We often find ourselves unsettled by the words of others—criticism, manipulation, and verbal abuse are just a few examples of communication that can feel hurtful. But does it have to be this way?

In this Q&A episode, Thom explains with clarity who truly holds responsibility for the hurt caused by critical or unkind words. The best part? By following his recommendations, you can free yourself from ever being at the mercy of someone else’s words again.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - How do we positively handle criticism?

[00:50] A - Your Critics Are Your Best Friends

[02:54] Thank You

[05:50] Q - How should we respond to criticism when it’s harsh?

[05:56] A - With Compassion and Gratitude

[09:13] We Want to Find the Gold

[10:39] Q - What’s the best way to handle manipulation or manipulative behaviors?

[10:45] A - Manipulative Behavior Requires a Reward

[13:44] A Suffering Competition

[16:32] The Greatest Crime Against Nature

[17:59] Q - Can you share any strategies for responding to verbal abuse?

[18:03] A - Just a Noise

[20:02] A - They Must Be Suffering

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Sanskrit is a beautiful language that captures subtle distinctions that English and other modern languages often cannot.

Take the word “love,” for example. In English, this word spans a wide net of emotions and feelings. For example, love can describe feelings a parent has for their child, as well as the fondness someone might feel for a football team or a favorite brand of chocolate.

In this week’s podcast episode, Thom explores the distinction between two Sanskrit words often translated as "love"—kama and prema—and reveals their unique and separate meanings.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Puruṣārtha

[03:59] Kama

[04:35] Pleasure Experienced Through the Senses

[07:19] Prema

[09:58] Love is So Ill-Defined

[12:35] Vedanta

[15:02] Prema and Kama: A Dynamite Package

[18:05] The Crest Jewel of Discrimination

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It’s common to label someone as a narcissist, but while we often think of narcissism as excessive self-regard, the ultimate cause might be quite different. In fact, narcissism may stem from an underlying insecurity rather than an inflated sense of self-worth.

In this episode, Thom explains the root causes of narcissism and shares key indicators of narcissistic behavior. Importantly, he encourages us to approach narcissists with compassion and offers a potential solution for those who recognize narcissistic tendencies in themselves.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Narcissus

[04:48] Somebody Has Done This to Me

[06:49] The Narcissist’s Caveat

[08:42] One-Upmanship

[11:30] An Impostor Syndrome

[14:50] An Underlying Feeling of Desperation

[17:40] Reconstructed Life Stories

[19:48] Calming Narcissism Through Vedic Meditation

[23:21] The Effects of Vedic Meditation on Narcissism

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