Hold Me Back Podcast: Resilience: Blessing or Curse?

Over the last decade, the concept of resilience has been synonymous with raising healthy kids. But what if we’re wrong? What if one person’s life journey shined a bright light on how resilience can function in society in a way that is far from healthy? Ash and Aidan welcome onto the show Emi Nietfeld – journalist, mental health advocate, and author of the highly acclaimed book, Acceptance: A Memoir. All in this week’s episode of Hold Me Back. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast platforms.

• Episode Summary & Player
• Show Notes
• Hold Me Back Summary

Resilience: Blessing or Curse?

Over the last decade, the concept of resilience has been synonymous with raising healthy kids. But what if we’re wrong? What if one person’s life journey shined a bright light on how resilience can function in society in a way that is far from healthy? Ash and Aidan welcome onto the show Emi Nietfeld – journalist, mental health advocate, and author of the highly acclaimed book, Acceptance: A Memoir. From homeless to Harvard, psychiatric wards to Google, Emi’s memoir – which she started writing as a teen – is a powerful commentary that society can often unwittingly fail those who need them most in the name of “resilience.” For Ash and Aidan, it was a commentary that was hard to confront, but impossible to turn away from. Join them for one of the most engaging interviews they’ve ever done. This episode covers everything from therapists to college admissions. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• Why is Emi’s book called Acceptance: A Memoir?
• What’s the alternative to not relying on resilience?
• How could the health system have treated Emi better?
• What does she wish her mom did better?
• How were Emi’s experiences at Harvard and Google?
• Does Gen Z just need to toughen up and work harder?
• Has Aidan written papers last minute?
• What does Emi think of the college admissions process?

Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at the bottom of this post.

Enjoy the show! Check out the show notes below for much more detail.

Show Notes

• Intro to Resilience: Blessing or Curse?
• [0:00] This episode of Hold Me Back is brought to you by Motto. Get started with Motto at Aspen Dental or MottoAligners.com
• [1:18] Welcome to Hold Me Back
• [1:23] Meet Aidan (Gen Z) & Ash (Gen X)
• [1:44] What will be discussed in this episode?
• [5:52] Who is Emi Nietfeld?
• [6:02] Acceptance: A Memoir by Emi Nietfeld
• Interview with Emi Nietfeld
• [9:18] What is Emi’s book about?
• [11:07] When did she decide to write the book?
• [14:33] Why is it called Acceptance: A Memoir?
• [17:05] How did Emi’s idea of acceptance progress throughout her life and book?
• [20:21] Was it helpful to focus on resilience?
• [21:30] “Grit: The power of passion and perseverance” by Angela Duckworth
• [22:37] Is the idea of resilience getting more or less popular?
• [24:12] The Ten Worlds: The New Psychology of Happiness by Alex Lickerman, MD & Ash ElDifrawi, Psy.D.
• [27:23] What’s the alternative to not relying on resilience?
• [29:38] What does Emi think of the college admissions process?
• [30:31] SAT Test
• [37:12] How could the health system have treated Emi better?
• [47:23] How was she affected by people not being helpful towards her?
• [49:28] What does she wish her mom did better?
• [51:54] What would she say to teens in a similar situation to what she was?
• [1:00:39] How were her experiences at Harvard and Google?
• [1:08:12] How were her experiences with therapists?
• [1:11:42] How are Gen Z’s attitudes and beliefs changing things?
• [1:13:34] Does Gen Z just need to toughen up and work harder?
• [1:14:56] COVID-19
• [1:16:42] Has Aidan written papers last minute?
• [1:17:47] What final thoughts does Emi have?
• [1:18:27] Acceptance: A Memoir by Emi Nietfeld
• Outro
• [1:19:38] What did Ash think of Emi’s points?
• [1:21:43] What did Aidan think of Emi’s points?
• [1:25:20] Thank you for listening! Follow Hold Me Back on HoldMeBack.com and on Instagram & Facebook
• [1:25:28] Leave us a 5-star written review on Apple Podcasts
• [1:25:35] Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote below

 

 

Thank you for listening to Hold Me Back. To hear more episodes, follow Hold Me Back at HoldMeBack.com.

WHAT IS HOLD ME BACK?

Gen X and Gen Z live together, but we occupy different worlds. As the generational gap widens and conventional wisdom on parenting and education fails, is it even possible to understand one another? In this unique son-and-father podcast, Aidan & Ash ElDifrawi hash out a new contract between generations, forcing them to violate comfort zones on today’s most charged topics: social media and screen time, bullying and loneliness, inequality and privilege, sex and drugs, education and etiquette, even politics, religion, and sports. All to uncover a path toward greater harmony and a hopeful future for the next generation.