Aya and Josh have known each other all their lives, but they weren’t always friends. Listen as they get to know each other as adults and explore the ways our thoughts, values, and priorities shift over time.
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MAKE COOL SH!T blends the best parts of comedy, documentary, and reality TV in a true story of hope and process. Season 1 is all about making a movie - a Certified Fresh horror/comedy feature called "Scare Me" featuring College Humor icon Josh Ruben, Aya Cash (The Boys), Chris Redd (SNL), Becky Drysdale (Key and Peele), and hosted by Aaron Kheifets (Comedy Central). From script to its premier at Sundance, this hilarious non-fiction podcast captures all the grit and nuance of filmmaking in th ...
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With her super-sensitive sense of smell, sixteen year-old Kaia Smith is used to not fitting in. So when she receives an invitation from Dr. Vadim Grigori to participate in the Grigori Young Scholars Program with its promise that she will meet others like herself, she jumps at the chance. But what is the GYSP really about? Why are the faculty so interested in the story of the Fall of the Watchers? Why are they obsessed with antimony? And what role will GYSP participants like Kaia play in thei ...
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How does identity shape our views in life? What happens if we lose an identity? In this episode, Aya and Josh delve into the complex tapestry of identity, exploring its various types (personal, social, cultural, gender, professional, digital/online) and formation, as well as communal identity, Jewish identity, the persistence/fluidity of identity, …
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Episode 59: Deliberate Doubt
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How does questioning our core beliefs and assumptions lead to more informed and empathetic viewpoints? What practical steps can we take to achieve this? In this episode, Aya and Josh challenge some of their own deeply held beliefs, drawing inspiration from Megan Phelps-Roper’s podcast “The Witch Trials of JK Rowling” and Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s insig…
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Episode 58: Gun Violence (Part 2)
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Special Guest: Jacob J. Tanenbaum. Are guns the best form of self-defense? Should we arm school teachers? In this episode, Aya and Josh continue their debate on gun violence with Jacob, exploring police shootings, the effectiveness of guns compared to other defenses (dogs, cameras, police, Tasers), gun control measures/perspectives in other countri…
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Episode 57: Gun Violence (Part 1)
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Special Guest: Jacob J. Tanenbaum. What are the main causes of gun violence? Is it justifiable to infringe on certain rights to ensure greater public safety? In this episode, Aya and Josh are joined by Jacob, Josh's close friend and writing partner, to discuss the epidemic of gun violence in the United States and the critical issues relating to it,…
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Episode 56: Artificial Intelligence
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How are we using AI like ChatGPT to change the way we work? What does the rise of AI mean for us and the future of our fields? In this episode, Aya and Josh explore the positives and negatives of artificial intelligence, including the influence of AI on creativity and content creation, its application in education, ethical concerns (e.g., misuse, p…
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Episode 55: Astronomy vs. Astrology (Part 2)
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Special Guest: Dr. Grant Vezina. How big is the universe? How have key astronomical discoveries fleshed out our understanding of Earth and the universe beyond? In this episode, Aya and Josh further explore the mysteries of the cosmos with Dr. Vezina, including the faint young sun paradox, the great oxidation event, global ice ages, climate feedback…
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Episode 54: Astronomy vs. Astrology (Part 1)
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Special Guest: Dr. Grant Vezina. Do the stars influence our lives? Is there any scientific basis to astrology? In this episode, Aya and Josh are joined by longtime friend Grant Vezina as they chat about high school and delve into the origins of — and differences between — astronomy and astrology, exploring the dichotomy between science and pseudosc…
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What makes someone feel stable? How do they maintain it? In this welcome-back episode, Aya and Josh discuss the four main types of stability (physical, mental/emotional, financial, relationship/social), stability vs. stagnation, long-term vs. short-term stability, improving stability (medication, exercise, yoga, healthy eating, meditation, nurturin…
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Episode 52: Domestic Abuse (Part 2)
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How do you recognize abuse? Can men be victims of domestic violence? In this episode, Aya and Josh continue their discussion on domestic abuse in context of the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial as they explore the cycle of abuse, signs of abuse, history of abuse, characteristics of abuse victims, power dynamics, misogynistic vitriol, believ…
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Episode 51: Domestic Abuse (Part 1)
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What constitutes abuse? Did Johnny Depp deserve to win his defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard? In this episode, Aya and Josh discuss the reality of domestic abuse/intimate partner violence against the backdrop of the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial, characteristics of abuse victims vs. perpetrators, whether men can also be considered v…
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How do you avoid disappointment? Are low expectations the key to happiness? In this milestone episode (50!), Aya and Josh talk about expectations, including about the podcast itself, how Covid has ruined expectations, the concept of meeting expectations, betraying expectations, exceeding expectations, subverting expectations, magical expectations, …
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What’s in a word? Can words hurt you? In this episode, Aya and Josh discuss the power of words themselves, including favorite words, ugly-sounding words, swear words, names, puns, semantic satiation, language/linguistics, trying to find the right words, word/definition debates (“man,” “woman,” “antisocial”), words in different languages, words in a…
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Episode 48: Healthcare (Part 2)
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Special Guest: Dr. Simone Mendel. What does Covid look like from the perspective of those working in hospitals? How has the pandemic revealed/exacerbated existing problems in our healthcare system? In this episode, Aya and Josh continue their discussion on healthcare with childhood friend Simone Mendel, further contrasting the US and Canadian syste…
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Episode 47: Healthcare (Part 1)
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Special Guest: Dr. Simone Mendel. What makes a good healthcare system? Is healthcare a right or a privilege? In this episode, Aya and Josh are joined by childhood friend Simone Mendel, who shares her insights as an internal medicine doctor in Canada, as they reminisce about their shared history and the paths they took, examine the accuracy of TV me…
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How can the ego sabotage us? Is having an ego always a bad thing? In this episode, Aya and Josh break down the ego and explore their own egotistical tendencies as they discuss self-promotion, seeking validation vs. feeding the ego, ego vs. insecurity, conditional ego, the real meaning of humility, Freudian Psychoanalysis (Id, Ego, Superego), narcis…
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Episode 45: Following Your Passion (Part 2)
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Special Guest: Brad Bangsboll. Can a job ruin your passion? What are the consequences of not following your passion? In this episode, Aya and Josh continue their discussion with Brad on following your passion, hustling, "climbing the ladder" (background acting, assistant directing) vs. "going in the side door" (independent filmmaking), facing setba…
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Episode 44: Following Your Passion (Part 1)
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Special Guest: Brad Bangsboll. How do you discover your passion? What might stop you from pursuing it? In this special episode, longtime friend and filmmaker Brad Bangsboll joins Aya and Josh to share his personal journey towards finding and following his passion, eliciting discussion about identifying and following your passion, learning the craft…
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What are people's biggest regrets? Are regrets useful? In this episode, Aya and Josh share their deepest regrets, exploring Daniel Pink's four types of regret (foundation, boldness, moral, connection), regrets stemming from action and inaction, childhood regrets, romantic regrets, financial regrets, regrets as motivation for the future, comfort vs.…
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Episode 42: Cancel Culture (Part 2)
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Should we cancel cancel culture? What are the limits of free speech? In this episode, Aya and Josh risk it all as they continue their discussion on cancel culture, touching on the fear of being canceled, publicly expressing opinions on controversial topics (abortion, vaccine hesitancy, trans rights, the Holocaust, pedophilia), the court of public o…
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Episode 41: Cancel Culture (Part 1)
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Does cancel culture exist? Who, if anyone, deserves to be “canceled”? In this episode, Aya and Josh explore the notion and nuances of cancel culture, including academic freedom, expertise, critical thinking, the controversy surrounding Joe Rogan, platforming/deplatforming, “dangerous ideas,” degrees and forms of cancellation, freedom of speech/expr…
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Episode 40: Life-Changing Events
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Special Guest: Amanda Bell. What qualifies as a life-changing event? What kinds of things actually change? In this special episode, lifelong friend Amanda Bell, now eight months pregnant, returns to chat with Aya and Josh about positive and negative life-changing events, including pregnancy, parenthood, the pandemic, vaccines, mandates, natural dis…
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Episode 39: Virtual Reality
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What is the metaverse? How can you experience VR right now? In this very special episode, Aya and Josh strap on their Meta/Oculus Quest 2 headsets and meet face-to-face in virtual reality to talk about... virtual reality; specifically, the nature, logistics, opportunities, and dangers of virtual and augmented reality, Facebook, the metaverse, comfo…
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What are the most common pet peeves? What constitutes a pet peeve? In this episode, Aya and Josh distinguish between pet peeves, pet "furies," and serious world issues/societal ills while sharing the things that annoy them, including hypocrisy, spoilers, slow talkers/walkers/drivers, invasions of personal space, food-related grievances, constant pe…
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Do you feel guilty when you lie? How does being lied to change a person? In this episode, Aya and Josh divulge the rest of their thoughts on lying, discussing the benefits and harm of lying in our society, politics, and legal system, lying to ourselves, lying to each other, lying to teachers, lying out of desperation, lying in court, lying to feel …
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Episode 36: Lying (Part 1)
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How can you tell when someone is lying? Is it ever a good thing to lie? In this episode, Aya and Josh share their honest-to-goodness thoughts on lying, including white lies, blue lies, dangerous lies, a lie’s intention vs. result, lying to others vs. being lied to, getting falsely accused of lying, lying to/as children, lying to protect others, lie…
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Do you need to be in control? How do you respond to a loss of control? In this episode, Aya and Josh discuss their own needs for control, as children and as adults, including reactions vs. responses, relinquishing control (driving, astrology, religion, superstition, "the universe"), the illusion of control, creative control (writing, directing), ac…
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Why write? What tools, techniques, and environments are useful for the writing process? In this episode, Aya and Josh explore the world of writing, including novel writing, screenwriting, writing as a career vs. hobby vs. vocation, fiction vs. non-fiction, research, discipline, outlines, beatboards, first drafts, scope and stakes, wants vs. needs, …
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Is loyalty really a virtue? Would you help your friend hide a body? In this episode, Aya and Josh talk about the nature and pitfalls of loyalty — to people, brands, political parties, countries, causes — along with conditional vs. unconditional loyalty, earned loyalty, misplaced loyalty, blind loyalty, dual loyalty, patriotism vs. nationalism, and …
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Episode 32: Conspiracy Theories
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Special Guest: Daniel Bottner. What makes conspiracy theories so alluring? When do they become dangerous? In this episode, Daniel makes his triumphant return to talk with Aya and Josh about a whole slew of conspiracy theories (9/11, QAnon, Covid/5G, vaccines, Protocols of the Elders of Zion, Holocaust denial, Flat Earth, Sandy Hook, “Paul is dead,”…
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Does our justice system work? Is the world getting more or less just? In this episode, Aya and Josh explore the concept of justice against the backdrop of some high-profile murder/sexual assault trials in the U.S. (Kyle Rittenhouse, Ahmaud Arbery, Alice Sebold/Anthony Broadwater), honing in on social, criminal, and racial justice, equality vs. equi…
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Special Guest: Pierce Zaifman. What does it mean to break out of your "bubble"? Are there consequences to living in the same place all your life? In this episode, Aya and Josh continue their discussion with Pierce on the challenges of moving, reflecting on bad roommates, returning home after a long absence, maintaining friendships after a big move,…
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Episode 29: Moving (Part 1)
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Special Guest: Pierce Zaifman. What propels someone to move? Do you have to move to grow? In this episode, Pierce, who is currently in the midst of a big life move, returns to join Aya and Josh to talk about the process, benefits, difficulties, and consequences of moving, the reality of living with roommates vs. living alone, and the many different…
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What does "home" mean to you? What happens if you lose your sense of home? In this episode, Aya and Josh talk about who and what makes a home, whether home is a physical place or a feeling, homesickness, building a home, homelessness, and even games like Animal Crossing and Neopets.
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Is abortion inherently wrong? What does it really mean to be pro-life vs. pro-choice? In this episode, Aya and Josh discuss the divisive and uncomfortable topic of abortion, including the recent threats to Roe V. Wade in parts of the U.S., the morality of aborting a fetus at any stage of development, prioritizing the life of a mother vs. her child,…
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Episode 16 Part 2 The Conclusion–Love and Anger
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This is the second half of the conclusion of Antimony. To hear the first half, please go to Episode 16 Part 1. Episode 16 features: Emmett Prough Richter (Neith) David Merrill (Josh) Lydia Brauer (Kaia) Josiah Dykstra (Dr Grigori) Jenni Ovenstone Smith (Dr Calleo) Katherine Hilton (Dilani) Rachel Hunter (Rachel) George McLaughlin (Shemihazah) Pan C…
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Episode 16 Part 1 The Conclusion—Love and Anger
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The first half of the conclusion of Antimony. Episode 16 features: Emmett Prough Richter (Neith) David Merrill (Josh) Lydia Brauer (Kaia) Josiah Dykstra (Dr Grigori) Jenni Ovenstone Smith (Dr Calleo) Katherine Hilton (Dilani) Rachel Hunter (Rachel) George McLaughlin (Shemihazah) Pan Conrad (Michael) Amy Richter (Gabriel) Ron Day (Ship Captain) Jenn…
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Kaia and Dilani discover the Grigoris' secret project with some help from a friend. The GYSP survivors figure out their final stop on the program's itinerary. Episode 15 features: Lydia Brauer (Kaia Smith) Katherine Hilton (Dilani) Joseph Pagano (Security Guard) Jenni Ovenstone-Smith (Dr Calleo) Josiah Dykstra (Dr Grigori) Kristin Pagent (Aunt Alin…
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The GYSP students explore the Burj Khalifa and have a bittersweet reunion with a friend. One of the students gets released from the program and gives a cryptic message as she goes. Episode 14 features: Lydia Brauer (Kaia Smith) Katherine Hilton (Dilani) Emmett Prough Richter (Neith) David Merrill (Josh) Aya Fouad (Zia) Rachel Hunter (Rachel) Henry …
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Special Guest: Ben Lawrence-Farhi. Do you have a favorite self-care activity? How do you measure your self-worth? In this special episode, Aya and Josh continue their discussion with Ben on the nature and merits of self-care, including their go-to self-care activities, defining success, building self-worth, diverging from one’s parents, overcoming …
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Episode 25: Self-Care (Part 1)
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Special Guest: Ben Lawrence-Farhi. Do you live a balanced lifestyle? What are the consequences of neglecting your self-care? In this special episode, Ben joins Aya and Josh to discuss the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of self care, including sleep, diet, exercise, social life, finding the right work-life balance, and coping wit…
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Do you consider yourself a feminist? Is feminism as a movement still necessary today? In this episode, Aya and Josh explore what it means to be a feminist as they discuss the foundations of feminism (e.g., the “three waves”), women’s suffrage, obstacles to gender equality, sexism, reproductive rights, gender roles, “mansplaining,” and toxic masculi…
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Are you a good loser? Is competitiveness a helpful or harmful trait? In this episode, Aya and Josh dissect healthy vs. unhealthy competition, jealousy vs. envy, feelings of insecurity, fear of failure, attitudes of mindfulness (e.g., the practice of “non-striving”), and the value of having a collaborative mindset.…
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Episode 22: Selfishness vs. Self-Interest
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Is it possible to be completely selfless? Is acting in one’s self-interest inherently a bad thing? In this episode, Aya and Josh attempt to differentiate between selfishness and self-interest, psychological egoism and ethical egoism, and competing definitions of altruism, while also reflecting on the role of empathy in our (intended) actions, the e…
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Episode 21: People Pleasing
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Do you have a hard time saying no? How honest are you about what you want? In this episode, Aya and Josh discuss boundary setting, building resentment, internal vs. external validation, conflict avoidance, self-respect vs. self-destructive behavior, and responding to manipulative people.
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The GYSP group rewards trip, "Skyscrapers: Past, Present, and Future," begins in an unlikely, but ancient place. Ally listens to another Dream Lab transmission, "1866—Samya and the Peerless," in which Samya makes a change. The students arrive in Dubai. Episode 13 features: Lydia Brauer (Kaia Smith) Katherine Hilton (Dilani) Patrick Gillingham (Flig…
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What keeps you motivated? When is the right time, if any, to give up? In this episode, Aya and Josh discuss laziness and the feelings and circumstances that lead us to mental and physical exhaustion, the pros and cons of commitment, passion vs. obligation, emotion regulation skills (e.g., opposite action), and the need to believe that what we're do…
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Episode 19: Intention vs. Action
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Are you easily offended? Is the road to hell paved with good intentions? In this episode, Aya and Josh discuss whether one's intentions truly matter compared to their actions, the importance of context, intention vs. impact, criminal negligence, how someone's power affects the impact of their actions (J.K. Rowling, Demi Lovato, police officers, Don…
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Episode 12 Air Freshener and Coffee
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Kaia and friends come up with a plan to steal their files from Dr. Beakley's office. Would what they find be worth the risk they were taking? Dr. Grigori announces the rewards for GYSP students who have survived another week. Episode 12 features: Lydia Brauer (Kaia Smith) David Merrill (Josh) Katherine Hilton (Dilani) Emmett Prough Richter (Neith) …
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Episode 18: Growth and Self-Awareness
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Special Guest: Daniel Bottner. What types of experiences trigger self-awareness? Do we ever stop growing? In this episode, lifelong friend Daniel Bottner joins Aya and Josh to talk about their social, mental, and physical development through the years; active vs. passive growth; shifts in maturity, popularity, and social standing; empathizing with …
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How do you manage your anger and where do those feelings stem from? Are there times when you should get angry? In this episode, Josh helps Aya work through her anger as they discuss conflicts arising from the pandemic, feelings of powerlessness, losing control, primary vs. secondary emotions, action urges, healthy vs. unhealthy expressions of emoti…
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