The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall

When did you last learn to do something totally and utterly new? Tom Vanderbilt, author of Beginners: the Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning, was awestruck by his young daughter’s insatiable need to know how to do almost everything. He was inspired by her to embark on a year of learning purely for its own sake. Tom had a truly unique year - a circuitous journey of learning, in which he attempted to learn chess, singing, surfing, drawing and juggling. These skills were chosen on the basis of difficulty and lack of marketability.  Tom found that his new sense of curiosity opened him up to a profound happiness and a deeper connection to the people around him. By reinventing himself in small ways, life began to seem more magical. In this classic episode Andrew and Tom talk about just why it is that so many of us stop learning new skills as adults. While we’re encouraging our children to be adventurous and to try new things, are we ourselves afraid of failure? Have we forgotten the pleasure and rewards of starting from scratch? If You’re Looking for More…. You can subscribe to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts) and hear a bonus mini-episode every week. Or you can join our Supporters Club on Patreon to also access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests  and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  This week supporters will hear: Three Things Tom Vanderbilt knows to be true.  AND subscribers also access all of our previous bonus content - a rich trove of insight on love, life and meaning created by Andrew and his interviewees. Follow Up Attend Andrew's new men's retreat, Reconnect With Yourself, this autumn in the Brandenberg countryside near Berlin https://andrewgmarshall.com/mens-retreat/  Get Andrew’s free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things https://andrewgmarshall.com/download/  Learn more about Tom Vanderbilt’s book Beginners: the Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning Follow Tom Vanderbilt on Instagram @tomvanderbilt  Andrew and Tom also discuss Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein. Take a look at Andrew’s new online relationship course: My Best Relationship Tools https://courses.andrewgmarshall.com/relationship-tools  Join our Supporters Club to access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall 

In a world that often rewards toughness and detachment, could empathy actually be a hidden superpower? This week, Andrew speaks with psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr. Judith Orloff about how empathy can become one of the most powerful tools for healing, personal growth and connection. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and energy medicine, Judith explains how anyone can deepen their empathic abilities, protect themselves from burnout, and create stronger, more authentic relationships. Andrew and Judith discuss: ⭐ What it really means to be an empath (and how to tell if you are one) ⭐ Strategies to prevent empathy overload ⭐ The importance of boundaries for empaths.  Dr. Judith Orloff is the New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Empathy and The Empath’s Survival Guide. Her upcoming children’s book The Highly Sensitive Rabbit, helps sensitive kids embrace their empathic gifts as a strength. Dr. Orloff is a psychiatrist, an empath and intuitive healer, and is on the UCLA Psychiatric Clinical Faculty.  If You’re Looking for More… You can subscribe to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts) and hear a bonus mini-episode every week. Or you can join our Supporters Club on Patreon to also access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50: Join here.  This week, supporters will hear: ⭐ What is Healthy Giving? ⭐ Three things Judith Orloff knows to be true ⭐️AND access to all our previous bonus content—a rich archive of insight and inspiration Follow Up Attend Andrew's new men's retreat, Reconnect With Yourself, this autumn in the Brandenberg countryside near Berlin. Get Andrew’s free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things  Read The Genius of Empathy: Practical Skills to Heal Your Sensitive Self, Your Relationships, and the World by Judith Orloff.  Preorder Judith Orloff’s new book for children, The Highly Sensitive Rabbit  Visit Judith Orloff’s website: www.drjudithorloff.com Follow Judith Orloff on social media: Instagram: @judith.orloff.md Facebook: @DrJudithOrloff Twitter/X: @JudithOrloffMD Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall  

Today, the “four pale horsemen” of war, famine, pestilence and death have broken into our comfortable lives once again.  As the climate emergency and shortage become normalised, how do we live through crisis after crisis without falling into fear and anxiety on the one hand, or agitated reaction and rage on the other?  Do we face the horsemen, go into denial or settle for the dull throb of numbness? And how do we maintain contact with the heart, with soul, with love and compassion? In this week's classic episode, Andrew speaks with award-winning poet, author and teacher William Ayot about: ⭐️The burdens men carry ⭐️The healing power of ritual ⭐️Male loneliness and how men’s groups help ⭐️Confronting shame and anger As well as his writing and poetry, William Ayot leads workshops and seminars on personal development topics and creates and conducts private rituals and ceremonies. William is also the co-founding director of Olivier Mythodrama and worked around the world for ten years, teaching leadership through story, theatre practice and ritual. He founded NaCOT- The National Centre for the Oral Tradition, and hosts the poetry series On the Border.  If You’re Looking for More…. You can subscribe to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts) and hear a bonus mini-episode every week. Or you can join our Supporters Club on Patreon to also access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests  and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  This week supporters will hear: Creating a daily ritual for a deeper connection to life. Three Things William Ayot knows to be true.  AND subscribers also access all of our previous bonus content - a rich trove of insight on love, life and meaning created by Andrew and his interviewees. Follow Up Attend Andrew's new men's retreat, Reconnect With Yourself, this autumn in the Brandenberg countryside near Berlin  Get Andrew’s free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things  Visit William Ayot’s website for information on bespoke rituals, poetry etc  Visit William Ayot and Juliet Grayson’s online library of poetry and talks on shame, men’s issues and relationships Join our Supporters Club to access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall 

Have you tried everything to fix your relationship, but nothing seems to work? Are you torn between staying and giving it one more try, or finally walking away? This week, Andrew talks with renowned couples therapist MICHELE WEINER-DAVIS about how to navigate one of the hardest decisions in a relationship: When is it time to stop trying? Michele is the creator of the “Divorce Busting” approach, which aims to empowers individual to make concrete, positive changes in their relationships—even when their partner isn’t on board. Her work is deeply hopeful, but she also understands that sometimes, despite our best efforts, it may be time to let go. Together, Andrew and Michele explore: Coping with different levels of sexual desire in your relationship Why one partner often wants change more than the other Common differences in how men and women communicate Working together in therapy to make the "final call".  Michele Weiner-Davis is an internationally renowned relationship expert, best-selling author, marriage therapist, and professional speaker who specializes in helping people change their lives and improve important relationships. She is the author of eight books including Healing from Infidelity: The Divorce Busting Guide to Rebuilding Your Marriage After an Affair, and The Sex-Starved Marriage: A Couple's Guide to Boosting Their Marriage Libido. Michele’s work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and on the BBC.  If You’re Looking for More…. You can subscribe to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts) and hear a bonus mini-episode every week. Or you can join our Supporters Club on Patreon to also access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests  and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  This week supporters will hear: How to Get Through to the Man You Love - Without Nagging.  Three Things Michele Weiner-Davis knows to be true.  AND subscribers also access all of our previous bonus content - a rich trove of insight on love, life and meaning created by Andrew and his interviewees. Follow Up Attend Andrew's new men's retreat, Reconnect With Yourself, this autumn in the Brandenberg countryside near Berlin  Get Andrew’s free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things  Visit Michele Weiner Davis’s website: Divorce Busting Read some of Michele Weiner Davis’s books: Divorce Busting: A Revolutionary and Rapid Program for Staying Together  Healing from Infidelity: The Divorce Busting Guide to Rebuilding Your Marriage After an Affair The Sex-Starved Marriage: Boosting Your Marriage Libido  Follow Michele Weiner Davis on social media: Facebook: Michele Weiner-Davis X (formerly Twitter): @DivorceBusting Join our Supporters Club to access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall   

Are you living a life you really believe in, or are you filling in time until your “real life” begins? Are you waiting on marriage, a better job, a new exercise regime or a beautiful house to create an authentic life?  Humans do need to have goals and plans, but it is also destructive to ignore those inner voices telling us what would bring us individual meaning.  In this classic episode, Andrew and PHILIP CARR-GOMM discuss how to start developing your authentic self right now, rather than endlessly kicking that important ball further down the road.  Philip Carr-Gomm is an expert in psychosynthesis, an  “awe-inspiring territory that has the power to transform us”. He believes that something magical happens when the worlds of modern psychology and ancient spiritual teachings are brought together. Philip has studied Druidry extensively and from 1988-2020 was the leader of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. He has a degree in Psychology and has trained in psychotherapy, play therapy, Montessori education, yoga nidra, mindfulness meditation and Sophrology. Philip recently created an online school, The Art of Living Well, to offer courses combining psychological and spiritual understanding. If You’re Looking for More…. You can subscribe to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts) and hear a bonus mini-episode every week. Or you can join our Supporters Club on Patreon to also access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests  and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  This week supporters will hear: Three Things Philip Carr-Gomm knows to be true.  AND subscribers also access all of our previous bonus content - a rich trove of insight on love, life and meaning created by Andrew and his interviewees. Follow Up Attend Andrew's new men's retreat, Reconnect With Yourself, this autumn in the Brandenberg countryside near Berlin https://andrewgmarshall.com/mens-retreat/  Get Andrew’s free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things https://andrewgmarshall.com/download/  Take a look at Philip Carr-Gomm’s website Find out more about the courses offered at Philip’s online school, The Art of Living Well Follow Philip on Instagram at @philipcarrgomm and on Facebook at @philip.carrgomm Join our Supporters Club to access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall   

Carolyn Sharp, a seasoned marital therapist and author of 'Fire It Up,' shares profound insights on keeping the spark alive in long-term relationships. She discusses the importance of defining a marriage purpose and the need for open discussions about sex. Carolyn emphasizes healthier conflict resolution, happiness habits that create lasting joy, and the power of radical acceptance. With over 25 years of experience, she provides actionable tips for couples looking to reignite intimacy and deepen their emotional bonds.

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation” (Henry Thoreau).  In this classic episode, Andrew interviews therapist SIMON ROE. Simon has based his life’s work on helping men live an authentic life. After himself going through a period of quiet desperation in his mid-thirties, he went on to help men break the silence, find “the song inside” and overcome their experiences of depression, violence and loneliness.  Simon has also worked extensively with boys and their fathers to create rites of passage that help boys claim a strong, authentic sense of their developing manhood. Simon Roe originally trained as a body psychotherapist, and is also a co-leader of the Mandorla Men’s Rites of Passage programme. He has worked extensively with perpetrators of domestic violence, and is a Respect approved trainer and supervisor. Simon is also trained in process oriented psychology.  Simon and Andrew also discuss the idea of answering “the call to adventure”, an idea powerfully captured in this poem by Rainer Maria Rilke: Sometimes A Man Stands Up During Supper Sometimes a man stands up during supper and walks outdoors, and keeps on walking, because of a church that stands somewhere in the East.   And his children say blessings on him as if he were dead.   And another man, who remains inside his own house, dies there, inside the dishes and in the glasses, so that his children have to go far out into the world toward that same church , which he forgot. Rainer Maria Rilke ( trans. Robert Bly)   If You’re Looking for More…. You can subscribe to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts) and hear a bonus mini-episode every week. Or you can join our Supporters Club on Patreon to also access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests  and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  This week supporters will hear: Three Things Simon Roe knows to be true.  AND subscribers also access all of our previous bonus content - a rich trove of insight on love, life and meaning created by Andrew and his interviewees. Follow Up Get Andrew’s free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things  Take a look at Andrew’s new online relationship course: My Best Relationship Tools   Attend Andrew's new men's retreat, Reconnect With Yourself, this autumn in the Brandenberg countryside near Berlin.  Visit Simon Roe’s website  Learn about the Kingfisher Project, a community dedicated to rites of passage for boys aged 13-16.  Join our Supporters Club to access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall 

Many women long to be in a happy relationship, in which they feel safe, heard and understood, but have given up after years of disappointment and heartbreak. This week dating coach EVAN MARC KATZ joins Andrew to discuss why it’s so hard for women to find a man who wants to commit and to build a genuine relationship. They cover: How to get psychologically prepared to date successfully.  Knowing which compromises to make in the service of love.  The difference between compromise and “settling”.  The importance of accepting men as they are, rather than viewing them as fixable works in progress.  Balancing chemistry and compatibility in your relationship decisions.  Evan’s personal experiences of dating frustration, and how they led him to write one of the first and most popular books about online dating.  Evan Marc Katz is an author, CEO, podcaster, dating coach and former screenwriter who works to support strong, successful women to find lasting relationships. He has been featured by Today, the New York Times, and CNN. A total of 13,000 women from 40 countries have graduated from Love U, his coaching course and community that helps women understand men and find love. If You’re Looking for More…. You can subscribe to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts) and hear a bonus mini-episode every week. Or you can join our Supporters Club on Patreon to also access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests  and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  This week supporters will hear: Dealing with Unavailable Men. Three Things Evan Marc Katz knows to be true.  AND subscribers also access all of our previous bonus content - a rich trove of insight on love, life and meaning created by Andrew and his interviewees. Follow Up Get Andrew’s free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things  Take a look at Andrew’s new online relationship course: My Best Relationship Tools  Learn more about working with Evan Marc Katz on his website  Read Evan Marc Katz’s books Listen to Evan Marc Katz’s Love U podcast  Follow Evan Marc Katz on Facebook @EvanMarcKatzfan, on Instagram @realevanmarckatz and on Twitter/X and YouTube @evanmarckatz.  Join our Supporters Club to access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall   

James Hollis, a renowned Jungian analyst and author, discusses the essence of resilience and personal growth. He emphasizes that true strength comes from within, rather than superficial self-help fixes. Hollis shares insights on navigating life's challenges, advocating for authenticity and self-acceptance. He reflects on his transformative journey from academia to therapy, revealing how personal struggles can lead to deeper understanding. The conversation also touches on the significance of dreams and the importance of forging meaningful connections during tough times.

Is your relationship a refuge from stress in a turbulent and demanding world? Do you always have each other’s backs? OR has the stress you face at work or in the culture seeped into your home life and created a rift between you? Marital therapist ELIZABETH EARNSHAW, the author of Til Stress Do Us Part, works with couples to identify and address the life stress that is undermining their partnership. In this episode, Andrew and Elizabeth discuss: Setting effective boundaries Self-soothing when life gets rough Taking responsibility for what makes you happy Communicating with compassion rather than resentment Elizabeth Earnshaw is a marital therapist from Philadelphia in the US.  She owns the practice A Better Life Therapy, and over the past 15 years she has supported thousands of couples as they navigate the ups and downs of life. Elizabeth has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and other national and international publications. She is also the author of I Want This To Work, 'Til Stress Do Us Part, and a therapist's guide called The Couples Therapy Flipchart.  If You’re Looking for More…. You can subscribe to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts) and hear a bonus mini-episode every week. Or you can join our Supporters Club on Patreon to also access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests  and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  This week supporters will hear: How to Deal with Hot Button Topics Three Things Elizabeth Earnshaw knows to be true.  AND subscribers also access all of our previous bonus content - a rich trove of insight on love, life and meaning created by Andrew and his interviewees. Follow Up Get Andrew’s free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things  Take a look at Andrew’s new online relationship course: My Best Relationship Tools  Buy Elizabeth Earnshaw’s book, Til Stress Do Us Part: How to Heal the #1 Issue in our Relationships  Visit Elizabeth Earnshaw’s website  Follow Elizabeth Earnshaw on Instagram @lizlistens Join our Supporters Club to access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.  Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall