The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall

Do you struggle to sleep, your mind buzzing with worries about the future? Do you compare yourself to others and find yourself always coming up short? This week’s episode is all about ditching overthinking and seeking happiness that isn’t determined by external circumstances. Richard Paterson, my guest this week, has trained throughout his life to quiet the thinking mind and unearth “ a treasure trove of uncaused peace, joy, love and perfect contentment waiting to be discovered—your true Self”. Richard spent much of his twenties and thirties training in Indian ashrams, learning from spiritual masters about meditation and the causes of human suffering. He is trained in techniques of mindfulness and has taken vows as a monk. Richard has travelled the world teaching meditation and mindfulness and is the author of several books. Follow Up 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. Take a look at Richard Paterson’s website Read Richard’s books Kick the Thinking Habit and Awaken the Happy You Read Andrew’s advice on keeping a journal of your life and emotions Get Andrew’s advice on creating real change in your life and relationships in his book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and Be Stronger, Wiser and Happier 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

How can we learn to be at ease in our bodies so that we can be fully “in the moment” during sex? Anxiety about body image is one of the biggest obstacles to a happy, fulfilled sex life. Many people seek therapy to help them relax and enjoy sex with their partner, others struggle on in low-sex or no-sex relationships. This week Andrew talks to Kate Moyle, Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist, about the knots we tie ourselves up in over how we look. Our culture’s esteem for youth and beauty, (expressed in social media images of physical perfection) can make it very hard to inhabit our normal, imperfect bodies. Yet the self-confidence we need to enjoy sex is grounded in how we feel, not how we look. As well as her work as a therapist, Kate Moyle is host of The Sexual Wellness Sessions Podcast, and also appeared on BBC Three’s Sex on the Couch. Kate helps people to work through challenges in their sex lives and relationships; moving towards a place of sexual health, happiness and wellbeing. Her podcast hosts discussions that focus on normalising sex and relationships talk, and tackling the topics that are often left out of mainstream conversation; and she is a regular media contributor on the topic of sex and relationships. Follow Up 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: https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Listen to Kate Moyle’s The Sexual Wellness Sessions Podcast: Take a look at Kate’s website Follow Kate on Instagram @katemoyletherapy Read Andrew’s book Have the Sex You Want: a Couple’s Guide to Getting the Spark Back Read Andrew’s blog Three Secrets of a Happy Relationship 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 one of the many people who end up shocked by the ultimate similarity of romantic relationships that felt very different starting out? Why is it that we find the same patterns repeating, the same problems coming up over and over? In this episode, Andrew talks to author and attachment theory specialist Tara Blair-Ball. Tara explains how attachment theory - which is grounded in analysis of how we bonded to our mother as infants - can help us understand these patterns. Andrew and Tara emphasise that rather than dwelling on the particular faults of partner A and partner B, we can try to understand how our earliest relationships in life have determined later ones. This will help us make the changes that can lead to more meaningful and more fulfilling relationships. Tara Blair Ball is a Certified Relationship Coach, as well as the author of several books on love and relationships. Her content on relationships and dating has been viewed more than 6 million times. Follow Up 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. Take a look at Tara Blair Ball’s website Follow Tara on TikTok @tara.relationshipcoach or on Twitter @tarablairball Read Tara’s books The Beginning of the End and Stop Wasting Your Time on Women Who Don't Want You. Read Emerson Eggerichs’ book Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs Read Gary Chapman’s book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Read Andrew’s book on making meaningful change in your life, which also discusses attachment theory Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and be Stronger, Wiser and Happier 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 a prisoner of your own way of thinking about life? If we step back and reframe our thoughts about work, relationships or family, we can find that there is more meaning and happiness in our life than we ever expected. In this episode, Andrew talks to Elaine Dundon of the Global Meaning Institute about being a prisoner of our thoughts and about finding meaning at work, even if we see our job as unrewarding or uninspiring. Elaine also explains the profound influence of Victor Frankl’s work, in particular his book Man’s Search for Meaning. Elaine Dundon is the co-founder of the Global Meaning Institute and has also developed a unique study and practice of Meaning called MEANINGology. She has held senior leadership positions in three Fortune 500 companies, and developed a groundbreaking course on Innovation Management at the University of Toronto. She is the author of three best-selling books on meaning and innovation. She also writes regularly for Psychology Today. Follow Up 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. Take a look at the website of The Global Meaning Institute Find out more about Elaine Dundon’s books Prisoners of Our Thoughts, The OPA! Way and The Seeds of Innovation Read Elaine’s columns in Psychology Today Follow Elaine on Twitter Find Victor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning Read Andrew’s book Resolve Your Differences: Seven Steps for Dealing With Conflict in Your Relationship Read Andrew’s book on making meaningful change in your life Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and be Stronger, Wiser and Happier 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

So many mothers have found the world of work a hostile environment after they have children. The jobs they once loved just don’t work with babies, school runs and Christmas plays, and it can feel like everything suffers. Hannah Martin of the Talented Ladies Club has dedicated herself to helping women find the courage and inspiration to create careers that work for them and their families. She has helped them unlock creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit that has brought meaning and fulfilment. Hannah’s idea for the Talented Ladies Club was born when she realised how many of her talented and experienced friends were struggling to resume their careers after having children. These were successful, talented and ambitious women who should have had no problem earning good money in jobs they loved. Hannah decided there was a need for empowering online content to help women realise that becoming a mother wasn’t the end of their career – it could be the start of an exciting new adventure. Since Talented Ladies Club was launched in 2013, it has helped thousands of mothers. Hannah is an award-winning copywriter, qualified psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner. She is an in-demand business coach and trainer, and creates and runs Talented Ladies Club’s online courses and programs. She has also led workshops for Country Living and Mumsnet, and is a member of two All Party Parliamentary Groups on women at work. Follow Up 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. Visit the website to take a look at the resources and learning Talented Ladies Club offers on women and careers. Follow Talented Ladies Club on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and Pinterest Read Andrew’s book on building a stronger relationship as parents: I Love You But You Always Put Me Last: How to Child-Proof Your Marriage: Read Andrew’s book on making meaningful change in your life Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and be Stronger, Wiser and Happier: 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

How do we live knowing that we will die? How can we face death, and how should we prepare for it? Dr Kathryn Mannix has spent her professional life working in palliative care, and the teams she has worked on have been involved in 10-15 thousand deaths. In this episode, Kathryn shares her insights into what it’s like to die and how we can love and support someone approaching the end of their life. If you struggle with thoughts of death - be it from a generalised fear, a terminal diagnosis, or the loss of loved ones - Kathryn’s calm and honest approach will help. As well as working as a consultant in palliative care medicine, Kathryn is the author of With the End in Mind: How to Live and Die Well, a collection of powerful human stories of life and death. The book draws on a lifetime of clinical experience to offer advice on facing death and living life in its shadow. Follow Up 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. Read Kathryn’s book With the End in Mind: How to Live and Die Well Follow Kathryn on Twitter Find Oliver Sacks’ book Gratitude, written at the end of his life. Read Andrew’s book on grieving the loss of his partner My Mourning Year Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Too often we treat mind and body as completely separate: fear and anxiety belong to the mind, and then there are physical disorders. In fact, mind and body are parts of the same system. The road to calm and joy is much faster if we make sure to take care of both. Henry Emmons MD looks at mental health problems like depression and anxiety by weaving together mind-body and natural therapies, mindfulness teachings and other holistic approaches. As well as being an integrative psychiatrist, Henry is a sought-after presenter and a respected consultant on integrating natural and mindfulness therapies in psychiatry, the interface between spirituality and mental health, and personal and professional renewal. Follow Up 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. Visit Henry Emmons’ website to find out more about his books, including The Chemistry of Joy, The Chemistry of Calm, The Chemistry of Joy Workbook and Staying Sharp: 9 Keys to a Youthful Brain Through Modern Science and Ancient Wisdom Visit https://www.naturalmentalhealth.com, a website co-founded by Henry Emmons to help people of all ages optimize their mental health and build resilience in mind, body, and spirit. Read Andrew’s book on making meaningful change in your life Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and be Stronger, Wiser and Happier Read Andrew’s blog on making journaling a positive part of your daily routine 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

A diagnosis of bipolar disorder can be devastating: it is an extremely serious and debilitating mental illness. Family and friends may not understand what you’re going through, and can be full of unhelpful misconceptions. John Poehler is an award-winning blogger and mental health advocate who has developed an impressive range of tools to help people with bipolar. Andrew and John talk about how these tools can also help those of us without bipolar - especially John’s emphasis on building a positive daily routine. John Poehler is dedicated to helping people with bipolar manage their disorder successfully and lead meaningful lives. He uses his own experience with bipolar to educate, make suggestions, provide ideas, and create a dialogue. According to John, bipolar disorder is a daily battle and a lifelong war. John describes himself as an expert in his own bipolar disorder. He knows this illness as a best friend and his worst enemy. They are both there all the time and he has learned to live with them by his side. Follow Up 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. Take a look at John Poehler’s website Find John’s book This War Within My Mind Take John’s class: Taking Charge of Bipolar Disorder Masterclass Listen to John’s podcast The Bipolar Battle Podcast Follow John on: Twitter or Facebook or Instagram or Pinterest or Youtube or LinkedIn Read Andrew’s book on making meaningful change in your life Wake Up and Change Your Life: Read Andrew’s blog on making journaling a positive part of your daily routine: Top Twelve Benefits of Journaling 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

Parents like to feel they are independent individuals making their own decisions, but in reality parenting is hugely influenced by our own experiences of childhood. In this episode, Andrew and Philippa talk about how we are “links in a chain", and why it is really important for parents to recognise that and to make sure that their own links are shaped to the needs of their children. Philippa Perry is a psychotherapist and author of several books, including The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did) and How To Stay Sane. She has also presented a number of documentaries, is Red Magazine’s agony aunt, and writes for numerous British publications. Philippa has also starred alongside her husband Grayson Perry in the recent Channel 4 series, Grayson’s Art Club. Follow Up 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: https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Read Philippa Perry’s book The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did) Read Philippa’s advice column in Red Magazine Follow Philippa on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Read The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Sensitive Children Face Challenges and How All Can Thrive by W Thomas Boyce MD. Read Andrew’s book on building a stronger relationship as parents: I Love You But You Always Put Me Last: How to Child-Proof Your Marriage Read Andrew’s book on making meaningful change in your life Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and be Stronger, Wiser and Happier 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

As well as producing weekly episodes of The Meaningful Life, our podcast engineer Michael Dooney is a brand new dad. This week, Michael and his wife Christy talk to Andrew about their life-changing and at times traumatic journey to parenthood. Michael and Christy battled infertility and grieved the loss of several pregnancies. When they finally conceived their daughter Elsie, they effectively held their breath for the next nine months, fearing something would go wrong at any moment. Now they are happily riding the rollercoaster of raising a newborn, and discovering life as a family of three. Michael also has a podcast exploring the art world, Subtext and Discourse. Follow Up 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: https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Take a look at The Hypnobirthing Book by Katharine Graves Find out about the birthing course Christy and Michael took online: https://www.hebammenzeit.de/hebammenzeit-in-english/ Find out about Michael’s work in the Berlin art world here Listen to Michael’s podcast Subtext & Discourse Follow Michael on Twitter and Instagram and YouTube Read Andrew’s book on building a stronger relationship as parents: I Love You But You Always Put Me Last: How to Child-Proof Your Marriage Read Andrew’s book on making meaningful change in your life Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and be Stronger, Wiser and Happier 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

It isn’t hard as a parent to find advice on breastfeeding, your child’s education or managing their behaviour. What’s rarer is insight into how the parenting journey changes us as a person. Yet, becoming a mother is a unique opportunity for self-realisation. In this episode Lisa Marchiano and Andrew take a deep dive into motherhood: how it connects us to previous and next generations, how easy it is to be “devoured” by the experience of mothering, and what it means to feel rage as a mother. Lisa Marchiano is a Jungian therapist from Philadelphia, and co-hosts the podcast This Jungian Life. She has recently published a new book called Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself. Lisa is also the parent of two teenagers. Follow Up 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. Take a look at Lisa Marchiano’s new book Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself Listen to the podcast This Jungian Life Find out about This Jungian Life’s twelve-month online course that teaches people how to work with their own dreams Follow This Jungian Life on Twitter and Facebook Follow Lisa Marchiano on Twitter Find James Hollis’ essay “Free your children from you” in his book Living an Examined Life. Read Andrew’s book on how to build a strong relationship with your partner whilst still being good parents, I Love You But You Always Put Me Last Read Andrew’s book on making meaningful change in your life Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and be Stronger, Wiser and Happier Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

The relationship between a man and his penis is rarely discussed except as a joke. Men don’t often talk to each other about erection issues, and women are left in the dark. Angus Barge took the plunge and spoke to his cousin about the problems he was having getting an erection at the age of 27. His cousin was also brave enough to break the silence, and this led them to create Mojo, a pill-free solution to erection issues. In this episode Andrew and Angus discuss the harm done to both men and women by the general silence over erection issues. It’s also the case that being let down by their penis can be a major fear for many men; and that there is liberation and happiness to be found in facing up to this fear. Follow Up 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. Find out about the work Mojo is doing to help men get reliable erections. Follow Mojo on Facebook Watch Angus and his cousin Xander’s video on Why We Made This Angus and Andrew talked about the book Mind the Gap: the Truth About Desire and how to Futureproof Your Sex Life by Dr Karen Gurney. Listen to Jed Diamond talk about the “father wound” and writing your personal creation story. Read Andrew’s book Have the Sex You Want: A Couple’s Guide to Getting Back the Spark Read Andrew’s blog on how to Have the Sex You Want Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Our parents’ divorce can have so many ramifications, some of which don’t become apparent until well into adulthood. How do we face up to and understand the unprocessed pain of divorce? How do we build more successful relationships of our own? Terry Gaspard specialises in helping clients overcome the legacy of their parents’ breakups in order to build strong, happy relationships. Terry is also an expert on second marriages - these have a higher divorce rate than first marriages, but with support and skills, can bring a huge amount of happiness. Terry is a licensed therapist, author, and college instructor who works with children, adults, couples, and families. She also works from personal experience: her own parents divorced when she was ten, and she herself went through a divorce, and went on to make a very happy second marriage. Her book Daughters of Divorce is co-written with her own daughter. Follow Up 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. Read Terry Gaspard’s books The Remarriage Manual and Daughters of Divorce Find out more about Terry on her website Find Terry’s articles published in Patheos.com, TheGoodMenProject.com, The Gottman Institute Relationship Blog, DivorcedMoms.com, DivorceMagazine.com and marriage.com Follow Terry on Twitter and on Facebook Andrew and Terry also discussed the books Second Chances: Men, Women and Children, A Decade After Divorce by Judith S. Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee and Generation at Risk: Growing Up in an Era of Family Upheaval by Paul R. Amato and Alan Booth. Read Andrew’s book I Love You But I’m Not in Love with You: Seven Steps to Saving Your Relationship Read Andrew’s book on turning things around in midlife Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and be Stronger, Wiser and Happier Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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 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. Close encounters with scorpions aside, 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 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? Follow Up 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. Learn more about Tom Vanderbilt’s book Beginners: the Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning Follow Tom Vanderbilt on Twitter or Instagram @tomvanderbilt Andrew and Tom also discuss Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein. Find out more about dealing with midlife and the relationship issues it can cause in Andrew’s book It’s Not a Midlife Crisis, It’s an Opportunity Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

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. Instead of putting off developing an authentic self, it is almost always possible to start planning and creating right now. 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. Follow Up 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. 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 Read Andrew’s book Resolve Your Differences: Seven Steps to Dealing with Conflict in Your Relationship Read Andrew’s blog on journaling and find out how writing can help you bring more meaning into your life. Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

Fenella Hansen brings her own life experiences of grief, loss, mental health and trauma to her counselling work. After losing her mother to cancer, she made a dramatic career change from IT into counselling, and has since worked extensively with survivors of various forms of trauma. Fenella has herself also suffered medical PTSD and family violence, which she believes gives her a unique perspective and level of empathy in her work with her clients. Fenella worked in mental health for 7 years before moving to work with survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She has worked with complex trauma clients and is also a trained expert in trauma sensitive yoga and mindfulness. Fenella has her own private practice in Melbourne, and is currently training in psychedelic therapy. Follow Up 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. Find out more about Fenella’s counselling practice Learn about the course in psychedelic therapy Fenella is currently studying. Follow up on some trauma resources discussed in this episode / recommended by Fenella: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van der Kolk. Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter Levine Psychedelics: Where we are now, why we got here, what we must do by Sean J. Belouin & Jack E. Henningfield. Some useful breathing exercises Follow Fenella on Instagram @betweenthelinestherapy Read Andrew’s book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and be Stronger, Wiser and Happier Get Andrew’s advice on dealing with painful feelings: https://andrewgmarshall.com/seven-ways-to-cope-with-painful-feelings/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

We all think of infidelity as something that happens to someone else. When betrayal enters our own safe universe, it comes as a terrible shock. Many couples confronting infidelity end up re-examining just about everything in their lives: not just their marriage, but their work, their relationships with family and friends, and how they find meaning and fulfilment. Sometimes it can even be these couples who end up with the strongest partnerships of all. Dr. Caroline Madden, PhD is a Los Angeles based pro-marriage therapist who specializes in helping marriages recover after infidelity. Caroline is the author of several relationship books including: "Fool Me Once: Should I Take Back My Cheating Husband?" and "After a Good Man Cheats: How to Rebuild Trust & Intimacy With Your Wife” and “Blindsided by His Betrayal”. In this episode, Caroline and Andrew draw on decades of shared experience working with couples affected by infidelity. They talk through the complex, painful process of rebuilding after the discovery of betrayal. Follow Up 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. Listen to Caroline’s book Blindsided by Betrayal on Audible, and take a look at her other books, Fool Me Once: Should I Take Back My Cheating Husband? and After a Good Man Cheats: How to Rebuild Trust & Intimacy With Your Wife Find out more about Caroline’s work with infidelity survivors on her website Follow Caroline on Twitter Read Andrew’s books on infidelity recovery: Why Did I Ever Cheat? Help Your Partner (and Yourself) Recover From Your Affair How Can I Ever Trust You Again? Infidelity: From Discovery to Recovery in Seven Steps I Can’t Get Over My Partner’s Affair: 50 Questions About Recovering from Extreme Betrayal and the Long-Term Impact of Infidelity Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

Dena Justice’s lifelong interest in mentoring and coaching began at age seven, when she took her first social-emotional training program. At 15, she taught her first personal development course. She has undertaken years of training in conflict management and mediation, leadership, communication, facilitation, and has two Master’s degrees. Despite loving her career, Dena hit a point where she felt empty - a classic case of a high performer and leader hitting burnout. That led her to choose a powerful pivot out of her J-O-B and into her own business. At the same time, Dena also consciously decided to up-level ALL of her relationships, including spending 3 years intentionally single so she could identify and change the patterns she was repeating that were contributing to relationship dissatisfaction. Now she is in the most amazing relationship with a man she loves more than anything. And all of the other relationships in her life are incredible. Combining all of her experience, Dena now helps other women who are high performers hitting burnout and are scared to admit they’ve hit a plateau or a wall. She helps them get out of their own way and move to the next level to increase their impact so they feel fulfilled and inspired again, as well as helping them create the relationships they want in their lives. Follow Up 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. Take a look at Dena’s website and courses: EcstaticCollective.com EcstaticCollective.com/NLP EcstaticCollective.com/anxietycourse Follow Dena on social media: FB: @denajustice IG: @denajusticepsychedelicministry Clubhouse: @psychedelicNLP Read Help Your Partner Say Yes Andrew’s book on achieving better communication and cooperation with your partner. If you’re struggling to connect with your partner and are labouring under the strain of work and parenting, read Andrew’s blog “Three Secrets of a Happy Relationship” Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

What is it like to step away from individual freedom and enter into a life of submission and domination? This week’s witness is Slave Phil, a writer, blogger and podcaster at Master Slave Lifestyle. From early childhood, Phil was drawn to being controlled and dominated by others. At the age of eighteen, he began exploring the master slave lifestyle. For Phil, this was “part of his soul”, not just play or an aspect of his personality. Phil talks with Andrew about the ways in which this lifestyle challenges social norms - why WOULD someone want to be controlled? For Phil and others who live this way, being controlled and shaped by another person brings the freedom of letting go of responsibility. Compared to conventional relationships, the rules of engagement are written down, discussed and regularly reviewed, rather than being invisible, confusing and often outdated. Follow Up 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. Visit Pink Therapy to find kink aware therapists and advice. Take a look at Slave Phil’s website, Master Slave Lifestyle Follow Slave Phil on Twitter at @Brotherhood_SM Put the spark back in your relationship with Andrew’s book Have The Sex You Want Read Andrew’s advice on what to do if your partner says the passion is gone Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

What does gratitude actually mean? It isn’t just about being nice or saying thank you a lot. According to Chester Elton, who has been called “the apostle of appreciation”, gratitude cuts to the heart of who we really are. Gratitude exists at an emotional level and is about who is in our lives, what we find meaningful and how we live. If we make time for gratitude, we can find a way to live that makes everything less stressful. In this episode, Chester and Andrew talk through the ways we can build gratitude into everyday life, adding meaning and lightness to our daily routines. Chester has also carried out extensive research into how gratitude can help us lead in the workplace. His books, co-authored with Adrian Gostick, include Leading With Gratitude and All In: How the Best Managers Create a Culture of Belief and Drive Big Results. Follow Up 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. Read Chester Elton’s Leading with Gratitude Book Sign up for Chester Elton’s free LinkedIn newsletter, The Gratitude Journal Read Chester Elton’s article on Why We Should be Grateful for Hard Times Read Jay Shetty’s book Think Like A Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day Read Andrew’s advice on keeping a journal of your life and emotions. Get Andrew’s advice on creating real change in your life and relationships in his book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and Be Stronger, Wiser and Happier Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

You exist at your own centre; so you are the only one who is in the right place to look and understand your individual being. Richard Lang has devoted his life to exploring and teaching “the headless way”: a unique system to answer the question of what life means and who you really are. Richard met Douglas Harding, author of On Having No Head, as a teenager, and knew immediately that the headless way was what he had been looking for. He now runs workshops on the headless way, produces videos, and has set up the Shollond Trust, which publishes Douglas Harding’s and other books on the subject. Along the way, Richard has also spent thirty years practising as a psychotherapist, and teaching Tai Chi and dance. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Learn more about the headless way, including free resources and meetings: www.headless.org Find books on the headless way: Seeing Who You Really Are https://www.headless.org/harding-books/seeing-who-you-really-are Open to the Source https://www.headless.org/harding-books/open-to-the-source Celebrating who you are https://www.headless.org/harding-books/celebrating-who-we-are The Man With No Head https://www.headless.org/harding-books/the-man-with-no-head Everyday Seeing https://www.headless.org/harding-books/everyday-seeing Listen to the Headless Way podcast: https://www.headless.org/headless-way-podcasts Find videos on the headless way on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=headexchange Listen to Andrew’s interview with Martina Schneider on spiritual therapy: https://themeaningfullife.podbean.com/e/ep11-martina-schneider-spiritual-therapy/ Get Andrew’s advice on creating real change in your life and relationships in his book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and Be Stronger, Wiser and Happier https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/wake-up-and-change-your-life-how-to-survive-a-crisis-and-be-stronger-wiser-and-happier/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

How do we find meaning out of a difficult childhood and a troubled mother-daughter relationship? In this episode Nigerian-American writer, mindfulness practitioner and educator Itoro Bassey speaks with Andrew about how to mother the wounded child inside. Itoro now lives in Nigeria (after being born and raised in the USA) and is the founder of the digital course, From Surviving to Thriving: Becoming Your Own Inner Author. This course uses writing and energy work to bring students into the present moment. Itoro has published on culture, identity, and healing for over ten years and now offers intuitive counselling sessions for those in need of support. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Follow Itoro Bassey on Instagram or contact her at [email protected] Read some of Itoro’s writing on culture, family and identity: How to let go of your family's expectations. Becoming My Own Woman... The Nigerian and tenderness How I’m Mothering the Wounded Kid Inside Who Just Wanted Love Read about Questions for Ada by Ijeoma Umebinyuo https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26141400-questions-for-ada Read Andrew’s memoir on the loss of his partner, My Mourning Year https://mymourningyear.com Get Andrew’s advice on dealing with painful feelings: https://andrewgmarshall.com/seven-ways-to-cope-with-painful-feelings/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

2020 wasn’t the easiest year to feel in control of our lives: a lot of us experienced loss, loneliness, and illness. Yet through my podcast, I feel like I learnt a lot about changing your life in a meaningful way. My guests shared wisdom on so many different aspects of life - sex, love, masculinity, gender, disability, companionship, spirituality, therapy, cynicism, to name just a few - and I feel lucky to have come out of 2020 quite a bit wiser and more at peace, thanks to them. So here are my reflections on the ten most important things I learnt from The Meaningful Life. If you’re new to the podcast, this should make a great leaping in point, as I talk through what I learnt from each of my 2020 guests. Thank you to you all for listening, to the guests I’ve been so lucky to have on the show, and to my gifted and enthusiastic producer, Michael Dooney. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Get Andrew’s advice on creating real change in your life and relationships in his book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and Be Stronger, Wiser and Happier https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/wake-up-and-change-your-life-how-to-survive-a-crisis-and-be-stronger-wiser-and-happier/ Read Andrew’s thoughts on what the “new normal” will look like for you and your partner as more of us are vaccinated and the pandemic hopefully recedes: https://andrewgmarshall.com/marriage-and-the-global-pandemic-will-things-ever-return-to-normal/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

Nathanael Garrett Novosel started his quest to understand the meaning of life at the age of six. He is the author of The Meaning of Life: A Guide To Finding Your Life’s Purpose, which sets out 8 concepts key to finding meaning. In his book and in his teachings Nathanael helps people answer questions like “why are you here?”, “how does life work?” and “what are you supposed to do with your existence?”. Nathanael has researched psychology, evolutionary biology, organizational best practices, leadership decision making, business, technology, finance, and philosophy to understand the world as we know it. He worked extensively with senior executives, before deciding to devote his skills to helping people to live the best lives possible. In this episode, Nathanael and Andrew discuss the 8 concepts, Nathanael’s own journey of research and insight, and how his autism helped him develop his deep understanding of the meaning of life. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Find out about Nathanael’s book, The Meaning of Life, and the 8 concepts it outlines: https://www.yourmeaninginlife.com and buy the book here https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-meaning-of-life-nathanael-garrett-novosel/1135680135 Follow Nathanael on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/LifetheBook Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LifetheBook Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/lifethebook/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themeaningoflifebook/ Hear Carol Dweck’s TED talk on growth mindset: https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en Find out more about James Hollis’ book, Living an Examined Life https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/36165956 Read Andrew’s thoughts on what to do if you or your partner feel like you’re in the throes of what society would call a midlife crisis: https://andrewgmarshall.com/ten-tell-tale-signs-midlife-crisis/ Get Andrew’s advice on creating real change in your life and relationships in his book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and Be Stronger, Wiser and Happier https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/wake-up-and-change-your-life-how-to-survive-a-crisis-and-be-stronger-wiser-and-happier/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

Martina Schneider is a psychologist and a teacher of Vipassana meditation. Her work with clients combines a therapeutic and a spiritual approach. In this episode, she talks with Andrew about her own spiritual journey, including intensive study of the Vedanta tradition in India and being ordained as a nun. Martina offers her thoughts on the time and the deep commitment it requires truly to understand the self and to be at peace with it. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Get Andrew’s advice on creating real change in your life and relationships in his book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and Be Stronger, Wiser and Happier https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/wake-up-and-change-your-life-how-to-survive-a-crisis-and-be-stronger-wiser-and-happier/ Read Andrew’s thoughts on what to do if you or your partner feel like you’re in the throes of what society would call a midlife crisis: https://andrewgmarshall.com/ten-tell-tale-signs-midlife-crisis/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

Joe Horton founded Guild of Dads after losing his own father in 2015. This huge loss launched him on a journey of self-discovery, during which he was able to shape a vision for himself and begin to create a more meaningful life. Joe’s Guild of Dads podcast and growing social movement now help many other dads to reflect on their own lives and pinpoint the ways they can take action to find meaning. Joe’s “Vision + Action = Meaning” equation is helping many men take back control and find the fulfilment they need. In this episode, Andrew and Joe discuss the ways in which lack of meaning is having a catastrophic effect on many dads’ lives. They talk through the main obstacles and “saboteurs” that prevent dads from making essential changes. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Listen to Joe’s Guild of Dads podcast here: https://bit.ly/GODpodcast Get a free copy of Joe’s ebook The V.A.M. Blueprint: https://bit.ly/VAMebook Drop an email to Joe at [email protected] if you’re interested in joining his new support group for dads. Get Andrew’s advice on creating real change in your life and relationships in his book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and Be Stronger, Wiser and Happier https://bit.ly/wakeupandchange Read Andrew’s thoughts on what to do if you or your partner feel like you’re in the throes of what society would call a midlife crisis: https://bit.ly/midlifecrisisblog Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

In 2017, Rachel Weiss watched a TV programme about the menopause and was inspired to hold a Menopause Café. This has now turned into an international movement of pop-up events where women and the men in their lives meet to drink tea, eat cake and talk menopause. The Menopause Café is modelled on the Death Café movement, founded by Jon Underwood. In this episode, Rachel and Andrew talk about women’s experiences of menopause and the impact on their lives and relationships. The menopause has long been a taboo subject, and raises profound issues of shame and silence around the female body. Women have suffered due to the lack of knowledge or public conversation about the menopause, and so have their partners. The Menopause Cafe is playing a crucial role in an increasingly more open discourse on the menopause, helping women to live through this stage of their lives with understanding rather than fear and loneliness. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Find out more about the Menopause Café www.menopausecafe.net Rachel has written about the Menopause Café in “M-Boldened: Menopause Conversations We All Need to Have” The world’s only Menopause Festival takes place on April 30th and May 1st 2021 #FlushFest2021 in Perth, Scotland, and online. The Menopause Café was inspired by the Death Café - learn more here: www.deathcafe.com Learn about Rachel’s work with coaching and counselling clients at Rowan Consultancy www.rowan-consultancy.co.uk or find out about enrolling on the COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills, a 120-hour course online or face-to-face, starting August 2021. Find out more about dealing with midlife and the relationship issues it can cause in Andrew’s book It’s Not a Midlife Crisis, It’s an Opportunity https://bit.ly/midlifecrisisbook Read Andrew’s advice on some of the common issues faced inside long-term marriages in his article on avoiding the “silver divorce”: https://bit.ly/silverdivorce Follow Rachel on: Twitter: @Menopause_Cafe @Rowan_Rachel @Rowanconsult Instagram: @Menopause_Cafe Facebook: www.facebook.com/menocafe17 and www.facebook.com/RowanConsultancy YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/RowanConsultancy Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

Guardian columnist Tim Dowling has spent thirteen years chronicling his marriage and family life for the Weekend magazine. His self-deprecating humour and determinedly cynical approach have made him hugely popular with readers. Rare is the Saturday Guardian reader who doesn’t flip first to the magazine to see what’s happening with Tim’s pets, banjo career and family. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss the layers that go into a joke. What exactly is it that we’re doing when we laugh at ourselves and our own life? Humour can be about storytelling, making sense of the past, finding honesty and creating meaning. It can be a defence mechanism, and a form of self-protection for the intensely shy. Tim’s readers have watched him move from the chaos of working and parenting younger children to a different stage of midlife. The column has changed, and so has everyone featured in it. Andrew and Tim discuss new hobbies, the relaxation that can come with being older, and the boundaries that need to go up when writing about family for so long. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Listen to Tim Dowling’s audiobook How To Be Happy All The Time: The Unexpected Joys of Being a Cynic: Everything Bad Is Good for You https://www.audible.com/pd/How-to-Be-Happy-All-the-Time-Audiobook/1529345014 Find out more about dealing with midlife and the relationship issues it can cause in Andrew’s book It’s Not a Midlife Crisis, It’s an Opportunity https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/its-not-a-midlife-crisis-its-an-opportunity-how-to-be-forty-or-fifty-something-without-going-off-the-rails/ Read about Andrew’s memoir, My Mourning Year https://mymourningyear.com Read about Ken Wilber’s book, No Boundary: Eastern and Western Approaches to Personal Growth https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449818.No_Boundary Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

So much of the meaning we find in life comes from reaching out to help others. Charlotte Fielder has been the Head of Volunteering and Fostering at London’s famous Battersea Dogs and Cats Home since 2015. She finds intense meaning in giving animals a second chance and supporting the Battersea volunteers who work for love, not money. Charlotte is herself a failed foster carer after rehoming Max in August 2017. Dogs have been an enormous part of her life, and she talks with Andrew about the magic of dogs in family relationships and the joy and meaning they bring to individuals. Charlotte has also worked extensively to support children with upper limb difference. She is a patron of EDRIC (The European Dysmelia Reference Information Centre) a not for profit organisation that shares knowledge with those affected by congenital limb loss. She is also the author of ‘Shared Experiences,’ a resource for the families of these children. Charlotte worked for 33 years in UK Government agencies including the Home Office and National Criminal Intelligence Service before leaving to work in volunteer services at a hospice. Her desire was to spend the last ten years of her working life making a difference, and when she arrived in Battersea in 2015 she felt she was “coming home”. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Learn about the European Dysmelia Reference Information Centre https://www.dysnet.org Discover Andrew’s memoir, The Power of Dog, about how his dog Flash helped him recover from the loss of his partner. https://andrewgmarshall.com/the-power-of-dog/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

Why are so many working parents exhausted? Why does it often feel so unfulfilling switching between a demanding job and doing our best as parents? Anita Cleare’s new book, The Work/Parent Switch, explores the challenge of moving between driven, goal-oriented professional mode, and the looser, more mindful state needed to parent. Anita talks with Andrew about creative ways to switch between the two states, and about how modern parents can benefit from doing less for their children. Anita Cleare (MA AdvDip) is a parenting expert, writer and coach. She is the co-founder of the Positive Parenting Project, a social enterprise which aims to bring the benefits of proven evidence-based parenting strategies to as many parents (and children) as possible. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Get Anita Cleare’s new book, The Work/Parent Switch https://www.anitacleare.co.uk/get-support/the-work-parent-switch/ Read Anita’s blog, Thinking Parenting, and find out about her parenting webinars and private parenting coaching here: https://www.anitacleare.co.uk/ Read Andrew’s book I Love You But You Always Put Me Last: How To Child-Proof Your Marriage https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/i-love-you-but-you-always-put-me-last-how-to-child-proof-your-marriage/ If you’re struggling to connect with your partner and are labouring under the strain of work and parenting, read Andrew’s blog “Three Secrets of a Happy Relationship” https://andrewgmarshall.com/three-secrets-of-a-happy-relationship/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

Please note - this episode of The Meaningful Life podcast contains references to gender based violence which may be distressing for some listeners In 2000, Susie Kalich survived a violent attack by a stranger in her home in Los Angeles. As part of her recovery, she sought martial arts training to learn self defense basics. She enrolled in Ninpo Tai Jutsu with Sensei Chad Minge at Studio City Martial Arts in the San Fernando Valley. Eight years later, she became the first woman in the history of the school to reach the rank Shodan Menkyu under her teacher’s system, and earn her instructor’s license. In this episode, Susie talks to Andrew about rebuilding physically and emotionally after a severe trauma. She describes her pioneering work on making self defensible accessible and usable for women, culminating in her program and app, Pretty Deadly Self Defense. Pretty Deadly is based on Susie’s own experiences and recovery as a violent crime survivor, and on her day-to-day encounters in the real world. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Download Susie’s Pretty Deadly App for self defense https://prettydeadlyselfdefense.com/app Take a look at Susie’s programmes and courses on the Pretty Deadly website https://prettydeadlyselfdefense.com or learn more about her life and experiences here http://susiekahlich.com Listen to the Pretty Deadly Podcast: https://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:710830558/sounds.rss Read articles by Susie on Medium: https://susiekahlich.medium.com/ Follow Susie on social media: Facebook https://facebook.com/prettydeadlyselfdefense Twitter: https://twitter.com/susiekahlich Instagram (Pretty Deadly): https://instagram.com/prettydeadlyofficial Instagram (Susie Kahlich): https://instagram.com/susiekahlich Read Andrew’s blog “Seven Ways to Cope with Painful Feelings” https://andrewgmarshall.com/seven-ways-to-cope-with-painful-feelings/ Get Andrew’s book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and Be Stronger, Wiser and Happier https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/wake-up-and-change-your-life-how-to-survive-a-crisis-and-be-stronger-wiser-and-happier/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

Too many men struggle to be happy in their intimate relationships, and fail to find a healthy version of masculinity that works for them. Disconnected males, without a strong sense of inner guidance, can behave destructively and even abusively towards those around them. In the fourth episode of The Meaningful Life With Andrew G. Marshall, Andrew talks to Jed Diamond PhD, founder of MenAlive, about his own journey. Jed explains how he came to heal his “family father wound” and how he has helped thousands of men to do the same. A big part of this is investigating our “personal creation myth”: unearthing the trauma of our origins, dealing with the truth, and moving forward with honesty and love. Also crucial is learning to be in the company of other men. It is only when a man can be comfortable in his own skin, with other men, that he can build successful intimate relations. Jed Diamond PhD has a Masters degree in Social Work and a PhD in International Health. He founded MenAlive in 1968 as a resource for men to build healthy lives and eliminate the stresses that undermine their health and wreck their relationships. He is the author of many well-received books on men’s health and masculinity. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Find out more about Jed Diamond’s book My Distant Dad: Healing the Family Father Wound https://menalive.com/my-distant-dad/ Read about Jed Diamond’s book 12 Rules for Good Men https://menalive.com/12-rules-for-good-men/ Get Andrew’s advice on creating real change in your life and relationships in his book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and Be Stronger, Wiser and Happier https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/wake-up-and-change-your-life-how-to-survive-a-crisis-and-be-stronger-wiser-and-happier/ Read Andrew’s thoughts on what to do if you or your partner feel like you’re in the throes of what society would call a midlife crisis: https://andrewgmarshall.com/ten-tell-tale-signs-midlife-crisis/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

What is life like if you don’t fit into any of mainstream society’s ideas of gender or sexuality? Do any of us really fit those ideas, anyway? In this episode, Finn Ballard talks about life as a transgender man, and his experiences growing up as a trans child in a traditional town in Northern Ireland. Finn talks about his search for an authentic life in a world that is so often hostile to trans people, and the empowerment and joy that has come from being open about who he really is. Finn Ballard is a historian and tour guide based in Berlin, and also teaches Gender Studies and Media Studies at the Council on International Educational Exchange, an English-speaking institute in Berlin. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall If you can make it to the glorious city that is Berlin, be sure to take one of Finn’s guided tours: http://www.finn-ballard-tours.com Get Andrew’s advice on creating the positive change you’ve dreamed of making in your own life: https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/wake-up-and-change-your-life-how-to-survive-a-crisis-and-be-stronger-wiser-and-happier/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

Have you ever felt so defeated and frustrated that you want to just throw in the towel and run away? Author Kay Hutchison did exactly that, fleeing her annual holiday to the Cote d’Azur, moving out of her home, and leaving behind her marriage and a well-established career. In seeking to understand what forced this huge rupture in a previously smooth existence, Kay tried a range of mainstream and alternative therapies. In the end, she took part in 37 different forms of therapy to explore her particular midlife crisis and experience of the menopause. From colonic irrigation through to Shamanic therapy, Kay found solace and insight that she was able to share in her powerful book, My Life in 37 Therapies. In this second episode of The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall, Kay and Andrew explore the many different ways in which therapy can help us cope with midlife and its tendency to throw at us so many of the unresolved issues of early life. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Buy My Life in 37 Therapies by Kay Hutchison https://kayhutchison.com Find out more about dealing with midlife and the relationship issues it can cause in Andrew’s book It’s Not a Midlife Crisis, It’s an Opportunity. https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/its-not-a-midlife-crisis-its-an-opportunity-how-to-be-forty-or-fifty-something-without-going-off-the-rails/ Read Andrew’s advice on some of the common issues faced inside long-term marriages in his article on avoiding the “silver divorce”: https://andrewgmarshall.com/are-you-facing-long-term-marriage-problems-how-to-avoid-the-silver-divorce/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

No-one would deny sex is important to a meaningful life, but what that looks like changes as we age. In this first episode of the new self-help podcast The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall, international sex therapist and Daily Mail columnist Tracey Cox discusses her new book Great Sex Starts at 50: How to Age-Proof Your Libido. While wild, lustful sex can certainly be a unique and special life experience, the sex that brings us meaning is different. It’s the sex that lasts past the orgasm, to include that afterglow as you lie together or even just make each other a post-coital cup of tea. It’s about building a sexual relationship that is not solely focused on orgasm. Meaningful sex is also sex that the two of you work on - after twenty years you probably won’t want to rip each other’s clothes off, but you CAN plan time to devote to each other, to try new things and create desire. Trying new things is something the majority of couples never do - but it’s a simple recipe for exciting, meaningful sex, and Tracey and Andrew have plenty of tips on where to start. Follow Up 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. https://www.patreon.com/andrewgmarshall Buy Great Sex Starts at 50: How to Age-Proof Your Libido by Tracey Cox https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-sex-starts-50-age-proof/dp/1922351059 Get the advice you need on your sex life from Tracey Cox https://www.traceycox.com Put the spark back in your relationship with Andrew’s book Have The Sex You Want https://andrewgmarshall.com/book/have-the-sex-you-want-a-couples-guide-to-getting-back-the-spark/ Read Andrew’s advice on what to do if your partner says the passion is gone https://andrewgmarshall.com/my-husband-says-he-never-felt-that-spark-of-passion/ Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on: Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewgmarshall Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGMarshallTherapy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5gT7ru5sblpFaU2-iWTTw

So what is the meaningful life? Why do we so easily lose our way and get lost in depression, anxiety, doubt, addictions and obsessions: the swamplands of the soul? One thing I know for sure is that there is not one answer. Each of us has to find out for ourselves what makes our life meaningful. But we can learn from each other, share our experiences of how to navigate the journey, how to endure and learn from the swamp, and finally how to find solid ground.