In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Sly Cooper and Granblue Fantasy: ReLink and the lack of gacha games for furries. Also featuring fake Latin, extremely fantasy names, and how you might design a good heist game.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

When I was first learning to be a coach we had a saying before stepping into a coaching conversation: Leave your assumptions at the door and embrace curiosity. In reality we often know SO little about someone’s experience, and about their story. And when we recognize that, what seems to make the most sense is to get curious. To ask questions, And t…

What do you feel when you gaze up at the Milky Way, take in a beautiful sunset, stand before a mountain that seems impossibly high, or witness an extraordinary act of courage, kindness, or love? Often, it's a profound sense of awe - the overwhelming feeling we experience when we encounter something vast that transcends our understanding. In his boo…

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk about sexiness in games and the physics of it all. Also featuring female gaze Kratos, babygirl Leon Kennedy, and alluring space aliens.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

On the heels of a powerful conversation with Dr. Emma Seppala we are re-releasing this Practicing Courage episode (originally #4) as it aligns intimately with the themes Emma and I explored together. Perhaps none more important than Sovereignty, which is the topic of Emma's beautiful new book: Sovereign. She defines Sovereignty as: Our innate human…

There is an internal freedom and a relationship with yourself so profoundly life-supportive and energizing that you access your fullest potential. This is sovereignty. Our innate human capacity for being resilient regardless of the chaos that life brings and for staying true to oneself and intentional regardless of outside influences. In her beauti…

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Clock Tower and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and the differing weights of cultural impact. Also featuring tall representation, Fortnite dancing on a corpse, and being the lore guy.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

To fail is human. It’s built into our experience from childhood. We begin to walk and we fall. We begin a project, we work toward a goal, or we start a business and we may fail. We experience these moments - When we are engaged in learning, When we are moving toward something we care about And we come up short. And in these moments there is an oppo…

Failure is an experience that is deeply embedded into our lives. As we learn to walk we fall. As we learn to ride a bike we (usually) fall again. And yet even though it is so familiar, so intertwined with our journey through life, not all failure is created equal. Which brings up important questions: How do we fail well? What are the crucial distin…

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk about jumping in video games and wonder how high they can jump in real life. Also featuring front-flip momentum, changes to gravity, and many philosophical musings.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In my most recent interview with Dr. Nate Klemp, who is author of the new book Open: Living With an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World, we got the opportunity to talk deeply about opening more to life. Are you familiar with this feeling of openness? Perhaps for you it’s a sense of curiosity? Or a feeling of expansion in the mind, or in the body? …

With the avalanche of information we get every day, closing down our minds and hearts seems to be the only way to survive. We close to ourselves by compulsively checking our devices. We close to each other by getting caught in echo chambers of outrage. But what if there’s another way? In this climate of distraction and division, what if there’s a p…

In this special episode, Madelyn and Emma go over their PAX East 2024 experience and are aghast at the lack of pins on offer. Also featuring unfortunate timing, lots of grilled chicken, and the great Moogle Pope.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

Yesterday I released a conversation with Dr. Vanessa Patrick. Vanessa is a professor of marketing and the associate dean for research at the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. Among other things, Vanessa researches what she calls the empowered refusal - A way of saying no that stems from your identity. This empowered form of sa…

Have you ever said yes when you really wanted to say no? Has saying no ever been a challenge for you? These are such common experiences that today’s guest, Dr. Vanessa Patrick has written a powerful new book that addresses them head on: The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No that Puts You in Charge of Your Life. Dr. Patrick resear…

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Etrian Odyssey and The Expanse: A Telltale Series and who this modern Telltale even is in the first place. Also featuring tourism revenue, the beauty and terror of the Nintendo DS stylus, and the troubles of making a prequel.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

How can we meet the storms in our lives (both big and small) with greater balance, courage, wisdom, and love? It’s a huge question, I know. And the list of practices and answers is long, varied, and personal. I certainly don’t have "the answer" for you. What I do have are some observations and practices I’ve found to be particularly useful. Today I…

Today’s conversation has been 5 years in the making. In 2018 I sat down with Mark Nepo, one of the great spiritual teachers, authors, and poets of our time. During our conversation he posed a question to walk with. Inviting me (and those tuning in) to live into the answers over time. When my heart begins to close, how do I open it again? For 5 year…

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk about their last six weeks of gaming. You wouldn't know how few games we talk about from how long this is! Also featuring Moogle discourse, narrative structure issues, and thoughts for the future.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Shadows of the Damned and Immortals of Aveum and...wait what was that second game again? Why's it so hard to hold in my mind? Also featuring mistakes of marketing, the overlord called EA, and cool announcement trailers.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk about spoiler culture, both in general and as it relates to video games specifically. Also featuring the capitalistic hellscape of art, petty acts of cruelty from childhood, and our own feelings on spoilers.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Kowloon High-School Chronicle and Lies of P, and Madelyn bemoans her modern game elitism. Also featuring the absurdity of Pinocchio, unclear ages, and the overlap of rhythm games and Soulslikes.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk about grinding in video games and why "treadmilling" is maybe the more descriptive term. Also featuring exploitative business practices, the power of repetition, and more etymology lessons.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Onimusha and Baldur's Gate 3 and which historical figures should get a video game. Also featuring mind flayer equivalents, adaptational troubles, and the prevalence of Matthew DungeonMaster Mercer.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

Dr. David Treleaven is a a writer, educator, and trauma professional whose work lies at the intersection of mindfulness and trauma. At the heart of David’s work is the notion that mindfulness is more powerful when combined with an understanding of trauma. Part of what’s behind this is the growing realization over the years that mindfulness meditati…

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk about their last seven weeks of gaming and boy, they're living up to the Infinite. Also featuring skatepunk cults, seeds of distrust, and the very last Cold Steel 4 report.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss World of Goo and Jusant and the qualifications to be a baby. Also featuring the gaming mindset, forgotten memories, and Japanese short stories.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk about what makes a good video game party and also the etymology of the word "party" I guess. Also featuring optional members, strange RPG conventions, and the importance of taking cute little photos.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In her new book, Seeing Others: How Recognition Works, and How it Can Heal a Divided World, author and acclaimed Harvard sociologist, Michèle Lamont, makes the case for reexamining what we value to prioritize recognition—the quest for respect and dignity—in an age that has been defined by growing inequality and the obsolescence of the American drea…

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Baten Kaitos and Pizza Tower and how long it takes for hair to become splendid. Also featuring aversion to art styles, the plight of Italians, and really bad old reviews.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk about the definition of a roguelike and find a lot more than they were expecting! Also featuring the yearly reboot of life, comparisons to movies, and what the game Rogue even is in the first place.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this special episode, Madelyn and Emma reflect back on the year of 2023 in gaming and stare down the two mammoth games which will begin 2024. Also featuring brand-new gaming resolutions, the virtues of a backlog bingo, and some thoughts on a rough year of layoffs and more.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Ys and Bomb Rush Cyberfunk and the lessons you learn from history. Also featuring de-emphasizing graphics, dullahan myths, and different kinds of redheads.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk their last six weeks of gaming - you'd think it'd be a short one, but it's not! Also featuring deja vu, difficult-to-use spy gadgets, and charging a 3DS while abroad.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

We all want to belong. But to do so, we must first face our own need for belonging and how that need is often thwarted. In his new book Reunion, Leadership and the Longing to Belong, today's guest Jerry Colonna argues that only through radical self-inquiry can we come home to ourselves and others and, in doing so, create systemic belonging—homes—fo…

When the rain is falling, it’s dark out, and the storm seems unrelenting, Above the clouds the sky is blue and the sun is shining. All things are true. Someone’s last breath is met across time and space with the sounds of an infant crying, The signal of a new arrival. All things are true. As divorce papers are approved and a marriage meets an end, …

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Advance Wars and Lords of the Fallen (2023) and the tension of a toy war. Also featuring difficulties with titles, unfortunate release timings, and turn-based open world games.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

What if there is a possibility of tapping into a heightened awareness of the world around you and your place in it? A possibility of moving from an achievement orientation, where so often the questions center around what do I want and how can I get it? To a more expansive, open and receptive way of relating to our experience as human beings? Today’…

Is it possible to turn beneficial states like gratitude, joy, calm, courage, grit, and compassion into enduring traits? And if it is, how do we go about doing it? I remember hearing these questions many years ago when I first came across the work of Dr. Rick Hanson At the time he was making a research-backed argument that said...yes, indeed we can …

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk about the defintion of an indie game and unfortunately don't really find one. Also featuring outlet voting systems, genre mash-ups, and vibes.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

Humans are universally equipped with a capacity for spirituality and our brains become more resilient and robust as a result. In Dr. Lisa Miller’s book The Awakened Brain she highlights groundbreaking research, including MRI studies genetics research, epidemiology, and more. All of which illuminate a surprising science of spirituality and how to en…

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Postal and Saltsea Chronicles and get some whiplash going back and forth across spectrums. Also featuring bad video game movies, edutainment, and impending planetary doom.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

From the climate crisis, to oppression, anxiety, and burnout - How do we meet the most pressing challenges of our time from a place of courage, integrity, and love? Today’s guest is Oren Jay Sofer and this question is the centerpiece of exploration in his beautiful new book. Your Heart Was Made for This. In it Oren offers 26 different contemplative…

Today marks the launch of Oren Jay Sofer’s new book: Your Heart was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage Integrity and Love. Oren has been on the Courageous Life before and has been a significant teacher in my life, and the lives of so many around the world. So today, to honor the release of his book we …

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk about healing items in games and debate the way Phoenix Downs are used. Also featuring dirty rags, different colors of herbs, and taking a pause to apply eyedrops.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

In this episode, Madelyn and Emma discuss Siren and Sea of Stars and the eerie realism of low resolutions. Also featuring comma splices, the sun and the moon, and wild remake ideas.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

Do you ever have times where the mind won’t stop thinking about what’s next? Things you need to do, actions to take etc? This is such a common experience, and while quite useful at times, At other times this cycle isn't helpful (for a variety of reasons): Maybe you can’t take action at the moment Or you have double-checked or thought through the pl…

In this not-episode, Madelyn and Emma talk their last six weeks of gaming, including an extreme litigation of Lost Judgment. Also featuring baby dodgeballs, spooky scary times, and video games on vacation.By Emma Paquette, Madelyn Paquette

There are moments in life that decide your fate. They ripple into the future and dictate how you experience the world in the moments that follow; either positive and uplifting, dark and chaotic, or flat and dull. What if you could recognize these moments before they seized control of your life? What if you could use them to set sail for a better fu…

“How can we create conditions for other people to be courageous?” This is a question I have been exploring for years. On The Courageous Life Podcast, and beyond. Part of the reason for such a deep interest in this question stems from the common and celebrated narrative (particularly in the US) of the lone hero. That romanticized myth of pulling one…