John Oakes - Podcast Details

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Financial Planner Life PodcastFrom ChatGPT to Chat SJP: The AI Revolution at St. James’s Place | John O'Driscoll & Wenyu Bai (SJP)In this episode, Sam Oakes is joined by John O’Driscoll and Wenyu Bai from St. James’s Place to explore how AI and technology are being developed to support the future of financial planning.Discover how SJP’s 2030 vision is being built around:Advice Assistant: An AI-enabled tool already in production that reduces the time to produce advice packs from hours to minutesChat SJP: An internal GPT-style assistant that delivers fast, accurate, compliant answers to technical questionsAgentic AI: The concept of digital support agents acting as a virtua...2025-04-2548 min $Ross & John\'s Organic Capers Podcast$ Ross & John's Organic Capers PodcastEP62 - Absolutely Gonged Off with Ali JamesThe Boyz catch up with improv superstar Ali James! Talking about the Southend 48Hour Improvathon, our favourite words, and John's pyjama shorts. Will Ross ever send his medical form...? Probably not.Ali James has worked with Mischief Theatre, makers of the critically acclaimed "Goes Wrong" shows, the Comedy Store players and is part of Olivier Award winning Showstopper! the improvised musical - stars of the Edinburgh Fringe and London's glittering West-End. She's also John's wife. Which is nice.Southend 48hr Improvathon 2025 starts 7pm Friday 25th and runs til Sunday 27th of April...2025-04-0236 min

The Learning Hack podcastLearning Futures 3 with Kevin Oakes, Kim McMurdo and Terry JonesLeading Through Culture, Teams, and AI-driven Change John Helmer discusses organizational culture, collective leadership, and AI's impact on future workplaces with Kevin Oakes (CEO, i4cp), Kim McMurdo (Global Head of OD, Standard Chartered), and Terry Jones (International Head of Talent Development, ex-PaloAlto Networks). Key themes include culture renovation, developing team-centric leadership capabilities, and leveraging AI for enhanced human productivity in rapidly evolving organizations. The McKinsey paper mentioned in Kim's interview: De Smet, A., D’Auria, G., Meijknecht, L., Albaharna, M., & Fifer, A. (2024, October 31). Go, teams: When teams get healthier, the whole organization benefits. McK...2025-03-311h 15

Easy Way OutBreaking Free: A Guide to Overcoming Compulsive BehaviorsNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, we delve into the complexities of compulsive behaviors, from minor bad habits to severe addictions. Learn foundational strategies to shift your relationship with these urges and begin your path towards healing. Drawing from personal experience and extensive coaching practice, we explore how to tackle compulsions with compassion and understanding rather than force and judgment. Discover practical techniques like grounding, acceptance, and presence to gradually dismantle these behaviors and enhance cognitive function. With insights into how mental health parallels physical healing, uncover the importance of aligning your psyche and...2024-10-1024 min

Easy Way OutHow to Defeat Inner ShameNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John discusses how to overcome shame to gain access to your inner world and achieve inner peace. He explains the crippling nature of shame, its dual nature, and how it affects our mental health. John shares his personal journey with childhood PTSD and his years-long quest to understand mental illness and trauma. He emphasizes the importance of disempowering shame to empower oneself and offers practical steps to bypass shame and unlock one's true potential. 00:00 Introduction to Overcoming Shame00:11 Understanding the Nature of Shame00:17 The D...2024-09-2914 min

Easy Way OutAll-or-Nothing Thinking (and the life-changing power of "good enough")Need help? Shoot me a text!Transforming Your Life by Overcoming All or Nothing ThinkingIn this episode, John delves into the pervasive issue of all-or-nothing thinking, a mindset that can impede progress in various aspects of life including weight loss, relationships, and career goals. John discusses the origin of this mentality, often rooted in childhood experiences and perfectionism, and offers practical strategies to identify and overcome it. He emphasizes the importance of setting realistic, incremental goals and maintaining a presence with one's objective reality to facilitate meaningful progress. John also explains how reframing moderate e...2024-09-2524 min

Easy Way Out5 KEY Shifts from Trauma to HealingNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John takes viewers through five key shifts essential for healing from PTSD: moving from survival mode to seeking what you truly want, transitioning from rule-based to values-based living, fostering hope rather than relying solely on prediction, surrendering control to embrace internal motivation, and transitioning from resistance to acceptance. John emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and inner peace in overcoming trauma and living an authentic life. He also touches on practical steps to aid in this transformation process.00:00 Introduction and Personal Journey00:18 Five Key Shifts in...2024-09-2216 min

Easy Way Out3 Things We Must Accept Before We Can HealNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John delves deeply into the concept of acceptance as a crucial step in healing from trauma. He explains how acceptance frees up energy, outlines its role in better understanding and contextualizing traumatic experiences, and advocates for recognizing the ongoing manifestations of trauma in daily life. The episode touches on three areas of acceptance: accepting the reality of what happened, accepting the present-day consequences, and accepting the hidden brokenness that others may not see. John emphasizes the importance of community support and announces plans to create a community focused...2024-09-1924 min

Easy Way OutSelf Love for Healing - Myths, Misconceptions and Key ObstaclesNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John provides a comprehensive overview of self love in the context of healing from trauma and mental illness. Key points discussed include common myths and misconceptions about self love, such as vanity, narcissism, and selfishness, and how these ideas are influenced by religious and cultural backgrounds. John also addresses the obstacles to self love such as dogma, avoidance patterns, cognitive biases around responsibility and service, the addiction to earning love, self hatred, and the distrust of oneself. 00:00 Introduction to Self Love and Healing00:42 Myths a...2024-09-1739 min

Perennial WisdomThe Wisdom of Fasting with John Oakes📮 Want tools for the art of living? Sign up here: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribe In this episode of In Search of Wisdom, my guest is John Oakes, author of The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and Promise of Doing Without. In the conversation, we explore John's spontaneous initiation into fasting and his insights from the practice. We delve into the historical prevalence across various cultures and religions, its philosophical and spiritual dimensions, its effects on the mind and body, and much more. Key Takeaways:The historical roots of fasting.The diffe...2024-07-1043 min

Easy Way OutPeople Pleasing: It's Worse Than You RealizeNeed help? Shoot me a text!People Pleasing is f**king you up way more than you think.In this episode, John Oakes explores the concept of people pleasing, revealing that it is often not about making others happy but a survival mechanism rooted in childhood. He discusses how this behavior can significantly affect mental health, weight loss goals, and overall wellbeing. Through the example of a character named Cindy, John illustrates the consequences of prioritizing others over oneself and offers steps to reclaim personal freedom and assertiveness. He also shares insights into the deep-rooted...2024-06-0642 min

Easy Way Out"Too Good to Be True"⎮ How Trauma Is Causing You to Reject the Best Things in LifeNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John tackles one of the greatest tragedies of unhealed trauma: the fact that it causes us to vehemently reject good things in life. Why, every day, millions of people actively reject opportunity, money, and caring relationships.How childhood trauma creates a false frame of reference that warps adult judgment.How this warped judgment causes good people to reject good things.Why people get scared when they near a genuine opportunity for change.Why we distract from the misery of our lives (and not just to a...2024-06-011h 02

Easy Way Out35 Gallons of Snacks ⎮ How to Avoid Weight Regain When Your Mental Health SucksNeed help? Shoot me a text!Long term weight loss is a campaign, not a single battle. We'd love for the journey to be all success and rainbows, but it usually isn't. If your mental health issues have caused your weight problem, then chances are, they will flare up at some point, putting your progress in serious jeopardy. Today, I'm going to share with you a way of living that helps me avoid weight regain even when I am doing poorly and going off the rails. To inquire about 1 -1 Coaching w...2024-05-2637 min

Easy Way OutHow to Respond to Your Darkest Thoughts and FeelingsNeed help? Shoot me a text!We all have dark thoughts sometimes, but if you have trauma or severe mental health issues, these thoughts can be WAY darker and stronger. Usually, you are taught to just white-knuckle through it, but there is an approach to dealing with dark thoughts that will not only help you stay safe and unharmed but help you move toward deeper healing.You can learn to see these difficult thoughts and emotions as a doorway into healing rather than merely as a liability or threat to your wellbeing.Do...2024-05-2440 min

BMX BreakthroughEP. 16 w/ John CrewsCLICK HERE to share your thoughts on the episode!“I was never really good. I was never a real winner… but what I was known for was style.”Signing his first pro contract at the age of 15, John Crews had the opportunity to ride his bike and have an incredible time doing so! Having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he has learned to use his story to be a voice for others within the world of BMX.John is nothing short of a legend within our sport, an advocate for many and a true ins...2024-05-0138 min

Easy Way OutThe Inner Work You've Been Avoiding -- A Weight Loss StoryNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, coach John recounts a story of Cindy and her weight loss journey from 350 lbs to where she is today.This offers a picture of what successful and sustainable weight loss looks like while begging the question, "How did she become this version of herself?"John discusses the five non-negotiable steps that every person has to go through it they want to heal and lose weight for good. To inquire about 1 -1 Coaching with John - email John at john@o...2024-04-1840 min

Team HumanJohn OakesPublisher of Evergreen Review and Author of The Fast John Oakes discusses history and biology of fasting at his book launch event in New York City. Recorded live at The Strand on Thursday, February 15, 2024.About John OakesJohn Oakes is the publisher of The Evergreen Review and co-founder of OR Books, a publishing company recognized as one of “the radical alternatives to conventional publishing” (The Guardian), where he is currently editor-at-large. In his thirty years in publishing, Oakes has worked on more than 600 books with several independent presses, starting with Barney Rosset’s legendary Grove...2024-03-1440 min

Easy Way OutI Wrote a Book! -- 75 EASY: the ultimate challenge for personal growthNeed help? Shoot me a text!That's right! My first book in the the fitness or personal development space is available for purchase now.In this episode I explain what my book is about, why I wrote it and what you can get from it. Get your copy now and please leave me a review!75 EASY - Amazon USAmazon UKAmazon CanadaAmazon Australia To inquire about 1 -1 Coaching with John - email John at john@oakesweightloss.comBuy my...2024-02-1419 min

Get Best Full Audiobooks in Health & Wellness, Medicine & NaturopathyThe Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and Promise of Doing Without by John OakesPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/712244to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and Promise of Doing Without Author: John Oakes Narrator: Matt Godfrey Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 8 hours 57 minutes Release date: February 13, 2024 Genres: Medicine & Naturopathy Publisher's Summary: With fasting at an all-time high in popularity, here is an enlightening exploration into the history, science, and philosophy behind the practice—essential to many religions and wellness routines. Whether for philosophical, political, or health-related reasons, fasting marks a departure from daily routine. Based on extensive historical, scientific, and cultural research and reporting, The Fast illuminates the numerous fa...2024-02-138h 57

Author Alex OakesEpisode 55: Are You A White Supremacist? (Special Guest: John Kinsman)In this one the boys are joined by John Kinsman. John is a former political prisoner who is fighting to get his life back on track and take care of his family. Together him and the boys talk about the New Hampshire primary results, how Nikki Haley is a cheating sloot, the truth about climate change, and so much more. If you like the video give it a like, share it, and subscribe to the channel. Also, check us out at Twitter (X): @authoralexoakes Substack: @Alexoakes0331 Spotify/iTunes: Nobody's News YouTube: Nobody's News Also, if you want to order...2024-01-251h 32

Easy Way OutWhy This Time Will Be Different ⎮ 3 Approaches to Weight Loss You've Never TriedNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John embarks on a discussion of three key principles to easier, more successful and more sustainable weight loss. Topics include:Common fears about weight loss coaching or programs in generalWhy people shy away from getting the help they needThe power of observing life before changing anythingThe way to play "jenga" with your dietHow to enter calorie deficits in the easiest way possibleHow to figure out the optimal calorie deficit for your best results. To inquire about 1 -1 Coaching with John - email J...2024-01-2326 min

Easy Way OutThe Essence of the Hard Way ⎮ 75 Hard and the Misguided Pursuit of ToughnessNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John discusses the popular fitness and mental toughness challenge, 75 Hard.Topics include:why 75 Hard is emblematic of our self-improvement culturewhere our fitness and self-improvement culture routinely lets us down and keeps us stuckwhy challenges usually serve as litmus tests rather than something that produces growththe problem with pursuing "toughness" in service of successthe problem of seeking out adversitywhy compliance and consistency are not surefire paths to personal success, but more often paths to serving the needs of otherswhy society does not want you to trust yourselfwhy...2024-01-1049 min

Easy Way OutNo One Gets A Car! ⎮ These Are a Few of My Favorite ThingsNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John recounts the blessings of 2023. In particular, he draws attention to the foods and possessions that made the year great. He covers everything from fitness wearables to powdered peanut butter.Topics include:The benefits of polyamorous garagesPoor flower bed soil (I mean absolute trash)An ode to dairy productsJohn's sick home gym set upBuying rubber mats from a tweakerJohn's Costco go-to itemsand more! To inquire about 1 -1 Coaching with John - email John at john@oakesweightloss.com 2023-12-1936 min

Easy Way OutThe Rise of Authority ⎮ Why We Refuse to Do Things We Desperately Want To DoNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this podcast episode, John explains how a noble emotion like obligation has come to wreak so much havoc in our behavior. To understand this, he explores the evolution of human societies, the evolutionary context of obligation, and the role of authority. Topics include:How and why human society originated in the form of autonomous, self-sustaining clansWhy increasing social complexity became crucial for survivalWhy social complexity gave birth to authority as we think of it todayHow this fundamentally altered the role of obligationThe challenges faced by prehistoric societies, h...2023-12-1458 min

Easy Way OutThe Three Spirals ⎮ Why You Have Never Lacked MotivationNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this podcast episode, host John explores the concept of motivation from a fresh persepctive.Topics Include:Why motivation is better understood as a throttle rather than a resevoirThe three biggest impediments to motivationThe three biggest drivers of innate motivationWhy we should never look for motivation on the outsideThe fitness industry's exploitation of people's lack of motivationThe role of influencers in creating a false sense of need via performative disciplineThe way authority turns innate desires into external obligationsHow fear of failure dampens your abilitiesHow shame restricts your permission to...2023-12-0535 min

Easy Way OutYou Can't Steer a Ship Unless It's Moving ⎮ Client Mark's Amazing JOURNEYNeed help? Shoot me a text!You'll get the JOURNEY thing once you listen.In this episode, John sits down with Mark, one of his very first clients, to reflect on the bigger picture of weight loss and all he has learned on his "journey."Topics Include:Mark's journey with intuitive eating (its strengths and limitations)The importance of body acceptanceMark's experiences of studying psychology in college and the ways it has impacted his life (workout outside of mental health)Mark's outlook on parentingThe challenges faced by mental health professionalsWhy you should separate...2023-11-2850 min

Easy Way OutThe Number Seven Doesn't Exist ⎮ Caffeine, Stimulants and PTSDNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this podcast episode, John reflects on his relationship with caffeine and other stimulants, discussing their role in his life from childhood to adulthood. Topics discussed:How John unwittingly became a caffeine junkie in early childhood.The role caffeine played in his childhoodThe impacts this had on his psyche and wellbeingHow he (again unwittingly) got off the go-juice in early adulthoodWhy weight loss brought him back into the world of stimulantsHis dalliance with Ephedrine and Caffeine pillsHow PTSD is often misdiagnosed as ADHD and whyHow the experiences of p...2023-11-2222 min

Easy Way OutSailing to Spain ⎮ How to Deviate from Stress EatingNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, host John delves into the topic of stress and emotional eating.He highlights that these behaviors are not solely about the emotions themselves, but rather our unease in dealing with them.John explores the historical background of emotional eating, drawing comparisons between simpler times in the past and the distractions of the present.Listeners are urged to acknowledge and comprehend their emotional discomfort.The concept of emotional eating as a cognitive distortion is discussed.John suggests a strategy of delaying the impulse to...2023-11-0720 min

Easy Way OutIf I Had to Do It All Over ⎮ 5 Things I'd Tell Myself at 423 lbsNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this podcast episode, John reflects on his weight loss journey, discussing what he would tell his past (423 lb) self about healthy and effective weight loss. He talks about the importance of self-care, maintaining a positive mindset, and finding a balance between pushing oneself and taking care of one's body. John also discusses upcoming changes to his newsletter and encourages listeners to send in questions for future episodes. He concludes by offering free resources and inviting listeners to inquire about one-on-one coaching. The episode is not only about weight l...2023-10-3128 min

Easy Way OutMovement is MedicineNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John discusses the merits of movement, how to get more into your life and why it can be much easier than you think it has to be. To inquire about 1 -1 Coaching with John - email John at john@oakesweightloss.comBuy my book! 75 EASY: the ultimate challenge for personal growthAmazon USUKCAAUWeight loss coaching - Join the Weight Loss Freedom Academy todayJoin the free "Lose Weight...2023-10-2431 min

Easy Way OutThe Devil You know ⎮ How Shame Strangles MotivationNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John breaks down motivation in a novel way you've never seen before. In doing so, he reveals:The three biggest inhibitors of your motivation: Shame, Obligation and Failure.Why shame is the most powerful of the three but also the most vulnerable to early efforts at change (if you know how to approach it)Why the antidote to shame is expanding permissionWhy expanding permission is the natural result of harnessing awareness and other passive toolsHow to locate exactly where shame is strangling your motivation and how to...2023-10-1746 min

Easy Way OutClient Spotlight: How Mike lost 170 lbs and started living againNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this podcast episode, John interviews his client Mike, who has achieved remarkable weight loss results through their coaching sessions. They discuss Mike's weight loss journey, his previous beliefs about weight gain, and the emotional factors that contributed to his overeating. Mike praises John's unique approach to weight loss and his ability to simplify complex issues surrounding emotional eating. They also emphasize the importance of addressing underlying emotional and mental factors in order to achieve sustainable weight loss. Mike shares his experiences with embracing failure, managing stress, and making practical changes...2023-10-101h 20

Easy Way OutThese Kids Don't Even Speak Chinese! -- The True Origins of the Obesity EpidemicNeed help? Shoot me a text!Being a weight loss coach with a PhD in the Social Sciences, John Oakes has his own view of the obesity epidemic and its origins. By discussing the macro factors contributing to obesity, he hopes to help listeners contextualize their struggles and in so doing. help equip themselves to make changes that last. Topics discussed:Various factors that contribute to weight gainemphasizing the importance of understanding macro-level factors and contextual influences on individuals' weightImportance of awareness as a precursor to positive change and transformationCorrelation between processed foods, calorie i...2023-10-0336 min

Easy Way OutPut Down the Berries, Dale! - The Immense Power in Honoring AngerNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this podcast episode, host John Oakes shares his personal experiences with trauma and his journey towards healing. He discusses:his struggles with mental health and his decision to try neurofeedback therapy.the limitations he faced in finding effective treatmenthow his own healing journey led him to discover new approaches.the impact of collective trauma during the pandemic and his decision to become a coach to help others.why you probably have more anger than you realizethe importance of acknowledging and expressing anger in assertive ways, as well as the...2023-09-2637 min

Easy Way OutPowerful Perspectives on Hunger + an Exciting Announcement!Need help? Shoot me a text!Check out the EASY Weight Loss ClubIn this podcast episode, John introduces his new program called the "Easy Weight Loss Club," launching on September 25th. He explains that it will be a paid community hosted on a platform called Skool, offering course content, live coaching calls, and a supportive community. John emphasizes the importance of reworking our relationship with hunger as an emotion and discusses mindset shifts needed to manage emotional eating. John invites listeners to join the Easy Weight Loss Club and the Weight Loss Freedom Academy...2023-09-2029 min

Easy Way OutSnuffing the Flame - How Your Goals Prevent Your ProgressNeed help? Shoot me a text!If you have ever made a goal that would have a significant positive impact on your life, then failed to meet that goal, you need to listen carefully to this episode.In this episode, John takes on goal-setting culture, and how, ONCE AGAIN it debilitates those who are in the most desperate need for change and transformation.Topics include:Why the arbitrary nature much goal-setting is tripping people upHow goals mask our true motivationsHow goals distance us from key sources of lifeWhy goal-setting psychologically disposes many...2023-09-1247 min

TALL TALE TV - Sci-Fi and Fantasy Short Stories"Stray Fire and Toppled Heads" - Fantasy Dark Comedy Short Story - by John OakesStray Fire and Toppled Heads ep.634 After messing up a spell, a wizard loses his head and must escape a family of angry trolls. John Oakes is an emerging writer who is currently studying creative writing at Western Washington University. In his free time, he writes, reads, and writes some more. His work can be found in Lovecraftiana: The Magazine of Eldritch Horror and Etherea Magazine. Keep an eye out for his name. He does not intend to slow down anytime soon. If the timing is right, you can find him on Twitter at @johnroakes67 2023-07-0133 min $Ross & John\'s Organic Capers Podcast$ Ross & John's Organic Capers PodcastEP17 - "Ooh Way Barry" with Jack SkipperJack Skipper is a Stand Up Comedian and TikTok Creator with over a million followers across Social Media. We caught up with him in The Loft Bar at The Bocking Arts Theatre, Braintree ahead of Barrioke (karaoke with Barry from Eastenders). Tickets for Jack's work-in-progress tour are available now! Join him on social media for dates and tickets: TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.Big shout to James Beatty the King of Braintree for looking after us and letting us use his wicked set-up. **DISCLAIMER**This episode is fuelled by lager a...2023-06-2841 min

Easy Way OutBeware the Venemous Teacher -- Is it Harder to be Fit or Overweight?Need help? Shoot me a text!In this guided interview with Will Martin of edit4social.com, we explore the importance of feeling our emotions and building comfort with them. We discuss the tendency to try and escape from uncomfortable emotions and the benefits of being present with them. We also examine how listening to our emotions can help us understand the messages they bring and take assertive actions based on them. Ultimately, building comfort with our emotions can increase our awareness and perception, leading to long-term change and improved decision-making. Tune in to learn how...2023-06-2725 min $Ross & John\'s Organic Capers Podcast$ Ross & John's Organic Capers PodcastEP16 - Walking on Snail ShellsThis week the boys discuss their dream cars, yachts, Sports Day and more! Support the showFollow us on Social Media, join our Patreon and more here.2023-06-2131 min

FourPlay - A Game of ConnectionsJohn Liu Game 1We've got a newcomer this week! John Liu joins Carmela to see if he can make this week's connections. Listen in and play along! Here are today’s clues: 1. expert, Chief, mind, grand. 2. Flag, rod, half, workers. 3. sketch, quick, conclusion, attraction. 4. Black, door, stay, hatch. 2023-03-0313 min

Easy Way OutFrom Darkness & Misery to Power & Freedom: Olevia's Amazing 6-Month TransformationNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John sits down with his client, Olevia, who recently completed her 1-1 6-month coaching program. Together, they discuss leaving toxic jobs and families, why slow and steady wins the race (even though it often doesn't feel like progress at all) and why after her huge success, she has decided to join John's new coaching Weight Loss Freedom Academy. To inquire about 1 -1 Coaching with John - email John at john@oakesweightloss.comBuy my book! 75 EASY: the ultimate challenge for...2023-02-2655 min

Easy Way OutSorry I Compared You to a Wood Chipper -- Why Your New Weight Loss Program Will FailNeed help? Shoot me a text!In this episode, John takes the oncoming new year as opportunity to discuss how eventual failure is often woven into a diet or exercise plan in its inception and what you can do to prevent that.Points of interest:Some thoughts on protein and hunger management Announcing the weight loss freedom frameworkNot letting shame dictate your approach to your weight loss goals in the new yearWhat's gonna keep you making changes after the new yearShame causes extreme choicesHow shame blinds usDon't lose weight quickly, lose it onceThink long t...2022-12-1833 min

Easy Way OutSometimes the Easiest Way Out is the Front Door -- Family, Autonomy and FreedomNeed help? Shoot me a text!The holidays are a time of celebration and family, but sometimes the spirit of Christmas can cast the reality of family or friend dysfunction in painfully sharp relief. In this episode John discusses the Easy Way Out of valued, long-standing relationships that have grown toxic or always were.Other topics discussed:Why so much pain, anxiety and depression around the holidays emanates from the dichotomy between the values of Christmas and the impoverished reality of our closest relationships.Why the religious legacy of Christmas complicates thisHow the ten commandments...2022-12-0947 min

Transplaining with Jordan GrayWith Ross McGrane, John Oakes & Esther ManitoIt's a case of one in, one out this week, as John Oakes and Esther Manito mysteriously fail to coincide. Ross McGrane is ever-present, however, and helps Jordan transplain big and small questions about the universe and cosmetics. We also deal with audience questions relating to penguins, pizza and human evolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2022-11-2446 min

FourPlay - A Game of ConnectionsJohn Speas Game 1This week, from Las Vegas, we've got John Speas. Listen and play along as we find out if he'll be returning again next week! Here are today’s clues: 1. Game with 4 cardinal directions, Billiards helpful accessory, George Washington or London?, Too far?. 2. Poker requirement, Knock down, Lanai, Circle in baseball. 3. Pressure type, A non-medical fever, Leading part of a 1994 film with Chris Elliott as the star, Popular pancake topper name. 4. Association Football club known as the Tigers. Located in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Chicago settlement house co-founded by Jane Addams and El...2022-10-1417 min