Shows
The Longing LabAI ethicist & minister Dylan Thomas Doyle explains griefbots: their pros and cons & future considerationsSend us a textEpisode 34 Dylan Thomas Doyle (PhD) discusses the use of AI in creating "griefbots," which simulate deceased loved ones. Doyle-Burke emphasizes the ethical considerations, potential harms, and psychological impacts of grief-related technology. He highlights the need for careful design and regulation. Doyle-Burke also mentions ongoing research and the cultural nuances of grief across different societies.Dr. Dylan Thomas Doyle is a researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder who studies the intersection of grief and technology. His research focuses on the ethics of designing AI griefbots – chatbots that are being made to lo...2025-06-3047 min
HEAVY Music InterviewsBeyond The Abyss With LEE JENNINGS From THE FUNERAL PORTRAITInterview by Kris PetersThe Funeral Portrait have always been true champions for the underdog; the outcasts of society who are struggling to find their identity or be accepted in a world that is often harsh and judgmental.Their musical world is one of acceptance and unequivocal belonging, with a flair for the theatrical and a need for unity.In little over a decade, The Funeral Portrait have steadily ploughed through the ranks, loudly going about their business with an air of defiant arrogance that only comes from a band who know they have something special....2025-06-1219 min
The Longing LabDr. Ravin Alaei shares the connections between our favorite songs and our attachment stylesSend us a textEpisode 33 Dr. Ravin Alaei explores the relationship between music lyrics and attachment styles. In a study of 500 participants, lyrics of ~4,700 songs were analyzed to quantify avoidance, security, and anxiety. Results showed that people with avoidant attachment styles preferred songs with more avoidant lyrics, while those with secure attachment styles preferred more secure lyrics. Another study analyzed Billboard charts from 1949 to 2015, finding modern songs are more avoidant and less secure than older ones. The conversation also touches on the potential therapeutic value of music and songwriting, and the influence of music on attachment styles...2025-06-0144 min
Flirtations! with Benjamin, the Flirt Coach103. Limerence, Longing, and Connection with Amanda McCrackenComing up on this episode of Flirtations, we’re talking limerence, longing, and connection with our guest, Amanda McCracken, a journalist, speaker, and host of the insightful The Longing Lab podcast and author of the forthcoming book, When Longing Becomes Your Lover.
Inside the episode, we breakdown limerence and the limerence cycle, and how this intense and often obsessive infatuation we may develop for someone ultimately keeps us from developing the connections and relationships we desire.
We'll also explore the neuroscience behind limerence and how our brains are wired to desire what we don't have, and...2025-05-261h 00
The Write Your Own Story PodcastFrom Longing to Loving: Rewriting the Story You Tell Yourself About Love with Amanda McCrackenWhy do we stay hooked on people who don’t choose us back? Why do we fall for the fantasy over reality—and call it love? In this deeply raw and revealing episode of Write Your Own Story, Betsy sits down with author, TED speaker, and podcaster Amanda McCracken, whose personal journey through decades of longing, idealization, and self-sabotage led her to redefine love, worth, and emotional safety.From navigating virginity into her 40s to breaking the habit loop of limerence (the intoxicating high of unrequited infatuation), Amanda shares how she rewired her patterns, faced the roots of h...2025-04-221h 06
The Longing LabPsychologist Nirit Soffer-Dudek explains maladaptive daydreaming, where fantasy becomes disablingSend us a textEpisode 32 Psychologist Nirit Soffer-Dudek explains maladaptive daydreaming, a clinical phenomenon where fantasy becomes a highly disabling and distressing addiction. She discusses fuels, triggers, treatments and why/how it’s often misdiagnosed.Nirit Soffer-Dudek, PhD is an associate professor at the Department of Psychology at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and a licensed clinical psychologist. Her research focuses on the clinical and personality correlates of consciousness states including dissociative states, nocturnal dreaming, and daydreaming. Prof. Soffer-Dudek is also a past president of the International Society for Maladaptive Daydreaming (ISMD) and the scientific di...2025-04-0149 min
People & Music IndustryDave McCracken - Music ProducerDave McCracken talks to Kevin Paul about his impressive career as a songwriter and Producer, from his early years at Sarm Studios with Trevor Horn, where he worked with Ian Brown and Depeche Mode, before being signed to Roc Nation, where he recorded with various Hip Hop artists and co-wrote two tracks that were recorded by Beyoncé.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:26 - Helping New Bands04:53 - Working With Goldie08:47 - Sarm Studios And Ian Brown09:52 - The Role Of The Producer12:11 - Achieving Realism With MIDI14:45 - Learning Through Experience17:57...2025-02-1130 min
SOS Magazine Audio ExamplesDave McCracken - Music Producer | PodcastDave McCracken talks to Kevin Paul about his impressive career as a songwriter and Producer, from his early years at Sarm Studios with Trevor Horn, where he worked with Ian Brown and Depeche Mode, before being signed to Roc Nation, where he recorded with various Hip Hop artists and co-wrote two tracks that were recorded by Beyoncé.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:26 - Helping New Bands
04:53 - Working With Goldie
08:47 - Sarm Studios And Ian Brown
09:52 - The Role Of The Producer
12:11 - Achieving Realism With MIDI
14:45 - Learning Through Experience
17:57 - Working With Beyoncé
20:14 - Getting Bands To Relax In The St...2025-02-1130 min
The Longing LabAuthor of Modern Friendship Anna Goldfarb on how to nurture the friendships we most valueSend us a textEpisode 31 Journalist Anna Goldfarb discusses the complexities of modern friendships, emphasizing the impact of social media on longing and the grief in losing friends who played specific roles in our lives. During a time when it appears we have hundreds of connections, she encourages readers/listeners to become wholehearted friends with fewer.Journalist Anna Goldfarb is known as “the New York Times’ friendship correspondent." Anna’s reporting on friendships has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and more. Her book, Modern Friendship, explores the nuances of navigating adult friendships. She al...2025-01-3149 min
The Longing LabCentenarian & CU super fan Peggy Coppom shares wisdom on love, loss, & living a fulfilling lifeSend us a textEpisode 30 Centenarian and University of Colorado Super Fan Peggy Coppom shares wisdom about love, friendship, and prayer through stories she shares about her twin sister, Coach Prime, and her faith in God. Since her family moved from the high plains of eastern Colorado to Boulder to escape the Dust Bowl in 1939, CU football mega fan Peggy Coppom has only missed three CU home football games. She and her late twin sister Betty attended over an estimated 2,500 CU sporting events in person in nine sports: football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, soccer, v...2024-12-2754 min
The Longing LabMother of micropreemie discusses the longing in her 147 days in the NICU & explains the "Tell me what's good" strategySend us a textEpisode 29 Steph Hauser shares the miraculous birth story of her son Zev, born at 23 weeks (halfway through Steph’s pregnancy) with a 1% survival rate, and the difficult choices they faced. She explains how her "Tell me what's good" strategy helped them find hope and the organizations they began to support NICU families.Steph Hauser is a writer, podcaster, ultrarunner, and the founder and Executive Director of 4those, a nonprofit dedicated to providing hope, healing and possibility for former micropreemies and their families. This year, she ran 14.7 miles for 147 days (in a ro...2024-11-2758 min
The Longing LabPsychiatrist Dr. Jud Brewer on longing in the brain & how to curb our cravings through mindfulnessSend us a textEpisode 28 Psychiatrist and mindfulness research leader Dr. Jud Brewer explains the neural mechanisms of longing (i.e. romantic obsession) and the differences between excitement (contraction) and joy (expansion). Brewer discusses how mindfulness training reduces cravings and anxiety to help individuals manage their habits and emotions.Jud Brewer MD PhD is the Director of Research and Innovation at the Mindfulness Center and professor in Behavioral and Social Sciences and Psychiatry at the Schools of Public Health & Medicine at Brown University. Brewer is an internationally known expert in mindfulness training for addictions. He h...2024-11-0642 min
The Longing LabFeminist author Elissa Bassist on how warping our voices leads to physical pain & longingSend us a textEpisode 27 Feminist author Elissa Bassist discusses her experiences with longing while warping her voice in academia, relationships, and medical settings. She shares her two-year journey with physical pain misunderstood and dismissed by many doctors and how it highlights the internalized patriarchy that leads women to suppress their voices.Elissa Bassist is the editor of the “Funny Women” column on The Rumpus and author of Hysterical, a semifinalist for The Thurber Prize for American Humor. As a founding contributor to The Rumpus, she’s written cultural and personal criticism since the website launch...2024-10-1150 min
She Reads Truth PodcastPhilippians and Colossians Week 3 with Katherine WolfFor Week 3 of our Philippians and Colossians study, Katherine Wolf joins Raechel and Amanda to officially jump into the book of Colossians. They reflect on how Christ’s power is at work in us, and share a few playlist-worthy songs that have encouraged them through times of suffering!Open your Bibles with us this week! This episode corresponds to Week 3 of She Reads Truth’s Philippians and Colossians Reading Plan. You can read with the She Reads Truth community on our site, app, or with our Philippians and Colossians printed or digital Daily Reading Guide....2024-09-301h 01
Appalachia MattersCyber Security, Drought and helping childrenAt the Leadership Table with General Hoyer this week is Evan Bays, a leading subject matter expert in biometrics and Vice President of Engineering and Department of Justice Operations at IDEMIA National Security Solutions in Morgantown. Evan grew up in Elkview - a proud graduate of Herbert Hoover High School. Evan details his journey from participating in high school band, to being a part of The Pride of West Virginia and how both experiences have influenced his leadership style. Evan provides a look at the story of biometrics in West Virginia as a part of national security through the past...2024-09-0928 min
The Longing LabSwipe Fat podcast co-host Alex Stewart on how longing shapes dating experiences for plus size womenSend us a textEpisode 26 Alex Stewart, the influencer behind the hit podcast Swipe Fat, discusses how body shaming shapes romantic longing, the polarizing use of words like “fat,” the impact of weight loss drugs on the body positivity movement, and why you should never wait til you're X size to do something.Alex Stewart is an influencer and the voice behind the Instagram and TikTok account, Sassy Confetti. She is a proud Chicagoan who tries to inspire her audience to get out there and try new experiences, eat new foods and be bold in thei...2024-09-0158 min