Bewildered

On this episode of Bewildered, what starts as Ro's confession about late-night online shopping soon spirals into a story about our panicked late-night rescue mission for a box of creatures that weren't what we thought they were. In telling this story, we explore why panic and despair are the worst tools we have for saving the planet, and why good intentions are the most powerful footprint you can leave. Join us for the full conversation to find out more (and to learn how bees factor into the equation).

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2026

Have you ever mastered something...and then felt the urge to throw it all away and start fresh? In this episode of Bewildered, we explore the rhythm of growth and why change is not failure—it’s our true nature. We talk about the sunk cost fallacy, the cultural pressure to never lose your spot at the top of the pyramid, and the radical idea that it’s actually impossible to waste time or money. If you’re feeling the itch to shed your skin and grow into something new, this episode is for you. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2026

When you hear “branding,” do you think of burning a hot iron into the side of a cow? Probably not, but that’s what a brand originally was. And metaphorically, it still is. A brand is a mark that defines where you belong, and our culture says it's never supposed to change. On this Bewildered, we start out in the world of branding culture and end up in the deep waters of impermanence and identity. We explore how the less you grip your brand, the more you find out who you actually are. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2026

What if you’re not burned out…you just don’t want to hustle anymore? In this episode of Bewildered, we talk about how hustle culture strives to make our lives sterile and abstract: from fluorescent lighting and spreadsheets to profit-and-loss statements and KPIs. We explore what gets lost in that way of life and how to reclaim our wild human power from a world that keeps turning us into pixels. If you're curious what life could look like beyond the endless grind, this episode is for you. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2026

Have you noticed how there seem to be “cheat codes” (as they’re called in video game world) that let certain people ignore reality and get away with outrageous things? What if we could use our own cheat codes to quietly change the world for good? In this episode of Bewildered, we look at how truth gets twisted, why consensus is shattering, and how we might discover new cheat codes by trusting our senses, our weirder ways of knowing, and the invisible web connecting us beneath the chaos. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2026

When life as you know it crumbles—lost jobs, shaken identities, houses (literal or figurative) in rubble—what if you’re not meant to rebuild the old structure at all? In this episode of Bewildered, we're exploring our deep attachment to “putting it back how it was,” how culture teaches us to fear impermanence, and what becomes possible when we let Nature “take the wheel” to allow something entirely new to emerge. Tune in to grieve, rethink, and reimagine what the next chapter of your life could be.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2026

How do you continue doing ordinary human-life things while the world feels like it’s collapsing in real time? That's what we're trying to figure out on this episode of Bewildered. We talk about ping‑ponging between school runs, summer camp registration, doctor's appointments, and breaking-news notifications that feel like the apocalypse is upon us. If you've been feeling caught in this same unnerving and exhausting back-and-forth, this episode is for you. Tune in and we'll come to our senses together.

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2026

How are you weathering the season you’re in? In this episode of Bewildered, we talk about what it really means to surrender to the season, whether it’s an upstate New York winter, perimenopause, a busy parenting era, or the “my foot hurts and I think my gums are receding” phase of life. We talk about how culture tries to flatten all seasons into one endless, brightly lit, 69-degrees-and-productive-all-the-time moment, and why our bodies, souls, and sanity refuse to go along with that plan.​ Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2026

Have you ever felt something was “off” about a situation or person...but then ignored that instinct to please others? In this episode, we explore how culture teaches us to override our body's internal signals in order to stay socially appropriate and “normal.” We talk about the difference between anxiety and intuitive warning, why our “social self” silences our “essential self,” and how trusting your body’s wisdom can keep you safe, possibly even psychic... Join us for this episode and find out how!

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2026

What happens once you authorize your knowing? On this Bewildered, we pick up where we left off about authorizing our essential, deep knowing and explore the question: What happens next?  We talk about what it means to stop living by the culture's rules and start seeing life as a video game where we’re not just avatars bopping around—we’re learning to write the code of the game itself. To hear stories of synchronicities and big moves that defied all logic, tune in and get ready to wallow in some magic!

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2026

Ever feel like the world is telling you what to think, do, or believe—until you’re not even sure what you know anymore?  In this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about “authorizing your own knowing”—a concept we picked up from the incredible Dr. Lisa Miller. We explore how to reclaim your own inner guidance, trust your instincts, and stop outsourcing your authority to others.  If you’re ready to stop spinning and start discovering what you know to be true for you, join us for the full conversation!

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2026

What if the person you say you want to be… isn’t really who you want to be at all? In this episode of Bewildered, we talk about what it means to follow culture instead of joy, and how it all boils down to what Martha has learned (in person and on Instagram) about zebras and horses...   Tune in to discover whether you really want to be the person you think you want to be, and find out the meaning of the unforgettable phrase: “Stop saying you want to be a horse!” It’s a fun one (we promise)—join us!

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2025

Do you suffer from “resting misery face”? Many of us do, and in this episode of Bewildered, we’re diving into exactly why that is.  A few hints: It has to do with the brain’s “default mode network,” our hardwired negativity bias, the cultural pressures to stay miserable and afraid, and how our imagination tends to conspire against us. The good news is that you can reclaim your “resting joy face” by questioning your thoughts and using curiosity and laughter to shift your mindset. Tune in to learn how!

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

Have you ever been willing to “give up anything” for something you wanted? On this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about the spiritual lesson that to be truly open to receiving something new, we first have to put something down. We share stories about letting go of things in our own lives and how that made space for wonder, awe, and our most precious experiences. It’s an episode full of laughter, insight, and inspiration to create more spaciousness in your one wild and precious life. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2025

Does your life ever feel like a game of Tetris, where you get totally overwhelmed by all the pieces coming at you?  In this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about how to get through the chaos that is modern life: from role fragmentation, to relationship and caregiving pressures, to work responsibilities, to sleep deprivation. Join us for some world-class life coaching (and plenty of metaphors) as we explore how to find a way through the morass of obligations, get some sanity, and rediscover joy.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2025

Are you looking for ways to handle life when the culture’s rules no longer apply, and everything keeps changing at warp speed? In this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about “flying blind” with confidence—trusting your body’s wisdom, adapting to new realities, and creating a path forward that’s right for you. We’re sharing personal stories, plenty of metaphors, and practical tips to help you navigate uncertainty and land safely, no matter what the storm may bring. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2025

We all need to take things in to keep us hydrated, not just physically, but also creatively. In this episode of Bewildered, we discuss what we call “filling the well”—receiving great art, stories, and creativity from others—and how it can replenish us and make us able to give and create ourselves. We share our rituals for getting inspired, explore why delight matters more than productivity, and offer a playful look at the weird, wonderful ways we stay creatively and emotionally nourished. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2025

We’re in the middle of moving house (and Ro’s turning 45!) so our whole daily rhythm is being shaken up. But disruptions can be a great opportunity to consciously redesign your life. In this episode of Bewildered, we explore “day mapping,” staying responsive to nature’s cues, and letting your deepest yearnings guide you—instead of sticking to cultural rules or slipping into inertia. It’s about creating a life that’s structured enough to hold your dreams but not so rigid that it boxes you in. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2025

What does a text about chickens have to do with the meaning of life? We're glad you asked! In this episode of Bewildered, we examine how our culture teaches us to avoid touch, fear time, and forego relationships for transactions. We dive deep into how we’ve been pushed away from nature and each other by systems that value money most, and we explore the things that really make life worth living: genuine connection, sensory experience, and living in the moment (which includes cuddling chickens). Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2025

Our culture believes that the only way to fix all the bad stuff in the world is to stare at it relentlessly, as if our sheer focus could solve things. (Or at least prove we’re not part of the problem.)  However, there are more effective ways to be the change, ways that include beauty and joy. On this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about how we can actively change the world without being consumed by what’s wrong with it—and how creativity might be more revolutionary than resistance. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2025

Do you find it difficult to share your unique offerings with the world? How about charging money for your work? In this “Best of” episode of Bewildered, we dive into a question from listener Rebecca who’s trying to find the courage to shine her light in the world—and get paid well for it. We share some of our own experiences with this issue too, and offer three magical little words that can banish shame and set you free to shine your light and charge what you’re worth. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2025

“QUICK! DO THIS NOW! IT’S URGENT!” Do those words spike your pulse? We're constantly pressured to do things that serve the system, and we’re trained to think of these things as urgent. But are they? In this “Best of” episode of Bewildered, we dive into the topic of urgency: How there’s a type that will crush your soul and a type that will grow it—and how you can tell the difference.  If you often find yourself responding frantically to problems which may or may not be urgent, this episode is for you!

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2025

In our culture we’re socialized to believe that if we suffer enough, we’ll be rewarded later—and our reward will be happiness. In other words, happiness is something we have to earn through suffering. On this “Best of” episode of Bewildered, we challenge this cultural belief, inspired by the words of 14th century mystic St. Catherine of Siena who said, “All the way to heaven is heaven.” To hear more about this idea—and how you can experience happiness right now—join us for one of our favorite episodes!

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2025

Ever suffer from burnout? We certainly have, and we’re talking all about it on this “Best of” episode of Bewildered! Burnout is something our culture doesn’t allow because it expects us to be productive non-stop. However, our wild natures require “wintering” periods where we rest and reset. If you need to recover from burnout (or you want to preempt it), tune in for the full episode to hear our suggestions for getting ahead of burnout and resetting your body, mind, heart, and spirit.

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2025

“Should I stay, or should I go?” It’s an age-old dilemma, and we’re exploring it in this “Best of” episode of Bewildered!  To figure out when to stay or leave, we must first examine our thoughts. Often our struggles come from our thoughts about our situation, rather than the situation itself—and our thoughts can be shifted once we get to a place of peace. To learn how to ground yourself, shift your thoughts, and use peace as a compass to make the best decisions for you, join us for the full conversation!

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

One way to deal with the constant, terrifying changes in all of our lives is to choose the worldview of a pilgrim—someone who doesn’t see life as a series of fixed positions but as a continuous, fluid process or journey.  The journey itself is not what’s most important—it’s the way that the journey changes you that matters. In this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about how to live your life as a sacred pilgrimage, let yourself be guided, and allow the journey to write the story of you. Join us!

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2025

Did you know that the world needs your art? On this special episode of Bewildered, our friends Amie McNee and James Winestock join us to talk about Amie's new book, We Need Your Art—and why your creativity matters now more than ever. In this rollicking conversation, we discuss how making art is a revolutionary act, why art is needed in unprecedented times, and what it means to stay soft amid the hardness of the culture. If you've been looking for a spark to light your creativity, this episode is for you!

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2025

Kindness. Our culture often frames it as something weak, naive, foolish, or passive—and there’s a reason for that. If we stay “nice” and subscribe to the culture’s idea of kindness, then we stay obedient and easier to control. So in this episode of Bewildered, we get ultra-revolutionary around kindness. We’re talking about the most radical type of kindness—kindness toward one’s self—and how it’s a force that can change our cultural systems of cruelty to create the revolution we want. Come join us!

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

At the beginning of this game called life, we each get a human—a body that we get to steer through the world. In this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about the idea of “training your human”—because you are not your body, mind, or personality, but rather a consciousness that inhabits your human form. If you can gently guide your human instead of forcing it to conform to culture, then your human can thrive while still being able to function in the world.  Want to learn how? Tune in and find out!

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2025

Have you ever been drawn into conspiratorial thinking? In this Episode 99 of Bewildered, we’re talking about how easy it is to get pulled into conspiracy theories because of a phenomenon called apophenia. It's the tendency to perceive connections or meaningful patterns between unrelated or random things—and it happens to feel delightful. Want to learn more about apophenia, conspiracy theories, fractured worldviews, and how we can all come to our senses? Join us for this episode of the Bewildered podcast!

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

“Your money, or your life.” Those two things are very, very different, but in our culture, they tend to get blended together. That’s what we’re talking about on this episode of Bewildered. We explore how our culture is so focused on money it’s practically a religion. And how for many of us, this obsession with money can become an addiction because “you can never get enough of something that almost works.” Want to try shifting your central focus away from money and work? Join us for the full episode!

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2025

Noise. It’s ever-present in our culture, and often it affects us in ways we don’t even realize. In this episode of Bewildered, we explore how different sounds impact the nervous system—from disrupting sleep to interfering with brain waves to triggering fear in the amygdala—and what we can do to heal. (Hint: Birdsong is a powerful antidote!) Tune in for the full conversation to learn about the physiological and emotional effects of noise and how to regain your equilibrium in an increasingly noisy world.

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2025

This is a spicy time in history, and in between bouts of fear, we’ve been thinking about how to navigate through potentially dark and dangerous times.  Want to know our go-to strategy? Trusting our intuition! In this episode of Bewildered, we talk about how intuition is heightened during uncertain and chaotic times, and how to recognize the messages your intuition is trying to send you. (Hint: It involves curiosity, synchronicities, and inexplicable joy.) Tune in for the full episode to find out more!

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2025

Intuition is like a call from destiny that we often miss because we're always "on the other line" with culture.  In this episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro explore the concept of intuition and how to connect with it amidst all the noise of our cultural conditioning.  They talk about how to tell the difference between intuition and anxiety, the reasons we tend to ignore intuition, and how to hang up with culture so you can listen to the messages your intuition is trying to tell you. Don't miss it!

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2025

Martha and Ro are back with another episode of Bewildered, and it's a follow-up to their "Why So Anxious?" episode. This time they're talking about how not to be anxious, and why moving beyond anxiety is linked to creativity, your life’s purpose, and building a better society. You'll learn ways to retrain your brain to have a completely different experience of being human in community—and how lowering anxiety can help us all create a more beautiful, more just world together.  Give it a listen!

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2025

Do you suffer from the odd bit of anxiety? In this Bewildered, Martha and Ro are talking about Martha's new book Beyond Anxiety, which examines the causes of anxiety, its prevalence in our culture, and tried-and-true ways to overcome it. Martha says that moving more activity into the right sides of our brains is the only way to conquer anxiety—and the first step to getting there is curiosity. Tune in to hear more about cultivating curiosity to step out of anxiety and into a life of creativity and calm.

Transcribed - Published: 8 January 2025

In this Best of Bewildered episode, Martha and Ro answer a question from listener Josephine, who's trying to understand and overcome her resistance to doing things that are good for her. The culture tells us that if something is good for us, we should just do it! Otherwise, we need to punish ourselves. There's only one problem with that: Punishments don't work. To learn how Martha and Ro use kindness and creativity to get past inertia and move through transitions, be sure to listen to the full conversation!

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2024

Martha and Ro have a very special guest on this Best of Bewildered episode…Ro's mum Paula! Paula has a mind-expanding story to tell about the time she followed monarch butterflies on their migratory path and learned that 10% of these butterflies always follow a different path—and for an unexpected reason. Tune in to find out the purpose of these aberrant butterflies' journey, why Martha and Ro relate to them so strongly, and why all paths through life, whether "normal" or divergent, are valid and valuable.

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2024

Do you ever lie awake, burning with embarrassment about something awkward you said or did? In this episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro are talking about how those awful, awkward moments (like when your child pulled your pants down in front of the babysitter, or when you unintentionally said something offensive during a big presentation) could be the moments that give you access to personal—and maybe even global—revolution. Find out how by tuning in for this inspiring (and hilarious) conversation!

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2024

Have you ever woken up feeling like you’re off course, as if you somehow missed an exit you were meant to take? This happened to Martha recently, and on this episode of Bewildered, she and Ro are talking about how to choose the right navigation system to guide your course through life, how to recognize when you've missed an exit, and how to get back on track. To learn how you can be sure you’re navigating by your true nature and not by cultural rules you never chose, tune in for the full conversation!

Transcribed - Published: 30 October 2024

Martha and Ro are digging into their BeWild Files for this episode of Bewildered, answering listener Mandy’s question about the distinction between drifting in a cultural current versus surrendering to cosmic guidance. They talk about the difference between the behaviors we adopt due to cultural pressure and the behaviors that truly represent our deepest selves, what it means to live your life by surrendering, and how to recognize the kind of cosmic guidance you'll likely want to follow. Don't miss it!

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2024

Martha and Ro are back with a different kind of episode this time, to introduce something they are crazy excited about... It's called Wilder: A Sanctuary for the Bewildered—and it's a new online space where they can hang out with YOU! If you've been yearning to connect with like-minded souls, and you know there's a next step out there but you're not sure what it is, Martha and Ro believe that next step is community—and they hope you'll join them in Wilder. For details, tune in for the full episode!

Transcribed - Published: 2 October 2024

We all have a "control mode" inside us that tells us if we don't tightly control everything, it's all going to go wrong. The only problem is...it's literally impossible to control everything!  Sometimes a little control is necessary, but often it's the opposite of what we need. And control kills the creativity we need to solve our problems. So if you've been trying really hard to control things, and you could use some tips on how to let go of control, join Martha and Ro for this episode of Bewildered!

Transcribed - Published: 18 September 2024

Hey there, Cahootniks! Martha and Ro are back with another episode of Bewildered, inspired by their recent discovery of a "secret" society that's been playing a game right out in the open, all over the world… The game is a literal treasure hunt—and Martha and Ro are obsessed!  They share how they've been following clues, making delightful discoveries, and wondering what it would mean to live life like one big treasure hunt. Want to find treasure in unexpected places? Join them for the full episode!

Transcribed - Published: 4 September 2024

Do you enjoy making shiny, pretty things—or, as Martha and Ro like to call them, “precious, pointless” things? These can be anything you make for the sheer enjoyment of creating, rather than for making money (which our culture believes is the only "point" to anything). Join Martha and Ro for this inspiring episode of Bewildered to learn how making shiny, pretty, pointless things can help you become more attuned to the beauty all around you—in people, in objects, in nature…and in your own wild soul.

Transcribed - Published: 21 August 2024

Do you find it difficult to share your unique offerings with the world? How about charging money for your work? In this BeWild Files episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro answer a question from listener Rebecca who is trying to find the courage to shine her light in the world—and get paid well for it. Martha and Ro share their own experiences with this issue, and they offer three magical little words that can banish shame and set you free to shine your light and charge what you're worth. Join them!

Transcribed - Published: 7 August 2024

On their Bewildered podcast, Martha and Ro explore the many ways that the culture pulls us away from our true nature. However—as they want to make absolutely clear in this episode—the culture is not the boss of us! As Martha and Ro point out, we have a hand in creating the culture, and it can be thrilling to look at the power we have when we put ourselves into the cultural equation. To learn how to step fully into your role as a creator of the culture (and why it matters), tune in for the full episode!

Transcribed - Published: 24 July 2024

"Quick! Do this now! It's urgent!"  Our culture constantly pressures us to do things that serve the system, and we’re trained to think of these things as urgent. But are they really? In this BeWild Files episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro dive into the topic of urgency—how there’s a type that will crush your soul and a type that will grow your soul, and how you can tell the difference.  If you often find yourself responding frantically to problems which may or may not be urgent, this episode is for you!

Transcribed - Published: 10 July 2024

Do you ever feel like you’re trying to fit even more stuff into a life that’s already full? In this episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro are talking about our culture's obsession with more, more, more, and how it's making us overwhelmed, exhausted, and burnt out. Their solution? Empty space! Our culture doesn't train us to appreciate empty spaces, but emptiness is what gives things value. To hear how to shift your focus so you can start noticing and using the empty spaces in your life, be sure to tune in!

Transcribed - Published: 26 June 2024

Most of us are socialized to believe that if we suffer enough, we’ll be rewarded later—and the reward for our suffering will be happiness. In other words, happiness is something we must earn through suffering. In this episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro challenge this cultural belief, inspired by the words of 14th century mystic St. Catherine of Siena who said, “All the way to heaven is heaven.” To hear more about this idea—and how you can experience happiness right now—don't miss the full episode!

Transcribed - Published: 12 June 2024