Toxic Positivity: Why Do We Party‪?‬ Evan Cudworth

Noah (DJ NOHA) and I met on TikTok. 

What happens when two party boys who love nightlife try to bring wellness into their weekends? 

CONNECT w/ NOHA: https://instagram.com/noha_music?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Listen to HOPE LICKER EP on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/21kobAQiqwYtFzhsWhdJvB?si=ZZFnlO_hQiK_97Z-Csq_Jw


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I met Austin Diduch (aka HAWD HITTA) circa 3am during the dark days of quarantine in the Hollywood Hills. It was a "good vibes only" type of event: bright colors and costumes and small talk, but you could all feel there was immense pain in everyone's eyes. 

Parties can (and should) be a healing space, but by the tine Austin and I connected we both had realized that maybe we were there for the wrong reasons. 

As we both moved on to rebuild our relationship to the underground party scene post-COVID, we've both found new layers of joy & authenticity by getting HONEST with ourselves about what we actually want from music, venues, and most of all: our friends. 

Listen for these highlights:


The deeper friendships & love for music that evolve when you take a break from substances 
Must-have snacks to have in a fanny pack if you're not drinking
Outdated labels like "sober" and "addict" that often prevent from acknowledging whatever that is toxic that has a grip on us
Why you're NEVER alone -- but you'll feel alone if you refuse to acknowledge toxic positivity 
The "vibe shift" that's happening EVERYWHERE in the scene, that maybe people are still afraid to talk about
That "Wizard of Oz" moment of seeing colors when you realize it's POSSIBLE to push through your anxiety and be more intentional about when and how you connect 

CONNECT W/ AUSTIN

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawdhitta/?hl=en

Stream his single "SEE ME" on Spotfiy: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1UQSAyDVTIGdluOAYlVKie?si=y94bLvyTTjek6vLxS34y8w




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What does 7 weeks of not drinking sound like? 

Maddie & I met shuffling at CRSSD Festival in San Diego a few months ago as I was filming content about how I love to go to music festivals without alcohol. This inspired Maddie to take a break from the booze... and you won't believe what she discovered next. 

We talk CONNECTING TO OUR NATURAL ENERGY and then break down the two definitions of TOXIC POSITIVITY:

"Good vibes only" vs. "Using substances to stay positive."

Then, I tell the story about the best week of my life: going sober to Burning Man and walking proudly into orgy tent as my confident, sober self. 

Maddie concludes with a beautiful story about how even this short break from booze has helped her come back to the "best version of herself" that she had felt distant from.

CONNECT WITH MADDIE:

Instagram (dance & shuffling): https://www.instagram.com/maddieoffthemat/

Maddie's Coaching Website: https://maddienaylor.com/about#header.0


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Early in quarantine I took a random ZOOM yoga class a friend had posted in their story, and was blown away by the energy of the teacher: turns out it was Meredith Baker, and she lived just down the street from me. Deep in my bout of unemployment, Meredith launched her coaching program PIVOT INTO PURPOSE, and as her client, inspired me to launch my own coaching career! In fact, at 28:10 I discuss how and why I recently had the courage to finally leave my lucrative admissions job to pursue this podcast.

Meredith inspires risk-takers! On her coaches bio, she details: "From big leaps like pursuing music and yoga teaching after doing my undergrad at Harvard and MSc at Oxford, to founding a company with no business background, to signing up for an Ironman having never biked or done a triathlon..." and I guarantee that by listening to her discuss TOXIC POSITIVITY, you'll be inspired as well. 

But not at the expense of authenticity! We go DEEP into the discriminative male Finals Clubs at Harvard, and how that inspired Meredith early on to host her own storytelling own events, and ever since she has been hosting potlucks and events where people could fully be themselves. We go on to talk about how you can't party your pain away, and how it becomes more difficult to integrate PARTY LIFE with REAL LIFE without structure as you age.

Then, we discuss MORE OF THAT, a perpetually sold-out event series (deep house yoga, musical storytelling, cacao full moon ceremony) Meredith is hosting and how every interaction is designed for people to "come alone, but leave with friends." (We also realize we hosted "dueling Moon Circles" last night #hashtagvenicelyfe). 

Finally, we close with some thoughts about TOXIC POSITIVITY in coaching: how do we show up for clients when we are feeling like shit? Or without being overly optimistic about their chances of success? 

follow: @themeredithbaker

info on "unique IRL experiences that bring us into the present moment" follow @more.of.that


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Veronica expertly kicks off our first podcast segment with her wild trip to Istanbul where the Black Sea meets the forrest in answering "What is the BEST 24 HOURS YOU'VE EVER HAD PARTYING?" Then, we dive deeper into the concept of TOXIC POSITIVITY and the party scene. I share a story about chasing a Daft Punk rumor in Spain and transition into the question: can INTENTIONALITY really be the secret to unlocking authentic happiness? Or is chaos really what we seek? What happens when confronted with PARTY DEMONS 👹and how can we protect our own energy in these spaces? Thank you Veronica for being my first guest and for all you to to bring AUTHENTIC VIBES to every situation


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Welcome to TOXIC POSITIVITY, a podcast for high performing partiers—where where we invite our real life to the party. So… like anyone recording their first podcast I’m nervous. I don’t know if what I’m saying will be of any value. But in some personal development book I heard this concept that you should: “Speak to the person you were 10 years ago.” So today I’m going to share a somewhat harrowing excerpt from my party journal from 10 years ago, and just try to speak to that person.

So, 10 years ago I was 24 years old, living in Chicago and working as an Admissions Officer after graduating college into the Great Recession. My memories of this time are mostly positive. I had a strong group of friends and colleagues, living downtown and exploring the city in a way only 24 year olds can do: crashing from dive bars to kickball games, Lollapalooza to bottle service clubs on Hubbard street. At that age, anything can be fun if you pregame hard enough.

However, I decided to go back to my diaries and I was surprised at what I found from an entry marked November 11th, 2011....

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The mission of this podcast is to inspire party people to take a closer look at WHY we really party. What happens to our hearts and minds when a desire for “positive vibes only” creates a toxic breeding ground for inauthenticy?

When do we admit that we’re not having a blast? And ultimately: how we can develop the strength to have conversations with our friends and families to help everyone party together stronger, not just longer.


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