The Small Bow Podcast

Writer Cord Jefferson enters therapy, looks inside, doesn’t like it, sticks with it, gets some relief, and wins an Emmy. Then he freaks out during his acceptance speech and thanks his therapist. Progress!

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Emily Gould is a writer from New York Magazine. This Valentine's Day, The Cut published Emily's essay "The Lure of Divorce."

Between the two, Emily was coming to grips with a mental breakdown. We talk about her bipolar diagnosis and the way back into herself and into her marriage. It gets real!

Writer and comedian Megan Koester lowers us into her deep dark well – from being an LA lab rat to pay for booze to debilitating depression, to financial desperation, professional rejections. Honestly, outside of the lab rat thing not much has changed. But she’s happy now! Somehow she’s happy, and she loves helping people. Being an jerk doesn't get you very far.

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Josh Radnor joins TSB pod to discuss the spiritual life he acquired while navigating the pitfalls of becoming internationally famous for his role as Ted Mosby on “How I Met Your Mother.” We also discuss the problem with gurus, the perks of solitude, free desserts, and “Brats”.

Find Josh's newsletter here. And check out Swamp Dogg's album Black Grass here.

In this episode:

2:43 Josh's relationship to Ted Mosby, surviving fame, spiritual work, No Bad Parts

11:00 Being famous but not the main character, suggested bibliography,

18:10 Turning 50, Josh's reading list, A.J.'s recommendation

25:04 "Brats" but like Andrew McCarthy, sobriety and public life

30:55 Finding camaraderie in sobriety

37:35 Gurus, charlatans, cults

43:25 Living with a dark side, expanding your definition of self

51:42 Seeking camaraderie in sobriety

54:30 Gurus, Charlatans, Cults

58:00 Richard Rohr, pride, feeling strange, writer brain, Mary HK Choi

We talk with writer Jennifer Romolini about Philly shit, her book "Ambition Monster," her relapse into workaholism while promoting the book, and how to be satisfied with a “B minus” work day.

Also: We’re calling on the Small Bow Family Orchestra: Do you think you might be a workaholic? What moments come to mind? Send a voice memo along to [email protected], SUBJECT: WORKAHOLIC. Or you can leave us a voicemail at +1-323-917-3846.

Read Workaholism 101 here. Find Jenn’s book and more writing here. Listen to Jenn’s podcast with Kim France Everything is Fine. Listen to Swamp Dogg’s new album "Blackgrass" wherever you get music, or buy a hard copy here.

In this episode:

4:53 Interview Begins

6:53 Creative Burnout, Balancing Life and Writing, Jenn's Essays

10:17 Ambition & Insecurity, Trauma-Success, Acting in Charge

17:34 Changing Ambitions, Sober Heartbreak, Drinking Culture

21:33 Relapse, New Cycles, Parental denial

33:00 Getting What You Wanted, Working to Fix It

38:40 Status vs. What You Want, Consistency, Creative Blocks

42:20 How to Stay Sane When You Care, Self-Pressure

47:23 The Fuck You Voice, Burritoville

49:55 Trusting yourself? Being hypersensitive, Being patient, Parental growth

54:43 Reparenting

1:03:28 What to do if you're workaholic