Join your host, Ashleigh King, as she welcomes Kenny Primrose, teacher, writer, and host of The Examined Life podcast, for a thoughtful and deeply resonant conversation about wisdom, curiosity, and what it really means to live well in a world of constant noise.
From the audacity of writing letters to David Attenborough and Gordon Brown to find "the right questions," to navigating the flighty impulses of an undiagnosed ADHD mind, Kenny shares how leaning into discomfort has reshaped his purpose. Together, Ashleigh and Kenny explore the power of storytelling, the dopamine hit of "time bending," and the redemptive nature of facing the things we usually run away from.
Themes of this conversation:
🌵 The power of a good questionÂ
How asking the right things can be more redemptive and life-giving than having all the answers.
🌵 Living deliberately in a changing worldÂ
Stepping back to notice "the water we’re swimming in" and how clear writing leads to clear thinking.
🌵 Shy bairns get nowtÂ
The "audacity" of reaching out to dream guests and why interesting people are often just waiting for a compelling reason to say yes.
🌵 ADHD, dopamine, and "time bending"
 Navigating time blindness, the rush of a deadline, and finding natural ways to regulate a restless mind through exercise and presence.
🌵 Facing the dark to find the lightÂ
Kenny’s journey into a podcast season focused on death, dying, and grief, and why we must sit with sadness to truly grow.
🌵 Validation vs. ValueÂ
Why your happiness shouldn't depend on external likes, and the Disney-inspired wisdom of being "enough" regardless of the win.
This episode is for anyone navigating:
- The search for deeper meaning and wisdomLiving with (or suspecting) neurodivergenceCreative burnout and the "last 10%" of a projectThe challenge of staying present when you want to "outrun your problems"A desire to bridge divides through better dialogue
Chapters
- 00:00 "If you're not enough without winning..."03:05 Teaching, Philosophy, and the "Good Life"06:02 The Origin of The Examined Life09:39 Reaching out to David Attenborough & Gordon Brown12:15 Living Generously in a Polarised World17:17 The Integrity of Guesting & Podcasting Values23:23 Using Substack for Long-Form Writing & Support30:31 Owning Creativity as a "Slow Learner"34:33 The November Pattern: Moving, Travel, and ADHD39:00 Time Blindness and the Adrenaline Rush of Deadlines43:24 Running Towards the Hard Realities of Grief48:35 One Word to Nurture Your Zest: Alignment
Links & ResourcesÂ
Visit The Examined Life Website
https://examined-life.com/
Subscribe to Kenny’s Substack
 https://kennyprimrose.substack.com/
 Connect with Kenny Primrose on LinkedIn
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-primrose-4058341b
Connect with Your Host, Ashleigh King
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-elizabeth-king/
This podcast was filmed at Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio. 🦩Â
If you would like to record a podcast or have any questions about starting a podcast please write to: 💌 bookings@flamingoheights.co.ukÂ
www.flamingoheights.co.uk