The Soul of Life

In this archived episode of The Soul of Life, Keith Miller sits down with Deirdre Wolownick, author of The Sharp End of Life and mother of world-renowned climber Alex Honnold. The conversation lands at a moment when Alex has once again captured global attention—this time for scaling the exterior of Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world, without ropes. The climb, carried out as a public stunt rather than a wilderness ascent, brought his unique relationship to risk, preparation, and consequence back into public view. From that context, Keith speaks with Deirdre about what it's actually like to parent someone whose work regularly triggers awe, fear, and judgment. She reflects on Alex's early temperament, the discipline behind his climbs, and the difference between recklessness and lifelong preparation. She also shares her own story—of endurance, late-in-life climbing, a difficult marriage, depression, and what it means to live on the "sharp end" of life herself. 👉 If you enjoyed this conversation, come join us on our new podcast Tripping Over Love — where we explore relationships, psychedelics, healing, sex, conflict, and what it really takes to love without losing yourself. Subscribe on YouTube: @trippingoverlove Podcast links: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC Substack: https://trippingoverlove.substack.com/ Instagram: @trippingoverlovepodcast TikTok: @trippingoverlove Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrippingOverLovePodcast/

In this episode of The Soul of Life, Keith Miller sits down with Jay Earley, one of the most influential teachers of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and the author of Self‑Therapy. Jay breaks down IFS in clear, practical terms—explaining how our inner critics, procrastinators, taskmasters, and other "parts" aren't enemies, but protectors with positive intent. Together, Keith and Jay explore how inner polarizations create suffering, how Self-leadership brings relief, and why working with our inner system—not against it—creates real change. The conversation goes beyond therapy to look at: Why parts are not what they seem  How the Self becomes the true healing agent The difference between intellectual insight and experiential change Why polarization shows up in both personal lives and modern culture How inner work may be essential for collective healing This episode is ideal for therapists, coaches, and anyone curious about IFS, trauma healing, or learning how to make peace with internal conflict. 👉 If you enjoyed this conversation, come join us on our new podcast Tripping Over Love — where we explore relationships, psychedelics, healing, sex, conflict, and what it really takes to love without losing yourself. Subscribe on YouTube: @trippingoverlove Podcast links: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC Substack: https://trippingoverlove.substack.com/ Instagram: @trippingoverlovepodcast TikTok: @trippingoverlove Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrippingOverLovePodcast/

In this episode from the Soul of Life archives, Keith Miller sits down with Dr. Rachel Rubin, a board-certified urologist and sexual medicine specialist, for a deeply practical and myth-busting conversation about sexual health, desire, and the biology we rarely talk about.  Dr. Rubin explains why many sexual concerns — including erectile dysfunction, low libido, orgasm difficulty, and pain — are often biological first, not psychological. She breaks down how sexual health connects to cardiovascular health, hormones, nerves, muscles, and blood flow, and why ignoring these factors leaves many people feeling confused, ashamed, or untreated. ✨ And if you enjoyed this archive episode, check out Keith's new podcast Tripping Over Love, now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Substack. LISTEN TO TRIPPING OVER LOVE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC

In this archival episode of The Soul of Life, Keith Miller sits down with award-winning science fiction writer Ken Liu for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, storytelling, technology, and what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world. Liu explores the illusion of a single, stable self, drawing from philosophy, psychology, and his own writing to examine how identity continuously evolves over time. He challenges the modern obsession with "pure rationality," arguing that emotion quietly underpins every value system we claim is objective. ✨ And if you enjoyed this archive episode, check out Keith's new podcast Tripping Over Love, now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Substack. LISTEN TO TRIPPING OVER LOVE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC

In this episode, Keith speaks with Lou Lucas, Chief of Palliative Medicine at the Nebraska and Western Iowa Veterans Health Care Systems, about the deep connections between mind, body, and spirit in healing. They explore what palliative medicine actually is, why communication and meaning matter as much as treatment, and how stress, trauma, and emotional suppression can shape physical illness. Lou explains how our immune systems respond to chronic stress, why autoimmune conditions often reflect deeper internal conflict, and how healing begins when we stop fighting parts of ourselves. The conversation also dives into Internal Family Systems (IFS), the concept of Self or soul, and how working with inner parts can restore balance and resilience. Lou introduces her concept of "pallia-delic" medicine—relieving suffering by revealing the mind—and explains how psychedelic-assisted therapy differs fundamentally from recreational drug use.  ✨ And if you enjoyed this archive episode, check out Keith's new podcast Tripping Over Love, now on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Substack. LISTEN TO TRIPPING OVER LOVE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tripping-over-love/id1850974406 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yl3TNTfBM1TutbETEKYNC Substack: https://trippingoverlove.substack.com/ 📱 Follow us Instagram: @trippingoverlovepodcast TikTok: @trippingoverlove Facebook: Tripping Over Love Podcast