Difficult Thinking

Episode 8: Earth Speaks There are moments when the natural world feels less like background and more like conversation — a sudden stillness on a trail, wind through trees that shifts your mood, a season that mirrors something unfolding inside you. In this episode, we explore what it means to listen when the earth seems to have something to say. Drawing from ecology, neuroscience, Indigenous wisdom, and lived experience, we reflect on interconnection, reciprocity, and the science of how nature steadies and shapes us. Consider this a walk into relationship — with the living world, and with ourselves. Widening Circles by Rainer Maria Rilke I live my life in widening circles that reach out across the world. I may not complete this last one but I give myself to it. I circle around God, around the primordial tower. I've been circling for thousands of years and I still don't know: am I a falcon, a storm, or a great song? Grounding Documentary: Earthing by Clint Ober Mirrors in the Earth - Asia Suler Evolutionary Herbalism - Sajah Popham Love Letter to the Earth - Thich Nhat Hanh    

Is hope a lifeline or a trap? Is it an effective course of action?  In this episode, we explore the tender, complicated middle ground—how hope can steady us, stretch us, and sometimes frustrate us. Through honest conversation, we look at what hope really asks of us, and what happens when we let it become something deeper than wishful thinking.

Episode 5: On Difficult Thinking – Emptiness, Identity, and Competing Thoughts Why is it so hard to think clearly when our minds get tangled in competing thoughts and self-stories? In this episode, we dig into ideas like emptiness, identity, stories, and the art of holding opposing ideas—finding clarity and compassion on the other side. 

In the 4th episode of Walk Therapy, we explore what it means to find stillness in the middle of chaos. Life swirls around us with change, uncertainty, and intensity—but what happens when we pause and seek within ourselves? We'll talk about how to return to our center, how to recognize what remains steady amidst movement, and how mindfulness and awareness can help you navigate life with clarity and presence. With reflections, a short meditation, and some questions for self-inquiry, this episode is an invitation to reconnect with what matters most—especially when everything feels like too much. Let's move toward the center. Together. Book: The Fruitful Darkness - Joan Halifax

In this episode we explore walking as more than just movement—it's a practice of presence, a tool for healing, and a powerful symbol of resistance. We begin with a thought-provoking journey through the metaphysical and philosophical meaning of walking, touching on its connections to the human condition, neuroscience, and place. Then, we travel through history, sharing stories of iconic walks—from civil rights marches to spiritual pilgrimages—that reveal walking as an act of courage and transformation. 

Regret is something we all face—but what if it's not just about looking back? In this episode of Walk Therapy, we explore regret as a teacher rather than a burden. Whether it's the risks we didn't take or the choices we wish we made differently, regret has the power to shape our future if we let it. Join Ralf & Sasha for a walk as we unpack what regret reveals about our values, how to shift from what if to what now, and why the biggest regrets often come from what we didn't do.

Gains from Losses - the first episode of Walk Therapy! Ralf and Sasha share insights from friends, history, and their personal lives about how even the darkest days and experiences can create meaningful change and opportunities for growth and reflection.