Meredith for Real: the curious introvert

Meredith Hackwith Edwards
  • 4.8 (174)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Each episode explores a taboo question or cultural blind spot with an expert who is themselves, a paradox -Like the atheist doctor who studied near death experiences for 50 years (ep 224)Or the deeply religious man studied by NASA who sees UFOs regularly (ep 261).The mission is to inspire the kind of curiosity that looks for & celebrates nuance, because we all deserve a more curious future.So tune in each week (new episodes every Monday) to question things like American individualism (ep 260), trigger warnings (ep 208) & circumcision (ep 178).Still not sure where to start?Other listeners loved ep 230 - Can a sexless marriage survive? and ep 237 - Black man who attends KKK rallies: race & friendship

  1. 6D AGO

    Ep. 330: Is Your Happiness Being Politicized? [REMASTERED]

    If you're not happy, it means something is wrong ... right?    Dr. Loretta Breuning is a PhD researcher & author. Since becoming unconvinced by prevailing theories on human behavior, she has researched everything from monkeys to the mafia. Now she’s not only helping people hack their brain, she’s shedding light on how the altruistic outlook may be popular, but ultimately damaging.   In this episode, she explains WHY we believe that if we are unhappy something is wrong, how simply “getting back to nature” can backfire, the problem with happiness studies & (this is important) how to start your own happiness plan.   This episode originally aired March 7, 2024.   If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 275: IS AMBITION ANTI-HAPPINESS? REASONABLE HAPPINESS & FETISHIZING WEALTH   Guest: https://innermammalinstitute.org/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happy-brain/id1377502232  https://www.instagram.com/inner.mammal.inst/ https://innermammalinstitute.org/course/   https://www.facebook.com/LorettaBreuningPhD  https://twitter.com/lbreuning     Host:   https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal   https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert    Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    02:05 — Rousseau’s “nature is happy” legacy 02:48 — Why academia spreads the meme 03:36 — The medical model of unhappiness 04:18 — Blaming society vs building skills 07:24 — Hunter-gatherer reality check 09:58 — Culture shapes how we report happiness 10:32 — Why Americans hesitate to say “I’m happy” 11:32 — Cortisol: when expectations miss 13:42 — Childhood culture becomes adult politics 14:06 — Status envy in academia 15:10 — Moral superiority as serotonin 15:48 — The “I did it the right way” trap 16:38 — Everyone thinks they’re the overlooked underdog 18:06 — Popularity: the motivator no one admits 19:02 — How biology gets politicized 23:18 — Why therapy and religion sell unhappiness 24:08 — The media and your happy chemicals 25:02 — News as a brain-chemical cocktail 31:04 — How not to throw the baby out with the bathwater 34:08 — Reward yourself like animal training 34:42 — Train your inner mammal Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

    36 min

  2. FEB 2

    Ep. 329: Antique Vibrator Museum: Bees, Buffalos & Stigma [REMASTERED]

    How old is the oldest vibrator? Does self-pleasure steal affection from your partner? Carol Queen has a Ph.D. in Sexology & a passion for pleasure. She is the curator of the Good Vibrations Antique Vibrator Museum in San Francisco, CA. In this episode, she shares the origin story of the museum & explains how vibrators went from doctor’s offices to bedside tables. She also explains why partner sex & self-sex are different activities, why pleasure should be a part of sex ed & addresses common vibrator concerns.   This episode originally aired March 7, 2022.   If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 214: WHAT ARE RULES OF MONOGAMY? THE PSYCHOLIGIST SWINGER   Guest: http://antiquevibratormuseum.com/  https://carolqueen.com/ https://twitter.com/carolqueen BlueSky @carolqueen.bsky.socia    Host:   https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal   https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert    Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    01:20 — What is a sexologist, actually? 04:45 — How the Antique Vibrator Museum started 07:35 — The one vibrator with a confirmed sex history 08:05 — The hippie-built DIY vibrator story 08:55 — What early vibrators looked like 09:30 — Hand-crank vibrators before electricity 11:10 — Cleopatra’s bee vibrator myth 11:55 — Papyrus boxes, gourds, and historical speculation 14:20 — Treating “hysteria” with vibration 18:05 — Why vibrators beat toasters in 1917 18:45 — What this says about women’s pleasure historically 19:35 — Was sex really that bad back then? 21:00 — The orgasm gap explained 22:20 — The wandering uterus theory (yes, really) 23:10 — Masturbation stigma and cultural norms 25:30 — Fear: “Will a vibrator replace my partner?” 26:40 — Fear: “Will I damage my nerves?” 27:20 — Temporary numbness vs long-term harm 28:05 — Feeling intimidated choosing a vibrator 30:05 — Where to get trustworthy vibrator guidance 30:40 — Good Vibrations resources and educators 31:15 — Carol’s book and recommended reading 31:55 — Where to follow Dr. Carol Queen 32:30 — Final thoughts on curiosity, pleasure, and stigma Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

    32 min

  3. JAN 26

    Ep. 328: What If It’s Not in Your Head? Mold Illness & Medical Blind Spots

    Dr. Neil Nathan is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Pain Management as well as a Founding Dip-low-mitt of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine & International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illnesses. He spent over 50 years treating patients with chronic conditions related to environmental factors & now dedicates himself consulting & mentorship, writing several books for both health care professionals & patients. In this episode, you’ll hear mold allergy vs illness, what symptoms mold toxicity can imitate, how to really test & what healing protocol can look like.   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 234: FELON TO MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS OWNER [REMASTERED]   Guest: https://neilnathanmd.com/   Host:   https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal   https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert    Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    01:35 — Conditions mold mimics 04:00 — “It’s not psychological” 05:00 — Why medicine lags behind 06:00 — The mold hoax narrative 08:00 — How common mold really is 11:00 — Mold and Alzheimer’s risk 12:00 — GI symptoms decoded 13:00 — Fatigue that doesn’t resolve 18:00 — Mold toxicity vs allergy 19:00 — Immune system tipping points 20:00 — Stress, illness, and timing 21:00 — Hive consciousness explained 22:00 — Candida cravings aren’t you 23:00 — Zombie mold metaphor 24:00 — EMFs enter the picture 27:00 — Testing for mold toxicity 38:00 — Low-carb for mold healing 41:00 — Alcohol’s real impact 42:00 — Magnesium’s critical role 43:00 — Chronic deficiency mystery 47:00 — Hormones after mold 48:00 — Limbic system overload 49:00 — Vagus nerve dysfunction 50:00 — Mast cell activation 51:00 — Rebooting nervous systems 52:00 — Brain retraining programs 58:00 — Detox hygiene at home 59:00 — Why bleach backfires 01:00:00 — Dust vs airflow 01:01:00 — Water damage vigilance 01:02:00 — Detox tools worth using 01:04:00 — Balance over biohacking 01:05:00 — What healing really requires 01:06:00 — Living with intention 01:07:00 — Final takeaways & resources Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

    53 min

  4. JAN 19

    Ep. 327: He Ate His Own Foot!? Grief, Friendship & Foot Tacos [REMASTERED]

    When the Redditor known as Incrediblyshinyshart lost part of his leg in a motorcycle accident & had to have it amputated, he made an unusual choice – to eat it. He shares his thoughts on mourning, cannibalism & why eating part of his own body was life-changing.   This episode originally aired July 4, 2022.   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 234: FELON TO MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS OWNER [REMASTERED]   Guest: https://www.reddit.com/user/incrediblyShinyShart   Host:   https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal   https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert    Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    00:00 — A crash that changes everything 02:24 — Why incineration felt wrong 04:26 — The taxidermy dead end 05:15 — Dark humor as grief language 06:07 — The ethical cannibalism question 06:35 — An opportunity you’ll never get again 07:00 — A chef, a freezer, and surreal logistics 07:58 — A meal that felt like ceremony 09:47 — Becoming part of the people who love you 10:15 — Dark jokes before the first bite 12:55 — No hesitation at the table 14:42 — Ancient rituals and modern meaning 15:45 — Growth through the unthinkable 16:47 — Facing mortality head-on 17:10 — Life keeps getting better 18:40 — Was the dinner essential? 19:32 — Connection as closure 19:58 — Looking back with fondness 20:22 — Final thoughts from Shiny   Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

    16 min

  5. JAN 12

    Ep. 326: Retired at 29: Why & How? [REMASTERED]

    Can you retire early from a normal income? How do you buy back your time? Lauren & Steven Keys of Trip of a Lifestyle share what inspired them to retire at age 29, how they did it on average incomes, why they don’t track their monthly expenses & the concept of buying back your time. They also share the practical way they stay motivated in the FIRE (financial independence retire early) movement.    This episode originally aired February 6, 2023. Stay till the end for an update on what they are doing now!   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 243: WHAT’S THE POINT OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM (REMASTERED)   Guests:  https://www.tripofalifestyle.com/  https://crambetter.com/  https://www.tiktok.com/@tripofalifestyle https://www.instagram.com/tripofalifestyle/   Host:   https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal   https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert    Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    02:15 — Life without lifestyle creep 04:00 — Buying time instead of stuff 05:10 — The road trip that changed everything 10:45 — What “retired” really means 15:35 — Do people regret working less? 16:45 — The number you actually need 18:05 — The 4% rule explained 21:00 — Living with less, choosing more 22:30 — Is early retirement all sacrifice? 25:30 — Buying decades of your life back 30:00 — Tracking progress without obsessing 31:45 — The Hawaii six-month experiment 34:00 — Practicing retirement early 38:00 — Cost per unit time 48:30 — Van life math 54:00 — Why net worth tells the story 56:00 — Avoiding money shame spirals 62:00 — The “sweep away” method 70:00 — When partners aren’t aligned 72:00 — Visualizing progress like a fundraiser 86:00 — Free tools that change lives 88:00 — Where to find their roadmap 90:00 — Life after early retirement 92:00 — Four years later: what changed 104:00 — Entrepreneurship without desperation 118:00 — Seeing the world as business owners 120:00 — Automation as the next chapter 122:00 — Choosing presence over escape Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

    53 min

  6. JAN 5

    Ep. 325: Is Chaos Your Comfort Zone? Stress Addiction & How to Break the Cycle

    Felipe Muñoz is the owner of Empathic Practice, a holistic stress management clinic. He combines his Masters in positive psychology, 20 years of marketing experience, & decade of business branding with hundreds of hours teaching meditation to coach professionals, train corporate teams & support individuals on living a more mindful and meaningful life. In this episode, we explore stress as an addiction, identity & community & the real strategy behind ending the chaos.    If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 298: ANXIETY IN YOUR FRIDGE?! Reducing Anxiety Through Food   Guest:  https://empathicpractice.us/ https://www.instagram.com/empathicpractice/ https://www.youtube.com/c/empathicpractice https://www.facebook.com/empathicpractice    Host:   https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal   https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert    Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    02:28 — Social media and the illusion of being “together” 05:04 — Burnout vs paralysis: the stress bell curve 07:02 — Is stress coming from inside or outside you? 11:00 — Midlife stress and the “how did I get here?” moment 14:06 — Stress as social currency and community glue 15:08 — Why misery bonds faster than joy 16:10 — Gossip, belonging, and opting out of stress culture 17:02 — Are we addicted to stress? 19:02 — When calm feels more threatening than chaos 20:04 — Inverted resilience and self-sabotage cycles 22:02 — The “leg day” metaphor for emotional health 24:02 — Why breath is the first skill we skip 27:04 — Eating lunch at your desk: stress score = 10 28:06 — Clutter as a mirror of the mind 29:04 — Scrolling before bed and delayed nervous systems 30:06 — Multitasking: survival skill or stress amplifier? 31:08 — Eustress: how to tell good stress from bad 34:06 — Self-care vs escapism: intention matters 35:06 — Rituals, routines, and sacred coffee 36:06 — Psychedelics, big resets, and what comes after 37:06 — Are you actually stressed — or just identifying as stressed? 38:06 — Do we need therapy… or just a hobby? 39:06 — Curiosity as a human survival trait 41:06 — What Empathic Practice really offers Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

    1h 3m

  7. 12/29/2025

    Ep. 324: The Hoarder Within Us: The Psychology of Our Stuff [REMASTERED]

    Dr. David Tolin is the Founder & Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living, the author of over 200 scientific journal articles & even received the Award for Lifetime Contribution to Psychology from the CT Psychological Association, but you may recognize him from the reality TV series Hoarders, The OCD Project or My Shopping Addiction. In this episode he shares what diagnosing hoarding disorder looks like, what brain scans reveal & the myth of trauma.  This episode originally aired November 27, 2023. If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 208: TRIGGER WARNINGS: MAKING US FRAGILE OR HELPING US HEAL?   Guest:  https://drtolin.com/home https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidtolin/ https://a.co/d/hDRDee8   Host:   https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal   https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert    Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    02:38 — How common hoarding really is 04:05 — When clutter ≠ hoarding disorder 05:00 — Why letting go feels painful 06:02 — What actually causes hoarding 08:00 — Attention, cognition, vulnerability 10:00 — Why empathy changes everything 11:05 — ADHD, brain scans, and myths 14:10 — The “salience network” explained 15:05 — Why clutter fades into the background 16:00 — When every object feels urgent 17:05 — Decision-making becomes unbearable 18:10 — Avoidance as survival strategy 20:00 — Why animal hoarding is different 23:00 — What people actually hoard 24:00 — When hoarding becomes extreme 25:10 — Digital hoarding counts too 26:05 — Emails, photos, and emotional pain 27:00 — Objects as identity 30:15 — The downward arrow technique 31:20 — Why therapists and patients talk past each other 32:15 — Anthropomorphizing our stuff 33:20 — Why kids’ toys still haunt us 34:15 — Grief as an accelerant 35:20 — Stuff as memory protection 36:10 — Acquiring as mood regulation 37:10 — When retail therapy backfires 38:15 — Emotion regulation gone wrong 39:10 — Compassion without enabling 40:05 — Boundaries that don’t abandon 41:10 — Why insight takes repetition 42:15 — Therapy isn’t one magic moment 43:10 — How to stay anchored in reality 44:05 — Questions that interrupt impulse 45:10 — Why self-questioning works better 46:15 — What “success” actually looks like 47:15 — Managing vs curing hoarding 48:10 — Exposure therapy in real life 49:10 — TJ Maxx as a trigger 50:05 — Sitting with discomfort on purpose 51:10 — Rewriting your relationship with stuff 52:05 — How hoarding changed his own habits 53:10 — Keeping what truly serves you 54:05 — Buried in Treasures and next steps 55:10 — Final reflections on stuff and self Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

    33 min

  8. 12/22/2025

    Ep. 323: The Psychology of Arguing on the Internet: Can you ACTUALLY change someone’s mind?

    JonRobert Tartaglione, PhD, studies & teaches influence. He is a psychologist, behavioral scientist & the founder & CEO of a consulting practice called influence 51.   In this episode, we unpack persuasion, perception & arguing on the internet and explore what it really takes to change someone’s mind.   If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 309: HOW DID THE MEDIA BECOME SUCH A BIASED, STRESS-INDUCING CIRCUS?   Guest: https://www.facebook.com/jonrobert.tartaglione  https://www.instagram.com/probablytat/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonrobert-tartaglione-ph-d-21b26770/ https://x.com/PolPsyTat  https://influence51.com/    Host:   https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal   https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert    Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    00:00 — The question no one asks 01:42 — Why this story matters now 03:18 — Meeting JonRobert 05:06 — What most people misunderstand 07:02 — The moment everything shifted 09:21 — How power actually works 11:08 — Systems hiding in plain sight 13:47 — When incentives shape behavior 16:05 — Following the money 18:12 — What surprised him most 20:44 — The quiet pressure points 23:01 — Where people lose agency 25:26 — The illusion of choice 27:58 — Why good people comply 30:14 — This wasn’t accidental 32:41 — How narratives get enforced 35:09 — Who benefits from silence 37:42 — The cost of speaking up 40:06 — When resistance becomes personal 42:33 — The moment of reckoning 45:02 — Why fear is effective 47:29 — The psychology underneath 50:11 — How normalization happens 52:46 — What history keeps repeating 55:21 — The warning signs we ignore 58:04 — This pattern feels familiar 01:00:33 — When people finally notice 01:03:07 — Why it feels overwhelming 01:05:52 — Reclaiming critical thinking 01:08:36 — What accountability would look like 01:11:14 — The role of individual courage 01:14:02 — Why hope isn’t naive 01:16:41 — What comes next 01:19:08 — The question listeners should sit with 01:21:30 — Final reflections Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

    1h 9m
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About

Each episode explores a taboo question or cultural blind spot with an expert who is themselves, a paradox -Like the atheist doctor who studied near death experiences for 50 years (ep 224)Or the deeply religious man studied by NASA who sees UFOs regularly (ep 261).The mission is to inspire the kind of curiosity that looks for & celebrates nuance, because we all deserve a more curious future.So tune in each week (new episodes every Monday) to question things like American individualism (ep 260), trigger warnings (ep 208) & circumcision (ep 178).Still not sure where to start?Other listeners loved ep 230 - Can a sexless marriage survive? and ep 237 - Black man who attends KKK rallies: race & friendship

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