Mama’s Gonna Make It – 18. What is Love? A Friend Chat with Thao Nguyen

In this rich and reflective episode, we welcome back our friend Thao Nguyen to talk about love in all its complexity. From the 7 types of Greek love to the Buddhist concept of metta (loving kindness, compassion, equanimity, and joy), we discuss love in many forms. Within that conversation, we explore how naming our emotions helps us understand and navigate them. We talk about anger—where it comes from, how to prevent it, and what role expectations play in our emotional lives. Together, we stumble upon our first ever MGMI framework: change, release, or communicate your expectations—a practical tool to help prevent frustration and resentment. We go deep on forgiveness, especially in relationships where differences in values or politics can be painful. Is alignment possible even when we disagree? We also ask: Who are you when no one is around? Finally, we debate affirmations: are they empowering, or just projections of what we think we (or our children) “should” be? Join us for an episode full of honesty, curiosity, and a few good laughs. Links: Lexington Live Little Women These Are the 7 Types of [Greek] Love (from Psychology Today)  Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown Name it to Tame It: Label Your Emotions to Overcome Negative Thoughts  Metta -In Buddhist practice, Metta, meaning loving-kindness or universal goodwill, is a cultivated mental state where one focuses on the well-being of all beings, including themselves. Equanimity definition: evenness of mind especially under stress; balance Mama’s Gonna Make It- our first framework! Expectations Framework to Help Prevent Anger: Change  Release Communicate  Recorded in the Omniverus Studios at Liberty Plaza, we are produced by Tim Beeman for Such-N-Such Media.Theme Music by Doug Davis.