Podcast
“Always be yourself” is often offered as reassuring advice, but it rarely stands up to closer examination.In this episode, Julia explores why the idea of a single, stable “true self” creates more pressure than clarity. Using Batman as an unexpectedly useful psychodynamic example, she looks at how many of the selves we live with are...
In this episode of The Dynamics of Everyday Life, Julia explores a familiar but uncomfortable truth: knowing why we do something doesn’t mean we can stop doing it. Using a tennis metaphor (and a healthy dose of self-awareness), she unpacks why insight alone rarely leads to lasting change; and why so many intelligent, motivated people...
Somewhere along the way, visibility got confused with exposure. In this episode of The Dynamics of Everyday Life, Julia explores how sharing online has shifted from something intentional into something increasingly driven by anxiety. This isn’t an episode arguing for or against social media – Julia uses it for her business and enjoys it in...
In this episode, Julia explores our obsession with reinvention, why change doesn’t always equal growth, and what refinement, coherence and psychological settlement really look like. This episode’s highlights: 00:00 Welcome back, New Year reflections & a birthday aside 01:40 January, planners, noise and the pressure to reinvent 03:05 Madonna and the cultural fantasy of reinvention...
Welcome to another episode of The Dynamics of Everyday Life. In this festive episode, I dive into the unique emotional landscape leading up to Christmas, exploring why the “most wonderful time of the year” can also feel overwhelming, exhausting, or even anticlimactic. The Long Build-Up: How Christmas has become an extended season, starting as early as July for...
In this episode, I dive into that feeling of chaos in December, the pressure of festive readiness, and the hilarious truth of barely keeping up with the day-to-day—let alone big-picture life planning. I draw on a classic 90s pop song (A1’s Same Old Brand New You) as a metaphor for our perennial attempts at self-reinvention, especially around New...
In this festive episode, I explore why certain seasonal films—especially the beloved “Love, Actually”—may leave some of us cold (or even unsettled). With her signature wit and a psychodynamic perspective, I dive into the unconscious emotional patterns that emerge during December, using Freud’s theories to pull apart the charm, nostalgia, and suppressed feelings invoked by the holiday narrative machine....
Welcome to another episode of Dynamics of Everyday Life with your host Julia! In today’s episode, I dive into the often-used (and sometimes grating) phrase, “You got this.” From personal tech catastrophes to the emotional shortcuts we use in day-to-day interactions, this episode explores why seemingly supportive statements can sometimes leave us feeling unseen. Notice when you reach for tidy,...
Welcome back to “The Dynamics of Everyday Life”! In this festive episode, I draw brilliant parallels between the classic movie Home Alone and the ways our psychological defence mechanisms can “run the house” – especially during the holidays. Key Takeaways: Home Alone as Psychodynamic Metaphor: Julia explores how the film’s characters and setting represent parts of our inner...
Welcome back to the Dynamics of Everyday Life. This week, we’re channeling the unapologetic energy of Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones—not her questionable morals, but her boundary-setting prowess. Classic scenarios get the “Cersei treatment”—from relentless school WhatsApp requests to the friend who treats your diary like a communal resource, plus the workplace colleague who...