Estrangement & Free Will

Estrangement & Free Will

Author: Francis Tapon November 29, 2025 Duration: 34:22

Sym Blanchard and I talk about families and free will.

Sym Blanchard has a 36-year-old daughter and a 38-year-old son. He is estranged from his daughter, but has a close, positive relationship with his son. I ask:

* What is the hardest time to raise children?

* Why does Sym struggle to get along with his daughter and yet gets along great with his son?

* Free Will vs. Environment?

I mention Dr. Isabelle Morsley’s book, They’re Not Gaslighting You.

Timeline

00:00 Estranged daughter

05:15 Francis’s disconnected brother

08:00 We overestimate our free will

21:00 Personality disorders

23:00 Advice to snap out of it

27:00 Dunning–Kruger effect

30:00 Sym’s travel plans

More from Sym

If you enjoy this philosophical episode, listen to the dozen episodes with Sym Blanchard!

In 2025, I catch up with one of the most remarkable 72-year-olds you’ll ever meet, Sym Blanchard!

This page features five episodes starring Sym.

Listen to all the episodes featuring Sym Blanchard since 2018!

* A 66-year-old Adventurer Shows How To Live A Meaningful Life in 2018 (one of the top 5 most popular WanderLearn episodes!)

* Traveling To Find One’s Ancestors in 2019

* Near Death on the CDT + Sym’s 60-Year Love Story in 2020

* Nine Shows Sharing Travel Wisdom Featuring Sym Blanchard in 2022

* Unstoppable 70-year-old Adventurer Sym Blanchard in 2023

Connect

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There's a certain kind of travel that changes you, not just your location. It’s the slow, immersive kind where the journey itself becomes the teacher. In WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life, Francis Tapon acts as your guide into this world, exploring how leaving familiar ground can fundamentally reshape your perspective. This isn't about quick tips or itineraries; it's about the deeper conversations that happen at the crossroads of culture, society, and personal growth. Each episode delves into how we engage with places and people, often weaving in discussions about the role of modern technology in both enabling and complicating these profound experiences. You'll hear stories and insights that challenge the conventional tourist mindset, pushing toward a more thoughtful, engaged way of moving through the world. Francis draws from a wealth of experience to discuss concepts like vagabonding and deep travel, making the case that the greatest souvenirs aren't trinkets, but transformed thoughts. Tuning into this podcast feels like sitting down with a well-traveled friend who understands that the real destination is often a shift within yourself. It’s for anyone who believes that travel, at its best, is a powerful catalyst for learning and living differently.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life
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