#626 - Baby Me
Theo Von records a Thanksgiving-themed solo episode with producer Riley Mao, reflecting on the holiday, American history, the current state of the world, and the importance of focusing on tangible relationships and small joys. He shares a humorous yet sincere list of little life experiences he appreciates, updates listeners on recent charity efforts, and reacts to several heartfelt listener calls about mental health, painful family dynamics, impending parenthood, and spiritual questions. Throughout, he and Riley also discuss Riley's upcoming fatherhood, Theo's evolving sense of purpose, and his desire to deepen his relationship with God and better care for himself.
Divorce Lawyer James Sexton: #1 Conversation Every Couple Should Have Before it's Too Late (Use THIS 3-Step Script TODAY!)
Divorce lawyer and author James Sexton shares insights from 25 years of facilitating the end of marriages about what actually destroys relationships and what helps them last. He argues that disconnection and not feeling seen, rather than cheating or money alone, are the primary marriage killers, and emphasizes the importance of small daily gestures, honest communication, and preventive "maintenance" conversations. The discussion also covers prenups as a mutual safety tool, the impact of divorce and conflict on children, gendered patterns around infidelity and divorce initiation, and how ego and unexamined stories sabotage both marriages and breakups.
World Leading Therapist: Why You Feel Stuck in Life & How to Get Unstuck
Mel Robbins interviews psychotherapist and author Lori Gottlieb about how the stories people tell themselves shape their emotions, relationships, and life choices. They explore how these often-unconscious narratives are formed, how they keep people stuck in patterns like self-doubt, anxiety, and people-pleasing, and how to begin editing and rewriting them. Through concrete examples and practical questions, Lori shows how changing your story can change how you relate to yourself and others.
This One Study Will Change How You Think About Your Entire Life: The Cornell Legacy Project
Mel Robbins interviews gerontologist Dr. Carl Pillemer about the practical life lessons, regrets, and advice he gathered from people in their 80s, 90s, and 100s through his Legacy Project at Cornell. Drawing on hundreds of in-depth interviews, he shares elders' guidance on worry, relationships, work, health, choosing a partner, self-acceptance, and learning to be "happy in spite of" difficult circumstances. The conversation emphasizes acting now on what truly matters, because almost every very old person reports that life feels shockingly short in retrospect.
How to Deal with Difficult People & Not Get Stressed Out
Mel Robbins explains her "Let Them Theory" as a framework for handling difficult and emotionally immature people, especially within families, without losing your peace or power. She emphasizes that you cannot change other people, only your own responses, and that most adults behave like emotionally overwhelmed children when triggered. Through research-backed insights and concrete tools, she teaches how to accept people as they are, manage your own emotional reactions, set practical boundaries, and create healthier family dynamics.
How to Communicate With Confidence & Ease (From Harvard Business School's #1 Professor)
Mel Robbins interviews Harvard Business School professor and behavioral scientist Allison Wood Brooks about the science of communication. Brooks explains her TALK framework (Topics, Asking, Levity, Kindness) for improving conversations in every area of life, along with the critical role of listening and perspective-taking. They discuss practical strategies for topic preparation, asking better questions, managing status and group dynamics, handling interruptions and belittling comments, and shifting unhelpful communication patterns in relationships.
The Ramsey Show Live From Orlando
This live Ramsey Show event in Orlando features hosts taking questions from the audience on money, relationships, and life decisions while weaving in humor and interactive games. Callers and attendees discuss issues like overspending versus over-saving, boundaries with estranged parents, getting a disengaged spouse on board with finances, YOLO spending while in debt, shifting out of a poverty mindset, preparing for homeownership at 19, and combining money before marriage. The show closes with an in-room debt-free scream from Jessica, who paid off over $127,000 in five years largely on a modest income.
Your relationship expectations could be holding you back | Stephanie R. Yates-Anyabwile (re-release)
Host Elise Hugh introduces a TED Next 2024 talk by couples therapist Stephanie R. Yates-Anyabwile about how conventional expectations can make romantic relationships feel harder than they need to be. Yates-Anyabwile argues that many relationship struggles come from comparing ourselves to societal norms rather than designing arrangements that fit two unique individuals. Using examples from her clinical practice and her own family, she shows how redefining success in relationships-sometimes in unconventional ways like living apart or commuting separately-can reduce conflict and increase connection.