Tauren Think Tank: The Podcast About the Blizzard Gamer Behind the Keyboard

It’s all about BlizzCon announcements and Overwatch to start this week off right! Our Discussion topic: The collector mindset - Marconin is a collector and Jules is not, so we talk about what it’s like to understand the other person’s mindset, and why collectors are driven to get all the things! How much is too much, where is the line, and how can you be supportive of people who collect when you aren’t driven by it yourself? Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

This week, our special guest is Lisa Huetteman from Find My Perfect Job and JobSeek Radio! It’s all about the job hunt in this episode - how to change your career, why LinkedIn and networking are the best ways to find a job, what not to do when you’re trying to make a career change, and lots more.  Lisa gives excellent advice about interviewing, discovering what your best skills are, and getting your resume noticed. Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

Jules has been traveling, Marconin has been mount-hunting, and we both got to do some serious raiding this week! Our Think Tank question: I’m a caretaker to family members who are dealing with mental health issues like anxiety and severe depression. How can I decompress and relax better beyond the things that I’m doing, being a caretaker and having to be “on” all the time? Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2  

What’s been happening for us lately in WoW? A whole lot for the two of us, it seems! Our Discussion topic: experiencing sensory overload in a high stress environment.  For example  feeling uncomfortable when surrounded by people, loud noises, and maintaining your cool (conventions, parties, shopping). How do you handle these things when they make you nervous and anxious? Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

Love Is In The Air, and Marconin’s quest for the Big Love Rocket resumes for the year! Will 2017 be the last year to have to run this 30 times a day? Our Discussion topic: Dealing with disappointment. It’s been a volatile year so far and emotions are running high, with disappointment being a big part of what people are feeling in their everyday lives. How can we cope with disappointment in healthy ways to be productive and happier?  Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

We give our summary of PAX South and our experiences speaking on two panels this year! Our Think Tank question: My dear friend Zan passed away from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 29 right before BlizzCon, and it’s been devastating for me. How can I deal with the crippling grief I’m feeling, and not burst into tears every time something reminds me of her? Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

We're happy to present the audio from our two panels at PAX South 2017. (Please note, this audio was taken from the video we recorded at each of two panels, so this episode will be a lot more "roomy" than a normal podcast recording. You'll get what we mean when you listen.) If you wish to jump to Panel #2, it's located at 1:02 in the recording. Panel #1 - Finding Your Tribe - The Psychology of Online Communities Online communities are a powerful and influential force in many of our lives. We build strong and lasting relationships with people before ever meeting them face-to-face. How do communities form and what are the challenges of maintaining an online “family?" We talk about community connection, finding a place you call home, and when it’s okay to say goodbye. Our speakers are gamers and self-proclaimed nerds who are experts in psychology, research, advice, community-building, and content creation. Dr. Anthony Bean [Owner/Psychologist, Bean Professional Psychological Services/Framingham State University], Jules Scott [Podcast Host, Tauren Think Tank Podcast], Corey Spencer [Podcast Host, Tauren Think Tank Podcast] Panel #2 - Embracing The Chaos Emeralds: Understanding Your Nerd Power Being a nerd is finally cool! So many of us remember being considered awkward, unpopular, and feeling like an outcast for loving sci-fi, video games, anime, comic books, etc. We explore the psychology of feeling like you don’t fit in, and the negative effects of not accepting who you are. We talk about embracing, loving, and accepting your geek fortitude/fandom. You’ll hear from gamers and self-proclaimed nerds who are experts in psychology, research, advice and community-building. Dr. Anthony Bean [Owner/Psychologist, Bean Professional Psychological Services/Framingham State University], Jules Scott [Podcast Host, Tauren Think Tank Podcast], Corey Spencer [Podcast Host, Tauren Think Tank Podcast], Joel Christiansen [Indie Developer, Dog Theory Games]

In this episode, we welcome Ryan (@RyCP1209) from the Victors Sanctum podcast as our special guest. Ryan sent us a powerful letter about his journey to treatment for depression and anxiety, and we invited him on the show to tell us his story of diagnosis, taking medications, hitting “rock-bottom”, almost losing everything important to him, and learning that mental health carries a stigma that needs to be recognized and changed by society. If you or a loved one has been struggling with depression or anxiety, and has resisted getting help because they’re afraid or don’t feel like they need it, this show is a must-listen. Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

We’re back with weird weather, trying for some new challenges in our lives, and wiping the raid at 0%? Our Discussion question: I’m a high school senior, and my dad feels I should have a work ethic like his. He wants me to get a more labor intensive job so I can learn what hard work is, and make sure I work full-time in school so I don’t have debt coming out of college. He doesn’t understand that I use gaming to relax and I’m constantly on edge because of his threats to take my computer away if I don’t do what he asks. What can do I do? Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

We start out our first show of 2017 with some real talk and real discoveries on our own life journeys. Our Discussion question: I feel like I don’t fit in. Non-nerdy people don’t get me and I don’t feel nerdy enough for nerdy people. I love being around people, but I’m paranoid and fearful I’ll say something wrong. What can I do? Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

It’s our last show of 2016, and we start it off right with our annual Holiday parody song reveal. This year, we lament “The 12 Pains of Legion” and we hope you enjoy! Our Discussion question: a quote by Stephen McCranie, cartoonist and writer of comic essays about creativity: “The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” What does this mean to us, and what does it mean as we step out of 2016 into a new year? Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

It’s been a busy week of travel, and making travel plans for PAX South - we’re speaking again in 2017! Our Think Tank Question: I’m the main caretaker for my dad as he’s going through chemotherapy, and the stress is causing me to have meltdowns and panic attacks. My siblings aren’t helping and I really want their support. How can I manage my stress, help my dad cheer up, and get my siblings more involved in helping out? Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

Marconin has the holiday tireds, and Jules has been busy with meetups and shows! Our Think Tank Question: I just adopted two cats, a 6 week old kitten and young adult cat. The kitten is completely full of energy and a terror to me and the two other cats in my house. I’m losing sleep and I don’t know what to do with her. Please help! Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2  

It’s the holiday season, and our time is being filled with raiding, working, and blowing up other players in video games! Our Discussion question: This week, we followed up on the homework from last week - to count how many times you said, “I should…” or “I shouldn’t….”, record the frequency and context, and what you learned from listening to your inner voice. We also talk about tips to control those negative thoughts and not let them dominate your everyday life with an article from Psychology Today:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/shyness-is-nice/201305/stop-fighting-your-negative-thoughts?collection=164978 Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2

It’s the day after Thanksgiving. Our bellies are full, and our minds are ready for another round of discussion! Our Think Tank question: I’m in a long-distance relationship, and gone to see her a few times. The last time I visited, she really wanted nothing to do with me, and I felt like I left single instead of having a girlfriend. Our communication has waned to almost nothing. Everything is telling me it’s over, but I tend to overthink things a lot. What should I do? Be a part of the show by sending your Tell Us One Thing questions, feedback, and requests for advice to questions@taurenthinktank.com. Slash Moo, everybody! Website: http://taurenthinktank.com Patreon site: http://patreon.com/taurenthinktank Twitter: @TaurenThinkTank Facebook: http://facebook.com/taurenthinktank Discord server:  http://tinyurl.com/tttchat2