Thought Works is a podcast about random thoughts of two seasoned healthcare professionals. These thoughts center around what makes each one of us different, yet similar. From fears and our worrying/panicking of the next change in our normal life to satisfaction and our tastes in food or music. This is not some dry stuffy recording of a human parts list. It is a compared and contrasted approach between Eddie and Darren. Now they have similarities and differences themselves. But an important similarity, is the never ending curiosity and drive to understand. Darren is lead by the "dead cat gene" of curiosity and wanting all to understand. Eddie is passionate about people not missing out or suffering from a lack of openness to try something new. Listen along to be engaged, informed, or just entertained.
Episode 23: Video Games to Careers
This is a different episode than most. In that, Eddie and Darren just started recording a conversation to see where it went. Most of the time, they want to dig deep into a topic. The topic of video games to careers just came out of talking, not a set out thing to discuss. Sometimes they are really interested in discussing a particular topic and want to be the stimulus in others' thoughts on the topic. No particular subject was brewing in their minds, so they just recorded a conversation to see how it goes. What feedback would give them on episodes, conversations, or topics? Reach out at
[email protected]
2/9/2021 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 29 seconds
Episode 22: Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a state of consciouness that is a result from the power of suggestion. This power of suggestion is used a lot in everyday life by business for marketing and restraunts creating a food mood. People don't necessarily go under hypnosis daily, but the power of suggestion creates a mind set for a given situation. Leading someone in their mind by creating expectations both good and bad expectations, often aid in accepting pain in a procedure or prepares you for a good lunch. Hypnosis is not some kind of magical power, but it something that approximately 20% of people are not likely to experience. Listen to Eddie and Darren try to nail down this idea.
2/7/2021 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 45 seconds
Episode 21: Curiosity
This is a subject that has driven all technology and civilizations forward. Curiosity is one of the more interesting elements of human characteristics. This trait has varying degrees from one person to another. Would you consider yourself a curious person? Have you alwasy been? Curiosity is an aid and hindrance to learning. If you don't have it, can you get it? Listen to this discussion and discover a little about curiosity.
2/7/2021 • 1 hour, 33 minutes, 10 seconds
Episode 20: Music and Emotions
Tastes are something that vary from one person to another. If you like a wide variety or small variety of music, the mood or emotion you are in or want to be in can be changed via music. Music is entertainment, but it can be so much more. Listen to Eddie and Darren's discussion and all the rabbit trails about music and emotions of it.
1/21/2021 • 1 hour, 29 minutes, 39 seconds
Episode 19: Covid-19 Vaccine
This whole topic is one that sparks debates and myth spinning. There is no need to waste the space here and your time reading. Just listen and maybe you will learn something you didn't know about the Covid-19 vaccine. This is not as fun of a topic as the others. Eddie and Darren thought this was a good time to discuss this matter. Listen, think about it, maybe it will help you decide if undecided. Thanks for listening. Please give some feedback at [email protected]
1/7/2021 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 48 seconds
Episode 18: Purist
Purists probably have a good and bad name in any arena they exist. A self defined or group defined way of doing things, then equated it to the proper way to do such. There can be varying opinions of purists and the ideas associated with them. In one regard, sometimes they provide a style or way of doing things that preserve the origin of said subject. On the other hand, this "original" idea provides a platform to be overly critical to any advancement or variant to the "original" format. Whether it is ways to make or produce something, or a style of hobby, purists and their opinions exist in many arenas. Take a listen and see which way Eddie and Darren fall in the discussion.
12/27/2020 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 34 seconds
Episode 17: INTROVERTS AND EXTROVERTS
Introvert or extrovert, which are you? Maybe you have never thought about this much. Perhaps you have looked into this with much interest. Either way, this discussion may tell you something about this element of our personality types. Learning what you and others around you score, will explain how you and they get along or not. You may take a number of tests and disagree with the results. If so, asked your spouse/partner/closest person to you what they think. It may be that you don't understand yourself, just yet. By no means is the end all be all of how to break a person down. However, it is a tool to guide you in this process. Take a listen, this is actually a subject that blows Eddie's mind.
11/16/2020 • 1 hour, 22 minutes, 15 seconds
Episode 16: Stubbornness
Stubbornness is defined as dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something. This trait is looked at negatively by some, and could limit one's experiences in life. There is more to this than just opposition. Listen to Darren (self professed stubborn person) explain to Eddie that asking a stubborn person to change their mind is more than just being open. The discussion takes many trails in discussion, as is the usual case. Holding firm to one's position can be personal for these stubborn people. Asking them to change their mind, is a little more complicated than just consider a different view on a given topic. So, take a listen to this discussion and form your own opinion of stubbornness. Have a question or comment? Drop us a line at [email protected]
10/3/2020 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 58 seconds
Episode 15: SLEEP INERTIA
Sleep inertia is defined as the groggy feeling when you wake up. Tune in to Eddie and Darren's discussion about sleep and what sleep inertia is. The stage of sleep you wake in can affect your sleep inertia. Sleep inertia is about 30 minutes on average for most people. Conduct your own sleep study using your smart phone. Track your sleep with your phone or smart watch. Take an honest look at your sleep hygeine. If you are getting the correct number of hours and sleep cycles, waking a good bit earlier, is better than the extra time sleeping. Hopefully you guys can sleep better, not later.
9/20/2020 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 27 seconds
Episode 14: HEROES
Heroes are the people or characters we emulate for their actions and values. As a young person, we might look up to parents, grand parents, or friends of the family. Additionally, we may identify with fictional characters from movies, books, tv, or comics. One could even say that an ideal hero is what we might want ourselves to be. Another hero scenario, could be someone we want to save us from ourselves, others, or a situation we are in. Who are heroes in your life? There are many people over the course of history that we could call heroes. Not to be left out, there heroes around all of us. People that go above and beyond to make a change in a better way. Lots of athletes will say someone in their growing up was a hero. These people provided resources and time to help others. Anyone can be a hero. Odds are we are people that somebody looks up to for something. How do think people look at you? Not your physical being, but your attitude and behavior. Try to be the individual, that on your funeral day, many people will say "we were best friends". Take a listen and see why Eddie thinks of the Looney Tunes characters need therapy. Give us your feedback through Facebook or Twitter or email [email protected]
9/8/2020 • 1 hour, 22 minutes, 1 second
Episode 13: Pollyanna
Pollyanna is the tendency for people to remember or look at pleasant things more accurately than unpleasant things. Another way to put this is to say looking at things with a positivity bias. At first glance, this may seem to be a good thing, to a degree it is. The downside to this outlook is not accouting for negative things in life accurately. That can lead to a living on a cloud that does not exist. From ignoring something that needs your attention, to just letting bad stuff happen that could have been affected by oneself. Take a listen and see how Eddie and Darren view life and what you may learn from their conversation. As usual, their are tangents that fall off topic. See what Eddie means by "off pudding". Please send comments and questions to [email protected].
8/25/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 6 seconds
Episode 12: Time
There is a sublte, slight audio pop/click it is fixed at 33 minute mark, apologies Time is a big topic. It is the one currency that we all have the same. Now, we don't all live to be the same age at death. However, in a day to day sense, we all have those 24 hours. How we spend that currency is another facet of our personalities. Like a lot of things, we can change and modify our time consumption. Darren is definitely not type A, but has to have a feeling of accomplishment daily. Eddie is organized, but doesn't have to accomplish something daily. How do you answer this, do you have to accomplish something everyday? Do you structure all of your time? When you are experiencing different emotions, the passage of time can be feel faster or slower.
8/4/2020 • 1 hour, 37 minutes, 41 seconds
Episode 11: Inner Voice
An inner voice is an element of the unique nature of what makes us all different. For whatever reason, some have this and some do not. Eddie and Darren don't have the answer as to why some have it, but this is a discussion about it. One key function to inner voice, is the idea of drafting a question or statement. Narration or private conversation, is another way this inner voice is used. Often, it is just saying what is happening or about to happen in the head of the individual. Some people that do not have an innervoice think with imagery rather than a dialog. Talking to themselves in their head, is possible but very difficult and not second nature. As often the course, the rabbit trail turns into things that bother Eddie or Darren.
7/28/2020 • 1 hour, 27 minutes, 54 seconds
Episode 10: Processes
Processes. How do you keep up all of the things you need to do and maintain in your life? The system we use conscious or not, has elements of efficiency or not. As we age and see elements of our life systems, we edit or add on to proceed. When you notice 'there is this thing I always do manually, but it has automaticity', why not add the auto feature? Eddie and Darren talk about everyday life and travel and how systems and processes have worked and not. Schedules feel like work for some. Even managing your free time is a system. If you feel like your time is not managed well often, why not look at how you do it and make a change. Darren has a sense of accomplisment that makes or breaks his days, whether work or free time. Eddie definitely has systems, but may not want a schedule for his leisure time. In an elevated view of life, time is the currency we all have. No one knows how much of that we will given. One thing that is similar among people with a long life, they often comment in the end of their lives about how they spent their time.
7/9/2020 • 1 hour, 43 minutes, 28 seconds
Episode 9: Tribes
Have you ever thought about how many humans enable you to live your current life? Tribes have given the human race the ability to increase exponentially. Not only in number, but technology and all areas of advancement. Just think, without all of the people that protect and take care of us. From military to fire to police, all the way to the people that haul our trash away. We all need each other. Early human experience required tribes to survive the environment of the time. Now in a more civilized and populated world, we still have the need to belong to a tribe. Tribes back our ideals, beliefs, and standards. Tribalism is not all good though. Just as there are benfits to the protection in community, groups of common thinking people can push for negative or evil ideas. Everyone has their own set of tribes. Within the sets of tribes, we align for common goal or interest. Hopefully, it is for the good of all.
6/10/2020 • 1 hour, 19 minutes, 32 seconds
Episode 8: Satisfaction
Just as all of our tastes vary from one subject to another, where and how we find satisfactioin does as well. What does our own version of satisfaction say about us? Is there a difference between satisfaction and happiness? Can satisfaction be on a scale like pain? Will a dove actually go into a birdhouse?
The way we view life and our expectations play a crucial part to our own satisfaction. Whether you are the eternal opitimist or a negative Nancy, you may be setting the table for your satisfaction dinner. Subscribe and listen to Eddie and Darren as they parse out what is satisfaction to each of them. One thing is for sure, each of us play a role in our own satisfactory experience of life.
6/2/2020 • 1 hour, 18 minutes, 23 seconds
Episode 7: Late
How do we overcome being late? Is there a specific reason that I am late? Are you always on time, and CAN'T understand why anyone is late? Eddie and Darren go round and round about why people are late. Is there an excuse that is plausible for being late? Is something as simple as not accurately understanding time responsible for this? We all have co-workers and friends that are always late. Perhaps you struggle to get to work on time. If you have ever been late more than once in your life, this discussion is for you. Or if you are never late, maybe you can get a better understanding of your peers or family. It may not be as easy setting an alarm for some.
5/27/2020 • 1 hour, 28 minutes, 37 seconds
Episode 6: Podcast Listening 101
What is a podcast? It can be a conversation, a recording of a radio show, talk show, sports show, political speak, crime stories, or just information about hobbies or interest. It is a portable audio medium that can be enjoyed at any time. From really short funny stories to three plus hour conversations, podcast vary greatly in content and length. If you can imagine it, there is probably a podcast about it. Eddie and Darren discuss the basic ideas and how one could fit podcasts into their lives.
5/13/2020 • 1 hour, 20 minutes, 50 seconds
Fear part 2
As a child, have you ever been lost or separated from your family? How did that affect you? These moments growing up can cause separation fear and anxiety that goes on as we age. Depending on when and where you grew up, some of us wondered away from home for miles and miles. We stayed out till dark. It is odd that a moment separated from family is panic. However, voluntarily separating is just part of fun day. What fears do you have? Spiders, heights, claustrophobia, severe weather, or snakes? Do you live with or by fear? Do fears parallyze you? How do fears change your life or plans?
5/4/2020 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 49 seconds
Fear Part 1
Fear comes in many forms. It can be defined as an emotional experiece of physiological or psychological stress that is without love, trust, or hope. In this day and time, there are a lot of people afraid of where the country is going. Whether that is the fear of contracting an infectious virus or fear of unemployment. Both of these are real and part of present day. Fear impacts our lives in a way that can affect the way we develop as humans. Listen along as Eddie and Darren discuss their fears and how they deal with them.
4/30/2020 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 34 seconds
Episode 4: Mental Diet
It has been said by many, "you are a combination of the five people closest to you". What about the meida we consume? The books, blogs, and social media links we read collectively add up in a grocerty list of data in our minds. Viewing TV shows, streaming series, and movies shape the world we see and apply to life. Listening to talk radio or podcasts can also add diversity to all that is you. If some sort of hybrid of our 5 closest friends/family is who we are, where does media come in? People often report of relatives or others and their constant diet of xyz shows or news. The message and attitudes of these media portals are seen to varying degrees in these individuals. Being aware of your mental diet is a good place to examine oneself. Diversity is good for all people of all walks of life. No matter the background, becoming experienced with many ideas builds a person that can relate to more humans. Aside from the well rounded human approach, maybe it is a good way to find new entertainment.
4/21/2020 • 57 minutes, 17 seconds
Episode 3: Anger
How you feel and express your anger can have irreversible effects. What is the way you deal with anger? Do you stuff every negative down deep inside of you? Darren does, a lot. Coming from his youth and young adult years of speaking his mind, to now proceeding with caution. Eddie has the other approach and success. He has relationships strengthen after having words about anger. Does showing emotions make you look more or less competent? Do you think it makes you look effective as a communicator or leader? Whether one spews their anger all of the time or one who never does, a medium approach is probably more effective. There is a time and place to be expressive. However, if you scream all of the time, it loses its teeth. Also, when one almost never blows up, you may get some shocked faces when you share your feelings. Part of our society today is addicted to anger. This problem is everywhere. Cable news networks to social media, feed the anger beast that is growing in all of us. Take it all in, but beware of what you eat. Anger is a real emotion that should not be ignored. A balanced approach to life will include what makes us angry. However, should it get all the energy we give it?
4/10/2020 • 1 hour, 24 minutes, 7 seconds
intro to a thought
Eddie and Darren bring the idea of discussing common thoughts to the table. Sometimes there is an idea that gets stuck in your head and you would like to dive a little deeper. For example, the taste in music or food that one has. How do these differ and what makes them similar among all of us. Subscribe and join the journey with these guys.
4/2/2020 • 3 minutes, 7 seconds
Episode 2: Identities
A person's identity in its whole form is unique. We are a summary of the closest people around us, but do we share all of their traits? Have their been times in your life you literaly feel like someone else? Many times we put on a persona to get a job or a date. How much of this do we do in the day to day living? As you think about your own identity and how you share yourself, listen to these guys. Eddie is looking to be original and not be fooled in this life. While Darren is ever seeking of who and what he is made of. Subscribe and listen to satisfy the curious part of your identity.
4/2/2020 • 1 hour, 42 minutes, 50 seconds
Episode 1: Preferences and taste
Prefernce and taste are part of the make up of all our identities. They are generally speaking, our likes and dislikes. We are a combination of things we inherit and things around us. Simply, our tastes are relative to our nature and nurture. Do these change as we grow older? How is our taste relevant to our experience of life? What does your taste or prefence say about you? Just some things to ponder when you give a listen to this episode as Eddie and Darren chew on this topic.