Alive with Steve Burns

Steve sits down with media psychology expert Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster to break down parasocial relationships, the one-sided connections we form with TV hosts, creators, and public figures. From childhood TV to social media, they explore why these connections feel real and how easily we trust them. They also look at how these connections can comfort, teach, and even help us feel less alone – and where they can drift into unrealistic expectations. Along the way, Steve turns the lens on himself, asking what it really means to build a relationship through a screen. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ** if you like this episode, then check out these ** Why Everyone is Choosing to Stay Single - with Eric Klinenberg https://youtu.be/V3_3xYpS108 Depression - with Jessi Gold https://youtu.be/U4KGIjd9LY0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Exclusive Offers For Our Listeners: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/alive with code alive. You can try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE at ziprecruiter.com/alive  Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/alive --------------------------------------------------------------------- Alive with Steve Burns - Season One Episode 25 | Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster Instagram: @alivewithsteveburns TikTok: @alivewithsteveburns --------------------------------------------------------------------- There are a thousand podcasts you can listen to. This one listens back. Alive with Steve Burns continues the conversation you began all those years ago. Back then it was letters and numbers and graham crackers. Now it’s death, sex, taxes, and all the big, messy questions of being alive. Why does money stress us out? Is the American dream dead? What’s the future of truth? Each week, a new guest drops by Steve’s window for a genuine and respectful dialogue between two people just trying to figure it out, together. Funny, tender, and just a little weird, this show invites you to sit down and think with Steve once again and wonder… what it really means to be Alive. --------------------------------------------------------------------- You are not alone. You are cared for. If you need someone to listen: National Suicide and Crisis Hotline: https://988lifeline.org/ NAMI Helpline: https://www.nami.org/nami-helpline/ Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/ Keywords: parasocial relationships, media psychology, why we feel connected to celebrities, loneliness and social media, emotional connection psychology, storytelling and persuasion, steve burns podcast Watch full episodes of Alive on YouTube. Stay up to date with Lemonada on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes and bonus content from Steve. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe.  Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

Steve sits down with media psychology expert Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster to break down parasocial relationships, the one-sided connections we form with TV hosts, creators, and public figures. From childhood TV to social media, they explore why these connections feel real and how easily we trust them.   They also look at how these connections can comfort, teach, and even help us feel less alone – and where they can drift into unrealistic expectations. Along the way, Steve turns the lens on himself, asking what it really means to build a relationship through a screen.   --------------------------------------------------------------------- ** if you like this episode, then check out these **   Why Everyone is Choosing to Stay Single - with Eric Klinenberg https://youtu.be/V3_3xYpS108   Depression - with Jessi Gold https://youtu.be/U4KGIjd9LY0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Exclusive Offers For Our Listeners:   Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/alive with code alive.   You can try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE at ziprecruiter.com/alive    Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/alive --------------------------------------------------------------------- Alive with Steve Burns - Season One Episode 25 | Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster Instagram: @alivewithsteveburns TikTok: @alivewithsteveburns --------------------------------------------------------------------- There are a thousand podcasts you can listen to. This one listens back. Alive with Steve Burns continues the conversation you began all those years ago. Back then it was letters and numbers and graham crackers. Now it’s death, sex, taxes, and all the big, messy questions of being alive. Why does money stress us out? Is the American dream dead? What’s the future of truth? Each week, a new guest drops by Steve’s window for a genuine and respectful dialogue between two people just trying to figure it out, together. Funny, tender, and just a little weird, this show invites you to sit down and think with Steve once again and wonder… what it really means to be Alive. ---------------------------------------------------------------------   You are not alone. You are cared for. If you need someone to listen: National Suicide and Crisis Hotline: https://988lifeline.org/ NAMI Helpline: https://www.nami.org/nami-helpline/ Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/   Keywords: parasocial relationships, media psychology, why we feel connected to celebrities, loneliness and social media, emotional connection psychology, storytelling and persuasion, steve burns podcast Watch full episodes of Alive on YouTube. Stay up to date with Lemonada on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes and bonus content from Steve. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe.  Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan helps Steve approach the anxieties, fantasies, and obsessions we bring to our relationship with money.   Dr. Megan McCoy is an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University’s Department of Personal Financial Planning. Received her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Georgia. She is also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an Accredited Financial Counselor®, and a Certified Financial Therapist-I™.   You can follow Steve Burns @steveburnsalive on Instagram. Watch full episodes of Alive on YouTube. Stay up to date with Lemonada on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes and bonus content from Steve. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Savage sits down with Steve to discuss the future of facts, the scientific method, busting myths, and  he gives us a peek inside his legendary workshop.   Adam Savage is a veteran special-effects artist and maker whose early film work led him to co-host MythBusters, where his blend of engineering chops and gleeful chaos became a cultural staple. Currently he hosts Tested, his workshop-driven platform for builds, problem-solving, and general mischief. He’s a relentless advocate for curiosity, craftsmanship, and learning by doing—even if “doing” occasionally involves fire.   You can follow Steve Burns @steveburnsalive on Instagram.   Watch full episodes of Alive on YouTube.   Stay up to date with Lemonada on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes and bonus content from Steve. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is depression actually increasing or are we misunderstanding what it really is? Steve Burns sits down with psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr. Jessi Gold to unpack why depression is often confused with everyday sadness, burnout, or stress.   Is social media and modern life shaping the way we talk about mental health?   Why do so many people seem “fine” while quietly struggling?    And how is self-diagnosis changing the conversation?    It’s a thoughtful, honest discussion about what depression actually looks like and why getting the definition right matters.   --------------------------------------------------------------------- ** if you like this episode, then check out these **   Is There a Loneliness Epidemic  https://youtu.be/V3_3xYpS108   Happiness   https://youtu.be/onhtAqXVcHA   --------------------------------------------------------------------- Exclusive Offers For Our Listeners:   Visit childrenincorporated.org to choose a child to sponsor today.   Go to zocdoc.com/alive to find and instantly book a doctor you love today.    Text STEVE to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.   Go to bioptimizers.com/alive and use my exclusive code ALIVE15 to get 15% off any order.   --------------------------------------------------------------------- Alive with Steve Burns - Season One Episode 24 | Dr. Jessi Gold  Instagram: @alivewithsteveburns TikTok: @alivewithsteveburns --------------------------------------------------------------------- There are a thousand podcasts you can listen to. This one listens back. Alive with Steve Burns continues the conversation you began all those years ago. Back then it was letters and numbers and graham crackers. Now it’s death, sex, taxes, and all the big, messy questions of being alive. Why does money stress us out? Is the American dream dead? What’s the future of truth? Each week, a new guest drops by Steve’s window for a genuine and respectful dialogue between two people just trying to figure it out, together. Funny, tender, and just a little weird, this show invites you to sit down and think with Steve once again and wonder… what it really means to be Alive. --------------------------------------------------------------------- You are not alone. You are cared for. If you need someone to listen: National Suicide and Crisis Hotline: https://988lifeline.org/ NAMI Helpline: https://www.nami.org/nami-helpline/ Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/ Keywords: Blues Clues, Steve burns, alive with steve burns, Steve burns podcast, depression, sadness, social media, dr. jessi gold, how do you feel, jessi gold, jessi gold author, blues clues, blues clues and you Watch full episodes of Alive on YouTube. Stay up to date with Lemonada on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes and bonus content from Steve. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.