We're All Idiots

What are women's rights? Why are we still talking about women's rights? Why are we still fighting for women's rights? We've come long way in the fight for gender equality but we still have a long way to go in ending discrimination and oppression. In this episode, our guest is mother of three, a successful career lady and one of Tanwir's closest friends, Maria “mini” Sgambelluri. Mini provides an insight into what it meant to live through and thrive in an era of ingrained gender inequality of 80s and 90s.

Our emotions are difficult to understand at the best of times. It takes an incredible amount of introspection, self-awareness, and active learning to understand, let alone master your emotions and reactions. So when the society and everything around you tells you that money/status/assets/security is the be-all and end-all, what do you do? In this episode we explore how the chase and the getting to the "destination" messes with our emotions in a way we can seldom understand. 

Motivation is often fleeting and cannot be relied upon to make real changes in life. It comes and it goes. To build positive habits, we need to have the discipline to change and make a commitment. In this episode, we discuss the fickle nature of motivation and challenges of being human. 

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being". You may have seen the 4 overlapping circles, "What you love", "What you're good at", "What you can get paid for", "What the world needs. The word refers to having a direction or purpose in life, that which makes one's life worthwhile, and towards which an individual takes spontaneous and willing actions giving them satisfaction and a sense of meaning to life. Life is not only about having a purpose however, but to continue living your purpose throughout your life. In Japan, the concept of retirement very much differs to that of the West, and if you want to enjoy a long life, we would really recommend exploring further how they live in Okinawa, Japan and some of the other Blue Zones of the World. In this episode, we discuss all aspects of our Ikigai and flow. If you haven't read the book, I would really recommend you check it out.

The phrase "humans are social creatures" has never rung more true. In the modern digital age, human interactions are migrating to the virtual world more and more. COVID has shifted the balance in the favour of video/phone chats even further. Are we losing our ability to interact with people? Is it creating a new wave of anxiety for the next generation? In this episode we discuss the changing world of communication in the modern, post-COVID world.

There is a well-known saying that you are a reflection of the five closest people around you. Look at those individuals that you are closest to and recognise how similarities between you and them lie. Is it a coincidence that you may have the same beliefs values work ethic etc? As important as it is to recognise who the five closest people are to you and how that may affect you it is just as important to choose your tribe wisely. I am not saying that you should disconnect from your current tribe but perhaps if you have a desire to change your life you may need to surround yourself with different individuals. Building habits alone is a very difficult thing however when your environment is also making it difficult for you to build such habits it is almost impossible. For example if you decide that you wish to stop smoking and your closest five friends all smoke it doesn't matter how hard you try your environment continues to bring your old habit back towards you. This can be applied across pretty much any habits. In this episode we dive into how best to build new habits and just how important it is to surround yourself with individuals you want to be like.

How many times have you thought about creating a new habit and it just doesn't follow through. Science tells us that a habit typically forms anywhere between 18 and 264 days, and we may sit anywhere on this line. Making the first step is the most important in the process, the acknowledgement of the habit you are trying to change. No matter how big or small, the habit you are trying to change has been changed by someone else already. Whether it's making your bed in the morning or whether its quitting smoking, someone else in the World has already overcome this challenge and been where you are. We discuss everything from things we struggle with, to the science behind making a change, to the never ending battle of creating a better routine. Tune in for more... (and thank you for joining us on Season 2 of the We're All Idiots Podcast)

2020 has been a challenging year in many respects, but in a lot of ways, it has also taught a lot of us to discover who we really are. Whether its working from home, re-connect with family & friends, go on a health journey, or start being more spiritual - every single event has been a lesson for growth. One of the biggest lessons for some of us has been the power of vulnerability. In this final episode for 2020, we discuss the buzzword that is vulnerability. This is also our final episode for Season 1. We never imagined that we would record 20 episodes, but your support and personal feedback has kept us going. In 2021 we hope to be back with more chats about life, relationships, friendship, work, phoilosophy, and just continue being idiots. Thanks for tuning in; happy and safe holidays!

The world is constantly sharing the ideals of life; the way we should look, the jobs we should take, the way we should be and who is considered the "best" version.  Who says that the best version for one person is the best version of another. The best thing about humanity is our individuality and us being us. Let's be honest, from School days all the way to early adulthood, there has always been the 'cool kid' and perhaps that was you. That child was often the marker of what every other child aimed for and tried to replicate; they were usually the ones bringing in the next trends into the school playground and that's fine. As we grow, it becomes increasingly important to detach away from tags and attempts to be like anyone else.  As a population it is important that we let everyone be and let them express themselves however they please. It may be different to what you are used to and it may be against how you wish to live your life. But it is what they want and they are living THEIR life. Likewise, YOU are living yours. You live with your decisions, nobody else. An attempt to please someone else, at the expense of yourself will often leave you feeling down and beaten up in the long-run, so ask yourself why you're doing it? Is it the people around you that aren't letting you be you, or is it your own barriers that you've created in your mind that are inhibiting you being your authentic self? It definitely isn't easy. It's a journey. Embrace it and move forward. Peace and blessings and thank you for listening!

The symptoms of addictions to drugs and alcohol are well known and very recognisable. We truly believe that the same level of addiction is now being seen in with Technology.
 We often see that we all have at least one device in our hands at all times from the moment we wake up to the point we go to sleep. In this episode we unravel how bad things really are for us both, while diving into why things are the way they are and what we can do to avoid falling into this endless pit going forward

COVID-19 has further exacerbated the tech epidemic. Where as before the pandemic we would get up and walk around the office and chat to people face-to-face, now we are chained to a screen of one kind or another - we wake up with our phones, get working on our laptops in our PJs, stay on laptops past work day, scroll on our phones during breaks, and watch TV to finish the day. Its creating a kind of addiction that is rewiring our brains and reward mechanisms. Whats more, its making our management of time worse than it ever was. Is there a way to break the cycle? In this episode we discuss that the importance of realising and acknowledging this modern problem is the first step towards addressing it. 

Why is it that we find it so difficult to understand others? Why cant we get out of our own heads? Humans are inherently selfish and as animals we are built to be self-absorbed by nature. However its 2020. We live in a civilised society and working hard to understand others is a duty of being human. In this episode, we discuss the complex concept of empathy.

Part 2 of the conversation with the author of the international best seller, Surrounded by Idiots. We encounter thousands of humans in our lifetime. Most of us are closely associated with some in our lives. Hundreds of books have been written about it over centuries. Yet somehow, fully understanding human behaviour still eludes us. First we must learn about ourselves, then we must learn about others. How can we otherwise expect to collaborate effectively and work together in the most efficient manner? In this episode, we discuss all things from the premise of the book to what makes a great leader.

A two part conversation with the author of the international best seller, Surrounded by Idiots. We encounter thousands of humans in our lifetime. Most of us are closely associated with some in our lives. Hundreds of books have been written about it over centuries. Yet somehow, fully understanding human behaviour still eludes us. First we must learn about ourselves, then we must learn about others. How can we otherwise expect to collaborate effectively and work together in the most efficient manner? In this episode, we discuss all things from the premise of the book to what makes a great leader.

A complex set of emotions, behaviors and feelings for another person. Being in love is a journey, but something most of the world are in search of. You know when it's hit you, but sometimes the person on the other side may be very different to what you had initially set out for. Love isn't something that you choose, but something that chooses you and takes you along. In this episode we talk about love - both platonic and romatic. Link in bio. 

Modern relationships are often complicated by expectations, lack of understanding and lack of communications. Whether its a romantic partner, friends, relatives or colleagues; the aforementioned factors play a huge part in influencing a relationship and the subsequent success of it. For centuries, philosophers have emphasised the importance of reducing expectations and understanding more. If we add to this effective communication,  relationships will start being a lot more successful in life. 

Narcissistic and emotional abuse in relationships, families, and life generally seems to be getting worse in society. Everyone almost certainly knows someone who has been subject to some form of emotional abuse - either in a relationship, by parents, family, work, or friends. Trauma is passed down generations, leading people to either seek validation or abuse others in path. In this episode we are joined by heartbreak and narcissist abuse recovery coach, Amaira, to talk about why healing from narcissistic abuse involves more than just "giving it time". Amaira provides an insight into the harm it causes and we discuss proven holistic approaches for recovery that work best.

As humans we are constantly chasing the feeling of joy and the ever-elusive happiness. Somewhere along the journey, we tend to fall into habits that are less than ideal or self-damaging. Sometimes it is to fight our demons, sometimes it might be a coping mechanism, others it's merely to feel a little bit of euphoria. Whatever the reason, such behaviours have the potential to become addictions which are extremely complex to overcome. Whether it's drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, sugar, food, or social media - it's all part of being human and each one of us has the duty to provide a safe place for anyone wanting to be heard or support them in any way we can. In this episode we talk about the complicated psychology of addiction.

We're living in times where the western world is so abundant yet mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are through the roof. Mental health is deteriorating at an alarming rate and along with it we're getting fatter by the day. Yet we continue to spend billions of dollars on stuff that becomes redundant within weeks of purchase. Countless psychological studies have shown that materialism affects our well being adversely, but we continue to upgrade. Are we intelligent enough to wake up to this realisation or will we continue on our destructive path? Tune in to hear our thoughts.

The 21st century in the western world has brought us all the conveniences we could ever ask for yet we are the unhealthiest we've ever been - be it physical health or mental health. Big corporations create 10s of thousands of jobs, but at the end of the day its all about the shareholders and profit. Industries such as sugar, tobacco, alcohol, and pharma have nothing but the bottom line in mind; regardless of what they might say. Is it time to make a change and stand up to the system? Tune in as we discuss the evils of capitalism in the the latest episode of We're all idiots. 

Over the course of human history we have always had powerful hierarchies that have exploited the common person down the foodchain. But never has the exploitation been so systemic and at a level that is almost evil. Today we have so many industries that are so bad for our mental, physical and planet health, yet they are allowed to exist freely. Without getting into conspiracy theories, the modern systems have created so many frustrations for people in life, that they boil over every so often. We are human after all. 

What is it about power that changes us? The usual argument is that its a small minority and there will always be "bad people" in society. Every time it happens, we get to hear that it does not represent who "they really are". But when it is so widespread that statistics tell a clear story (and have been for a while), its not something that can be brushed off. It is an obvious systemic problem that is likely caused by a myriad of factors. Is it the conditioning of the system? A recruitment process fail? Supremacy? Ingrained behaviour issues? No one knows. In this episode we discuss our opinions and thoughts on this issue and the recent senseless events.

The process of dealing with loss is different for everyone. Often we don't allow ourselves to grieve properly and really feel our emotions. We put pressure on ourselves to fit a non-existent norm and "get over it" as quickly as possible. Realising that it's a complex process and being kind to yourself is so important. In this episode, we discuss complexities of grief with guest Jermaine Omoregie, who lost his mother five years ago.

It's human to fear failure. We all experience it at some point in our lives. Fear could stem from a myriad of places - childhood trauma, cultural norms, social conditioning, evolution. In 100% of the cases its not the failure that we fear, its the perceived shame. Its not the disappointment arising as a result of failure we cant cope with, its the shame that accompanies such failure. If we can just become a little more aware of the reality of this failure and treat it nothing more than a lesson, the possibilities are endless. In this episode we explore the various aspects of fear of failure with the profound Anisa Butt, a British Indian film and TV actress.

In the social media age we're constantly reminded of the importance of doing something we love. "Find our passion; aim for excellence; do what you love; don't settle for less'. Sometimes it gets to the point that it becomes overwhelming and we start to question our own reality. In this episode we try to investigate why its so difficult to "find your passion".

How is working for yourself different to working for someone else? What is the difference between working vs running a business? We explore the pros and cons of both in this podcast. 

Occhiolism: the awareness of the smallness of your perspective, by which you couldn't possibly draw any meaningful conclusions at all, about the world or the past or the complexities of culture, because although your life is an epic and unrepeatable anecdote, it still only has a sample size of one, and may end up being the control for a much wilder experiment happening in the next room.." - The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. In this episode we discuss the "surrounded by idiots" fallacy.

On this episode of the We're All Idiots podcast, we discuss all things from workouts, to work life, and how we think life will change once we escape the isolation period.

How is Coronavirus having an impact on our daily lives? How are people coping? How are they changing their behaviours? Is It driving us insane? Tune in to find out!