The Problem With Perfect

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The Problem With Perfect

Robin May and Denise Bickel

342 episodes

5 days ago

What if the end of the year isn’t about fixing what went wrong, but noticing what mattered most? In this special end-of-year episode of The Problem With Perfect, we’re looking back on 2025 through a “Best Of” lens. What shaped us, surprised us, stretched us, and stayed with us. From books and boundaries to money well spent and lessons learned, this conversation is honest, grounding, and deeply reflective. We’re also sharing our words for 2026- the intentions we’re carrying forward to help gui...

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Religion & Spirituality,

Society & Culture,

Health & Fitness,

All content for The Problem With Perfect is the property of Robin May and Denise Bickel and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

What if the end of the year isn’t about fixing what went wrong, but noticing what mattered most? In this special end-of-year episode of The Problem With Perfect, we’re looking back on 2025 through a “Best Of” lens. What shaped us, surprised us, stretched us, and stayed with us. From books and boundaries to money well spent and lessons learned, this conversation is honest, grounding, and deeply reflective. We’re also sharing our words for 2026- the intentions we’re carrying forward to help gui...

Show more...

Religion & Spirituality,

Society & Culture,

Health & Fitness,

Episodes (20/342)

The Problem With Perfect

The Best of 2025: What Mattered, What Changed Us and What We're Changing for 2026

What if the end of the year isn’t about fixing what went wrong, but noticing what mattered most? In this special end-of-year episode of The Problem With Perfect, we’re looking back on 2025 through a “Best Of” lens. What shaped us, surprised us, stretched us, and stayed with us. From books and boundaries to money well spent and lessons learned, this conversation is honest, grounding, and deeply reflective. We’re also sharing our words for 2026- the intentions we’re carrying forward to help gui...

5 days ago

1 hour 3 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

Across Generations: The Joy and Science of Grandparenting

In this heartfelt episode, we explore why grandparent-grandchild relationships matter, not just emotionally, but based on decades of research. Join us for this episode and learn how grandparents support children’s development, ease the parenting journey, and build lifelong bonds through simple, intentional acts of love, presence, and consistency. This episode might prepare you for grandparenting in your future or take you on a walk down memory lane with your own grandparents. Either way...

2 weeks ago

45 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

Caring To The End: Tom May's Story of Escorting His Mother to Heaven

Caregiving is a sacred gift. Caring for someone who is chronically or terminally ill requires patience, understanding, and selflessness. Most caregivers are not professional healthcare workers; rather, they are loving family members who dedicate their lives to improving the well-being of their loved ones. Caregiving often presents significant challenges and in this episode, Robin's husband, Tom, is here to talk about them. His mother, like many individuals who are ill, required round-th...

3 weeks ago

1 hour 1 minute

The Problem With Perfect

The Gentle Discipline of Letting Go

Our fifth and final Yama jewel, Aparigraha, encourages us to embrace non-possessiveness. What do you covet? What do you cling to? Consider what in your life reflects your values and priorities. This month’s Yama invites us to examine the physical possessions we surround ourselves with. Do these items make you feel free and light, or do they weigh you down and create a sense of heaviness? Aparigraha serves as a reminder that breathwork is a perfect example of non-possessiveness. The simple act...

1 month ago

44 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

God, Food, and the Holidays: Replacing Guilt with Gratitude

Join us as we dive into a struggle so many women face but rarely talk about: the stress, guilt, and pressure around food during the holiday season. Why is it so hard to feel in control around holiday food? Why do we swing between restriction and overindulgence? Judge our eating as “good” and “bad?” And why does January leave so many of us feeling ashamed and desperate for a “fresh start”? With a blend of intuitive eating insights and faith-filled encouragement, this episode unpacks the real r...

1 month ago

50 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

The Gift of No: Unwrapping People Pleasing During the Holidays

As the holidays approach, it’s a great time to evaluate how you want to spend your time and energy. Do you want to be relaxed and peace-filled, or would you rather be frazzled and frantic? The choice is yours. People pleasing is a trait that may sound generous and kind, but often leads to resentment and frustration. Knowing how and why we tend to over-commit and people-please are important factors in reducing our stress and exhaustion, especially during the next few weeks. People-pleasi...

1 month ago

54 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

How to Ruthlessly Eliminate the Holiday Hurry to Rediscover God’s Rhythm

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and the most exhausting. Between the decorating, the baking, the shopping, and the pressure to make everything magical, our souls can feel more hurried than holy. In this episode, we slow down to talk about what it really means to rest during the holidays, not just physically, but spiritually. Drawing from The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas, and the practice of Slow Living, join us as we explo...

1 month ago

54 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

The Freedom of Enough: Practicing Non-Excess in a World of More

November is often a time for giving thanks, and the 4th Yama, Brahmacharya, encourages us to be grateful for having “just enough,” and to practice “nonexcess.” We live in a world that can rob us of our time, money, and energy while we pursue better and newer and more. Brahmacharya asks us to examine our priorities and to focus on what really matters. Are we living in communion with God? Are we sacrificing our precious time and energy in pursuit of worldly excess? Do we recognize when we have ...

2 months ago

42 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

When Love Hurts: The Psychology of Abuse and Recovery With June Berlinger

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Statistics indicate that approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Every minute in the U.S., about 20 to 24 people are physically abused by an intimate partner, amounting to more than 12 million individuals each year. Domestic violence also impacts millions of children, and the economic toll is substantial, resulting in nearly 8 million lost workdays annually in the U.S. Our...

2 months ago

55 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

Are These Quiet Sins Stealing Your Joy?

Ever catch yourself brushing off certain behaviors the Bible would call sins because they don't seem "that bad"? In this episode, we get real about the “acceptable sins” so many of us excuse — things like anger, gossip, worry, pride, and discontentment. Drawing inspiration from Tim Keller’s book, Respectable Sins, we unpack why these habits feel so normal, how they quietly erode our peace, and what it looks like to bring them into the light with honesty and grace. This honest, hope-filled con...

2 months ago

56 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

Listen Up: What You Need to Know About Hearing, Aging, and Brain Health

If you’ve ever said, “What?” more times than you’d like to admit… or if someone you love turns the TV up louder and louder, this episode is for you. This week, we’re diving into a topic that affects millions, but is rarely discussed: hearing loss. Our guest, Dr. Julie Prutsman, has helped thousands of people find relief from tinnitus and hearing challenges. In this episode, Dr. Julie shares why she’s passionate about helping us understand how hearing health impacts every part of our lives, in...

2 months ago

1 hour 1 minute

The Problem With Perfect

Stop Stealing Your Own Peace: Asteya

Have you ever been accused of stealing? Probably not. Yet, most of us engage in various forms of stealing every day, often without realizing it. There are many ways in which we take from others, the Earth, future generations, and even ourselves. The third Yama, Asteya, encourages us to become aware of how our words and actions may rob others of their time, joy, or sense of self-worth. It reminds us that the Earth deserves our attention and appreciation now so that future generations can also ...

2 months ago

52 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

From Diet Culture to Self-Compassion: A Kinder Way Forward

Do you ever feel like no matter what you do, it’s never enough? You try harder, you push yourself, you chase perfection—but all it leaves you with is exhaustion and self-criticism. What if the answer isn’t doing more, but actually being kinder to yourself? This week, we sit down with licensed therapist and course creator Erica Thomas to talk about the radical (and practical) power of self-compassion. Erica shares her personal story of body image struggles, unpacks how diet culture keeps us st...

3 months ago

56 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

How Embracing The Suck Changes our Brains and our Lives

There’s a saying: “Change of any sort requires courage.” Courage and bravery are essential for making lasting and effective change. While we may have goals for success, greater happiness, or fulfilling relationships, we often feel overwhelmed by the time and effort that change demands. There is no magic formula for change; simply wishing and hoping are not enough. However, there are clear and concise steps that can increase our chances of success. With clarity, conviction, and commitment, cha...

3 months ago

41 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

Everyday Habits That Build Stronger Relationships

Season 7 is here! 🎉 Since launching The Problem with Perfect in September 2019, we’ve released over 300 episodes and connected with listeners in 11 countries. Thank you for being part of this amazing journey! We’re kicking off Season 7 with a conversation that applies to every relationship in your life—romantic, family, or friendship. Inspired by psychologist Mark Travers’ article “The 5 Weekday Habits of the Happiest Couples,” we’re breaking down five simple daily habits that help relationsh...

3 months ago

48 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

The Freeing Weight Of The Truth

In this episode, we continue their journey through the Yamas and Niyamas, diving into the second jewel: Satya, or truthfulness. Join us as we reflect on what we’ve learned so far about courage, balance, boundaries, and self-love—and how those lessons prepare us to live authentically in truth. Together, we wrestle with what it means to be real instead of just nice, how to express ourselves without slipping into self-indulgence, and why truth has both a fierce weight and a freeing power. From t...

4 months ago

1 hour 2 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

The Truth About GLP-1s With Dr. Nicole Dorotik

It’s nearly impossible to turn on the television or open a magazine without seeing advertisements for the latest weight loss trend: GLP-1 medications, commonly known as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Zepbound. Approximately 15 million people are estimated to have tried these drugs for weight loss. However, as with any emerging health trend, it's important to consider whether these medications are safe and cost-effective. What are the risks and benefits of these drugs? Is the pharmaceutical in...

4 months ago

58 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

Sarah Hill's Story: Lessons From Surviving A Heart Attack

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet many of us don’t recognize the warning signs until it’s too late. This week, we welcome Sarah Hill, CEO of Helium and former award-winning journalist. At just 53 years old, Sarah experienced a heart attack while on vacation in Las Vegas, despite being healthy, active, and having a normal EKG. It was only because of her husband’s persistence that doctors ran the tests that ultimately saved her life. In this p...

4 months ago

58 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

Made for Rest: Reclaiming the Sleep Your Soul and Body Need

This week we’re talking about something we all need but often struggle to get—rest. Join us as we unpack why God created our bodies to need sleep, the science behind how rest impacts memory and aging, and practical tips from leading sleep experts that will help you drift off more easily. You’ll hear everything from circadian rhythm hacks to soothing bedtime rituals, plus a unique spiritual cleansing practice for those nights when sleep just won’t come. If you’ve ever felt guilty for slowing d...

4 months ago

40 minutes

The Problem With Perfect

What Is A Sound Bath? (And Why You Might Need One) With Catina Topash

We’ve explored many types of therapy on this podcast—from talk therapy to yoga and everything in between—but one powerful, ancient healing technique we’ve known little about is sound therapy. In this episode, we explore the surprising power of sound therapy with yoga therapist and sound healing expert Catina Topash. We sit down with Catina to unpack the science behind sound baths, how vibrational healing works, and why frequencies might just be the reset our nervous system needs. Whether you’...

5 months ago

1 hour 14 minutes