Are you seeking deeper connection at home—and real-life wisdom for the hard parts? I’m David Magee, bestselling author and speaker. Each week I host raw, hopeful conversations with family, friends, and remarkable guests about the things we all face: parenting and marriage, addiction and recovery, mental health, grief, and growth. You’re not the only messy family on the block. Together we’ll explore life’s big questions and small joys—and share practical steps that help you feel less alone an ...
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David Magee Podcasts
A podcast celebrating writing and creativity across fantasy, horror, and science-fiction, hosted by authors David Green and Robin CM Duncan.
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David Nichtern, founder of Dharma Moon, is a senior Buddhist teacher who has been practicing and teaching meditation for over 40 years. He was one of the initial American students of renowned meditation master Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and studied closely with him soon after his arrival in the United States in 1970. He is also a business consultant with companies creating a variety of offerings integrating meditation in a larger health and well-being context – including Goldman Sachs, Journey ...
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In 2021, two journalists started an investigation to answer what seemed like a simple question: Why does the actor Amy Adams do so many bathing scenes? From the beginning, we suspected a conspiracy — Is Amy, who has never won an Oscar, doing all these bathtub scenes because they offer the opportunity for the kind of dramatic acting that earns the biggest, goldest prizes? This is the story of how Brandon R. Reynolds and Gabby Lombardo opened the tap on the secret history of bathtubs in cinema ...
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The Curators are a staunchly independent group led by Paul Lobosco, a leading advocate for policies that empower the people and highlight the forces that are subjugating the public for the greed and power ambitions of the oligarchs. We seek solutions for a thriving America and a better world. Many of the values we promote have been reflected in the presidential platform of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. We highlight how the Industrial Complex is increasingly undermining the physical, mental, emotion ...
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Essay on Life: Importance of Hearing, Seeing Our Children
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10:10As parents, we all like to think we know our children completely. We keep up with their grades, go to their games, check their posts, and tell ourselves they’re doing okay. But sometimes, we really don’t know what’s going on. I learned that the day my daughter finally said the words I didn’t even realize I needed to hear: I need help. That moment c…
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Long Story Short Ep-15: So You Think You're A Disaster Mage, with Annabel Campbell
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1:00:23Annabel Campbell, whose debut novel The Outcast Mage released in January, joins Robin & David to talk mages of many varieties. How would you shape up as a wizard? Would you use your power for good, or be tempted to the Dark Side where - we are given to believe - there are cookies? Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: h…
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Let’s talk about failure—the kind that makes us wince, the kind that shapes who we become. We all know what it feels like to fall short, but what if failure isn’t the end of something, but the beginning of something better? I’ve learned that the moments we fear most often hold the greatest opportunity. When we face them instead of running from them…
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One night after my son William died, I sat on his couch. I was alone. I was cold. I was afraid. I whispered two words, “Save me,” and something shifted. What I saw, what I felt in that quiet moment, showed me where my life was headed if I didn’t change—and where it could go if I did. That night taught me that prayer isn’t some practiced speech from…
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Owning Your Story, Taking Charge of Your Life | Ep 35
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20:58By That Sounds Fun Network
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Ep. 59 – Strawberry Moons: A New Kind of Media with Debbie Nutley
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28:27Discussing their newest project, Strawberry Moons Media, David Nichtern and Debbie Nutley get into how they truly merged creativity with spirituality and ‘making a buck’. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. This time on the CSM Podcast, Davi…
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Essay on Life: A Family's Last Photograph
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11:35I share the story of the last photograph our family of five ever took together. What felt like a moment of survival and reunion—a rare weekend of laughter, hope, and grace—would later become a reminder of how fragile and fleeting life really is. Looking back, that picture wasn’t about victory over storms, but about grace in the middle of them. It’s…
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Long Story Short Ep-14: Walking on the Moor, with Sam K. Horton
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48:22David & Robin chat with author Sam K. Horton, whose second novel Ragwort releases in November. We talk maps, book tour costumes, and the love of wild places. David discovers that Friday also is a business day. Plus, hear about the Top 10 reasons to attend Fantasycon from Ben and Nico of the Tiny Bookcase podcast. Are you a member of the British Fan…
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Overwhelmed Motherhood Gifts: Life With Four Under Six | Ep 34
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40:39I sit down with my daughter, Mary Halley, a mom of four children six-and-under, to talk about the daily hard parts and simple gifts of family life. From bedtime battles and school drop-offs to sweating through chores and learning to let go of perfection, she shares what it’s really like to juggle and celebrate motherhood in the thick of it. We also…
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Essay on Life: The Hymn I Didn't Understand
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10:41When I was a child, Sundays meant dragging my feet to church, fumbling with my shirt buttons, and mostly daydreaming about what was for lunch. I didn’t understand faith, and honestly, I thought the whole thing seemed a little crazy. Still, the hymns, the pews, even the orange juice and saltines—somehow they stayed with me. Years later, when I strug…
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We all fall for it—the idea that if we can just reach the next milestone, land the job, buy the house, raise the kids, then we’ll finally feel happy. But the truth is, “arrival” never comes. In this episode, Kent and I talk about how it’s easy for couples to get caught up in that myth, what it did to our family, and what we’ve learned now about fin…
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Essay on Life: When the Man at the Bar Becomes a Mirror
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11:04Grace rarely comes gift-wrapped. Sometimes it comes as a jolt — a voice, a vision, a man at the bar whose scarred face forces you to see your own future. Today, I take you back to the night that set my recovery in motion. David Magee's Newsletter https://davidmagee.substack.com/ Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/ Watc…
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Long Story Short Ep-13: The Pleasures & Perils of Indie Publishing, with William C. Tracy
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58:04David & Robin meet publisher, editor, & author William C. Tracy of Space Wizard Science Fantasy to chat about WorldCon Seattle, indie small press publishing, the bookselling market, and codifying magic systems. We also discuss cats, bees, and commas. (And yes, Robin did find ‘That Comma Video’ and if you absolutely must watch it… https://youtu.be/t…
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Men and Finding Faith and Purpose; the Fears, Stigma and Ego that Keep Us Away
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45:04David and his pastor, Rev. Chris McAlilly, open up about the pressure men feel to “carry it all,” and how ego and stigma can keep us from faith. David shares his own story of doubt, family, and the impact fathers have when they choose honesty and vulnerability. Together, they explore grief, trauma, and the power of community. From answering the har…
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Essays on Life: Healing Conversations with Loved Ones We’ve Lost
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10:12What does it mean to keep talking with someone dear you’ve lost — to feel their story still shaping yours? For me, it means listening to and writing with William, my son. His absence changed everything, but his presence still guides my words -- and shapes my life. In this essay, I share how loss, memory, and love intertwine — and how conversation, …
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Sometimes the help we need most comes from the most unexpected places—a stranger, a friend, even a pet. For our family, it was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Lady. After we lost William, there were few reasons to get out of bed in the morning. One of them was Lady, who insisted on her daily walks. Step by step, those early mornings became sm…
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A grandfather and grandson connect through vulnerability—reminding us of the joy and strength found in generational bonds. And how to achieve those bonds. David Magee's Newsletter https://davidmagee.substack.com/ Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/ Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about y…
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Long Story Short Ep-12: Why Science Fantasy is the Best (Sub) Genre, with Lorraine Wilson
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55:24Robin & David converse with Lorraine Wilson, author of We Are All Ghosts in the Forest, about folklore, the future of identity, and the sea. In search of a response to the podcast’s title, literature, fantasy, magic and science all go into the growbag of genre. The efficacy of an ice-skating scoring system for panel responses is also assessed durin…
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Finding Purpose After Loss: How Yoga Helped Kent Move Forward
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50:43What do you do when everything you’ve worked for unravels on the very day your world collapses? In this episode, David’s wife, Kent Magee, shares the heartbreaking story of losing her son, William, just as she was discovering one of her true callings: teaching yoga. Her story is raw, unflinching, and deeply relatable for anyone walking through grie…
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It's time for another season of the podcast, but this time there's a new twist. It's the David Magee Show. I'm David Magee. I'm a bestselling author, a speaker, but I'm also a husband, a father, and a grandfather. 13 years ago, I had lost it all. We had lost it all. But through faith and better connections with one another we found that we can hav…
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Long Story Short Ep-11: The Power of Community, with Jay McGuiness
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59:28Join David & Robin in conversation with Jay McGuiness, star of stage, screen & chart, as we talk about all manner of things including painting with watercolours rather than oils, love of Lemony Snicket, with a dramatic ‘Hollywood deal-making’ twist at the end. Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasy…
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Long Story Short Ep-10: Does the Balrog Have Wings? with Calah Singleton
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1:07:22In which David speaks to Calah Singleton about many things Middle Earth; the Hobbit, the trilogy, the movies, Rings of Power, where their own love of Tolkien’s work originated, their hot takes, and much, much more. Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/ Lea…
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Ep. 58 – Bringing Depth to Our Lives with Emily Esfahani Smith
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52:00Dissecting the process of her book, The Power of Meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith joins David to explore bringing depth to our lives via belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling. Pick up Emily's book, The Power of Meaning, HERE. This time on the CSM Podcast, David and Emily discuss: Positive Psychology: shifting from a focus on what’s wrong…
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Long Story Short Ep-9: Fun, Games & Medieval Combat with Adrian Tchaikovsky
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56:44Robin and David talk with the one and only Adrian Tchaikovsky about writing comedy, fighting in armour, TTRPGs, conventions and of course, books, in a wide-ranging chat covering the breadth and height of Adrian’s authorial career to date. Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-…
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Long Story Short Ep-8: Myth, Romantasy & Feminist Rage with Scarlett St. Clair
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1:10:17Join Robin & Pam (PS Livingstone) for Episode 8, Myth, Romantasy & Feminist Rage, with Scarlett St. Clair. Discard preconceptions of Romantic Fiction, learn the power of librarians, social media, and emotion over mechanics. [CW: indirect sex references.] Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociet…
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Ep. 57 – Bhakti & Buddhism: The Heart and Mind of Practice with Krishna Das
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53:02Blending together Bhakti and Buddhism, best of friends Krishna Das and David Nichtern discuss the gradual cultivation of practice and finding your ‘niche’ within the dharma. Join the Wisdom & Wellbeing Week 1 Intensive with Krishna Das & Nina Rao | January 3 - 10, 2026 | Click to Learn More This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online …
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Long Story Short Ep-7: Tripping the Queer Urban Fantastic with A.K. Faulkner
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1:01:18Author A.K. Faulkner joins David and Robin to talk about many and varied subjects, including writing books, selling books, and people reading books out loud. Also, learn about “the breadmaker”, trusting your brain, and fizzy drinks. [CW: handful of instances of stronger language.] Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: h…
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Ep. 56 – Social Action & Misplaced Faith with Sharon Salzberg
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1:05:29Old friends Sharon Salzberg and David Nichtern meet to discuss the calamity of misplaced faith and the expansion that can come from individualized social action. Join Sharon's Upcoming Course with Tricycle to uncover your Buddhist Personality Type This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow an…
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Long Story Short Ep-6: the Cymera Festival special (recorded live)
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56:52Robin attends the 2025 Cymera Festival in Edinburgh and talks to all sorts of people about all sorts of things, mainly festival and writing related, but also featuring soccer, puppers, blueberries, games, a non-hostile takeover, and much, much more. David is present in spirit and in voice. Recorded live, so expect some beeps and boops. You can find…
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Long Story Short Ep-5: Fantasy & History with James Bennett
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1:01:44James Bennett joins David and Robin to consider many a varied topics around the intersection of Fantasy and History. Prepare for discussion of dark times, but also hope for the future, and as a bonus, James reads to us from a work by George Orwell (not that one). Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfant…
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Ep. 55 – An Intimate Look at the Heart Sutra with Susan Piver
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1:09:43Meditation teacher, Susan Piver, joins David Nichtern to share her profound and ever-evolving connection to The Heart Sutra. Learn about the heart and mind of practice with David Nichtern and Krishna Das in an upcoming free online talk! Register HERE. In this episode, David Nichtern and Susan Piver explore: The many variations of The Heart Sutra an…
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Long Story Short Ep-4: Slavic Folklore with Lauren Wiesebron
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50:33David and Robin are joined by marine biologist and bestselling fantasy author Lauren Wiesebron to discuss various subjects, in particular Lauren's debut novel The House of Frost and Feathers, but also including mermaids... and leprechauns. Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the…
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Long Story Short Ep-3: Politics & Religion in SFF with Justin Lee Anderson
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55:48David and Robin are joined by the very insightful and entertaining Justin Lee Anderson - author of the Eidyn Saga - to discuss his wealth of experience of the publishing industry, providing great insight on various topics, in particular treatments of Politics and Religion in SFF. Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: ht…
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Long Story Short Ep-2: Cities with T.L. Huchu!
1:07:28
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1:07:28Join David Green and Robin CM Duncan as they talk with the most-excellent T.L. Huchu, author of the 'Edinburgh Nights' series, about all cities in fantasy and... Star Wars? Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/ Keep up to date with all things T.L. Huchu: h…
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Long Story Short Ep-1: Folklore in Fantasy and Horror with Anna Smith Spark!
1:03:15
1:03:15
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1:03:15Join David Green and Robin CM Duncan as they talk with the brilliant Anna Smith Spark about all things folklore in fantasy and horror AND MORE. Yes, more! Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/ Keep up to date with all things Anna Smith Spark: https://www.i…
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In which we consider the late-20th-Century romcoms of such as Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers, a world of dead husbands, new loves, appealing French gynecologists, and of course eating sundaes by the side of the bathtub. From there we’ll get into how Julie & Julia is really a manifesto for the rise of the self-obsessed influencer class … and how it wo…
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Season 1 Finale! Let's Discuss What's Next for David and Phoebe and the Show! | E29
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54:20In the season finale of A Little Crazy with David Magee, David and Phoebe talk about how much they have changed since the first episode. David explains some upcoming changes to the show, and the irony in the saying “Never say never.” He also shares insights into his writing career, and gives a few hints about new projects coming up. Phoebe talks ab…
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Hey Tub Gang! If you tuned in to Episode 2, you got a taste of our interview with David Magee, the screenwriter for the 2008 film Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, aka Amy's first bathtub performance. Here's our longer chat with David. He explains, among other things, how to write a scene in which kids are pulled into a magical realm through the bath…
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Eating Disorder Recovery and Smashing the Stigma with McCall Dempsey | E28
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55:16Phoebe is joined by McCall Dempsey. McCall saved David’s daughter Mary Halley from her battle with an eating disorder, as she’s saved many young men and women throughout the country. She’s a strong-voiced national expert, and she’s on the board of the William Magee Center at Ole Miss named after David’s late son and a dear friend in this journey to…
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Our investigation culminates with us settling once more into the bathtub, which has the best view of the end of the world. We finally talk to an actress who’s done a tub scene: Autumn Reeser, whose experience in a time-loop movie woke her up to the time loop she was living in her real life. Then, a quick shower over a sea of fog and we’re ready at …
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The #1 Thing Parents Should Know: Talking w/ Your Child About Anxiety, Depression, Drinking & Drugs | E27
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20:34Today, David and Phoebe discuss how parents can best talk to teens and college students about sensitive topics such as anxiety, depression, drinking, and drugs. From asking open-ended questions to creating a comfortable space for conversation, this episode emphasizes the importance of listening over lecturing. Learn how to let go of control and giv…
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6: Episode 6: The 2025 Oscars Are All Wet
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54:39The whole reason we put out Why Is Amy in the Bath? now is that we thought Amy Adams might get her Oscar at long last — for Nightbitch. We suspected this year would be important. (We were right.) And, at long last, we now know how the 2025 Academy Awards turned out. But so does everybody, so who cares, right? Ah, but we’re the only ones who know wh…
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Are You a SmartPhone Addict? Battling smartphone & social media addiction with Phoebe | E26
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45:31Phoebe opens up about her journey to disconnect from social media and smartphone addiction. From the epiphany she had in January to the first few days of withdrawal, Phoebe shares her experience and the mental clarity she gained. The discussion dives into the impact of phones on attention spans, self-identity, and how constant connection has affect…
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5: Episode 5: Irish Spring for the Drowning Girl
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49:23
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49:23In which Gabby reveals that her own bathing saga is much, much older than this one investigative series. In which Brandon embraces the mystical power of Holistic Journalism. In which the both of them try to figure out why this is the Century of Bathing by looking into wellness, and Goop, and home improvement shows. In which a chance meeting on a ro…
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The Youth Mental Health Crisis and What Parents and Teens Can Do About It: How Social Media, Sleep, and Substances Are Affecting Our Teens | E25
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55:19From my years of work with students, parents and in schools and communities throughout the country, this is a deep look into what students face today and what can be done about it. From the overwhelming impact of social media to the alarming rise in substance misuse, we’re taking a hard look at how things have changed for the younger generation and…
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4: Episode 4: Heartbreak Feels Good in a Place Like This
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41:49In which Gabby & Brandon find themselves embroiled in an imitation game. Following Amy Adams’ career through the Century of Tubs, we find ourselves face to face with the bathing scenes of the modern traumatized woman of the psychological thriller, and one of the authors responsible for rejuvenating the genre: Gillian Flynn, she of Gone Girl and Sha…
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Overcoming Family Trauma and Loss with Lauren Sisler, ESPN reporter | E24
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43:14In today’s episode of A Little Crazy, David Magee is joined by ESPN reporter and friend Lauren Sisler. Lauren opens up about losing both of her parents to overdose only hours apart from each other when she was just 18. She shares the deep shame, anger, and grief she faced, and how faith, patience, and vulnerability played a key role in her healing …
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3: Episode 3: Into the Shabby Heart of Prestige
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44:56We wanted a mission. And for our sins, they sent us to Hollywood. In this episode, Gabby & Brandon finally confront the very nature of prestige by taking a tour of duty to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and by tackling the bathing data for every single film nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Will Brandon’s “Prestige Bathtub Theory” (PBT) hold? How do…
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Stressed About Money? From Broke to Financial Flourishing | E23
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48:10This week, David and Phoebe discuss the impact of money on mental health. David shares his personal journey from being broke 14 years ago to achieving financial stability, and they explore how financial stress can affect our well-being. They talk about taking responsibility, ditching shame, and shifting the way we view money to protect our mental h…
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2: Episode 2: One Hundred Years of Wet Hollywood
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43:06
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43:06In which we discover a secret history of cinema, a history that created American pop culture one terrifying shower and screwball bathtub scene at a time. One in which the hot tub plays a major role in the war on drugs and the battle of the sexes, and in which sci-fi visions imagine bathtubs of the future as places for healing, transformation, and g…
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