Best Bowen Theory Podcasts (2025)

1
OF Leadership 101 - From OverFunctioning to Being Parts of a Whole 1:02:22

3y ago1:02:22

1:02:22

What a journey! Thanks for listening and being a part OF this leadership podcast. Listen in as we reminisce on our podcast experience over the past few years and sum up some of our most formative leadership knowledge!(And it's only right that we experienced hardware difficulties during our final episode. The cracks and pop resolve after the first 5…

1
How to be a More Mature Public Leader ft. Avrum Nadigel 1:08:28

3y ago1:08:28

1:08:28

Starting from an email conversation with Avrum, the OF Leadership crew talks about being a mature leader who can stand for something while be resilient (yet open) to criticism. Listen in as we discuss being a differentiated public self, influence people(s) from a distant without a "personal" relationship, and how can we put skin in the game to buil…

1
Leadership is 100% Inspiration (Be Curious, Imagine, and Be Creative) ft. Dan Larsen 45:37

3y ago45:37

45:37

"Leadership is 100% Inspiration." - Dan Larsen is a leadership enthusiast and a recently retired teacher who has developed his leadership philosophy found a simple framework to communicate the lens through which he sees and teaches leadership.By Zac Stahl, Alex McMahan, John Moyer

1
Everything Michael Hobbes Learned About Podcasting 37:11

3y ago37:11

37:11

Michael Hobbes (@RottenInDenmark) is a journalist and co-creator of the hit podcasts Maintenance Phase—which he co-hosts with Aubrey Gordon—and You’re Wrong About, which he co-hosted with Sarah Marshall before leaving last year. “Now, when anyone can go on Wikipedia and get a general timeline of events of what happened—that's not the hard part, put…

1
OF Stories - Tyler's Reflections on Dealing with Anxiety from Childhood into Adulthood 1:06:44

3+ y ago1:06:44

1:06:44

Talking with the OF Leadership Crew in this episode is Tyler! Tyler is a longtime listener and has been wanting to be a guest on the podcast for a long time! We appreciate Tyler's vulnerability, sharing his story. It's a his unique story but with many themes which resonate : dealing with childhood trauma and unknowable expectations, anxiety about m…

1
Mentorshipping (as the kids say?) - Let's talk about it. 42:42

3+ y ago42:42

42:42

As the OF Leadership Crew gets together, Zac has decided this episode would be great to talk about mentorship as a topic, as well as the crew's experiences with mentorship. Two of our members are certified through Resilient Leadership and are actively able to provide insight into guiding people through the lens of the Resilient Leadership Framework…

1
[OF] A Book Review : Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer 42:43

3+ y ago42:43

42:43

In this episode the OF Crew takes a look at Judson Brewer's book Unwinding Anxiety. Judson Brewer applies Cognitive Behavioral Theory, alongside a meditatively-inspired awareness perspective to understand and approaching the underlying processes that generate the and perpetuate anxiety. It's an interesting lens to look at and see what Bowen's Theor…

1
Dr. Kathleen Smith on Bowen Theory and Understanding Anxiety 37:16

3+ y ago37:16

37:16

Dr. Kathleen Smith is the author of Everything Isn’t Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down. I first discovered Dr. Smith's work through her must-read newsletter—she's an expert in Bowen Family Systems Theory, which looks at anxiety through the lens of our relationships. We don’t exist in isolation—we're …

1
Singles Tennis isn't For Couples (ft. Friedman's Fables - Net Results) 39:38

3+ y ago39:38

39:38

In this episode, the OF crew does an "Interactive Read-aloud" where we listen to one of Friedman's Fables, by Edwin Friedman. In this short fable, we see various relational dynamics in this hypothetical couple's tennis game that many people will be able to relate to.By Alex McMahan, Zac Stahl, John Moyer

1
American Individuality 41:26

3+ y ago41:26

41:26

Geert's Hofstede's study has found the United States as the most individualistic culture in the world. The [of] crew examines this with the Bowen Family System's Theory lens and the tenant of individuality vs. togetherness.By Alex McMahan, Zac Stahl, John Moyer

1
Eric Michael Garcia on What It Means to Be #ActuallyAutistic 40:12

3+ y ago40:12

40:12

Eric Michael Garcia is an autistic journalist whose new book is We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation. Garcia is the senior Washington correspondent for The Independent, following editorial roles at the Washington Post and The Hill. He’s also been a correspondent for National Journal, MarketWatch, and Roll Call, and has written for The…

1
The Leader's Journey - A Book Analysis 37:49

3+ y ago37:49

37:49

The Leader's Journey by Herrington, Creech and Taylor, uses System's theory whilst looking at church congregations. The [of] crew analyzes their most intrigued portions.By Zac Stahl, John Moyer, Alex McMahan

1
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory: Are Parents Really the Culprit? 1:05:16

3+ y ago1:05:16

1:05:16

S2 Ep15: In this episode Avrum and Ellie talk about the movie Charlie and The Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp. This movie is a feast for themes on parenting, but we focus on fault. Is it totally the parents fault when kids behave badly? How much are parents really to blame for how their kids turn out? PLEASE NOTE! We are about to change the focu…

1
Leah Sottile on Rethinking Your Mission in Journalism 51:10

3+ y ago51:10

51:10

"Everyone in every part of the world was having a conversation with themselves: Who am I? What am I doing? Why am I doing it? And I definitely was having that question a lot with journalism." Leah Sottile is a journalist whose work you'll remember from Bundyville, the Longreads podcast that ran for two seasons and explored domestic extremism in the…

1
A Systems View of CRT 35:40

3+ y ago35:40

35:40

The [of] crew tackles a controversial topic from up in the Murray Bowen system tree.By Zac Stahl, John Moyer, Alex McMahan

1
Little Miss Sunshine: Families Living in a Fantasy World and How Reality Bites 54:27

4y ago54:27

54:27

In this episode Avrum and Ellie talk about the movie Little Miss Sunshine and the idea of what happens when fantasy is the only coping mechanism in a family, and how if even one person decides to get real and grow up, that can help change an entire system, be it a family, community or nation. Click here to check out Avrum's new book "Where Would Yo…

1
Igby Goes Down: The Consequences of Family Secrets 50:23

4y ago50:23

50:23

S2 Ep13: This episode Avrum and Ellie watched Igby Goes Down, a dark, tragic movie that explores the tangled web of family secrets, and how they can both protect and destroy a family from the inside. Aside from Ellie’s deep dislike of the characters, we are looking at themes around marital infidelity, being on the inside of a secret and how to reco…

1
The Family Stone: Theory of Displacement and Families We Hate 59:38

4y ago59:38

59:38

This week Avrum and Ellie are digging into The Family Stone. An annoying film with a ton of great themes about family dynamics, they are kibbitzing about displacement, being in reality, family secrets, and allowing for small moments of grief and change. Click here to check out Avrum's new book "Where Would You Like To Start?" Click here to learn mo…

1
Something's Gotta Give: The Crucible of Commitment and Chest Pains 58:21

4y ago58:21

58:21

S2 Ep11: This week Avrum and Ellie are exploring the movie Something’s Gotta Give with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. This film brings up issues around chronically anxious families and the deep roots of non-connection, and the crucible of commitment. We delve into actors playing roles that reflect their lives, and how physical pain can express em…

1
Up In the Air: George Clooney, Backpacks and Marital Affairs 47:28

4y ago47:28

47:28

S2 Ep10: This 2009 movie starring George Clooney and Anna Kendrick is a meditation and exploration of who we are and what we do. In this episode Avrum and Ellie explore the idea of "functional self" vs "core self" and whether our life covenants and laws have been updated to fit with our current circumstances, and how that affects our parenting and …

1
Lost In Translation: How are Bob's kids and Is Charlotte Part of the Problem? 1:00:24

4y ago1:00:24

1:00:24

S2 Ep9: Sofia Coppola's movie Lost In Translation is filled with the coolest soundtrack, a stellar cast (Bill Murray is incredible as always) and the moody questioning of life that moves us all into a new frame of mind. This movie propels Avrum and Ellie to ask about whether kids really are affected by the absence of a parent, whether teens are rea…

1
Avenues of Change: A Case Study 42:21

4y ago42:21

42:21

Guest Jessica Guider joins the [of] crew to reflect on her ever-changing goals and life events that has shaped her as a leader.By Zac Stahl, Alex McMahan, Jessica Guider, John Moyer

1
Almost Famous: Pseudo Self Vs Solid Self and The Transformative Power of Music 1:10:57

4y ago1:10:57

1:10:57

S2 Ep8: Almost Famous is now 20 years old and being celebrated again as one of director Cameron Crowes best films of all time. Sweet, deep, real and lovely, this film is a favourite of music lovers and rock gods. Avrum and Ellie dive into discussions around who we really think we are versus who we are, the importance of right distance as parents to…

1
Winter's Bone: Blood, Kin and the Strength of Burden 54:19

4y ago54:19

54:19

Winter's Bone is a sparse haunting film starring Jennifer Lawrence and Avrum and Ellie take a journey through this moving film and discuss dealing with the harsh realities of life, the essential power of family and when is "toxic" really toxic? Click here to check out Avrum's new book "Where Would You Like To Start?" Click here to learn more about …

1
The Namesake: Cultural Difference and Emotional Growth 58:40

4y ago58:40

58:40

S2 Ep6: The 2006 Mira Nair film The Namesake is a beautiful film about love, marriage, families and creating your life. Avrum and Ellie use this film to delve into parents hopes for their kids, raising teens and the implications of deep cultural ties to a modern life. Click here to check out Avrum's new book "Where Would You Like To Start?" Click h…

1
Napoleon Dynamite: Friendship, True Selves and Mirrors 42:20

4y ago42:20

42:20

Ellie was forced to watch Napoleon Dynamite this week, but ended up really digging what there is to learn from it about friendship, differentiation of self and how longing for the past can make a mess of your present. Avrum feels vindicated. Click here to check out Avrum's new book "Where Would You Like To Start?" Click here to learn more about The…

1
Why is it so difficult to talk about Diversity? 34:03

4y ago34:03

34:03

Spectrums, acronyms, pedagogies are some of our favorite topics, but we discuss diversity in this podcast. As a topic that can be hard to approach, it seems that it can be even more difficult for certain people to even talk about it. Listen in as we try as new format where one person brings and observation, another questions, and a third provides a…

1
Mean Girls: Internality and Externality, Mother Daughter Fusion and Burn Books 55:12

4y ago55:12

55:12

S2 Ep 5: This week Avrum and Ellie are exploring the movie Mean Girls. The 2004 cult classic is a hilarious look at teens, queen bees and how to topple the popularity system. This movie gets us talking about what we focus on and value in our families, and how that impacts the next generation, and how mothers and teen daughters can be a complicated …

1
The Royal Tenenbaums: Emotional Shockwaves in Families and How We Cope 52:17

4y ago52:17

52:17

The Royal Tenenbaums is one of our favourites so far, so many juicy family dynamics, but we are focusing on the emotional shockwave when Chaz, played by Ben Stiller, loses his wife to a tragic accident, and how he copes or doesn't, and how we are all looking for ways to manage sudden change and Avrum and Ellie point to some powerful ideas to help u…

1
High Fidelity: No Relationship Will Fix You 47:46

4y ago47:46

47:46

This week Avrum and Ellie are exploring the movie High Fidelity. A musical masterpiece and superfun trip through relationship dissection and the realization that getting the love you want won't come from other people. Click here to check out Avrum's new book "Where Would You Like To Start?" Click here to learn more about Avrum's practice Click here…

1
The Modern Work Week and the Puritan Work Ethic 35:38

4y ago35:38

35:38

It's a crazy thing to thing through the roots of our modern work force and realize the ideological roots that may have, at one time, been guiding principals of entire communities which still impacts our office culture. What do we think is valuable? How does it affect our treatment of the work force? These questions and more, right now.…

1
Gladiator: The Roots of Being Unloved 58:47

4y ago58:47

58:47

S2 Ep2: This week Avrum and Ellie are diving into the Oscar winning movie Gladiator. Rife with family dysfunction, the tragedy of Commodus the Emperor and Maximus the Gladiator leads us down a path to be able to discuss fathers and son, how birth order, and family history can conspire to put so much pressure on a child that they break, and how we c…

1
Traffic: Addiction and Families 1:00:40

4y ago1:00:40

1:00:40

S2 Ep1: We are looking at the movie Traffic as a door into the world of drugs, addiction and symptoms of family illness. For more information on Avrum Nadigel, MSW and his books and resources, or to join his newsletter go here: www.nadigel.com For more infomation on Ellie Bass go here: www.elliebass.com For more information on The Jewish Family Ins…

1
SEASON 2 ANNOUNCEMENT! 1:13

4y ago1:13

1:13

This is the beginning of Season 2... stay tuned for more full episodes now with movies from the 2000s. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/popparenting/message

1
Contact: Little Green Men and Societal Regression 55:45

4y ago55:45

55:45

Contact is a movie that asks big questions. This week Avrum and Ellie are using it to explore how anxious societies deal with uncertainty, and how that plays out in families, and how our experience with our own parents influences our present relationships. Click here to check out Avrum's new book "Where Would You Like To Start?" Click here to learn…

1
The Outsiders: Family Loss, Surrogate Care and the Need for Support 1:02:49

4y ago1:02:49

1:02:49

Ep 29: The Outsiders was a Coppola film based on the book by S.E. Hinton and stacked with a breakout cast. The story of PonyBoy, Soda Pop and Darry is a class warfare drama that looks into sensitive characters and their losses. In this film Avrum and Ellie explore trauma and parenting, what happens when there are surrogate caregivers, and how famil…

1
Forced to be Alone Together 36:42

4y ago36:42

36:42

The tension of togetherness and individuality permeate all of our relationships, but what happens when our relational systems get forcibly smaller (perhaps from a pandemic)? The OF Crew dig into their observations of the impact of smaller relational systems on functioning (and other fun bits).By John Moyer, Alex McMahan, Zac Stahl

1
Edward Scissorhands: High Expectations, Deflecting Responsibility and Making Mistakes 58:29

4y ago58:29

58:29

Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands is a surreal adventure and love story that Avrum and Ellie use as a springboard for conversations this week about what to do when parents make mistakes, high expectations and saviour complexes and how we tend to look for ways to deflect responsibility in relationships when we don’t know what to do. Please subscribe …

1
Dawnie Walton's Musical Journey from Media Exec to Debut Novelist 37:15

4y ago37:15

37:15

Dawnie Walton is the author of The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. It's her debut novel, and it's a story that came to her at a pivotal moment in her life, inspiring her to make the leap from journalist and media executive to author. The novel tells the story of a fictional rock duo, Opal Jewel and Nev Charles, who shoot to fame in 1970s New York City…

1
Heathers: Seen, Heard, Understood 1:03:42

4y ago1:03:42

1:03:42

S1 Ep 27: Heathers… Do we really need to say more? Dark, sassy and a brutal look at class and caste warfare in high school. In this episode we are digging into how kids need to be seen, heard and understood, but we can’t do that as parents if we are freaking out, and asking the question what does it mean to be in control of ourselves and the differ…

1
A Bowen's Concept : Overfunctioning and Underfunctioning 32:17

4y ago32:17

32:17

Remember when we used to go by "Overfunctioning Leadership"? We hark back to one the eight core concepts of Bowen Theory, discussing the relationship between taking on more responsibility instinctively, such as thinking for other people, or underfunctioning, such as drifting into the background.By Zac Stahl, Alex McMahan, John Moyer

1
Crossing Delancey: Choosing the "Right" Partner 57:05

4y ago57:05

57:05

This week we watched the Jewish classic Crossing Delancey… Izzy and the Pickle Man and her lovely Bubbie in NYC of the early 80s… a charming love story that poses questions about old world vs new, how to choose the “right” partner and whether to listen to wisdom or push for progress.. Also, this week we had some tech issues, so we leave you on a cl…

1
Teach Me Teamwork, Or Else? 43:16

4y ago43:16

43:16

The importance of teamwork is easily seen and just as easily complicated by the difficulty of relationships. Lots of people find that working alongside others towards a common goal is foundational within many systems, especially within schools and the workplace. The [of] crew talks about why this might be so hard despite being so commonplace. Teamw…

1
Maria Bustillos on Building an Unbreakable Media Company 31:34

4y ago31:34

31:34

Maria Bustillos is a writer and journalist whose work I’ve been following for many years — I first read her essays in The Awl, and she’s gone on to write for many other publications including The New Yorker, CJR, and Longreads. In 2016 she took on another assignment: covering the trial of Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker. Hogan’s victory, the revelation that …

1
Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! 56:48

4y ago56:48

56:48

This week on Pop Parenting : This week Avrum and Ellie watched the classic Beetlejuice, this movie with a stellar cast was one of Tim Burton’s first breakout hits and is lovely, weird and lovable. Avrum goes super-clinical on us with quotes from Bowen and we dig into how when a kid is symptomatic, the illness is in the family...Here we go... Click …

1
As Good As It Gets: What Are Relationships For? 56:50

4y ago56:50

56:50

As Good As it Gets with Jack Nicolson is a wild ride of anxiety, empathy and OCD. This week Avrum and Ellie use this film to explore relationships being a “people growing machine” and how we try to fix everyone else when we don’t want to fix ourselves. Here we go... Click here to check out Avrum's new book "Where Would You Like To Start?" Click her…

1
St Elmo's Fire: Failure to Launch and Where Are They Now? 56:36

4y ago56:36

56:36

S1 Ep23 - This week we are watching St Elmos Fire and wondering where all of those iconic characters end up. Its a movie that’s hard to watch through the lens of today, but it brings up some fascinating questions about launching our kids into adult life. Click here to check out Avrum's new book "Where Would You Like To Start?" Click here to learn m…

1
Wall Street: Is Gordon Gekko Emotionally Mature? 57:31

4+ y ago57:31

57:31

This week on Pop Parenting : Wall Street with Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas was an 80s staple and a raw look at the new money culture of that time. In this episode Avrum and Ellie are exploring themes how kids not feeling seen or heard at home will seek out surrogate parents, we are debating whether the character of “Gordon Gekko” is emotionall…

1
Mental Health and My Cousin Vinny 1:01:01

4+ y ago1:01:01

1:01:01

S1 Ep 21: Avrum and Ellie open with a discussion about Bell Let’s Talk day, mental heath and wellness and how to understand this from a more holistic viewpoint. We also get into My Cousin Vinny with Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei, and delve into a fused family dynamic where no one knows who they are, and ask the question should the person who cares the…

1
Naz Riahi on Pursuing Your Dream During a Pandemic 39:38

4+ y ago39:38

39:38

I first discovered Naz Riahi’s work through her essays at Longreads, about growing up in Iran and moving to the United States. In 2020, with her consulting work on hold due to COVID-19, she decided to pursue her dream by writing and directing a short film. “Sincerely, Erik” is a beautiful love letter to New York City, about a bookseller seeking con…

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