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Andrew G. Marshall
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The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Ross G. White: Psychological Flexibilty
There’s no one set of rules that will see us through. Psychologist and author PROFESSOR ROSS G. WHITE works instead on the concept of psychological flexibility. If we have flexible habits and mindset, we can navigate life’s inevitable storms with at least a degree of strength and grace. Ross believes that just as martial arts like jiu-jitsu train students to be grounded and focused, we can also train the mind to be agile and flexible; able to roll with the punches whilst staying true to core values. Andrew and Ross discuss: How to emb...
2025-07-14
59 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Robert Hopcke: Synchronicity: Meaningful Coincidences: How to Spot Them & Use Them to Grow
Have you ever experienced a strange, inexplicable coincidence that left you feeling “like a grand, mysterious character in a story?” One that seemed to suggest a particular relationship was “meant to be”, or, on the flipside, that it was time to let go? In this week’s classic episode, Andrew talks to Jungian analyst ROBERT HOPCKE about synchronicity: the strange coincidences that make us feel like the universe is sending us a message, or trying to turn our lives around. These coincidences have the potential to help us find the meaning we’re seeking. Synchronistic events can of...
2025-07-07
1h 00
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Richard Blake: The Transformative Power of Breathwork
Could changing the rhythm of your breath offer the breakthrough you’ve been looking for? This week, Andrew talks to psychologist and breathwork expert Dr. Richard Blake—known as The Breath Geek—about the profound impact that conscious breathing can have on mental and physical health. Together, Andrew and Richard discuss: How breathwork can reduce anxiety and support emotional healing A simple breathing exercise you can try right now Why working with the body is essential for mental wellbeing Differences between how men and women experience somatic therapies Dr. Richard Blake holds a PhD in...
2025-06-30
42 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Venus O’Hara: Spiritual Sex
Venus O’Hara plans to change the world, one orgasm at a time. She believes women are equally as sexual as men, and should have the time and space to embrace their multi-orgasmic potential. Venus is a British orgasm activist, author and feminist based in Barcelona. She has a hugely popular YouTube channel on which she discusses the female orgasm and leading a healthy and authentic orgasmic lifestyle. In this classic reissued episode, Venus and Andrew discuss many aspects of Venus’ journey, including her expertise in fetishism (which Venus sees as an intelligent, imaginative approach to s...
2025-06-23
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Jack Bohannan: Deal Better With Criticism
Can you criticise your partner without starting a flaming row, or causing them to retreat into a wounded silence? If not, you’re not alone. Many of us struggle for years to find a way to manage relationship conflict in an honest, constructive spirit. This week, Andrew discusses the secrets of better conflict with relationship coach JACK BOHANNON. Andrew and Jack cover: Attachment theory and how it influences our capacity for constructive conflict. Better strategies for giving and receiving feedback. The healing power of men’s work. AND, Andrew participates in a role play exercise designed by Jack...
2025-06-16
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Kate Lucey: Depression : What Worked For Me
So many of us have experienced depression, and if not, we’re likely to have seen people we love battle it. In this week’s classic episode, author KATE LUCEY, who specialises in writing about mental health, talks candidly with Andrew about her own depression and the six-year journey she’s been on since her diagnosis: including physical symptoms and the effects on her personal relationships. Kate and Andrew also take a deep dive into what depression means - what might cause it, how therapy can help, and some exercises that have helped Kate manage when fe...
2025-06-09
48 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Polly Young-Eisendrath: Why Conflict is Necessary
Most of us dislike or even fear conflict with loved ones. Without it, however, you won't achieve sustained intimacy with your partner. This week, Andrew talks to writer, psychologist and Jungian analyst Polly Young-Eisendrath, the author of Love Between Equals: Relationship as a Spiritual Path. They explore the challenges and possibilities of building partnerships based on respect, freedom and real dialogue. Andrew and Polly discuss: What “real dialogue” means—and how to practice mindful curiosity with your partner. How and why to stop avoiding conflict with your partner. Projective identification in relationships. What to do if you...
2025-06-02
50 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Tara Blair-Ball: Attachment Theory
Are you one of the many people who end up shocked by the ultimate similarity of romantic relationships that felt very different starting out? Why is it that we find the same patterns repeating, the same problems coming up over and over? In this classic episode, Andrew talks to author and attachment theory specialist Tara Blair-Ball. Tara explains how attachment theory - which is grounded in analysis of how we bonded to our mother as infants - can explain these patterns. Andrew and Tara emphasise that rather than dwelling on the particular faults of partner...
2025-05-26
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Bisexuality and Sexual Fluidity: How to be Yourself in Intimate Relationships
What does it mean to be truly seen and accepted in your sexuality? For those who identify as bisexual—or who experience sexual fluidity—the path to self-understanding and relational honesty can be filled with challenges, uncertainty, and social stigma. This week, Andrew talks with DIANE HASSALL, a Relationship and Psychosexual Psychotherapist, about how we explore and express our sexual identities within intimate partnerships. Together, they consider how to stay true to yourself, even when your sexuality doesn’t conform to the narrow definitions the culture has offered you. Andrew and Diane discuss: ⭐ What bisexuali...
2025-05-19
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Kate Moyle: Improving your Body Image and Your Love Life
How can we learn to be at ease in our bodies so that we can be fully “in the moment” during sex? Anxiety about body image is one of the biggest obstacles to a happy, fulfilled sex life. Many people seek therapy to help them relax and enjoy sex with their partner, others struggle on in low-sex or no-sex relationships. In this classic episode, Andrew talks to KATE MOYLE, a psychosexual and relationship therapist, about the knots we tie ourselves up in over how we look. Our culture’s esteem for youth and beauty, (expressed in social media i...
2025-05-12
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Penny Wincer: How to Care Without Burning Out
Society would grind to a halt without the work done by unpaid carers - yet they are too often left to feel invisible, unsupported and alone. In this episode, Andrew talks to PENNY WINCER, the author of Tender: The Imperfect Art of Caring, about how to provide care for loved ones without burning out yourself. Penny shares her deeply personal story of caring for her mother, who lived with mental illness, and later for her autistic son. She sheds light on the complexity of care—the beauty, the exhaustion, and the personal costs. Andre...
2025-05-05
48 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Tom Vanderbilt: The Beginner's Mind
When did you last learn to do something totally and utterly new? Tom Vanderbilt, author of Beginners: the Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning, was awestruck by his young daughter’s insatiable need to know how to do almost everything. He was inspired by her to embark on a year of learning purely for its own sake. Tom had a truly unique year - a circuitous journey of learning, in which he attempted to learn chess, singing, surfing, drawing and juggling. These skills were chosen on the basis of difficulty and lack of marketability. Tom...
2025-04-28
43 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Simon Roe: Are You Leading a Life of Quiet Desperation?
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation” (Henry Thoreau). In this classic episode, Andrew interviews therapist SIMON ROE. Simon has based his life’s work on helping men live an authentic life. After himself going through a period of quiet desperation in his mid-thirties, he went on to help men break the silence, find “the song inside” and overcome their experiences of depression, violence and loneliness. Simon has also worked extensively with boys and their fathers to create rites of passage that help boys claim a strong, auth...
2025-03-17
50 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
James Hollis: How To Be Resilient
For Andrew, it is the writings of Dr James Hollis, one of the world’s most eminent Jungian analysts, that have “sustained me through my dark times”. Dr Hollis’ books also regularly help Andrew’s marital therapy clients create change in their relationships and recover from infidelity. In this classic reissued episode, Andrew speaks to James Hollis about what it means to be resilient - how do we discover and develop the strength nature gives us to “walk through the forest” when we inevitably hit dark times? Bookshops and the internet are full of “five steps to happiness...
2025-03-03
55 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr. Avrum Weiss: Why Men Withdraw When Women Get Angry
When women and men argue, women can often be more comfortable in expressing their feelings of hurt and anger. Men can feel distressed by this strength of feeling, and may pull away emotionally. They may feel a very strong urge to occupy the ground of rationality and objectivity, which in turn leads their partner to push harder, desperately seeking emotional connection. Dr Avrum Weiss is a US-based author and psychotherapist specialising in the internal lives of men. His writing and his work with couples help men and women understand each other more deeply and build a...
2025-02-17
53 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Joseph Lee: What Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You
What if the answers you’re looking for in your life were available to you every night, if only you could learn to pay attention to your dreams? This week Andrew welcomes to the podcast the eminent psychoanalyst and This Jungian Life co-host JOSEPH LEE, co-author of the new book Dream Wise: Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams. Andrew and Joseph discuss how developing a practice of dreamwork can enable you to start a dialogue between your surface and your depths. For many, dream analysis quickly becomes an essential aid in achieving a deeper understanding of the self...
2024-11-25
1h 28
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Andrew Holecek: I'm Mindful, Now What?
Many of us feel like we don’t quite “get” mindfulness. Even more have struggled to create a successful meditation practice. Andrew Holecek, author of I’m Mindful, Now What?, joins us this week to broaden and deepen our understanding of mindfulness, and show us how to integrate it into our daily lives. Our host Andrew talks with our guest Andrew about: Why everyone can meditate, and how to start right now. The importance of connecting with your physical body. The benefits and limitations of mindfulness Coping with emotions like anger, jealousy and fear using meditation and mindfu...
2024-09-30
59 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Tim Dowling: Can Cynicism Improve Your Life?
Guardian columnist Tim Dowling has spent decades chronicling his marriage and family life for the Weekend magazine. His self-deprecating humour and determinedly cynical approach have made him hugely popular with readers. In this classic episode, Tim and Andrew discuss the layers that go into a joke. What exactly is it that we’re doing when we laugh at ourselves and our own life? Humour can be about storytelling, making sense of the past, finding honesty and creating meaning. It can be a defence mechanism, and a form of self-protection for the intensely shy. Tim’s reader...
2024-08-26
45 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Jeremy Fox: How to Recover From Trauma
If you’ve suffered serious trauma, you may well be feeling confused by the sudden ubiquity of the term. The concept of trauma is having its cultural moment in the sun, and seems to be constantly under discussion on social media. This week, Andrew speaks to Jeremy Fox, a therapist and trauma specialist, about: How to define trauma Different types of trauma Whether it’s helpful to label your trauma. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as a trauma treatment. Jeremy Fox is a licensed mental health therapist, certified professional counseling supervisor, and an EMDR traum...
2024-01-29
54 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Erin Vandermore: Setting Intentions
Hopes, dreams and goals stretch far into the future, but intentions are about the present. Setting intentions means translating your goals into small steps you can achieve right now. Intentionality offers you a roadmap for progress and personal growth. In this episode Andrew talks with therapist Erin Vandermore about what it means to set intentions, how to set up intentions that are achievable and positive, and the rewards that come with a regular intention-setting practice. Erin Vandermore, MA, LCPC, LCMHC, is a licensed therapist, and wellness coach with over 14 years of experience in the fields of...
2024-01-15
49 min
Christian Fantasy And Sci-fi Podcast
Special Guest - Jonathon Marshall - Models and Building Models
Josiah is excited to welcome and talk with the owner of Marshall Custom Models and fellow nerd: Jonathon Marshall. In this first of two episodes, Jonathon tells us what is involved in making high-quality, large-scale models. Podcast Credits: Music - Take Time by Andrew C. Marshall (used with permission) Podcast Intro - Andrew C. Marshall Picture - Hobbit Hole (Public Domain)
2024-01-11
31 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Philip Carr-Gomm: How to Improve Your Sleep
More than one third of adults suffer from insomnia or some other kind of sleep disorder. Left unaddressed, lack of sleep can lead to debilitated health, lowered resilience, and decreased performance in all aspects of life. Psychologist, author and spiritual teacher Philip Carr-Gomm’s latest book is The Gift of the Night. The book combines an extensive knowledge of sleep science and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with techniques drawn from spiritual traditions and insights from the emerging field of psychedelic therapy. In this episode, Andrew and Philip discuss the sleep difficulties that can come with gr...
2024-01-08
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
What We Learned in 2023
Better sex, coping with strong emotions, healing your inner child and harnessing the power of compassion: these were some of the big themes that spoke to The Meaningful Life listeners in 2023. Jon from the Marshall Method team of therapists is Andrew’s special guest for this New Year’s Day episode. Andrew and Jon each choose their favourite episodes, and share highlights from them. These are the episodes chosen by Andrew and Jon as their 2023 favourites: What is the Feeling Trying to Tell Me? with Karla McLaren. Healing Your Lost Child with...
2024-01-01
58 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Cheryl Fraser: A More Loving Christmas
Christmas isn’t usually thought of as a romantic holiday, but this week Dr Cheryl Fraser explores some of the ways you and your partner can share intimacy, sensuality and thrill over the winter break (however you choose to celebrate). Andrew and Cheryl discuss: Making the most of beautiful moments. Finding the strength to say no. Planning ahead so things go how you’d like them to Avoiding the people-pleasing trap. Giving your partner a “sexy stocking”. Dr Cheryl Fraser is the author of Buddha’s Bedroom, the host of the Sex, Love and Elephants podcast, an...
2023-12-25
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Mark Matousek: Stoicism: How Ralph Waldo Emerson can save your life
American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson taught a path of self-reliance and self-knowledge. He emphasised self-knowledge and mindfulness as paths to happiness; also, self-reliance, cooperation, non-conformity, originality, adaptability, and receptiveness. This week, Andrew talks to author and teacher Mark Matousek about how Emerson’s twelve essential teachings hold the answer to living an authentic and fulfilling life, one that is in harmony with our souls. Key principles include: Each person creates their own reality. Obstacles are teachers in disguise Your character is your destiny Wonder and awe are the keys to the kingdom Nonconformity is the...
2023-12-18
48 min
Christian Fantasy And Sci-fi Podcast
Special Guest: Andrew C. Marshall - The Magic of Creativity and Kobayashi Maru - Part 2
Josiah is excited to continue his talk with the musician who provided the music for the podcast, fellow nerd and brother: Andrew C. Marshall. In this second part of a two-part conversation, they talk about Andrew's the magic of creativity and Andrew's song Kobayashi Maru based on the famous test in the Science Fiction Series Star Trek. He also refers to and we talk about the work of another brother of ours who makes professional models (See notes for link). Enjoy! Podcast Credits: Music - Take Time by Andrew C. Marshall (used with permission) Podcast Intro - Andrew C. Marshall ...
2023-12-14
36 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Susan Schwartz: Imposter Syndrome
The idea of “imposter syndrome” has found its cultural moment - we hear it talked about constantly, and many of us resonate with the idea of feeling like a fraud in our work or relationships. In this episode, Susan Schwartz PhD returns to the podcast to help explore the concept of imposter syndrome in more depth. Susan and Andrew discuss The ways imposter syndrome is rooted in childhood. Painful experiences of imposter syndrome in our romantic relationships The difference between presenting different aspects of who we are VS suffering from imposter syndrome. The related concept of the “a...
2023-12-11
56 min
Christian Fantasy And Sci-fi Podcast
Special Guest: Andrew C. Marshall - Music and Inspiration for Creativity - Part 1
Josiah is excited to welcome and talk to the musician who provided the music for the podcast and fellow nerd: Andrew C. Marshall. In the first of a two-part conversation, they talk about Andrew's Music and the inspiration for creativity. Enjoy! Podcast Credits: Music - Take Time by Andrew C. Marshall (used with permission) Podcast Intro - Andrew C. Marshall Picture - Hobbit Hole (Public Domain)
2023-12-07
29 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Michelle Brown: Step-Parenting & What It Teaches Us About Love & Relationships
Nobody dreams of becoming a stepmother. Yet for Michelle Brown, a blogger and step-parenting expert, being a step-mother feels like something she was meant to do. Michelle has a unique bond with her step-son, and through her writing she has also become a light in the darkness for many new step-parents struggling to make things work. Michelle is the first to admit, however, that step-parenting can be painful and exceptionally complex. In this week’s episode, Andrew and Michelle discuss: How society sees step-parents The challenges of running a blended family. Dealing with your part...
2023-11-27
50 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Bea Gonzalez: Fairy Tales and the Route to Wholeness
Healing from profound exhaustion of the spirit requires more than just thinking of a good plan. Author and Jungian Bea Gonzalez believes in storytelling and myth as powerful tools for healing. In this episode, Andrew and Bea discuss: Why fairy tales have so much to teach us. Rediscovering feminine wisdom (which both men and women need) How to analyse a fairy tale to find the message it contains for YOU. The tale of the Skeleton Woman - Andrew and Bea tell this story section by section, discussing its rich metaphors along the way. Bea Gonzalez i...
2023-11-13
54 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Shelia Rubin: Embracing Shame and Turning it into a Powerful Ally
“Shame is a powerful, universal, mysterious emotion. It can be incredibly painful and destructive AND it is designed to protect you” (Sheila Rubin). Marriage therapist Sheila Rubin is a leading authority on how to heal the shame that might be holding you back in your relationships and your life. In this interview, Andrew and Sheila discuss how to achieve a deeper understanding of your shame, stop resisting it, and even turn it into an ally. Sheila Rubin, MA, MFT, RDT/BCT is a Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Berkeley, California. She is the...
2023-11-06
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Fabian Edzard Schneider: Mismatched Levels of Sexual Desire
Most couples grapple with mismatched levels of sexual desire at some point. Some find destructive solutions - pornography, infidelity - but it IS possible to deal with this in a positive way. This week Fabian Edzard Schneider chats with Andrew about the daily self-pleasure routine he is using to fulfil his sexual needs while his wife recuperates from the birth of their second child. Andrew and Fabian discuss the ways in which men can take responsibility for their own physical and emotional needs, and in doing so create a better life as a strong, loving m...
2023-10-23
50 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Susan Heitler: Forget ”Fair Fighting” and Learn How to Do Win-Win Problem-Solving
Forget fair fighting, what you and your partner should aim for is win-win problem solving. According to psychologist Dr Susan Heitler, If you can learn to investigate and share the deep-seated emotions behind a particular argument, the two of you can emerge stronger and more connected as a couple. In this week’s episode, Andrew and Susan explore how childhood patterns can be replicated in adult relationships, and discuss a case-study in which a couple is able to overcome a disagreement over food waste that had brought them to the brink of divorce. Dr Susan Hei...
2023-10-16
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Connie Zweig: Understanding Your Shadow
Our “shadow” is made up of the unconscious parts of ourselves that we try to suppress or deny. Acknowledging and understanding shadow can be a powerful path to healing and authenticity. If we pursue spiritual growth, we will certainly encounter shadow - both our own, and those of our teachers (whose secret desires around money, sex and power can come into play). In this episode, psychotherapist and author Connie Zweig PhD talks with Andrew about her new book, Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path. Connie shares some of the ways we can heal from bruisi...
2023-10-02
54 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Elaine Carney Gibson: Family Systems Theory: How do the Rules Growing Up Still Impact You Today?
When families enter family therapy, they usually point to one person as the “problem” - this individual is seen as too much, or too angry, or too sensitive. Family systems theory, however, looks at the whole family ecosystem to identify how this “problem” is being created, and whether it is in fact a symptom rather than a cause. This week Andrew talks with psychotherapist Elaine Carney Gibson about family systems theory, and how “it is the relationships we experience within our families that shape who we are, how we feel about ourselves, and how we attach and r...
2023-09-18
45 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Avrum Weiss: Anxiety: Are you and your partner playing hot potato?
Anxiety can be as contagious as a yawn. People who are feeling more anxious often try to get others to take some of their anxiety from them, and people who are not feeling as anxious naturally resist taking on someone else’s anxiety. In relationships, it’s often the case that one person takes on the role of the anxious person, whilst the other feels responsible for managing their partner’s anxiety. Combine this with damagingly rigid gender roles, and you have a recipe for disconnection. This week Andrew welcomes Dr Avrum Weiss onto the podcas...
2023-09-11
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
James Hollis: Dispelling the Ghosts Running your Life
Are you allowing your life to be run by “ghosts” - empty narratives, expired beliefs, tired fears, people who should no longer hold sway over your choices? “When the old stories and beliefs that once defined us have played out and grown exhausted,” writes Dr. James Hollis, “our task is to access our inner compass, the promptings of the psyche that help us find our way through the complex thickets of choice.” In this episode world-renowned Jungian analyst Dr James Hollis explores with Andrew the ways in which you can hear and answer a “summons of the soul”...
2023-09-04
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Sharon Martin: How to Heal Stubborn & Unexplainable Health Problems
Western medicine cannot cure all of our ills. Many of us experience stubborn aches, pains and fatigue that our doctors don’t seem able to touch, or even explain. Dr Sharon Martin is a highly-trained physician who became frustrated by these limits, and began to explore the capacity of alternative medicine to bring healing and peace. In this episode Andrew and Sharon discuss our capacity for intuition, the hidden messages in our dreams, and the ways in which shamanic mystery traditions can allow us to step into our full potential. Dr Sharon Martin is a...
2023-07-17
47 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Sam Carr: The Silent Epidemic: Loneliness
We’re often told we’re in the midst of a post-Covid “loneliness epidemic”, but what exactly does that mean? Loneliness is a profound condition that goes right to the heart of being human - it’s certainly more than just being alone, and often it isn’t something that can be addressed by just “getting out more” or volunteering at the local hospital. This week’s guest Dr Sam Carr became interested in attachment theory, and was then drawn to seek a deeper understanding of people who lacked attachment. He embarked on a study of loneliness that will be shared...
2023-07-10
50 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Conroy Harris: Rites of Passage and Mentoring: How to Become an Adult
It can often seem that today's world rewards people who remain psychologically suspended in adolescence. Many people, particularly men, prolong and enjoy their adolescence for decades. Conroy Harris, CEO of the charity A Band of Brothers, discovered through his own life experiences that this wasn’t a healthy way to live. He believes that everyone seeks a meaningful identity and a purpose into which to channel the energies of early adulthood. In this episode Andrew and Conroy discuss the importance of rites of passage and mentoring, and how men can support one another to live auth...
2023-07-03
45 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Mara Glatzel: It’s OK to be Needy: How to Recognise & Advocate for Yours
You have needs—your needs matter. And yet, you’ve been taught that pushing your needs to the back burner is the only way to get things done, that your needs are an overwhelming burden, or that self-care is a luxury you can’t afford. Author, coach and podcaster Mara Glatzel encourages us to “take a seat at the table in our own life”. In this episode Andrew and Mara discuss how to articulate your needs, and how to pursue a more genuine and meaningful form of self-care. Mara Glatzel is the author of Needy: How to Advo...
2023-06-26
53 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Ayala Gill: What Can I Learn from this Moment?
In this episode spiritual teacher Ayala Gill shares three fundamental questions with which to approach difficult situations life throws our way: ⭐️What can I learn from this moment? ⭐️What’s asking to be loved? ⭐️What can I give in return? Andrew and Ayala also discuss the nature of suffering, the difference between suffering and pain, animistic cosmology (the inherent luminous intelligence intrinsic to all things), and what it means to “live in sacredness”. Ayala Gill is a teacher of meditation, yoga and other spiritual practices. She has taught for 25 years, and guides...
2023-06-19
52 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Scott Simon: Small Acts of Courage to Change Your Life
When fear presents itself, we are deterred from the essential work of holding tough conversations, defending new ideas against the status quo, and standing up against injustice. Author Scott Simon founded the Scare Your Soul courage movement to help people harness their fears and lead more courageous lives. Since he became a “fear chaser”, Simon has had some big-ticket adventures: taking on his fear of heights by skydiving from 14,000 feet, negotiating multi-million dollar deals with tough and cynical real estate developers, and seeking out a famous healer in the misty mountains of Bali. But the surpr...
2023-06-12
46 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Tonya Lester: How to Have Healthy Conflict
Psychotherapist Tonya Lester believes it’s OK to be difficult. This doesn’t mean being rigid, domineering or unkind. It means making sure that your partner has a sense of who you are and what you need. Of course, you won’t get there without learning how to disagree productively. In this episode Andrew and Tonya discuss how to develop mutually supportive relationships, including 8 ingredients for healthy conflict. They also discuss Tonya’s recent New York Times article, “Couples Therapist, Heal Thyself”, about what it’s like to go into marriage counselling as a therapist. Tonya Les...
2023-06-05
45 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Richard Nicholls: How to be Happier
Is it possible to decide to be happier, and then to go out there and make it happen? Hypnotherapist, author and podcaster Richard Nicholls believes that happiness is, at least in part, a skill to be learned. The more you practise, the easier it becomes. Of course, each individual’s notion of happiness and their genetic capacity to achieve it easily will be very different. That doesn’t mean, though, that we shouldn't decide to influence those aspects of happiness that ARE inside our control. In this episode Andrew and Richard discuss the nature of happi...
2023-05-29
47 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Geraldine Walsh: Unraveling Motherhood
Motherhood gets great PR: women are led by society to expect it to be continuously fulfilling and wonderful. The reality is, of course, more complicated. Children absorb so much of our energy that there can be too little left over to maintain a healthy sense of self. Writer and journalist Geraldine Walsh is the author of Unraveling Motherhood, which explores postnatal depression, the “supermum myth”, the importance of boundaries in motherhood and how to embrace a good enough mother mentality. Andrew and Geraldine explore many aspects of parenting, including strategies you can use to self-nurture, whils...
2023-05-08
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Robert Jackman: Healing Your Lost Inner Child
If you often feel depressed, anxious, victimised or disappointed, you may be carrying a heavy load of unresolved emotional pain. Psychotherapist and author Robert Jackman suggests that this pain, and associated patterns of behaviour, often stem from our lost inner child. This inner child brings with him or her a false narrative; played on repeat. Painful childhood experiences can show up in adulthood as explosive anger, isolation, bad relationship choices, negative self-talk, feelings of being overwhelmed, being a people pleaser, and keeping others at arm's length. This week Andrew and Robert talk about id...
2023-04-17
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Eric Maisel: What If We’ve Gotten Meaning All Wrong
What if we’ve gotten meaning all wrong? Perhaps “searching for meaning” is completely the wrong way to think about things. If we can reconceptualise, it may be far easier to build a life suffused with meaning and joy. Dr Eric Maisel has been fascinated by the subject of meaning since he was a small child. This week Andrew and Eric discuss Eric’s new book, which suggests that meaning is just a feeling, and that purpose is a choice. Dr. Eric Maisel is the author of more than 50 books. His interests include creativity, life purpose...
2023-04-10
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Sherri Mandell: How to Grow Resilience: The Seven Cs & Why Creativity is Key
After her 13-year-old son Koby was murdered by terrorists, Sherri Mandell was forced to explore the nature of spiritual resilience in the face of overwhelming grief. In her book The Road to Resilience Sherri outlines seven steps required to face suffering and be enlarged: Chaos Community Choice Creativity Commemoration (discussed in bonus episode for supporters) Consecration (discussed in bonus episode for supporters) Celebration (discussed in bonus episode for supporters) Andrew and Sherri discuss these seven steps; and also explore the power of creativity to find your inner truth (the subject of Sherri’s latest book, The...
2023-04-03
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Ruth Ann Harpur: Narcissism: Helpful Diagnosis, or a Trap?
These days “narcissist” has become the insult of choice for many of us caught on the wrong side of arrogance, self-absorption or monotonous bragging. Narcissism is more complex than that, however, and an empathetic understanding of it can make it much easier to deal with partners or family members with narcissistic traits, or with full-blown narcissistic personality disorder. This week clinical psychologist Dr Ruth Ann Harpur discusses with Andrew the origins of narcissism, the “Echo” phenomenon, and why partners of narcissists need to focus more on their own needs and sense of self. Dr Ruth Ann...
2023-03-20
55 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Jan Day: Tantra: How to Make Your Lovemaking More Connected
How can we have more meaningful, connected sex? Many couples today are stuck in a low-sex or no-sex dynamic, while others struggle to break a routine that feels unbearably dull. In this episode Jan Day, a relationship expert and psycho-spirital teacher, discusses “Living Tantra”. Andrew and Jan cover how to “resensitise” in a world where there is not enough touch, and too many of us have become desensitised. Coming off autopilot and being open to depth and mystery can lead to a richer connection with the world and with our partners. Jan Day has been...
2023-03-13
48 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Malcolm Stern: Slay Your Dragons With Compassion
Are you being held back by darker moments from your past? Would you like to find the courage to shine a light on some of the tragic or shameful moments that you don’t like to think about? This week author and therapist Malcolm Stern joins Andrew to discuss his new book Slay Your Dragons With Compassion. Malcolm and Andrew talk about confronting your fears and working through blocks in a way that is compassionate to yourself and others. Malcolm Stern is a psychotherapist with over thirty years of experience in the therapy room. His bo...
2023-02-27
50 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Samantha Baines: Do We Need a More Honest Conversation About Divorce?
Everyone has a different divorce experience, but getting divorced is pretty much guaranteed to change your life. In this episode Samantha Baines, host of the Divorce Social podcast, shares her own experiences of divorce. Andrew and Samantha discuss: ⭐️The shock of divorce (even if you think you’re ready) ⭐️ Making the decision to get a divorce ⭐️ Dealing with what everybody else thinks. ⭐️ The “celebration” stage post-divorce. ⭐️The fun and the not-so-fun stereotypes around divorce (including wearing lots of leopard skin and having an adventurous love life). Samantha Baines is an aut...
2023-02-20
54 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Anna Colton: How to Sit With Anxiety
If you’re restless and irritable, or plagued by headaches or stomach upsets, then anxiety might be an issue. More and more of us are looking for support, and even diagnoses, to help manage anxiety. This week’s guest is Dr Anna Colton, a clinical psychologist, trained actress and TV presenter. Anna works with families, teenagers and couples, but also with performers and lawyers experiencing profound anxiety. Andrew and Anna discuss: ⭐️How our “unlived lives” feed into anxiety. ⭐️How anxiety can be protective. ⭐️The importance of curiosity. ⭐️How adrenaline feels and...
2023-02-13
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
William Ayot: Healing Men’s Souls
Today, the four pale horsemen of war, famine, pestilence and death, have broken into our comfortable lives once again. As the climate emergency and shortage become normalised, how do we live through crisis after crisis without falling into fear and anxiety on the one hand, or agitated reaction and rage on the other? Do we face the horsemen, go into denial or settle for the dull throb of numbness? And how do we maintain contact with the heart, with soul, with love and compassion? This week Andrew speaks with award-winning poet, author and te...
2023-02-06
56 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Charlotte Fox Weber: What Do You Really Want? Why We Are Frightened of Answering This Question.
Life brings to all of us long periods where we feel lost or confused. We don't know how to get what we want, or even what it is that we want. The struggle to articulate the thing that might really make us “come alive” can be profound, even if we enter therapy. Charlotte Fox Weber is the author of Tell Me What You Want, a new book that explores how to identify and navigate our deepest longings. Andrew and Charlotte discuss the idea that we have 12 fundamental desires: to love and be loved; unders...
2023-01-30
46 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
William Pullen: Run (or Walk) Your Way to Better Mental Health
Throw away your FitBit, stop counting your daily steps, and instead learn to run mindfully. If you can find the three key elements of space, silence and patience, you’ll be far more able to tackle big problems at work and at home. William Pullen is a psychotherapist who helps clients using his revolutionary method of Dynamic Running Therapy. His work combines movement and talk therapy to harness the synergy of mind, body and spirit. In this episode Andrew and William discuss 🏃🏾♂️How a good walk is different from a good run 🏃🏽♀️The pra...
2023-01-23
53 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Niamh Fitzpatrick: Tell Me the Truth About Loss
How do you cope when life suddenly and dramatically falls to pieces? In March 2017 psychologist and author Niamh Fitzpatrick’s beloved sister Dara was killed in a helicopter crash. Soon afterwards, Niamh’s marriage disintegrated, and she feared she would also lose the house she lived in. Life as she knew it had ended and the cumulative loss was staggering in terms of impact. As a psychologist for many years, Niamh had helped hundreds of clients through the worst times in their lives. Her own experiences of loss and grief were nonetheless shocking and d...
2023-01-16
57 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr. Avrum Weiss: Why Men Withdraw When Women Get Angry
When women and men argue, women can often be more comfortable in expressing their feelings of hurt and anger. Men can feel distressed by this strength of feeling, and may pull away emotionally. They may feel a very strong urge to occupy the ground of rationality and objectivity, which in turn leads their partner to push harder, desperately seeking emotional connection. Dr Avrum Weiss is a US-based author and psychotherapist specialising in the internal lives of men. His writing and his work with couples help men and women understand each other more deeply and build a...
2023-01-09
52 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Tracey Cox & Andrew: Ten Things We Learned in 2022 to Take Into 2023
Better sex, building a stronger connection with your partner, coping with anxiety, and dealing with shame and fear: these were some of the big themes that resonated on The Meaningful Life in 2022. Tracey Cox, international sex therapist, author and Daily Mail columnist, was the very first guest on episode one of The Meaningful Life. She joins Andrew again this week to discuss their stand-out episodes from last year. Tracey and Andrew talk about how their favourite guests influenced their thinking, and what they’ll be taking forward into 2023. Subscriber Content This Wee...
2023-01-02
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr. John Kaag: Be Not Afraid: How Philosophy and William James Saved My Life
“Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.” Philosopher William James (brother of the novelist Henry James) seems way ahead of his time with this insight. Our guest this week is author and philosopher John Kaag. John credits William James with helping him through several existential crises, including bouts of despair as a young man, and two divorces. Andrew and John discuss: ⭐️The pressing choice in modern life of where to put our attention ⭐️How philosophy helps parents ⭐️The wa...
2022-12-19
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Tara Blair Ball: Recovering from Toxic Relationships
Leaving a toxic relationship is really just the beginning: how do you then pick up the pieces and build a new life? Certified relationship coach Tara Blair Ball is a second-time guest on The Meaningful Life - her first interview on attachment theory was so popular that we invited her back to discuss her new book on surviving toxic relationships. According to Tara, ⭐️Personal responsibility is the key to change ⭐️Healthy relationships are built, not found ⭐️Whether you’re single or partnered, you can recover from toxic relationship patterns and learn a healt...
2022-12-12
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Amanda Deibert: You Have All The Answers
⭐️What is something you could do right now to help your future self? ⭐️What is the most dangerous thing you have survived? ⭐️Who is a person you’re glad exists? These are the kinds of questions writer Amanda Deibert asks her Twitter followers everyday, and which she has now gathered into a beautiful gratitude journal called You Already Have the Answers. In this episode, Andrew and Amanda discuss the ways in which our lives are full of insight and wisdom, if we can only slow down and find a meaningful route inward. Most o...
2022-12-05
50 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr. Galit Atlas: Buried Trauma: How the Past Can Unconsciously Trap You
Family secrets can live on for generations, shaping our lives in ways we may not recognise or fully understand. In this episode Andrew talks to Dr Galit Atlas, author of Emotional Inheritance: A Therapist, Her Patients, and the Legacy of Trauma about how our struggles in life are linked to the emotional inheritance we receive from our families. Dr Atlas is a psychoanalyst and clinical supervisor in private practice in Manhattan.She is a clinical assistant professor on the faculty of the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis and faculty at the National...
2022-11-28
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr. Christopher Kerr: What Death Can Teach Us: Visions and Dreams of the Dying
The end of life isn’t always a time of fear and suffering. Dr Christopher Kerr has cared for thousands of patients who, in the face of imminent death, speak of love and grace. Dr Kerr is the author of Death is But a Dream, in which he shares dying patients’ experiences of pre-death dreams and vision. These end-of-life dreams humanise the dying process and can also comfort the bereaved, who see their loved ones dying with a sense of calm closure. Andrew and Dr Kerr discuss how end-of-life dreams can bring love and forgiveness, resto...
2022-11-14
43 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Phil Poole: How to Find a Meaningful Job or Make Your Job More Meaningful
If work leaves you feeling tense, unfulfilled or anxious, then it’s definitely time to make some kind of change. You probably know that already - but this week’s episode helps you think through where to start. This week’s guest is Phil Poole, a Berlin-based coach, entrepreneur, writer and leader. Phil and Andrew discuss: ⭐️Phil’s journey through burnout to finding a meaningful, joyful career ⭐️How to know if it’s really the job that’s the problem. ⭐️Making big life changes with the support of your partner/family. ⭐️Narrowing down yo...
2022-11-07
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Suzanne Degges-White: The Unwritten Rules of Friendship: Why Things Turn Toxic
There's endless advice on romantic love, but how can you nurture loving friendships? And what should you do if a friendship turns sour, or leaves you feeling taken advantage of? This week's guest is writer and therapist Dr Suzanne Degges-White, the author of Toxic Friendships: Knowing the Rules and Dealing with the Friends Who Break Them. In this episode Andrew and Suzanne discuss: ⭐️ Making friends and why it gets harder as we age ⭐️ Being a good friend ⭐️ How many friends we need ⭐️ When to let go of a friendship....
2022-10-24
50 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Libby Nugent: Exhausted? How Fairytales Can Refresh & Move You Forward
Are you “world-weary”? Exhausted by life to the point where a day on the couch, a mini-break or a night out with friends won’t even touch the tip of your fatigue? This week’s guest, Dr Libby Nugent, is here to help. Libby discusses with Andrew the powerful healing properties of the fairytale. If you’ve experienced: Strains in relationships with your children or parents Anxiety about reaching goals you’ve defined for yourself A nagging sense that you’re missing out on other ways to approach life Then this week’s episode is for you.
2022-10-17
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dawn Kohler: When the Call to Be Yourself Can No Longer Be Ignored
What happens if you ignore the voices in your head urging you to change your life? Most likely they will make themselves heard in some way, be it positive or negative. Dawn Kohler was an award-winning entrepreneur in the computer industry when she was abruptly summoned to take a life-altering course. She began to receive “messages”, which launched her on an extraordinary healing process. In this episode Dawn and Andrew talk about Dawn’s journey through anxiety, depression and a relentless pull towards the unknown (all while also trying to meet the needs of a young...
2022-10-10
47 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Matthew McKay: Loving in the Face of Pain
If we know anything for sure about love, it’s that our beloved will change as time passes. They will look different, believe new things and feel new sorrows and joys. Psychologist and author Dr Matthew McKay has written a new book on how we can keep love alive in an age of impermanence. He talks with Andrew about five ways to keep loving in the face of change, loss or disappointment: ⭐️Truly knowing the people we love ⭐️Actively caring for loved ones ⭐️Cultivating compassion ⭐️Setting a daily intention to act with love
2022-09-26
45 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr. Cheryl Fraser: How to Stay in Love
Is it possible to fall in love with your partner over and over again? Can you hope to hold onto passionate sex as you grow older together? This week Andrew is joined by Dr Cheryl Fraser, an author, Buddhist teacher, psychologist and sex therapist. They explore the nature and longevity of passion, including: ⭐️Libido and why it can wane over time ⭐️How mindfulness works in the bedroom ⭐️The “passion triangle” - intimacy, thrill, sensuality. Dr Cheryl Fraser is the author of Buddha’s Bedroom, and the host of the Sex, Love and Eleph...
2022-09-12
1h 03
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Joanna Harrison: How to Argue More Productively
Some of us spend years having the same arguments with our partner, on repeat. Others drift into a state of lonely togetherness where we don’t bother to talk about discontents, because it just feels pointless. Joanna Harrison is a marital therapist who has identified five arguments that all couples need to have. If you can work through these issues, your chances of building a healthy, happy relationship are much stronger. In this week’s episode, Andrew and Joanna discuss basic skills for productive conflict, why we try to avoid arguments, and how therapy can help...
2022-08-29
52 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr. Patricia Hasbach: Reconnect with Nature and Yourself
Creating a more meaningful life does not have to happen indoors. Whether it’s writing, meditating, repairing relationships or planning a big life change, doing the work outside surrounded by nature can be calming and inspiring. Psychotherapist Dr Patricia Hasbach is a specialist in ecotherapy. She sees clients outside and also incorporates nature into her therapeutic work indoors. She is a lifelong lover of nature and a profound believer in its power in treating anxiety and depression, and fostering health and wellness. Patricia has recently published Grounded: A Guided Journal to Help You Reconnect with th...
2022-07-11
52 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Susan Schwartz: Daughters and Fathers: the Impact of the First Man in Your Life
Women often spend many hours considering their relationship with their mothers; but far less attention goes to the impact of fathers. For some, the reason for this is that their mothers were there, making wrong and right decisions (which they remember in the starkest possible light) whilst their fathers were absent. Jungian psychotherapist Dr Susan Schwartz has spent many hours guiding her women clients in thinking about how they were shaped by physically or emotionally absent fathers. These daughters relate feeling an insecurity of self, a splintering and disintegration of their personality and a...
2022-07-04
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Veronica Valli: Does Your Relationship With Alcohol Still Make Sense?
Do you think about drinking alcohol more than you think about eating sandwiches? Do you spend significant amounts of time thinking about NOT drinking (Dry January, for example)? Or are you one of the many with an uneasy feeling that alcohol is no longer bringing anything good into your life, and may well be holding you back? Therapist and sobriety expert Veronica Valli had a problematic relationship with alcohol for twelve years. She has now been sober for twenty years, and has helped countless others give up drinking. In this episode Andrew and Veronica discuss:
2022-06-27
54 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Linda Hershman: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Many older people, particularly women, are “divorce-curious”. They wonder about life on the other side of a tired marriage, and feel that perhaps it isn’t too late. Could a divorce be the route to rediscovering passion, stimulation and new experiences? Others are in the position of having a divorce thrust upon them, and are left to work through the pain and upheaval a split can cause in later life, both for themselves and the family unit. Linda Hershman is an expert on the “silver divorce” and has worked extensively to help couples navigate divorce. In this ep...
2022-06-13
50 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Christina Patterson: Getting Out of Your Own Way: Are You Unknowingly Self-Sabotaging?
Christina Patterson found herself in the heartbreaking position of being the last one left in a loving and beloved family. She took on the task of writing the story of her family and her place in it. In the process, Christina explored the ways in which our personal history can cause us to “get in our way”, self-sabotaging as we work through the suffering experienced both by ourselves and others in the family. Christina and Andrew also discuss: Living with mental illness Finding and losing religion Loss and grief The healing effects of writing Chr...
2022-06-06
48 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Erik Qualman: Being More Focused: the Art of Saying No
Doing a lot of things won’t get you where you want to go. According to “Digital Dale Carnegie” and best-selling author Erik Qualman, it’s become increasingly hard to achieve the things that mean the most to us. Modern life splinters our attention span and makes it extremely challenging to hone in on what matters. Erik Qualman interviewed hundreds of people for his book, The Focus Project, including parents, teachers and entrepreneurs. They all felt that success depended on the extent to which they had been able to focus on their goals. In this ep...
2022-05-30
48 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Julie Wald: Feeling Balanced: The Four Pillars of Self-Care
Sometimes things feel way too complicated. You’re working hard, taking care of your family, you have enough money - but things still just don’t feel right. You push on, looking forward to your next holiday or a night out with friends, but the day to day is grey and exhausting. Wellness practitioner, CEO, yoga instructor and clinical social worker Julie Wald specialises in working with people who are close to burnout. She cuts through the wellness noise all around us to zero in on what it is we actually need to change in order to feel...
2022-05-23
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
David Kessler: Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief
David Kessler is one of the world’s best-known experts on grief, yet nothing could prepare him for the loss of his beloved son at the age of 21. Just as he’d advised his clients for decades, David attended grief groups, saw a therapist and sat with his pain. In this episode, Andrew and David discuss how society wants us to grieve versus the reality of loss. We will likely never “get over” the loss of someone close to us, nor will we learn life lessons that somehow compensate us for our pain. It is possible, though, to locate...
2022-05-16
47 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr. Stephan Poulter: Shame: How to Break Out and Start Living
Shame is one of the emotions we find hardest to talk about. It can feel paralysing, and is linked to despair, imposter syndrome, fear and the sense of an impending doom. This week’s guest, psychologist and author Dr Stephan Poulter, is the author of Shame Factor: Heal Your Deepest Fears and Set Yourself Free. Andrew and Dr Poulter discuss how shame makes us feel - paralysed, unclean, not good enough, defective - and how we can reduce its impact on our lives. As Dr Poulter states, “the best analogy is this gold brick inside you. S...
2022-05-09
46 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Daisy Turnbull: How to Talk to Teenagers
Teenagers have a big reputation for being hard to talk to. How can you find that spark of connection with your teen? Is there a way to set up a channel of communication so that you can help them through the rough patches? In this episode Andrew talks to Australian teacher and author Daisy Turnbull about her new book, 50 Questions to Ask Your Teens. Daisy shares insights from her work as a teacher, as well as from her own teenage years growing up in a household where both parents had high-profile and demanding careers.
2022-05-02
51 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Mairi Macleod: Finding a Good Man in Midlife
“So he’s become the real love of my life. But if I’d been following my old ways of looking for men I wouldn’t have noticed him”. If you’re following your heart and trusting to the universe in your search for midlife love, you may need to take a step back and rethink your approach. This week’s guest, Dr Mairi Macleod, is the founder of Dating Evolved, a science-based dating consultancy. Mairi helps women look for partners in a more thoughtful and successful way. We are often told to “trust your gut” when it comes...
2022-03-07
55 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Julia Paulette Hollenbery: Self Care: Seven Medicines for Healing from Trauma (and Life in General)
Many of us are brought up to see sacrifice and exhaustion as the route to success. Julia Paulette Hollenbery’s mission is to help us all realise that in fact “pleasure is the essential nourishment you need for productive work, happy relationships and vibrant health”. Julia also believes that pleasure is not hard to find. There is an abundance of pleasure available to us all, in every moment and with every interaction. What Julia describes as “the universe of deliciousness” is everywhere around us. In this episode Andrew and Julia discuss the healing power of pleasure, i...
2022-01-31
55 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr Dilip Jeste: Wisdom: Five Ways to Become Wiser
What does it mean to be wise? Do we grow in wisdom as we age? Pioneering neuropsychiatric researcher Dr Dilip Jeste has spent years investigating the biological and cognitive roots of wisdom. In this episode, Andrew and Dilip discuss what we mean when we talk about wisdom, and whether we can, in fact, grow wiser. Dilip describes what he has established as the key components of the wise individual: ⭐️ Self-reflection ⭐️ Empathy and compassion (including for yourself) ⭐️ Emotional regulation and resilience ⭐️ Gratitude ⭐️ Openness to new experiences ⭐️ Spirituality Andre...
2022-01-24
52 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Josephine Worseck: Stress Reduction: TheTransformative Power of Cold Exposure
Stepping into a bath of ice isn’t the obvious pastime for a Northern winter. But if you do it the right way, the extreme cold can be: ❄️ Empowering - diving in means turning off the voices of procrastination. ❄️ Relaxing - staying in the bath requires you to work on physical relaxation. ❄️ Mindful - the cold focuses you hard on the now. ❄️ And, extremely healthy - there is evidence for cardiovascular benefit. Dr Josephine Worseck is a molecular biologist, yoga teacher, naturopath and exponent of cold exposure. The Wim Hof method she teac...
2021-12-13
53 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Cate Mackenzie: Flirting: Why Everyone Should Learn the Skills
Some of us are afraid of it, some of us gave it up decades ago, and some of us are trying desperately to master it. The art of flirting is a form of relationship magic, and it can bring so much happiness into our partnerships and our lives. Flirting opens us up to silliness, fun and joy. In this episode Andrew talks with flirting coach and psychosexual therapist Cate Mackenzie about why we should master the skills of flirting. Andrew and Cate talk about the ways in which your childhood might have left you finding the...
2021-11-29
52 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Michelle Farris: Seven Signs You Might Be Codependent
Are you a serial people-pleaser? Do you find all your self-worth at work? Or do you gravitate towards difficult partners, with problems you feel driven to fix for them? These are some of the signs and symptoms of codependency. Codependency has a big impact on how we feel about ourselves, and may mean we keep repeating destructive relationship patterns. In this episode, Andrew and psychotherapist Michelle Farris discuss the signs and symptoms of codependency, and Michelle identifies seven key signs you may be codependent. Michelle also shares her personal history of overcoming codependency. Mi...
2021-11-15
49 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Viv Groskop: How to be Heard, Really Heard
Many of us, particularly women, experience endless frustration because we don’t feel heard. At work and at home, it seems like we are constantly interrupted and rarely feel in control of a conversation. This week Viv Groskop, journalist, podcaster, stand-up comedian and author of How to Own The Room and Lift As You Climb, talks with Andrew about how to speak so that people will listen. Diving into the world of stand-up taught Viv about pacing, pausing and gauging people’s reactions; but most importantly, about quieting your own ego and tuning into your audience. An...
2021-10-18
1h 00
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Graham Johnston & Matt Wotton: Good Boundaries: The Foundation of Happy Relationships
We all know that good boundaries are pretty much essential if we want happy relationships. There is a lot of confusion, though, about what exactly a boundary is and how to make it work. Can we have too many boundaries? Should we ever compromise on the boundaries we set? This week Andrew talks about boundaries with Graham Johnston and Matt Wotton, psychotherapists and co-founders of the London Centre of Applied Psychology. Matt and Graham share their own experiences of creating good boundaries in both love and parenting, and what it means if we are struggling to get...
2021-10-11
1h 03
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr. James Hollis: How to Be Resilient
For Andrew, it is the writings of Dr James Hollis, one of the world’s most eminent Jungian analysts, that have “sustained me through my dark times”. James Hollis' books also regularly help Andrew’s marital therapy clients to create change in their relationships and recover from infidelity. For the 50th episode of The Meaningful Life With Andrew G. Marshall, Andrew speaks to James Hollis about what it means to be resilient - how do we discover and develop the strength nature gives us to “walk through the forest” when we inevitably hit dark times? Bookshops and...
2021-09-20
56 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Dr. Warren Farrell: The Boy Crisis: How to Help Your Son Flourish
According to Dr Warren Farrell, the world is facing a “boy crisis”. Suicide, ADHD and weak educational outcomes are among the problems boys and their parents face. Many bright boys are experiencing a “purpose void,” feeling alienated, withdrawn, and addicted to immediate gratification. Andrew and Warren discuss why boys are struggling and what parents, teachers, and policymakers can do to help our sons become happier, healthier men and fathers and leaders worthy of our respect. Dr Farrell is an author and academic specialising in men’s issues. He has been chosen by The Financial Times of London...
2021-09-13
58 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Kate Daigle: Have a Heathier Relationship with Food
Diet culture is everywhere: it’s impossible to avoid exposure to “clean eating”, fat phobia and the thin ideal. Yet as Kate Daigle tells Andrew this week, it’s not possible to live a meaningful life whilst being fully immersed in diet culture. These are limiting beliefs that shrink people’s worlds. In this episode Kate Daigle, a specialist in supporting people to recover from eating disorders, talks with Andrew about people’s increasingly unhealthy relationship with food. Kate also shares her personal journey of recovery from eating disorders, and explores what it means to have an eati...
2021-08-16
48 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Kate Lucey: Depression - What Worked for Me
So many of us have experienced depression, and if not, we’re likely to have seen the people we love battle it. This week’s guest, Kate Lucey, specialises in writing about mental health. She talks candidly with Andrew about her own depression and the six-year journey she’s been on since her diagnosis: including physical symptoms and the effects on her personal relationships. Kate and Andrew also take a deep dive into what depression means - what might cause it, how therapy can help, and some exercises that have helped Kate to manage when feeling overwhelmed. Kat...
2021-06-21
48 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Angus Barge: Getting it up: What every man and woman needs to know
The relationship between a man and his penis is rarely discussed except as a joke. Men don’t often talk to each other about erection issues, and women are left in the dark. Angus Barge took the plunge and spoke to his cousin about the problems he was having getting an erection at the age of 27. His cousin was also brave enough to break the silence, and this led them to create Mojo, a pill-free solution to erection issues. In this episode Andrew and Angus discuss the harm done to both men and women by the...
2021-03-22
41 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Tim Dowling: Can cynicism improve your life?
Guardian columnist Tim Dowling has spent thirteen years chronicling his marriage and family life for the Weekend magazine. His self-deprecating humour and determinedly cynical approach have made him hugely popular with readers. Rare is the Saturday Guardian reader who doesn’t flip first to the magazine to see what’s happening with Tim’s pets, banjo career and family. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss the layers that go into a joke. What exactly is it that we’re doing when we laugh at ourselves and our own life? Humour can be about storytelling, making sense of the pa...
2020-11-30
45 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Jed Diamond: Your Personal Creation Story
Too many men struggle to be happy in their intimate relationships, and fail to find a healthy version of masculinity that works for them. Disconnected males, without a strong sense of inner guidance, can behave destructively and even abusively towards those around them. In the fourth episode of The Meaningful Life With Andrew G. Marshall, Andrew talks to Jed Diamond PhD, founder of MenAlive, about his own journey. Jed explains how he came to heal his “family father wound” and how he has helped thousands of men to do the same. A big part of this i...
2020-11-02
50 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Kay Hutchison: Coming back from a midlife crisis
Have you ever felt so defeated and frustrated that you want to just throw in the towel and run away? Author Kay Hutchison did exactly that, fleeing her annual holiday to the Cote d’Azur, moving out of her home, and leaving behind her marriage and a well-established career. In seeking to understand what forced this huge rupture in a previously smooth existence, Kay tried a range of mainstream and alternative therapies. In the end, she took part in 37 different forms of therapy to explore her particular midlife crisis and experience of the menopause. From colonic irrigation thr...
2020-10-26
56 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Tracey Cox: Great sex after fifty
No-one would deny sex is important to a meaningful life, but what that looks like changes as we age. In this first episode of the new self-help podcast The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall, international sex therapist and Daily Mail columnist Tracey Cox discusses her new book Great Sex Starts at 50: How to Age-Proof Your Libido. While wild, lustful sex can certainly be a unique and special life experience, the sex that brings us meaning is different. It’s the sex that lasts past the orgasm, to include that afterglow as you lie together or even ju...
2020-10-26
41 min
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
Launching on Monday 26. October 2020 - The Meaningful Life with Andrew G.Marshall
So what is the meaningful life? Why do we so easily lose our way and get lost in depression, anxiety, doubt, addictions and obsessions: the swamplands of the soul? One thing I know for sure is that there is not one answer. Each of us has to find out for ourselves what makes our life meaningful. But we can learn from each other, share our experiences of how to navigate the journey, how to endure and learn from the swamp, and finally how to find solid ground.
2020-10-17
01 min