The Sacred Ordinary
An introduction to the podcast and to the small, luminous moments that make a life. Why the “other side” of misery isn’t happiness, but meaning—and how we begin to live alongside our sorrow.
A podcast about meaning, big feelings, and living deeply.
Hosted by Counseling Psychology PhD student Michelle Meital Sanabria, exploring what it means to live a good life through joy, sorrow, illness, wonder, and the small luminous moments of everyday life.
“The other side of misery isn’t happiness—it’s meaning. It’s learning to live alongside our suffering, and still reach for wonder.”
The Other Side of Misery is a contemplative, soul-full podcast about what it means to live deeply in a world that aches. Each episode blends psychology, philosophy, science, and story as Michelle reflects on big feelings, chronic illness, grief, joy, and the sacred ordinary moments that quietly hold our lives together.
This is not a self-help show and it’s not prescriptive. There are no ten-step plans here. Instead, you’re invited into a living conversation about meaning—one that honors questions, nuance, and the beauty of being a person in motion.
Michelle Meital Sanabria is a Counseling Psychology PhD student, researcher, and storyteller exploring how humans create meaning in the midst of suffering. Her work weaves virtue ethics, Jungian depth, neuroscience, and lived experience into a practice of living deeply, not perfectly.
Listen in as we move through grief, awe, identity, and the sacred ordinary—one conversation at a time.
An introduction to the podcast and to the small, luminous moments that make a life. Why the “other side” of misery isn’t happiness, but meaning—and how we begin to live alongside our sorrow.
A reflection on depth vs. speed, presence vs. performance, and what it means to stay emotionally honest without drowning in the intensity of being alive.
We’re told that happiness is the goal. But what if chasing happiness keeps us from living a good life? An exploration of eudaimonia, suffering, and why our culture is so uncomfortable with big feelings.
Prefer to read, highlight, or sit with the words a little longer? Full episode transcripts and written reflections live on Substack.
Read transcripts, essays, and occasional behind-the-scenes notes for the podcast—all gathered in one place.
Find The Other Side of Misery wherever you already listen to podcasts. Links will appear here as the show goes live.