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The Real Question — Relationships
The Real Question

The Real Question is a show that holds space for life’s tough questions. Each episode, a guest brings a personal question they’re grappling with, and Chaplain Mauricio Bruce helps them find an answer. This season, our focus is on future-oriented questions – those that start with ‘Should I…’

Mauricio sits down with guests who are contemplating big and small changes in their lives — whether it’s habits, careers, or relationships. In every episode, he asks the pivotal question: “Who do you want to be and what’s the best path to get there?”

The Real Question is produced by Not Sorry Productions, a feminist organization that produces podcasts, educational content, live shows, and immersive experiences with the explicit goal of addressing the spiritual needs of its participants. Through community, rigor, and ritual, we treat traditionally secular things as if they were sacred. To learn more about what we do, visit https://notsorryworks.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Copyright: © Not Sorry Productions

Latest Episodes:

How much should I tell people about my religious past? Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Once upon a time, Amber was a seminary student, and then - a pastor! It's an important part of her story, but not at all where she ended up. Now that her workplace has moved into a bigger building, and her office has space to put up diplomas, should she display that part of her past openly to her coworkers?

This week on the show, Mauricio and our guest explore storytelling, assumptions, and guilt.

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Submit your questions here

The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production

Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revisiting: Diagnosis Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

In the weeks between new episodes, we'll be revisiting some favorite old ones with some new commentary from Mauricio.

In this episode from Season 2, Vanessa and Casper talk to Maya. Maya has been in pain for years. She’s been going to doctors, trying to figure out what's going on with her body, but nobody seems to think anything is wrong with her. And lately she’s started to feel like the whole process of trying to get good healthcare is more painful emotionally and psychologically than the physical pain she’s in. Should she stop trying and protect her mental health? Or is that giving up?

With help from Mythbusters and the Liverpool Football Club, Maya, Vanessa and Casper discuss everything that's at stake in trying to get a diagnosis.

Stick around until the end of the episode for some new thoughts from Mauricio! We hope you enjoy revisiting these episodes with us.

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Submit your questions here

The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production

Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Prompt from Mauricio - September Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

Once a month we'll be dropping into the feed with a (totally optional) prompt for listener submissions. This month Mauricio is thinking about rejection, and how we deal with it.

Submit your questions here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do I keep my kids safe within my religious tradition? Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

As an adult, Eva has formed a spiritual community and developed a practice that are very important to her. Her spiritual elder is someone she respects a lot, but has historically had a complicated relationship with. She worries about having her children around this person - how can she ensure they have the full religious experience while also ensuring their emotional safety?

This week on the show Mauricio and our guest explore imposter syndrome, mentorship, and collective joy.

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Submit your questions here

The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production

Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Prompt from Mauricio - August Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

Once a month we'll be dropping into the feed with a (totally optional) prompt for listener submissions. This month Mauricio is thinking about grief and what we owe eachother.

Submit your questions here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revisiting: Should I Have a Life Partner? Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

In the weeks between new episodes, we'll be revisiting some favorite old ones with some new commentary from Mauricio.

In this episode from Season 4, Mauricio talks to Anna. Anna knows she wants to be a parent and she doesn't want to do it alone, but she's never particularly wanted a life partner. Should she reconsider that position for the sake of raising a child?

On tthis episode, Anna and Mauricio explore Anna's relationship to partnership and uncover some of the deeper anxieties at play for her.

Stick around until the end of the episode for some new thoughts from Mauricio! We hope you enjoy revisiting these episodes with us.

--

This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Submit your questions here

The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production

Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revisiting: Should I Quit My Comfortable Relationship? Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

In the weeks between new episodes, we'll be revisiting some favorite old ones with some new commentary from Mauricio.

In this episode from Season 3, Miranda brings a question about her long term relationship. Over the last year, she's taken some steps back from the relationship. They used to live together and now they live separately. She used to imagine marrying him, now it doesn’t seem in the cards. Is it time to just give up this man entirely? Or can she be happy with the comfort and pleasure of what she has in front of her?

In this episode of Should I Quit? Miranda and Vanessa explore how to know when unhappiness in a relationship is normal and when it means you need to break up.

Stick around until the end of the episode for Mauricio's thoughts! We hope you enjoy revisiting these episodes with us.

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Submit your questions here

The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production

Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do I owe my family? Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

Em was very close to their grandparents growing up. But as an adult and a queer person, it has become clear that their views are not validating and supportive of who Em is. Em hasn't formally come out to them, but has received mixed feedback from other family members and has been dreading spending time with the family overall. What do they owe these people, who were once a very big and important part of their life?

This week on the show Mauricio and our guest explore family patterns, obligation, and closure.

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This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Submit your questions here

The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production

Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revisiting: Trusting Your Gut Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

In the weeks between new episodes, we'll be revisiting some favorite old ones with some new commentary from Mauricio.

In this episode from Season 2, Vanessa brings a question about instincts and intuition. She's always felt that she has good instincts about people, but recently she's started to wonder: where does that gut instinct come from inside of her? And how can she make sure her 'gut' is reflecting her wisdom, instead of her prejudices?

With help from Into the Woods and Gilmore Girls, Vanessa and Casper explore how to give people the benefit of the doubt while still being able to trust your instincts.

Stick around until the end of the episode for Mauricio's thoughts! We hope you enjoy revisiting these episodes with us.

--

This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in!

Submit your questions here

The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production

Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Prompt from Mauricio - July Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

Once a month we'll be dropping into the feed with a (totally optional) prompt for listener submissions. This month Mauricio is thinking about religion and ritual in secular life.

Submit your questions here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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