Choose Your Hard

We hit record on what we thought was a simple Part 2. We were wrong. This episode took a hard left turn directly into the existential abyss, and we didn't even bother to signal.

It’s one of our most unhinged, raw, and important conversations yet. We start by debating the merits of bug spray for a joyful hike and end up… well, discussing the ultimate sacrifice. Just a typical Tuesday.

For reals, tho: This episode contains an explicit, unscripted, and deeply personal conversation about suicidal ideation and depression.

We discuss these topics from a philosophical and personal perspective, which may be distressing or triggering for some listeners.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please know your life is precious and there is immediate help available:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (in the US and Canada)

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

• The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 (for LGBTQ youth)

• International Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a global directory of resources here

Please prioritize your mental wellness. It is absolutely okay to pause or skip this episode.

In this episode, we get into:

• The fine line between healthy sacrifice and self-betrayal (in hikes AND relationships).

• Why we’re both “promoters of shame” and think it’s a powerful motivator.

• The chaotic debate: Is it selfish or brave? (Spoiler: It’s complicated.)

• Why your “story” and “root causes” might not fucking matter as much as you think.

• The one thing loneliness is actually begging for (it’s not what you think).

A Moment to Pause in the Chaos

This episode goes to some dark places. If you listen, you'll know. So let's take a breath. The chaos is fun, but the insights are real. Here’s what we hope you take away from the mess:

• Pick Your Hard. Staying in a situation that drains you is hard. Leaving is also hard. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Choose the "hard" that leads you toward a future you actually want, not the one that just feels familiar.

• Your Suffering Isn't Special. This isn't to minimize your pain, but to remind you that you are not alone in it. ❤️‍🩹The feeling of being the only one who hurts this badly is a lie that isolation tells you. Connection is the antidote.

• Embody, Don't Just Intellectualize. You can understand why you feel a way forever. Real change happens when you move that understanding from your brain into your body and actually feel it—without trying to immediately fix it.

• Cliches Work For A Reason. Gratitude. A walk. Drinking water. They’re cliches because they are foundational. You don’t need a niche, 12-step program to start. 🪄You just need to do one simple thing consistently.

• Presence > Fixing. When someone is in pain, they rarely need you to solve it. They need you to sit in it with them. The same goes for the parts of yourself that are hurting. Just be present, feel what needs to be felt, then move on.

  
  

The goal isn't to eliminate suffering. It's to learn its language, to understand what it's trying to tell you, and to make a conscious choice from that place. Watch the episode here.

You are the only one who can decide how much is enough.