Sensemaking with Wolé and Tobi

S10E7 - Men and Our Physical Flaws

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Many men can be preoccupied with the perceived flaws in their appearance, but it's not a common conversation.
Male body image and shapes come with one or two ironies.
Skinny men can be looked at with concern, and even seen as less appealing most times.
Obsession with the gym could be a cry for help, but the outcome of that gym bod is rewarded and commended by society.
Ah, but there's more.
Men also face pressures to lose weight and reduce their gut size, but at the same time face pressures to gain weight to acquire muscles.
In this episode with @alec.hewstone, we raised the volume on these silent conversations, focusing on male body image, muscle dysmorphia, our physical insecurities, fitness, male body representation, and so much more!
We loved doing this episode because it was so genuine and honest, and because we hoped it would make us men feel much more comfortable in these conversations.
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S10E6 - Cinematherapy: Hospitality and Unexpected Relationships

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As always, this cinematherapy episode was an attempt to reflect on our previous episode on hospitableness.
Finding a movie that teaches solely about hospitality/hospitableness was almost impossible.
Even though this movie was not centred on hospitality, we took other lessons from how unexpected relationships can catch us off guard when people around us less with hospitality 🎥 🍿!
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Before you go, here are a few ways to support the podcast!
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S10E5: The Virtue of Hospitableness

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When was the last time you found yourself having to be a host to a stranger, acquaintance, or friend?
Do you pay attention to the thoughts, behaviours, and actions you exhibit when you need to or could be a host?
The thing is hospitableness, a component of hospitality, is probably one of those things you don’t sit down to think about, probably because it originated with the very foundations of our societies, regardless of where you’re from.
But here we are, in TYP fashion, putting a spotlight on a virtue (arguably) that we take for granted.
It’s only due to several developments over time that we have become more concerned with fear of and the need to be hospitable to others.
In this episode, we unpack what it means to be hospitable and why it matters to our wholeness and essence as human beings. We also highlight the huge role of culture and the challenges to being hospitable for young adults especially.
Our conversation showed that while the direction of modern society is indirectly shredding the fabrics of hospitableness, it remains a benefit on the individual level, that is, you and I.
Finally and most importantly, this episode will reveal to you that our understanding of hospitableness should not be limited to the provision of food and drinks as hosts, but is key to the development and practice of our selflessness, benevolence, & compassion.
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Before you go, here are a few ways to support the podcast!
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S10E4 - Cinematherapy: When Illness Changes A Family

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#About the episode 
In continuation with the theme of our previous episode and in recognition of Sickle Cell Awareness Month, this episode explores the complex issue of medical ethics and family responsibilities through "My Sister's Keeper (2000)".
 
Inherited or congenital illnesses can often be a source of difficulty and turmoil for families, as this movie portrays.
 
However, the deeper lesson for us as young adults is about the tough choices we may have to make in life, many of which we may be unprepared for and undeserving of.
 
When faced with decisions relating to life and death, we never truly know who we will become.
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Before you go, here are a few ways to support the podcast!
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S10E3 - The Cells That Make Us

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Episode 3 is already one of our favourite recordings, as we got nerdy with Cambridge researcher, @seuninscience to chat about stem cells, human biology, organ transplants, sickle cell disease, consumer products, and finding a spark!
We don't typically cover technical topics like this, but our curiosity and desire to learn brought us to this very important conversation. Stem cells are the building blocks of life, so it was crucial to fill our knowledge deficit in that area! 🧪
Regardless of your level of interest in science, this is one conversation not to miss. We're incredibly grateful to @seuninscience for her time with us! Check out her socials and give her a follow; her knowledge is inspiring, and her energy is unmatched!
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Before you go, here are a few ways to support the podcast!
Become a TYP Patreon ♥️ - http://patreon.com/theyellowpillpod
Leave us a review where you're listening right now! 💫
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S10E2 - Cinematherapy: How Not To Live In Your Twenties

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To leave a comment at any point during your listen, here's a link you can use - https://bit.ly/typs10e2
#About the episode 
The reasons why everyone says your 20s are consequential aren’t arbitrary. For a simple fact, your 30s will be full of many more responsibilities that make changes in life directions complicated."Frances Ha" is a movie that preaches the idea of being at peace with not having things figured out in your 20s.Our cinematherapy episode shows it’s not that simple.We tell you why, and we demonstrate an example of how not to live in your twenties.For our introspective 20-somethings, this is for you!
Before you go, here are a few ways to support the podcast!
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S10E1 - Auditing Our Twenties

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NEW EPISODE! NEW SEASON! The stars are definitely aligning. Here’s why.
We’d just turned 27 when we launched the first season of this podcast (if my maths are correct lol)
The original name of this podcast was “20s Convos”.
The very first episode in Season 1 was titled “What might our 30s look like”.
And now, in perhaps poetic fashion, the year we both turned 30 marks the 10th season of this podcast.
So as we approach a new season, not only of the podcast but in life, it’s only right that we look back, and take an audit, before going forward!
In this episode, we reflect on our 20s to highlight and make sense of all the significant events, people, and environments that have shaped our 30-year-old self so far.
Turning 30 comes with different emotions for different people. But as Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards: but it must be lived forward”.
Ageing is inevitable, it’s what you do with it that counts. And for us, turning 30 begins with a pursuit of understanding the last decade backwards.
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Before you go, here are a few ways to support the podcast!
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S10E0 - Coming up this season

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Your favourite podcasters are back for the 10th season of The Yellow Pill Podcast! 🎉
In this trailer episode, we'll give you a sneak peek of the amazing themes we'll cover this season, as well as the changes we've made to our episode schedule. We're also introducing some new segments to the podcast that we think you'll love!
Don't forget to check out all the links we mentioned in the episode:
TYP on Patreon - http://patreon.com/theyellowpillpod
TYP Ask Us Anything - http://bit.ly/typauas10
If you've missed us and can't wait for episode one next week. Here's how you can encourage us! 
Become a TYP Patreon ♥️ - http://patreon.com/theyellowpillpod
Leave us a review where you're listening right now! 💫
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Back With The Doses!

It's time for your weekly dose of the pill that does the most...

Looking Back on Season 9

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We can't believe it's already the "final-final" episode of the season!
Looking back on the amazing ninth season of the Yellow Pill podcast, we couldn't be more pleased with how everything turned out.
On this recap episode, we spoke about some of the new things we tried this season, like changing up the format and experimenting with different narrative structures.
We also shared some insights from our Yellow Pill Junkies campaign in the first half of the season, and we were thrilled to announce the two winners of the Amazon voucher prizes for those who took part in the survey!
Thank you so much for participating, and we can't wait to bring your suggestions and recommendations to life in the best way possible.
We're super thankful for all the love and support you've shown us this season, and we'd be totally stoked if you could do us a solid and share our podcast with at least one friend this week!
Oh, and before we go, here are the links to the different projects we mentioned during the episode:
The Nigerian Constitution Project on Instagram - https://instagram.com/thenigerianconstitution1999
The Yellow Pill Podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@theyellowpillpod

S9E20 - Cinematherapy: A Further Exercise in Self-Awareness

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Our final episode of the season for cinematherapy aimed to shed light on frameworks for self-awareness. It was quite a challenge finding a movie that could express this concept, as it seems rare to produce a work of fiction with self-awareness as the primary theme.
So, we decided to focus on not one, but two different movies! One of them was recommended by our TYP fam (Nocturnal Animals [2016]), and the other was something we had in mind (The Perks of Being a Wallflower [2012]). Despite having different messages, both movies share a cryptic ending that we're still trying to decipher.
In this episode, you'll gain a better understanding of self-awareness and its potential dangers in excess. You'll also experience our frustration as we try to unpack how self-awareness can both alleviate and aggravate negative emotions.
Thank you for joining us this season! It has been an absolute blast, and we still have one more episode after this to recap what has been a five-month season.
See you soon! x

S9E19 - An Exercise in Self-Awareness

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Have you ever thought about the complicated dance of understanding yourself from the inside and also knowing how others perceive you?
In this penultimate episode of the season, we took a look at the intricate interplay between self-awareness within and how you come across to others. It's a big deal for personal growth and relationships, so we threw some light on its importance.
Throughout the episode, we explored how these two aspects of self-awareness are connected and how they affect the choices we make and the way we interact with the world.
In the end, self-awareness is a pretty big idea that can mean a lot or a little depending on who you ask.
So, what does it mean to you?

S9E18 - #Cinematherapy: Dating and Punching Up

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In this #cinematherapy episode, the movie "Hitch" provided a great example to help us understand the idea of dating outside of one's league.
Even though the movie stars Will Smith as Hitch, our attention is drawn to Albert, the underdog of the story, who is in love with a rich, powerful, and beautiful woman named Allegra. If you’ve seen the movie, you know that Albert eventually wins Allegra's heart.
In this episode, we wanted to explore the ups and downs of "punching way up" in the dating world. As we delved deeper into the topic, we uncovered some thought-provoking themes around self-improvement, masculinity, social hierarchies, power dynamics, and overcoming insecurities.
Although the discussion had a focus on men, we arrived at a shared understanding of the value of confidence, perseverance, and authenticity in "the chase". We also established a part of a future collection we're calling the "yellow pill frameworks" for anyone who finds themselves in Albert's situation 😉

S9E17 - Out of Your League?

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Have you ever felt like someone was out of your league?
It's a common feeling, but in this podcast episode, we explored the idea that it might not be the best way to think about ourselves and others.
We delved into the scientific theories that have contributed to the concept of being "out of one's league." But we also talked about how complex the subjectivity and objectivity of social desirability, self-value, and self-worth can be especially in the search for a partner.
We chose to explore this topic because as we've gotten older, it’s a wicked problem that tends to sneak up on those who still have to navigate a dating pool.
Overall, this episode reminds us to shift our perspective when we get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. Instead, it's important to focus on our own personal growth and celebrate the things that make us unique when going into conversations about dating.

S9E16 - Cinematherapy: Living to Work or Working to Live

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On this edition of #Cinematherapy, Wole and Tobi discuss the iconic movie "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006), which explores the balance between work and personal life.
The movie follows aspiring journalist Andrea as she becomes the assistant to the demanding Miranda Priestly in the high fashion industry. It depicts Andrea's transformation as she navigates the challenges of a demanding job that threatens to consume her personal life.
Wole and Tobi break down some important scenes and delve into themes of ambition, fulfillment, and the compromises we make for success. They explore questions like: Is it really possible to have everything we want? What are the things we're willing to give up? And how do we stay sane through it all?
Finally, they wrap up with some tips on how to set boundaries, take care of ourselves, and find a happy balance between work and personal life.

S9E15 - What We Get Wrong About Work-Life Balance

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Work-Life Balance
Do you have a good understanding of what "work-life balance" means? It's a term we hear a lot, but have you ever stopped to think about what the "balance" part really refers to?
Let's take a moment to consider some more questions together:
Do you think work-life balance is the same for everyone, regardless of age or stage of life? For instance, is the balance needed by a 28-year-old the same as that needed by a 41-year-old? Moreover, do you think it's possible to achieve the ultimate success we all dream of while still maintaining a healthy work-life balance? And finally, how certain are we that our work and personal lives can always be kept separate?
The questions surrounding this topic are endless, making it a "wicked problem."
Many of us are concerned about achieving a good work-life balance. However, it's essential to recognize that everyone's situation is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. In fact, some people online may push their idealized version of work-life balance onto others, which can create feelings of guilt or inadequacy.
Overall, there's a case to be made that the gospel of the pursuit of work-life balance is driven by concerns about our health and well-being, as well as that of our loved ones. However, is there a one-size-fits-all solution, and should the balance look the same for everyone?

S9E14 - Cinematherapy: Self-Love, The Key to The Unconditional

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The debate on the conditions of unconditional love continued in this cinematherapy episode. To be honest, we feel this topic was one that was too complex & difficult to arrive at a consensus in 2 hours of conversation.
The movie we chose to potentially break this down further was ‘The Spectacular Now” a coming-of-age story that follows the charming and carefree high school senior, Sutter Keely, as he navigates his last year of high school with no regard for the future, until he unexpectedly falls for the sweet and studious Aimee Finicky, forcing him to confront his inner demons.
Wole wasn’t the biggest fan of our movie choice, but it’s a movie that grows on you as it edges on showing how there can be extraordinary in the everyday things with share with a love interest.
Perhaps the most important realisation we came away with at the end of this is that without self-love and pure tenderness to ourselves, unconditional love is difficult to give and receive.

S9E13 - The Conditions of Unconditional Love

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A mysterious concept, a romantic ideal, and a taken-for-granted understanding. These are three things that we feel characterize the concept of unconditional love, and in typical Yellow pill fashion, we don't take things for granted.
In the context of emerging and sustaining relationships, unconditional love is often seen as the epitome of the romantic ideal.
From wedding vows to movies to "advice consultants," we all hear people say that to love unconditionally is to declare an intention to love someone come what may.
But what does this mean in a world where conditions are set upon us by default, merely because we exist within certain forms and structures?
Because the truth is, the very moment we consider the type of relationship we desire with another, we will always be in the realm of "conditions" (be it values, likes, dislikes, temperaments, etc.).
So, what then is unconditional love in a default world where conditions cannot be escaped?
This episode was inspired by the desire to learn to love more fully and to bring to light a complex understanding that we take for granted as young adults.
Save, turn on those bells, you don't want to miss this 🔔

S9E12 - Cinematherapy: Finding A Spark

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On the latest episode of the podcast, Wole and Tobi tried to use the Ikigai framework to figure out a part of their lives connected with purpose. But, honestly, they just ended up with more questions than answers about how practical the framework was.
It was like they were in a constant state of tension - almost like the main character in Soul, a Pixar flick about a middle-school band teacher who's feeling pretty lost. He's a jazz musician at heart, but things haven't quite gone his way. When he travels to another dimension to help someone find their purpose, he starts to understand what it means to have soul.
After breaking down the plot of the movie, Wole and Tobi took some time to reflect on some of the stuff they didn't quite figure out from the last episode. But, this time, they were able to come to a better understanding of what they think is really at the heart of Ikigai - the *reason for being*.
They also talked about some of the scenes from the movie that really stood out, as the main character went on his journey of self-discovery, trying to figure out his purpose, passion, and what it really means to live a fulfilling life.

S9E11 - Ikigai: Myth or Possibility?

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You've probably stumbled upon a bunch of frameworks and popular guidelines on how to find purpose in life or discover your reason for existence.
One such concept is Ikigai, a Japanese term that translates to "the reason for being". The idea is simple: each person finds their reason for being at the intersection of what they love, what they are good at, what they can be paid for, and what the world needs.
Sounds great, doesn't it? 
In this episode, we tried to apply this concept to our own lives and see if it's a useful framework. To be honest, we're not sure if we nailed it. We tried to make sense of it from a realistic perspective, taking into account cultural and economic realities, but Ikigai proved to be a tough sell 😄
Anyway, we'd love for you to give it a listen and see if it can help you out. Who knows, maybe you'll find some useful insights that we missed!###Resources
A link to the Ikigai graphic - https://bit.ly/40GVGc7