In this episode, I explore a condition I call Seriousness Fatigue™ - a surprisingly common but under-diagnosed affliction affecting grown-ups everywhere. Symptoms include: chronic joylessness, relentless productivity, and a general heaviness that makes life feel like a spreadsheet. It’s a playful diagnosis, but a real experience. I look at how fun deficit disorder (FDD) links to perfectionism, mental over-exertion, and emotional and physical disconnection. I also offer a few suggested treatments...
Jun 30, 2025•41 min
If you’re a regular listener, you’ll know Laurie (my dog) was a robust presence in my life, and our relationship was both loving and incredibly challenging. It wasn’t simple. It stretched me, frustrated me, entertained me, taught me. Living with him, and later rehoming him, pushed me to my limits - but that was only the beginning of the journey. I had no idea what would happen next… This is me sharing a story and reflecting on the experience - what it taught me about navigating boundaries and gr...
Jun 24, 2025•36 min
Ever questioned your trust in yourself or doubted your capacity to do brave things? Ever felt weak or ashamed because of that? In this episode I share reflections from periods of my life when I’ve felt raw, alone and unsupported - when I had to rebuild trust with myself as a matter of self-preservation. And what I’ve discovered is that self-trust doesn’t come from pushing through, ‘man-ing-up’, or performing confidence. It grows quietly, in moments of honesty, in choosing gentleness, and deliber...
Jun 19, 2025•36 min
Modern life really isn’t set up for being slow and still. It can feel uncomfortable, even pointless. Yet beyond the resistance, I’ve been discovering something tender, alive and a source of great relief. This episode is me sharing that process with you. In this episode, I talk about something very simple - but not always easy: sitting still and being with myself. No fixing, no doing, just being with myself and noticing what’s there. That simple. It started as an experiment, but it’s been surpris...
Jun 16, 2025•33 min
Here I’m exploring the terrain of desire - not the surface-level kind, but the deep, bodily knowing of what you truly want and need. Speaking from a clearing in the woods, I reflect on the difference between external striving and inner attunement, and how perfectionism can cut us off from our own instincts. This is a meditation on listening, gently, to the signals in your body, the ache of unmet needs, and the quiet internal whispers of what you might really be here for. If you’ve ever felt disc...
Jun 10, 2025•26 min
Join me for walk in the Austrian Alps, reflecting on a question few of us ever dare to ask, let alone answer: “How do you want to spend your time on Earth?” From the beauty of retreat to the discomfort of liminal space, I explore the tension between desire and guilt, perfectionism and possibility. Expect honest musings, playful techniques (like divergent thinking and ‘sensing’ into your response), plus heartfelt encouragement to live the question, rather than force an answer. This is a nice comp...
Jun 06, 2025•23 min
What does wild swimming in an alpine lake have to do with improvisation? Everything, it turns out. In this episode, I tell the story of standing on the edge of a glacial lake in Austria, feeling the pull of aliveness and the grip of fear, all at once. I notice how familiar the pattern is: the hesitation, the mental noise, the search for the “right” way in. Just like improv. This is honest reflections on what it means to take a risk - whether it’s stepping into cold water or stepping into the unk...
May 29, 2025•18 min
Some Perfectionists think they’re pretty easy-going. They don’t make a fuss. They go with the flow. Or do they? In this episode, I explore the subtle difference between genuinely flowing with life and quietly complying with it. If you’ve ever mistaken your ability to ‘just get on with things’ as calmness, this one’s for you. I unpack the hidden self-abandonment that can sit under so-called flexibility - and how to tell the difference. You’ll hear reflections from my own journey, what I’ve notice...
May 21, 2025•21 min
Ever wondered why you’re so hard on yourself? In this episode, I share the story of how I became a Perfectionist - from the early signs I didn’t have a name for, to the moment it all clicked, and the ways it’s shaped every part of my life. Career, creativity, relationships, rest… nothing has escaped its grip. I talk about what I’ve learned along the way, how my understanding of Perfectionism has deepened, and how that might relate to your own experience - even if you’ve never used the word “Perf...
May 06, 2025•16 min
By the time you hear this, I’ll have said goodbye to my dog Laurie. This episode is me choosing not to “function” my way through the re-homing process - but to feel it, and to share that with you. I reflect on what it means to end things relationally, not just practically. On how grief shows up in the body. On humility, holding, and being held. On how hard it is to let go - even when it’s the right thing. There are funny stories too (Laurie gave me plenty). And there’s some real talk about perfe...
May 05, 2025•32 min
What if the thing we’re all really searching for… is aliveness? In this episode, I explore what I believe is a core human drive — the longing to feel something. To feel moved, stirred, stretched, awake. I share reflections on what aliveness means, how it shows up in different phases of life (especially mid-life, where I find myself now), and how it can quietly slip out of reach when life becomes too safe, too predictable, or too dull. I talk about the tension between safety and risk, comfort and...
May 03, 2025•18 min
Ever felt restless, frustrated or ‘just this side’ of anger - but can’t quite put your finger on what or why? In this episode, I explore one of those days... When your body speaks louder than the mind, when sensations and feelings emerge without reason. I talk about what it’s like to be there, and share what I’ve learned in my work as an embodiment coach about how to listen to the body, and how it speaks about what you really need. I share personal reflections, gentle practices, and a few hard-e...
Apr 30, 2025•24 min
In this episode, I explore what it really means to commit - not just in theory, but in practice, in the body, and in everyday life. Drawing from improv and personal experience, I explore the cost and discomfort of being ‘half-in, half-out’ - how it creates uncertainty and anxiety. And instead, I make the case for actively embodying either fully in, or fully out. Because commitment isn’t just a thought or promise, it’s a signal to your nervous system, a gesture of clarity, and a kindness to every...
Apr 22, 2025•29 min
Why do people try improv? Turns out, it’s not just for laughs (though those are definitely part of it). In this episode, I introduce you to the wonderfully diverse cast of characters who say yes to improv - from the bold bucket-listers and kids who loved drama at school, to the healing hearts and bold explorers. You’ll meet six improv archetypes, each with their own reasons for walking into a workshop - and the surprising things they discover once they do. Whether you’re already in the improv wo...
Apr 17, 2025•28 min
We all know rest is important, but actually slowing down to stop? That’s another story. In this episode, I share my experience of slowing down and leaning into a winter cycle - what it really feels like to withdraw, rest, and go inward. Spoiler: it’s not easy. I explore why we resist rest, what comes up when that happens, and why decelerating from the speed of the everyday is both essential and uncomfortable. But here’s the secret: when we finally do it, something unexpected happens. Inner wisdo...
Apr 14, 2025•40 min
What does it really mean to be gentle with ourselves, with life, with each other? In this episode, we explore the layers of gentleness, inspired by a recent Authentic Relating workshop. I share reflections, and the subtle ways we often resist softness through striving, numbing, trying to get it right, or simply forgetting that we’re human. This is your invite to reimagine gentleness not as weakness, but as strength, practice, and choice. We’ll look at how being hard on ourselves takes its toll a...
Apr 06, 2025•27 min
We all want it, but how do we get more of it? In this episode, I explore the connection between happiness and getting our needs met. Based on my experience as an embodiment coach, my work with clients, and my own journey of figuring out how to live a happier life, I’ve noticed five distinct stages we move through on the path to happiness. In a state of accidental and extreme caffeination, I step through these stages, point out where many of us get stuck, and explain how understanding your needs ...
Apr 02, 2025•30 min
A lot of people think improv is all about being quick-witted and hilarious. Maybe that’s why you and so many other people find it intimidating. But what if improv could be something else? Something gentler, more reflective, and actually supportive of who you are? In this episode, I break down five key ways my improv workshops are different. They’re not about pressure or performance - they’re about presence. They’re trauma-informed, embodied, and deeply connected to life beyond the stage. Because...
Mar 28, 2025•26 min
We all know play is important for kids—but what about us grown-ups? In this episode, I dive into my frustration about how play is so often misunderstood and undervalued by adults. I share my experiences of talking to people about my work helping parents and adults be more playful, and the resistance I encounter. Why do we see play as just for children? Why do we, as adults, neglect our own need for play? This is a deeply personal exploration of what play really is, why it matters for everyone (n...
Mar 26, 2025•19 min
If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to try improv, but never have the time,” this episode is for you. Improv isn’t just a fun extra—it enriches and enhances the things that matter most in your life, from your career to your relationships. In this episode, I break down three surprising benefits of improv—joy, growth, and connection—and why they make improv more than worth your time. If you’re a busy person who wants to feel more alive, adaptable, and connected in daily life, this is your invitation...
Mar 19, 2025•30 min
What if you could listen so deeply that you hear why someone is saying what they’re saying—not just the words, but the essence of who they are? In this episode, I explore the three levels of listening from Authentic Relating, with a special focus on Level 3: deep, intuitive listening. This is the kind of listening that goes beyond understanding words and instead seeks to uncover the deeper truths beneath them. It’s about offering honest reflections, sharing impressions, and sometimes even naming...
Mar 04, 2025•22 min
Recorded in the cold grip of winter, this episode is all about deepening your relationship with that thing below your neck. Do you take your body for granted? How do you speak to or with yourself? Why would you even bother with any of this. I share some rantings from my recent journey inwards, on this ongoing investigation into self-leadership, care and what some people might even call self LOVE. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to ...
Jan 30, 2025•24 min
Oops! I accidentally discovered the meaning of life, in this glued-together mantra of both new and ancient wisdom. In this episode I explore what it means to follow your bliss at your own pace and welcome everything in life and improv. And how these guiding practices can help move us toward a richer, more vibrant experience of life. I recorded this for both improvisers and non-improvisers; and felt inspired participants at my recent ‘Openhearted play for grown-ups’ workshop. This is a public epi...
Dec 02, 2024•32 min
OK, maybe the title’s a bit dramatic but this one is an exploration of how to navigate and support yourself through scary, painful, uncomfortable challenges in life. Are you there for yourself? Perhaps you’ve heard this called ‘self-care’ or ‘self-love’ - but I think there’s way more to this than wellbeing. It’s being in charge of your own experience, stepping in and rescuing yourself instead of waiting for a saviour or feeling adrift and abandoned. Be your own pet. This is a public episode. If ...
Nov 26, 2024•24 min
I hear this from clients. People are lonely and hungry for connection, yet it’s SO tricky to build new relationships as grown-ups. Why? The odds may be stacked against you… In this episode I try to diagnose the problem and give language to what’s really going on. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com...
Nov 15, 2024•25 min
This word, ‘range’ comes up a lot, when it comes to meaning in life - for me, my clients and people like me. I struggle to define what I mean by it though. So here I work out loud what I think I mean by seeking a fuller, richer, broader experience of the human experience - why we need highs, lows and everything in between. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com...
Nov 12, 2024•29 min
This is a love-storm of questions and provocations to help you notice, understand or just identify the extent to which Perfectionism affects your life. In it, I share a few examples of how it shows up and what’s really going on. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com
Nov 07, 2024•29 min
Reassurance if you’re self-conscious in this episode. I explore the stories we tell ourselves and project onto others, and their perception of us. Chris goes into town to watch improv “…where there’s music and there’s people and they’re young and alive” and discovers no one really cares or notices. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriskenworthy.substack.com...
Oct 28, 2024•24 min
Here’s what should have happened: you and I take a lovely autumnal walk where I gently yet clearly reveal my new project - Letters to Perfectionism. Love letters, thank you notes, complaints and memos to help people like us explore our relationship with perfection’s many fixations and gifts. Here’s what actually happened: my dog went rogue - trying to get kidnapped, then stealing a ball. Then I got stung by nettles. Oh, and my central heating system broke, the day before I leave home. It seems t...
Oct 25, 2024•11 min
“If you want it done right, do it yourself” right? Because people can’t be trusted. They mean well, but your shoulders are broad enough to cope alone. Can you relate? If so, you could be the self-reliant type like me. Not that we don’t like or want support; it’s just tricky to ask for, and even harder to receive. So we chose the path of struggle and isolation. You martyr you! Nothing wrong with self-reliance, it works, it gets stuff done. In excess (hyper form) though it can get in the way of th...
Oct 21, 2024•18 min
