Rob&Dolli: Life to Life: Recent Episodes
Doris Gerlach & Christijan Robert Broerse
Still looking for a publisher? What have you? Rob&Dolli: Life to Life - we are East and West, Canadian and East German, philosopher and analytical woman, editor and author, wine consultant and psychotherapist. We couldn‘t be more apart and yet feel a sense of alike. We need to get our words out on life, traveling, wine, psychology, famous places and Kierkegaard. Get to know us, let us become friends! Listen and come back to our show!
Wer mich ärgert, ist der Böse? Nein. Das Problem bist du. Und ich zeige dir, wie du das ändern kannst. Die Übungen sind therapeutisch übliche und helfen dir aus dem Teufelskreis deiner Erwartungen auszusteigen.
Löse dein Problem jetzt und deine Partnerschaft kann florieren.
Willkommen zu Sendung zwei meiner "Heimatgeschichten aus Wittenförden".
Dolli bringt die Kriminalgeschichte von 1800 ans Licht. Tatort: die Mühle in der heutigen Schweinekurve an der Stadtgrenze zu Schwerin. Genießen Sie meine Rückschau in ein Dorf in Mecklenburg, Wittenförden. Schwerpunkt in dieser Sendung ist die Mühle am Neumühler See.
Quellen zu dieser Sendung sind: Das Mecklenburgische Urkundenbuch von1362, Ahnenforschung von Fritz Volkmann, Gerda Nemitz und Angelika Ende, SVZ 02.03.2017 und Wikipedia. Vielleicht entdecken Sie hier was!
Herzlich willkommen zu einer Miniserie meines Podcasts "Rob and Dolli: Life to Life". Tauchen Sie ein in die faszinierende Vergangenheit und lebendige Gegenwart meines idyllischen Heimatdorfes. Begleiten Sie mich auf einer Reise durch die Geschichte, entdecken Sie verborgene oder vergessene Geschichten und erfahren Sie mehr über die Entwicklung meiner Gemeinde. Von historischen Themen zu aktuellen - ich erkunde, was unser Dorf lebenswert macht.
Du willst vergessen und kappst alle negativen Erfahrungen von deinem Körper. Das klappt, aber nicht lange. Der Booker Prize 2023 ging völlig zurecht an einen Bulgaren. Sein Roman ist der Hammer! Zeit Zu Flucht. Dolli taucht für euch in ihn ein. Ihr werdet ihn nicht vergessen!
Das Transgendern ist für manche zum Fremdeln, für andere ein Witz, für andere ein ersehntes Abenteuer. In dieser Folge von Rob&Dolli: Life to Life geht es um das Verschwinden der Frau aus dem Sprachgebrauch. Ist denn nach der Geschlechtsveränderung auch das Problem weg? Welche Nebenwirkungen hat eine lebenslange Hormonbehandlung? Und was hat das mit Cancel Culture zu tun?
Und alle schauen die Tagesschau. Wir Menschen sind ein Block an Apathie oder Negativismus pur geworden. Wo ist der Odem der Liebe hin? Eine Momentaufnahme.
Rob & Dolli: Life to Life.
"Rob and Dolli: Life to Life" wärmt einem das Herz. Keine Angst! Die ach so schlimmen Nachrichten sind eine leicht abgeänderte Wiederholung von gestern. Nur eins ist schlimm: der Verlust guten Journalismus in den großen bekannten Blättern. Wie war das 1990 in den noch nicht ehemaligen Sowjetrepubliken? Und wie äußerte sich damals der Spiegel? Diese Ausgabe erschien, als Gorbatschow zusehen musste, wie sein Reich schrumpfte. Würde der Konflikt ausbrechen?
Wie schön wäre es, wenn wir in die Zukunft schauen könnten, um die Gegenwart zu verstehen. Aber in diesem Fall half mir ein Blick zurück.
"Rob&Dolli: Life to Life"! Da bist du wieder, schön! Probier Dollis Meditation aus. Es ist kinderleicht zu entspannen, setz dich niemals unter Druck und vor allem, lass dich auf deinen Atem ein und vertraue ihm. Folge Dollis Worten hin zu einem neuen Weg. Begegne, wenn du möchtest, deinem Heiler und bekomme eine Frage beantwortet. Tauche ein in das Wasser des Lebens und bewege dich mit deinem Bewusstsein zu einer neuen Seite der Realität. Vielleicht gelingt dir ein tiefes Abtauchen in den Raum, wenn nicht, nicht schlimm, dann genieße die Entspannung. Nicht bei jedem stellt sich gleich beim ersten Mal der Erfolg ein und, wie gesagt, mit Druck funktioniert das Meditieren nicht. Bereit für einen Versuch? Viel Freude beim Kennenlernen deines neuen Ichs!
Rob & Dolli has it all. The personal, the rational and the curious look into our past and glory. Well, the GDR or DDR was something more than only a debt ridden country ruled by a puppet show with too much power, the SED. Its people are still there waiting for another change. Provide us with culture that does more than satisfy us. We refuse to become mere ad-addicts and consumption idiots. How was it in the GDR? Just listen to a glimpse of it and wonder.
Wenn Dolli Geschichte atmet, dann lebt sie auf. Sie ist in Schwerin groß geworden, der Landeshauptstadt von Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Sie hat ihrer Stadt einen Roman gewidmet, "Die geheimnisvollen Nadeln" und taucht in dieser Folge nun in die Zeiten nach 1945 ein. Natürlich landet sie in der Gegenwart, sich verwundert die Augen reibend. Viel Spaß mit dieser Folge von "Rob&Dolli: Life to Life."
Welcome to "Rob and Dolli". In this episode we share our thoughts on the topic healing. Would it not be for our self-limitations, fearful expectation and rumination in the past, we would not have to talk about it. Enjoy the episode!
What is sin exactly? What does 'to sin' actually mean? What are the origins of the word? How does sin relate to the Bible? In this episode Rob and I answer a lot of questions while delving into the nature of sin, discussing etymologies, interpretations coming to the question of who are the true sinners, especially of today? Are they the every day people in our lives, our friends, family and neighbours or are they people in our governments, working daily towards undermining and destroying humanity? A large topic, you will discover the Seven Deadly Sins do not feature in the Bible nor does Original Sin. Where do they come from? Well, you'll have to give this one and listen and find out on another episode of Rob and Dolli: Life to Life.
Roman writer, lawyer, philosopher and politician, Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 - 43 BC) noted that 'the life of the dead is placed in memory of the living.' In this episode, Rob and I return to a theme we touched upon in the late autumn of 2021, namely the subject of death. Since then, Rob and I have both lost a parent: for me, my mother, for him, his father. Now, as we keep a steady vigil over our memories, we must add further thoughts, asking the question since that initial episode: have we changed our minds on life and loss? Our answers may not surprise you if you, dear listener, have been through the same. While the topic might be heavy, we allow our philosophies to unfold in another episode of Rob and Dolli: Life to Life.
Have you found that at times the secrets we keep better reflect an aspect of ourselves or rather a hidden interior? Today, Rob and I discuss how the cloaked parts of our lives, the little wounds and other mysterious worlds we hide reveal our general character. Whether it be a son using secrets to protect himself from his prying father or two teens gathering secrets from their peers to use against them, the unrevealed has a power to shape us and yet the privately kept facets are so close to our hearts together they form a darkened reflection. Meanwhile secrets have the power to both heal and hurt. Would you agree? What do the secrets you keep tell you about yourself, dear listener? And how have you used your secrets? For good or ill? A fascinating topic for today’s episode.
Rob&Dolli: Life to life, willkommen! Du hast keine Lust mehr auf lange Texte? Willst nur noch die Fakten? Wir beobachten die Welt, wir schreiben und wir lieben es! Dolli hat gerade ihren Roman "Die geheimnisvollen Nadeln. Ein Roman des ostdeutschen Handwerks" veröffentlicht. Er ist voll mit Fakten über das schwierige Thema Liebe, Trennung und die handwerkliche Leidenschaft im Osten. Warum ein Roman und kein social media post? Geld ist damit ja nicht zu verdienen , aber jede Menge Lebenssinn und so manches AHA-Erlebnis!
Du verlierst nicht, du gewinnst nur weniger. Klingt doch besser als: wenn du nicht aufpasst, wirst du alles verlieren. Das Spiel des Agreement reizt mich, über seine Bedeutung zu reflektieren. Wie Go funktioniert, erkläre ich zweitrangig. Mich interessiert die Go- Spielerseele, sein Denken und der praktische Nutzen, den ich für mich aus seinem strategischen Denken für mein Leben ziehen kann, um in dieser Welt und ihren ständig neu aus dem Boden gestampften Allianzen klarzukommen. Dieses Spiel zu verinnerlichen kann unser Überleben retten. China, Russland, Krieg, Frieden und mittendrin meine Spielsteine. Es ist an der Zeit, sich mit "The Art of War" von Sun Tzu vertraut zu machen. Die Taktik des langsamen Umzingelns , zu gewinnen, ohne eine einzige Kugel abzufeuern, darum geht es in unserem heutigen Podcast "Rob & Dolli: Life to Life".
Today Rob and I dig back into our deeper selves, reminiscing about the lost reverie that is childhood. We unearth a few memories, recalling those souls that made our long ago years so whimsical and special. We look at our cultural backgrounds that provided the roots for a Canadian and German youth. Also, we discuss the looming threats to childhood today, spanning from the education system, to technology and the everyday predators that lurk in bureaucracy. Did we have a good childhood? Did you?
Rob and Dolli: Life to Life ist ein Psychologie - Philosophie Podcast der bunten Vielfalt unseres Lebens.
"Du bist doch neurotisch!" Was bedeutet das für den Partner und für den Betroffenen selbst? Was ist ein neurotisches menschliches Wesen?
Sie sind nicht zu beneiden. Ihr Verhalten mitzumachen, sie gütig stimmen zu wollen oder sie verbal zu attackieren, bringt leider gar nichts. Aber hört selbst.
Rob and Dolli: Life to Life ist ein Psychologie - Philosophie Podcast der bunten Vielfalt unseres Lebens.
Warum sind wir so, wie wir sind? Hatten wir tatsächlich eine gute Kindheit? Wieso ist unser Leben so? Wie stabil bin ich und wer ist verantwortlich für mein Selbstbild? Welche Frage stelle ich einem Kind, das schwierig ist? Wie kann Autismus entstehen und kann ich als Elternteil etwas tun? Solchen Fragen gehe ich gerne nach, mit der Psychologie im Gepäck, die ich so liebe und schätze.
Herzlich willkommen im Playground der Open AI. Oder doch nicht?
Was rollt da auf uns zu? Nein, wir sind schon fast Teil des Algorithmus-Lebens. Gäbe es da nicht ein paar Gedanken, die sich Robb und Dolli machen. Über die Jobs, die bleiben werden und jene, die jetzt schon nicht mehr gebraucht werden, über das Problem mit den Quellen, unser menschliches Wesen, alles neugierig zu erkunden und stets freundlich und hilfsbereit in den Abgrund zu stürzen. Und einen Buchtip habe ich für euch.
Zur Open AI erkläre ich euch, wie sie bei mir funktioniert hat und was mir eindeutig fehlt.
For the last two years, our minds have been fed a lot of tall tales via mainstream media. The narrative waxes, wanes, wobbles and at times, seems to be on life support and yet the pundits keep on their performance each and every night on the news while print media continue to spew out the latest sensationalist story or 'fear porn'. In this episode, Rob and I discuss our feelings about media, whether it is right to trust it after so much deceit and gaslighting and fear mongering. What are your thoughts, dear listener? Have you had enough? Are you ready to uproot yourself and put down roots in a new kind of world where communication is kind and information is not meant to shock or disturb us?
Rob and Dolli: Life to Life
Dolli schwärmt von Zermatt, einem kleinen Dorf in den Walliser Alpen, direkt unterhalb des sagenumwobenen Matterhorns. Was es damit auf sich hat? Hört mal rein!
Meine persönlichen Erfahrungen beim Erlernen des Italienischen sind zumindest bemerkenswert. Hilft das Whiteboard der VHS dabei sich gegen den Internetanbieter Duolingo durchzusetzen? Ein persönlicher Coach ist goldwert? Ja, ich habe mich entschieden und beides ausgetestet. Hier ist das Ergebnis. Und: ich bin Fremdsprachenlehrerin.
After reading and reviewing an article in The Atlantic about declaring a pandemic amnesty, Rob and I discuss what exactly this 'amnesty' look like. We reflect on my country's history and also the recent activism going on that is causing distress and harm to everyday people. Where does responsibility lie? How do we account for the actions and measures of others? Is there a 'we' out there can mete out justice? Difficult questions to process but we need to approach them on another episode.
After a hiatus, we are back. Rob has returned after a period of mourning, ready and willing to discuss such diverse topics as creativity, dreams, and coping with our current world of disharmony and distress. We keep things light while being reflective. It is not easy to be distant from everything going on all around us but we keep searching for authenticity while being appreciative of how our creativity and our zest for learning helps to maintain our sanity and health. Join us as we re-ignite our Rob and Dolli podcast and start up again, fresh like the newborn phoenix!
Ich liebe das Meer. Warum spüre ich dort so unheimlich tief und welche Rolle spielen Träume für unsere Verbindung zum BewusstSein des Lebens? Ein philosophisches Bekenntnis zu mehr Offenheit.
Fasziniert schaue ich mir die alten stummen Filmaufnahmen einer Frau an. Sie ist berühmt, aber das ist nicht mein Hauptmotiv, sondern die Frage: Was hätte ich damals aufgenommen? Hätte ich in den Aufnahmen das Auseinanderbrechen meiner Beziehung erkennen können? Wieso glauben Frauen, im Leben ihrer Männer keinen Platz zu haben? Mich ließ dieses Leben, aufgenommen 1970-1981, neugierig zurück. Wir können, das ist meine feste Überzeugung, Zeit retten.
Rob and Dolli: Life to Life is the name of our podcast. Welcome!
Let me tell you. I was so skeptical! People kept saying, "You must visit Heidelberg". I did and I admit: It is great! The magic of the most Romantic Place caught me and this old world is still there. You can walk through it and I hope you will! The castle on a hill, a river runs through the city with original medieval houses.
In our podcast I highlight my personal pros of the city: famous people, Heidelberg's culture, its food and the Beauty of the place.
I was 18 years old when the wall came down. I admired Gorbatschow four years before the turn started. 35 years later I comprehend what back then happened, and I have a clearer picture of what might be missing in this world.
Reforms or punishment, whatever you call it: you cannot just one-sided continue with either without negotiation. Let me explain.
The GDR people loved their country, but hated the systematic oppression. Still, the love for their home country prevailed. Enjoy listening to our podcast "Rob and Dolli".
I just want to remark that everything I say is my personal view without the intention to persuade or dissuade anybody. PEACE!
You want to talk to someone or stop someone talking to you? I am all with you. Talking to myself is like talking to the moon. There is not so much fun. And I do miss Rob today.
The quintessence of life are our communication skills. Why? To protect us from the bad, or to connect us to the good. But how about the strange, the Other? I favour building bridges. You, too?
We have taken a small summer break following our last episode and for good reason. The days have been hot and sadly, Rob's father passed away during the month of July. Today, he has decided to open up and discuss his feelings and address the grief. As we delve into our collected 'summer mourning' we find time to talk of ghosts, relationships and our general malaise. It may not be the most cheeriest of topics but sometimes we must dance with the shadows to regain the light. So, dear listener, with the searing sun, the humid hours, with me and my German Sekt and Rob his Spanish red wine, we lift a glass to the darker domains of our lives, indulging in our libations while seeking a gentle plateau of peace.
It has been a crazy summer so far. The world needs to fall apart sometimes to come back into place. For many people, with Roe vs. Wade, it feels like the end of days following the controversial decision made by the Supreme Court in the United States back in June. Today, Rob and I discuss the matter, the a-word and try to understand the consequences from both sides. It is not an easy discussion as this 'modern Scarlet letter' creates immediate lines of division, including with us. Hopefully, dear listener, we have handled the conversation with respect. Not all topics are rosy and light but they need to be debated. How do we come to a compromise?
Rob has been working on his novel, Breathing Loss and Wonder, since 2014 and it is nearing completion. In this episode, I provide him some feedback after reading his book and we discuss the ideas and the inspiration behind certain scenes. Writing is about finding the right details to express your story and Rob shares his insights while I read from my favourite passage in his opus. Are you, dear listener, writing a book or are you engaged in reading a great novel? You may want to check out this episode.
The Dutch word 'baas' (master) provides us with the English word 'boss'. In German, 'der Chef', in French 'le patron', in Italian 'il capo' which all suggest a leader-as-master role. Yet what makes a good boss, a bad boss, an okay boss? In this episode, Rob and I do a little dive into our memories, mentioning our bosses of the past while discussing our expectations of what an ideal boss should or rather, could be like. Work is a matter of course and we all long to have a great job with great people at our side but also a great person at the top who sets the standards and appreciates his employees. I am sure what we would like to see in our bosses is not unheard of and you, dear listener, feel the same. So, why not have a listen and see if your expectations of a good boss match ours!
Schreiben ist eine einsame Leidenschaft. Schriftsteller leben zwar in der Welt, aber die Welt, die sie zum Schreiben inspiriert, ist zunächst in ihnen selbst zu Hause. Als Schriftstellerin habe ich zu Beginn des kreativen Prozesses so viele Fragen: Welche Geschichte will ich erzählen? Welche Figur wird mir helfen, sie zu erzählen? Welche Figuren sind rund, welche flach? Die leere Seite ist sowohl ein Aufruf zum Abenteuer als auch ein Ort des inneren Konflikts. Heute diskutieren Rob und ich den Weg des Schreibens mit einigen Lesungen aus meinem neuen Roman. Traum und Wahrheit. Schreiben Sie, liebe Zuhörer, auch? Welche Aspekte des Prozesses bereiten Ihnen Freude oder bereiten Ihnen Kummer? Vielleicht haben wir eine Menge gemeinsam.
What makes you turn the pages of a great novel or story? Many people love a great harrowing plot. Yet what would a plot be without wonderful characters to follow and fall in love with? Today, Rob and I dive into a discussion about the importance of great characters and where they come from. We also touch upon inspiration, where we get our ideas , and how we translate them onto the page. Rob also reads two excerpts from his soon-to-be-finished novel, Breathing Loss and Wonder, a novel about family and the conflicted pasts that are never far behind us. So, please join us as we examine the every day magic in the lives of our fictional others.
Today we are faced with a dilemma. Germany or Canada? Culture or nature? Rob and I discuss and explore what each country has to offer, what the pros and cons of both are from customer to service to even, yes, gulp, who might be more attractive as a nation overall. We also dispel some myths about our home countries. Which country will win? Which would you choose: Culture or nature? Decisions, decisions...
Heute stehen wir vor einem Dilemma. Deutschland oder Kanada? Kultur oder Natur? Rob und ich diskutieren und erkunden, was jedes Land zu bieten hat, was die Vor- und Nachteile beider Länder sind. Wir räumen auch mit einigen Mythen über unsere Heimatländer auf. Welches Land wird gewinnen? Was würdest du wählen: Kultur oder Natur? Entscheidungen, Entscheidungen...
In consideration of Good Friday, Rob and I have chosen the topic of betrayal. A heavy topic but one that yields a catharsis through analysis, confrontation and confession. We delve into how betrayal has shaped our lives, and more importantly, the hurt that has come from either betraying or being betrayed. We cannot shy from the tender truths and, we have to ask ourselves, in the wake of what we’ve done, or what has been done to us, how could we have handled ourselves better? And how do we move beyond betrayal? How exactly do we heal? All relevant questions, especially in this day and age when so many around the world feel wronged by the policies of the last two years. We hope you come away with something new.
In this episode, my husband, Uwe, Rob, and I discuss the music and the strenuous and strange world of life in the GDR (German Democratic Republic - DDR or Deutsche Demokratische Republik). From stories about the popularity of the band Genesis in East Germany to the long application process for buying a car (‘the running cardboard’), the gouging of the black market, gasoline shortages, Stasi boyfriends, banal punishments for a family member visiting the west, we’re on a wonky journey to the past in the conflicted East. Some fun surprises? Did you know that former secret police agents became taxi drivers after the fall of the Berlin Wall? There is more to discover here, so join us for this curious adventure into the world of yesteryear!
Heute haben wir einen besonderen Gast, meinen Mann Uwe. Gemeinsam werden wir über Ostdeutschland sprechen. Wir werden über Musik, Kultur und die allgemeine Lebenswelt in Ostdeutschland sprechen sowie über Robs Erfahrungen als Kanadier in der ehemaligen DDR. Freut euch auf ein weiteres erfolgen von Rob and Dolli Life to Life... auf Deutsch.
Today, we take on a topic close to our hearts - poetry! Rob and I had been discussing doing an episode like this for some time, where we share our favourite poems and explore the meanings, but also why the works resonate deeply with us. From Byron to Bukowski, from Japanese poems penned by samurai to one written by Rob himself, we indulge in the rhythms, the philosophies and sensuality of poetry. To get more information on the poems, visit Rob's website fromthejawsofthelion.com or click on this link we have provided. I think we'll have some literary fun!
Heute sprechen Rob und ich Deutsch, um unsere deutschen Zuhörer zu einem Abenteuer auf der Insel Guernsey willkommen zu heißen! Wie in unserer letzten Folge sprechen wir über die Magie und Schönheit der Insel, die Wunder, das Essen und die köstlichen Ziele. Außerdem lese ich aus meinem Buch Wie einst Victor Hugo, das auf meinem englischen Roman A Guernsey Promise basiert. Lassen Sie uns also wieder reisen, in unseren Köpfen und Herzen, und uns dem Abenteuer hingeben!
Rob and I have known each other for some time now. But did you know our friendship and working relationship began with a book? In 2014, I was looking for someone to help me edit and revise my novel, A Guernsey Promise. In this episode learn how Rob, through serendipity and synchronicity, fell into my life and together with him and the discerning editorial skills of his mother, Liz Roy, we were able to carve my story into a published novel. Naturally, we discuss the beauty of Guernsey and I share some tourism tips, places to visit, things to see. So joins us for another Rob and Dolli Life to Life where we reminisce and reflect on writing and friendship.
Do you consider yourself a kind or compassionate person? Can it be a struggle to try understanding the sufferings of another soul? In this episode, Rob and I revisit moments in our lives, both in the recent and distant past, where we've had to learn compassion, to extend it towards another or, as many people often forget to do, to even offer it to ourselves. We discuss the varieties of compassion and kindness even in regard to death and discuss the work of author and researcher, William J. Peters, and his book At Heaven's Door, as well as his findings surrounding the shared experience of death. Further on, Rob reads a passage from his near-complete novel, Breathing Loss and Wonder. Like always, another fascinating topic to discuss and get each other's two cents on. Join us for another journey!
In this episode, Rob and I reckon with loss, what it means, how it appears in our life. Whether it is the loss of an important game, the end of a friendship through a heated disagreement, or losing someone close to us through death, loss affects all our lives, small or great. And by discussing the implications, the aftermaths, we can gather the means and methods of how to heal and move on from loss. We all experience loss. Please join us on this necessary topic in such difficult times.
In today's episode, Rob and I discuss beauty - what it means to us, what we find beautiful and where we locate beauty in our lives. Perhaps Rob is more old-fashioned, while I am both a fan of the old and new, and excited about what beauty means in our technologically evolving world. The discussion gets heated up at certain points, but with a topic like beauty, we have to let our souls express themselves. Perhaps we cannot agree on certain points, but if we were all the same, this beautiful world would be boring, wouldn't it? And it is a beautiful world. What is beauty for you?
We can't always be up, so what does it mean for us to be down, to be melancholic? Today we discuss the moody spell along with the sometimes joyful aspects of melancholy and ask certain questions: if we're introverted and shy by nature, do extroverts experience melancholy like us? Is melancholy just a result of feeling tired from experiencing too much of something? Too much of a social situation? Are we melancholic because it can be difficult to navigate ourselves emotionally in a life where there is constant pressure to be 'up', to smile and be joyful? I share a poem and together, Rob and I share our thoughts on this murky but intriguing subject. Join us on the moody journey!
In time for the New Year, today, Rob and I thought to discuss the power and wonder of forgiveness. We take an inquisitive and self-reflective dive into what forgiveness means to us personally and how forgiveness can raise our consciousness. Forgiveness is about mindfulness and compassion and releasing of anger. We chat and share anecdotes, and I read a recently penned story about a young boy trying to understand the riffs and arguments within his own family in the company of a wise old man. For those that would like to submit a story or vignette, please write to me, Dolli at dgerhz@googlemail.com and in the subject, write 'Story'. For our next few podcasts we are considering the topics of beauty, travel, music, and time. If you have any topic suggestions, please email me with your suggestions (subject line: Suggestions). Best and Happy New Year.
In this episode, Rob and I discuss one of our favourite topics, books. What books we love, what books inspire us, fascinate us, irritate us, it's all here in this fun episode where we touch upon authors from Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn to popular Swedish authors to the works of famous German writers in the 20th century. We also read passages from our favourite works of literature. The Christmas season is here, and what better way to get through the dark night and short days than with literary company. So the question is, what are you reading these days?
In this episode, Rob and I discuss truth, the difficulties of expressing it, the fears, the concerns, the qualms and in some instances, the healing aspects. From white lies concerning a colleague's bad breath to the need to speak the truth for the sake of ourselves and bodily integrity, we share our stories, our awkward moments and the little triumphs in the realm of truth. We won't lie, sometimes it can be difficult. Join us for our lively chat about the perils of being open and honest.
In this episode, I ask Rob the question: have you ever been in love? And from that single question, we get the whole ball rolling on the endless question of what is love? What does it mean? What does it look like? When is love real? How do we love? We look at the philosophy and histories of love from the Ancient Greeks to the Troubadours to the modern approaches of romantic love and online dating. We take deep dives into the psychology of love, from wondering about the narcissism of the Don Juan archetype to the destructive nature of the Siren. Rob and I also examine our loves, past and present, with me reading from my book, A Guernsey Promise. Rob finishes with a translation of my favourite Rilke poem, Du, im voraus. All of this to the tender music of Borodin’s ‘Notturno’ to inspire us.
In this episode, Robert and I, Dolli, discuss the great hereafter, Death. We reflect on our impressions and brushes with death while delving into the world of poets, writers and thinkers that have mused on the mortal coil that is our lives and the endings that await us all. We wonder about the dominion of death and our relationship with it. Meanwhile, Robert reads an excerpt from one of his Anna, Stories and finishes with a poem. Crack open a bottle and raise a glass alongside us!
In this pilot episode for Rob & Dolli: Life to Life, we, a Canadian and a German, discuss literature, philosophy, psychology and other facets of... well... life. We open our friendly and playful banter with Dolli reading from her favourite English language poem, T.S. Eliot's 'The Love Song of J. Afred Prufrock', setting the tone for our chat where we discuss a midlife crisis, literary dreams and our goals. We touch on some things heavy with some things light. Join us for our new adventure!