After the Dragon

Ep. 10 - Nothing's Good in Excess (The Burnout Society, Byung-Chul Han)

The sound quality of this episode is not ideal; I hope I'll fix it sometime in the future. Still, hope you enjoy! Inspired by The Burnout Society by Byung-Chul Han. Thessaloniki, Greece. Today, we explore the paradox of modern life through the lens of Byung-Chul Han’s "The Burnout Society." How has our culture of relentless positivity and self-improvement enslaved us to unsustainable ideals? Is our obsession with personal projects, perpetual growth, and excessive optimism leading us inevitably to burnout? Join me in this raw, authentic discussion about finding moderation in an age that glorifies excess. Because, ultimately, balance might be our only way forward. ⚠️ A note to listeners: This episode was recorded under challenging technical conditions, resulting in poor audio quality. For that, I want to apologize deeply. I will record the episode once more with proper audio quality, by the end of May, with my new, long-awaited equipment. However, until then, I hope you can still enjoy the episode as it is! New episodes will follow a monthly format. New episodes will arrive on the first Thursday of each month. Episode 11 will be here on June 3. Stay tuned for season 2! Resources: * "The Burnout Society" by Byung-Chul Han Follow, like, and leave a review to support the show. Thank you for being part of this existential journey. See you next month.

Ep. 9 - “No, But” How About Some “Yes, And”? (Improv & Conflict Transformation)

Inspired by: Improv Theater/Improvisation, Johan Gatlung's Conflict Transformation. Thessaloniki, Greece. When was the last time you truly built on someone else’s idea, rather than shutting it down? In this episode, I explore how improvisational theatre, and its central mantra, “Yes, and”, offers powerful insights for navigating life, relationships, and even conflicts & negotiations. Because sometimes, life isn't about who’s right or wrong. It’s about who’s willing to say yes... and. —If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, reviewing, and sharing it with others; it helps the show grow and reach people navigating life’s changes. For improv in Thessaloniki, check out ComedyCanvas (in English) [https://www.instagram.com/comedycanvasskg/] and ThessImprovice (in Greek) [https://www.instagram.com/thessimprovice/]. For deeper reading on conflict and collaboration, check out my related articles on Conflict Transformation [https://gmpapadopoulos.com/conflct-transformation-crash-course-for-our-daily-lives/] & Negotiation Tips [https://gmpapadopoulos.com/get-better-at-negotiations-9-cases-backed-by-cases/], at gmpapadopoulos.com [https://gmpapadopoulos.com]. Full episode list and transcripts available at afterthedragon.com [https://afterthedragon.com]. Follow @afterthedragon on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram/@afterthedragon]or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/@afterthedragon], to share your thoughts and stay connected. 🎵 Music Credits: Ba Dum Bum ALL by freesound_community [https://pixabay.com/users/freesound_community-46691455/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=74740]. 📣 Promotional Support: Strategaze [strategaze.com]

Ep. 8 - One Trip at a Time (Kaizen Philosophy)

Inspired by: Kaizen Philosophy of Continuous Improvement. Tirana, Albania. Growth often comes hand-in-hand with discomfort, but change doesn’t always have to be drastic to be meaningful. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, this episode explores the power of gradual, continuous improvement. Through personal reflections, spontaneous adventures in Albania, and the challenge of facing discomfort, I share practical ways to embrace life’s imperfections and move forward intentionally, one step or trip at a time. What small step can you take today to start improving your life? -- Did you enjoy this episode? Like, review, and share; your support helps the show grow. Visit afterthedragon.com [http://afterthedragon.com] for transcripts, and follow @afterthedragon to connect. Marketing Materials: ⁠Strategaze⁠ [Strategaze.com] Music Credits: ⁠A ship Sailing in the Red Sea by Hesham Hanafy [https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/a-ship-sailing-in-the-red-sea-145666/] Sources: * Investopedia: Kaizen⁠ [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/k/kaizen.asp#toc-how-does-kaizen-work-key-principles] * VIA Institute of Character Strength Test [https://www.viacharacter.org/account/register] * Daily Stoic [https://dailystoic.com/] by Ryan Holiday https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/a-ship-sailing-in-the-red-sea-145666/

Ep. 7 - Reflections from the Underground (Notes From Underground, Dostoevsky)

Inspired by: Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground. Domatia, Greece. What happens when you retreat so far into your mind that you lose touch with the world around you? What kind of life unfolds when disconnection, doubt, and existential dread become your closest companions? In this episode, inspired by Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, I reflect on a journey inward; one that took place in the quiet solitude of Domatia, my childhood village, resting in the foothills of Mount Pangaio. This is an episode about grappling with the darkest parts of ourselves, the fragile balance between connection and disconnection, and the power of reaching beyond our inner walls. It’s about the Underground Man, and what he can teach us about being human. -- Did this episode resonate with you? Please consider liking, reviewing, or sharing it with others; it helps the podcast grow, and I’m grateful for your support. Visit afterthedragon.com [https://afterthedragon.com] for episode transcripts, and follow @afterthedragon on Instagram or Facebook to share your thoughts and stay connected. * Music credits: Melancholy by Tomomi Kato [https://pixabay.com/users/tomomi_kato-23634083/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=11828] from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=11828] * Marketing Materials: Strategaze [strategaze.com] * Sources: Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and additional insights from Philosophize This! [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Shpxw7dPoxRJCdfFXTWLE?si=299a2799752f4d06]Episode 218, and Episodes 215-223 on the Kyoto School and other novels of Dostoevsky.

Ep. 6 - On What We Take for Granted (Power of Gratitude)

Inspired by: Positive Psychology's Researches on the Power of Gratitude. Mumbai, India. Caught up in our daily struggles, it's easy to dwell on the negatives and lose sight of anything else. But sometimes, stepping back—or living experiences that shift our perspective—can let us see the full picture. In this episode, I reflect on a transformative trip to Mumbai, where I came face-to-face with my own fallacies and the resilience of those who have far less—yet often, more strength. This is a story of contrasts, of confronting what we take for granted, and of realizing that no matter our struggles, someone else is fighting an even harder battle. But this isn’t just about guilt or shame—it’s about what comes next. How do we move forward, with both gratitude and intention? How do we take what we’ve seen, what we’ve learned, and make an impact in our lives? -- Did you find this episode meaningful? Please consider liking it on your platform of choice, leaving a review, and sharing it with others. Your support makes a difference—thank you. Visit afterthedragon.com [afterthedragon.com] for the episode transcripts and follow @afterthedragon on Instagram [instagram.com/afterthedragon]or Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/afterthedragon]to share your thoughts and stay connected. Music Credits: Sea and Seagull, wave from Suukadi [https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/sea-and-seagull-wave-5932/], and Beach with oplaying children from ondercast [https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/beach-with-oplaying-children-79797/], both available on PixabayMarketing & Promotional Materials: Strategaze.com [strategaze.com]Sources & Courses on Well Being: ⁠The Science of Well Being, Yale⁠ [https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being], and ⁠Positive Psychology Specialization, University of Pennsylvania⁠.