Anti-Inflammatory Rhetoric

A podcast for curious listeners where I offer soft takes on hard topics. I'm Evan Dumas, a former counselor, public speaker, and writer. You'll hear my calming perspectives on the uncomfortable things.

Episode 24: Soft Takes on Living in a World on Fire 04/27/2025

Episode 24: Soft Takes on Living in a World on Fire After a hiatus I've returned to podcasting, and it seems the world is way more fiery than previously. So how can we get through this? I honestly have no idea but I'm excited to find out. Welcome back to Anti-Inflammatory Rhetoric. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/36331210

Episode 23: Soft Takes on Taking Breaks 08/13/2024

Episode 23: Soft Takes on Taking Breaks Taking breaks, such a favorite topic of mine, and also one of the hardest things for me to do. So it's well deserving of some soft takes. It can grant perspective, it respects your energy, and it's great practice if you're self-care challenged. Also, two bits of news! One: I'm taking a short break from future episodes, and will be back to recording in a couple weeks. Two: I'd love to hear what soft takes you'd like to hear, so send me an email, letter, or message in your favorite format if you have a soft take you'd like me to take on. Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32549182

Episode 22: Soft Takes on Getting By 08/08/2024

Episode 22: Soft Takes on Getting By Getting By is downright admirable, even though it isn't sexy, it's the stuff life is made of. I think we could all be a bit softer on ourselves for getting by, and maybe even find pride in it. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32449777

Episode 21: Soft Takes on Quitting 08/06/2024

Episode 21: Soft Takes on Quitting Stopping is hard, and telling ourselves it's quitting is harder. But it's a good skill to learn, and I've got some soft takes to make it easier. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32449732

Episode 20: Soft Takes on Satisfaction 08/01/2024

Episode 20: Soft Takes on Satisfaction What even is satisfaction? And can you get it without buying things? Short answer is yes, but listen for the soft takes anyways. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32322817

Episode 19: Soft Takes on Caring 07/30/2024

Episode 19: Soft Takes on Caring We can't care all the time about all the things, so how can we find our care when we've run out? Let me offer some soft takes on the topic. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32322792

Episode 18: Soft Takes on Play 07/25/2024

Episode 18: Soft Takes on Play No matter the age, play is important. It's taking back our values and giving ourselves challenges just for the heck of it. Maybe you're already good at having play in your life, if not, these soft takes are for you. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32251067

Episode 17: Soft Takes on the Future 07/23/2024

Episode 17: Soft Takes on the Future I know the future can stress me out some times, so here's some soft takes on how to find hope and compassion for ourselves as the future unfolds. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32251042

Episode 16: Soft Takes on Feeling Dumb 07/18/2024

Episode 16: Soft Takes on Feeling Dumb I was a little late in putting this episode out because I simply didn't have the brain for it, now that I do, I wanted to share how I tried to find compassion for myself when my head wasn't cooperating. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32203237

Episode 15: Soft Takes on Answers 07/16/2024

Episode 15: Soft Takes on Answers Answers might seem like the right thing to look for, but when have you found any? Maybe questions are where it's at. This episodes looks to flip our answer-seeking into something more fun and playful. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32055642

Episode 14: Soft Taskes on Purpose 07/11/2024

Episode 14: Soft Taskes on Purpose No I can't tell you the answer to life, the universe, and everything, but I can help you feel better not knowing. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32055617

Episode 13: Soft Takes on Careers 07/09/2024

Episode 13: Soft Takes on Careers This episodes hopes to soften all the weird feels I get when people ask me what I do, and if you share in these feels I hope I can help. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/32055557

Episode 12: Soft Takes on Comparison 07/04/2024

Episode 12: Soft Takes on Comparison I'm not sure why we compare ourselves, but I know it makes me feel less connected when I do it. I offer these soft takes in hopes we can treat ourselves a little nicer and more humanely. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31940467

Episode 11: Soft Takes on Failure 07/02/2024

Episode 11: Soft Takes on Failure What a deserving topic. I call myself a failure, and I know others do too, but hopefully these soft takes will help us treat ourselves with a little more compassion. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31940457

Episode 10: Soft Takes on Money 06/27/2024

Episode 10: Soft Takes on Money Money, it's so entwined with our lives, but I think it won't always be this way. Listen in for some soft takes and a call to start a dialogue on money. For a great read, check out , you can find it at your local library and local bookstore. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31857142

Episode 9: Soft Takes on Bad News 06/25/2024

Episode 9: Soft Takes on Bad News Bad news is reliable, and also stressful. I give some soft takes involving empathy, self compassion, and even a little grounding exercise. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31857107

Episode 8: Soft Takes on Laziness 06/18/2024

Episode 8: Soft Takes on Laziness Some soft takes on Laziness, how it might keep us from resting, and how it could reveal attitudes around work and effort that aren't serving us. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31765493

Episode 7: Soft Takes on Complaining 06/18/2024

Episode 7: Soft Takes on Complaining Some soft takes on complaining, why it might not be as bad as it sounds, and how it might be an indicator of our attitudes towards suffering and compassion. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31765477

Episode 6: Soft Takes on Celebration 06/11/2024

Episode 6: Soft Takes on Celebration Some soft takes on how hard it is to celebrate ourselves, and how it can provide the necessary closure on projects before we start new ones. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31672047

Episode 5: Soft Takes on Boredom 06/11/2024

Episode 5: Soft Takes on Boredom Some soft takes on boredom, the space it gives us, and how curiosity can be a road to new experiences. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31672032

Episode 4: Soft Takes On Professionalism 06/04/2024

Episode 4: Soft Takes On Professionalism I talk about how we get to define professionalism, keeping the values that serve us but adding in the values of being true to our humanity. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31568432

Episode 3: Soft Takes on Insecurity 06/04/2024

Episode 3: Soft Takes on Insecurity I talk about how insecurity wasn't our idea, and how we can find security through curiosity. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31568407

Episode 0: An Introduction 05/25/2024

Episode 0: An Introduction A short introduction where I share about me and what this podcast is about. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31465517

Episode 2: Soft Takes On Rest 05/25/2024

Episode 2: Soft Takes On Rest Soft takes on rest, how it's not indulgent, but can help with daydreaming, self-knowledge, and feeling those set-aside feels. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31465552

Episode 1: Soft Takes On Work 05/25/2024

Episode 1: Soft Takes On Work A few soft takes on work, how to find meaning, connection, and learn a bit about yourself from it. /episode/index/show/5b85a3c7-b0b6-4904-8e55-1cfc95b985b5/id/31465537

Anti-Inflammatory Rhetoric

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