The Existentialists Podcast

In this lively episode, the hosts explore the phenomenon of ghosting and sister phenomena such as emotional dishonesty and relational betrayal that fall along the continuum of relational abandonment. A ghost in essence is para-normal, that which looks and appears to be true and real, but in actuality is not so genuinely authentic. There appears to be a lack of depth and vulnerability in the type of dating or friendship in which ghosting thrives—which begs the question of whether or not the relationships are really real in the first place, or if they manifest as real, and thus have a ghost-like or “as if” quality.

In this episode, the hosts explore the experience of boredom. It is most often experienced as very unpleasant as a person is left entirely with themselves. When boredom is present, life asks us how we show up to this and what possibilities there are. It is tempting to ease the discomfort of being thrown upon oneself by trying further self-distancing, but perhaps if we can stay with the experience of boredom we may also find possibilities to show up fully with ourselves and birth creative expression.

In this episode, we are invited by the COVID-19 quarantine to consider and reflect upon our perception, sense, and feelings of home. Through the pandemic, for many of us, our physical home has become a place where we are spending the majority of time. And yet, existentially, the idea and sense of being at home, homesickness, or even homelessness is far more expansive than a physical place. “What is home?” then becomes a question of where does one find belonging, resonance, and even nostalgia in the world and in oneself? And, how is it for me to be where I am? Existentially, home is where we belong and where we feel our existence comes into being.

In Episode 3, the hosts explore illness anxiety, which is a condition marked by preoccupation with acquiring a serious illness as well as hypersensitivity to physical sensations which are interpreted as indicative of an underlying illness. The relationship between illness anxiety and fear of death and dying is explored, as well as how embodiment—our relationship to our bodies and our experiences of being a body—helps us deal with illness anxiety.

Episode 2 centers around the existential concerns which have arisen in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions of how we situate ourselves when facing uncertainty, and as well as our feelings and attitudes toward succumbing to illness and possibly death come to the fore.  In this episode, the hosts use a phenomenological process called Personal Existential Analysis where we explore the reality of the situation, highlight automatic feelings and impulses which have arisen, identify how we can make sense and understand what it is happening, and then decide what we will choose to do.

Our podcast release for today is regarding the tragic death of George Floyd. We stand in solidarity with all of those who have have died, who have been discriminated against, trodden on, and marginalized in this long and violent history of racial oppression and disparity. Please find in the Show Notes, a list of resources on black existentialism and critical phenomenology that you might use to find your position and personal response with respect to racial oppression, discrimination and brutality. Our hearts are with you as we also endeavour in our own process of reckoning with what has happened and what that means for our continued allyship. Black Lives Matter.

Dive into existential psychotherapy and discover what it truly means to be an existential therapist. Explore the delicate balance between fate and personal choice, and how agency influences life decisions. Unpack the importance of inner consent and authenticity in decision-making while navigating feelings and emotional freedom. Delve into the essence of phenomenology, encouraging a fresh, child-like perspective on experiences. Finally, reflect on depression through a phenomenological lens, advocating for deeper self-understanding amidst uncertainty.