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. 4d ago

    #25 - Intentionality, Part 10: Whatever It Is You Feel, Remember You Don’t Have To

    What if your feelings weren’t the boss of you after all?  Kelly and Nyssa continue their Uncle Murray intentionality series with two deceptively simple slogans: “Whatever it is you feel, remember you don’t have to” and “An opportunity missed is an opportunity missed.”  They explore emotional regulation, tantrums (child and adult), grief, anxiety spirals, and perfectionism, sharing practices like 90‑second feeling waves, turning emotions into “little monsters” you can send to summer camp, and sending your inner critic on vacation.  Through stories about hard conversations, spiritual community, starting a podcast years “late,” and the pressure of the American Dream, they offer a compassionate, practical reframe for anyone who overthinks, overfeels, or obsesses about the chances they didn’t take. Main Topics Covered: How to feel big emotions all the way through without getting stuck in themThe difference between real fear, everyday anxiety, and “concern”Turning your emotions into little monsters you can lovingly send to “summer camp”Why your inner critic deserves an all‑expenses‑paid vacation (and how to send it)How we use feelings—consciously or not—to manipulate, control, or avoid others“An opportunity missed is an opportunity missed”: what it doesn’t say and why that mattersThe hidden cost of believing every missed chance will “ruin your life”What a spiritual celebration of life taught them about legacy, memory, and being namedThe quiet power of choosing not to send the angry text or chase instant reassuranceStarting a podcast after years of talking about it—and what imperfect action can unlock Links: Shante Cofield | The Movement MaestroEpisode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This MomentEpisode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No ExcuseEpisode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better ChanceEpisode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’sEpisode #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly WayEpisode #21 - Intentionality, Part 6: There’s More Than Two Ways to Skin a CatEpisode #22 - Intentionality, Part 7: Take the Hard Things EasyEpisode #23 - Intentionality, Part 8: You’re Already ReadyEpisode #24 - Intentionality, Part 9: Life is a Joke – Either You Get It or You Don’tSONG: Bang Bang by K’naan 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

    49 min

  2. Jun 4

    #24 - Intentionality, Part 9: Life is a Joke – Either You Get It or You Don’t

    Life is a joke … and a precious gift. Kelly and Nyssa explore how both can be true through two of Uncle Murray’s most powerful intentionality slogans: “When in doubt, choose the belief that is most useful to you” and “Life is a joke, either you get it or you don’t.” They unpack how consciously choosing your beliefs shapes your emotions, relationships, spirituality, and even how you cope with grief, loss, construction chaos, and dying pets—without bypassing pain or pretending everything is “fine.” Drawing on Tibetan Lojong teachings, existential philosophy, family stories, and Murray’s irreverent humor, they explore doubt, faith, openness, and what it really means to “get” life before it’s over. If you’ve ever wrestled with what to believe, struggled to lighten up, or wondered how to honor both the absurdity and sacredness of being alive, this conversation on intentionality, mindset, and meaning‑making is for you. Main Topics Covered: How choosing the belief that’s most useful (not “most true”) can transform your daily emotional lifeThe hidden link between beliefs, resentment, and why we get so grumpy doing dishes or standing in lineWhat it really means to “get” the joke of life—and what happens if you don’tThe double meaning inside the slogan “Life is a joke, either you get it or you don’t”How Tibetan Lojong teachings and Uncle Murray’s sayings overlap in surprising waysUsing intentionality to navigate grief, dying pets, and house‑under‑construction chaos without bypassing painWhy people with strong traditions may not feel “in doubt”—and how openness changes your relationship to beliefThe idea of a “precious human life” and how it can deepen love, gratitude, and presenceFinding meaning in synchronicities (like the AC breaking during hospice) and the absurd timing of lifeHow humor, irreverence, and not taking yourself so seriously can actually make you more compassionate Links: Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This MomentEpisode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No ExcuseEpisode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better ChanceEpisode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’sEpisode #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly WayEpisode #21 - Intentionality, Part 6: There’s More Than Two Ways to Skin a CatEpisode #22 - Intentionality, Part 7: Take the Hard Things EasyEpisode #23 - Intentionality, Part 8: You’re Already ReadySONG: Everybody Cook by Sofi TuckerBOOK: The Artist’s Way by Julia CameronBOOK: Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg 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

    48 min

  3. May 28

    #23 - Intentionality, Part 8: You’re Already Ready

    In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa continue their intentionality mini-series by unpacking two classic Murray Landsman sayings: "You're already ready" and "Trying is not doing it."  They explore how these deceptively simple phrases cut through resistance, perfectionism, and the “I don’t feel like it” mindset, especially around creative work, meditation, relationships, and everyday tasks like decluttering and home projects. Through stories about writing, inner critics, therapy, and the “great stuff shuffle,” they show how willingness, imperfect action, and giving yourself permission to be a beginner can transform how you show up for the things that matter.  If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting to feel ready, told yourself you’re “trying” but not actually moving forward, or struggled with following your bliss without becoming self‑indulgent, this conversation will help you take compassionate, grounded action right where you are. Main Topics Covered: How the sayings “You’re already ready” and “Trying is not doing it” can bust through resistance and procrastinationThe sneaky ways “I don’t feel like it” and “I’m not ready yet” block our goals (and what we’re really afraid of)Why following your bliss 24/7 can turn into hedonism—and how to stay intentional without being self‑indulgentThe “great stuff shuffle” and what decluttering during a home renovation reveals about readiness and attachmentHow inner critics overprotect us like an overactive immune system—and how to lovingly turn down their volumeWhy it’s often easier to talk than to write about big ideas, and how writers can tolerate imperfect first draftsThe difference between wanting to do something and being willing to do it (especially for unglamorous tasks)What therapy clients, creative practices, and meditation have in common when it comes to actually doing the workHow giving yourself permission to be a beginner changes your relationship with learning, risk, and “getting it right”Links: Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This MomentEpisode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No ExcuseEpisode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better ChanceEpisode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’sEpisode #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly WayEpisode #21 - Intentionality, Part 6: There’s More Than Two Ways to Skin a CatEpisode #22 - Intentionality, Part 7: Take the Hard Things Easy 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

    47 min

  4. May 21

    #22 - Intentionality, Part 7: Take the Hard Things Easy

    In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa continue their intentionality mini-series by unpacking another Murray Landsman saying: “Take the hard things easy.”  They explore how unconscious beliefs about suffering shape our identity—through stories like an anesthesiologist-turned-donut-shop-worker, navigating home renovations, and walking through grief in ways that don’t match other people’s expectations. Along the way, they weave in Zen and Buddhist teachings, the “strong back, soft front” practice, the body’s stress responses (hello, tight psoas and low back pain), and how vulnerability and courage can transform difficult conversations and life transitions.  If you’ve ever wondered how to meet hard things without hardening yourself—whether it’s loss, conflict, or everyday stress—this episode offers practical, compassionate insights for approaching life with more ease and intention. Main Topics Covered: How much of our suffering is actually required—and how much is a secret performance tied to identity?The anesthesiologist who “lost everything” and found unexpected relief working at a donut shop.What happens when your grief doesn’t look like what other people expect (and why that can be unsettling for them).The surprising connection between low back pain, tight bellies, the psoas muscle, and feeling emotionally under threat.“Strong back, soft front”: a Zen-inspired way to meet hard things without hardening yourself.How Western individualism and Eastern contemplative traditions offer very different stories about who we are.Turning stressful life events—like home renovations and family decluttering—into chances to practice taking the hard things easy.The subtle ways we can get “inflated” around our suffering and slip into martyr mode without realizing it.Why vulnerability always comes with that inner quiver—and how courage depends on letting it be there.Links: Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This MomentEpisode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No ExcuseEpisode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better ChanceEpisode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’sEpisode #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly WayEpisode #21 - Intentionality, Part 6: There’s More Than Two Ways to Skin a Cat 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

    50 min

  5. May 14

    #21 - Intentionality, Part 6: There’s More Than Two Ways to Skin a Cat

    In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa continue their intentionality mini-series with two Murray Landsman sayings: “Doing it does it” and “There’s more than two ways to skin a cat.”  They unpack how taking imperfect action creates clarity, how to move through overthinking and perfectionism, and why there’s never just one “right” way to build a life, business, or relationship.  If you struggle with procrastination, fear of doing it wrong, or waiting to feel ready before you start, this conversation offers practical, compassionate guidance for showing up more intentionally and creatively in your everyday life. Main Topics Covered: How “Doing it does it” can break you out of overthinking and get you into real-life momentumThe surprising link between intentionality and how you actually show up in your relationships, work, and daily lifeWhy clarity comes from engagement, not thought—and what that means for dating, business, and big life changesHow perfectionism disguises itself as “planning” and “strategy” (and keeps you safely stuck)The coaching question Nyssa uses to unlock action: “What’s the smallest viable step?”What Murray meant by “There’s more than two ways to skin a cat”—and how it challenges rigid social rulesThe connection between creativity, anti‑perfectionism, and emotional regulation (including Virginia Satir’s “10 solutions” idea)Why chronic stress and fight‑or‑flight shut down creativity—and how to find more options when you feel boxed inReal-life examples: podcasting with barking dogs, tired brains, and takeout dinners… and choosing to do it anywayLinks: Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This MomentEpisode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No ExcuseEpisode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better ChanceEpisode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’sEpisode #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly Way 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

    45 min

  6. May 7

    #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly Way

    In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa continue their intentionality mini-series by unpacking another Murray Landsman saying: “It is useful to view the past in a friendly way.” They explore what it really means to make peace with your past, including how to work with regret, grief, and painful memories without spiritually bypassing or pretending everything was “meant to be.” Through stories of a woman dancing on the beach to honor friends who died, family history at Cocoa Beach, and a powerful dream about everything in life being a gift wrapped in challenges, they show how intentionality and self-awareness can shift how you relate to what’s already happened. They also touch on the unconscious mind, Zen teachings on regret, and our cultural obsession with self‑improvement—why it’s so tempting to replay the past, and how to learn from your history without living in the rearview mirror.  If you’ve ever wondered how to let go of regret, be kinder to your past self, or hold grief and loss without getting stuck there, this conversation is for you. Main Topics Covered: How the simple phrase “It is useful to view the past in a friendly way” can completely change your relationship with regret and memoryThe story of a woman dancing at sunrise on the beach to honor friends who died—and what it teaches about griefWhy humans are 95–99% unconscious (according to some neuropsychologists) and what that means for how we judge ourselves and othersThe difference between being actually cruel and just being unconscious and automatic in our behaviorHow to tell the difference between genuinely learning from the past and just replaying it in your mental rearview mirrorWhy trying to be “less human” (through self‑improvement, perfectionism, or avoiding aging and death) actually increases sufferingWhat Zen teachings suggest about regret, karma, and the idea that things couldn’t have happened any other wayA powerful dream message that “everything in life is a gift—and the really good gifts come wrapped in challenges”Practical ways to be friendlier to your past self without bypassing pain or pretending everything is “for the best”How seeing your past more kindly can open up more compassion, freedom, and joy in the presentLinks: Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This MomentEpisode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No ExcuseEpisode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better ChanceEpisode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’s Books: The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    47 min

  7. Apr 30

    #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’s

    In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa continue their intentionality mini-series by unpacking two powerful Murray Landsman sayings: “Be nice to yourself” and “Your reality is as good as anybody else’s.”  They explore how negative self-talk, shame, and “autoimmune emotions” can impact your mental and physical health, and what it really means to be kinder to yourself without slipping into avoidance or indulgence.  They also dive into subjective reality in relationships—why so many arguments become battles over “who’s right,” how to handle conflict and hard conversations, and how tools like real dialogue and paraphrasing can lower emotional threat and help you truly understand someone you disagree with (about anything from daily annoyances to politics and the pandemic).  If you’ve ever wondered how to stop being mean to yourself, communicate more intentionally, or stay connected when realities collide, this conversation is for you. Main Topics Covered: How “be nice to yourself” can quietly transform harsh inner criticism and negative self-talkWhy being mean to yourself is like having an “autoimmune emotional problem”The surprising difference between mindfulness and intentionality (and why it matters)Everyday examples of choosing how you want to show up vs. living on autopilotWhat “your reality is as good as anybody else’s” really means in relationshipsHow fights turn into battles over “who wins reality” (and how to step out of that trap)The hidden emotional threat behind “How could you believe that?” in political and pandemic debatesA simple real dialog tool—paraphrasing—that can instantly cool down conflictWays subjectivity and curiosity can create a bridge between very different worldviewsLinks: Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This MomentEpisode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No ExcuseEpisode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better ChanceThe Power of Connection TED talk by Hedy Schleifer Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    55 min

  8. Apr 23

    #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better Chance

    In this third episode of our Intentionality series, Nyssa and Kelly return to Murry Landsman’s handwritten bathroom poster to explore one deceptively simple slogan: “If you think you can do something about the world, you have a better chance.”  They unpack how this idea sits between toxic positivity and nihilism, framing it as “agency under constraint”—taking real responsibility for your participation in the world without pretending you can control everything. Along the way, they weave together stories of 90s eco‑kids trying to “save the planet,” Nyssa’s work helping clients heal through bodywork, Kelly’s reflections on Buddhism, karma, and projection, and why conflict is often the very thing that helps us evolve.  If you’ve ever wondered how to make a difference without burning out, stay hopeful without spiritual bypassing, and see “the whole world as medicine,” this conversation is for you. Main Topics Covered: How one simple slogan—“If you think you can do something about the world, you have a better chance”—can change how you see your role in life.The difference between toxic positivity, fantasy “manifestation,” and grounded, realistic hope.What Kelly means by “agency under constraint” and how it helps you avoid both grandiosity and nihilism.How 80s/90s “save the planet” messaging shaped Nyssa’s belief that her actions actually matter.Why believing your work might help someone (in therapy, bodywork, or relationships) gives you a better chance that it will.A playful dive into projective identification and how we unconsciously train people (and pets!) to act the way we expect.The Buddhist idea that “the whole world is medicine” and what it means for everyday conflicts and challenges.A wild pirate parable that reframes karma, intention, and “doing the least harm” in impossible situations.How trying to change anything—yourself, a relationship, or the world—inevitably brings conflict, and why that’s often what helps us evolve.Seeing intentionality as a uniquely human superpower in an age obsessed with AI, efficiency, and quick fixes.Links: Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This MomentEpisode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No ExcuseEpisode #11 - How to Get What You Want (Without Toxic Positivity or Wishful Thinking) Books: Me, But Better by Olga KhazanStay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    39 min
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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
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Being Different Together
  • Show Website
    Being Different Together