The Year We Got Better

This week on the podcast, we are diving deeper into one subcategory of the physical dimension: Exercise! Join us for a meaningful and body positive conversation about moving our bodies, breaking a sweat, and freeing ourselves from the cycle of exercise as punishment. The Rapid Fire segment brings us back to a lighter note before we move into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to chat about all things exercise and movement. The Rundown0:00 - Intro0:49 - Our exercise and fitness journeys 11:43 - Why do people exercise? 15:11 - The impact of social media on exercise habits17:18 - Reframing exercise in a positive light24:25 - How important is rest? 26:16 - Rapid fire!!!29:35 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 36:03 - How ya feelin’? Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/ Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green - https://everythingistb.com/ The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/donna-tartt Amazing Glaze - https://www.amazingglaze.net/ Six Seasons of Pasta by Joshua McFadden - https://www.joshuamcfadden.com/projects/six-seasons-of-pasta Find Us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theyearwegotbetter/ Find Us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheYearWeGotBetter

We wouldn’t be a wellness podcast without a deep dive into body image. Our topic for week fifteen touches on many different dimensions of wellness but particularly on physical and emotional health. We’re talking about everything from societal pressures to fatphobia to boobs. As always, we bring back some silliness in the Rapid Fire segment before moving into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to learn more about where we’re at with our body image these days. The Rundown0:00 - Intro1:00 - Our current relationships with our bodies5:24 - Early messaging about body image 11:43 - Weight-loss drugs15:04 - Where we find positive body image17:43 - How body image changes over time26:58 - Tips and tricks to improve your body image32:39 - Rapid fire!!!34:13 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 39:21 - How ya feelin’? Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: Nicola Coughlan represents the “perfect breasts community” - https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/on-bridgerton-nicola-coughlan-proudly-represents-women-with-perfect-breasts Tapas Teatro Baltimore - http://www.tapasteatro.com/ The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/donna-tartt/the-goldfinch/9780316055437/?lens=little-brown The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/

Social media: Is it actually social anymore? For week fourteen, we are focusing on the social dimension, diving deeper into the landscape of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more. We talk about our own experiences as social media users, the impact of AI, and the addiction factor. As always, the Rapid Fire segment brings back the levity before we move into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to learn more about our social media hot takes. The Rundown0:00 - Intro1:13 - The stats on social media2:08 - What is happening with social media these days? 6:20 - Connection and disconnection on social media12:21 - Does social media make our lives better? 17:30 - Fundamental shifts in social media and the impact of AI24:01 - Balancing analog and digital lives27:05 - Rapid fire!!!29:07 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 34:13 - How ya feelin’? Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: “Can’t Look Away” documentary - https://www.jolt.film/watch/cantlookaway The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250391230/carelesspeople/ “AI-altered photos and videos of Minneapolis shootings blur reality” (NBC News) - https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/ai-altered-photos-videos-minneapolis-shootings-blur-reality-rcna256552 L.L. Bean Sherpa Jacket - https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/128413 The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/donna-tartt/the-goldfinch/9780316055437/?lens=little-brown The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/ Small Thing Like These by Claire Keegan - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/small-things-like-these-claire-keegan/1139228770 Roasted White Bean and Tomato Pasta - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024062-roasted-white-bean-and-tomato-pasta Dessert Person cookbook by Claire Saffitz - https://www.dessertperson.com/dessert-person-cookbook

You asked for it, we brought it! For week thirteen, we are focusing on values. We talk about how to live a value-driven life, why understanding your values builds empowerment, and how they change over time. Plus, we share some of our core values and discuss what happens when values collide. As always, the Rapid Fire segment takes a chaotic turn before we move into our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to learn more about our key values and how we embrace them in everyday life. The Rundown0:00 - Intro0:45 - What does the term “values” mean?1:34 - Why is it important to determine your values?2:30 - Our values stories7:53 - How do values influence decision-making?11:32 - False binaries and the black and white thinking fallacy18:37 - The values sort exercise25:04 - Living into our values in real life33:41 - Rapid fire!!!36:58 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 43:57 - How ya feelin’? Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: Printable values sort template - https://psychwire.com/free-resources/clinical-tools/resource-1homhnz/personal-values-card-sort The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - https://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-great-believers/ The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755600/the-correspondent-by-virginia-evans/ Get a Letter From Quinn - https://forms.gle/vk1wmSFo71HSVtoHA Quinn’s Substack - https://thisismyyear.substack.com/

How does failure fit into the overall equation of mental health? On week twelve of the podcast, we are diving into societal expectations, the false dichotomy of failure and success, and making your own rules. As always, we get rowdy on the Rapid Fire segment before moving onto our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to learn more about our latest failures and how we constantly renegotiate the concept of success!The Rundown0:00 - Intro1:08 - What does failure mean to us? 8:10 - What can we learn from failure?  16:27 - Failure and self-worth18:30 - Fear of failure21:19 - Rapid fire!!!24:45 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 35:35 - How ya feelin’? Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755600/the-correspondent-by-virginia-evans/ Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - https://www.allenlevi.com/the-book The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf - https://heathergudenkauf.com/the-overnight-guest/ Vegetarian bean and cheese burritos - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022532-bean-and-cheese-burritos Pea stew - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026665-spiced-pea-stew-with-yogurt Red lentil soup - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016062-red-lentil-soup TBR Writing and Publishing Conference - https://www.tbr.boston/ Quinn’s Substack - https://thisismyyear.substack.com/

Welcome back to week eleven of the podcast! We dive into the environmental dimension of wellness, exploring topics like sustainability, travel, and the Marie Kondo method. Of course, we love our Rapid Fire segment and our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to find out if we manage to get a handle on what environmental wellness means!The Rundown0:00 - Intro1:01 - What does environmental wellness mean?4:48 - The importance of nature and spending time outdoors6:30 - Sustainability X environmental wellness10:30 - Travel and shaking up your environment13:29 - Tips and tricks for environmental wellness15:04 - Rapid fire!!!17:00 - How did we invest in each dimension this week? 26:03 - How ya feelin’? Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: “Eight Dimensions of Wellness” (UC Davis) - https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/health-and-wellness/eight-dimensions-wellness “Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall” documentary  - https://www.netflix.com/title/82053197 Costiera Baltimore - https://costierabaltimore.com/ The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755600/the-correspondent-by-virginia-evans/ Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - https://www.allenlevi.com/the-book Before I Forget by Tori Henwood Hoen - https://toryhenwoodhoen.com/before-i-forget Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel - https://isabelleengel.com/books/most-eligible Creamy Tortellini Soup - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026148-creamy-tortellini-soup TBR Writing and Publishing Conference - https://www.tbr.boston/ 

Welcome back to week ten of the podcast! We dive into the occupational dimension of wellness, exploring topics like hustle culture, work-life balance, and our dream jobs. Of course, we would never skip over our Rapid Fire segment and our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness. Tune in to find out if we discover deeper meaning in our careers! The Rundown0:00 - Intro1:58 - What does occupational wellness mean?5:21 - Live to work vs. work to live8:25 - Hustle culture11:25 - Professional growth and development16:27 - Tips and tricks22:18 - Rapid fire!!!25:39 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: Into Thin Air by John Krakauer - https://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/0385494785 Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb - https://www.amazon.com/Maybe-You-Should-Talk-Someone/dp/1328662055 Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory - https://www.jasmineguillory.com/party-of-two The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez - https://www.amazon.com/Friend-Zone-Abby-Jimenez/dp/1538715600 Half Baked Harvest Super Simple by Tieghan Gerard - https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/cookbook/half-baked-harvest-super-simple/ Six Seasons of Pasta by Joshua McFadden - https://www.joshuamcfadden.com/projects/six-seasons-of-pasta Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz - https://www.dessertperson.com/dessert-person-cookbook Quinn’s Substack - https://thisismyyear.substack.com/ 

Welcome back to week nine of the podcast! We are interrupting our usual programming to bring you a special New Year’s episode. We dive into the hype around New Year’s resolutions, exploring topics like goal-setting, self-improvement, and some toxic trends. Of course, we would never skip over our Rapid Fire segment and our weekly rundown of the eight dimensions of wellness.  The Rundown0:00 - Intro1:08 - New Year’s resolutions fun facts 3:52 - Why are New Year’s resolutions so popular? 8:37 - Do we make New Year’s resolutions?13:40 - Resolutions versus goals17:42 - Tips and tricks for sticking to our goals 20:38 - Our 2026 New Year’s resolutions25:17 - Rapid fire!!!28:43 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?37:40 - How ya feelin’?  Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory - https://www.jasmineguillory.com/flirting-lessons Into Thin Air by John Krakauer - https://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/0385494785 Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz - https://www.dessertperson.com/dessert-person-cookbook THE Bread Pudding Recipe - https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/vermont-maple-bread-pudding-with-walnut-praline-230662 Tiramisu Recipe - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018684-classic-tiramisu Holiday Cheese Log - https://carolefood.com/recipe/cranberry-cheese-log#google_vignette TBR Conference - https://www.tbr.boston/ 

Welcome back to week eight of the podcast! We are taking a closer look at the financial dimension, discussing topics like financial decision paralysis, the taboo around talking about money, and each of our financial journeys. Tune in to hear us get real about the challenges of navigating financial education and imposter syndrome as young adults. The Rundown0:00 - Intro1:06 - Why is it so hard to talk about finances? 3:37 - Education around financial topics10:24 - Drew’s personal finance journey20:28 - Quinn’s personal finance journey33:55 - Budgeting and finances as a couple39:13 - Rapid fire!!!44:19 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?53:10 - How ya feelin’? Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-psychology-of-money-morgan-housel/1136394564 Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap - https://herfirst100k.com/financial-feminist-book Holiday Baking Substack - https://thisismyyear.substack.com/p/week-8-holy-christmas-cookies Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015819-chocolate-chip-cookies Lemon Turmeric Crinkle Cookies - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026302-lemon-turmeric-crinkle-cookies Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024782-mexican-hot-chocolate-cookies Brown Butter Rice Krispies Treats - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023659-rice-krispies-treats Vietnamese Coffee Swirl Brownies -  https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1027498-vietnamese-coffee-swirl-brownies Three-Ingredient Dog Treats: https://tastythriftytimely.com/3-ingredient-dog-treats-home-made-with-love/The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad - https://www.suleikajaouad.com/the-book-of-alchemy Into Thin Air by John Krakauer - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/95441/into-thin-air-by-jon-krakauer-new-afterword-by-the-author/ WriteHQ - https://www.write-hq.com/ 

Welcome back to week seven of the podcast! We are taking a closer look at the creative dimension, exploring topics like the relationship between creativity and boredom, myths about not being creative enough, and the possibility of scheduling creativity. Obviously, there is a chaotic rapid fire segment and plenty of tangents. The Rundown0:00 - Intro00:38 - Creativity as a dimension of wellness4:35 - Nature or nurture, creativity edition6:55 - Myths about creativity12:51 - How is boredom related to creativity? 17:00 - Can creativity be scheduled? 19:30 - How we practice creativity 23:40 - Rapid fire!!!29:20 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?41:15 - How ya feelin’? Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-psychology-of-money-morgan-housel/1136394564 Untamed by Glennon Doyle - https://untamedbook.com/

Welcome back to week six of the podcast! We are taking a closer look at the intellectual dimension, but not without the requisite twenty-five tangents. We dip a toe in topics like politics, sudoku, life-changing books, artificial intelligence, and curiosity. Don’t miss it!The Rundown0:00 - Intro00:50 - Why is the intellectual dimension important?  2:52 - How do we practice intellectual wellness? 4:44 - The intellectual dimension in the modern world21:02 - Intellectual dimension tools and tricks25:00 - Rapid fire!!!29:10 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?41:00 - How ya feelin’? Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-psychology-of-money-morgan-housel/1136394564 “Can Crosswords and Games Prevent Dementia?” article - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/30/well/mind/dementia-brain-training-puzzles.html The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-things-they-carried-tim-obrien/1100228685 Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Why-We-Sleep/Matthew-Walker/9781501144325 Seven Days in June by Tia Williams - https://reesesbookclub.com/book/seven-days-in-june/ THE Bread Pudding Recipe - https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/vermont-maple-bread-pudding-with-walnut-praline-230662 Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap - https://herfirst100k.com/financial-feminist-book TBR Writing and Publishing Conference - https://www.tbr.boston/ 

Welcome back to week five of the podcast! We are taking a closer look at the social dimension and how connecting with others and building a community is such an important element of wellness. We explore what the social dimension means to us, how it has shifted as we get older, and some tips and tricks we have used along the way. Plus, a fun new rapid-fire question round!The Rundown0:00 - Intro00:32 - What does the social dimension mean? 03:06 - Misconceptions about adult friendships11:15 - Long-distance friendships17:57 - Social dimension tools and tricks23:00 - Rapid fire!!!28:35 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?43:27 - Byeee, see you next time!Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb - https://www.amazon.com/Maybe-You-Should-Talk-Someone/dp/1328662055 All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin - https://www.emilygiffin.com/all-we-ever-wanted Quinn’s Medium Article - https://medium.com/@qmarnone_22920/in-defense-of-semantics-be4b30d5693d Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap - https://herfirst100k.com/financial-feminist-book The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-psychology-of-money-morgan-housel/1136394564 The Revolution Hotel - https://therevolutionhotel.com/

Welcome back to week four of the podcast! We are taking a closer look at the emotional dimension and how to reach beyond your physical health to paint a more holistic picture. What does emotional wellness mean to each of us, and how did we get to where we are today?  The Rundown0:00 - Intro00:21 - What does the emotional dimension mean? 1:31 - Quinn’s emotional wellness journey13:39 - Drew’s emotional wellness journey21:55 - Tool and tips we’ve learned along the way28:53 - Advice to our younger selves33:06 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?48:59 - Weekly recap: How ya feelin’? 50:30 - Byeee, see you next time!Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: Template for Values Sort - https://psychwire.com/free-resources/clinical-tools/resource-1homhnz/personal-values-card-sort An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister - https://jodimcalister.com.au/book-series/an-academic-affair/ The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel - https://www.morganhousel.com/ Endless Customers by Marcus Sheridan - https://www.endlesscustomers.com/

Welcome back to week three of the podcast! We are breaking down the physical dimension of wellness, discussing factors like movement, nourishment, presentation, sleep, and medical health. Of course, we are also covering how we filled our cups in the eight dimensions of wellness this week. You won’t want to miss it!  The Rundown0:00 - Intro00:28 - A deeper dive into the physical dimension 05:47 - Exercise/movement16:55 - Food/nourishment25:20 - Presentation and grooming31:22 - Sleep36:25 - Medical health40:49 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?55:30 - Weekly recap: How ya feelin’? 57:05 - Byeee, see you next time!Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: Medicube Zero Pore Pads - https://www.ulta.com/p/zero-pore-pad-pimprod2053434 Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, PhD - https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144316 Maintenance Phase podcast - https://www.maintenancephase.com/ Quinn’s Substack - https://thisismyyear.substack.com/ Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy - https://reesesbookclub.com/book/wild-dark-shore/ You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian - https://catsebastian.com/you-should-be-so-lucky/ The Mel Robbins Podcast - https://www.melrobbins.com/podcast/ Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap - https://herfirst100k.com/financial-feminist-book  

It’s week two of the podcast! Quinn and Drew dive deeper into why they started the eight dimensions of wellness project, discussing their relationships with mental health and overall wellness in the past. Sh*t gets real. The Rundown0:00 - Intro00:45 - Drew’s wellness journey 15:12 - Quinn’s wellness journey23:28 - Why are we doing this? 34:25 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?55:33 - Weekly recap: How ya feelin’? 56:45 - Byeee, see you next time!Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry - https://www.emilyhenrybooks.com/books The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap - https://herfirst100k.com/financial-feminist-book  Makeout Creek Books - https://makeoutcreek.com/

It’s week one of the podcast! Quinn and Drew explore the eight dimensions of wellness to kick off their year-long journey of trying to get better… whatever the hell that means. Discover this innovative project that puts holistic health at the forefront (and maybe have a laugh along the way). The Rundown0:00 - Intro00:30 - About the project8:30 - What are the eight dimensions? 21:30 - How did we invest in each dimension this week?40:00 - Weekly recap: How ya feelin’? 46:15 - Byeee, see you next time!Links to cool stuff we talk about during the podcast: NIH Article by Debbie L. Stoewen - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5508938/ Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap - https://herfirst100k.com/financial-feminist-book Book of the Month - https://www.bookofthemonth.com/ Tommy Emmanuel - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6HjfVflhYjbu6PSIsFOjwM WriteHQ - https://www.write-hq.com/