What is Truth?: Bridging the Gap Between What You Feel and What is Real cover art

What is Truth?: Bridging the Gap Between What You Feel and What is Real

What is Truth?: Bridging the Gap Between What You Feel and What is Real

By: Jonathan Fisher DBA
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What is Truth? is a conversational podcast exploring the space between what we feel and what is real. (@whatistruth.podcast)

In a world where opinions are often mistaken for facts and emotions are treated as authority, this show slows the conversation down. Each episode centers on a single question, carefully defined, thoughtfully examined, and discussed through open dialogue rather than debate.

Guests are selected for credibility, not volume. Biases are disclosed, terms are defined, and sources matter. The goal isn't to convince, its to understand how people arrive at what they believe, and whether truth exists beyond perspective.

If you value clarity over outrage and understanding over winning, this podcast is for you.

2025 Jonathan Fisher, DBA
Episodes
  • The Truth About Identity
    Jun 24 2026

    The conversation delves into the complexity of identity, exploring the interplay of given, discovered, constructed, and chosen elements. It also examines the role of responsibility and agency in shaping one's identity, as well as the influence of external forces, relationships, and community. The discussion further explores the potential for personal transformation, surprising self-discoveries, and the difference between who we are and who we think we are. The conversation delves into the dynamic nature of identity, emphasizing the importance of acceptance before change and the lifelong pursuit of understanding and shaping one's identity. It explores the balance between self-presentation and self-discovery, the significance of emotional work, and the distinction between uncovering and becoming. The chapters cover a range of topics, from the nature of identity to the pursuit of authenticity and the distinction between identity and image.

    Takeaways

    • Identity is a complex interplay of given, discovered, constructed, and chosen elements.
    • Our ability to respond instead of react is a key aspect of responsibility and agency. Identity is a dynamic and evolving concept
    • Acceptance precedes change
    • The pursuit of identity is a lifelong journey

    Guest: Jason Sandmann

    https://jasonsandmann.substack.com/

    References

    • Cheek, N. N., & Cheek, J. M. (2018). Aspects of identity: From the inner-outer metaphor to a tetrapartite model of the self. Self and Identity, 17(4), 467–482. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15298868.2017.1412347
    • Côté, J. E. (2018). The enduring usefulness of Erikson's concept of identity. Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research, 18(4), 251–264. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15283488.2018.1524328
    • Gimmel, D. Quote by Japanese Proverb. Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/12270396-do-not-speak-bad-of-yourself-for-the-warrior-within-hears
    • McLean, K. C., Syed, M., Pasupathi, M., Adler, J. M., Dunlop, W. L., Drustrup, D., et al. (2020). The empirical structure of narrative identity: The initial Big Three. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 119(4), 920–944. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30998044/
    • Vignoles, V. L., Jaser, Z., Taylor, F., & Ntontis, E. (2021). Harnessing shared identities to mobilize resilient responses to collective threat. Political Psychology, 42(S1), 37–57. Supports the importance of social relationships and group belonging in identity formation. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8013210/
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    1 hr
  • The Truth About Feelings
    Apr 28 2026

    The episode explores the relationship between feelings and truth, highlighting the gap between feelings and reality, the distinction between feelings and truth, the role of emotional intelligence in decision making, the nature of feelings as recognition and intuition, and the unreliability of feelings as a standalone standard for truth.

    Takeaways

    • Feelings as Data
    • Emotional Intelligence

    Chapters

    • 00:00 The Gap Between Feelings and Reality
    • 06:43 Emotional Intelligence and Decision Making
    • 12:40 The Unreliability of Feelings

    References

    • Bradberry, T., & Greaves, J. (2009). Emotional Intelligence 2.0. TalentSmart.
    • Goodreads. (n.d.). A quote by Warren Buffett. Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8956691-what-the-human-being-is-best-at-doing-is-interpreting
    • Greenaway, K. H., Kalokerinos, E. K., & Williams, L. A. (2018). Context is everything (in emotion research). Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 12(6), e12393. https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/spc3.12393)Kassam
    • K., Lerner, J. S., Kanesan, P., & Fauzan, N. (2019). MODELS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: A REVIEW. E-BANGI, Suppl.Special Issue 7, 16, 1-9. https://colby.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/models-emotional-intelligence-review/docview/2396318735/se-2
    • Li, Y., & Valdesolo, P. (2015). Emotion and decision making. Annual Review of Psychology, 66(1), 799–823. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115043
    • Pham, M. T. (2004). The logic of feeling. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 14(4), 360–369. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327663jcp1404_5
    • Solomon, R. C. (2007). True to our feelings: What our emotions are really telling us. Oxford University Press. https://tinyurl.com/5n8vh8ne
    • Stephen, L. (2024, July 17). The space between stimulus and response - ignite. IGNITE Peak Performance. https://ignitepeakperformance.com/general/the-space-between-stimulus-and-response/
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    19 mins
  • The Truth About Lenses
    Mar 1 2026

    The conversation delves into the impact of lenses on perception, interpretation, and relationships. It explores the challenges of lens awareness and the need for understanding the impact of lenses on reality. The discussion also highlights the process of examining and shifting lenses, as well as the role of lenses in self-protection and relational misunderstandings.

    Takeaways

    • Lens shapes reality
    • Understanding the impact of lenses
    • Challenges of lens awareness

    Chapters

    • 00:00 Examining Lenses: Origin and Meaning

    Guest: Christina Wong

    https://www.yourjourneybacktoself.com/

    References

    Mair, N. (2022, February 6). The Psychological Lens. Medium. https://medium.com/@nickmair3/the-psychological-lens-5313b1bc8f18

    Mifsud, R., & Sammut, G. (2023). Worldviews and the role of social values that underlie them. PLOS ONE, 18(7). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288451

    Galinsky, A. S., Ku, G. D., & Wang, C. (2010). Perception through a perspective-taking lens: Differential effects on judgment and behavior. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 46(5), 792–798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2010.04.001

    Byom, L. J., & Mutlu, B. (2013). Theory of mind: Mechanisms, methods, and New Directions. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00413

    Lin, D. Y., Pronin, E., & Ross, L. (2002). The bias blind spot: Perceptions of bias in self versus others. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(3), 369–381. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167202286008

    Cherry, K. (2026, January 8). Actor-Observer Bias in Social Psychology. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-actor-observer-bias-2794813?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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    39 mins
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