Scenic Route, Social Change and Mental Health Conversations for Perfectionists
You’ve outgrown perfection, but not your desire to grow.
This is the place where high-functioners, deep feelers, and quiet rebels come home to themselves.
We explore:
- Mental health wisdom (minus toxic positivity)
- Social change (that starts from within)
- System critiques (with actionable solutions)
- Inner wisdom (over external validation)
- Mindfulness for minimalists (no crystals required)
Join Jennifer Walter, sociologist (MASoc UCC) and recovering perfectionist, for weekly conversations that blend critical thinking with oh-so-much compassion.
If you’re questioning everything – or just trying to stay grounded in a chaotic world – this space is for you. We make room for your inner critic and collective action. Because personal healing and social change go hand in hand (with a side of potty humour).
New episodes drop every Tuesday.
The longest way round is the shortest way home – and that's exactly why we're taking the Scenic Route.
Ready to walk the scenic route?
The view here is *chef's kiss.*
Episodes
105 episodes
Self-Sabotage Isn’t What You Think: Why It Happens and How to Change It
Why do we procrastinate, overthink, avoid, or hold back just when things matter most? Your social media feed at 2 am calls this self-sabotage, but is it?In this episode of the Scenic Route, we unpack fresh psychology research th...
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Season 7
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Episode 104
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16:24
SMART Goals Don’t Work (Here’s What Does)
September rolls in and suddenly life speeds up – school runs, work deadlines, holidays on the horizon. And with it comes the pressure to “get organised,” “finish strong,” and set bigger, better goals.But here’s the truth: SMART goals ...
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Season 7
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Episode 103
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16:15
Does Body Size Affect Your Grades? The Latest Truth About Fat Bias in Education
Can a student’s body size affect their grades? Research says yes. In this episode of The Scenic Route, Jen explores how fat bias and socioeconomic bias shape grades, opportunities, and self-worth.You’ll hear:A...
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Season 7
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Episode 102
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18:50
The Knowing–Doing Gap: Why Smart Women Stay Stuck (and How to Finally Change)
You know what to do. You’ve read the books, journaled the insights, maybe even coached others through the same thing. But when it comes to your own life, something still isn’t shifting.We’re diving into the psychology of the knowing–d...
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Season 7
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Episode 101
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26:42
Who Were You Supposed to Be? The Ache of Doing Everything Right
You did everything right.So why does it feel so wrong?In this episode of The Scenic Route, we dive into the quiet ache so many of us feel after building the life they thought they were supposed to want, only to realis...
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Season 7
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Episode 100
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20:15
What Makes a Woman (And Who Gets to Decide?)
In this fierce and timely episode of The Scenic Route, we unpack the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that redefines “woman” based solely on biological sex, excluding trans women from legal protections, political representation, and basic rec...
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Season 7
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Episode 99
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20:44
The Weight We Carry: How Our Bodies Hold Stress – And What to Do About It feat. Michelle Sabatini
Why do we feel exhausted even when life looks “fine” on the outside? In this episode of Scenic Route, we explore the quiet, invisible weight so many of us carry—and how our bodies often hold onto stress, tension, and emotional...
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Season 7
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Episode 98
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1:11:29
Smiles and Sacrifices: The Modern Motherhood Performance
Why are women punished for being honest about motherhood?When Chappell Roan said her friends with kids are “in hell,” the backlash wasn’t about the words but about breaking the performance. In this episode of Scenic Route...
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Season 7
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Episode 97
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21:51
Your Brain’s Blind Spots: How to Think Critically in the Disinformation Age with Dr. Brie Kara
We are living in the Disinformation Age — a time unlike any other in history. Never before have we been bombarded with so much information, yet so little clarity. Our feeds are flooded with misleading headlines, personal opinions disguis...
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Season 7
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Episode 96
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59:04
Is Your Empathy Overwhelming You? Here’s How to Fix It.
For decades, empathy has been celebrated as the glue of human connection— but what if it’s actually burning you out? In this thought-provoking episode of The Scenic Route, we unpack why empathy alone isn’t enough and why ...
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Season 7
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Episode 95
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34:41
What We Eat Is Political: Reframing Veganism with Joy feat. Matthew C. Halteman
What we eat isn’t just personal — it’s political. In this thought-provoking episode, Matthew C. Halteman, philosopher and author of Hungry, Beautiful Animals, joins Jennifer to reframe the ethics of veganism through the lens of ...
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Season 7
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Episode 94
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1:04:13
Feeling Behind in Life? You're Not Alone: Redefining Success as a Millennial in 2025
If you've ever had that gut-wrenching feeling of being behind in life, wondering "What am I doing with my life?" – trust me, you're not alone. In fact, you're part of a generation grappling with redefining success in a world that lo...
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Season 7
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Episode 93
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26:10
Redefining Luxury: Join the Slow Fashion Revolution with Lora Gene
Think you know quality fashion? Get ready to upgrade your shopping game. Today, we're diving deep into the world of ethical fashion with Lora Gene, who's challenging our perception of luxury and inviting us to be part of a mindful fashion revol...
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Season 7
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Episode 92
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1:02:37
The Invisible Filter: How Nationalism Shapes Everything You Think Is 'Normal'
From your weather app's borders to the "ancient traditions" invented last century, nationalism shapes our world in ways so subtle we rarely notice them. Join us for an eye-opening exploration of how modern nations make their power invisible (yu...
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Season 7
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Episode 91
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18:53
Political Burnout is Real: How to Change the World Without Breaking Yourself
Feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world? You're not alone, and more importantly – it's not your fault. In this episode, we're diving into the hidden forces behind your political exhaustion and uncovering practical strategies to stay engag...
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Season 7
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Episode 90
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19:06
Lonely Hearts Club: Vanishing Third Spaces and Adult Friendships
In this episode, we're diving deep into the loneliness epidemic hitting millennials and Gen X harder than any generation before. Spoiler alert: it's not just your busy schedule or endless TikTok scrolling that's the problem.What You'll D...
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Season 7
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Episode 89
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26:17
Wild Kindness: Breaking Free from the 'Nice Girl' Trap
Are you exhausted from being everyone's emotional support human? In this game-changing episode, we're unpacking how being "nice" became a cage and why embracing wild kindness might be your key to freedom.Drawing from bell hooks' radical ...
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Season 7
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Episode 88
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18:50
2025 Astrology Report: The Death of Bro Marketing & Rise of Intuitive Business ft. Sheri Moise & Jen Fieldman
Ready for the great shift? 2025 isn't just another year – it's a total vibe shift for business and life. A once in a shift! Join me with astrology powerhouse Sheri Moise and intuitive business strategist Jen Fieldman as we decode the mas...
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Season 7
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Episode 87
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1:00:03
Perimenopause Club: Break Free from Supplement Scams & Reclaim Your Health with Nutritionist Sandra Mikhail
Ready to cut through the noise around perimenopause? In this episode, nutritionist Sandra Mikhail helps us navigate the complex world of women's health without falling prey to expensive supplement marketing.Key Episode Highlights...
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Season 6
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Episode 86
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52:05
Breaking Society's Binary: A Revolutionary Tale of Gender Identity & Freedom with Don Mamone
In this transformative episode, identity coach and speaker Don Mamone (they/them/theirs) shares their powerful journey beyond society's gender binary. From navigating privilege to embracing radical freedom, Don reveals the profound costs and un...
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Season 6
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Episode 85
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59:36
Fast Fashion Exposed: You Deserve Better Than Consumerism with Aja Barber
Ever hit "complete purchase," only to be smacked with a wave of buyer's remorse? Join activist and author Aja Barber as she rips the band-aid off our collective consumption addiction and helps us imagine a world beyond fast fashion.In th...
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Season 6
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Episode 84
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1:15:54
Why Do We Stay? The Truth About Toxic Relationships with Caitlin Liz Fisher
In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the psychology of toxic relationships with author and creativity coach Caitlin Liz Fisher. Breaking the silence on why leaving isn't as simple as "just walking away," Caitlin shares her raw, personal ...
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Season 6
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Episode 83
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59:01
Thank You, Fear: Transforming Anxiety into Empowerment feat. Jana Osta
Ever wondered how fear shapes your reality and what it takes to overcome it? Discover how to turn fear and anxiety into powerful tools for personal growth and success. In this empowering episode of The Scenic Route Podcast, host Jennifer Walter...
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Season 6
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Episode 82
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1:00:04
Grief and Healing: The Art of Somatic Awareness and Witnessing with Parijat Deshpande
In this powerful episode of The Scenic Route Podcast, host Jennifer Walter dives deep into the often misunderstood world of grief and healing with expert Parijat Deshpande, MS and founder of Ruvelle. Together, they explore:
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Season 6
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Episode 81
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53:14
Heal Family Trauma: Mothers, Forgiveness, and Self-Empowerment with Blanca E. Rodriguez
Ready for some real talk about family drama?Buckle up, buttercup! In this episode, we're diving deep into the mother of all wounds (pun intended) with the amazing Blanca E. Rodriguez. From Puerto Rican family trauma to untanglin...
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Season 6
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Episode 80
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1:05:50