The Edge of Reckoning Podcast

When the Old Story Ends: Navigating Life’s Disruptions

We’ve all faced a moment of reckoning, that point where the old story ends and there’s no going back.In Episode 3, we share our own ruptures, from career loss to heartbreak, and the tools we’ve used to ground ourselves in the aftermath. If you’re navigating a transition, we would love to hear: what has helped you through your “sacred pause”?
 
We are also starting a book club. This group will meet 1x a month on Zoom. If you'd like to be a part of the discussion let us know. Email us at: edgeofreckoning@gmail.com

Conditioned Living: Breaking Free from Old Patterns

In this episode of Edge of Reckoning, Sue Merlino and Neil Freebern explore the hidden patterns that shape our daily lives — the routines, habits, and subconscious scripts that keep us in “conditioned living.” Together, they dive into how the default mode network (that inner “roommate” in your head) influences self-talk, decision-making, and emotional reactions.
Sue and Neil discuss the difference between system one and system two thinking (inspired by Daniel Kahneman), and why slowing down long enough to pause, reflect, and choose a response can transform the way we navigate life’s turning points. They share stories about quitting smoking, staying in unhealthy relationships, and how habits become “deep hooks” in our identity — and what it takes to break free.
From Buddhist philosophy and the difference between pain and suffering, to practical mindfulness tools like “name it to claim it” and the power of simply pausing, this conversation invites listeners to rethink the narratives that define their lives. Using the metaphor of life’s acts and intermissions, Sue and Neil highlight the courage it takes to reinvent yourself, trust your gut, and create a new script for the next chapter.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in old patterns, overwhelmed by change, or searching for a mindful way to meet life’s challenges, this episode offers awareness, honesty, and heart — and the tools to begin again.

Life's Turning Points

In our very first episode of Edge of Reckoning, Sue and Neil open up about life’s turning points, the messy, heartbreaking, and strangely beautiful moments that force us to change. Together, we explore:
How endings can spark unexpected new beginnings
What it feels like to stand at the edge of a life you once knew
The role of gratitude when saying goodbye
Finding resilience in heartbreak, loss, and reinvention
This is more than a conversation, it's an invitation to reflect on your own edge of reckoning, the places where grief, gratitude, and growth collide.
Tune in and join us as we start this journey of navigating life’s pivots with honesty, humor, and hope.

Trailer

The Edge of Reckoning is a podcast about personal upheaval, spiritual questions, and creative reinvention. Hosted by Gen X friends Sue and Neil, it’s a space for honest conversations about heartbreak, change, and staying present when life gets hard. We’re not experts—just two people navigating the messy middle and asking: What now? Who am I, really? When the old story no longer fits, this is where the new one begins.