The Observing I Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we explore the ancient wisdom of wu wei—the art of non-striving, as taught by Lao Tzu in the Tao Te Ching.

Discover how this philosophy invites us to let go of the need to control and force outcomes, and instead, flow with life’s natural rhythms.

We’ll dive into how wu wei applies to modern challenges like burnout, creativity, and mindfulness, and discuss the powerful psychological benefits of surrender and trust. If you’re looking for more ease, clarity, and peace in your life, this episode offers insights and practical tools to help you stop pushing so hard and start living with more flow.

And, of course, this episode is sponsored by my book "The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life", which you can buy on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Observing-Guide-Living-More-Authentic/dp/B0D67CFVVK/

Much love, David

In this episode, we explore the paradoxical relationship between dualism and non-dualism in spiritual thought, examining how these seemingly opposing perspectives coexist and shape our understanding of reality.

We’ll dive into their philosophical roots, psychological impact, and modern relevance in areas like politics, technology, and mental health. I’ll also share personal reflections on how these concepts play out in daily life and discuss spiritual practices that help bridge the gap between them.

Join me as we explore how embracing both duality and unity can lead to deeper peace, connection, and compassion.

This episode is, once again, sponsored by my book ⁠⁠⁠The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life⁠⁠⁠, which is available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon.

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re exploring the nature of authenticity, delving into what it means to live a true and genuine life. Join us as we unravel the concept of authenticity through the lenses of philosophy, psychology, and theology, and discover what each of these disciplines has to teach us about aligning our actions with our values.

In our final segment, we integrate the insights from philosophy, psychology, and theology to create a holistic understanding of authenticity. Discover how these perspectives converge on key themes such as self-awareness, alignment with true values, and embracing our vulnerabilities. There’s some good lessons to be learned here.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon.

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re exploring the ways in which narratives shape our minds, influence our beliefs, and connect us to our cultural heritage. We’ll examine the psychological impact and ideas around storytelling and the human experience, what philosophy has to say on the matter, and the importance of mythology in conveying our cultural history.

We’ll look at how media and technology has changed the landscape of storytelling, including the emergence of transmedia narratives, and we’ll dive into some case studies that show the multifaceted impact that storytelling has had on our society at large.

Stay curious, stay connected, and remember - the stories we tell shape the world we live in.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon.

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re venturing into the world of embracing our imperfections. We’ll look at what it means to be imperfect and what philosophy has to say on the matter, from Aristotle’s idea of Eudaimonia to Buddhism’s teachings on impermanence.

We’ll explore what psychology has to teach us about the damaging effects of perfectionism, drawing on the wisdom of Carl Rogers, and the popular CBT framework, to come up with practical strategies for moving away from “getting it right” and having a healthier relationship with ourselves.

Throughout the episode, we emphasise that imperfection is not a barrier but a stepping stone to personal growth, resilience, and genuine happiness. By accepting and celebrating our unique qualities, we can lead a life that is more authentic and in line with our own values.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re challenging that common advice of “follow your passion” and looking at why focusing on your talents instead can lead to greater fulfilment and success.

Is there a point where, if we focus on our talents enough, they can become our passions? And what happens to our passions if, after years of effort, they never come to fruition? These are questions that I am hoping to answer.

By the end of this episode, my hope is that you’ll see the value in finding and nurturing your talents, along with understanding some ways to identify and align with your natural aptitudes

As always, I’d love you to join the conversation. Did you follow your talent or your passion? What was the outcome of that choice? Did it help or hinder you? Share your experiences with us via our social media, or drop us a comment below.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into the world of parasocial relationships - those emotional connections we form with celebrities, influencers, streamers, and YouTubers.

We’ll explore what a parasocial relationship is, and some of the psychological motivators behind them. We’ll weigh up whether they’re beneficial to us or harmful, and take a look at two real life examples from each side of the coin.

This one’s a bit meatier than usual, so I decided to start doing a few episodes every now and then called Deep Dives that go into much more detail on the chosen topic. If they prove popular, then I’ll do some more. They’re more work, but hopefully more rewarding for you, and they’re definitely a lot of fun to put together.

As always, I’d love you to join the conversation. Have you ever felt a strong connection to a character in a TV series, or your favourite YouTuber? If so, what emotions did you experience and what was the impact? Share your experiences with us via our social media, or drop us a comment below.

This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon

Much love,
David

In this episode, we’re going to be taking a deviation from our usual transmission.

This Monday, which was a bank holiday for all of you in the UK, a book that I’ve been working on for about 2 years finally hit the shelves. It’s imaginatively called “The Observing I: A guide to living a more authentic life”, and it’s full of philosophical ideas and psychological methodologies to help you get to the bottom of the nature of you.

It’s available to purchase on Amazon as an eBook, and we’re currently working on getting a paperback copy ready.

In this episode, I’m going to talk a little about my motivations behind writing the book, and I’m going to read Chapter One in what will essentially be an extract from the coming audiobook. Seems a bit silly that I do a podcast and then release a book and don’t actually make an audiobook from it. So that will be coming in the future as well. As soon as it’s available, I’ll let you know.

If you’d like to get your hands on a copy of the eBook, then you can purchase it directly from Amazon here if you’re in the US:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D54FV5D5

Or here if you’re in the UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D54FV5D5

I’m not quite sure what to do with myself now. I feel like I’ve clambered up Mount Doom and fought off a shrivelled, spiteful avatar of my own self doubt.

This is the first time that I’ve ever finished a book that I’ve started. It’s an odd experience. I’m left with the same sort of sensation as when you finish a long, emotional engaging movie. What happens next?

One thing I do know is that I’ve got the bug for writing again, so expect to see more articles on here. And, who knows, there may be another book grumbling in the works. The process is kind of addictive.

I actually started the book before I started the Substack, which has been going since July of 2022, so about a month shy of 2 years.

I never intended to start a podcast. This was all supposed to be a newsletter that went out a few times a week, but it turned into something much larger than that. The book wasn’t supposed to accompany the podcast either. Back in the beginning, they were two very distinct and separate entities, and the title of the book wasn’t even set in stone until a few months ago.

It was an amorphous, shifting blob of ideas and aspirations. A few ideas from philosophy sprinkled with the practical application of said philosophy, which invariably tended to bring in some sort of supporting psychological framework.

The whole thing didn’t start to come together until I’d gone from the sketching ideas section and decided what the point of the book was going to be. Surprisingly, on reflection, it turns out that I was initially motivated by a deep seated aggravation. I’ll explain.

So I started the book not long after the whole Covid lockdowns and, being stuck in your house with little contact with the outside world, offered a lot of time to pace and think and pace again. That thinking took place against a backdrop of having only the internet and a television as the windows into what was going on beyond the safety of my four walls.

It was then that I began to realise that the world is very noisy. I knew this already, but I hadn’t acknowledged it. I was, like everything else, going with the flow of life because that’s how the world was.

But when I noticed it, it was deafening, a drowning cacophony of clamouring hands all fighting for my attention, devouring little pieces of it in sodden blood stained bowls then coming back for more.

This got me questioning how we are supposed to maintain a grip on any sense of ourselves amidst all of that chaos? How are we able to make good choices that align with our values and intentions, when we’re faced with so many external influences?

So that became the purpose of the book. To get that moment down onto paper, as much for me as it was for any audience, and to curate a set of philosophies and ideas that could become a toolkit for maintaining our own integrity.

I’m hoping that it will work nicely alongside the podcast, and that it will illuminate some of the hidden corners of yourselves. Think of it as a toolkit to better understand your motivations.

If you do buy a copy, I’d love to know what you got out of it. If it helps you move towards understanding yourself and the world around you that bit better, or simply changes your perspective of the human experience, then that would be the biggest success that I could ask for.

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we’re getting into the esoteric realm of thought and consciousness. What is thought, and how does it shape our experience? What part does our consciousness play on the human narrative, and where is the line between thought and awareness?

We’ll look at the fundamental definitions of thought, explore what philosophy and theology has to say on the matter, and look at the way in which thought and consciousness dance together. And, of course, we try to distil this down into some practical applications that you can take into your lives going forwards.

Much love,
David

In today’s episode, we are getting into the world of empathy and sympathy. These two emotions play crucial roles in our social interactions, relationships, and personal well-being. I’ll be looking at what they actually are, taking a look at what philosophy has to say on the matter, and exploring their place in psychology.

We’ll also be looking at the pros and cons of each and trying to work out which one is better.

As an aside, you’ll be pleased to hear that the book is in it’s final stages and will be hitting the shelves in the next few weeks. I’m doing the last bit of typesetting and getting it looking like a sparkly tome of philosophical wisdom. When it’s ready, you’ll be able to purchase it on Amazon I’ll drop the link to it in a future update.

Much love,
David