“Fine, in pandemic-adjusted terms.”

We’re just barely into this world-historical event, and it’s already clear that everything is going to change. Which gives us each opportunities to reevaluate our priorities – both in our personal lives and in our society writ large. That’s what we’re talking about this week; come join us, and please share your thoughts in the private group.

“You can’t gaslight a pandemic.”

Holy hell; this last week has been a thousand years long. The reality of what we’re looking at as a country and as a planet is overwhelming and hard to take onboard. That’s what we’re talking about this episode. It may be what we’re talking about for a long time to come. Come take some comfort with us, dear friends. Also, CALL YOUR CONGRESSPEOPLE. ❤️

“You have the freedom to just scroll on by.”

So that low-level tension we were talking about last week? Well, it hasn’t dissipated. And indeed it seems to be ratcheting up! It’s becoming increasingly apparent to both of us that keeping our mental wellness as healthy as it can be is going to require focused, intentional effort. And so we thought we’d share our ideas with you. Please let us know what you think; we’d love to hear your strategies also.

“If you take the ‘I’ out of emergencies, you get emergences.”

Anyone else feeling just a little ambient low-level tension? Maybe more than a little? We’re living through some uncertain times at the moment. And the Democratic primary is absolutely not helping. We seem to be in the middle of an extended existential election-year freakout, and it’s coming from all sides.

So, what can we do to deal with our feelings of generalized discomfort? We thought it worth talking through. Hopefully you’ll get some value from it.

“I didn’t get murdered on today’s podcast. And that’s something!”

None of us stays the same. We couldn’t if we wanted to, and, also, we shouldn’t want to! The moment we believe that the best version of ourselves isn’t still ahead of us is the moment we start to die inside.

Given this, it’s probably a good idea to take a look, every so often, at the ways in which we’re changing. Because we should ideally be changing in a positive direction, right? So today’s Listener Topic, from Scott S., felt like a perhaps-overdue invitation to do a little digging.

Also, Shannon’s completely pissed off this week. And we’ll dig into that too.

“A hand that is open to let something go is also open to receive something good.”

Control issues are at the heart of so much personal pain. And, so often, they’re intertwined with a sense of powerlessness. In a time when the news can make us feel a renewed sense of powerlessness with each passing day, it felt apropos to talk about where our feelings of powerlessness are rooted, and to explore how we can transform them into a practical sense of empowerment.

We also talk for a bit about sobriety. It’s related.

“It’s not as good as it could be. But it’s good.”

Can we be honest about something? We love our parents. But they’re on the opposite side of a deep political chasm from where we’re at. We know this is a not-uncommon situation in this age. And it’s painful! In this episode, Jamie takes a deep dive into the processing – and grieving – that he’s been doing around this aspect of his relationship with his parents.

“What’s the right thing to do? Let’s do that.”

The death of someone famous often leads to a sort of collective cultural sadness. Which can be odd, if you think about it, when the person’s life really didn’t intersect with or affect yours at all! What’s that all about? Apropos of Kobe Bryant’s sudden passing, Shannon has thoughts, and we explore them in the first half of the episode.

And then, in the second half … buckle up, because we’re talking politics! Specifically, Democratic primary politics. Shannon’s all in for Elizabeth Warren, and one of our Misfit Stars asked her recently to expound on why, and so she does. (Jamie’s all in for Liz too, btw. Listen to learn why!)

“The bond we have is strong enough to get us through.”

EXCITING NEWS: we’ve totally revamped the Misfit Stars support structure! So, what does this mean for you? Well, if you’re a supporting member of Misfit Stars, it means that you’re going to be getting FREE STUFF IN THE MAIL. Like, we’re going to mail free stuff TO YOUR HOUSE! Sticker sheets, tee shirts, and the BRAND NEW MISFIT STARS MUG are going to be coming to your door. It’s like Christmas in January!

And if you’re not a supporting member of Misfit Stars … now would be a great time to become one. $10 is now the tee-shirt level; at $20 you get a tee shirt AND A MUG; it’s an impossible bounty.

Also, we talk in this episode about how we work through potentially fraught disagreements as a couple. It’s a good conversation. Thanks as always for joining us!