The Intense Mind with Imi Lo

Full text: https://eggshelltherapy.com/gifted-trauma/ On the Gifted Trauma of Feeling Humiliated Today's article is on the gifted trauma of feeling chronically humiliated, even when no one is trying to humiliate you. You know the feeling in your body before your mind can name it. The heat rising when someone begins explaining something you already know. The sickening sensation in your stomach when an authority figure talks down to you, even when they are someone you perceive to have no real authority at all. The strange shame of watching someone else present your insight as their own. The way your body contracts to brace itself. You may find yourself re-experiencing this sense of humiliation constantly, triggered by what seem like the smallest slights. And there is almost no socially acceptable way to talk about it. It feels like a taboo to say you feel humiliated when no one intended to offend. You can hardly be honest about the daily abrasion of being too bright and fast for your environment. But the feeling is real. And it did not come from nowhere. It was planted when you were trapped in a body too small for your mind, in a world that moved too slowly, explained too much, and understood too little. You were told in all sorts of obvious and not so obvious ways that your penetrative insights were dangerous, your directness was hurtful, and when you excitedly shared what you passionately knew, you made others feel small. The first wound was the humiliation itself. The second wound, perhaps the deeper one, was learning to participate in your own shrinking. You learned to start sentences with "I might be wrong, but..." and "It is probably nothing..." You shave off the sharp edges from your speech, just in case they hurt anyone. You have become so skilled at reading micro-expressions, at catching that flash of discomfort across someone's face, that you retreat before you have even fully arrived. What started as survival became something else entirely: a muscular apology you carry in your body, a chronic self-betrayal you barely notice anymore. But... maybe the second half of your life is asking something different of you. It is asking whether you are willing to finally inhabit your brightness without apology, to stop protecting people from your full self, to risk the possibility that some will turn away when they see yo Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

SHOW NOTES: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/12/05/why-we-still-feel-lonely-with-philosopher-lars-svendsen/ We can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone. We can have friends, a partner, a full social calendar, and still feel like something is missing. I spoke with philosopher Dr. Lars Svendsen about loneliness. His work so brilliantly weaves together philosophy, psychology, and decades of cross-cultural research. Prior to this conversation, I did not know that... Norway is one of the most individualistic countries on earth. It also has some of the lowest loneliness rates in the world. People who see their friends every day report more loneliness than those who do not. Creating new social spaces and community events does almost nothing to cure loneliness. In one study, people preferred giving themselves electric shocks over sitting alone with their thoughts for 15 minutes. Loneliness, it seems, is less about what is missing out there and more about what we are looking for. I hope you come away from this conversation feeling a little less lonely. Or at least, in my own case, a bit more hopeful. Dr. Svendsen is a Norwegian philosopher. He is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Bergen, Norway. He is the author of several books, including A Philosophy of Boredom (2005), Fashion: a Philosophy (2006), A Philosophy of Fear (2008), Work (2008), and A Philosophy of Freedom (2014). He has a unique ability to communicate difficult contemporary and international topics straightforwardly. Dr. Svendsen has received several prizes for his work, and his books have been translated into more than 35 languages. Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

SHOW NOTES: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/10/27/deathanxiety/ I sat down with philosopher Tom Cochrane to explore death anxiety, happiness, and how we cope when existential dread surfaces. We began with the classic philosophical arguments against fearing death. For Tom, ultimate comfort does not require a cosmic designer. It comes from recognizing the world's intrinsic value. He advocates for what he calls "aestheticism," seeing the universe as beautiful, sublime, dramatic, and worthwhile on its own terms. This perspective is available to both atheists and theists. On self-sufficiency, Tom's critique is pointed and unique. A fully self-contained life becomes emotionally flat, he likened it to being like a ‘stale lemonade’. Humans are "contingent to the bone" and flourish through embraced interdependence and risk, not through isolation. The key insight: we have control over our imagination. Even when it runs away from us, we can redirect it and build better habits of attention. About Tom Cochrane: Born in the UK, Tom completed his BA (hons) in philosophy at University College London, followed by a MA in music composition at Birmingham Conservatoire, and then a PhD in philosophy at the University of Nottingham. His PhD supervisor was Gregory Currie. Following his PhD, Tom was a postdoctoral fellow at the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva (2007-2010). He was then an international visiting fellow at the Sonic Arts Research Center, Queen's University Belfast (2010-2012), before moving to the University of Sheffield as a lecturer (2012-2017). After a brief stint at the University of York in 2017, he joined Flinders in February 2018. Tom's main areas of expertise are the philosophy of mind (particularly emotions) and philosophy of art/aesthetics (particularly music). He also has interests in metaphysics and ethics. He is the editor of The Emotional Power of Music (Oxford University Press, 2013) He is also the author of The Emotional Mind: A control theory of affective states (Cambridge University Press, 2018) and The Aesthetic Value of the World (Oxford University Press, 2021). Tom's latest book, The Aesthetic Value of the World: https://academic.oup.com/book/39016 Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Full text: https://eggshelltherapy.com/ai-therapist/ Today’s letter is about the elephant in the room for all of us these past few years: the use of the AI therapist, coach, mentor, partner, friend, confidant, and sounding board. You may be someone who has resisted it with full strength, or embraced it with excitement, or maybe both. Whatever your stance, maybe it is time we talk about what happens when we turn to machines for the kind of relational healing or coaching that has always happened between humans. All in all, I believe there remain irreplaceable aspects of human connection in healing work that have nothing to do with technological limitations and everything to do with what it means to be human, to suffer, and to heal in the presence of another person who has also suffered and healed. Whether we are talking about therapy, coaching, mentoring, or any form of deep relational work, certain elements can only happen between two human beings. In this piece, we will focus on those irreplaceable human elements. Just because I do not discuss the potential benefits or value of having an AI therapist does not mean they are not there; they are simply not the focus of this discussion. Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Show Notes: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/10/18/jessica-baum/ Jessica, author of Anxiously Attached, returns to discuss her new book, Safe, which expands beyond her first work to cover all four attachment patterns: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized. Drawing on interpersonal neurobiology, she explores how early attachment wounds live in the body as implicit memory and cannot be healed alone. They require safe, anchoring relationships where nervous systems can co-regulate, whether with therapists, coaches, or trusted others. She reframes triggers as awakenings, inviting curiosity about what earlier wounds are being touched, and contextualizes people-pleasing as an intelligent adaptation rather than a flaw. Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Link to the full text: https://www.pecanphilosophy.com/writing/fear-of-being-unproductive Read with a human voice! Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/09/24/drlilie/ Today, we are fortunate to have Dr. Lilie Chouliaraki with us. She is a Professor in Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and has spent her career examining how the media discusses human suffering and our own vulnerability. We are going to explore her work on how approaches to helping people have evolved over time. She walks us through the concept of "post-humanitarianism," which examines how our sense of solidarity has shifted. It is less about a shared sense of humanity and more about personal benefit, a kind of self-focused, consumer-style activism. We also explore the highly complex but timely topic of victimhood identity. Dr. Chouliaraki discusses how the language of being a victim has become a powerful political tool. She has examined how this concept of victimhood is sometimes used, or even manipulated, by those who are already privileged to gain more power, a concept she calls the "weaponization of victimhood." This can happen in ways that actually reinforce inequalities rather than challenge them. About Dr. Lilie Chouliaraki Professor Lilie Chouliaraki is Chair in Media and Communications at LSE. She holds an MA and PhD from Lancaster University Department of Linguistics and a bachelor's degree from the School of Philosophy, University of Athens. In the past twenty-five years, her research has been examining how media shape our ethical and political relationships with vulnerable populations globally and how pain intersects with power relations in disaster news, humanitarian communication, migration, and conflict journalism across historical and digital contexts. Recently, Chouliaraki has focused on histories of victimhood within emotional capitalism, social media, and far-right populism. Her award-winning book "Wronged: The Weaponization of Victimhood" was published by Columbia University Press in 2024. She has received numerous international distinc The Dom Sub Living BDSM and Kink Podcast Curious about Dominance & submission? Real stories, real fun, really kinky. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Show notes: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/09/17/sarabeth-2/ In this episode, we explore the shift from simply "fitting in" at work to cultivating true belonging. Dr. Sarabeth Berk Bickerton, author of Seen, Known, Valued, shares insights on redefining career success—from external markers like titles and pay to a more personal journey of meaning, values, and impact. We discuss her Career Belonging Matrix, the challenges faced by hybrid professionals, and practical strategies for communicating your unique value in a world that often prefers tidy labels. Find Dr. Sarabeth and her work: morethanmytitle.com Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Full text: https://www.pecanphilosophy.com/writing/mindtraps "Others Have It Worse, So I Shouldn't Complain.” Self-sabotaging stories that keep you stuck are rarely obvious villains. They come masked as common sense, as truism, as gratitude or kindness, as protection against future pain. We carry them like sacred truths, hardly seeing how what is designed to self-sabotage is actually leaving us feeling hollow and disconnected. In this letter, I want us to see if we can expose some of these hidden self-sabotaging beliefs, see them for what they are, and re-examine if we truly want to carry them for the rest of our lives: “Others have it worse, so I should not complain." "My parents did their best, so I cannot be upset." "If I accept love, I will only be disappointed later." Self-sabotaging beliefs often disguise oppression as morality. They sound rational, even noble, yet they are nothing more than outdated schemas that keep us small. For the full article: https://www.pecanphilosophy.com/writing/mindtraps Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

This is a reshare of my interview with Jess Leondiou, originally featured on Make Your Mind podcast. I am grateful to Jess for graciously allowing me to repost our conversation from earlier this year. About Make Your Mind Podcast How do our minds really work? How different are we from one another? What is the science behind our interactions, and how do we fit into the larger collective of consciousness? Make Your Mind explores these profound questions with curiosity and dedication to expanding our understanding of ourselves and the world. Jess brings together experts from various fields - those who study the science of the mind, experts in self-inquiry, and thought leaders with social and cultural insights - for conversations that unpack these evolving topics. Our Conversation In her beautiful introduction, Jess reflects on how diagnosis impacts our sense of self. She explores the complex territory between finding relief and validation in labels, while also noticing how they can shift our self-perception. As research shows (Dweck), what we believe about ourselves profoundly shapes our behavior, and the language we use becomes central to how we operate. Thank you again, Jess, for this meaningful conversation and for the care you bring to exploring the breadth of human experience!! Originally featured on Make Your Mind podcast : https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makeyourmind/episodes/Emotional-Sensitivity--Intensity-For-the-Neurodivergent-and-Gifted-Adult--with-Imi-Lo-e33ak1n Please do check out her wonderful work as well! Archley’s: https://www.archleys.com/pages/about-us?srsltid=AfmBOoquQqTW2HRBvOofa--49rkIqDCTLQU6qfcOXnxtuCG8rOmj9k0B Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Full text: https://www.pecanphilosophy.com/writing/terror Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Full text: https://www.imiloimilo.com/writing/unfinished Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

SHOW NOTES: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/08/26/dreams/ In this conversation, explore the significance of dreams in our lives, how they can serve as a window into our unconscious, and their potential to guide us through emotional healing. Dr. Ellis will share insights into the neuroscience of dreaming, the role of Jungian symbolism, and how dreams can help us process emotions, trauma, and even PTSD. We also discuss practical techniques for understanding and interacting with our dreams, including how to engage with recurring dreams and nightmares in a way that promotes healing and insight. About Dr. Leslie Ellis Dr. Leslie Ellis is a leading expert in the use of somatic approaches in psychotherapy, in particular for working with dreams, nightmares and the effects of trauma. She is the author of A Clinician’s Guide to Dream Therapy (Routledge, 2019) and offers many training opportunities in embodied, experiential dreamwork based on her book. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, with a specialization in somatic approaches. Her dissertation on using focusing-oriented therapy to treat PTSD for refugees with recurrent nightmares won the Ernest Hartmann award from the International Association for the Study of Dreams. Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Show notes: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/08/19/chriswells/ Today, we have Chris Wells, who is a writer, podcaster, and researcher, with a focus on inner experiences of gifted, complex, and intense people. We discuss: About Chris Wells Chris Wells, PhD (they/them/theirs), is a writer, researcher, and storyteller specializing in positive disintegration, neurodivergence, and personal transformation. As the founder of the Dąbrowski Center and creator of the Positive Disintegration Network, they are at the forefront of expanding and deepening conversations around Dąbrowski’s theory of positive disintegration. Their work bridges academic research, qualitative inquiry, and public testimony, using autoethnography and lived experience to illuminate the complexities of personality development. Chris co-hosts the Positive Disintegration, cosmic cheer squad, and PDA: Resistance and Resilience podcasts, and writes on Substack, where they challenge misconceptions, clarify theory, and provide insight into the lived reality of developmental transformation. With a background in qualitative research and autoethnography, they are committed to using personal storytelling as a means of collective healing and self-discovery. As a thought leader in the gifted and neurodivergentcommunities, Chris actively works to correct misunderstandings about overexcitabilities, giftedness, and the role of trauma in transformation. Their presentations and writings advocate for a broader, more inclusive understanding of positive disintegration, moving beyond existing mod Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Click through to the full article about Hermeneutic Injustice and Invisible Childhood Trauma: https://www.pecanphilosophy.com/writing/hermeneutic-injustice In case you are wondering, the essay is narrated with the voice of a real human :) Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Link to more info: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/05/29/drrondel/ Today, we dive into the connection between philosophy and anxiety with Dr. David Rondal, a philosophy professor and author of "A Danger, Which We Do Not Know: A Philosophical Journey into Anxiety." In his book, Dr. Rondal explores his journey through anxiety. From the wisdom of thinkers like Kierkegaard and William James to the challenges of modern anxieties like eco-anxiety and social media stress, Dr. Rondal shows us how embracing anxiety can lead to personal growth and a greater understanding of ourselves. About Dr. Rondel David Rondel is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Nevada. He is the author of Pragmatist Egalitarianism (Oxford University Press, 2018), and editor or co-editor of four additional books: Pessimism of the Intellect, Optimism of the Will: The Political Philosophy of Kai Nielsen (University of Calgary Press, 2012), Pragmatism and Justice (Oxford University Press, 2017), The Cambridge Companion to Rorty (Cambridge University Press, 2021), and The Moral Psychology of Anxiety (Lexington, 2024). His website: https://www.davidrondel.com/about The book: https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Which-Not-Know-Philosophical/dp/0197767249 Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

FULL SUMMARY: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/05/22/andrew_belfour/ Today, we’re joined by Dr. Belfour, a clinical psychologist, couples therapist, and psychoanalyst. He is the author of Life and Death: Our Relationship with Ageing, Dementia, and Other Fates of Time. In this conversation, we delve into the intersection of aging, relationships, and the search for meaning. Dr. Belfour shares his research on fostering emotional connections for couples in which one partner has dementia, and how small, everyday moments can create meaning even in the most challenging circumstances. Dr. Belfour also reflects on society’s neglect of aging and mortality as crucial topics, attributing this to our collective fear of vulnerability and a cultural obsession with youth. This discussion doesn’t shy away from the realities of aging, such as dependency, increased vulnerability, and existential regrets, but it also offers hope. Dr. Belfour shares valuable insights on navigating the challenges of aging, loneliness, and regret, providing practical ways to foster resilience and connection. I hope this conversation resonates with you and offers a meaningful opportunity to consider these important themes. About Dr. Andrew Belfour: Andrew Balfour trained as a clinical psychologist at University College London and then as an adult psychotherapist at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust. He subsequently trained as a couple psychotherapist at Tavistock Relationships, where for more than 10 years he was Clinical Director before becoming Chief Executive in 2016. Dr. Belfour’s book: Life and Death Our Relationship with Ageing, Dementia, and Other Fates of Time, published by Routledge in 2025 The One Shalom Welcome to One Shalom! We are two young adults who have a burden to share the shalom... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Full text here: https://eggshelltherapy.com/lovelanguages/ "Your preferred love language is what you missed the most in childhood." The other day, I stumbled across a quote on social media that caught my attention: “Your preferred love language is what you missed most in childhood.” I think that is quite true. Indeed, psychoanalysts and couples' counselors have long observed that many of us unconsciously attempt to fill the gaps of our past in our adult lives—whether through our intimate relationships, friendships, or even at work. I started wondering if this differs slightly for a gifted person. How does being intense and sensitive change one's love language, or does it? What happens when a child with exceptional emotional depth, intellectual curiosity, and heightened sensitivity grows up in an environment laden with misunderstanding or even emotional abuse? How does intellectual or emotional deprivation affect the ways they express and seek connection in their adult relationships? Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/04/30/brianearp/ In this episode, we discuss - Dr. Brian Earp’s prolific academic work in philosophy, psychology, and medical ethics. - how his conservative religious upbringing sparked his curiosity about morality and ethics. - his transition from professional theater to academia and his commitment to a PhD at age 30. - his research on love, obsession, and addiction, and his critique of monogamy as a societal default. - his book Love Drugs and the ethics of using medical technologies to enhance relationships. - ethical challenges in AI, his stance on bodily autonomy. - his current projects on AI, personalized digital tools, and more! Some Quotes from Dr. Earp “Whether it’s harmful can be kind of contingent on historical and social attitudes.” “If you think love is about fundamentally wanting to contribute to the flourishing of another person… then the question of whether you should possess them… might not be conducive to their flourishing.” “We should advocate for a view of love according to which it’s something that is rooted fundamentally in care and respect.” “Addiction can be part of one’s identity… if you cure yourself of this addiction, you almost change who you are.” About Dr. Brian Earp Associate Professor Brian D. Earp, PhD, is director of the Oxford-NUS Centre for Neuroethics and Society (OCNS) and the EARP Lab (Experimental Bioethics, Artificial Intelligence, and Relational Moral Psychology Lab) within the Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS). Brian is also an Associate Professor of Philosophy and of Psychology at NUS by courtesy. See www.brianearp.com for more information. Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.

Summary: https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2025/02/27/darkmoods/ This episode stands out as one of my most special conversations! In this thought-provoking episode, I sat down with Dr. Mariana Alessandri, a modern philosophy professor whose work inspired me. We specifically explored the often misunderstood and undervalued role of "dark moods"—emotions like sadness, anger, anxiety, grief, and depression. In our conversation, we challenged the cultural obsession with happiness and optimism, critiquing "toxic positivity" and the societal tendency to label these emotions as problems to be fixed. Drawing on insights from her book, The Defender of Dark Moods, Dr. Alessandri reframed, rigorously and passionately, that dark moods as meaningful, natural, and even valuable aspects of the human experience. Our conversation also examined the harm caused by suppressing emotions, the limitations of modern self-help, Stoicism, and the liberating potential of existential philosophy. By reclaiming space for authentic emotional expression—without judgment or shame—we can move toward a richer, more authentic life. What we discussed: How society undervalues dark moods like sadness, anger, and anxiety Why toxic positivity is harmful Why the binary view of emotions as “positive” or “negative” is limiting Why modern self-help version of Stoicism can be problematic Why we need more nuanced language for emotions Why dark moods are essential to a meaningful life About Dr. Alessandri: Website: https://www.marianaalessandri.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/mariana.alessandri/ The book: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691215457/night-vision ** Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com About Imi Lo: www.imiloimilo.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eggshelltherapy_imilo/ Newsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRz Disclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute mental health intervention. Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views and they reserve the right to change their opinions. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken at your own risk.