Self Lovin with Aunty Robin

Send us Fan MailYou can be responsible and still be playful, and if you feel burned out, scattered, or stuck in your head, play might be the missing tool. I’m making a simple argument: adults need fun on the calendar, not just work and obligations. When we never schedule joy, we lose a key source of creativity, stress relief, and emotional resilience.I walk through how play disappears as we move from childhood into college, careers, and family life, then I offer a practical fix that supports real work-life balance.We also get honest about what shows up when you try to start to play again:  guilt about “wasting time,” shame for prioritizing yourself, and the belief that adults aren’t supposed to play. I share how I’m “alchemizing” those thoughts by challenging them directly and replacing them with something truer, so play becomes a practice instead of a performance.If you want more creativity, better mental health, and a sustainable self-care routine, start here. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a play break, and leave a review telling me what you’re choosing to play.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailWe’re standing in a cemetery, sirens in the background, and talking about the thing most people whisper about: how to connect with ancestors and spirit guides without losing your grip on reality. The surprising start is a blunt reframe of heaven, hell, and the afterlife. If “hell on earth” is the thought loop that plays in your mind all day, then the path to spiritual connection begins with mental clarity, not mystical talent. I talk through why fear-based systems keep us reactive, how stoicism can steady your emotions, and why learning to respond instead of react is a real spiritual skill.Then we go deeper into what blocks intuition: guilt, shame, and the old coping patterns that once kept you safe. I share why you don’t owe anyone forgiveness for your trauma, but you may need to forgive yourself for how long you carried it. From there, we explore the “spirit realm” through a playful but useful metaphor (yes, the Disney movie Soul), plus the idea of the higher self as the part of you that remembers the bigger picture when life feels like muck and blinders.Finally, we get practical with beginner divination. I walk you through copper divining rods, a pendulum, and simple rune casting so you can start asking clear yes-or-no questions and get a feel for spiritual communication. You’ll also hear the boundary that matters most: only call in “spirit guides and ancestors of my highest good.” If you’ve been searching for how to talk to spirit guides, connect with ancestors, use a pendulum, try dowsing rods, or do rune readings for beginners, this one gives you a grounded place to start. Subscribe, share this with a curious friend, and leave a review with the question you want answered most.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailI grew up with church pews, Sunday rules, and a quiet sense that the adults who preached certainty didn’t always live it. That gap turned me toward a different lens: religion as storytelling and ritual. Stories move us, settle us, and offer scripts for hard days, and rituals give our hands something to do when our hearts are heavy. From Jonah to Noah, the parables are less about facts and more about practice—how to hold hope in chaos, how to choose mercy over fear. Over time I learned that translation shifts meanings and institutions sometimes cherry-pick lines to control behavior. So I asked a simpler question: what stories help me become a kinder, steadier human, and how can I make the ritual fit my life?Across faiths, one ethic repeats: love your neighbor as yourself. That simple line exposes a first task—learn to love yourself—because borrowed shame and hand-me-down guilt make it impossible to love anyone else well. I also felt a pull back to older currents: nature as temple, seasons as teachers, the cycle of death and rebirth visible in any fallen tree left to rot and feed new growth. Polytheistic myths—from Norse to Greek to Hindu—helped too. Their gods are flawed, vivid, and relatable, which makes them strong mirrors. Kali, fierce guardian of time and endings, became a kind of spiritual ally for me. Not as a theological statement, but as a story-shape I could step into when I needed courage to end what was destroying me and begin again.Here’s the practice that changed me: treat healing like choosing a champion. If praying to a distant, abstract figure leaves you cold, choose a hero from the stories that live in your bones—Gandalf, Katniss, Master Chief, a rugby squad on a final drive, or yes, Godzilla. Give your pain form. Name the villain: shame from a childhood slight, fear wired by abuse, grief that won’t unclench. Then infuse your champion with what you crave on the other side: peace, breath, room to think, a steadier heartbeat. If imagination feels far, cue up a clip—Mortal Kombat, a last-stand scene, a boss fight—and let the screen carry the image while you carry the intention. The point isn’t fandom; it’s agency. You are directing energy, not waiting for rescue.Why does this work? Because trauma is sticky narrative. It loops until we give it a new ending. By choosing a champion we love, we borrow that story’s momentum. We see our pain get beaten, dissolved, or carried away, and our nervous system finally has a picture of victory. It won’t end every trigger, but the yarn gets spooled, labeled, and lighter. When it tugs loose again, you recognize it, cut the thread, and return it to the ground. Healing becomes repeatable, even playful. And when healing has room for play, hope lasts longer. If the old way of “giving it up to God” never clicked for you, try giving it up to a hero who will actually swing the sword. The story is yours to tell.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan Mail                          PLEASE BE AWARE: This is a visual podcast!                                                                              So check out YouTube and Spotify!What if the system that promised men power quietly cut them off from connection? We head to a windy Scottish loch and get brutally honest about male loneliness, the illusion of control, and the narrow terms patriarchy demands men live under. Robin lays out why grinding yourself numb, outsourcing validation, and treating emotions like liabilities don’t make you strong—they make you isolated. Then we flip the script and build a path that actually works.If you’re tired of feeling alone while doing “everything right,” this conversation offers a straighter line forward. Choose yourself, rebuild connection, and design love and friendships that energize you rather than drain you. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help others find their way here.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailWe mark New Year’s Eve with tea in Edinburgh, raw feelings, and a clear line between survival mode and the slow build toward joy. From Scotland’s water to the Tower card, we trace a healing arc, claim boundaries, and ask for community support to start a new life.• contrasts between Scotland and the US on water, food, and systems• small human moments with strangers and what care looks like• survival mode physiology and somatic resets• apartment hunting realities and managing expectations• generational trauma, women’s burdens, and pattern breaking• tarot as a map from collapse to renewal• choosing joy after demolition and defining a new book• community, asking for help, and practical next stepsPS-If anybody in the Edinburgh area knows of a place to rent or would be willing to rent to me for six months, please slide into my DMs, okay? Or if somebody is even willing to sponsor me while I'm here, I would greatly appreciate that. Just slide up into those DMs, okay?Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailWe talk through a month that changes everything: selling nearly all we own, ending a 23-year massage career, and booking a one-way ticket to Edinburgh guided by intuition, ancestry, and an owl that wouldn’t quit. We also take the gloves off on politics, corporate power, church influence, AI fear, and what community care looks like when big systems fail.• Divination, spirit animals, and the owl motif guiding a move• Lease deadline pressure and choosing Edinburgh for ancestral roots• The grief and tenderness of leaving long-time clients and work• Policy over party as a voting lens and why apathy grows• Corporate and church influence on government and everyday life• Calling out billionaire fear narratives and surveillance creep• Endurance over suffering as a family motto reboot• Practical local care that actually helps neighbors• What money amplifies and why character matters more than branding• Travel timeline, social updates, and plans to compare countries next seasonBut definitely hit the subscribe button on the YouTube channel because I will be posting more shorts and stuff like that, especially like next monthSometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailThe headlines felt relentless, the feed louder than my own thoughts—so I grabbed a paintbrush, hit record, and chose a different kind of response. What followed was part art session, part reckoning: we talk about gun violence and responsibility, the way doomscrolling hijacks our nervous systems, and why joy might be the most subversive habit we can practice right now. I share how a long-overdue painting became a promise kept, how adult playtime repairs the roots that stress frays, and why making something—anything—can be a daily vote for your own agency.We also open the door to ritual and curiosity. From beginner witchcraft and herbology to chakras, Reiki, and ancestral nudges toward Scotland, I trace how simple practices can pull us out of panic and back into presence. We question edited narratives—comparing the heft of old Bibles to slim modern versions—and land on a radical, practical reading: sacred texts should make us better humans, not meaner ones. If your beliefs don’t widen your compassion, it’s time to revise your practice, not your empathy. Along the way, we laugh about cringe as a birthplace of artistry, tell stories about cheesy cult classics like They Live, and turn a glitter-smeared canvas into proof that joy and grief can sit at the same table.If you’ve felt stuck in survival mode, this conversation is your invitation to schedule fun, retrain brutal self-talk, and build community that meets honesty with honesty. Come for the catharsis, stay for the small, repeatable moves: five minutes of reading myth, a messy sketch, a quiet breath before the next scroll. Hit play, then share one tiny joy you’ll claim today. And if this resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it to a friend who could use a little light.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailReady to become unfuckable with? That's the revolutionary ideals at the heart of Auntie Robin's new podcast direction. Saying goodbye to Kicked Can Generations Podcast, she's embracing a fresh path focused on fierce self-love and challenging beliefs that no longer serve us.Drawing inspiration from her great aunt who "gave zero shits" about others' opinions, Robin explores how genuine self-love creates an internal compass that makes external validation unnecessary. This powerful stance contrasts sharply with our current leadership and culture, where constant approval-seeking reveals a profound lack of self-worth.Through vivid storytelling, Robin takes us on a journey through American decades—from the community-centered 1970s where local businesses extended credit based on trust, through Reagan's 1980s that ushered in corporate dominance and religious fervor, to today's struggle where multiple jobs barely support a basic lifestyle. Her Gen X perspective offers unique insights on how our relationship with work, community, and self-worth has fundamentally shifted.The podcast delivers refreshing candor about dating, authenticity, and the courage to walk away from connections that don't resonate. "Not everybody on this planet has to like you, and you have to be okay with that," Robin advises, encouraging listeners to show up genuinely in all interactions to attract their true people.Perhaps most compelling is her reframing of our current national breakdown as an opportunity: "All systems kind of have to come down and we get to rebuild it the way the people want to rebuild it." She particularly celebrates Gen Z for challenging corporate power structures and pushing for necessary change.Whether you're questioning your relationship with work, wondering why dating feels so difficult, or simply tired of seeking validation from others, this podcast offers a roadmap to becoming confidently, authentically yourself. Join Auntie Robin as she helps us upgrade from our outdated "Microsoft Vista" operating system to a life based on self-love, authentic connection, and meaningful experiences.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailSometimes healing demands that we show up exactly as we are - messy, unfiltered, and courageously vulnerable. Fresh from finalizing my divorce and barely settled into my new apartment, I'm coming to you raw and unedited from the pool area of my complex, sporting a bikini at 53 because my ancestors and spirit guides pushed me to be seen, not just heard.The past seven months have thrown my life into beautiful chaos. Between deciding to divorce, actually going through with it, and relocating just 20 days ago, my nervous system has been utterly "shot to hell." Yet within this upheaval, I've been called to double down on authenticity. So here I am, showing up with my extra weight, my insecurities, and absolutely zero fucks left to give - because that's what genuine transformation looks like.This impromptu episode marks a turning point in how I'll share my journey. You'll see more of me, literally and figuratively, as I work through reopening old wounds that never properly healed. As we witness the final chapter of Boomer leadership, I invite you to ask yourself the questions I'm wrestling with: What do you want from your government? From your country? From yourself? And most critically - how can others truly know you if you're not showing up authentically? Join me in keeping it punk, keeping it real, and rocking the fuck out as we navigate this journey together. Your Auntie Robin is back, and she's not hiding anymore.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailBoundaries blur between personal growth and societal anxieties in this raw exploration of transformation. Your Auntie Robin pulls back the curtain on her journey through therapy, marriage dissolution, and family reconciliation while drawing surprising parallels to our cultural moment.The realization hits hard - this podcast has been documenting a profound personal evolution. Robin shares her practice of reparenting her inner child when facing fears and how she's come to accept that her elderly parents will never provide the emotional nurturing she needed. This revelation offers a powerful framework for listeners navigating their own family complexities: acceptance without requiring forgiveness.The conversation takes an unexpected turn as Robin addresses young men directly with a heartfelt apology from older generations. While girls have been empowered since the 1990s, boys were unintentionally left behind, creating confusion about modern masculinity. This generational oversight doesn't mean female empowerment was wrong - rather that everyone deserves liberation from restrictive gender roles. Robin makes a compelling case that emotional suppression manifests physically as disease, affecting people across gender lines and providing biological evidence for abandoning outdated norms.As Robin navigates selling her house, securing an apartment, and finalizing her divorce, she models authentic vulnerability by acknowledging her own shortcomings. "We can only do the best we can in that moment," she reminds us, while demonstrating how to grow through imperfection. Join this journey of becoming - becoming more authentic, more aligned with personal values, and more intentional about building genuine community. Keep it real, keep it punk, and discover how embracing your true self naturally attracts the connections you're meant to have.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailBuckle up, punks! Auntie Robin gets raw about navigating personal catastrophe while the world seems to be falling apart around us. Life's "tower moments" – those periods when everything crumbles – aren't random acts of cosmic cruelty. They're necessary catalysts for transformation. Drawing from tarot symbolism, Robin explains how these breakdowns clear outdated structures so we can build something authentic from a clean foundation. Whether you're facing relationship collapse, career upheaval, or just feeling lost in America's current chaos, this episode offers practical wisdom for alchemizing pain into power. At the heart of personal growth lies a challenging question: What lesson am I supposed to learn from this situation or person? Robin shares her own revelations about standing in her power, reforming her people-pleasing tendencies, and learning to ask for help – something that previously felt impossible. She offers practical tools for identifying energy vampires versus soul family, including the simple but powerful practice of noticing how you feel after spending time with someone. Do they leave you energized and calm or anxious and depleted? Beyond personal transformation, Robin explores how building authentic community becomes essential survival strategy in uncertain times. Looking back at how communities functioned in the 1970s reveals forgotten practices of mutual aid – from local businesses extending credit during hard times to churches helping members pay utilities. These collective support systems represent something desperately needed as we face current social upheavals. Ready to transform your breakdown into breakthrough? This episode delivers both emotional validation and actionable wisdom for anyone feeling stuck in cycles of frustration. As Robin reminds us: "Life gets far more interesting and magical when you're learning and growing instead of living in fear." Join the journey and discover how what crumbles might actually set you free.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailIn our latest podcast episode, we delve into a transformative journey of self-discovery that empowers listeners to embrace their true selves. This exploration begins by examining the beliefs that shape our identities, many of which stem from societal expectations or past experiences. Through understanding these beliefs, we can identify which ones no longer serve us and work towards creating an authentic narrative rooted in self-love and empowerment. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their inner dialogues, recognizing where limiting beliefs manifest as self-criticism or feelings of victimhood. In doing so, we can learn to challenge these narratives and see our circumstances through a lens of opportunity for growth rather than regret.As we navigate the emotional landscape, the concept of radical self-love takes center stage. This approach emphasizes the importance of treating oneself with kindness, compassion, and understanding - a practice that can often feel foreign in a world rife with self-doubt and criticism. We discuss actionable steps towards self-care that involve nurturing the mind, body, and spirit, encouraging our audience to carve out time each week to engage in activities that resonate deeply personally, thereby fostering a sense of balance and well-being.Recognizing and articulating our feelings is a crucial aspect of this journey. We must acknowledge the presence of emotions like anger, frustration, or impatience and engage with them rather than instinctively suppressing or ignoring these feelings. The listeners are guided through techniques to engage with their emotions, allowing for processing and understanding rather than escalation. This dialogue encourages introspection, giving our audience a chance to ask themselves meaningful questions and promoting emotional intelligence.We also dive into the tricky territory of assumptions—the tendency to interpret others' actions through a highly personal lens. By exploring various hypothetical situations, we challenge listeners to uncover multiple perspectives that could exist beyond their initial reactions. This shift in thinking not only fosters empathy but also liberates individuals from the emotional weight of misinterpretation and judgment. As we unpack our assumptions about ourselves based on others' perceptions, we empower listeners to take control of their self-definition, reminding them that only they hold the authority to define their worth and narrative.Another significant topic discussed is the power of community and genuine connections. In a world that often incentivizes individualism, we emphasize the necessity of surrounding ourselves with supportive, uplifting individuals who honor our journeys. This segment encourages the audience to engage actively with their communities, nurture relationships that energize rather than drain, and cultivate environments of understanding and acceptance. The importance of communication in forging deeper connections is highlighted, as we seek to find our “people” who resonate with our authentic selves.As we wrap up the episode, we stress the ongoing nature of this self-discovery journey—acknowledging that it requires patience, practice, and perseverance. Each small action, each moment of self-awareness, and each connection built contributes significantly to the overarching goal of living authentically. Our call to action invites listeners not only to reflect on these themes but also to apply them proactively in their lives, committing to nurturing their relationship with themselves in a radical, loving way, and engaging positively with the complexities of personal and social dynamics.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailThis new season of the Kicked Can Generations podcast invites you to embark on a profound exploration of the beliefs we were raised with, our trauma/generational trauma and the healing power of self-love. We delve into the courage required to distance ourselves from negative influences and embrace our unique strengths, even amid societal and political chaos.Have you ever wondered how deeply ingrained beliefs shape your sense of self? Journey with us as we uncover the profound love affair with our authentic selves. Here, we challenge inherited beliefs and embrace self-awareness, learning to set personal boundaries and find joy amid life's challenges. Through meditation, cognitive behavioral strategies, and somatic practices, we aim to retrain our minds and bodies to recognize our emotions and intuition, fostering independence from the need for external validation.Our adventure doesn't stop there. We invite you to question how cultural and familial influences have molded your worldview. Imagine the life shifts if raised in a different culture, discovering new passions that align with your true self. As we navigate these reflections, keep a "finding joy" list handy for those tough days and remember to be kind to yourself. With support through social media connections, we continue this journey together, seeking inner alignment and understanding the powerful difference between reacting and responding to life's complexities.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailThe Revolution is YOU my Punks! Have you ever felt trapped by the expectations of others and the world, yearning to break free and embrace your true authentic self?Join me, your eccentric Auntie Robin, as I share my own journey of self-discovery and healing, offering you a roadmap to empowerment and self-love. Drawing from my experiences as a neurodivergent individual, I invite you to reconnect with your ancestors and spirit guides, as we unite to rebuild our communities in a world that often seeks to divide us.In this episode, we explore the importance of understanding our emotions and liberating ourselves from the clutches of our own thoughts, and expectations from the world. We will be uncovering the generational traumas and triumphs that shaped the Greatest Generation, Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha. From the Great Depression, WW1, WW2, to 9-11, these pivotal events left indelible marks on their identities and parenting styles. Looking at the Generations, and how they have echoed their disfunctions through time and molding a complex tapestry of cultural norms and beliefs that effect how we think and act.  Join us as we reflect on these generational histories and cultural trends, offering fresh insights into our shared legacy and the path forward. So we can reclaim ourselves.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.

Send us Fan MailWhat if you grew up in a household where love was often expressed through passive-aggressive behavior? Join me, Robin Duncan, along with my partner Jim Murphy, as we launch the first episode of the Kicked Can Generations podcast. I share my deeply personal journey from a traditional Christian Republican upbringing in Iowa to discovering love and battling personal demons like depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Therapy and self-discovery have been my lifelines, and through sharing this, I hope to inspire others to embrace their true selves and seek the support they need. Jim and I also delve into pressing societal issues that our generations face, from environmental sustainability to modernizing our work environments, advocating for a balanced life where experiences take precedence over relentless work.We're not just talking change; we're demanding a revolution for a new golden age. With the punk spirit that defines us, we challenge the status quo and call upon Gen X, millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha to spearhead transformative solutions for enduring issues like environmental policy, constitutional reform, and government accountability. The Constitution is for "we the people," not we the corporations, and it's time we remind our leaders of this. Together, let’s cultivate a future where ingenuity and balanced living are at the forefront. Tune in and join our movement toward meaningful change—your brilliant ideas are the sparks that will ignite this revolution. Thank you for being a part of our journey.Sometimes you gotta be adult in the room to say something. Silence = Death.