What is more scary: letting go, or becoming?
​In this year-end finale, Cory J Riggs explores the irrationality of the human ego—the part of us that would rather stay in a familiar hell than risk an unknown heaven. Drawing from his own 45-year journey back to the "little dude" he left behind in the 5th grade, Cory challenges the idea that staying guarded is the safe path.
​As we stand on the edge of 2026 and the "Industrial Arc," we discuss why keeping humanity at the center of our lives is the only way to navigate a world dominated by AI and technology.
​Turn the mirror around. Look with empathy. Let’s start the work.
​Season 2 of "The Tree and Me" begins this Sunday.
​#TheRiskOfHappiness #IndustrialArc #HumanityFirst #MentalHealth #SelfImprovement #Storytelling

The bill always comes due.
​We tell ourselves that staying in that relationship is "safe." We tell ourselves that shrinking down to make others comfortable is just being "polite." But the cost isn't just your peace—it is your heart.
​In the Season 1 Finale of The Tree and Me, Cory J Riggs takes a hard look at the "ledger" of our lives. We discuss the "Hollow Man" syndrome, the exhausting price of toxic positivity, and the raw accountability required to stop waging war against yourself.
​Key Takeaways:
​The Invisible Debt: What are you buying with your silence?
​The Empty Cup: You cannot feed others when you haven't eaten in years.
​The Harvest: The quiet, steady strength of finally standing in your own truth.
​Looking Ahead: Stick around until the very end for a special announcement regarding the "Industrial Arc" coming in Season 2 (2026).
​You can watch or listen to this wherever you get your podcasts.
🔗 Website: https://coryjriggs.com

This episode isn’t just about looking back at 2025—it’s about what 2025 taught me: how to look within.

The hardest work isn’t what happens out there—it’s what happens inside. It’s facing the questions you’ve avoided, the truths you’ve buried, and the patterns that keep you stuck.

Looking within is uncomfortable. It’s messy. It’s humbling. But it’s also where the real change begins.

And here’s the beauty: when you choose to look within, you uncover your calling. You discover the path you were meant to walk. You let the light inside finally shine, and you begin to live the life you were created for.

Website: https://CoryJRiggs.com
🎙️ This Tree and Me — available wherever you watch or listen to podcasts.