Bewildered - podcast cover

Bewildered

Martha Beck and Rowan Manganmarthabeck.com

What if we stopped listening to the controlling voice of the culture around us, and instead learned to reconnect with our own true nature? 

Sometimes we aren’t even sure why we feel so bewildered… and discontented… and even downright miserable. Often it’s because we have let the forces of society replace our own instinctive knowledge of what is right for us. 

Now, it’s time for us to find that voice again—before it’s too late.

For Martha and Rowan, Job One is to live according to our deepest truths, making the commitment to feeling good even when it means looking weird. We believe that this is how we will reinvent our world—from the inside out— to create a society that’s kinder, more equitable, and more ecologically sustainable than the one we see around us right now. 

This is the vision that we laugh and stumble and chat and feel our way towards here on this podcast.  Did we mention LAUGH? We want no part of personal and global transformation if it isn’t fun!

So if you struggle to find a place where people who are as idealistic and brokenhearted, as silly and deeply sincere, as bewildered as you are—you might have just arrived. 

Welcome!

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Episodes

Best of Bewildered: All the Way to Heaven is Heaven

In our culture we’re socialized to believe that if we suffer enough, we’ll be rewarded later—and our reward will be happiness. In other words, happiness is something we have to earn through suffering. On this “Best of” episode of Bewildered, we challenge this cultural belief, inspired by the words of 14th century mystic St. Catherine of Siena who said, “All the way to heaven is heaven.” To hear more about this idea—and how you can experience happiness right now—join us for one of our favorite ep...

Jul 09, 202543 minSeason 1Ep. 106

Best of Bewildered: On Burnout and Reset

Ever suffer from burnout? We certainly have, and we’re talking all about it on this “Best of” episode of Bewildered! Burnout is something our culture doesn’t allow because it expects us to be productive non-stop. However, our wild natures require “wintering” periods where we rest and reset. If you need to recover from burnout (or you want to preempt it), tune in for the full episode to hear our suggestions for getting ahead of burnout and resetting your body, mind, heart, and spirit. CONNECT WIT...

Jun 25, 202546 minSeason 1Ep. 105

Best of Bewildered: When to Leave

“Should I stay, or should I go?” It’s an age-old dilemma, and we’re exploring it in this “Best of” episode of Bewildered! To figure out when to stay or leave, we must first examine our thoughts. Often our struggles come from our thoughts about our situation, rather than the situation itself—and our thoughts can be shifted once we get to a place of peace. To learn how to ground yourself, shift your thoughts, and use peace as a compass to make the best decisions for you, join us for the full conve...

Jun 11, 202534 minSeason 1Ep. 104

Changed By the Path Itself

One way to deal with the constant, terrifying changes in all of our lives is to choose the worldview of a pilgrim—someone who doesn’t see life as a series of fixed positions but as a continuous, fluid process or journey. The journey itself is not what’s most important—it’s the way that the journey changes you that matters. In this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about how to live your life as a sacred pilgrimage, let yourself be guided, and allow the journey to write the story of you. Join ...

May 28, 202559 minSeason 1Ep. 103

Why We Need Your Art with Amie McNee and James Winestock

Did you know that the world needs your art? On this special episode of Bewildered, our friends Amie McNee and James Winestock join us to talk about Amie's new book, We Need Your Art—and why your creativity matters now more than ever. In this rollicking conversation, we discuss how making art is a revolutionary act, why art is needed in unprecedented times, and what it means to stay soft amid the hardness of the culture. If you've been looking for a spark to light your creativity, this episode is...

May 14, 20251 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 102

Out-Kind the Culture

Kindness. Our culture often frames it as something weak, naive, foolish, or passive—and there’s a reason for that. If we stay “nice” and subscribe to the culture’s idea of kindness, then we stay obedient and easier to control. So in this episode of Bewildered, we get ultra-revolutionary around kindness. We’re talking about the most radical type of kindness—kindness toward one’s self—and how it’s a force that can change our cultural systems of cruelty to create the revolution we want. Come join u...

Apr 30, 202553 minSeason 1Ep. 101

How to Train Your Human

At the beginning of this game called life, we each get a human—a body that we get to steer through the world. In this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about the idea of “training your human”—because you are not your body, mind, or personality, but rather a consciousness that inhabits your human form. If you can gently guide your human instead of forcing it to conform to culture, then your human can thrive while still being able to function in the world. Want to learn how? Tune in and find ou...

Apr 16, 202553 minSeason 1Ep. 100

War of the Worldviews

Have you ever been drawn into conspiratorial thinking? In this Episode 99 of Bewildered, we’re talking about how easy it is to get pulled into conspiracy theories because of a phenomenon called apophenia. It's the tendency to perceive connections or meaningful patterns between unrelated or random things—and it happens to feel delightful. Want to learn more about apophenia, conspiracy theories, fractured worldviews, and how we can all come to our senses? Join us for this episode of the Bewildered...

Apr 02, 20251 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 99

Your Money or Your Life

“Your money, or your life.” Those two things are very, very different, but in our culture, they tend to get blended together. That’s what we’re talking about on this episode of Bewildered. We explore how our culture is so focused on money it’s practically a religion. And how for many of us, this obsession with money can become an addiction because “you can never get enough of something that almost works.” Want to try shifting your central focus away from money and work? Join us for the full epis...

Mar 19, 202546 minSeason 1Ep. 98

Clamor and Birdsong

Noise. It’s ever-present in our culture, and often it affects us in ways we don’t even realize. In this episode of Bewildered, we explore how different sounds impact the nervous system—from disrupting sleep to interfering with brain waves to triggering fear in the amygdala—and what we can do to heal. (Hint: Birdsong is a powerful antidote!) Tune in for the full conversation to learn about the physiological and emotional effects of noise and how to regain your equilibrium in an increasingly noisy...

Mar 05, 202558 minSeason 1Ep. 97

Stand By for Further Instructions

This is a spicy time in history, and in between bouts of fear, we’ve been thinking about how to navigate through potentially dark and dangerous times. Want to know our go-to strategy? Trusting our intuition! In this episode of Bewildered, we talk about how intuition is heightened during uncertain and chaotic times, and how to recognize the messages your intuition is trying to send you. (Hint: It involves curiosity, synchronicities, and inexplicable joy.) Tune in for the full episode to find out ...

Feb 19, 202539 minSeason 1Ep. 96

You Have One Missed Call From Destiny

Intuition is like a call from destiny that we often miss because we're always "on the other line" with culture. In this episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro explore the concept of intuition and how to connect with it amidst all the noise of our cultural conditioning. They talk about how to tell the difference between intuition and anxiety, the reasons we tend to ignore intuition, and how to hang up with culture so you can listen to the messages your intuition is trying to tell you. Don't miss it...

Feb 05, 20251 hr 5 minSeason 1Ep. 95

How Not Anxious?

Martha and Ro are back with another episode of Bewildered, and it's a follow-up to their "Why So Anxious?" episode. This time they're talking about how not to be anxious, and why moving beyond anxiety is linked to creativity, your life’s purpose, and building a better society. You'll learn ways to retrain your brain to have a completely different experience of being human in community—and how lowering anxiety can help us all create a more beautiful, more just world together. Give it a listen! CO...

Jan 22, 202553 minSeason 1Ep. 94

Why So Anxious?

Do you suffer from the odd bit of anxiety? In this Bewildered, Martha and Ro are talking about Martha's new book Beyond Anxiety, which examines the causes of anxiety, its prevalence in our culture, and tried-and-true ways to overcome it. Martha says that moving more activity into the right sides of our brains is the only way to conquer anxiety—and the first step to getting there is curiosity. Tune in to hear more about cultivating curiosity to step out of anxiety and into a life of creativity an...

Jan 08, 202549 minSeason 1Ep. 93

Best of Bewildered: How to Get Started

In this Best of Bewildered episode, Martha and Ro answer a question from listener Josephine, who's trying to understand and overcome her resistance to doing things that are good for her. The culture tells us that if something is good for us, we should just do it! Otherwise, we need to punish ourselves. There's only one problem with that: Punishments don't work. To learn how Martha and Ro use kindness and creativity to get past inertia and move through transitions, be sure to listen to the full c...

Dec 11, 202447 minSeason 1Ep. 92

Best of Bewildered: The Other Butterflies

Martha and Ro have a very special guest on this Best of Bewildered episode…Ro's mum Paula! Paula has a mind-expanding story to tell about the time she followed monarch butterflies on their migratory path and learned that 10% of these butterflies always follow a different path—and for an unexpected reason. Tune in to find out the purpose of these aberrant butterflies' journey, why Martha and Ro relate to them so strongly, and why all paths through life, whether "normal" or divergent, are valid an...

Nov 27, 202431 minSeason 1Ep. 91

Awkward Moments

Do you ever lie awake, burning with embarrassment about something awkward you said or did? In this episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro are talking about how those awful, awkward moments (like when your child pulled your pants down in front of the babysitter, or when you unintentionally said something offensive during a big presentation) could be the moments that give you access to personal—and maybe even global—revolution. Find out how by tuning in for this inspiring (and hilarious) conversatio...

Nov 13, 20241 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 90

Missing Your Exit

Have you ever woken up feeling like you’re off course, as if you somehow missed an exit you were meant to take? This happened to Martha recently, and on this episode of Bewildered, she and Ro are talking about how to choose the right navigation system to guide your course through life, how to recognize when you've missed an exit, and how to get back on track. To learn how you can be sure you’re navigating by your true nature and not by cultural rules you never chose, tune in for the full convers...

Oct 30, 202457 minSeason 1Ep. 89

When to Go with the Flow

Martha and Ro are digging into their BeWild Files for this episode of Bewildered, answering listener Mandy’s question about the distinction between drifting in a cultural current versus surrendering to cosmic guidance. They talk about the difference between the behaviors we adopt due to cultural pressure and the behaviors that truly represent our deepest selves, what it means to live your life by surrendering, and how to recognize the kind of cosmic guidance you'll likely want to follow. Don't m...

Oct 16, 202451 minSeason 1Ep. 88

Wilder Together

Martha and Ro are back with a different kind of episode this time, to introduce something they are crazy excited about... It's called Wilder: A Sanctuary for the Bewildered—and it's a new online space where they can hang out with YOU! If you've been yearning to connect with like-minded souls, and you know there's a next step out there but you're not sure what it is, Martha and Ro believe that next step is community—and they hope you'll join them in Wilder. For details, tune in for the full episo...

Oct 02, 202427 minSeason 1Ep. 87

Don't Control Yourself

We all have a "control mode" inside us that tells us if we don't tightly control everything, it's all going to go wrong. The only problem is...it's literally impossible to control everything! Sometimes a little control is necessary, but often it's the opposite of what we need. And control kills the creativity we need to solve our problems. So if you've been trying really hard to control things, and you could use some tips on how to let go of control, join Martha and Ro for this episode of Bewild...

Sep 18, 202448 minSeason 1Ep. 86

Treasure Hunter Mode: Engaged

Hey there, Cahootniks! Martha and Ro are back with another episode of Bewildered, inspired by their recent discovery of a "secret" society that's been playing a game right out in the open, all over the world… The game is a literal treasure hunt—and Martha and Ro are obsessed! They share how they've been following clues, making delightful discoveries, and wondering what it would mean to live life like one big treasure hunt. Want to find treasure in unexpected places? Join them for the full episod...

Sep 04, 202455 minSeason 1Ep. 85

Not Everything Has to Have a Point

Do you enjoy making shiny, pretty things—or, as Martha and Ro like to call them, “precious, pointless” things? These can be anything you make for the sheer enjoyment of creating, rather than for making money (which our culture believes is the only "point" to anything). Join Martha and Ro for this inspiring episode of Bewildered to learn how making shiny, pretty, pointless things can help you become more attuned to the beauty all around you—in people, in objects, in nature…and in your own wild so...

Aug 21, 202448 minSeason 1Ep. 84

Shining Your Light and Charging What You're Worth

Do you find it difficult to share your unique offerings with the world? How about charging money for your work? In this BeWild Files episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro answer a question from listener Rebecca who is trying to find the courage to shine her light in the world—and get paid well for it. Martha and Ro share their own experiences with this issue, and they offer three magical little words that can banish shame and set you free to shine your light and charge what you're worth. Join the...

Aug 07, 202452 minSeason 1Ep. 83

Change the Shape of Culture

On their Bewildered podcast, Martha and Ro explore the many ways that the culture pulls us away from our true nature. However—as they want to make absolutely clear in this episode—the culture is not the boss of us! As Martha and Ro point out, we have a hand in creating the culture, and it can be thrilling to look at the power we have when we put ourselves into the cultural equation. To learn how to step fully into your role as a creator of the culture (and why it matters), tune in for the full e...

Jul 24, 202453 minSeason 1Ep. 82

Beware Fake Urgency

"Quick! Do this now! It's urgent!" Our culture constantly pressures us to do things that serve the system, and we’re trained to think of these things as urgent. But are they really? In this BeWild Files episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro dive into the topic of urgency—how there’s a type that will crush your soul and a type that will grow your soul, and how you can tell the difference. If you often find yourself responding frantically to problems which may or may not be urgent, this episode is ...

Jul 10, 202441 minSeason 1Ep. 81

The Empty Project

Do you ever feel like you’re trying to fit even more stuff into a life that’s already full? In this episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro are talking about our culture's obsession with more, more, more, and how it's making us overwhelmed, exhausted, and burnt out. Their solution? Empty space! Our culture doesn't train us to appreciate empty spaces, but emptiness is what gives things value. To hear how to shift your focus so you can start noticing and using the empty spaces in your life, be sure t...

Jun 26, 202438 minSeason 1Ep. 80

All the Way to Heaven is Heaven

Most of us are socialized to believe that if we suffer enough, we’ll be rewarded later—and the reward for our suffering will be happiness. In other words, happiness is something we must earn through suffering. In this episode of Bewildered, Martha and Ro challenge this cultural belief, inspired by the words of 14th century mystic St. Catherine of Siena who said, “All the way to heaven is heaven.” To hear more about this idea—and how you can experience happiness right now—don't miss the full epis...

Jun 12, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 79

"Dream Food" And Other Lies About Fulfillment

Culture teaches us that scrambling up peaks of achievement is a worthy goal—and that when we reach the pinnacle of success, we'll finally be happy. The problem is, not everyone can reach the very top. And even for those who do, achieving that goal doesn't make them happy. Wondering how this could be? Martha and Ro offer a theory: We're climbing the wrong mountain! Join them for this fun episode as they break down the cultural myths surrounding success and fulfillment and point you toward true ha...

May 29, 202441 minSeason 1Ep. 78

Living Lightly (and The Opposite of Golf)

Watch out, everyone...Martha and Ro have F-bombs and they’re not afraid to use them! Join them for this episode of Bewildered, where they're plumbing the depths of what it is to live a good life—and more than a little profanity might be involved, along with plenty of metaphorical golf. (But definitely no literal golf.) To hear Martha and Ro's insights on seriousness vs. levity in life, surrendering to the idea of magic, and doing the opposite of playing golf (reminder: it's a metaphor), be sure ...

May 15, 202440 minSeason 1Ep. 77
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