Ends with Z: Recent Episodes
Ends with Z
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify The human experience is full of highs and lows at every stage and at every age. There are no hacks or apps that will stop all the mistakes and pains of being human. “Life will be lifing!”, as the saying goes, in spite of the promise...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify Today, we are experiencing a stagnant, “low hire, low fire” job market that’s making both employers and employees very nervous. An emerging new trend tells us many people are not happy in their job and yet they are holding on to them because the fear and...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify We know that an extrovert is someone who gains energy from people while an introvert typically avoids people all together, but what is an otrovert? Coined by Dr. Rami Kaminski in 2023, an otrovert is an empathetic, free thinker who feels more comfortable being alone-“an outsider”-rather...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify Our “why” for creating the Ends With Z podcast was to share life stories and lessons and from them, provide tools and advice that our listeners can take to make sense of things, and hopefully, have a better life of their own. As we approach the...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify Many of us have a love/hate relationship with social media, but when we came across Durb Morrison’s thought-provoking Instagram post, “By The Age of 50 You Should Be Wise Enough To Let Go of These 20 Things”, it demanded a podcast. In this episode, Cecile, Juan,...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify Regardless of your sexual orientation, age group, or where you live, dating in 2025 is more of a don’t than a do. We are swiping left, swiping less, or not at all; many are simply tapping out. Face-to-face human connection has become so 2000. It is...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify Created from conversations among friends during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are proud to celebrate the 5-year anniversary of our Ends With Z podcast! In this milestone episode, Cecile, Juan, and Shawn reflect on their podcast journey, the evolution and impact of the...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify We had to keep this conversation going and go deeper, because your response was so overwhelming! Cecile, Juan, and Shawn continue the discussion on toxic positivity, opening up into their own personal and professional experiences, to find the nuanced nature and at times, hard to find...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify We all need healthy alone time or “me” time for self-care and quiet, down time. It’s a good thing, right? The fact is that too much time alone can lead to loneliness, isolation, and experiencing a lack of connection with others. The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr....
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify The doctor is in! But what if the doctor isn’t human? Our favorite psychotherapist, John Tsilimparis, joins the podcast as we discuss the growing impact of AI, and specifically AE (artificial empathy), in the medical field and in the most important aspects of our daily life. ...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify The doctor is in! But what if the doctor isn’t human? Our favorite psychotherapist, John Tsilimparis, joins the podcast as we discuss the growing impact of AI, and specifically AE (artificial empathy), in the medical field and in the most important aspects of our daily life. ...
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You are as old as you think you are. Studies have shown that we typically perceive ourselves to be from 7 years to 20% younger than our actual chronological age. This gap is called our subjective age, but are we just living in denial or is there a benefit to this kind of thinking? Preconceived notions that we each hold on aging may also be a predictor of our eventual, future reality. People who perceive themselves to be younger than they are typically lead healthier lifestyles, engage in more positive self-talk and self-care, and tend to be less depressed.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
The puzzling gap between how old you are and how old you think you are
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/04/subjective-age-how-old-you-feel-difference/673086/
What feeling younger (or older) than your actual age says about your outlook on life
https://www.fastcompany.com/90898518/what-feeling-younger-or-older-than-your-actual-age-says-about-your-outlook-on-life?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FC%20-%20Top%2010%20Newsletter.Newsletter%20-%20FC%20-%20Top%2010%206-18-23&leadId=1797176&mkt_tok=NjEwLUxFRS04NzIAAAGMbhsApB1K99btW2nDce-DjusxDdtfMObdMidcxylx0hCzTV3HTOMkE05j-zJCkUKdAk15-2zjefWj_EsT-MUmvU266IEYp5rJIbSIXBCp
Feeling younger than your age may be good for your health
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/06/15/feeling-younger-aging-good-health/
Successful aging: how you feel about your age can affect your health
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You can’t have the life you want if you don’t know what you want from life. As children, we dream of the lives that we want, imagining our grown-up selves, careers, soulmates/families, and possessions. It all begins with your thoughts - believing that what you want is possible and attainable. But that will only get you so far. To manifest the life of your dreams takes work. It doesn’t just magically happen. It requires the right mindset, hard work, planning, pivoting, patience, and perseverance. Align your thoughts and attitude with your actions to get the results you want. In this week’s episode, Cecile, Juan, and Shawn share the journey from being a small town kid where nothing ever happens to living a life that they dared to imagined.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
Manifestation: Definition, Meaning, and How To Do Ithttps://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/manifestation.html
What Is Manifestation? Science-Based Ways to Manifesthttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/202009/what-is-manifestation-science-based-ways-manifest
4 Science-Based Tips To Manifest Your Dreamshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-for-happiness/202209/4-science-based-tips-to-manifest-your-dreams
Does Manifesting Work, or Are We Just Doing It Wrong?https://www.allure.com/story/what-is-manifestation
A Psychologist Explains the Dangers of Manifesting Your Goals – And Offers A Solutionhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2022/11/12/a-psychologist-explains-the-dangers-of-manifesting-your-goals---and-offers-a-solution/?sh=795d40941fd2
What is lucky girl syndrome? The New TikTok manifestation trend explained
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/lucky-girl-syndrome-explained-b2271927.html
How much of “manifesting” is actually just about privilege?
https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/mainfesting-priviledge
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify This week we have the one and only John Tsilimparis, relationship therapist, in the house to sound off on our last 2 dating episodes with Indie and Jai. We dive into recognizing dating red flags in ourselves and with others, the importance of self-love and awareness,...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify The conversation continues with our 2 guests, Independence “Indie” Hall and Jai Pellerin, as we discuss how other generations are seeing dating, singledom, sex, and love. We’re getting deep and talking the real talk. Brace yourself and get ready to take a jump into dating pool!...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify What do catfishers and your mom have in common? They’re both probably on dating apps. This week, we have 2 guests, Independence “Indie” Hall and Jai Pellerin, who say YES! They’re here to talk to us about how other generations are seeing dating, singledom, sex and...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify This week, Juan and Cecile sit down for a “friend chat” to discuss their “attractitude,” aka their attitudes and philosophies on attraction, dating, and relationships. They’re diving into their dating history and examining what they’ve learned, what they’re looking for now, and what younger generations have...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify Whether we were ready or not, we’re in 2023! Our kickoff episode to the year surrounds setting goals and intentions, being mindful of our thought processes, the importance of yearly closure, and why it only takes a glass of champagne to make you feel like the...
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify This week is a BIG one for Ends with Z as we celebrate our 50th episode! Cecile, Juan, and Shawn reminisce on the beginnings of the podcast and recall some of their favorite show topics and episodes. This is also the time of year to celebrate...
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We all love more of a good thing but are too many friends bad for you? Our favorite psychotherapist, John Tsilimparis, is back to wrap up our friendship series and he's bringing the science and deeply emotional reasons to answer all our questions. From what are the origins and importance of friendship, why it is the very thing that ensures our survival, how to find them and what we look for in a friend, and why you're not alone if you're having trouble getting yourself back out there after COVID. Grab a coffee, and sit with us as we eagerly pick John's brain on how to be a better friend.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/10/10/are-you-the-same-person-you-used-to-be-life-is-hard-the-origins-of-you
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/08/making-keeping-friends-attachment-theory-styles/671222/
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What kind of friend are you anyway? Do you have close friends at work or just work acquaintances? Have you ever met a person who tried a little too hard to be your friend to learn later they only cared about your failure? Making and maintaining meaningful friendships is real work! It doesn't just magically happen. Join us for part 3 of our Friendship series where we talk about having friends at work, and ask how, why, and can we make friends at different stages of our life. We dish on what makes good boundaries and how to recognize and navigate the dreaded frenemy trap.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/10/10/are-you-the-same-person-you-used-to-be-life-is-hard-the-origins-of-you
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/08/making-keeping-friends-attachment-theory-styles/671222/
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We continue our friendship series and dive deeper into making friends, keeping friends, and breaking up with friends. We talk about platonic love (or friends without those benefits), the modern concept of your soulmate also being your best friend, and why statistics say we’re failing at making friends and how to fix this. Join us as we spill the tea while we dish on our attachment theory in our relationships and debate why there may be a little bit of Colin Farrell in all of us.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/10/10/are-you-the-same-person-you-used-to-be-life-is-hard-the-origins-of-you
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/08/making-keeping-friends-attachment-theory-styles/671222/
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This week we dive into an underrated topic: the evolution of friendships. We get personal as we discuss the correlation between how we evolve as people and how our friendships evolve with us. What do you need from friends now versus when you are in your 50s, 30s, 20s, or in high school? Is your BFF today the same one you had 20 years ago? Do you even have a BFF? What friends do we need as our lives change? What purpose do they serve in real life vs. online? Exec. Producer, Shawn Meaux, joins the conversation as we start to explore the importance of friendship to our wellness, discussing what true friendship requires and what it looks like as we grow, why friendship breakups can be healthy, and why it might just be the greatest love of all.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/10/10/are-you-the-same-person-you-used-to-be-life-is-hard-the-origins-of-you
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/08/making-keeping-friends-attachment-theory-styles/671222/
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This week’s episode, we have a fan of the show with us, Carlos, a hard-working, financial services professional who recently left his job, having been in the industry 16+ years. He’s listened to every episode, but the recent ones on quiet quitting, grind culture, work/life balance podcasts, and self-advocacy really resonated with him. Carlos is here to talk to us about his own, real life journey in self-realization, what it finally took to get him to make the move, and why quitting is the best thing he’s ever done!
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
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Are you an advocate…for yourself? These days, we’re all about supporting each other, but sometimes we forget to be there for ourselves. Join us this week as Cecile and Juan recap Juan’s recent health scare and why it reminds all of us at Ends with Z how important it is to be our own biggest advocates, when it comes to our health and wellness, and maintaining hope during times of uncertainty. And, in matters of the heart and our health, surrounding ourselves with a good support system, love (and sometimes even tough love) is the path to whole healing.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
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Do you have a secret sauce to life and are you willing to share it? This episode we talk about Juan's recent trip to Vegas for one of the nation’s biggest journalism conventions. We discuss how media careers and job needs have shifted and how we can make these changes work for all of us. From the younger one-person journalism band to teaching older generations the latest apps necessary to keep up with changing needs, we reveal why it's advantageous for everyone to help each other. We also discuss the dangers of toxic Queen Bee mentality and how to better balance the stresses of a changing workplace. Sometimes the secret isn’t in the sauce, it’s in the sharing.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/how-to-turn-everyday-stress-into-optimal-stress?stcr=6B57162DC8DF4A5D8BB70C449DDB0A9B&cid=other-eml-alt-mip-mck&hlkid=6624f43a68b344a99d7edd0499c85d9b&hctky=10332554&hdpid=b073b540-e305-4160-b077-2a5d80816261
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This week’s episode, we discuss why “the grind” is overrated, how channel surfing can be good for your mental health, and what being a man, woman, and successful whole human looks like in today's world. How do you unwind? Taking just 5 minutes to chill out can help prevent you from being burnt out. Grab your slippers and a glass of wine, you won’t want to miss this one.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/04/29/the-hustle-culture-has-no-future-enter-the-break-culture/?sh=7b933e418ca3
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/a38416524/hustle-culture/
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The answer may depend on which generation you ask. With older ones having internalized it and younger ones glorifying it, grind or hustle culture has been around for hundreds of years and is embedded in the DNA of American exceptionalism. It is our work culture. For many, modern-day work culture involves working a regular job plus a side hustle, working multiple part-time jobs, or working well past 55+ hours per week in a full-time job. The truth is, left unchecked, grind culture can be harmful to your well-being and physical health, and is unsustainable as individuals and for corporations. But how do we stop grinding, when being overworked is often seen as a badge of honor with 4.2M Instagram posts tagged #riseandgrind, when society views it as a measure of success, or when some of us must work multiple jobs just to survive? With 1440 minutes in a day, the answer may be to take 5 of those minutes each day to make a conscious choice to power down, instead of always knuckling down. Start building your different work culture and get more out of life.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-mindset/201910/the-rise-and-grind-hustle-culture
https://citywatchla.com/index.php/cw/voices/25077-in-business-politics-women-can-make-a-difference
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Go with the flow, be like water, embrace change. They all mean the same thing: maintaining flexibility and leaning into change. We’re back this week to discuss what being adaptable means for each person, how to not fear change, and how to access your own flexibility for more happiness this summer season. Sit down, take a listen, and get ready to lean into change!
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
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Summer is here and that means vacay, baby! Yes, we’ve all had the wind knocked out of us lately with ever-increasing prices, especially when we fill up. So how do we get our three R’s: rest, relaxation, and relationship time, when everything is so expensive? The answer is proper planning while adopting a flexible mindset to embrace choices that maximize your experience and minimize the stress and cost. In this episode, we discuss staycations, family bonding, past travels, and current adventuring in a way that won’t break the bank but still allow us to dive into the three R’s with some insightful perspective and helpful tips.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
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Taking time off shouldn’t be stressful, but it is for many, so much so that millions of vacation days go unused each year. Where is the line between being a hard worker and working all the time? It’s vacation time where the living is easy. Or it should be and can be, if we are flexible and plan properly. Do you take that trip to Europe we’ve put off that last 2 years or do we stay local to save money as gas prices continue to rise? This week’s episode, we dive into the idea of embracing flexibility this summer (and we don’t just mean on the yoga mat), having grace with ourselves and how life now (or what we at Ends with Z like to call Life: 2.0) is an opportunity rethink the idea of working hard, while taking necessary downtime to relax and recharge. How do we attain it? Hint: the answer may be in a 4-day work week and the convergence of traditional European ideals and American work ethic.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
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While many of us are still trying to figure out what cryptocurrency is, the Metaverse has arrived. What is it exactly? Is it the Sims on steroids? Is it digital communal living? Virtual reality? Is it for socialization? Business? Education? Fitness? Well, if you're a novice like us, still scratching your head to understand the Metaverse, you'll want to tune into this episode where we break down the overall concept of Metaverse. We also discuss the Metaverse’s positive and negative implications for the digital world we're living in, the physical planet we are living on, and our well-being as humans living with both worlds. Hang on tight, folks, the future isn't coming . . .it's here!
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
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What we consume is our world. And in California, we love our detoxes to keep our world healthy--juice cleanses, Keto, intermittent fasting, sweat chambers, sage burning--we love it all! But what about our digital diet? With all that we consume from our devices, it stands to reason that taking an occasional break to detox can be good for our well-being. Do you know how much you take in without thinking? In this week's episode, we discuss how to be more mindful of our digital usage and how we can cultivate healthy digital practices that help us live a better life, not just for ourselves but more importantly, for our children.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
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Is your phone keeping you from reaching your goals? Iphones, Androids, Tablets and Watches. They’re all so “smart.” You need to keep track of your receipts? There’s an app for that. Need to see what restaurants are nearby? There’s an app for that. Want to “unplug” and calm down from your day? Yeah, there’s even an app for that, and it’s great! However, when does digital usage crossover from being productive to disruptive? The science is in, and it seems the very devices meant to make our lives easier are actually stressing us out and depressing us all. Join Cecile and Juan this week as they discuss this hot-button issue and reflect on what we all did before the internet and social media and how to find a healthy balance between being digitally engaged and humanly present.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
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COVID-19 has rapidly accelerated many things in our society. Americans started new small businesses in record numbers during the pandemic, many fueled by being laid off or by just having the time and space to seriously contemplate their work and their personal lives. Now more than any time in history, the path to being an entrepreneur is easier than ever before because of the internet and the digitization of work and life. But there is a cost to being the boss, and that is accountability. In this episode, our producer, Shawn Meaux, joins the podcast where he and Cecile discuss their entrepreneurial boss beginnings and insights they have learned along their journeys. With the right mindset, you can turn your side hustle into the main dance with some hard work, a good plan, good luck, more hard work, more planning, and ultimately, doing and executing.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
https://link.cnbc.com/public/26473621
Entrepreneurs Started Businesses in Record Numbers During the Pandemic https://www.salesforce.com/blog/small-business-pandemic-entrepreneurs/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Census%20Bureau,started%20in%20January%202021%2C%20alone.
Start-ups boomed during the pandemic. Here’s how some entrepreneurs found a niche https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/27/how-entrepreneurs-found-their-start-up-niche-during-covid-19.html
Soaring U.S. business starts in pandemic show new normal evolving https://www.reuters.com/business/soaring-us-business-starts-pandemic-show-new-normal-evolving-2021-10-28/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/04/09/pandemic-fuels-global-growth-of-entrepreneurship-and-startup-frenzy/?sh=42a480ac7308
7 Ways to Help Ensure Your Business Succeeds https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223390
U.S. Executive Search & Consulting, Inc. https://www.usexecutivesearch.com/
Architectural Digest creative use of fabric contest: our readers voted as their favorite https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/viewers-vote-article
Neo Vintage Decor https://www.chairish.com/shop/neovintagedecor
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With everything we have experienced over the past 2 years, It seems we are all trying find more capacity to handle what keeps coming at us. How do we preserve in the face of adversity or constant change? The key is to be more resilient--to heighten our self-awareness of the things we cannot control and our responses to those things. It is the radical acceptance of the highest order. We are all born resilient and we can learn how to be more adaptive and reactive to not just survive but to thrive. This is how we are all hardwired, it is as an innate human ability for self-preservation and protection. Begin and end every day knowing, no matter what, you can get yourself to a place where you know you can handle anything, be it a small, everyday frustration or a full blown, major crisis. Our favorite psychotherapist John Tsilimparis, MFT is back to show us how to keep doing the work that will help us tap into our resilience and thrive.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES
John Tsilimparis, MFT Psychotherapist, Professor, Author https://www.johntsilimparis.com
This Is My Brave uses live storytelling to help destigmatize mental illness based on the belief that “storytelling saves lives.” This Is My Brave takes stories of mental illness and addiction out of the shadows and into the spotlight, via live monologue, comedy, music, dance, poetry, etc. Over the past five years, This Is My Brave has produced more than 60 shows with over 1,000 storytellers in the U.S. and Australia. Click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGQOo0y_ziY to watch my story from the 2017 This Is My Brave performance in Los Angeles. Learn more at www.thisismybrave.org
Mindfulness For the Soul Podcast with John Tsilimparis, MFT https://anchor.fm/john-tsilimparis?fbclid=IwAR2Z5kMM-nt-KE4wcGnhw2-cO1eWXMr1SuqUlAHyf1kBJvPxdgjZpNoTFUc
PSYCHE IT UP! Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-5WqPDSy0Aqh2EcwZD_y5w
Huffington Post Contributor https://www.huffpost.com/author/john-tsilimparis
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All of us know at least one person who quit their job within the last year and about twenty others who are really thinking about it. Many don’t have another job lined up before they quit – the one cardinal rule very few would ever dare to break. But almost 9 million people between November and December did exactly that. They were just done. If you are not thinking about it, should you? And, if you are, is there a good, or smarter way to do it, to make sure you are going to make your life better, feel happier, do more of what you love? In this episode, we help you really think about why you should go and how to make sure the grass is greener on the other side.
SHOW NOTES/RESOURCES