In The Blood explores the fascinating complexities of our connections with others and our own journey of self-discovery. We look at how our relationship with ourselves shapes our relationships with others, and vice versa. Through personal stories from the host and guests, we explore topics like family estrangement, navigating difficult separations, the path to reconciliation, the enduring power of hope, and the value of platonic relationships, all while touching on mindfulness. This podcast is a valuable resource for anyone who has grappled with building meaningful connections and understanding themselves better. You can learn more about AC and his work at www.acfischer.com. If you&#39;d like to support this project for as little as $5, visit <a href="http://www.buymeacoffee.com/inthebloodpod" rel="nofollow">www.buymeacoffee.com/inthebloodpod</a>. For coaching sessions email <a href="mailto:inthebloodpod@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">inthebloodpod@gmail.com</a>. Limited financial aid is available.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/11/9/21/24d150f1-c332-43f9-8cd1-18a3219efc88_086_the_roles_we_play.mp3

Every family has expectations about who we&#39;re supposed to be. Some of us become the responsible one, the peacemaker, the favourite, or the person everyone blames. Those roles can follow us into adulthood, even when they no longer reflect who we are.In this episode, AC Bergen-Fischer examines how family roles, favouritism, and unequal expectations shape our relationships. He explores what happens when someone begins questioning those expectations, why family loyalty can become a demand for unquestioning agreement, and how refusing to maintain an unfair arrangement can lead to conflict or estrangement.Sometimes the person who disrupts the family isn&#39;t the person who created the problem.Books and more:<a href="https://acbergenwrites.com/books" rel="nofollow">https://acbergenwrites.com/books</a>

Every family has its unwritten rules. Who&#39;s responsible? Who keeps the peace? Who gets blamed? AC Bergen-Fischer explores how family roles, favouritism, and unequal expectations shape our relationships, and why challenging those expectations can sometimes lead to estrangement.

The Roles We Play

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Family estrangement can seem sudden to one person and years in the making to another. How can two people experience the same relationship so differently?In this episode, I examine the gradual deterioration of family relationships, from disagreements that never get resolved to the assumptions we make about people we&#39;ve known all our lives.I look at how family roles can outlast the people we used to be, why different memories don&#39;t necessarily mean someone is lying, and how avoiding difficult conversations can create the appearance of a healthy relationship.There&#39;s also the question of responsibility. Sometimes concerns haven&#39;t been communicated. Sometimes they&#39;ve been communicated repeatedly and ignored. Sometimes both people have contributed to the problem, although that doesn&#39;t mean they share equal responsibility.Understanding estrangement requires looking beyond the final argument and considering the relationship that came before it.More from AC Bergen-Fischer: <a href="https://acbergenwrites.com/" rel="nofollow">https://acbergenwrites.com</a>

Why does family estrangement seem sudden to one person and inevitable to another? AC Bergen-Fischer examines how unresolved conflict, changing expectations, conflicting memories, and unspoken frustrations can gradually change a relationship, sometimes without either person recognizing what&#39;s happening.

How Did We Get Here?

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After more than three seasons, and 83 episodes, In The Blood is going on pause.This isn’t burnout. It’s not a breakdown. It’s something quieter. Something slower. A shift from pressure back to purpose.In this episode, I talk about why continuing no longer feels right, how I’ve come to recognise the difference between momentum and meaning, and what happens when we outgrow the very container that helped us grow in the first place.This show has been a space for honest reflection - for challenging emotional limits, holding hard truths, and exploring what it means to stay human in the middle of pain, loss, and transformation. I hope those conversations still serve you, even as I step away from the mic for a while.I haven’t disappeared. I’m still here. Just not in this form.

For Now, I’m Stepping Back

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What happens when empathy goes too far? In this solo episode, I explore the emotional cost of being the one others lean on — especially when we’re already carrying more than we can handle. From the quiet pressure to stay available, to the slow erosion of our own needs, this is an honest look at the tension between caring for others and protecting ourselves.There’s no easy formula, but there is value in naming the invisible weight — and in learning how to stay soft without staying stuck.

Measuring Ourselves In Teaspoons

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In this episode, AC and Jason sit down to challenge the idea that family estrangement deserves the kind of obsessive attention it often gets.They explore why treating family relationships as fundamentally different from other platonic relationships can do more harm than good, especially when it comes to boundaries and healing. Together, they question the romanticism of blood ties and push back against the popular narrative that estrangement is something we should always try to “fix.”AC shares why he no longer finds estrangement stories compelling—especially when they become identity traps—and calls out the unhealthy, unregulated industry of self-proclaimed estrangement “experts” who exploit vulnerable people in pain.This conversation isn’t about denying the hurt—but about moving forward without making the wound your home.

Letting Go Without Buying In

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AC Bergen-Fischer and Jason (Dyceman) Moore are joined by guest host Sarah Tye from Spirit Journey Collective for a grounded and honest conversation about rage. They explore how it&#39;s expressed, how it’s judged differently based on gender, and how it can be used as a powerful force for good. Topics include why some people never learn to express anger safely, how gender roles shape our relationship to rage, and the ways rage can overlap with grief, boundaries, and clarity. The episode includes personal stories and moments that don’t resolve neatly—because real life rarely does.

Celebrating Rage

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In this episode, I sat down with Sarah Tye from the Spirit Journey Collective for something a little different. Sarah guided me through a “mini Alignment Project,” a condensed version of her full Alignment Project experience, which she offers through her practice. We talked about what alignment really means—not in the mystical sense, but in the personal and practical one. What does it feel like to live in a way that reflects your values? What gets in the way? And how do you begin to notice the subtle ways you&#39;ve been living out of sync with who you really are? Sarah’s approach is less about fixing and more about noticing. She’s not trying to hand you answers; she’s inviting you into a deeper kind of self-honesty. It’s reflective work, not a performance—and that’s what makes it valuable. If you’re curious about the full Alignment Project, you can learn more or work with Sarah directly by visiting www.spiritjourneycollective.com As always, thank you for listening. One love!

Aligning with What Matters

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How safe are our workplace friendships, really?In this episode, Jason and AC explore how easy it is for trust to break down between colleagues — especially when emotions flare, secrets get shared, or jobs are on the line.When someone vents to a friend at work, what happens if it gets repeated? Can a moment of frustration cost you your career? And if your friend is the one who slips… what happens to the friendship?Inspired by a listener’s question, this episode pulls no punches.

Trust, Betrayal, and Paycheques

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Jason and AC have always believed that most of us have more in common than we think. But the deepening political divide—especially when it comes to Donald Trump—has challenged that belief. In this episode, they talk openly about how political polarization has made it harder to communicate with people we care about, even when respect and shared history are still present. They reflect on the growing difficulty of finding common ground when values seem to conflict at a fundamental level.While they don’t claim to have the answer, they remain committed to the idea that respectful conversation matters. And even if today’s climate feels discouraging, they still believe in the possibility of reconnection. This episode doesn’t solve the problem—but it doesn’t give up on it either.

Trump Is a Strain on Our Friendship

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In this episode of In The Blood, AC and Jason explore how society places different expectations on women and men—pressuring women to be visually perfect, and men to be mentally unshakable. They discuss how these standards show up in everyday life, where they come from, and the emotional toll they take.The conversation includes a challenging question: is the stigma around men’s emotional struggles even more difficult to address than the pressure women face to look a certain way? With honesty and nuance, AC and Jason unpack the cost of perfection, the gendered assumptions we rarely question, and how we might begin letting go of expectations that were never fair to begin with.

(im)PERFECTION

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Friendships don’t just happen—they require care, effort, and intentionality. In this episode, Jason and AC explore what it really takes to build and maintain strong platonic relationships. We discuss the importance of checking in with friends in meaningful ways, engaging in shared experiences, and becoming better listeners.Beyond that, we reflect on our own roles in friendships—how we show up for others, how we navigate conflict, and why small gestures of appreciation matter. We also emphasize the balance between deep conversations and lighthearted moments, because strong friendships are built on both connection and fun.Whether you&#39;re looking to strengthen an old friendship or be more intentional in new ones, this episode offers practical insights on making relationships more meaningful.Listen now and join the conversation!

Good friendships don’t just happen—they take effort. In this episode, Jason and AC explore how intentionality makes the difference between friendships that thrive and ones that fade.

We discuss why checking in matters, how shared experiences strengthen bonds, and what it really means to be a good listener. We also examine our own roles in friendships—are we showing up for others the way we expect them to show up for us? And just as importantly, are we making space for both depth and fun?

If you’ve ever felt friendships slipping away or want to be more mindful in the way you connect with people, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and take your friendships off autopilot!

Friendship Isn't Automatic

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Ever had something go completely wrong at the worst possible moment? That’s exactly what happened when Jason and I recorded what we thought was an amazing episode—only to have the file corrupted beyond repair. Instead of throwing in the towel, I’m using this moment to talk about mindfulness in the face of disappointment.

Well Fck! – Mindfulness & Moving Forward When Things Go Wrong

Ever had something go completely wrong at the worst possible moment? That’s exactly what happened when Jason and I recorded what we thought was an amazing episode—only to have the file corrupted beyond repair.

Instead of throwing in the towel, I’m using this moment to talk about mindfulness in the face of disappointment.

🎙️ In this episode:
✔️ Why mindfulness isn’t about ignoring frustration, but learning to move through it
✔️ The importance of impermanence and shifting perspective
✔️ Finding what still remains when plans fall apart
✔️ How humor and connection help us navigate setbacks

If you’ve ever had a Well, fck!* moment, this one’s for you.

Well, fck!

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/2/28/22/ca703418-c5f7-47e6-a4e2-67a0e24104cd_074_friendship_exe.mp3

Can AI be a true friend, or is it just programmed to sound supportive? As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, more people are turning to AI for companionship. But can it replace human connection?In this episode of In The Blood, AC Bergen-Fischer and Jason Moore explore what makes a friendship real and whether AI can provide meaningful support. They discuss the benefits and risks of AI companionship, the psychology behind it, and what this means for the future of relationships.Topics in this episode:What defines real friendship?Can AI truly understand emotions?The pros and cons of AI companionshipIs AI friendship an illusion or the future?Join AC and Jason as they ask: Can we trust AI to be there for us—or are we just talking to a machine?

friendship.exe

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In this episode of In The Blood, Jason and AC tackle a listener inquiry about the qualities that have kept their friendship strong through life’s many twists and turns. They reflect on the role of open communication, shared values, and mutual respect, offering candid stories that highlight the importance of loyalty and understanding. From facing disagreements to celebrating each other’s growth, they share the practical insights and emotional depth that sustain their bond. Tune in for a heartfelt exploration of what it truly takes to maintain a meaningful, long-term connection.

The Glue That Binds Us

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In this conversation, Jason and AC examine the contrast between visible risks and hidden dangers in everyday life. They discuss how clear, measurable threats can feel more controllable, while unseen risks—especially in social interactions and conflicts—often leave us vulnerable.The dialogue challenges listeners to consider whether knowing potential risks in relationships truly empowers us or leads to over-caution that stifles genuine connection. Join this reflective discussion on how awareness and uncertainty shape our interactions and decisions.

Clear And Present Danger?

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Society often treats disabled people as either tragic figures or inspiring heroes—rarely as ordinary individuals. In this episode, I explore how this mindset can be just as harmful as outright discrimination.

Not An Inspiration - Just A Person

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Jason and AC tackle key questions about trust, forgiveness, and relationships, exploring themes like emotional self-preservation, reasonable expectations, and the impact of betrayal. They discuss rebuilding confidence, communicating effectively, and navigating vulnerability in meaningful connections.

Vulnerability, Expectations, and Letting Go

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AC and Jason discuss the role of loyalty in platonic relationships. How much loyalty is too much? Is there ever a point where loyalty becomes harmful? They explore the balance between supporting friends and maintaining personal boundaries, offering insights into how loyalty shapes healthy, meaningful connections.

Appropriate Loyalty

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Jason and AC reunite in person for the first time in years to record this episode. They dive into a thought-provoking discussion on defaultism—what it is, how it shapes the choices we make, and why it matters. Sharing their personal perspectives, they examine how default thinking affects relationships, decision-making, and self-awareness.

Defaultism

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AC and Jason explore the challenges of morality and personal boundaries. Should we expect others to follow our moral standards? Is it ever right to impose our beliefs or step into someone else’s life? They discuss how to balance empathy, judgment, and respect for differences in a world full of diverse perspectives.

My Morality or Yours?

In The Blood explores the fascinating complexities of our connections with others and our own journey of self-discovery. We look at how our relationship with ourselves shapes our relationships with others, and vice versa. Through personal stories from the host and guests, we explore topics like family estrangement, navigating difficult separations, the path to reconciliation, the enduring power of hope, and the value of platonic relationships, all while touching on mindfulness. This podcast is a valuable resource for anyone who has grappled with building meaningful connections and understanding themselves better.

You can learn more about AC and his work at www.acfischer.com. If you'd like to support this project for as little as $5, visit www.buymeacoffee.com/inthebloodpod ( http://www.buymeacoffee.com/inthebloodpod ). For coaching sessions email inthebloodpod@gmail.com. Limited financial aid is available.