Aug 12, 2026

What did you love before work and responsibility took over?

As kids, we followed our curiosity without worrying whether an interest was productive or impressive. Somewhere along the way, many of us leave those parts of ourselves behind.

My guest today, therapist and author Alexander Osterman, believes they’re worth going back for. He even has Lego castles on his office wall simply because he always wanted one as a kid.

In this episode, we talk about rediscovering old interests, separating who you are from what you did for a living, and giving yourself permission to explore again in Chapter X.

We discuss:

• The surprising place Alexander looks for clues about what comes next 
• How to tell when you might be drifting through your days 
• One small practice Alexander uses to help people get unstuck 
• What happens when we spend too much time trying to think our way forward 
• 3 questions that can change how you look at your day

 

Resources:

Website: alexanderosterman.com

Instagram: instagram.com/alexanderosterman

About Alexander:

Alexander Osterman is a licensed mental health clinician, private practice owner, and author of QUIT EVADING: A Therapist’s Field Manual for Men in Drift. His clinical work focuses on anxiety, avoidance, identity, discipline, men’s mental health, and personal transformation.

His approach integrates practical behavior change, CBT-informed tools, Stoicism, Jungian and depth psychology, and existential responsibility, helping people move from avoidance into purposeful action.