There's been a cultural obsession recently with optimizing your life, your health, your body and more. And while optimization can provide support and scaffolding, there’s a hidden danger of focusing too much on optimization.

I’ll unpack that silent drawback in today’s episode.

I’ll also share an update from my most recent trip to Montana and the status of my yoga teacher training program.

You won’t want to miss this great episode!

Sign up for class for free on the MindBody app.

Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.com

Follow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode, I share a metaphor I’ve been using in my yoga classes lately that has served me in the rest of my life, too.

If you’re new here, or if you missed it, I’m teaching yoga! For now it’s one each week at Hot Yoga of East Nashville, a free / donation based 60 minute flow class on Fridays at 4:30. If you’re in Nashville or if you come to visit, come see me at the studio!

Sign up for class for free on the MindBody app.

I’m learning so much from returning to my yoga practice and from teaching. I’m reminded that my relationship to one thing is my relationship to everything, and so the lessons I learn in practice carry over to my life off the mat.

I’m sharing one of those lessons in today’s episode.

Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.com

Follow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human beings have a primal need that we don’t often talk about.

It’s not food or water or love, although we need those things too.

It’s the human need that drives you to watch Netflix, scroll Instagram, gasp at a text message that says, “you’ll never guess what happened!?” and even binge a great audiobook (the three I mention in the episode are in the notes below).

And yet unlike food, water and love, this primal need often gets overlooked.

No wonder we’re depressed or bored or dysregulated or overwhelmed. We’re treating a basic need we have like it’s secondary; and that oversight is costing us.

I invite you to find ways to bring back this “lost” art so we can rediscover meaning, clarity and connection in our lives.

Check out THE TELL HERE!

Check out The Anxious Generation HERE!

Check out The Secret Lives of Mama Love HERE!

Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.com

Follow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI has been a constant topic of conversation lately, mainly because we’re watching the world change at a rapid pace in ways that are unprecedented and can be unnerving.

We’re in uncharted territory.

As nostalgic as I can sometimes feel about a time when iPhones didn’t rule our lives, I tend toward the belief that, in general, the best times are ahead of us — not behind.

I even recorded an episode a few weeks ago encouraging creative people not to be afraid of what AI can do for creativity:

In this episode, I want to flag a concern I do have about the current AI takeover. It’s not a concern about AI taking over creative jobs or writing all future published books. It’s about something much more personal.

Take a listen and tell me what you think.

Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.com

Follow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we’re all a sort of “hero” in our own personal narrative, it begs an obvious question: who is narrating the story?

I watched Harold and the Purple Crayon on Netflix with my kids over the weekend, a children's book turned movie where the main character of a book goes searching for the narrator of his story so that he can better understand his purpose in life.

My kids thought the movie was hilarious. I found it deeply thought-provoking.

Who is narrating my story? Who is narrating your story?

This is a question (and an answer) I explore in today’s episode. I hope you enjoy and I’d love to hear what you think.

Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.com

Follow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most common questions I’ve been asked in the past ten years is if I would talk about my evolving process with the Christian faith of my childhood.

I even recorded an episode called, “Are you still a Christian?” here:

Finally, after years of avoiding and evading the question, after nearly a decade of processing and evolving privately, I’m ready to share parts of my experience.

The concept of deconstruction can be feared and even demonized but the reality is that the deconstruction of a story is a natural and healthy part of the creative process. We are constantly deconstructing and reconstructing the narratives in our lives — and for good reason!

As you listen, consider what you might be deconstructing in your life.

If nothing comes to mind, ask yourself: what story that I’m currently telling might need to be deconstructed and looked at from a new angle?

Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.com

Follow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most common questions I am asked from anyone who is writing about their life goes like this:

How do I write about the people who hurt me?

Maybe you find yourself wanting to write about your parents, lovers, ex-lovers, siblings, neighbors, bosses, co-workers, etc but you aren’t sure how you would do that in a way that is true and also respectful.

Maybe you aren’t worried about being respectful but you are worried about being sued.

In this episode, I’ll share my own process for writing about a villain in my story and discuss a guiding concept I use anytime I’m writing about others. This storytelling truth might bring healing beyond your writing.

The villain in the story has a purpose. I’ll share it with you today.

Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.com

Follow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research shows that a daily practice of gratitude can make you happier but have you had a time in life when “gratitude” felt impossible? Have you ever felt like “staying positive” might be blocking you from feeling what was true for you that day?

What is the line between “being grateful” and pretending things are different than they actually are?

Is it healthy to pretend you feel differently than you actually do?

If you’ve ever wished you felt grateful but instead you felt sad, depressed, anxious, worried, or even despair, this episode is for you. We’ll dive into the nuance of this topic and I’ll share how I am learning (slowly) to move past positivity and find true joy.

Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.com

Follow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.