Magical Overthinkers

Are you ambitious... or just exhausted? This week, Amanda is joined by award winning journalist and author of The Ambition Penalty, Stefanie O'Connell (@stefanieoconnell), to unpack one of the most misunderstood words in our vocabulary, ambition. They explore why ambition isn't a fixed personality trait, how corporate culture rewards some people while penalizing others for the exact same behavior, and why women are so often expected to walk an impossible tightrope between being "too much" and "not enough." They answer listener thought spirals about external validation, comparison, girlboss burnout, trad wives, capitalism, and whether it's possible to want a big life without letting your achievements define your worth. A validating spiral about redefining success and realizing your ambition was never the problem.Further Reading: The Ambition Penalty by Stafanie O'Connell

- Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers.

- To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack.

- Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook.

Get 20% off at https://BUYRAYCON.com/MAGICALOPEN

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Amanda is joined by entrepreneur, former supreme court attorney and professional poker player, and author of You Can Just Do Things, Cate Hall, to unpack why starting over feels so terrifying and why it might be the very thing that leads us toward a more authentic life. Together, they chat about the fear of quitting, the sunk cost fallacy, why we crave a tidy life story, and how to tell the difference between running away from something and running toward yourself. They also answer listener thought spirals about toxic jobs, divorce, changing careers, moving across the world, getting "too old" to begin again, and whether it's ever really too late to start over.Further Reading: You Can Just Do Things by Cate Hall with Sasha Chapin

- Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers.

- To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack.

- Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook.

- If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, now is the time. Use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/3OdtU5X

⁠- Download Whatnot today and get $20 Off and free shipping on your first purchase.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why are we so afraid of getting older? Is it really about wrinkles... or are we actually afraid of losing our purpose, our identity, and the people we love? This week, Amanda is joined by oncologist, bioethicist, and Eat Your Ice Creamauthor Dr. Ezekiel "Zeke" Emanuel (@drezekielemanuel) to unpack our culture's obsession with staying young. Together, they explore why the wellness industry's promises of longevity miss the point, why curiosity matters more than looking 25 forever, and why some of the happiest, most meaningful years of life may still be ahead of us. They answer listener thought spirals about Botox, becoming "invisible," feeling behind in adulthood, retirement, and whether getting older has to mean becoming less yourself. A hopeful spiral about learning to fear aging a little less... and living a little more.

Further Reading: Eat Your Ice Cream by Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD

- Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers.

- To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack.

- Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook.

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at ⁠⁠https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why does failure feel so much bigger than it actually is? This week, Amanda is joined by entrepreneur, author, and leadership coach Jane Marie Chen (@janemarie.chen) to spiral about failure: why we're so terrified of it, why we avoid it at all costs, and why it often hurts so much more than the thing that actually happened. Together, they explore perfectionism, rejection, burnout, imposter syndrome, and the childhood experiences that shape our relationship to failure long before we ever encounter it. And what if failure isn't evidence that we're unworthy? What if it's simply the price of catching bigger waves? A reflective spiral about risk, resilience, and learning to love yourself even when things don't go according to plan.

Further Reading: Like a Wave We Break by Jane Marie Chen

- Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers.

- To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack.

- Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook.

- If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, now is the time. Use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/3OdtU5X

⁠- Download Whatnot today and get $20 Off and free shipping on your first purchase. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No matter how old we get, there’s a decent chance a small part of us is still trying to impress, understand, forgive, rebel against, or be comforted by our mothers. This week, Amanda is joined by writer and editor Ashley Oerman (@ashleyoerman), author of Motherf*cked, to spiral about one of the most loaded relationships in the human experience: the one between mothers and their children. Together, they unpack the impossible expectations placed on mothers, the ways our earliest relationships shape our adult identities, and why "mommy issues" have become both a punchline and a profound psychological reality. A tender spiral about the stories we spend a lifetime trying to rewrite.

Further Reading: Motherf*cked: How to Stop Your Mothers Toxic Drama from Ruining Your Life by Ashley Oerman

- Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers.

- To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack.

- Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook.

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at ⁠https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical⁠


Shop plans at ⁠https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices