Ep 3: The Good Life...What Are We Actually Chasing?

In this episode hosted by Kendall, we talk about The Good Life, and what that phrase even means in a world overloaded with wellness for sale, political and religious division, and competing ideals around family. We chat about how social media has become one of the most powerful forces shaping our definitions of fulfillment, often presenting polished versions of life that may or may not reflect reality. What values are we actually absorbing, and are they genuinely serving us? To explore that, we unpack two cultural phenomena shaping these conversations right now, the tradwife movement, which celebrates a return to traditional domesticity, and the manosphere, online male communities grappling with shifting gender dynamics, often in divisive ways. Though they seem like opposites, both are rooted in a longing for traditional values and reflect our broader cultural tension. We get into the nuance and contradictions, as we think it through together. Hope you'll join us. Plus, listener questions. A special thanks to all of our paid subscribers on Substack for making it possible for us to have these kinds of conversations. Thanks, too, to Dan Koch for the music and Nate Sahr for audio engineering. Submit your questions for us to discuss on thesideaisle.comOrder Sara's new book Nervous SystemsOrder Kendall’s newest book Bake and PrayOrder Amanda’s latest book, Holy UnhappinessOrder Lore’s latest book, The Understory(All books linked to support independent bookshop, Nooks)Find Lore on Sayable and InstagramFind Amanda on Provisions and InstagramFind Sara on Bitter Scroll and InstagramFind Kendall on Edible Theology and Instagram