Best Jan M Flynn Podcasts (2024)

1
Don't Be Afraid of Your Comfort Zone 9:46

3M ago9:46

9:46

Send us a Text Message. If you pay attention to all the slogans and memes, you should be very worried, or guilty, or ashamed, if you spend even a second in your comfort zone. Slacker! Couch potato! Taker up of valuable space on the planet! I'm calling shenanigans. Here's what I have to say about the comfort zone. This is the final episode of Season…

1
Here Comes My Second Childhood, And I'm Excited 9:46

3M ago9:46

9:46

Send us a Text Message. "Second childhood" is a term with unfortunate connotations. But if you look at it a different way, it sounds kind of wonderful. Let' give it a think. Intro Music by Jerome Chauvel from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from…

1
Why You Should Never Buy a Bra Online But I'm Doing It Anyway 8:59

3M ago8:59

8:59

Send us a Text Message. When the girls need a new house because their old one's wearing out . . . attention must be paid So let's talk about the one article of clothing for which I really, truly hate to shop. I bet I'm not the only one. Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I…

1
Is That a Worm in Your Head, Or Are You Just Running For President? 11:57

3M ago11:57

11:57

Send us a Text Message. The recent news that presidential candidate RFK Jr. has disclosed that doctors discovered a (dead) worm in his brain has me overthinking about . . . things that want to eat our brains. Real things, not zombies. Turns out it's not just worms. Join me for an introduction to some of the beasties that really want to get in your …

1
Am I The World's Oldest Spoiled Brat? 10:19

4M ago10:19

10:19

Send us a Text Message. In which I follow another writer's clever writing prompt -- and get in touch with my inner Princess. Want to play along? Check out Karen Schwartz and her This or That challenges on Medium.com! How do you feel about treating yourself, and what's your favorite (decently shareable) way to do it? Text me below -- and if you have…

1
Are You House-Proud? 8:39

4M ago8:39

8:39

Send us a Text Message. "House-proud" is how my mother's generation used to describe someone (always a woman) who was fussy and vain about how her house looked -- or, somebody whose home someone like my mother might worry was nicer than hers. It's an old-fashioned term. But the feeling is still pervasive? Do you cringe when someone drops by unannou…

1
How the movie "Civil War" Helped Me Find Meaning -- Where I Wasn't Looking 14:03

4M ago14:03

14:03

Send us a Text Message. Going to see the movie Civil War, the 2024 release written and directed by Alex Garland, isn't like seeing most movies. You walk out of the theater with a lot to think about -- and maybe you walk out changed. What the experience has done for me is to help me embrace a philosophy proposed by Viktor Frankl, the 20th Century ps…

1
Why Did the Sheep Cross the Road? 10:38

4M ago10:38

10:38

Send us a Text Message. In which I witness a semiannual Idaho tradition — when sheep take over a major roadway on their way to greener pastures. It's an Idaho thing. Want to learn more? Helpful links: Andy Little, the “Idaho Sheep King" Idaho sheep ranchers Frank Shirts and Henry Etcheverry Boise's Basque Block -- where you can find funky, cozy Bar…

1
If You're Feeling All Alone — You're Not. Science Says So 8:27

5M ago8:27

8:27

Send us a Text Message. This week, we give thought to how much of us is really "us" — turns out it's way less than we thought. You really do contain multitudes. Pardon a few technical glitches this week, thanks to a crabby audio system and a very tight schedule due to travel. Or just pretend I have hiccups. Resource links: First complete human geno…

1
My Classmate Didn't Just Drink the Kool-Aid: She Brewed It 15:46

5M ago15:46

15:46

Send us a Text Message. The Jonestown Massacre happened 46 years ago. But to me, it feels way too close — because one of the people who died there was a girl I went to school with. She was a quiet, shy girl, the daughter of a pastor when I knew her. For years I thought of her as a duped, innocent victim. But it turns out she was one of the leaders,…

1
Haiku With Poo 4:58

5M ago4:58

4:58

Send us a Text Message. A brief meditation on how my dog and I may walk the same path, yet our journeys differ. Trigger warning: contains haiku Sound Effect from Pixabay Haiku Music by Inner Tune from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you! Em…

1
Sayonara, Summer Body 10:55

5M ago10:55

10:55

Send us a Text Message. It's spring at last — a season that brings hope, energy, renewal — and for far too many of us the dread of swimsuit season. In this episode, I celebrate reaching the threshold of Summer Body Exemption. Spring Sound Effect from Pixabay Boomerang Sound Effect by Jurij from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments to shar…

1
Thanks for Flying Clickbait Air (Not) 8:56

6M ago8:56

8:56

Send us a Text Message. In which I describe our recent experience with what's politely called a "low-cost carrier" airline. They aren't all this sketchy, thank God. Opening Music by Oleg Kyrylkovv from Pixabay Sound Effect by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something…

1
That Time My Husband Found Me on the Bathroom Floor 16:00

6M ago16:00

16:00

Send us a Text Message. Sometimes our best intentions have completely unanticipated results. Here's what happened when I signed up for a research study. Resources for Alzheimer's and dementia: Alzheimer's Association Alzheimers.gov Careforth (resources for dementia caregivers) National Institute on Aging Support the Show. Do you have comments to sh…

1
Psst . . . Universe, Are You Listening? I Have A Request 6:52

6M ago6:52

6:52

Send us a Text Message. In which your devoted overthinker contemplates the manner and method of her own final exit. Not being negative or nihilistic here -- just stating my preference. I might even have stumbled on a loophole. Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to…

1
Season 3, Episode 2: A Solution to the Woman Problem 10:18

6M ago10:18

10:18

Send us a Text Message. Thanks to the recent Alabama Supreme Court decision that says frozen embryos in test tubes equal are human beings, yours truly has been listening to the fallout (for example, what this means for IVF treatments) and overthinking what this means. Clearly, the GOP has a real problem with the woman question. Luckily, I have a so…

1
We're Back! Season 3, Episode 1: Yes to the Dress . . . And Now? 9:50

6M ago9:50

9:50

Send us a Text Message. For a habitual overthinker like me, the happiest of occasions can cause a spiral. Especially when there's nothing to worry about. IYKYK, and if not, don't tell me to calm down. Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you! Email me a…

1
Cheers to Episode 100! Now, Let's Get Serious 14:19

9M ago14:19

14:19

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Here's A Thought reaches a milestone that a lot of podcasts never achieve — and that is entirely thanks to listeners like you. So I'm enormously appreciative. I'm also thinking deeply -- which is distinct, I hope, from overthinking — about the interview I did for another podcast I'm involved in, and how it w…

1
Of Turkeys, Real and Symbolic 8:40

9M ago8:40

8:40

Send us a Text Message. In this 99th episode of Here's A Thought, we think about Thanksgiving, which is happening in the U.S. this week — what it means, what it's supposed to mean, how it started, and what happens when it doesn't live up to expectations: a meditation partly in rhyming verse for your consideration and (hopefully) amusement. ound Eff…

1
The Box in My Closet That Haunts Me 8:40

10M ago8:40

8:40

Send us a Text Message. I keep the journals I've written over the years — but now, as the recipient of the many private journals and diaries that my mother wrote over the course of decades, I'm rethinking whether I should hang onto mine. Or, hers. What's the right thing to do with my mother's journals? How do I respect her memories, especially when…

1
What Horses Can Teach Us About Teenagers (and Writing) 11:26

10M ago11:26

11:26

Send us a Text Message. In this 97th (!) episode of Here's A Thought, I offer the lessons that horses have taught me about adolescent humans (they have a surprising amount in common), and why I write for them — adolescents, that is, not horses. Sound Effect by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for …

1
Meet the Man Who's Not Worried About Death -- Because He's Never Going to Die 14:55

10M ago14:55

14:55

Send us a Text Message. Here's hoping you and yours enjoyed a lovely Halloween! This episode is going live on November 1, traditionally the Day of the Dead: so I've been overthinking about a news article I read not long ago about a very rich, very determined man who is convinced he's got a plan that will allow him to beat the Grim Reaper — forever.…

1
October Story Time, Week 4: "Turn" 25:02

10M ago25:02

25:02

Send us a Text Message. There's a lot of thought and discussion about the three aspects of the feminine: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. All three have their positive and negative aspects, but in our youth-obsessed culture, a lot of women find it very, very painful to relinquish their youthful allure — and embrace the aspect of the wise but …

1
October Story Time, Week 3: "Imp" 16:16

11M ago16:16

16:16

Send us a Text Message. For the third installment in our Halloween-ish story series — all written by yours truly — we consider the question: do devils and demons ever take a day off? And if they do, how do they spend it? Episode Music by SPmusic from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need so…

1
October Story Time, Week 2: "Sweet Boy" 10:09

11M ago10:09

10:09

Send us a Text Message. It's the haunting season, which makes this a suitable time for another short, twisted tale written by yours truly — in one of my darker moods. This one is a tale in rhyming verse. That doesn't mean it's nice, but you may find it . . . satisfying. Settle back and give a listen to "Sweet Boy" by Jan M. Flynn Music for this epi…

1
October Story Time, Week 1: "Corpse Pose" 25:29

11M ago25:29

25:29

Send us a Text Message. To honor the fall of the year — the time when the veil between the worlds of the seen and unseen grows ever thinner with each passing, lengthening night — Here's A Thought offers a series of short, somewhat twisted stories, all written by me, that I hope you'll find suitable for the season. This one has some adult language a…

1
Nobody Put the Fun in Funerals (But We Go Anyway) 10:08

11M ago10:08

10:08

Send us a Text Message. There are some things in life that are just the thing to do, even when we don't relish the thought of doing them. Going to funerals probably ranks below even paying taxes. And in a lot of cases, if we just don't go, who's going to know? In this episode, we consider how that's not really the point, and hopefully find some enc…

1
My Embarrassing Confession 12:45

12M ago12:45

12:45

Send us a Text Message. I've developed a strange compulsion. Maybe telling you about it will help. And maybe, just maybe, you've got a compulsion not all different from this one. All I ask is that you don't judge me until you've heard me out . . . For information on the Pudelpointer dog breed: https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-breeds/pudel…

1
I'm Not Trending And That Makes Me Happy 12:09

12M ago12:09

12:09

Send us a Text Message. With the turn of the seasons, it's time to revisit my wardrobe, which leads me to consider fashion (intimidating), and then fashion trends (mystifying), and from there, trends in general — especially popular culture trends. What I notice is that very few of them have anything to do with me, now that I've joined a demographic…

1
Going On Safari Changed Me Forever (and I'm Glad) 14:09

12M ago14:09

14:09

Send us a Text Message. Welcome back! I've been on hiatus, and I've had some adventures to share. My trip to Kenya was a lifelong dream. I came home with a perspective that will never be the same — and questions I didn't expect. I invite you to spend a few minutes going on safari with me! Intro Music by Alexey Ivanov from Pixabay Support the Show. …

1
Rewind: A Meditation on Marigolds and Meaning 13:26

1y ago13:26

13:26

Send us a Text Message. While I'm taking a break to do some traveling, research, and writing, I'm revisiting an older post from the first season of Here's A Thought — and with autumn now approaching (even if it doesn't feel like it), this one seems timely. If you missed it the first time, it's new to you, and if you heard it before, it could be wor…

1
Rewind Story Time: On The Wrong Track 30:08

1y ago30:08

30:08

Send us a Text Message. Maybe you've heard this one before, and maybe you haven't: it's a short, weird little story I wrote in response to a contest prompt. Think trains, think time travel, think Twilight Zone weirdness. Just know that this episode is a repeat of one I posted in 2022 during the first season of Here's A Thought. I'm on hiatus for a …

1
Rewind: Whatever You're Worrying About, It's Probably The Wrong Thing To Worry About 10:49

1y ago10:49

10:49

Send us a Text Message. While I'm taking a few weeks to do some traveling and finish up some writing projects, I'm revisiting some of the Here's A Thought episodes from the first season. This one, I think, is worth a review if you've already hears it — because if you're an overthinker like I am, you're almost certainly a first-class worrier. But th…

1
Rewind: Ch-ch-ch-changes, or The Big M 12:45

1y ago12:45

12:45

Send us a Text Message. While I'm taking a few weeks off to do some traveling and tackle some writing projects, I'm revisiting some episodes from the first season of Here's A Thought. This one in particular, because it's a topic that was recommended by a listener. LOVE that! If you haven't heard it before, then it's new to you: and if you have, you…

1
Rewind: Your Name Escapes Me (Don't Be Offended; Everyone's Does) 11:13

1y ago11:13

11:13

Send us a Text Message. While I'm taking a few weeks off to finish up some writing projects and do some traveling, I'm revisiting an episode recorded during the first season of Here's A Thought. If you missed it the first time, it's a new one on you -- and if you heard it once, it just might be worth hearing again. This one is an exploration of the…

1
Rewind: Finding Out You're White in America 11:43

1y ago11:43

11:43

Send us a Text Message. While I'm taking a hiatus — working on another novel draft and doing some traveling — I'm revisiting a former episode from 2022. Given some of the recent Supreme Court rulings, this one seems especially timely. If you missed it the first time, it's a new one for you — and if not, it may just be worth another listen. Support …

1
Don't Believe What My Face Is Telling You 8:59

1y ago8:59

8:59

Send us a Text Message. As I waltz happily into another decade, it seems part of me doesn't look as contented as I feel. It's developed a default expression that I don't agree with, and now I'm worried the gods are wreaking vengeance upon me for the Story Lady. Allow me to explain. Opening music by geoffharvey from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you …

1
Scaling Up: My Journey Through Body Shaming 20:37

1y ago20:37

20:37

Send us a Text Message. Ozempic might be all over the news and the noxious term "heroin chic" may be seeping back into the culture, but body shaming is nothing new. Here's my own journey, and what it took to conquer my phobia about stepping on a scale. Content warnings: discussion of body shaming, disordered eating, drug use, menstruation, and a br…

1
It's My Birthday! I Get A Gift! You Get A Gift! Everybody Gets A Gift! 8:26

1y ago8:26

8:26

Send us a Text Message. Just because July 4 has come and gone, there's no reason to stop celebrating now. Need a reason? I offer my birthday, with some virtual gifts to go around. You're invited! Opening Music by Muzaproduction from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthough…

1
There's A Trip We've All Got To Take One Day, So Let's Talk Packing Tips 12:01

1y ago12:01

12:01

Send us a Text Message. With a milestone birthday and an overseas trip coming up, I'm putting some plans in place. Not the fun kind, but I think of it as a gift to my peeps who outlast me. And there are more options than you might expect . . . Music by Nesrality from Pixabay (Beethoven - Symphony #3 Eroica - Funeral March 2nd Mov. -Remix) Support t…

1
I'm Celebrating Summer! But Not Like This 14:05

1y ago14:05

14:05

Send us a Text Message. In which we revel in the advent of summer at long last — and take a look at some of the weirder ways people choose to celebrate the season. Sound Effect from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you! Email me at HeresATho…

1
Why Am I Turning Purple? 8:14

1y ago8:14

8:14

Send us a Text Message. With a milestone (millstone?) birthday coming up, I consider some of the more surprising signposts along the journey of aging — like, nobody told me my skin would turn bizarre colors. Who knows what other non-returnable gifts are coming my way from the Wisdom Fairy? More about actinic purpura (if you want): https://www.ncbi.…

1
Why We Drove Past A Dying Woman 8:04

1y ago8:04

8:04

Send us a Text Message. An ordinary afternoon — until it wasn't. The paramedics were on the scene, and all we could do was witness it and stay out of the way. Or is there something more? Music by GuilhermeBernardes from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love t…

1
Maybe You Just Need a Wider Window 15:22

1+ y ago15:22

15:22

Send us a Text Message. In which I reflect on my recent experience with teletherapy — and share some of the more useful takeaways, like the Three C's and the Window of Tolerance. References: https://timothykeller.com/ https://drdansiegel.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Mindsight-New-Science-Personal-Transformation/dp/1501223585/ref=asc_df_1501223585/?t…

1
What Was I Thinking? My Stupidest Moments, Ranked 17:13

1+ y ago17:13

17:13

Send us a Text Message. This week, I reflect on 13 moments when my decisions ranged from questionable to I'm-lucky-to-still-be-alive. As someone smart once told me, we all have our stupid side. It's smart to remember that. Opening Music by SergeQuadrado from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode?…

1
5 Reasons Why Self-Care Isn't Self-Indulgent 11:34

1+ y ago11:34

11:34

Send us a Text Message. If you, like me, grew up with the belief that being a good person means putting everyone else's needs, feelings, and preferences ahead of your own, the whole concept of self-care is a tricky one. But if we want to live honestly and responsibly, it's an idea we need to get straight. Support the Show. Do you have comments to s…

1
The Real — and Surprising — Story Behind Mother's Day 13:29

1+ y ago13:29

13:29

Send us a Text Message. With the holiday fast approaching, it's a good time to uncover the little-known history of the day we choose to honor Mom. There's more to it than you might think (including an effort by its founder to get the holiday abolished). Opening Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay Support the Show. Do you have comments t…

1
What Is The Mystery Beast Stalking Suburban Backyards? 12:07

1+ y ago12:07

12:07

Send us a Text Message. In which we examine whether or not a beast out of legend has arrived in a local neighborhood. Tread carefully after dark, my friends . . . https://worldanimalfoundation.org/animal_encyclopedia/params/category/173341/item/993754/ https://idfg.idaho.gov/species/taxa/explore?name=Vombatus+Americania&category=All&idapa=All https…

1
Hate Being the One to Break Up? Let a ChatBot Do It For You! 14:48

1+ y ago14:48

14:48

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, we return to the amazing (and often unsettling) world of AI — but this time, with a look at an exciting potential. What if ChatGPT — or one of its versions — can take some of the sting out of having to tell your romantic partner that it's time to call it quits? Some people are already using AI to write their…

1
The Calfornia Gold Rush stagecoach driver who kept a secret until death 15:58

1+ y ago15:58

15:58

Send us a Text Message. This week, Here's A Thought takes a side trip into history — namely, the wild days of Gold Rush California, where some of the most renowned badasses were the people who drove stagecoaches along terrible roads in all kinds of weather, facing down bandits along the way. One of the very best of them was Charley Parkhurst — whos…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Jan M Flynn Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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