The Overexamined Life

What If Your Anxiety Is Actually an Asset with Dr. David Rosmarin

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:58:52 GMT

This one got personal. We go deep into my own panic attacks, and at a certain point it stops feeling like an interview and starts feeling like a live therapy session.

Dr. David Rosmarin is a clinical psychologist, Harvard Medical School faculty member, and founder of the Centre for Anxiety, and he has spent his career arguing that anxiety isn't a disease to be cured but a human condition to be understood. That when you stop fighting it, the edge comes off. And beneath it, more often than not, you find a virtue.

More from Dr. Rosmarin https://dhrosmarin.com/

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s so freeing to stop fighting reality.

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:37:37 GMT

The grass may be greener on the other side, but it doesn’t matter, you’re on this side.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re Not Meant to Feel Good All the Time with Johann Hari

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:26:00 GMT

We spend our days optimising, refining, and sanding down every rough edge, only to end up exhausted in a life that looks right but feels strangely hollow. In this conversation with Johann Hari, we unravel the illusion of “junk values” and explore Eudaimonia, a deeper, more human kind of meaning that can’t be engineered.

More about Johann here! https://johannhari.com/

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Stop Life Slipping Away.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Do you ever feel like you’re missing your own life? Like you’re just a passenger? You’re always experiencing something, but when you look back, the day is a blur… memories without the feeling of having lived them. It feels like just yesterday I was 17. It probably does for you too. Unless you are 16. Anyway. I think I’ve found a solution to this problem.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Romantic Relationships with A.I. Healthy? With Deborah Nas

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

A.I. is getting smarter and more intimate. People whisper secrets to glowing screens, confess fears to code, feel understood by something that isn’t conscious. I catch myself doing it too, more than I probably should.

So I called in Deborah Nas, tech strategist and futurist, to talk A.I.-induced psychosis, the ethics of A.I. romance, and what it means for our brains, hearts, and society. Few conversations have felt this urgent.

Check out Deborah’s TEDx talk: Why are people falling in love with ChatGPT? https://youtu.be/WWS086AY1Os

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Constantly Changing Your Mind is OKAY.

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

What if changing your mind wasn’t a weakness, but the most honest way to live? I am convinced (for now) that embracing the idea that you are not one rigid identity allows you to not ‘dig in’ to any one position and really frees you up to be authentic. When there’s no self to defend, hypocrisy isn’t hypocrisy at all: it’s honesty.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Succeed as a Creative with Adam Leipzig

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The creative life can be brutal. It seems there’s endless work required for the most minimal recognition, and this endless work only begins after you finish your day job, since none of it pays anyway. At least this line of thinking is one creatives tend fall prey to. Which is not helpful, regardless of whether or not it’s true. Cue Adam Leipzig;

Adam was a senior executive at Walt Disney Studios and later president of National Geographic Films. Adam has been a producer, distributor, or supervising executive on forty films including Dead Poets Society, March of the Penguins His projects have earned more than $2 billion worldwide and have won multiples Oscars, BAFTAs, Emmys, Golden Globes. Adam continues to produces films, teaches at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and is author of Fearless Persistence: Creative Life, Creative Work, and the Ten Laws of Culturenomics—a book and movement about courage, purpose, and pushing forward when the path gets tough. Adam has created tried and true methodologies for resilience and success in creative fields, some of these secrets he was kind enough to share with us today. If you do any kind of work purely out of passion, this is a must listen.

Check out Adam’s Audiobook: https://adamleipzig.com/advanced-listener-edition

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why you MUST change the way you speak to yourself

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The voice in your head is either your ally or your enemy. And you have the power to choose. The words we use to describe ourselves our the words we begin to believe. The way you speak to yourself, really really, matters

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Actually Enjoy Being Alive with Dr. Shannon Albarelli

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:05:11 GMT

Today, I chat with Dr. Shannon Albarelli, a clinical psychologist, mindfulness instructor, and ketamine-assisted therapy guide. We dive into her journey through loss, and explore how science, ancient wisdom, and psychedelics can help us unlock new parts of ourselves, find peace, and actually enjoy being alive.

Find out more about Dr. Shannon here: https://www.doctor-shannon.com/

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Stoicism is Life Changing, with Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Tuitert

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:03:37 GMT

In honour of the 2026 Winter Olympics, we sit down with speed skating gold medalist Mark Tuitert to explore what actually separates an Olympic champion from everyone else—and it turns out it’s not just training harder, but mastering forgiveness, acceptance, and the messy reality of being human. Drawing on Stoic philosophy, personal loss, and hard-won perspective, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about the inner chemistry of peak performance.

Get your copy of "The Stoic Mindset" here: https://marktuitert.nl/en/the-stoic-mindset/

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Happened Before the Big Bang?

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

If nobody knows, how can we trust anything? Fortunately Alan Watts weighs in to make us feel at peace.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recovering From Burnout with Vic Zerbst

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Vic Zerbst is a weapon of mass creation. They co-wrote and starred in Optics (Logie-nominated for Best Scripted Comedy) and the Christmas movie Nugget is Dead. They are also one half of the award-winning sketch duo Fruidian Nip, and this year premiered Converted! which is a queer musical developed through the Rebel Wilson Comedy Commission.

But we had Vic on not just as a comedian, but as a razor-sharp thinker. In this conversation we dive into creativity, burnout, chronic pain, Vic's thoughtful takes on AI and epistemology, and of course free will.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regulating the Nervous System with Master Mingtong Gu

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Master Mingtong Gu, an ex-mathematician turned meditation master, has abandoned his algorithms for slow-motion arm waving. Well it’s much more than that. The art of Qigong is a recipe to become calmer, clearer, and harder to rattle. We talk about what Qigong is, how it regulates your nervous systems, why you can’t logic your way out of burnout, why today’s leaders are ineffective, how to take control of your own health, connecting the mind and body, and much more. Ennnnjoy!

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why A.I. Doesn't Save Us Time

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:30:37 GMT

just can't help myself peeps.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Echidna

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Things have been grim but now they're ok because of an echidna :)

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An End of Year Suprise!

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

A very quick wrap up and we hear from a much requested special guest.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emotional Reflection on the Bondi Beach Shooting

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:28:42 GMT

unprocessed thoughts i dont know what else to do with

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Managing World Leaders with Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

The Chief of Staff is 'Part strategist, part therapist, part parent' to the world leader. Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks has interviewed pretty much all of them, and today I realised this invisible right hand is actually kind of important.

Check out Pheobe's book! Here's the link for Australia-based listeners, and here's the international shipping link.

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Art of Being 100% Authentic with Margery Ai

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Imagine saying EXACTLY what you think, and doing EXACTLY what you feel like doing? Sounds crazy to me, but Margery Ai has cultivated her ability to do exactly that.

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If You’re Scared of Dying, Listen to This

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Death anxiety sucks up a lot of energy, but even if you don’t believe in the afterlife, there are some very good reasons not to worry.

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mental Frame Shifts That Have Transformed My Sleep (NO MEDS)

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

3 abstract techniques that have helped me kick insomnia without medication, therefore making life 1000x better.

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I Got Food Poisoning in an Escape Room Pt.2

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:18:56 GMT

We'll be back to regular programming next week but I just needed to *get this out of my system*

Explicit language warning

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I Got Food Poisoning in an Escape Room Pt.1

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 07:30:32 GMT

BUT, let everything else, it was an opportunity, a violent opportunity - to learn more about what it is to be human.

Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TOLclub

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram: instagram.com/jonahprimo

or visit his Website: Jonahprimo.com

Jonah writes on Substack: https://jonahprimo.substack.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Courage to Question Everything We Believe With Dr. Miriam Schoenfield

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

From leaving orthodox religion, to positing that we may be actual literal brains floating through space (and then exploding), Miriam Schoenfield, philosophy PhD, takes us on a rollercoaster ride for our minds - explaining why we should seek the exhilarating thrill of being wrong about everything we believe.

NOTE: I know there's a bit of echo and audio hum in this one, our main recording exploded and this was made from the backup, I'm SORRY.

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Slipping Through the Cracks with Katherine May

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 07:01:37 GMT

Imagine if slipping through the cracks was not a disaster, but a subtle art? Today we settle in with Katherine May, the internationally bestselling British author of "Wintering", whose words have redefined how we think about stillness, resilience, and wonder. In one of my favourite episodes this season, we wander through the land of naps, daydreams and the art of staring out the window until something starts to make sense. Katherine reminds us that those quiet spells when everything seems to slow to a crawl are not catastrophes, but secret invitations to start again.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

Read Katherine's Book Wintering here and her new book, here.

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Children Should Tell Our War Stories

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 07:48:01 GMT

I find myself chasing the ever-fleeting hummingbird of innocence, that shimmering thing that flits just out of reach once you’ve seen too much of the world. But we need art to keep expressing this. Through the eyes of innocent children. only then do we remember how to feel horror again, unfiltered and unarmored.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Minchin on Reclaiming Our Sense of Meaning

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:14:15 GMT

My guest today is the brilliant Tim Minchin. You may know him from his Tony and Olivier-winning, Grammy-nominated musical Matilda, his viral song Come Home (Cardinal Pell), or his unforgettable University of Western Australia graduation address.

Tim is a relentless interrogator of the human condition: a skeptic, a critic of dogma and pseudoscience, and a fierce champion of empiricism and evidence-based thinking, all while being incredibly funny.

In this conversation, we explore whether you should have grand dreams, the purpose of art, A.I., social media, meaning, mental health, orgasms and much more.

Buy tix to Tim's upcoming tour here (If hyperlinks disabled - https://www.timminchin.com/2025/04/07/songs-the-world-will-never-hear-2025-australian-tour/#more-26024)

The book we mentioned, "You Don't Have to Have a Dream" is available here (If hyperlinks disabled - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/you-dont-have-to-have-a-dream-9781761620058)

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cancer, Racism and Violence, Through the Eyes of a Buddhist Dzogchen Master - James Low

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:27:19 GMT

WE ARE BACK BABY! Welcome to Season 2, - and what a guest to start off with. We talked about some heavy stuff, but through the lens of buddhism. Like how does a buddhist see racism, the israel-palestine conflict, happiness, what James' own ongoing struggle with cancer looks like, through the eyes of one who is if not enlightened, pretty enlightenedish. Enjoy.

Our Guest

James Low was born in Scotland, but his spirit was forged in Himalayan crags and Indian monasteries under great buddhist maasters. James wove together his understanding of Western thought and Eastern ritual — psychology, philosophy, psychotherapy — into his teachings, and has become one of the most renowned voices in making Dzogchen and mindfulness intelligible to us overexaminers and chronic sufferers.

https://simplybeing.co.uk/

Learn something? Enjoy ad-free episodes and help us keep the show running at patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GAME: Is the quote from a spiritual leader or a criminal psychopath?

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 08:19:15 GMT

It’s a wild ride through the blurred lines between enlightenment and delusion. You won't get full marks.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Podcast Needs to GROW UP

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:53:39 GMT

A quick retrospective on the childhood of this show and some strategizing for the future.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should We Still Be Having Kids?

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 11:08:12 GMT

Anti-Natalist, Pessimist, and Environmentalist ideas square up against basic instinct.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Attempting to Relentlessly Enjoy the Dentist

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 10:14:23 GMT

Philosophers Kahlil Gibran and Martha Nussbaum help me to stubbornly LOVE my dentist appointment.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does Happiness Really Come From Within?

Mon, 26 May 2025 09:58:12 GMT

Today we are happy! Why? Can't figure it out. Well we can't just be happy - time to overexamine this wonderful feeling!

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Favourite Tool For Coping With Unfairness

Thu, 22 May 2025 12:02:24 GMT

Life is unfair. We're reminded of this everyday in little painful moments. Why are some people beautiful? Some rich? Some talented? etc. All I know is unfairness really hurts. Here's where I find some relief.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Sunsets Are Lifechanging - Thoughts from Trancendentalists

Mon, 19 May 2025 11:05:59 GMT

Sunsets are not just pretty things that happen to the sky, they are powerful reminders that tomorrow is a chance for a fresh start.

We draw on trancendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson & anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Understanding Absurdity Is Absurdly Freeing

Thu, 15 May 2025 05:44:00 GMT

When you get down to the nitty gritty, nobody really knows anything concrete. That doesn't have to scare us, if we reframe, it can free us. Today we learn from Albert Camus and Franz Kafka.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What I Learned Living On An Empty Island

Mon, 12 May 2025 09:47:35 GMT

Life is far more complicated when you're not surrounded by endless ocean.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grass

Mon, 05 May 2025 05:45:00 GMT

If the grass is greener somewhere else, it doesn't matter...

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arrows

Thu, 01 May 2025 05:30:00 GMT

I go on a spontaneous adventure...

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Train

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 05:45:00 GMT

A short vignette of missing a train...

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Childhood

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Running through shadows of the past...

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Living in Total Darkness with Nate Green

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 05:45:00 GMT

Nate Green is the Head of Content at the Waking Up App. Nate has sat some of the most intense, exclusive and arcane meditation retreats all across the world, Nate’s also studied with some of the most decorated spiritual leaders of our time. We talk Extreme Retreats, ADHD, Addiction, and Progress in Meditation.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Buddha, Jesus, and Seneca Coped With Anxiety

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:18:26 GMT

The intersection of Western and Eastern philosophy is fascinating. All across the world, over 2000 years ago, great minds came up with similar ideas on how to enjoy the present.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Meaning of Life with M.I.T. Head of Philosophy Kieran Setiya

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 05:58:48 GMT

I sat down with Professor Kieran Setiya, Head Philosophy Professor at M.I.T., and asked him about some of the profound topics Keiran wrestles with in his most recent book "Life is Hard". We explore the meaning of life, finding hope, navigating injustice, existential value, and most importantly for me at least, regret.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Kieran's book: http://www.ksetiya.net/life-is-hard.html

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Key Idea That Allows Me To Survive Regret

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 06:35:52 GMT

I'm not the best at anything. I've spent a lot of time pursuing random things that excite me. Sometimes I don't mind that, but sometimes it almost kills me. Keiran Setiya helps us navigate regret.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zen and Awakening with Henry Shukman

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 08:51:00 GMT

I just had the privilege of a fireside chat with the radient Henry Shukman, a zen teacher who I’ve always found does a phenomenal job of making a deeper practice accessible to the average schmuck like me.

Here I am at 31, doing my best to be mindful enough hear the occasional bird chirping on my way to a local brewery (the same brewery where I read Henry’s latest book, “Original Love”) - while Henry recounts a moment of spontaneous awakening on a beach in Argentina at age 19, where the boundaries between self and world dissolved into a single, insubstantial field of presence.

We talk about Henry's awakening, breakdown and re-awakening, zen, staying present, memory, Koans, and most importantly, universal love.

Check out 'The Way' app here: https://www.thewayapp.com/

Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for Practical Exercises, Bonus Episodes & a AD-Free podcast: / tolclub

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram: instagram.com/jonahprimo

or visit his Website: Jonahprimo.com

Jonah writes on Substack: https://jonahprimo.substack.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Poetry of the Colour Blue

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:10:30 GMT

We turn to Russian psychologists and drunken poets to try and figure out why blue is so beautiful.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love, Beer and Beanbags

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:28:15 GMT

Henry Shukman's new book "original love" with a icy pint may just be the cold hard secret to pure frothy happiness.

Substack Link:

https://substack.com/@jonahprimo

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Jonah writes on Substack

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding Nirvana the Hard Way - Lessons from The White Lotus

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 07:00:33 GMT

We compare scenes from The White Lotus series with real teachings from Shunryū Suzuki and Thich Nhat Hahn.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should We Seek Optimism at the Expense of Realism?

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 09:40:26 GMT

What if we stubbornly choose optimism— practicing gratitude— even if it doesn't make sense, just to see if it makes life feel better?

George Carlin and Dostoevsky weigh in.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What You Don't Notice - With Multiple Oscar Winner Nancy Haigh

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:05:14 GMT

Two-time Oscar winner and nine-time nominee Nancy Haigh joins us to explore the art of noticing.

As a production designer, art director, and set decorator, her work has shaped iconic films like The Truman Show, Forrest Gump, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, No Country for Old Men, Moneyball, and Big Fish—not to mention one of my all-time favorites, Barton Fink.

Beyond her incredible filmography, Nancy is kind, insightful, and a lot of fun.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Joy of Little Details

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:07:10 GMT

When the big bad world feels out of control, it's the tiniest little things that ground us.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are 'Fresh Starts' a Trap?

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:00:00 GMT

We can't fix internal problems with external problem solving. An exploration on new beginnings and dissatisfaction, drawing on Hannah Arendt, Paulo Coelho, and Epictetus.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does the Meaning of Life Matter?

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Author Kurt Vonnegut is our guru today, a man who truly believed humanity was one big cosmic joke. We study both his fiction and his personal life to figure out how someone who has seen so much horror can still have faith in humanity and find meaning.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embracing Our Wrinkles

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 06:05:01 GMT

Every time we do anything, it leaves a mark, a wrinkle. Those wrinkles can become our most valuable assets.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should We Have Intimate Relationships With A.I.?

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 05:19:26 GMT

The idea gives me the 'ick'. But why? Today we look into whether or not a relationship with A.I. is actually a bad thing, drawing on Spike Jonez, Peter Singer, and other great minds.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding Enlightenment in the Deadly Aussie Outback with David McMahon

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 04:45:00 GMT

My guest today is David McMahon - a naturalist and adventurer who has spent his life exploring the world's most remote ecosystems.

David has travelled the globe, coming face to face with some of the most dangerous species on the planet, learning from survival techniques from local and indigenous communities. In our conversation, David said he could be happy anywhere in the world. He knows the secret to fulfilment. I think we can all learn a lot from him.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Making Space for the Wild

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 07:45:23 GMT

Drawing on William Shakespeare, Gary Snyder, and a little tiny cricket to uncover the secrets to a fulfilling relationship with nature.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love, Death and Depression with Jitindriyā

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:55:36 GMT

After a fairly miserable couple of weeks for me, I seek council from one of the wisest people I know, Jitindriyā, a Buddhist nun, to help me better understand my state of mind - Jitindriyā helps me out with understanding death, depression, love, karma, apologising, and much more.

If you are navigating depression, anger, anxiety, grief, fear, you can check out more of Jitindriya's work below.

https://vivekahermitage.com/embodying-awareness-metta/

https://vivekahermitage.com/working-with-challenging-emotions/

This episode has been de-monetized out of respect for the Viveka Hermitage.

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lost Art of Grace

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 05:40:26 GMT

Rant time! It feels like we've lost a key quality in our leadership: Grace. It's time to think outside the box and build back a society that cares about the right things.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 06:06:13 GMT

Today we're analysing forgiveness and acceptance through the wise words of Bob Dylan.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Misconceptions About Mindfulness Meditation

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 06:42:13 GMT

One thing working for a big meditation app taught me, is that most people don't know what meditation is actually for.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is It OK to Be Mediocre?

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 05:30:00 GMT

It turns out we can't be the best at everything we care about. In fact it's hard to be really good at even HALF the things we care about. Oliver Burkeman's words are here to help us process this problem.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Spirituality Looks Like for an Atheist

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 02:02:58 GMT

Watch the movie of this episode on youtube: https://youtu.be/6s6EZlq7ScM?si=BeRf3-kd3vl736Qp

Do you need God to have incredible spiritual experiences? I don't think so. Spirtuality appears to be made of something, but I don't think one needs religion for that something.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Working Too Hard Can Be LAZY

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 04:30:00 GMT

Do we sometimes use work to avoid the uneasy feelings that come up when we're just... exisiting?

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Things to Remember When Reading Depressing News

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 04:17:29 GMT

The news often highlights the worst of humanity, but when you take a moment to look around, you'll find that beauty and goodness are everywhere.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emotions Are Such a Brutal Rollercoaster It's Almost Unbearable

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 06:50:27 GMT

A rollercoaster that we can't get off, and that goes on forever. Trying to get off leads to more pain. So learning to love the ride is our only option.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why You Must Learn to Love PAIN if You Want to Grow

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 04:30:00 GMT

According to the world's wisest people, "pain", seems to be an Ozempic level wonder drug for personal growth.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Goals For This Year

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:33:13 GMT

Outcome focused New Years Resolutions are just another way to become attached to something that will make us miserable. Maybe we need to revisit our lists and make sure they're good for us?

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music, Freedom, and the Collapse of All My Plans

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 04:30:00 GMT

After an impulsive road trip filled with nostalgic music and summer joy, an unexpected jellyfish sting and a COVID diagnosis forced me to trade carefree plans for a feverish, reflective pause. Stripped of expectations, I found an unexpected freedom in simply existing, realizing that even unwelcome interruptions can offer the clarity and rest we truly need.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Final Thoughts Before the Clock Strikes 2025

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 04:30:28 GMT

I’ve decided that holiday season is best left underexamined and perhaps can be summed in a single heuristic.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, access to our great community, and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philosophical Reasons Why Santa is Probably Real

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:49:19 GMT

Before you dismiss the existence Santa, remember: between quantum physics, neuroscience, cultural theory, behavioural psychology, moral psychology and basic supply and demand, you don’t really have a leg to stand on.

Want more profound philosophy? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why You CAN'T AFFORD Not to Practice Mindfulness

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:02:45 GMT

Life is so much shorter than you realise, and if you're not paying attention, you'll miss the life you have.

Start your mindfulness journey with our hand-crafted bi-weekly mindfulness exercises here: patreon.com/TOLclub.

Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Upside-down View of Animals with the Chicken Ladies

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 05:31:54 GMT

As promised, as a city boy, I wanted to talk to people who are living, in many respects, opposite lives to me, and get a sense of whether or not my commitment to the metropolis is a flawed one. So today I am talking to the spectacular Holly Callahan-Kasmala and Chrisie DiCarlo, the world’s most prominent and decorated poultry based social influencers, also known as the Chicken ladies. And within about 30 seconds of meeting these two, I was wowed by their sheer existential joy.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Cities Making Us Miserable?

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Like moths to a flame, cities have always attempted to seduce us with bright lights. And within the bustling neon canopy of the metropolis they offer us opportunities, activities, amenities, in exchange for barred windows, a lung full of noxious gases and crippling housing bills. Like many of my cohort, is it time to leave?

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Kids Can Teach Us Things Adults Can't

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 06:56:29 GMT

Kid's brain's work differently. This might have a lot of advantages.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why We Suck at Predicting the Future - A Taoist Parable

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 04:45:13 GMT

Time after time, we think something that happens to us is going to be the end of the world. Time after time we get it wrong.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for Practical Exercises, Bonus Episodes & a AD-Free podcast: patreon.com/tolclub

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram: instagram.com/jonahprimo

or visit his Website: Jonahprimo.com

Listen to this podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-overexamined-life/id1771620846

Listen to this podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HPuZ8w6Jm4BbDNWGzYPQS?si=038b043942f44597

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humans Are Insane

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 04:44:32 GMT

ONE THING WE HAVE IN COMMON: Is that we are all doing our best with archaic brains in a chaotic world.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: patreon.com/TOLclub

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a Car Accident Teaches You

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 04:30:08 GMT

Watching someone almost die in front of me made me confront some hard facts quite quickly.

Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening + Practical Exercises to change your life. patreon.com/TOLclub

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relationship Counselling for the World's Richest Families with Paul Attia

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Today we’re having a chat with Paul Attia. Paul is a criminal prosecutor turned entrepreneur, and serves as a key advisor to wealthy families and family businesses as they navigate some of their most difficult decisions at the critical intersection between family dynamics and family wealth.

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes + Practice Club Access: patreon.com/TOLclub

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Would You Sacrifice to Be Rich?

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 06:17:05 GMT

First we have to figure out the value of wealth, then we have to figure out what we want to give up in pursuit of it. Using the world's richest man as a case study, would you trade lives?

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: Patreon.com/tolclub. If you're having trouble with the link you can:

Copy & Paste it in your browser
Simply write it out as above
Search "The overexamined life club" on the patreon app or website.

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Thanks for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How I Found Meaning and Direction in Life ALSO: Listen AD-FREE + Practice Club is BACK

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:13:47 GMT

I was so lost when I was in working in investment banking, and even more lost when I left the job. But feeling lost can be an opportunity rather than a setback, in this episode, we talk about why.

Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening and bonus episodes: Patreon.com/tolclub. If you're having trouble with the link you can:

Copy & Paste it in your browser
Simply write it out as above
Search "The overexamined life club" on the patreon app or website.

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Thanks for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hidden Risk of A.I. Nobody is Talking About

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 04:40:13 GMT

RANT: Relying on AI to express human emotions risks creating a world where expressions of gratitude become hollow tokens rather than heartfelt acknowledgments of kindness and support. But it's depriving the sender of something extremely important, even more than it's depriving the reciever.

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Life is Good Even When it's Bad

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 04:45:00 GMT

I nearly stepped in dog shit. I felt both irritated, and strangely grateful—for the chance to feel anything at all. Imagine a choice: live as a human, with a chaotic range of emotions, or exist as a brick, devoid of feeling. For me, it’s clear. Against all odds, we’re here, conscious, capable of feeling, good or bad. It's better than not feeling anything.

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Antidote to Election Anxiety

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 05:00:00 GMT

We're all drowning in anxiety as the world holds its breath, caught up in the high-stakes drama of the election. Many of us feel powerless, our future hinging on the choices of others, and it’s entirely reasonable to be nervous about having someone in charge of the largest economy and military in the solar system whom we don't trust or respect. But, we don't have to let this paralyze us.

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Blueprint for All-Round Health with Shona Vertue

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 04:45:37 GMT

To simply call Shona Vertue a trainer would be doing her an incredible disservice. What sets Shona apart is a rigorous scientific understanding of not only the physical but also how the physical ties into the mental and spiritual aspects of our lives. This is why, when I say a holistic picture of health, I truly mean holistic.

Shona was an elite athlete who competed in gymnastics at the highest level, before moving into the personal training space where she worked with high profile clients, including David Beckam, to help them better understand their bodies, and her program the "Vertue Method" is practiced by thousands all around the world.

GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: https://wakingup.go2cloud.org/SHS

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Does Exercise Make Us Happy?

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:15:52 GMT

Can the pursuit of happiness through exercise tip into obsession, blurring the line between health and harm? This exploration dives into the highs and lows of athletic escapism—from the rush of a perfect game to the inevitable burnout—and questions whether the benefits of immersion in sport outweigh the cost of abandoning a balanced routine. Is true contentment found in simply doing what we love, or must we embrace discomfort to achieve a holistic, healthy life?

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cure for Chronic Pain with Nicole Sachs

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 05:40:15 GMT

My guest today is the wonderful Nicole Sachs. She’s a writer, psychotherapist, and retreat leader, and has helped free hundreds of thousands of people from chronic pain, anxiety, and many other mental and physical conditions through her books, her retreats, and her podcast The Cure for Chronic Pain. She’s worked and lectured extensively with Dr. John Sarno to unpack ideas about the mind-body connection for pain sufferers all over the world.

At a personal level, I found Nicole’s work toward the end of my own chronic pain journey, and I truly wish I had found it sooner. Nicole is so fantastic at not only breaking down the science of chronic pain but also at really tapping into the emotional suffering that people with debilitating conditions experience. There’s something about her ability to tie together theory with deep, undeniable empathy that makes the science far easier to digest. There’s no distance, the way it sometimes feels like there’s a gap between patient and doctor.

I think that may be partly because of Nicole’s own remarkable story of recovery, which we touch on briefly in the interview. We also talk about the science of chronic pain and the nervous system, the role of identity in pain, insomnia, perfectionism, how to meditate in pain and for pain, and much more.

Find more of Nicole's work at https://www.yourbreakawake.com/ or The Cure for Chronic Pain Podcast.

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Complete Chronic Pain Recovery

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 04:15:00 GMT

This is a topic that is incredibly close to me, because I had a period of my life where I lived in the world of extreme daily pain. in this time, my world shrunk down to the size of a pea, and I spent many months barely leaving my room. And that period of my life was without a doubt, the worst my period of my life. But as anyone who has been through any extreme situation will know, it is when you are your lowest, your weakest and your darkest, that you grow the most.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turning Suffering Into Wonder

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 03:56:39 GMT

The formula, at it’s core is so simple. You suffer, you notice you’re suffering, you attempt to reframe or embrace a sense of wonder about the present moment, you suffer less. And the skill we’re culivating is not to not suffer, but to notice we’re suffering faster, and get better reframing and get better at simply being curious about what’s happening around us. And the suffering less is a positive externality of going through these motions.

Work in Progress Theme Tune on Spotify

WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube

Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website

Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Never Hate Anyone Again

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 05:21:29 GMT

We don't hate infants even though they often behave badly, what if it could be the same for adults?

In this episode we look into the illusion of free will, and it's implications.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wrestling with Cravings

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 05:34:57 GMT

We all have cravings. Often they get the better of us. In this episode, we look at what the Buddhists have to say about cravings, and figure out how to beat them, or if we even need to.

Email me at overexamined@jonahprimo.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let Me Tell You a Story

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 04:21:02 GMT

Today, you'll learn the premise of this podcast, by delving into the depths of my psyche.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Overexamined Life

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:53:34 GMT

The world is so beautiful, and the people in the are so interesting and yet somehow we find a way to miss most of it, because our autopilot too often is stuck on the manufacture mental misery setting. This is the curse of overexaminers like me, and if that sounds like you too, then join me on a quest to discover ways in which we can become more present, more fulfilled and more curious. Coming to you Mondays and Thursdays with stories, reflections and interviews with the wisest gurus, comedians, musicans, athletes and artists, maybe we together can uncover a few secrets about what a well-lived life looks like.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.