Signal with Mory & Melissa

You’ve heard it before: “Don’t stare at strangers!” “Don’t play with your food!” “Chew with your mouth closed!” A lot of the norms we’re taught at a young age establish common courtesy, but who exactly decides those norms? And what causes us not to trust others to know what’s best for themselves? This week, Mory and Melissa take a close look at the balance sheet of etiquette: both the social good it’s connected to and its role in maintaining hierarchy. They discuss two articles by David Brooks and Michael Waters (linked below) that decry the moral decline of our society. How much of that “moral decline” is true? And is the best way of addressing that decline really to dictate rules from the top-down? Tune in for a letter from the Earl of Chesterfield, impassioned monologues, and a lot of bad manners."The Decline of Etiquette and the Rise of Boundaries,” by Michael Waters: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/11/people-oversharing-tmi-friendship-boundaries/671970/“How America Got Mean,” by David Brooks: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/09/us-culture-moral-education-formation/674765/To submit questions for future episodes: https://forms.gle/ZhSKGveWox33GvFq6IG: https://www.instagram.com/signalwithmoryandmelissa/Mory's IG: https://www.instagram.com/moryfontanez/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@SignalWithMoryandMelissa

This week we’re in conversation with our special guest, Dylan Mulvaney, the incredible content creator and actress. In this episode, Dylan tells us about her inner journey through the ups and downs of this last year. Facing the tumults of unexpectedly blowing up, becoming a political lightning rod, and figuring out how to speak her truth, she tells us how important connecting to her intuition has been. Meanwhile, Mory is exposed as a stage mom, while Melissa is constantly brought to tears. Dylan also teases us with a few of the exciting things coming down the pipeline for them! This episode will be a full-body yes for your listening pleasure.To submit questions for future episodes: https://forms.gle/ZhSKGveWox33GvFq6Follow Mory on insta: https://www.instagram.com/moryfontanez/

Gossip: we love it, we hate it, we do it all the time, but why? This week, Mory and Melissa unpack humanity’s oldest custom: talking sh*t about other people. From the neanderthals to the Bridgertons, gossip has served as a social bond that stitches communities together, but its negative consequences are the stuff of nightmares (who isn’t terrified of their dirty laundry getting aired out?). The industry of celebrity gossip, as benign as it may feel for everyday consumers, has also created moral panics out of thin air and ruined whole careers on pure conjecture. What does gossip mean in the context of your journey towards a higher self? Spoiler: we only gossip when we have a hard time being frank with others and ourselves. Tune in to this week’s shenanigans for drunk history lessons, cogent advice, and - of course - delectable tea.To submit questions for future episodes: https://forms.gle/ZhSKGveWox33GvFq6Follow Mory on insta: https://www.instagram.com/moryfontanez/

So many of us crave change, but how exactly do we go about changing our lives? This week, Mory and Melissa get serious about change - how it works, how to advocate for it, and how to reflect upon it. It should go without saying that all the circumstances of life offer opportunities for growth, even when we’re facing change that we can’t control. But, how exactly do we identify change that aligns with our higher selves? When do we end up romanticizing some types of change to the point that we stop looking for alternative solutions? Tune in for this and more: Mory recounts her own life changes, Melissa talks through impending changes in her role as a mother, and we all find out that the producers are delusional.Check out Mory’s workbook: https://www.moryfontanez.com/workbook-storeTo submit questions for future episodes: https://forms.gle/ZhSKGveWox33GvFq6Follow Mory on insta: https://www.instagram.com/moryfontanez/

Welcome to Signal’s first episode of The Current, where Mory and Melissa tackle timely issues & pop culture in their signature style. We’re starting off strong with the Lizzo lawsuit that broke a million hearts. How could this have happened? And why isn’t Mory shocked about it? If you’re someone who doesn’t know how to feel about Lizzo anymore OR you just want to know the tea, tune in!This episode contains explicit content.To submit questions for future episodes: https://forms.gle/ZhSKGveWox33GvFq6Follow Mory on insta: https://www.instagram.com/moryfontanez/

So many of our limiting beliefs come from our childhoods, when we adapt ourselves to a world that doesn’t entirely accept us for who we are. What role do children’s books play in teaching kids how to behave and who to be? This week, Mory and Melissa take a deep dive into the history of fairytales, discuss iconic kid’s stories, and even read two of their favorite books to each other. This episode features Berenstain Bears-induced nostalgia, a rundown on the skeletons in Dr. Seuss’s closet, and even a perfect impression of Mory’s mother by Mory’s daughter. No Thing 1 nor Thing 2 was harmed in the making of this podcast.

This week, Mory and Melissa are joined by psychotherapist and postpartum expert Suzanne DellOrfano for a discussion on therapy, spirituality, and the relationship between the two. Traditional therapeutics often overlook the value of alternative systems, but practitioners like Suzanne are demonstrating that spiritual methods can offer a lot for clinical practice: the science is finally catching up on intuition. Where does the work of a psychotherapist and an intuition coach converge? How can you source valuable tools and practices from both spaces? And what does the future hold for intuitive healing?Follow Suzanne on insta: https://www.instagram.com/modernmotherhoodpause/?hl=enTo submit questions for future episodes: https://forms.gle/ZhSKGveWox33GvFq6Follow Mory on insta: https://www.instagram.com/moryfontanez/

If perfection is an unattainable goal, why are we chasing it all the time? This week, join Mory and Melissa as they answer this question and several others about our relentless drive to be the best. Our perfectionism is at the root of everything from procrastination to workaholism, ruthless competition to perpetual self-doubt. This perfectly imperfect episode also features sensational wedding stories, untidy closets, and a cameo from our favorite guest: Mory’s printer.To submit questions for future episodes: https://forms.gle/ZhSKGveWox33GvFq6Follow Mory on insta: https://www.instagram.com/moryfontanez/

Mory and Melissa get into it this week by discussing Mory’s role as a “fixer.” They discuss how one becomes a fixer, the importance of boundaries, and their own friend dynamic. Things get heavy, but, as always, the power of love, communication, and bestiehood prevail. To submit questions for future episodes: https://forms.gle/ZhSKGveWox33GvFq6Follow Mory on insta: https://www.instagram.com/moryfontanez/

Over the past several weeks, we’ve used a lot of key terms without offering any explicit definitions. What does “intuitive wisdom” feel like? Where do I get a “limiting belief” from? And most important of all, what is my “higher self,” and how can we access it? This week, Melissa interviews Mory on her philosophy, the origins of her terminology, and the way these ideas manifest in everyday life. This episode is designed to serve as a building block for all our newcomers, and even a refresher for longtime listeners! As Melissa puts it, how high is your self?To submit questions for future episodes: https://forms.gle/ZhSKGveWox33GvFq6Follow Mory on insta: https://www.instagram.com/moryfontanez/