Being Different Together

Nyssa Hanger
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Self-Improvement

Being Different Together explores the realms of relationship, entrepreneurship, and personal development through the lens of Real Dialogue, a set of principles, practices, and methods for healthy conflict as a means for growth.  In other words, just because we disagree, doesn’t mean we can’t get along.  Through this series, Nyssa and Kelly will bring their combined experience as holistic health practitioners to the table to share what they’ve learned through the process of integrating these skills in their lives.  This podcast is for all the people who want to make the world a better place and feel a little less alone doing it.

  1. 2d ago

    #38 - Why You Can’t Control Getting Sick

    What if your next cold, flu, or full-on crash isn’t a failure of your wellness routine, but an invitation for change? Kelly and Nyssa get real about getting sick as solopreneurs and healthcare providers—from the shame of calling in sick with clients, to the financial hit, to the deep ego bruise of admitting “I’m human.”  They explore how illness can become an unexpected spiritual teacher, weaving together Jungian psychology, Buddhist perspectives on impermanence (including the Five Remembrances), and the alchemy of illness as a catalyst for life change, mental health reset, and reevaluating priorities.  Along the way, they unpack the pressure of toxic wellness culture, the myth that we can completely control our health with perfect routines and metrics, and the strange clarity that comes when sickness forces you to stop, reflect, and ask: If all this fell away, what do I really want? Main Topics Covered: Why calling in sick as a therapist or healer can feel so shameful—and what’s really underneath that.The double cost of solopreneur sick days: no income and clients not getting seen.How illness can act as an unexpected life review: “What am I doing with my life?”Jung’s view of illness as archetype and how the body “says” what the mouth can’t.The alchemy of illness: using stages of distillation as a metaphor for transformation and loss.Buddhism’s Five Remembrances and how remembering illness, aging, and death can clarify priorities.Surviving serious illness (Hodgkin’s disease) and caring for sick loved ones: how that reshapes compassion.The mental health side of getting sick: breakdowns, resets, and questioning old patterns.The problem with toxic wellness culture and the illusion that perfect habits can control your health.Why we need structure and routines—but not rigidity—if we want to live well in a mortal body.Links: BOOK: Alchemy of Illness by Kat DuffStay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

  2. Sep 3

    #37 - Dolly Parton and the Trickster Archetype: A Jungian Analysis of Her Life and Legacy

    What if the blonde “hillbilly” in full drag, with big hair and bigger humor, was actually one of our culture’s wisest spiritual teachers? In this heartfelt conversation from Cocoa Beach, Kelly and Nyssa remember Dolly Parton’s life and legacy through the lenses of Jungian archetypes, the trickster figure, Buddhist “skillful means,” and real dialog. They explore how Dolly’s campy, hyper-feminine persona functioned like a sacred disguise—smuggling queer-inclusive, compassionate, deeply Christian-in-the-best-way values into country music and mainstream American culture.  Along the way, they share personal stories of dancing to Dolly’s version of “Peace Train,” reflect on what makes Dolly a queer icon and a bridge-builder in polarized times, and unpack why her exaggerated “drag” femininity somehow made her feel more authentic, not less. If you’re curious about Dolly Parton’s death, her impact on grief and healing, or how archetypes like the trickster can help us hold paradox without needing a winner and a loser, this episode offers a tender, thoughtful tribute. Main Topics Covered: How the news of Dolly Parton’s death landed in the middle of puzzles, peace, and vacation at Cocoa BeachThe Sunday “Peace Train” ritual that turned Dolly’s cover into a family anthemWhy Dolly’s campy, over-the-top femininity feels strangely more authentic, not lessThe trickster archetype (Jungian-style) and how Dolly quietly smuggled healing into American cultureDolly as a bridge: from Appalachia to queer icon, evangelical roots to progressive heroThe Imagination Library and transforming a family wound about illiteracy into massive philanthropyHow humor and “crazy wisdom” help us hold paradox instead of picking sidesThe tension between feminism and “I’m not a feminist”—and why Dolly might be more of a humanistWhat it means to have a fiercely guarded private life in an oversharing ageA late-night game of spades, the need to win, and what it reveals about trickster energy in everyday lifeLinks: Episode #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly WayPodcast Series: Dolly Parton’s AmericaWMNF - Tampa’s Community Radio Station: www.wmnf.orgSONG: Peace Train by Dolly Parton BOOK: The Essential Crazy Wisdom by Wes NiskerStay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

  3. Aug 27

    #36 - How to Compromise in a Relationship Without People-Pleasing or Losing Yourself

    A simple decision about where to put the couch opens up a whole world of insight about compromise, power, and what it really means to share a life with someone. Kelly and Nyssa use a deceptively simple question—where does the couch go?—to explore how couples make decisions about shared space, division of labor, and everyday compromises when living together. They unpack the difference between true compromise and people-pleasing, how power dynamics show up in “small” choices like furniture placement, air conditioning, and dishwasher loading, and why so many partners secretly wonder whose reality is “right.”  Drawing on ideas like subjective vs. objective reality, consensus decision-making, Jungian metaphors of the house as psyche, and even sleep hygiene and TV habits, they invite listeners into a warm, honest conversation about being different together while still honoring your own preferences. Main Topics Covered: Why a simple couch placement felt surprisingly emotional—and what that revealed about needs and preferencesThe blurry line between healthy compromise and people-pleasing in long-term relationshipsHow power dynamics and “who gets the final say” quietly shape life at homeSubjective vs. objective reality: is there really a “right way” to do things in a shared space?Consensus decision-making vs. 51/49 models of power in couples and dyadsEveryday flashpoints: thermostats, dishwashers, TV placement, and other “small” fights with big meaningThe house as a metaphor for the psyche—from Jungian symbols to hidden rooms and basementsReimagining the couch, TV, and living room as reflections of healing, rest, and nervous system regulationLearning to name what you actually like so you can ask for what you wantHow partners influence each other’s “snow globes” of reality while still staying distinctStay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

  4. Aug 20

    #35 - Why Your Brain Needs a Friend (The Addition Edition)

    Renovation dust, barking dogs, mosquitoes, and a leaf blower become unlikely teachers in this honest and funny exploration of how we actually think, feel, and regulate. As Kelly and Nyssa record from their jam-packed home addition during a noisy flooring renovation, they unpack how disruption, stress, and even judgment can become invitations into deeper empathy and self-awareness.  They explore why we may need other people to think clearly (hello, nervous system co-regulation and body doubling), how metacognition works in real life, and why practices like morning pages, CBT-style thought reframing, and daily journaling can be so powerful for anxiety and overwhelm.  Along the way they compare Jungian psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy, talk about the difference between writing by hand and typing, and share practical ways to use tools like 750words.com, “Letters from Love,” and Tonglen meditation to turn home renovation chaos—and any life transition—into a practice of compassion, clarity, and regulation. Main Topics Covered: How living in a construction zone reveals our hidden judgments and self-centerednessWhy our brains often think better with another person (nervous system co-regulation & body doubling)Morning pages, “Great Brain Drain,” and how journaling clears mental clutterA therapist’s real-life explanation of cognitive behavioral therapy and thought reframingWriting by hand vs typing: what changes in your mind when you pick up a penUsing 750words.com and “Letters from Love” as spiritual and creative practicesTurning renovation rage, mosquitoes, and car trouble into hilariously human storiesThe map is not the territory: plans vs reality in home makeovers and in lifeHow Tonglen practice (breathing in pain, breathing out compassion) supports empathyReflecting on war, displacement, and shelter while dealing with “chosen” disruption at homeLinks: VISIT: The Disco DollsBOOK: The Artist’s Way by Julia CameronBOOK: Feeling Great by David Burnswww.750words.com (resource for writing more regularly)Newsletter Sign Up: Going Upward Newsletter – Get Nyssa’s email newsletter hereStay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

  5. Aug 13

    #34 - A Mini Solo Episode: Showing Up When Life Gets Messy

    Hey friends, it’s Nyssa here with a solo episode explaining why.  Let me just tell you in one word: Renovations.  Or listen here to this mini-episode with my reflections on the roller coaster we’ve been on lately. I’m sure we’ll both have more to say on that later! We’ll be back to our usual schedule next week. Thank you for listening.  Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

  6. Aug 6

    #33 - Why The Odyssey Still Hits So Hard: Archetypes, War, and the Search for Home

    What if your favorite ancient epic is actually a map for healing from war, conflict, and the feeling of being spiritually homeless?  In this conversation, Kelly and Nyssa revisit The Odyssey through the lens of archetypes, the hero’s journey, and the trickster energy of Odysseus—woven together with reflections on the new Odyssey film, war trauma, and what it really means to “come home” to yourself.  They explore themes like the Trojan Horse as a moral breaking point, Poseidon as a force of humbling, monsters as symbols of our psychological shadow, and how conflict (healthy and unhealthy) shapes us. Along the way, they connect Homer, Joseph Campbell, Jungian individuation, real dialog, and modern storytelling—from IMAX screens to podcasts as today’s bards—to offer listeners a soulful, curious, and grounded way to relate The Odyssey to their own lives. Main Topics Covered: How a new Odyssey film sparked fresh reflections on war, trauma, and the hero’s journeyWhy Odysseus is the ultimate trickster—and when intelligence stops being wisdomThe Trojan Horse as a “bridge too far” and what it reveals about moral injury in warMonsters as metaphors: Cyclops, sirens, lotus-eaters, and Scylla & Charybdis as inner statesThe ancient Greek code of hospitality and how Odysseus weaponizes itWrestling with the “enemy button” and whether conflict can ever really be “healthy”The ache and complexity of “home” when your childhood house—and your inner life—have changedHow Jung’s individuation and Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey show up in The OdysseyScreens, trance states, and why movies can feel like modern-day myths and ritualsPodcasts as today’s bards: why storytelling is still one of our deepest medicines Links: BOOK: The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph CampbellBOOK: The Heroine’s Journey by Maureen Murdock Newsletter Sign Up: Going Upward Newsletter – Get Nyssa’s email newsletter here  Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

  7. Jul 30

    #32 - How to Turn Emotional Wounds into Insight: Lessons from Tibetan Buddhism

    In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly shares a powerful Tibetan Buddhist myth about Queen Ramati / Palden Lhamo—a fierce female protector who turns the wound on her mule into an all-seeing eye—and she and Nyssa explore what it means to transform emotional wounds into wisdom, protection, and compassionate boundaries.  Together they unpack the story’s rich psychological symbolism, dive into themes of fierce compassion, contextual morality, and the “feminine” beyond sugar-and-spice stereotypes, and connect it with Eastern texts like the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana, as well as Western imagery like The Wizard of Oz and Wicked.  Along the way, they ask how our past trauma, family patterns, and ancestral history can become “eyes” that help us see more clearly, reduce suffering for ourselves and others, and stop cycles of harm—without romanticizing pain or bypassing real healing work. Main Topics Covered: The Tibetan Buddhist story of Queen Ramati / Palden Lhamo and the mule’s wound that becomes an eyeHow wounds can become eyes: transforming emotional pain into insight and protectionWhat “viewing the past in a friendly way” really means for healing and hindsightWhy context matters in morality, from the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana to modern lifeReimagining the feminine as fierce and whole, not just “good witch vs. bad witch”How culture splits women into Glinda vs. the Wicked Witch, and what Wicked gets rightThe lost art of guardianship and ancestral awareness in modern, forward-only cultureUsing myth and symbolism as practical tools for trauma healing and boundary-settingEveryday examples: from Achilles tendinitis to learning to see life differently through painA cozy DC travel tangent: Talking Heads cover bands, ice cream, and unexpected joy Newsletter Sign Up: Going Upward Newsletter – Get Nyssa’s email newsletter hereStay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

  8. Jul 23

    #31 - Being in the Trenches Without Going to War With Yourself

    What does it really mean to be in the trenches of life—and how do you stop turning those seasons into a war against yourself?  In this episode, we explore “trench seasons” like home renovations, burnout, caregiving, and overwhelm, and how they collide with time management, productivity, and our Type A perfectionist parts. We dive into optimization culture (biohacking, looksmaxing, sleep trackers, glucose monitors), Jung’s ideas about the shadow and fanaticism, and how our harsh judgments of others often reveal our own unmet needs.  Along the way, we talk about intentionality, bed days as burnout prevention, self-compassion for both the over-doers and the under-doers, and how to recognize when you’re in a trench so you can ease up on yourself instead of doubling down on self-criticism. Main Topics Covered: What “being in the trenches” looks like in everyday life (and why it’s not always existential crisis)How home renovations, car trouble, and heat waves become invisible emotional laborWhy time management and productivity can turn fanatical—and how to notice when they doJung’s idea of the shadow and how our harsh judgments of others are often secret confessions“Bed days” as both trench treatment and trench prevention for burnoutThe hidden costs of optimization culture: biohacking, looksmaxing, and going to war with your own bodyType A vs. Type B: how each personality judges the other (and what that reveals inside us)The neighbor-with-the-body-shop story and what it teaches about boundaries and resentmentWhy flipping from one extreme to another rarely works (especially with diets and routines)How intentionality and self-compassion help us find a middle way through hard seasons Links: BOOK: Cultish by Amanda Montell Newsletter Sign Up: Going Upward Newsletter – Get Nyssa’s email newsletter here Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

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Trailer

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Being Different Together explores the realms of relationship, entrepreneurship, and personal development through the lens of Real Dialogue, a set of principles, practices, and methods for healthy conflict as a means for growth.  In other words, just because we disagree, doesn’t mean we can’t get along.  Through this series, Nyssa and Kelly will bring their combined experience as holistic health practitioners to the table to share what they’ve learned through the process of integrating these skills in their lives.  This podcast is for all the people who want to make the world a better place and feel a little less alone doing it.

Information

  • Creator
    Nyssa Hanger
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Being Different Together
  • Show Website
    Being Different Together

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