’re more work, but hopefully more rewarding for you, and they’re definitely a lot of fun to put together.

As always, I’d love you to join the conversation. Have you ever felt a strong connection to a character in a TV series, or your favourite YouTuber? If so, what emotions did you experience and what was the impact? Share your experiences with us via our social media, or drop us a comment below.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon

Much love,
David