Growing Pains with Nicholas Flores

In Episode 223 of Growing Pains with Nicholas Flores, Dr. Dan Ariely, author and Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University and a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight, reveals how to conquer regret and rethink life's choices. From surviving severe burns to facing personal attacks and a wave of misinformation during COVID, Dan shares insights on making the ‘last chapter' of life meaningful, embracing risk, and overcoming fear of change. Learn why we cling to open doors and how empathy can bridge divides.   You can find Dan, his books like Predictably Irrational, Misbelief, and The Upside of Irrationality, as well as his current work, online (danariely.com). You can also find him on YouTube/X/Instagram (@danariely) and on Facebook (@danarielyofficial).   05/07/2025

In this episode Nick and Dr. Emily Zarka discuss her journey from childhood fascination with horror to her scholarly career. Emily highlights her web series "Monstrum," which aims to make academic insights on monsters accessible, drawing parallels to Anthony Bourdain's storytelling. They explore how monsters reflect societal fears, the evolution of figures like vampires, and the impact of technology on horror narratives. Discover how she found her passion, why monsters hold deep meaning, and how horror can have a cathartic element. From her PhD in British romantic literature with an emphasis on the Gothic to pitching a hit YouTube show, Emily's story inspires resilience and creativity.   You can find Monstrum on YouTube ( ⁨@pbsstoried⁩ ), online (pbs.org), and the PBS History Channel. You can find Dr. Emily Zarka online (dremilyzarka.com).   04/16/2025

Michael Wert is a historian, writer, editor, history content consultant, and associate professor of East Asian history with a focus on early modern and modern Japan. You can find Michael and his work online (michaelwert.com).   04/01/2025

Nick sits down with Thomas Edrington to discuss tonight's (Saturday April 12th 2025) fundraiser "A Night of Deception and Revelry" hosted by the Transparent Humboldt Coalition and the North Coast Repertory Theatre, Tesla, Elon Musk, propaganda, Ukraine, Israel, Artificial Intelligence and more.    You can find tickets for the fundraiser online (https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=267353). Saturday April 12th, 2025 at 8:00 pm.   03/31/2025

Nick sits down with Steven Saint Thomas to discuss his project of building a natural building in Humboldt County. You can find Steve online (adventuresinpermaculture.com).   03/25/2025

Nick sits down with Steven Saint Thomas to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You can find Steven and his story "Silence The West Bank" on his Substack "Truthsmack" (Truthsmack).   02/25/2025

Nick sits down with Angelleigh McCumber to discuss the intricacies of life and more.   01/11/2025

Nick sits down with Steven Saint Thomas to discuss climate change, global temperatures, community resilience, permaculture and more. You can find Steve online (adventuresinpermaculture.com). If you're a writer/journalist interested in contributing, you can reach out to him through one of his Substacks.   01/14/2025

Nick sits down with Thomas Edrington to discuss the upcoming fundraiser "A Night of Deception and Revelry" hosted by the Transparent Humboldt Coalition and the North Coast Repertory Theatre, artificial intelligence, Humboldt County's financial problems, America's relations with Israel, autism and technology and more. You can find tickets for the fundraiser online (tickets). Opening night is Sunday February 2nd, 2025 at 8:00 pm followed by Saturday April 12th, 2025 at 8:00 pm. If you're interested in helping out with the event, or are an experienced sound engineer, you can connect with Thomas online (thcoalition.net). 01/09/2025

Kevin Huntley is an educational speaker, enriching lives through understanding insects. You can reach him online (Kevin@HuntleyFamily.net).   12/20/2024

Nick sits down with Anthony Mantova to discuss the political landscape, crime, legacy media, and more.  You can find Anthony Mantova online (anthonymantova.com) and on Substack (anthonymantova.substack.com). You can find Mantova's Two Street Music online (mtsmusic.com).   12/19/2024

Bethany Nass Cseh is a Pastor at Catalyst Church and Arcata United Methodist Church. She is also an author and blogger. You can find Bethany on Instagram (@bethany.nass.cseh) and Facebook (@bethany.cseh), her blog online (withbethany.com) along with her articles for the Lost Coast Outpost (lostcoastoutpost.com/author/bethany-cseh) and her two books "Stepping Into Lent: A 40 Day Reflection on Loss, Lack, & Belovedness, In the Wilderness With Jesus" and "Stepping Into Advent: Making Space to Recognize the Nearness of God" on Amazon. She is also the co-host of This Is Not Church, a podcast deconstructing faith. You can find This Is Not Church online (thisisnotchurch.com) and wherever you listen to podcasts.   12/18/2024

Nick sits down with Steven Saint Thomas to discuss local news stories to watch going into 2025.   12/17/2024

Joey Viltrakis is a contractor and the founder of Viltrakis Design Build, a one-stop shop for building a unique custom home in Humboldt County. You can find Viltrakis Design Build online (viltrakisdb.com), on Facebook (@viltrakisdb) and on Instagram (@viltrakisdesignbuild). You can also find them on YouTube (@Viltrakisdesignbuild) where their custom home build series is posted along with weekly vlogs.    12/06/2024

Hanks Sims is the editor of the Lost Coast Outpost. You can find the Lost Coast Outpost (LoCO) online (lostcoastoutpost.com) and on Facebook/Instagram (@lostcoastoutpost).

Nick sits down with Eric Kirk and David Frank to discuss Trump's presidential win, the war in Ukraine, the erosion of trust in our institutions, Israel/Palestine and more.   11/23/2024

Steven Saint Thomas is a journalist, writer and permaculture designer. You can find him at Truthsmack on Substack (stevensaint.substack.com).    11/19/2024

Nick sits down with Donnie Creekmore to talk about the election, Trump's cabinet picks, Humboldt and more.   11/13/2024

Nick sits down with Karl Van Dyke to discuss psychiatric nursing, the politics of medicine, covid, mental health and more.   10/16/2024

Nick sits down with Janna Campillo to discuss modern dating, relationships, divorce, love and more.   10/31/2024

Steven Saint Thomas is journalist, writer and permaculture designer. You can find him on Substack (thehumboldtzag.substack.com), (stevensaint.substack.com) and (abufrancis.substack.com) as well as at (adventuresinpermaculture.com).   10/13/2024

Nick sits down with Rachel Houska, Daniel Marcus and Scott "Q" Marcus to talk about their upcoming play “The Game's Afoot”, a "Sherlock Holmes, festive holiday, comedic, murder-mystery romp written by Ken Ludwig." Opening night is Friday, November 15th, with performances running through  Sunday, December 8th. Tickets and show times can be found online (ncrt.net). 10/22/2024

Eric Black is a freelance journalist and the founder of Arcata News, which produces "news videos on land use and proposed development in Arcata, CA." You can find Arcata News on Facebook/YouTube ( @ArcataNews ) and Eric's other channel, dedicated to helping people write better TV news scripts, on YouTube ( @TVnewswritingtips ) You can also find Eric on Twitter (@eric_black3).

Tex Kelly is a storyteller, producer, actor, photographer and more. You can find him online (texkellyphotography.com), on Facebook (@TexKeithOfficial), Instagram (@simplytexx) and TikTok/YouTube (@simplytex).   09/17/2024

Randy Cordeiro is a musician and the Surreal Neil in the tribute band Super Diamond. You can find Super Diamond, and their schedule, online (superdiamond.com), YouTube (@randcordeiro) and Facebook/Instagram (@SuperDiamondBand).   08/29/2024

Nick sits down with Eric Kirk and David Frank to discuss the 2024 presidential election, conflict in the Middle East, accountability in the government, propaganda, speech and more!   08/29/2024

Dr. Fred Jordan is the Co-CEO of FinalSpark, a Swiss tech company developing brain organoids for biocomputing. You can find FinalSpark online (@finalspark.com) and on X (@finalsparkai).

Nick sits down with Dustyn Punch and Caz Boaza to discuss life, kids, religion, AI and more!   08/24/2024

Nick sits down with Thomas Edrington to discuss the internet, war, psychedelics, neurodivergence, Big Brother, Measure F and more!

Steven Saint Thomas is journalist, writer and permaculture designer. You can find him on Substack (thehumboldtzag.substack.com), (stevensaint.substack.com), (abufrancis.substack.com) as well as at (adventuresinpermaculture.com).

James Carey is the Co-Founder of I'm Still Here, "a mission-driven brand dedicated to those fighting life's toughest battles." You can find them online (@imstillhereco.com) and on X/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook (@imstillhereco).

James Arrowood is the CEO/President, General Counsel of Alcor Life Extension Foundation. Alcor is a non-profit organization located in Scottsdale, Arizona, founded in 1972, to help bring cryonics to the world.

Tyler Parr is the Co-Owner of Body Works Alpha Annex, a private fitness club that offers 24/7 access, fitness classes, personal training, boxing and more. He is also a boxing coach and podcaster. You can find Tyler on Instagram (@coachtylerjparr). You can find Body Works Alpha Annex online (bodyworksalpha.com), on Facebook (@alphafitnessclubs) and Instagram (@bodyworksalphaannex).

You can find Reeph everywhere you stream music and on Instagram (@reephthegoat). Be on the lookout for new music. You can find Eli on Instagram (@juice.engineer). You can find Beau on Instagram (@_beauuut).

Nick sits down with Angelleigh McCumber to discuss America, dating, relationships and more!

Eric Black is a freelance journalist and the founder of Arcata News, which produces "news videos on land use and proposed development in Arcata, CA." You can find Arcata News on Facebook/YouTube ( @ArcataNews ) and Eric's other channel, dedicated to helping people write better TV news scripts, on YouTube ( @TVnewswritingtips ) You can also find Eric on Twitter (@eric_black3).

Matthew is the founder of Matthew's Lawn Care, a one stop shop for all your lawn care needs. He is also the co-host of the podcasts Barnible and What We Didn't Learn In Business School. Reeph is a hip-hop artist and the co-host of Barnible. Eli is the founder of Juicebox Audio, a recording studio based out of Arcata, California.   You can find Matthew and Matthew's Lawn Care on Instagram (@cendesauce)(@matthews.lawn.care), on YouTube (@matthewcendejastv) and online (matthewslawncare707.com). You can find Eli and Juicebox Audio online (juiceboxaudio.square.site) and on Instagram (@juice.engineer) (@juicebox.audio).You can find Reeph everywhere you stream music and on Instagram (@reephthegoat). You can find Barnible wherever you listen to podcasts, on Instagram (@barniblepod) and online (barnible-boys-pod.square.site).

Miles Slattery is the Eureka City Manager. For more information visit the Talk Eureka page.

Rowdy is a Hip Hop artist. You can find him and links to his music on Instagram (@imrowdyy). 

William Happer, Ph.D., is the Co-Founder and Chair of the CO2 Coalition, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization seeking to "engage in an informed and dispassionate discussion of climate change, humans' role in the climate system, the limitations of climate models, and the consequences of mandated reductions in CO2 emissions." Will is also Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics at Princeton University and is a specialist in modern optics, optical and radiofrequency spectroscopy of atoms and molecules, radiation propagation in the atmosphere, and spin-polarized atoms and nuclei. You can find the CO2 coalition online (co2coalition.org).

Nick sits down with Michelle Blackwell and Michael Munson to discuss housing, Citizens for a Better Eureka, the City of Eureka Housing for All and Downtown Vitality Initiative and more! 

Nick sits down with Dustyn Punch to discuss living costs in California, homelessness, working hard for what you want in life, and more!

Darin Ferreira is a third generation dairy farmer, running Ferreira and Son Dairy out in the Arcata Bottoms. Ferreira and Son Dairy is the only on site creamery in Humboldt Country and has the only on site bottling facility within 150 miles, offering certified USDA organic milk from grass fed cows. You can find Ferreira and Son Dairy regular milk, chocolate milk made with Ghirardelli Chocolate, and strawberry milk made with real strawberries at a range of locations such as all Murphy's Markets, Safeway in Eureka and McKinleyville, North Coast Co-op in Eureka and Arcata, Eureka Natural Foods and more. You can find stores that carry Ferreira & Son Dairy Organic milk on their site (@ferreiraandsondairy.com) and be sure to check them out on Facebook (@ferreiraandsonmilkbottling).

Bethany Nass Cseh is a Pastor at Catalyst Church and Arcata United Methodist Church. She is also an author and blogger. You can find Bethany on Instagram (@bethany.nass.cseh) and Facebook (@bethany.cseh), her blog online (withbethany.com) and her two books "Stepping Into Lent: A 40 Day Reflection on Loss, Lack, & Belovedness, In the Wilderness With Jesus" and "Stepping Into Advent: Making Space to Recognize the Nearness of God" on Amazon.

Nick sits down with Thomas Edrington to discuss the Humboldt County Judge's race, censorship, Covid, digital footprints and more!

Eli is the founder of Juicebox Audio, a recording studio based out of Arcata, California. Reeph is a hip-hop artist and the co-host of the Barnible podcast. You can find Eli and Juicebox Audio online (juiceboxaudio.square.site) and on Instagram (@juice.engineer) (@juicebox.audio).You can find Reeph everywhere you stream music and on Instagram (@reephthegoat) (@barniblepod).   Reeph's newest single I'm in the Parking Garage w the Door Open is out now on all platforms.   Be sure to check out the upcoming March 22nd show at Richards Goat Tavern & Tea Room in Arcata, California (instagram.com/p/C3sqX4YRBTF).

Roy Gomez is currently running for the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors 3rd District Seat. You can find him on Facebook (@electroygomez) and (@roy.gomez.148). 

Joel Gilbert is a filmmaker, investigative journalist, political commentator and president of Highway 61 Entertainment, a Los Angeles based film production company. He has produced films like The Trayvon Hoax: Unmasking the Witness Fraud that Divided America, Michelle Obama 2024: Her Real Life Story and Plan for Power, Dreams from My Real Father, Bob Dylan World Tour 1966 The Home Movies, Farewell Israel and Atomic Jihad. You can find Joel and links to all of his work on X (@JoelSGilbert) and Highway 61 Entertainment online (highway61ent.com).

Joby Warrick is a national security reporter for The Washington Post, covering terrorism, rogue states, weapons proliferation and the middle east. He is also an author and has published three nonfiction books. “The Triple Agent,” “Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS,” which was awarded a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction and "Red Line: The Unraveling of Syria and America's Race to Destroy the Most Dangerous Arsenal in the World." You can find Joby on X (@JobyWarrick), online (www.jobywarrick.com) and his reporting for The Washington Post online (www.washingtonpost.com/people/joby-warrick).   Be on the lookout for his new book slated for 2025.

Bill Bloss is an attorney out of Connecticut. He has represented individuals on a wide number of cases covering everything from personal injury and product liability, to civil rights and elections. Bill most recently represented Democratic Mayoral Candidate John Gomes in the Bridgeport Primary Election fraud case which, in part thanks to video surveillance of individuals dropping stacks of ballots into outdoor collection boxes, resulted in a judge's order for a new primary. 

Arden Young is a journalist at Sound Investigations. You can find her recent undercover Pornhub exposé on her X account (@arden_young_) and online (soundinvestigations.com). You can also find Arden on Instagram (@arden_young_), Sound Investigations on Instagram (@soundinvestigations) and on X (@soundinvestig).   To help support, visit soundinvestigations.com/donate