The Gadfly Talks
Welcome to The Gadfly Talks, one woman’s answer to a world of soundbites and clapbacks. It’s inspired by Socratic dialogue, which involves cooperative, open-ended exploration rather than defensive one-upmanship or intellectual dominance. This type of dialogue is portrayed in Plato’s Symposium by the temple priestess and mystic, Diotima of Mantinea, as she guides Socrates to insight about the nature of love (or eros, for my fellow Greek nerds). The goal of Socratic dialogue is to temporarily suspend our beliefs, to allow space to explore ideas relationally and arrive at deep, collective insight — together. Refreshing, right? Think of it as making love to an idea rather than, well, the alternative. This dialectical approach goes beyond black-and-white, zero-sum thinking to embrace complexity, paradox, and mystery. It helps us resolve ideological tension and factionalism not with concrete answers, but cooperative inquiry and the ability to sit with the unknown. It asserts that wisdom begins with humility — not credentials— and culminates in wonder. Though some of the people I interview will be considered experts in their fields, I don't present them as sole purveyors of truth. Instead, I invite a variety perspectives to paint a kaleidoscopic picture of each topic we'll cover, one that's textured, nuanced. and even contradictory at times. How can this approach shift our perspective on the prevailing narratives of our time? What might happen if we ask more questions instead of defending assertions? All I know is, I’m eager to find out. I don’t offer medical advice or treatment, and this podcast shouldn’t replace it. But I do believe that healing happens in community. Maybe, just maybe, these talks can be a part of your healing, too. Welcome to the podcast. The examined life starts here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
This episode is a little different. I share a personal reflection on crossing invisible thresholds, tapering Zoloft, and learning to meet existential dread not as breakdown, but as initiation. Through memories of fear, medication, spiritual seeking, and the slow return of raw aliveness, this episode explores what it means to stand at the edge of the void and listen for what it has to say.
I cover:
•How tapering Zoloft is bringing...
This episode features Tracey Walker, a death doula, educator, and funeral professional with a background in both human and animal medicine. She shares her journey from working as a paramedic and veterinary technician to finding her calling in holistic death care.
Tracey discusses the cultural taboos surrounding death, the parallels between birth and dying, and how preparing for the end of life can lead to a more intentional and...
This episode features Kristen Ulmer, a former world-famous extreme skier once celebrated as the "most fearless woman" in her sport. She shares how her perceived fearlessness was actually an unconscious, high-risk "love affair with fear." After retiring, she reflected on what her career taught her, leading her to coach others on how to embrace their fear rather than resist it.
About Kristen Ulmer:
- Former professional extre...
Dr. Eric Goodman is a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety disorders, OCD, and phobias. He shares his own history with two major phobias (public speaking and flying) he later treated using exposure principles.
We dive into what fear and anxiety really are, why they so often feel irrational, and how we can relate to them more skillfully instead of trying to get rid of them. Instead of chasing “anxiety‑free” promises, we ...
In 4th century Athens, a man was put to death for “corrupting the youth.” What made Socrates so dangerous wasn’t radical sermons or manifestos. It was something much simpler: he asked questions.
He almost never offered his own answers. Instead, he asked the kind of childlike questions that seem innocent at first, then slowly unravel what we think is obvious. The more people tried to defend their beliefs, the more those beliefs s...
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