

Bewildered
Martha Beck and Rowan Mangan
What if we stopped listening to the controlling voice of the culture around us, and instead learned to reconnect with our own true nature?
Sometimes we aren’t even sure why we feel so bewildered… and discontented… and even downright miserable. Often it’s because we have let the forces of society replace our own instinctive knowledge of what is right for us.
Now, it’s time for us to find that voice again—before it’s too late.
For Martha and Rowan, Job One is to live according to our deepest truths, making the commitment to feeling good even when it means looking weird. We believe that this is how we will reinvent our world—from the inside out— to create a society that’s kinder, more equitable, and more ecologically sustainable than the one we see around us right now.
This is the vision that we laugh and stumble and chat and feel our way towards here on this podcast. Did we mention LAUGH? We want no part of personal and global transformation if it isn’t fun!
So if you struggle to find a place where people who are as idealistic and brokenhearted, as silly and deeply sincere, as bewildered as you are—you might have just arrived.
Welcome!
Sometimes we aren’t even sure why we feel so bewildered… and discontented… and even downright miserable. Often it’s because we have let the forces of society replace our own instinctive knowledge of what is right for us.
Now, it’s time for us to find that voice again—before it’s too late.
For Martha and Rowan, Job One is to live according to our deepest truths, making the commitment to feeling good even when it means looking weird. We believe that this is how we will reinvent our world—from the inside out— to create a society that’s kinder, more equitable, and more ecologically sustainable than the one we see around us right now.
This is the vision that we laugh and stumble and chat and feel our way towards here on this podcast. Did we mention LAUGH? We want no part of personal and global transformation if it isn’t fun!
So if you struggle to find a place where people who are as idealistic and brokenhearted, as silly and deeply sincere, as bewildered as you are—you might have just arrived.
Welcome!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 7, 2024 • 53min
Change Cycle: Beauty That Moves
The culture tells us that whenever we achieve a goal, we're supposed to stay there: “Now you're a butterfly. The End.” Yet Nature, which we're all part of, is always changing. In this final episode of their series on change, Martha and Ro are coming “full square” to talk about Square Four in The Change Cycle, which is about relaxing into the fact that there is no absolute destination. Listen to find out how to enjoy Square Four without gripping it too tightly—and welcome the next change into your life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 24, 2024 • 1h
Change Cycle: Wild Horses
Have you ever felt driven to do specific excruciating tasks, and you couldn’t explain why? This "wild horses feeling" is present whenever you're working toward your heart's desire, and it's a key part of what Martha calls Square Three in her Change Cycle methodology. To learn the difference between culture and nature when it comes to hard work, and how you can find strength in the struggle, be sure to tune in to this third installment of Martha and Ro's four-part Bewildered series on The Change Cycle. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Bewildered Show Notes Follow Ro on Instagram Follow Bewildered on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 10, 2024 • 1h 4min
Change Cycle: A Space for Dreaming
Change isn't always easy, but did you know that parts of the process can be a lot of fun? In this second re-release episode from their four-part series about The Change Cycle, Martha and Ro are exploring Square Two—the "dreaming and scheming" phase when the feeling of who you're becoming begins to filter into your consciousness. To learn how to play in the "space for dreaming," follow your curiosity, and find out who you're truly meant to be, be sure to listen to this fun and insightful conversation! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Bewildered Show Notes Follow Ro on Instagram Follow Bewildered on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 13, 2023 • 54min
Change Cycle: Bug Soup
Do you know what happens to a caterpillar inside its cocoon? It disintegrates into a gooey mass before its cells reform into a butterfly. This "bug soup" phase isn't pretty, but it's an essential part of change—what Martha refers to as Square One in her Change Cycle methodology. In this special re-release episode of BEWILDERED, Martha and Ro talk all about Square One and what happens when your previous identity must dissolve. If you've been struggling with change and letting go, this episode is for you! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Bewildered Show Notes Follow Ro on Instagram Follow Bewildered on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 29, 2023 • 42min
Bittersweet Misunderstandings
The podcast delves into the challenges of being understood by loved ones and staying true to your purpose. It explores the humorous confusion of a Pilates move and the intimacy of dental flossing. The discussion also touches on seeking understanding within cultural contexts, the complexities of love and misunderstandings, and the importance of embracing differences in interpretations.

Nov 15, 2023 • 52min
Beauty That Moves
Martha and Ro are coming “full square” on this episode of BEWILDERED® to talk about Square Four in Martha’s Change Cycle. The culture tells us that whenever we achieve a goal, we're supposed to stay there: “Now you're a butterfly. The End.” Yet Nature, which we're all part of, is constantly changing. Eventually, you'll be sent back to Square One and the cycle will start anew. To find out how to enjoy Square Four without gripping it too tightly—and welcome the next change into your life—be sure to tune in!LINKS SECTION Bewildered episode 59: Bug Soup (Square One in Martha’s Change Cycle) Bewildered episode 31: A Space for Dreaming (Square Two in Martha’s Change Cycle) Bewildered episode 60: Wild Horses (Square Three in Martha’s Change Cycle) Ro’s cupholder diatribe (at 03:34 of Bewildered episode 17: Unshamable) Maria Bamford “Splinter” by Ani DiFranco Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed “Little Boxes” by Malvina Reynolds 100 Foot Wave documentary series “Evolve” by Ani DiFranco Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth GilbertCONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Bewildered Show Notes Follow Ro on Instagram Follow Bewildered on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 1, 2023 • 56min
Zen and the Art of Travel With Toddlers
The hinges have come off, folks—Martha and Rowan have jet lag (and they're not afraid to use it!) in this episode of Bewildered: Zen and the Art of Traveling with Toddlers. On two recent international trips, Martha and Ro's toddler got sick, and things were challenging to say the least... Now Ro wants to figure out if all the suffering was worth it, or if they sacrificed their child's wellbeing for the sake of culture. The answer they arrived at may surprise you, so don't miss the full conversation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 18, 2023 • 54min
Best of Bewildered: Vulnerability Hangovers
Have you ever bravely shared your authentic self, only to agonize over it later thinking you shared too much? This is something Brené Brown calls a "vulnerability hangover”—and we've all been there. In this episode from THE BEST OF BEWILDERED, Martha and Ro share their own experiences with vulnerability hangovers and reveal the "culture work" that’s brought them massive liberation. Feeling hungover from vulnerability? Then be sure to tune in for the full episode—it's one of Martha and Ro's favorites!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 4, 2023 • 47min
Best of Bewildered: Making the Right Choice
It's THE BEST OF BEWILDERED, and this week we’re revisiting another favorite episode from the vault: Making the Right Choice. The culture believes there’s always a single right choice and that choosing wrong means you've wasted your entire life. So is it any wonder a lot of us freeze in panic when faced with making a decision? Martha and Ro talk about how we can move past this "decision paralysis" and they offer a wild new way to view decision-making. It's an insightful conversation worth hearing again!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 20, 2023 • 60min
Best of Bewildered: Elizabeth Gilbert gets Bewildered!
In case you missed out the first time around, Martha and Ro are sharing some of their all-time favorite episodes in a series called The Best of Bewildered. First up, Elizabeth Gilbert Gets Bewildered! In this encore episode, Liz joined Martha and Ro to discuss why the culture is so hostile toward women who are childless by choice. Don't miss their engrossing conversation about resisting the patriarchy, the saving grace of oversensitivity, and how to trust the wisdom of the body to guide us to our truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.