Unpacking Let Them

The Deeper Thinking Podcast

A quiet tracing of the phrase back through philosophy, ethics, and the emotional architecture of agency and attention.

When Mel Robbins introduced the phrase “Let Them”, it resonated far beyond the world of self-help. In this episode, we follow its deeper structure—through the thought of Viktor Frankl, Iris Murdoch, Epictetus, Judith Butler, and others—to ask what happens when we stop trying to control others, and begin returning to ourselves.

This is not an endorsement or critique. It is a philosophical unfolding of what “Let Them / Let Me” can mean when treated as more than instruction—as a moral and relational ethic. Alongside Carl Rogers, Thich Nhat Hanh, Kierkegaard, and bell hooks, we explore how this simple phrase opens a gateway to something far more enduring: agency without control, presence without pressure, and love without possession.

Reflections

• Freedom is not in fixing others—it’s in recognising what was never ours to carry.
• Letting someone be is not abandonment. It is the dignity of non-interference.
• The moral act is sometimes restraint. Real love leaves room.
• “Let me” is the quiet practice of self-return—of choosing not to follow every impulse to manage.

Why Listen?

• Reframe Let them as a philosophical ethic of presence
• Engage with thinkers like Frankl, Murdoch, Epictetus, and Butler through tone, not jargon
• Explore relational freedom beyond detachment or control
• Reflect on how restraint, silence, and letting go can become moral choices

Listen On:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts

Support This Work

To support future episodes, you can visit buymeacoffee.com/thedeeperthinkingpodcast or leave a kind review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you.

Bibliography

• Frankl, Viktor. Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press, 2006.
• Murdoch, Iris. The Sovereignty of Good. Routledge, 1970.
• hooks, bell. All About Love. William Morrow, 2000.
• Butler, Judith. Giving an Account of Oneself. Fordham University Press, 2005.
• Rogers, Carl. On Becoming a Person. Mariner Books, 1995.

Bibliography Relevance

• Viktor Frankl: Foundation for the space between stimulus and response
• Iris Murdoch: Provides ethical framing for attention and non-possession
• bell hooks: Resituates love as freedom from domination
• Judith Butler: Articulates vulnerability, interrelation, and ethical speech
• Carl Rogers: Emphasises presence, self-regard, and relational growth

Let them. Let me. Let this be enough.

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