How I Overcame Peter Pan Syndrome & Built a Real Life

After Peter Pan: Growing Up to Purpose

To celebrate our 10th episode milestone, I invited my sister Tina Tenneriello, journalist and communications specialist, to guest host and take the guest role. We explore my journey from a commitment-phobic, pleasure-seeking lifestyle to one of purpose, integrity, and personal growth. We talk about leaving "Neverland"—the state of avoiding responsibility and chasing short-term gratification—and step into a life of intention. From confronting entrenched habits to embracing therapy, fatherhood, mindfulness, and a healthier relationship with wealth, this episode is a candid look at transformation, healing, and what it means to grow up.

What You’ll Learn

• How the Peter Pan Syndrome keeps people stuck in cycles of avoidance
• The psychological impact of short-term gratification vs. long-term fulfillment
• How childhood trauma and past experiences shape adult relationships and career choices
• The role of therapy and group healing in personal transformation
• How modern dating culture and technology can reinforce commitment issues
• The benefits of mindfulness and meditation for emotional growth and self-discipline
• How embracing responsibility and integrity leads to a more meaningful life
• How to evolve your relationship with money—from chasing wealth to living with dignity

Resources Mentioned

• "He who has a why can survive any how" - Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl – A book that changed my perspective on suffering and purpose
• "He had suddenly felt that wealth, and power, and life - all that people arrange and preserve with such care - all this, if it is worth anything, is only so because of the pleasure with which one can abandon it all" - War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Social Media:

• After Peter Pan Podcast:
  • Facebook
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  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
• Tina Tenneriello:
  • LinkedIn

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Chapters

1. Hook & Intro (00:00:00)

2. The Meaning Behind 'After Peter Pan' (00:01:44)

3. Living the Peter Pan Lifestyle (00:03:40)

4. Turning Points and Realizations (00:07:39)

5. The Journey of Psychotherapy (00:10:28)

6. Childhood Trauma and Its Impact (00:16:03)

7. Overcoming Fear of Commitment (00:18:52)

8. The Impact of Loneliness on Relationships (00:24:29)

9. Navigating Modern Dating Culture (00:30:45)

10. Living with Integrity (00:33:26)

11. The Transformative Power of Fatherhood (00:46:42)

12. The Evolution of Money and Richness (00:49:53)

13. Growing Up: A Journey Beyond Self (01:05:03)

14. Reflections on Parenting and Legacy (01:14:41)

15. Outro (01:15:36)