How to Live in the Space Between No Longer and Not Yet | Suleika Jaouad

The One You Feed | Personal Growth, Emotional Resilience & Purpose

Eric Zimmer, The One You Feed

Buddhism, Mental Health, Education, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness, Religion & Spirituality

4.5 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 29 May 2026

⏱️ 69 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Suleika Jaouad, author of Between Two Kingdoms, discusses her experience learning how to live in the space between no longer and not yet. Suleika shares how illness shattered her plans and forced her to confront mortality, finding agency through journaling and creativity. She discusses the difference between pain and suffering, the importance of community, and learning to live in life’s uncertain “in-between” spaces. Following a recurrence of her disease, she reflects on resilience, love, and embracing discomfort as pathways to meaning and growth. Good Wolf Reminders: A little wisdom, right when you need it. Start receiving free text reminders designed to help you pause, reflect, and take meaningful action. Sign up at oneyoufeed.net/sms. Exciting News!!! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life is out NOW! Order today!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Key Takeaways: Suleika’s personal journey with acute myeloid leukemia at age 22. The impact of illness on identity and life plans. The psychological and emotional challenges associated with serious health issues. The concept of living in the “messy middle” between past and future. The role of creativity and journaling in coping with illness. The importance of community and connection during difficult times. The distinction between physical pain and emotional suffering. The idea of bravery in responding to hardship and making active choices. The significance of rituals in navigating uncertainty and transitions. Finding meaning and beauty in life despite pain and suffering. For full show notes:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this conversation with Suleika Jaouad, check out these other episodes: How to Find Solace in Discomfort with Lanusha Dameris Strengthening Our Resilience with Linda Graham By purchasing products and/or services from our sponsors, you are helping to support The One You Feed, and we greatly appreciate it. Thank you! This episode is sponsored by: ⁠Brodo Broth⁠: Shop the best broth on the planet with Brodo. Head to ⁠Brodo.com/TOYF⁠ for 20% off your first subscription order and use code TOYF for an additional $10 off. Quince:⁠ Refresh your wardrobe with Quince by going to ⁠Quince.com/feed⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. ⁠Aura Frames: Named #1 by Wirecutter, you can save on the gifts moms love by visiting AuraFrames.com. For a limited time, listeners can get 25 dollars off their best-selling Carver Mat frame with code FEED. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout! Rocket Money Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at rocketmoney.com/feed. Taskrabbit: When life happens, your to-do list grows. Get ahead of it now and get fifteen dollars off your first task at Taskrabbit.com or on the Taskrabbit app using promo code FEED. Taskers book up fast, especially for same-day tasks, so book trusted home help today. Hello Fresh – Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Physical pain is not something that we always have control over.
0:04.5	Suffering is something we do have agency over to some extent.
0:16.2	Welcome to the one you feed.
0:18.6	Throughout time, great thinkers have recognized the importance of
0:21.7	the thoughts we have. Quotes like garbage in, garbage out, or you are what you think,
0:27.5	ring true. And yet, for many of us, our thoughts don't strengthen or empower us. We tend toward
0:33.6	negativity, self-pity, jealousy, or fear.
0:40.1	We see what we don't have instead of what we do.
0:43.3	We think things that hold us back and dampen our spirit.
0:45.5	But it's not just about thinking.
0:47.1	Our actions matter.
0:51.6	It takes conscious, consistent, and creative effort to make a life worth living.
0:56.3	This podcast is about how other people keep themselves moving in the right direction,
0:58.6	how they feed their good wolf.
1:06.1	There's an old saying when one door closes another opens, and I believe that's mostly true, but what often gets left out is the dark hallway between them.
1:12.4	The part where the first door is shut and the next door hasn't opened, and you don't know how long you'll be standing in it.
1:17.7	Salika Jawad calls that the place between no longer and not yet, and she has spent a lot of her
1:24.5	life there through leukemia relapse and a life she couldn't plan. Her memoir is
1:30.1	called Between Two Kingdoms and It's Outstanding. This conversation is about learning to make a home
1:35.5	in that hallway instead of rushing through it. I'm Eric Zimmer and this is the one you feed.
1:44.6	Attention all passengers.
1:46.9	The Uber ride for Mark and Jamal's romantic weekend will depart in four minutes from platform six.
	...

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