Almost Enlightened

Why do we put-up with an education system that systematically ignores solutions to illiteracy and innumeracy? Are we being duped by a system in which there are advantages to having an illiterate population? Illiteracy and innumeracy are forms of academic child abuse that pose a threat to our democratic freedom. It's time for change. Join esteemed guest Michael Maloney for a bewildering journey into the maniacal education system that's in dire need of a reset.

In this thought provoking episode, Alex explores the construct of identity and ponders the possibility that we're a lot more than how we identify ourselves.

This episode is about freedom. It's also about the illusion of division, the power of one, and the infinitude of love.

Are we already masters but don't realize it? Well then, I suppose it's time to discover your field of possibilities and your power of manifestation. Manifest this episode by hitting play. And happy holidays. Thank you for supporting the Almost Enlightened podcast in 2021. 2022 will take us to incredible places... guaranteed!

"You know something, until you know something else." In this very thought provoking episode, Alex examines the nature of belief and makes some interesting observations about its very essence. **And congratulations to the Almost Enlightened Podcast for being named to Feedspot's top 20 "best observation" podcasts. The Almost Enlightened show came-in at number 8. Yippee!** Check it out here: https://blog.feedspot.com/observation_podcasts/ (https://blog.feedspot.com/observation_podcasts/)

Alex calls this episode one of the most important episodes of the year. It's real, it's honest, and it'll make you feel something.

Nope - get your mind out of the gutter! Not that kind of rooting. This is a magical discussion about the practice of grounding, also known as earthing or rooting. You're in store for some really cool connections that'll surely cause you to disrobe and find some earth.

Everyone knows the importance of learning, right?! In this episode, Alex ruminates on something that he believes is even more important than learning. And that's, unlearning.

You may have forgotten what it's like to venture into the unknown. Pick-up a walking stick and join Alex for a journey into awareness, using the imagination and a little curiosity.

Not a guy who's ever worn too much jewellery, Alex ponders the significance of a new necklace and ends-up learning some pretty interesting things on this latest journey.

They're brilliant, they're changing the world, and they're both guests on the Almost Enlightened Podcast.  Join Nikki Symmons, Tom Zamzow, and Alex for some brilliant conversation on the topics of navigating a career, diversity & inclusion, the power of personal stories, effecting positive change, and so many other fascinating topics.  Nikki's a former professional athlete, LGBTQ role model, diversity and inclusion advisor, and exceptional human being.  Tom's the founder of Zamzow Consulting, a communications and reputation management expert, co-host of the Higher! Career Podcast with Nikki, and a compassionate human being. You're going to love this episode! Wanna know more about Nikki and Tom? Check them out here:  https://linktr.ee/gohigherpodcast (https://linktr.ee/gohigherpodcast) Facebook https://www.facebook.com/highercareerpodcast (HIGHER Career Podcast Facebook page) Nikki Symmons Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-symmons/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-symmons/) Tom Zamzow Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomzamzow/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomzamzow/) Nikki Symmons IG: https://www.instagram.com/niksymmons/ (https://www.instagram.com/niksymmons/)  Nikki Symmons Twitter: https://twitter.com/Niksymmons (https://twitter.com/Niksymmons)  Tom Zamzow Twitter: https://twitter.com/zamzowtom (https://twitter.com/zamzowtom) 

What if Alex's crazy idea actually worked? In this fascinating episode, Alex discusses positive versus negative energy and the merit behind starting a brand new one-of-a-kind energy company. Check this one out!

This is a special edition episode. It's a reading of a blog that Alex wrote for the purpose of sharing on Megan O'Donnell Clements' "thelovedlife.com" website. Megan's a multipreneur, blogger, mom, wife, and mass shooting survivor, amongst many other talents. This episode examines the parallels between an ocean's undertow and an emotional undertow.

In this utopian look at what life might look like if consumers were to determine the pricing of goods and services they purchase, Alex toys with the idea of a "Worth Economy." Agree or disagree, the subject is fun to explore and provides a glimpse at an alternative solution to all that's gone wrong with modern day economics.

Stephen Hawking once attributed humankind's greatest achievements to talking. Hawking was a genius; but what if language or the absence of it took humankind in a different direction? Alex explores the constraints of modern language and wonders if language forces us into a particular worldview.

A child is found, a Canadian pop-star resonates, and Alex contemplates the beauty of all that is beyond and all that is within.

Alex continues a week of completely inspired discussion in yet another bonus edition that stems from an email sent to him by a friend and listener of the show. Have you ever felt like you couldn't keep going? Have you ever been shrouded in the fog? I think we've all been there. But is there a way out?

In this bonus episode, Alex takes his research on cacao trees, fungal networks, acacia trees, and communication and puts it all together with no script. If you're a nature lover, you'll love this episode.

No script, no editing, no cares. Just Alex. Just energy.

In this wild episode, Alex explores a radical concept - that your mind and your memory may not be located in your head. This is a DO NOT MISS episode!

Alex shape-shifts for this episode and becomes a fence. Yup - you read that correctly. In this most unusual of episodes, Alex takes some time to contemplate fences, space, and creation. This one's different! Enter at your own risk...

It only took him 26 episodes, but in this 27th instalment, Alex finally puts his finger on what this podcast is truly all about.  Join Alex for the big reveal in this newest episode, entitled, “Freedom.”

You never know what to expect when you listen to the Almost Enlightened podcast, except that it'll always be introspective and interesting. Join Alex as he does something he's never done in reviewing one of his own private affirmations and find out what he discovered.

Why do we make mistakes and what the heck are mistakes? Do they serve any purpose or do they serve every purpose? Alex takes a deep dive into a subject in which he's a self-proclaimed expert. Having made just about every mistake known to humankind, Alex draws upon his vast experience of blunders and uncovers the truth about mistakes... unless, of course, he's made yet another mistake!

What does baseball have to do with self-love and confidence? Well, I guess confidence makes some sense, but self-love?? Really?! This is an awesome episode that will provide you tools to take both your confidence and self-love to new heights. Not pop-fly heights - home run heights! Join Alex for a fun look at the lessons he learned this week, during a baseball game.

In this warmly heartfelt episode, Alex shares stories of a recent portage trip with family and friends. He chronicles the adversity, the victories, and the lessons learned after a 4-day trip to Algonquin Park in North-Eastern Ontario. If you stick around for the whole podcast, you may even get to hear a short guest appearance by a previous guest of the show.

Free-will vs. destiny is the topic du jour in this fascinating episode. Join Alex as he navigates the evolving nature of truth, why it's okay to dip your toe in strain and struggle, and what it's like to be grass. Huh?! Just have a listen...

Massive decisions, "finding genuine," and the essence of love make part II of a ground-breaking series, entitled "Love in the 60s," an episode you don't want to miss. Enjoy this heartwarming episode as it chronicles promo industry icon Terie Craig's remarkable story of finding true love in her 60s.

Love is in the air. Join Alex as he interviews his mentor and friend Terie about finding love later in life. This is a topic that hasn't yet been explored on the Almost Enlightened podcast but it couldn't have come at a better time as the world awakens to the true essence of love. This is part I of a two-part series.

This episode has it all. It's got soul, it's got insights galore, it's got tips, it's got real-life stories of expression and energy. Find out what the power is that moves energy and expression. It's quite the revelation!

Imagination: Is its place of creation located in the heart or the brain? The answer may surprise you in this follow-up episode to "It's a Matter of the Heart." Join Alex for a wild look into the imagination and a technique that's transformed Alex's life.

This could only happen in the heart. Find out why Alex thinks that the key to the soul is in a place so mysterious that it can't be lost and will never be found.

What do interconnectedness and infinite intelligence have in common? Could they possibly hold the key to a paradigm shift in our civilization's evolution? This episode follows a fascinating path, chronicling how our foundational beliefs have come into existence and what single realization has the potential to augment our understanding of who we truly are.

In this heartwarming episode, enjoy the first-ever interview on the Almost Enlightened podcast. Prompted by his 6-year old son, Alex has a candid conversation with his boy and discovers (among other things) that children are quite adept at guiding their own education. Alex pops in and out of this interview and makes observations and commentary on the actual interview. This is a special episode!

In this latest episode of Almost Enlightened, entitled “The Wall,” Alex reveals the extent to which he was humbled by being forced to confront his fears and insecurities. In his own words, "I'd been traveling at 100 mph and hit the wall with the might of my ego and insecurities." This is a ground-breaking episode and the most revealing, to date.

In this short episode, Alex asks a bit of a bizarre question about whether or not it's possible to be in two places at once. Have a listen and find out if you agree with the answer.

So many insights; where to start?! How about with the following revelation: "We'd rather hang-on to a finished portrait than stare into the unlimited possibility of a blank canvas." In this episode, Alex opens-up a little and provides a glimpse into his personal experience of "disrobing in public." Warning - this episode IS suitable for all ages :)

Face it - we all have fears! But do you truly understand what fear is? Is it even an emotion? Alex debates that concept by examining fear for what it truly is. And the revelation might not be at all what you expect. Bring an open mind to this episode and explore the very thing that might be keeping you from being your best self.

This one's different! Inspired by an email from a friend, Alex was so moved by such a heartfelt writing that he created an episode that speaks to purpose. In this episode, you'll discover why purpose is the precursor to action. You'll also discover why friendship is one of the most motivating forces on the planet. Enjoy this groundbreaking episode!

Could he possibly be serious? Teens to lead the world?! What??!! Alex has definitely lost his mind, right? You don't want to miss this short episode as Alex tears into the education system with the might of nuclear energy and the precision of a Swiss watch maker. Find out what it means to "question why we use the how" in this evocative and compelling episode.

If you're anything like our host, then you can't conceive of a world in which music doesn't exist. In the newest episode entitled, “The Secret Power of Music,” Alex shakes it up a bit and truly enjoys musing on subject matter that's dear to his heart. From an interesting theory on how music may have developed to a very personal account of how music has provided clarity in the darkest of moments, this was a challenging, emotional, and fun episode to create.

An episode so profound that Alex changed the title from "Perception" to "The Table." Find out what revelation had such an impact that it altered the way Alex sees the world. Discover how our brains "see" objects and learn how and why perception has everything to do with the observer. The creation of this episode was a turning point for the Almost Enlightened podcast and raises the bar for all future episodes.

Giving isn't an act; it's a philosophy. And when we deliberately make the decision to live the philosophy, a curious thing occurs. We create a loop with no end and no beginning. We serve humanity rather than sever it (same five letters, but vastly different results). And, just for fun, Alex dissects a popular REM song that has everything to do with the motivation behind giving.

Oh, boy! How difficult is it to change the world? According to Alex, it's easier than you may imagine. Indulge in the world of the dreamers and understand why people like Elon Musk, Nelson Mandela, Marie Curie, and the Buddha continue to change the world, whether they're alive or not. Consider how fear has shaped the world and then realize that with complete faith, there is no room for fear. Are you in-touch with your life changing powers? Our children are. See what you can learn from a 5-year old. And then, change the world!

Alex leaves his comfort zone to discuss the uncharted waters of post-prohibition marijuana usage; especially as it pertains to family dynamics. As the world slowly legalizes marijuana for both medicinal and recreational usage, the ramifications are plenty. Alex uses research, case-studies, and his own family dynamic to explore the impact of legalization and what it means to families that are navigating this exact issue in real-time. This is a special episode, guaranteed to make you think.

Is meditation for you? In this episode, Alex (a self-admitted novice meditator) explores the breakthrough that enabled him to bring meditation into his life. Whether you're an expert at meditation, an intermediate, or have never meditated in your life, this episode is jam-packed full of fascinating thoughts on meditation. Whether you ever meditate a day in your life or not, you'll find this episode light-hearted and fun to identify with.

Energy is thought. Or is it? In this episode, Alex explores the concept of energy through multiple perspectives and real world examples. He digs into whether or not we have a say in how energy is used and directed. He also dissects the concept of energy vibration and then looks at the effects of opening-up awareness and the heart in the pursuit of perhaps using energy to our advantage. This is a thought provoking episode that's well worth listening to at least a couple of times.

Meet Alex. He's the host of a new podcast called, "Almost Enlightened." In the intro episode you'll learn what the show's about and what inspired Alex to create it. You'll also get immersed in the energy and get a glimpse of what lies ahead. This is different. Are you okay with different?