Life Examined

Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

A reflective piece about two short quotes that shape daily meaning and mental health. It contrasts seeking pleasure with pursuing values, work, and contribution. It explores how imagination can amplify suffering and how facing avoided pain reduces rumination. It encourages practical action like hard conversations to shrink anxiety and build steadier purpose.

Hey everyone! It's Jonathan Bastian. Just popping in to tell you that I've been staying busy with a new weekly newsletter on Substack. I'm also spending time going through our 5yrs of archives to find hidden gems, unpublished interviews, and content that I think will be valuable to your life. It's so easy to sign up: LifeExamined.Substack.com. Just enter your email! Hope to see you over there - JB Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Robert Macfarlane, writer and Cambridge fellow known for nature and landscape books, discusses rivers as living processes and metaphors for life. He recounts journeys from Ecuador to Canada, legal fights for rivers, and the tension between sacred reverence and ecological decline. He explores river time, agency, and how waterways reshape human thought and settlement.

Laura Delano is the author of “UNSHRUNK: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance." As you’ll hear, Laura Delano speaks from first hand experience - diagnosed as a teenager with bipolar disorder, Delano shares her own struggles with mental illness, the psychiatric and pharmaceutical industry and the toll that treatment and medication took on her.   Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Laurie Santos, a cognitive scientist from Yale and host of the Happiness Lab podcast, shares insights on overcoming burnout and the necessity of sabbaticals for mental clarity. She introduces her online course designed for parents grappling with stress in today’s fast-paced world. The discussion explores the challenges of modern parenting, emphasizing the importance of kids' independence and emotional connections. Santos also redefines happiness, encouraging a balance between joy and discomfort, and advocates for prioritizing well-being in both personal and professional spaces.

Ocean Vuong, a renowned Vietnamese-American poet and novelist, delves into profound themes in his latest book, "The Emperor of Gladness". He shares personal experiences about loss, suicide, and survival, highlighting the emotional struggles many face. The conversation explores how language shapes cultural identity and the implications of violent metaphors. Vuong reflects on New England's contrasting realities and discusses resilience amid socio-economic challenges. Ultimately, he emphasizes the power of writing to foster hope and connection in the face of adversity.