PODCAST · education
Rewired
by R.P. Shanahan
Building a life you don’t need to escape from rpshanahan.substack.com
Episodes
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What I Learned While Writing Rewired
My book Rewired has been out for a few weeks now. It’s still surreal to finally be done with it. The fact that I have a book that strangers are reading is such a strange thought to have. The reality of it all is rewarding—how I decided to do a big thing and saw it through to completion. Looking...
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Stand Firm. Let Go.
In my early twenties, I was inspired by the works of Ayn Rand. No, I’m not going to get into libertarian politics or tell you what I think of our current government. I was a proponent of self reliance, discovering who I was. Finding my way. Stumbling onto a path I thought I was supposed to go…
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Every Step Led To This Moment
In March of 2025, my son was just about to turn one year old. My wife and I were holding on for dear life. She had just started her own business. I was thinking about whether the career track I was on was for me. All while keeping a tiny human alive. We were just trying to figure it all out....
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The Weight I Signed Up For
The following is an excerpt from Chapter 9, “The Weight I Signed Up For,” from Rewired: From Rock Bottom to Unshakable. My son was in the bath. Water was everywhere. I sat there watching him. He asked me, in his cute little voice, pointing to a seahorse on his bathmat, “What’s that?” I told him,...
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The Best Way Out Is Always Through
In early 2018, I found my way back. I had been destroying myself for months. Drinking and smoking and watching myself disintegrate before my very eyes. I checked into rehab for 40 days. Got my s**t together. And kept on the straight and narrow. I stopped going around the problem. I simply walked...
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I Finished My First Book
I got a package from Amazon this weekend. But this one was different. It was something I had been working on for 18 months. Something I’d poured quite a lot into. I finished up a few hours of yard work in the 95 degree weather. Sweat, dirt, and grime. Took a shower. Then I picked up the package,...
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Making the Most of It
I thought the hard part was starting the job. Turns out it was waiting to start it. I’m now almost done with my second week of the new gig. But I was supposed to start on March 30. My first day was April 27. I did everything right. Had it all lined up. Was ready to start the next chapter. I left…
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Everyone Loves a Comeback
I stumbled upon Justin Bieber’s performance at Coachella recently. His rendition of Beauty and a Beat was a callback to a simpler time. Just up there on one of the biggest stages, singing along to his younger self on a YouTube video. I was stoked to see him back doing his thing. I looked into his...
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When You Know, You Know
On March 1st every year, the weather changes. The wet, cold, and grey make way for sunny skies and warmer days. Springtime in Sacramento is nothing short of superb. Turning the page on the calendar and just like that, it’s sunny and 70. March is the month of change. And for me, there’s plenty of...
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Men Without Direction
It was another wet and rainy day in Seattle. I was 27 years old, sitting on the couch, watching TV and drinking alone on a Friday night. These were the nights I looked forward to after working a job that kept me out of trouble during the week. I had teammates I’d play rugby with. Surface level...
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Your Life Won't Change Until You Do
I brought a hand gripper to the office—one of those things you squeeze to build grip strength. I kept it at my desk at work. Whenever the panic started rising, I’d grab it and squeeze. Something physical to ground me. Something I could control when everything else felt chaotic. I used it so much…
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Eight Years Sober
Eight years ago today, I stopped drinking. January 26, 2018 was the day I entered a 40-day stint in rehab. There was a lot of wreckage behind me. And a lot of uncertainty ahead. Looking back now, I feel grateful for where I’ve ended up. Mid-October 2017, I got in my car after way too much to…
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Discipline > Motivation
At this time last year, I was having a panic attack nearly every day. I counted down the minutes until sleep would provide a temporary solace from the nightmare that was my reality. I woke up the next morning, got ready for work, and in the car I could feel it. The tightening in my chest. That...
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What I’m Leaving Behind in 2025
It’s been a hell of a year—personally, professionally, emotionally. 2025 was never easy, but it challenged me in the best way and rewarded me in the biggest way. I was pressured, pushed, and nearly cracked. I’m still standing. Still building. Ready to push myself farther and be better for those…
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AI and the Vanishing First Rung of the Career Ladder
Three years since the release of ChatGPT, we can finally stop talking about AI’s impact like it’s hypothetical. It’s here. It’s everywhere really. Embedded into day-to-day workflows and changing hiring patterns. What’s emerging isn’t a story of mass unemployment, at least not yet. So far, it is...
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Why I Read & Write Before Sunrise
I am sitting in my comfy leather recliner writing this sentence at 4:59 A.M. A hot cup of coffee next to me. Still dark outside. No noise besides the clicking of the keys of my computer. I don’t mean to brag or flex. This is just the necessity of my life right now. And I love it. I’ve always been…
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13 Things I'm Thankful For
This Thanksgiving hit different. It’s been a hell of a year for me personally and professionally. Through panic attacks, writing a book, raising a son, rethinking my career track, and rebuilding my life, gratitude helps keep it all in perspective. The stress, the feeling of not being enough, the...
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Fatherhood in the Age of Distraction
There I was. Sitting with my son as he played. I was happy. I was a father. But I was pulling my phone out. He reached out to me. I opened Instagram. I scrolled. My mind drifted away. Pulled into the social media time suck. How could I not be present for my son, who wants nothing more than to be...
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The Panic Attack That Changed My Life
I could feel it coming on again. Home alone. Sitting on the couch. Trying to watch TV and relax. My heart started racing. Chest tight. Mind spiraling. I got up and walked around. Took some deep breaths. Put my hands behind my head and tried to stop the panic from taking over. My heart seemed to...
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Get Comfortable With Discomfort
A counselor at rehab said, “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.” This line has stuck with me all those years since. Comfort, or more aptly, the avoidance of discomfort, is what kept me caged throughout most of my twenties. It still affects me today. The difference now is I don’t run from...
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Why I’m Writing a Book
I’ve always wanted to write a book. I’ve known there’s been a book inside of me for years, but could never figure out what to write about. I studied English, wrote screenplays in high school and college, and have always loved a good story. My professional career has taken me into the business...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Building a life you don’t need to escape from
rpshanahan.substack.com
HOSTED BY
R.P. Shanahan
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Rewired have?
Rewired currently has 21 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Rewired about?
Building a life you don’t need to escape from rpshanahan.substack.com
How often does Rewired release new episodes?
Rewired has 21 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Rewired?
You can listen to Rewired on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Rewired?
Rewired is created and hosted by R.P. Shanahan.
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