Explore every episode of the podcast The Overexamined Life
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Let Me Tell You a Story | 07 Oct 2024 | 00:11:23 | |
Today, you'll learn the premise of this podcast, by delving into the depths of my psyche. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Welcome to the Overexamined Life | 01 Oct 2024 | 00:01:24 | |
The world is so beautiful, and the people in the are so interesting and yet somehow we find a way to miss most of it, because our autopilot too often is stuck on the manufacture mental misery setting. This is the curse of overexaminers like me, and if that sounds like you too, then join me on a quest to discover ways in which we can become more present, more fulfilled and more curious. Coming to you Mondays and Thursdays with stories, reflections and interviews with the wisest gurus, comedians, musicans, athletes and artists, maybe we together can uncover a few secrets about what a well-lived life looks like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Wrestling with Cravings | 10 Oct 2024 | 00:12:58 | |
We all have cravings. Often they get the better of us. In this episode, we look at what the Buddhists have to say about cravings, and figure out how to beat them, or if we even need to. Email me at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Athlete to Tetraplegic: How Paul Sagar Learned to Enjoy Life Again | 04 Aug 2026 | 01:20:59 | |
Paul Sagar was a world-class rock climber until a freak accident left him tetraplegic overnight, paralysed in all four limbs, torso, and pelvic organs, losing not just his body but the identity and dreams built around it. Paul is also a Cambridge-trained philosopher who teaches political theory at King's College London, and he brings that same rigour to unpacking his own experience, from the physical horror of his new reality to the depression that came with it. Somehow, and against every expectation, he's emerged with an ease around words like "lucky" and "happy" that most people couldn't muster on their best day. This is a hard listen that goes to some dark places before it climbs back out, but what Paul finds on the other side might change how you think about what actually matters. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, Free Gratitude Club, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Does a "dopamine detox" work? The science vs the bullsh*t | 28 Jul 2026 | 00:24:19 | |
Can you actually do anything to change your dopamine levels? The "Dopamine Detox" is trending, but today we look into some studies to help figure out what's true and what's bollocks. I also go into some strategies that have really helped me enjoy every day life a bit more. Join the free Gratitude Club: patreon.com/TOLclub. WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why Ego is the Source of All Suffering - Stephan Bodian | 26 May 2026 | 00:46:00 | |
Join my FREE Gratitude Club so we can all be a lot happier for f*cks sake. https://www.patreon.com/c/TOLclub OK so. Earlier this week I spent 10 minutes examining every inch of my naked body in the mirror…an exercise in extreme suffering I undertook in the pursuit of enlightenment because Stephan Bodian told me to. Bodian is a former monk, psychotherapist, pioneering Western Zen teacher, and the original author of Meditation For Dummies. He also has a brand spanking new book out called Infinite Awakening: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/infinite-awakening-9780834846494 Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Antidote to Election Anxiety | 04 Nov 2024 | 00:10:49 | |
We're all drowning in anxiety as the world holds its breath, caught up in the high-stakes drama of the election. Many of us feel powerless, our future hinging on the choices of others, and it’s entirely reasonable to be nervous about having someone in charge of the largest economy and military in the solar system whom we don't trust or respect. But, we don't have to let this paralyze us. GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Blueprint for All-Round Health with Shona Vertue | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:39:43 | |
To simply call Shona Vertue a trainer would be doing her an incredible disservice. What sets Shona apart is a rigorous scientific understanding of not only the physical but also how the physical ties into the mental and spiritual aspects of our lives. This is why, when I say a holistic picture of health, I truly mean holistic. Shona was an elite athlete who competed in gymnastics at the highest level, before moving into the personal training space where she worked with high profile clients, including David Beckam, to help them better understand their bodies, and her program the "Vertue Method" is practiced by thousands all around the world. GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: https://wakingup.go2cloud.org/SHS WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why Does Exercise Make Us Happy? | 28 Oct 2024 | 00:11:50 | |
Can the pursuit of happiness through exercise tip into obsession, blurring the line between health and harm? This exploration dives into the highs and lows of athletic escapism—from the rush of a perfect game to the inevitable burnout—and questions whether the benefits of immersion in sport outweigh the cost of abandoning a balanced routine. Is true contentment found in simply doing what we love, or must we embrace discomfort to achieve a holistic, healthy life? WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Cure for Chronic Pain with Nicole Sachs | 24 Oct 2024 | 00:33:00 | |
My guest today is the wonderful Nicole Sachs. She’s a writer, psychotherapist, and retreat leader, and has helped free hundreds of thousands of people from chronic pain, anxiety, and many other mental and physical conditions through her books, her retreats, and her podcast The Cure for Chronic Pain. She’s worked and lectured extensively with Dr. John Sarno to unpack ideas about the mind-body connection for pain sufferers all over the world. At a personal level, I found Nicole’s work toward the end of my own chronic pain journey, and I truly wish I had found it sooner. Nicole is so fantastic at not only breaking down the science of chronic pain but also at really tapping into the emotional suffering that people with debilitating conditions experience. There’s something about her ability to tie together theory with deep, undeniable empathy that makes the science far easier to digest. There’s no distance, the way it sometimes feels like there’s a gap between patient and doctor. I think that may be partly because of Nicole’s own remarkable story of recovery, which we touch on briefly in the interview. We also talk about the science of chronic pain and the nervous system, the role of identity in pain, insomnia, perfectionism, how to meditate in pain and for pain, and much more. Find more of Nicole's work at https://www.yourbreakawake.com/ or The Cure for Chronic Pain Podcast. WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| My Complete Chronic Pain Recovery | 21 Oct 2024 | 00:38:11 | |
This is a topic that is incredibly close to me, because I had a period of my life where I lived in the world of extreme daily pain. in this time, my world shrunk down to the size of a pea, and I spent many months barely leaving my room. And that period of my life was without a doubt, the worst my period of my life. But as anyone who has been through any extreme situation will know, it is when you are your lowest, your weakest and your darkest, that you grow the most. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Turning Suffering Into Wonder | 17 Oct 2024 | 00:09:11 | |
The formula, at it’s core is so simple. You suffer, you notice you’re suffering, you attempt to reframe or embrace a sense of wonder about the present moment, you suffer less. And the skill we’re culivating is not to not suffer, but to notice we’re suffering faster, and get better reframing and get better at simply being curious about what’s happening around us. And the suffering less is a positive externality of going through these motions. Work in Progress Theme Tune on Spotify WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How to Never Hate Anyone Again | 14 Oct 2024 | 00:16:04 | |
We don't hate infants even though they often behave badly, what if it could be the same for adults?
In this episode we look into the illusion of free will, and it's implications.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The science of gratitude practice | 19 May 2026 | 00:13:55 | |
JOIN THE GRATITUDE CLUB FREE: patreon.com/tolclub Recent science has told us that gratitude has the power to do something nothing else in the world can. It can get you off the hedonic treadmill. We go deep into what that means, and look at said science :) Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Here are all the studies with their links: Emmons & McCullough (2003) — Gratitude journaling, well-being, and physical health Wood, Joseph, Lloyd & Atkins (2009) — Gratitude and sleep quality Mills et al. (2015) — Gratitude and heart failure (mood, sleep, inflammation) Redwine et al. (2016) — Gratitude journaling RCT, inflammatory biomarkers, heart rate variability Grant & Gino (2010) — Gratitude expressions and prosocial behavior Wood, Froh & Geraghty (2010) — Comprehensive review of gratitude and well-being Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Love your work or it will eat you alive, with Youtube Star Caddicarus | 12 May 2026 | 01:07:57 | |
If you're a writer, musician, entrepreneur - someone building something in the margins of your real life, this one is for you. My guest today is Caddicarus: over a million subscribers, nearly 400 million views, and a very honest bloke. Here's the thing so many of us carry without even realising it, the belief that the moment we hit the number, whatever your number is, life clicks into place. Caddickarus has the number and he still found himself burnt out, hollow, losing the will to make the very thing that made him who he is. The data doesn't keep you going. The passion keeps you going. The why keeps you going. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Underlying Emotions That Cause Addiction with Dr. Jonathan Bricker | 05 May 2026 | 01:20:13 | |
Jonathan Bricker makes the case that shame isn't just a byproduct of addictive behaviour, it's basically the whole engine. We get into why that voice in your head, the really mean one. The really really really really mean one, is actively strengthening the very cravings it's trying to crush. And Jonathan hands us something genuinely useful: a clear, evidence-based way of handling urges that doesn't involve white-knuckling it or hating yourself thin. Checkout Jonathan’s addiction app, Quitbot, here: https://quitbot.net/ Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How to Prepare for Your Death, with Death Doula Helen Callanan | 28 Apr 2026 | 01:09:39 | |
What if death wasn’t something to fear? What if you were completely at peace? In short, what if dying didn’t suck? Helen and her team at Preparing the Way (https://preparingtheway.com.au/), walk alongside people in the final chapter of their lives. We talk about what it means to heal into death rather than fight it, why grief doesn't start when someone dies but long before that, what the phrase conscious dying actually means, and Helen very generously lets me use myself as a guinea pig, which results in one of the stranger and more unexpectedly moving conversations I've had on this show. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| the most mind-bending meditation you've never done | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:10:58 | |
This will make all your food taste so good that you just might literally explode right now where you are I'm serious, click this to explode. We all want to explode! Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What If Your Anxiety Is Actually an Asset with Dr. David Rosmarin | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:59:26 | |
This one got personal. We go deep into my own panic attacks, and at a certain point it stops feeling like an interview and starts feeling like a live therapy session. Dr. David Rosmarin is a clinical psychologist, Harvard Medical School faculty member, and founder of the Centre for Anxiety, and he has spent his career arguing that anxiety isn't a disease to be cured but a human condition to be understood. That when you stop fighting it, the edge comes off. And beneath it, more often than not, you find a virtue. More from Dr. Rosmarin https://dhrosmarin.com/ Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| the secret to making peace with reality | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:08:37 | |
The grass may be greener on the other side, but it doesn’t matter, you’re on this side. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| We’re Not Meant to Feel Good All the Time with Johann Hari | 31 Mar 2026 | 01:28:33 | |
We spend our days optimising, refining, and sanding down every rough edge, only to end up exhausted in a life that looks right but feels strangely hollow. In this conversation with Johann Hari, we unravel the illusion of “junk values” and explore Eudaimonia, a deeper, more human kind of meaning that can’t be engineered. More about Johann here! https://johannhari.com/ Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| how to stop life slipping away | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:09:09 | |
Do you ever feel like you’re missing your own life? Like you’re just a passenger? You’re always experiencing something, but when you look back, the day is a blur… memories without the feeling of having lived them. It feels like just yesterday I was 17. It probably does for you too. Unless you are 16. Anyway. I think I’ve found a solution to this problem. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How to Walk Your Way to Inner Peace - Anne Jolles | 22 Jul 2026 | 00:49:36 | |
Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our freeeeeeeee Gratitude club!!!: patreon.com/TOLclub Today I'm chatting with Anne Jolles who has built an entire movement around the idea that help people access gratitude, courage, and inner wisdom through walking rather than stillness. We'll explore why walking in nature seems to calm the nervous system, whether self-compassion is really worth all the hype, and Anne will even guide us through a virtual Grace Trail that you can follow along with as you listen. Grace Trail | Wellness Trails That Inspire Reflection & Resilience Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Are Romantic Relationships with A.I. Healthy? With Deborah Nas | 17 Mar 2026 | 01:06:30 | |
A.I. is getting smarter and more intimate. People whisper secrets to glowing screens, confess fears to code, feel understood by something that isn’t conscious. I catch myself doing it too, more than I probably should. So I called in Deborah Nas, tech strategist and futurist, to talk A.I.-induced psychosis, the ethics of A.I. romance, and what it means for our brains, hearts, and society. Few conversations have felt this urgent. Check out Deborah’s TEDx talk: Why are people falling in love with ChatGPT? https://youtu.be/WWS086AY1Os Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why Constantly Changing Your Mind is OKAY. | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:09:48 | |
What if changing your mind wasn’t a weakness, but the most honest way to live? I am convinced (for now) that embracing the idea that you are not one rigid identity allows you to not ‘dig in’ to any one position and really frees you up to be authentic. When there’s no self to defend, hypocrisy isn’t hypocrisy at all: it’s honesty. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How to Succeed as a Creative with Adam Leipzig | 03 Mar 2026 | 00:41:31 | |
The creative life can be brutal. It seems there’s endless work required for the most minimal recognition, and this endless work only begins after you finish your day job, since none of it pays anyway. At least this line of thinking is one creatives tend fall prey to. Which is not helpful, regardless of whether or not it’s true. Cue Adam Leipzig; Adam was a senior executive at Walt Disney Studios and later president of National Geographic Films. Adam has been a producer, distributor, or supervising executive on forty films including Dead Poets Society, March of the Penguins His projects have earned more than $2 billion worldwide and have won multiples Oscars, BAFTAs, Emmys, Golden Globes. Adam continues to produces films, teaches at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and is author of Fearless Persistence: Creative Life, Creative Work, and the Ten Laws of Culturenomics—a book and movement about courage, purpose, and pushing forward when the path gets tough. Adam has created tried and true methodologies for resilience and success in creative fields, some of these secrets he was kind enough to share with us today. If you do any kind of work purely out of passion, this is a must listen. Check out Adam’s Audiobook: https://adamleipzig.com/advanced-listener-edition Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why you MUST change the way you speak to yourself | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:09:18 | |
The voice in your head is either your ally or your enemy. And you have the power to choose. The words we use to describe ourselves our the words we begin to believe. The way you speak to yourself, really really, matters Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How to Actually Enjoy Being Alive with Dr. Shannon Albarelli | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:57:58 | |
Today, I chat with Dr. Shannon Albarelli, a clinical psychologist, mindfulness instructor, and ketamine-assisted therapy guide. We dive into her journey through loss, and explore how science, ancient wisdom, and psychedelics can help us unlock new parts of ourselves, find peace, and actually enjoy being alive. Find out more about Dr. Shannon here: https://www.doctor-shannon.com/ Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why Stoicism is Life Changing, with Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Tuitert | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:58:42 | |
In honour of the 2026 Winter Olympics, we sit down with speed skating gold medalist Mark Tuitert to explore what actually separates an Olympic champion from everyone else—and it turns out it’s not just training harder, but mastering forgiveness, acceptance, and the messy reality of being human. Drawing on Stoic philosophy, personal loss, and hard-won perspective, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about the inner chemistry of peak performance. Get your copy of "The Stoic Mindset" here: https://marktuitert.nl/en/the-stoic-mindset/ Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What Happened Before the Big Bang? | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:10:03 | |
If nobody knows, how can we trust anything? Fortunately Alan Watts weighs in to make us feel at peace. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Recovering From Burnout with Vic Zerbst | 27 Jan 2026 | 01:21:02 | |
Vic Zerbst is a weapon of mass creation. They co-wrote and starred in Optics (Logie-nominated for Best Scripted Comedy) and the Christmas movie Nugget is Dead. They are also one half of the award-winning sketch duo Fruidian Nip, and this year premiered Converted! which is a queer musical developed through the Rebel Wilson Comedy Commission. But we had Vic on not just as a comedian, but as a razor-sharp thinker. In this conversation we dive into creativity, burnout, chronic pain, Vic's thoughtful takes on AI and epistemology, and of course free will. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Regulating the Nervous System with Master Mingtong Gu | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:49:30 | |
Master Mingtong Gu, an ex-mathematician turned meditation master, has abandoned his algorithms for slow-motion arm waving. Well it’s much more than that. The art of Qigong is a recipe to become calmer, clearer, and harder to rattle. We talk about what Qigong is, how it regulates your nervous systems, why you can’t logic your way out of burnout, why today’s leaders are ineffective, how to take control of your own health, connecting the mind and body, and much more. Ennnnjoy! More about Master Mingtong Gu: https://mingtonggu.com Check out Master Mingtong's book: www.mingtonggu.com/book Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why A.I. Doesn't Save Us Time | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:11:16 | |
just can't help myself peeps. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What Porn Does to Your Mind - Jeremy Lipkowitz | 15 Jul 2026 | 01:26:32 | |
If you deal with addiction of any kind, or really any behaviour you find unhelpful, that you wish you had more control over, that you perhaps wouldn't tell your friends or family about, this is for you. Today we largely look at addiction through the lens of pornography, but really the way pornography is entwined with shame, pleasure, boredom and trauma means that while listening you can subsititute porn for whatever dopamine shortcut you take on a regular basis. Booze, Sleeve of timtams, online shopping, social media, so on. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our freeeeeeeee Gratitude club!!!: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo Find more from Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Beauty is in the Eye of the Echidna | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:07:58 | |
Things have been grim but now they're ok because of an echidna :) Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
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WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| An End of Year Suprise! | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:10:01 | |
A very quick wrap up and we hear from a much requested special guest. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
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WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Emotional Reflection on the Bondi Beach Shooting | 15 Dec 2025 | 00:13:31 | |
unprocessed thoughts i dont know what else to do with Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Managing World Leaders with Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:44:23 | |
The Chief of Staff is 'Part strategist, part therapist, part parent' to the world leader. Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks has interviewed pretty much all of them, and today I realised this invisible right hand is actually kind of important. Check out Pheobe's book! Here's the link for Australia-based listeners, and here's the international shipping link. Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Art of Being 100% Authentic with Margery Ai | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:38:20 | |
Imagine saying EXACTLY what you think, and doing EXACTLY what you feel like doing? Sounds crazy to me, but Margery Ai has cultivated her ability to do exactly that. Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| If You’re Scared of Dying, Listen to This | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:07:51 | |
Death anxiety sucks up a lot of energy, but even if you don’t believe in the afterlife, there are some very good reasons not to worry. Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Mental Frame Shifts That Have Transformed My Sleep (NO MEDS) | 18 Nov 2025 | 00:11:47 | |
3 abstract techniques that have helped me kick insomnia without medication, therefore making life 1000x better. Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I Got Food Poisoning in an Escape Room Pt.2 | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:11:47 | |
We'll be back to regular programming next week but I just needed to *get this out of my system* Explicit language warning Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I Got Food Poisoning in an Escape Room Pt.1 | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:09:34 | |
BUT, let everything else, it was an opportunity, a violent opportunity - to learn more about what it is to be human. Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TOLclub
GET 30 DAYS OF THE WAKING UP APP FREE: wakingup.com/primo
Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram: instagram.com/jonahprimo or visit his Website: Jonahprimo.com Jonah writes on Substack: https://jonahprimo.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Courage to Question Everything We Believe With Dr. Miriam Schoenfield | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:38:57 | |
From leaving orthodox religion, to positing that we may be actual literal brains floating through space (and then exploding), Miriam Schoenfield, philosophy PhD, takes us on a rollercoaster ride for our minds - explaining why we should seek the exhilarating thrill of being wrong about everything we believe. NOTE: I know there's a bit of echo and audio hum in this one, our main recording exploded and this was made from the backup, I'm SORRY. Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Woman Who Doesn't Suffer Shares Her Secrets - Dianne Horton | 07 Jul 2026 | 00:51:27 | |
Join the free gratitude club! It’s so wholesome! patreon.com/tolclub Spiritual mentor Dianne Horton, claims she doesn't suffer…not because she was born that way, but because it's a skill she learned and believes anyone can develop. At one point she even says she enjoys eating an ice cream as much as being in a car crash, so I challenged Dianne harder than I usually would to understand how she cultivates this state of mind, whether a life without suffering is really teachable, and whether we'd actually want a world without suffering if it also meant losing some of the drive behind progress, productivity, and innovation Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Slipping Through the Cracks with Katherine May | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:57:00 | |
Imagine if slipping through the cracks was not a disaster, but a subtle art? Today we settle in with Katherine May, the internationally bestselling British author of "Wintering", whose words have redefined how we think about stillness, resilience, and wonder. In one of my favourite episodes this season, we wander through the land of naps, daydreams and the art of staring out the window until something starts to make sense. Katherine reminds us that those quiet spells when everything seems to slow to a crawl are not catastrophes, but secret invitations to start again. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo Read Katherine's Book Wintering here and her new book, here.
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why Children Should Tell Our War Stories | 14 Oct 2025 | 00:09:12 | |
I find myself chasing the ever-fleeting hummingbird of innocence, that shimmering thing that flits just out of reach once you’ve seen too much of the world. But we need art to keep expressing this. Through the eyes of innocent children. only then do we remember how to feel horror again, unfiltered and unarmored.
Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Tim Minchin on Reclaiming Our Sense of Meaning | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:39:57 | |
My guest today is the brilliant Tim Minchin. You may know him from his Tony and Olivier-winning, Grammy-nominated musical Matilda, his viral song Come Home (Cardinal Pell), or his unforgettable University of Western Australia graduation address. Tim is a relentless interrogator of the human condition: a skeptic, a critic of dogma and pseudoscience, and a fierce champion of empiricism and evidence-based thinking, all while being incredibly funny. In this conversation, we explore whether you should have grand dreams, the purpose of art, A.I., social media, meaning, mental health, orgasms and much more. Buy tix to Tim's upcoming tour here (If hyperlinks disabled - https://www.timminchin.com/2025/04/07/songs-the-world-will-never-hear-2025-australian-tour/#more-26024) The book we mentioned, "You Don't Have to Have a Dream" is available here (If hyperlinks disabled - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/you-dont-have-to-have-a-dream-9781761620058) Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Cancer, Racism and Violence, Through the Eyes of a Buddhist Dzogchen Master - James Low | 29 Sep 2025 | 00:32:44 | |
WE ARE BACK BABY! Welcome to Season 2, - and what a guest to start off with. We talked about some heavy stuff, but through the lens of buddhism. Like how does a buddhist see racism, the israel-palestine conflict, happiness, what James' own ongoing struggle with cancer looks like, through the eyes of one who is if not enlightened, pretty enlightenedish. Enjoy. Our Guest James Low was born in Scotland, but his spirit was forged in Himalayan crags and Indian monasteries under great buddhist maasters. James wove together his understanding of Western thought and Eastern ritual — psychology, philosophy, psychotherapy — into his teachings, and has become one of the most renowned voices in making Dzogchen and mindfulness intelligible to us overexaminers and chronic sufferers. https://simplybeing.co.uk/ Learn something? Enjoy ad-free episodes and help us keep the show running at patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| GAME: Is the quote from a spiritual leader or a criminal psychopath? | 23 Jun 2025 | 00:08:41 | |
It’s a wild ride through the blurred lines between enlightenment and delusion. You won't get full marks. Sick of being ruled by your emotions? Join our Patreon for AD-FREE listening, bonus episodes, and mindfulness exercises that are actually fun: patreon.com/TOLclub
Want to learn how to meditate? Get 30 days of the Waking Up App FREE: wakingup.com/primo
WATCH THE PODCAST on Youtube Follow Jonah Primo on Instagram or visit his Website Jonah writes on Substack Email Jonah Primo at overexamined@jonahprimo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||