How Humans Work with Jef Szi

Episode SummaryThe highly informed and deeply compassionate Amy Emerson joins Jef Szi and the How Humans Work Podcast for a remarkable conversation about the evolving landscape of psychedelics. With her extensive involvement and leadership in the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)* and their multi-year effort to get MDMA approved by FDA as a therapeutic medicine for PTSD. There are few better than Amy who can speak to the state of psychedelics for medical use in society. Not only does Amy share her honest appraisal about FDA drug approval process and members of congress on the Hill, she gives us the little known and fascinating history of MDMA. Some highlights are Sasha and Ann Shulgin's groundbreaking contributions, the reputational damage MDMA suffered in the 90's, the long-game efforts of Rick Doblin and others, the powerful way MDMA works on the brain, and the remarkable promise MDMA has shown to help people suffering with PTSD. Put together as a whole, Emerson offers us a destigmatized and inspiring view of MDMA beyond the common street descriptions of Ecstasy and Molly. From MDMA and the Medical Model, Amy then helps us see the many other use-cases for psychedelics that have a long and varied history. Building on issues of trauma and the importance of spiritually reconnecting with ourselves, we walk through the psychological benefits that can come with right-use of psychedelics.Finally, this conversation opens the visions of what future of psychedelic use in society through thoughtful contexts that track safety concerns and how, much like meditation, these ‘medicines' can have a place in our society like Buddhist and meditation practices have entered our culture. All in all, Breaking the Stigma is a podcast of significance, as it invites us to reconsider our biases around psychedelics at a time when our society is challenged by mental health matters like trauma and the pervasive disconnection from nature and spiritual renewal. ***** About: Amy Emerson is a highly respected leader in the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. She was Lykos Therapeutics (formerly MAPS PBC) CEO for an important period in advancing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a drug with the FDAShe earned a Bachelor of Science in Genetics and Cell Biology from Washington State University and spent the early career involved in roles at pharmaceutical companies, where she contributed to the development of therapies in immunology, oncology, and vaccines .​In 2003, she began volunteering with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), assisting with clinical research monitoring. Her expertise was instrumental in establishing MAPS' clinical department and managing the MDMA Clinical Development Program. When MAPS founded its Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) in 2014 to develop and commercialize MDMA-assisted therapy, Emerson was appointed CEO .​Under her leadership, the organization, later rebranded as Lykos Therapeutics, completed multiple Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials and raised approximately $150 million in funding. The company grew to over 120 employees, all working toward the goal of obtaining FDA approval for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD .​Amy resigned form her CEO role in September 2024. Currently she is a senior advisor to Lykos and an independent psychedelic research consultant, awaiting the next big adventure.*****Chapters00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage02:40 The Evolution of Psychedelic Research06:10 Understanding Stigma and Its Origins10:54 MDMA: From Therapy to Recreation16:33 Therapeutic Applications of MDMA20:28 Navigating the FDA and Drug Development24:45 Challenges

Episode SummaryAuthor, healer, and ceremonialist Christine Olivia Hernandez joins the show for an in-depth conversation on the transformative power of gratitude, the wisdom that flows out of Mayan traditions, and the gifts to the heart and body in cacao. Through the lens of her newest book, Remember Your Roots, we dive into the relevance and importance of ancestral lineages, personal stories of loss and healing, the profound value of reclaiming our histories.We begin with Christine introducing us to the beautiful, heart-opening practices of cacao. She shares its ceremonial significance in Mayan and other cultures, highlighting its capacity to reconnect us with our health and gratitude. She also addresses the larger challenges of reconnecting with one's roots, emphasizing the need to honor both the light and shadow of ancestral histories. We talk through her three-phase model and what the framework offers to us for finding genuine reconciliation and growth in the process of returning to our roots.Later, Christine reflects on her late father's life and legacy, sharing how her healing journey has been marked by poignant encounters with crows, vivid dreams, and serendipitous events. One powerful moment came when she discovered that her father, Tony “Crow” Hernandez, had helped to build the cultural center where her Remember Your Roots book launch was held!With a deep sense of magic and authentic optimism, Christine embodies what the path of gratitude and a renewed connection to the ancestral heart can look like. For her this is found in her offering, the Maltyox Method, which blends ceremonial use of cacao, meditation, movement, and gratitude. You can learn more about her work here. You are invited into The Ancestral Heart, where we find that a grateful heart is deeply intertwined with the heart of the Earth, where a profound sense of belonging and wholeness returns when we remember our roots and reconnect to the immeasurable depths of the human heart.Christine Olivia Hernandez is the author of Remember Your Roots and ten other books. She is a second-generation immigrant, whose teachers the Maltyox Method, offers cacao ceremonies, and provides spiritual mentorship.

Episode SummaryDeb Dana L.C.S.W. joins the How Humans Work Podcast to illuminate how our nervous systems dance between the ancient survival responses and the instinct to be in states of connection and safety. As an author, renowned Polyvagal Theory lecturer, Deb expertly and compassionately guides us through the ins-and-outs of Polyvagal Theory (PVT), and how it can help us find a more regulated nervous system. At the core, we explore the powerful, bottom-up role of our vagal nerves play in our ability to find safety and connection. Consequently, this show is also a profound conversation about the role of our nervous systems in healing, relationships, stress, and trauma.Throughout a delightful episode, Deb offers heartfelt insight into our human experience as she emphasizes the need for co-regulation and the impact of trauma on our nervous system responses as well as the intersection of Internal Family Systems and Polyvagal Theory. Together. Finally, we explore how environments and collective aspects challenge the nervous systems across contemporary society. Here Deb highlights the importance of creating safe environments for healing and connection has in changing how society handles. In this episode you will learn: How Polyvagal Theory provides a framework for understanding our nervous system. What Neuroception is and how our nervous system perceives safety and danger through neuroception. What the vagus nerve is and how it plays a crucial role in regulating our emotional states. Why Regulation is essential for accessing curiosity, play, and connection. The difference between Stress and Trauma responses, and how we can work with them. How the vagal break helps manage heart rate and emotional responses. Why understanding the nervous system can lead to more effective therapy. Insight into the influences on the collective nervous systems, societal dynamics and healing. Why creating safe environments is key to facilitating healing personally and societally. Deb Dana L.C.S.W., is a renowned clinician, consultant, author, and international lecturer specializing in the application of Polyvagal Theory to trauma treatment and therapy. With a deep understanding of the autonomic nervous system and its role in shaping human behavior and relationships, she has become a a leader in brining PVT insights into practical tools for therapists, healthcare providers, and individuals seeking healing.Deb is also the developer of the Rhythm of Regulation clinical model, which integrates Polyvagal Theory into therapeutic practices, emphasizing safety, connection, and co-regulation as the foundation for emotional and psychological well-being. Additionally, Deb has authored several influential books, including The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation and Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory, as well as the co-edited work Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection.YouTube Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Background 02:11 The Role of the Nervous System in Human Experience 08:25 The Vagus Nerve: Anatomy and Function

Episode SummaryThe storied and kind-hearted Jai Uttal drops into the show for an extended conversation about music, monkey gods, gurus, India, sobriety, family, and ultimately the spiritual path of healing through love. We begin with an exploration of Jai's current practice of hyper-local kindness in a world where that resource is becoming increasingly scarce. From there we dive into Jai's latest musical offering, Hanuman Chalisa for World Peace. Not only does Jai share with us the intimate practice he's had with this widely venerated chant for over five decades, but he walks us through the creative context in which his first published recording of the Chalisa came to life. In his telling we gather the rich array of inspirations that bring about his creative gifts.Gradually, Jai invites us into the richness of his life, as he retells how the winding threads that have made up the fabric of his life came to be. We come to understand the overlapping events and energies of kirtan, India, gurus, dreams, drugs, anxieties, singing, but mostly love and family, have been ripples of his life. Along the way we hear about his intersections with Steve Jobs, Ali Akbar Khan, Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Das, and others. We hear about his initiation into kirtan, Indian classical music, and his profound relationships that unfolded with musical and spiritual masters. We also hear about the struggles with finding his voice, performing, and managing the pains of life with drugs and alcohol before he found his true loves in his wife Nubia and in becoming a father to his son, Ezra. In the beginning, middle, and end, the beloved monkey god, Hanuman, walks with us, serving as a back-drop of Jai's own spiritual journey as he realizes the profound and ordinary teachings love and devotion have in his, just like every other human life. A beautiful conversation that bares the heart in a way that we can't help but be moved by. About: Jai Uttal is a husband, father, neighbor, and friend. He's more widely know for being a Grammy nominated sacred music composer, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, and ecstatic vocalist. Jai combines influences from India with influences from American rock and jazz, creating a stimulating and exotic multi-cultural fusion that is truly world spirit music.Jai has been leading, teaching and performing kirtan around the world for close to 50 years, creating a safe environment for people to open their hearts and voices.

In this snap, bonus episode, show host Jef Szi riffs on what he is calling, 'Alpha Masculinity,' as it emerges alongside Donald Trump election to a second presidential term. In his eclectic style, Jef begins the show sharing his experience on a beautiful November night in San Francisco and going to see Leif Vollebekk in concert with his wife. Contrasting that with the pre-show UFC experience, Jef leans into evolution, mating strategies, and ironies that are unfolding as the majority of American Voters embrace the "big man" attitude and style of Donald Trump. With curiosity, critique, and invitation, Jef invites us to dive into the instinctual draw toward a renewed Alpha Masculinity with nuance.Calling on the stories from his late friend, Brent MacKinnon during the turmoil of the Vietnam War as well as the gift of artistry Leif demonstrated in his show, Jef calls us forward into this conversation using all the sensibilities to illuminate the deep need to reconcile ourselves with this force and to find our way with the complexities it presents.

Episode SummaryIn episode 42, we take a deep dive into the realm of myth with insightful and heartfelt Chris Skidmore. As an astrologer, psychotherapist and host of the On the Souls Terms Podcast, Chris helps illuminate the meaning and embedded knowledge hidden inside the 1800 year old Roman novel: The Golden Ass. This text is where the first telling of The Marriage of Eros and Psyche is found. Together, Chris and your show host Jef Szi take an extended journey into these rich and poignant tales that are saturated with symbolism, archetypes, relatable folly, and knowledge that help us make sense of our own human condition.The show begins with Chris sharing about his recent trip to Greece and Italy—the actual landscape where these stories took place. From there we build a Jungian context in the spirit of Marie Louis Von Franz before a recounting of The Golden Ass, where the main character, Lucius, accidently ends up being turned into an ass. Caught is ass-form, Lucius experiences a great deal of folly and suffering. Moved by the elements in the story, Chris and Jef explore the meaning and medicine this overlooked tale offers as we seek to reconcile our own lives with the greater forces and events we experience. Next, they then turn their attention the Psyche and Eros story. Recounting the events of this monumental myth around love and soul, they drink deeply from the profound images and details found there. In particular, we come to see how this myth offers insights and teaching into the journey of love, of maturation, and our complex dynamics that come with individuation.With a superb attention to the heart along with beautiful renderings and teachings found in The Golden Ass and The Marriage of Eros and Psyche, Chris offers us perspective on our humanity while simultaneously fostering our connection to the artistic and soulful roots of the ancient Greco-Roman imagination.About Chris Skidmore: Chris Skidmore is a psychotherapist, astrologer, biodynamic cranial-sacral therapist who resides in Bali. He is also the host of On The Soul's Terms Podcast. You can learn more about Chris work and check-out his podcast by going to his website.

Episode SummaryIn this next adventure into our Systems of Knowledge theme, the highly relatable and beautifully honest Erin Gilmore joins the podcast. This conversation explores how various teachings are points of refuge and healing as we make our way on the path adulting. Erin opens up about her journey with ADHD and the knowledges that have helped her. Specifically, how how the practice of yoga and movement became a foundation for making sense and meaning in her life.Along the way, we also learn how Meditation with Jeff Warren, Non-Violent Communication practices with Judith Hanson Lasater, and Trauma-Informed Yoga have been anchors for growth and self understanding in the process of becoming. Without pretense our proclamation, Erin offers unvarnished truth about her story and the encounter with life's uncertainties and changes. From the listening skills that come with NVC or the ritual wisdom found in esoteric teachers, Erin shows us how embracing the knowledges has supported her self-acceptance and strengthened her anchor. About Erin: Erin Gilmore is a San Francisco-based yoga teacher with a unique modern style. She is also a student and teacher of Non-Violent Communication. Her experiences with Trauma-Informed yoga transformed her life and yoga practice. She lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and two children.Try Her Living Room Yoga ClassFollow Erin on Social

Episode SummaryAlice Treves is seasoned psychotherapist with a background in Hakomi, CBT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. This is her second time joining the podcast. She and Jef Szi have been together for 27 years and have two daughters.In this episode we dive into The 9 Negative Thinking Habits, a CBT framework* Alice uses as part of her therapy practice to help both teens and adults. By breaking down each of the 9 Habits (Catastrophizing, Fortune Telling, Mind-Reading, Blaming, I Can't, Zooming in on the Negative, All-or-Nothing, I Should/You Should, & It's Not Fair) we peer under the hood of our mental habits. Alice shows us how "The Four C's" -- catching, checking, getting curious, and changing habitual thinking with helpful thoughts, can improve our cognitive experience. Along the way, Alice and Jef lean on their marriage and shared intellectual interests to deepen the exploration of our mental capacities by considering how our thoughts are expressions of developmental needs, evolutionary adaptations, and a validation of the parts perspective found in Internal Family Systems Model. With equal measure of compassion and insight, Alice's experience gives us a valuable sense that we don't have to be run by our thought habits. Indeed, there are tools and perspectives that can help change. In the last portion of this conversation, Alice enrichens our sense of negative thinking patterns by tying them to the archetypes found in astrology. By making a connection between the hard lessons of life (which are attributed to the planet Saturn in astrology) and our encounters with thinking habits, she fosters a greater sense of the mind's depths and how we can work with our human nature. About Alice: Alice Treves LCSW is a psychotherapist who works with adults, teens, and families, offering guidance and support for life's many challenges. To learn more about her practice, you can visit her website. About The 9 Negative Thinking Habits: The negative thinking types are sourced from a workbook that helps teens (and adults) work with their negative thinking habits. The title is Conquer Negative Thinking for Teens, written by Mary Karapetian Alvord and Anne McGrath. We thank the authors for their work and insights.

Episode Summary:Dr. Scott Schmidt joins the podcast to share his knowledge about caring for those with serious illness and those who are in the dying process. As a medical doctor with an expansive background in Emergency Medicine, Hospice Care, and now as a leader in the Primary Palliative Care field, Scott invites us to consider how we go about the realities that surround end-of-life. Along the way, we get a solid sense of what kind of attitudes, questions, and conversations are needed from both sides of the medical encounter. But don't be fooled, this episode has teachings for the healthy as much as for those with serious health challenges. In considering the inevitable fate of all bodies, Dr. Schmidt shows us how we can be more prepared and receptive to our individual impermanence at any point in our lives. Indeed, we come to see how forethought can help us be present and feel less overwhelmed in more trying times.Further on in the podcast, we learn how Scott's encounters with live-saving measures and his natural inclination toward helping those facing illness and death pushed him forward to being a leader in the Primary Palliative Care approach. Towards the end of the show, we get a very real glimpse into the difficulty of modern medicine, with its messy and often morally distressing dilemmas.With depth and humility in the face of the unknowable, this conversation is a remarkable one for both the significances that occur in the latter stages of life, and also with the genuine soulfulness Dr. Schmidt brings to these moving encounters. As he says, navigating serious illness and the inevitability of death is no simple thing. About Dr. Scott Schmidt: Scott Schmidt is an Emergency Medicine doctor and cultural change leader who is charged with developing Primary Palliative Care competencies. About Primary Palliative Care: is a subspecialty of medicine, that seeks to plan and address serious illness situations with an orientation to minimize suffering while tending to the whole person. Considered an upstream evolution from Palliative Care, Primary Palliative Care seeks to support Palliative Care competencies in all providers and teams.

Episode SummaryIn The Work of Repairing Harm, the warm-hearted Jeffrey Weisberg joins the podcast for a rich and moving conversation about his experience with Peacebuilding and Restorative Justice practices. As the Executive Director and co-founder of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, Jeffrey shares his perspective and insight on the incredible value these practices have for relationships of all shapes and sizes. With equal amounts of energy, vision, and honesty, Jeffrey walks us through the key questions and approaches of what it takes to repair harm. Whether that is the challenges of refugees in Uganda trying to work through the pressures and hardships of living in a refugee camp, the impact fights on school campuses can have, or the longstanding mistrust between black and brown youth and police departments across America, Jeffrey provides a convincing portrait of how Restorative Justice and other Peacebuilding efforts are a profound resource for dealing with conflict. Specifically, he describes how four key questions and a good dose of thoughtful preparation and finesse, can create a space for repairing harm by discovering 1) What happened? 2) What was the impact? 3) How can we repair the harm? and 4) How can we ensure it doesn't happen again? Later in the show, Jeffrey emphasizes the importance of multipartiality in his work. Multipartiality advocates for ensuring all voices are elevated in the Restorative Justice process and equity work in general. It is essential for trust-building across communities with different concerns and experiences, particularly in light of racial disparities still happening. With nuance and humility, we come to learn that, yes, the work of equity requires sincere effort and care from everyone involved.We also get a powerful glimpse into why truth-telling and deep listening are at the core of repairing human relationships as we discuss the Police Youth Dialogue Model. Police Youth Dialogues bring together Police officers and the black and brown youth in the communities they serve to listen to each other's experiences. Jeffrey's tales from these events prove to be a moving and inspiring example of how differences can be bridged through communication.Throughout Episode #38, we get real and vital pictures of how peacebuilding and restorative justice can transform relationships, support communities, and change the way we deal with transgressions and injuries. Ultimately they offer us a pathway to reconnection. It is an honor to hear tales from one so heartfully committed to doing The Work of Repairing Harm as our guest, Jeffrey Weisberg. About Jeffrey Weisberg: Jeffrey is the Executive Director and co-founder of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding. He has designed, developed, and implemented a wide range of programs and services in his local community of Gainesville, Florida, throughout the United States and in countries throughout the world. His work with youth includes police/youth dialogues, student/educator dialogues, peer mediation, juvenile diversion programs, social/emotional learning, restorative justice, youth empowerment, and coming-of-age programs. For the past 25 years, Jeffrey has served as a Florida Certified State Mediator and mediates cases involving juvenile offenders, family disputes, and conflicts within small businesses and organizations. In addition, he is using Restorative Practices to support the Department of Juvenile Justice, the court system, schools, prisons, and communities to bolster alternatives to the punitive model. He is a founding member of The Peace Alliance. He believes that by training and empowering both youth and adults to learn and practice vital communication skills, we not only create greater connections with others, but we can de-escalate conflict for safer and more productive outcomes.

Episode #37 SummarySenior Zen Dharma teacher, Fu Schroeder, sits down with Jef Szi for a heart-felt and mind-opening exploration of Zen Buddhism. As a System of Knowledge, Zen is one of the great wisdom lineages—handed down across centuries and into the lap of Fu in the 1970's.This delightful conversation offers our community a nourishing encounter with a Zen elder—a holder of wisdom who can provide gems for facing life's mysteries and hardships. With much kindness and a great deal of playful insight, Fu shares key elements of the Zen way and her path with it. She offers us gems for how we can face our mind, our suffering, and the vastness of being. She shows us how the path of Zen—quietude, or “just sitting,” gives us access to calm and negotiate change and the jaw-dropping truth of impermanence. In this show, we come to learn how Zen offers mental clarity and abiding presence for the human soul. Born out of Buddha's path and transmitted for generations, Fu walks us through the accuracy and the medicine of the Four Noble Truths. We find we are not the first to struggle with the nature of the mind or the reality of death.Episode #37 invites us into the teachings of the Zen path. In Fu, we find a kind, frank, and mirthful sojourner, who is not only a fantastic conversationalist but a teacher who is equally poetic and practical. Listen in to this one because it is not often in today's world someone can steadfastly point us toward the vastness of reality—be it the experience of the Moon, the sound of the rain, or the courage to Leap into the Yellow River. About Fu: Furyu Nancy Schroeder, a resident of San Francisco Zen Center since the 1970s, became Abiding Abbess at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in March 2014 and stepped down from that role in March 2023. Fu has held most of the monastic positions at SF Zen Center and has been an active supporter of programs for children, people of color, the gay and lesbian community, and the interfaith community. In 2008 she was elected to the Marin Women's Hall of Fame, and in 2010 she was appointed to the Board of the Marin Community Foundation. In addition, she has previously co-led SF Zen Center's Contemplative Caregiver Course. She received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1999.

In Everything Under the Sun and Moon, show host Jef Szi continues his conversation with Tobin Mayell, as Tobin remembers the life of his late mother, Christine Waddell. Christine was a healer, teacher, mother, and grandmother who passed away suddenly in the Spring of 2023.In this fluid conversation between enduring friends, Tobin weaves the experiences with his mom and Christine's own life—as such, we learn a great deal about Christine's journey and the arc of Tobin's relationship with his mother.Along the way we find that Christine was not only a life-long seeker, but also a highly respected wisdom-keeper, healer, and guide to her clients. By hearing stories about her early hopes for enlightenment, her discovery in her 30's that her biological father was someone else, and her joyful penchant for gardening, we get powerful glimpses into core elements of Christine's completed life.And like his relationship with his father, Tobin also found his need to individuate from his mom. In this case, it meant finding ways of taking space from a highly invested mothering style, prone to “polishing” Tobin's sense of self through astrology and emmeshed encouragements. And yet, as with his father, we find the transmissions in life and death still take place. Not only did Christine's search for belonging in her life help her and profoundly benefit her clients, we come to see how it bestowed on Tobin an emotional permission that carries on inside him today. Christine's passion for astrology lives on in Tobin as well—ironically shedding light on how Tobin can now understand her deepest pains. Through this show—and the one before—we get an intimate portrait of how death, the journey of memorialization, and continuing the thread of life after our relatives pass are all riddled with unexpected teachings—as if the web of life has strands reaching through death's mysterious gateway onto the other side.As always, you are invited to listen-in, because in these two episodes that dive into Tobin's very personal journey of losing both his parents within months of one another, we get a real dose of how life and death collaborate in ways that are impossible to know beforehand.

In Bonus Episode #07, Tobin Mayell joins the show for the first of a two-part conversation honoring the lives of his late parents—Norm Mayell and Christine Waddell. Here, Tobin recounts for us the core elements in his relationship with Norm—open-heartedly offering glimpses into the arc of the their father-son story. From early, unrequited longings to adult acceptances and eventually to the transmissions found in Norm's passing away from cancer in August of 2022, we come see that the father-son relationship has many moments over the course of time and just how much can live inside one parent-child relationship.We learn that Norm was a drummer in such bands as Sopwith Camel, Blue Cheer, and Norman Greenbaum, frequently taking him on the road while Tobin lived with his mother. We also learn that Norm later became a devout golfer, finding a spiritual magic in the game. Across his life we come to see that among other things, Norm lived with a kind-of private wisdom and natural magnetism that drew people towards him.Through this conversation with the How Humans Work show host, Jef Szi, Tobin helps us realize how death and life work hand-in-hand to give us unexpected teachings. Much was born for Tobin in his father's dying process. Tobin's own musical calling found new energy as the journey to memorialize his father placed Tobin—literally and figuratively—behind Norm's drumkit. As Tobin finds himself playing Norm's drums, singing his songs, and playing with Norm's former bandmates is a symmetry that is as satisfying as it is moving. Equally profound is hearing the unguarded connection that accompanies the moment—how childhood hungers were able to come full circle in ways that only Tobin can express. Looking Into the Beyond offers a profound validation the web of life. It shows us something of the essence of Norm's life as a man, a father, and musician, but it also shows us how the act of death is generative to those that live—releasing unfinished hurts and inspiring the energy of life to continue. As always, you are invited to listen-in, because in these two episodes that dive into Tobin's very personal journey of losing both his parents within months of one another, we get a real dose of how life and death collaborate in ways that are impossible to know beforehand.

We kick off Season Four with the fun and forthright Dalanah Smith. Dalanah is an astrologer, stoic, palmist, biologist, and host of the Moon Matters Podcast. In this episode, she shares her take on one of the most ancient systems of knowledge around - Traditional Astrology, a.k.a. Hellenistic Astrology. Also joining the podcast is episode co-host, Tobin Mayell. Tobin is a dear friend and a student of astrology. In this conversation, Dalanah illuminates how the astrological system can help us understand the fabric of our fate. By looking at the planetary placements at the time of our birth, we have an interesting skeleton key to who we are and how our life progresses. In this wide-ranging show, Dalanah shares what called her to a path rich with astrology and myth, and how the astrological worldview, along with stoicism, has offered her a kind of cosmological guidance that is helpful to her and her clients. Along the way, Dalanah offers up a healthy buffet of astrological basics, including the seven planets, the 12 houses, the moon in different elements, and the lunar nodes with a very cool myth about Rahu and Ketu. Dalanah also reads a handful of placements in Jef's Natal Chart, demonstrating the power of astrology to see into people's innermost natures. In the face of life's twists and turns, Dalanah teaches us how the knowledge of our astrological configurations can help us recognize and navigate various tensions in our lives, making astrology an ally for development and self-cultivation. If you are curious about Systems of Knowledge and how they can help make sense of our human nature, then an encounter with the astrological imagination is a legitimate place to begin. For in metaphor and thought, the body of ideas in the ancient ways of astrology have something very direct and intimate to say to all of us. About Dalanah Smith: Dalanah wears many hats, but the ones closest to her heart are Astrologer and practicing Stoic. Her formal education is in science, as she has a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology. During her time in school, she was focused on learning hard science. After a decade of being a scientist, she now uses those skills of critical analysis to assist her in navigating a more spiritual landscape. She often credits her days in the laboratory for allowing her to view the world with a non-biased lens and for her knack for pattern recognition.As a 3rd House Sun and ste llium, she has the Soul of an ethereal trickster. Using her innate gift of storytelling, she weaves the tale of personal mythology by analyzing her client's unique celestial code.

In episode #35, legendary professor and author Robert M. Sapolsky joins the show for a fascinating conversation about his most recent book: Determined. At length we discuss what life looks like when we accept the premise of Determined: free will is a myth and rewarding and punishing behavior is an outdated approach to running a humane and just world. Along the way we get into strange and groovy notions like Emergent Complexity, Chaoticism (a.k.a. The Butterfly Effect), the prefrontal cortex, and my personal passion, stress. With abundant erudition and mirth, Dr. Sapolsky makes the case several time over that a separate self with a free will apart from the biologic matrix is simply untenable. Along the way, Robert walks us through the arguments which support Determinism, starting with our inability to perceive our intentions and then showing us how brain neurons, slime molds, and ants operate without a blueprint. Overall, we get a persuasive portrait of how and why the seamless web of biology and environment have an unseen hand in how we act and think.Best to get your thinking cap out and put it on, because this show puts all of our assumptions about how humans work on the surgical table. Whether they survive the rigor of a sage professor's operations is the question we're left with. I hope you enjoy this show as much as I did!About Robert M. Sapolsky: Dr. Sapolsky is the author of several works of nonfiction, including A Primate's Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone, and Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers. His most recent book, Behave, was a New York Times bestseller and named a best book of the year by The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. He is the John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor of biology, neurology and neurosurgery at Stanford University and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant.” He and his wife live in San Francisco.

Episode SummaryIn episode #34, the esteemed author of Dopamine Nation, Dr. Anna Lembke, returns to the show for a fascinating conversation about stress, dopamine, and how the two intersect. With an equal measure of kindness and expertise, Dr. Lembke walks us through the contours of both addiction and stress. Along the way she reinforces the challenges we face living in a time, what she calls the Plenty Paradox. Throughout this remarkable conversation, Anna gives compelling reasons to value hardship, stress, and truth-telling, for each of them has a convincing way of bringing balance back into our lives. Whether you are young, old, or somewhere in the middle, you are heartily invited to listen, because we all need to hear the wisdom flowing from About Dr. Lembke: Dr. Lembke is a psychiatrist, professor, researcher, and the medical director of Stanford Addiction Medicine. Dr. Lembke is also the author of Dopamine Nation, a salient book that explores the neuroscience of addiction and the lessons we can learn from those who've been caught in its powerful spell.

Bonus Episode SummaryIn The Power to Survive, show host Jef Szi shares an essay that connects the adaptive function of the stress system to the realms of fitness and the presence of genes. As critical parts of our adaptive powers for survival, he shows us how stress, fitness, and genes actually are at work on a continuum of time. This short bonus pod offers a spell-binding vision of the deep web at work in our bodies, illuminating how important stress, fitness, and genes all are for our current challenges. Perhaps most importantly, The Power to Survive offers a profound welcome to our shared humanity, beyond any trait differences, that can move and inspire us to live more fully the ancient story we have already been cast into.

Episode SummaryIn Episode #33, Dameian Hartfield joins the podcast for a deeply honest conversation, recounting some of the major moments in his life. In many respects, this podcast is a continuation of an ongoing conversation we have had as friends for nearly two decades, where Dameian speaks his truth and in doing so acts as an ambassador for the greater good, sharing the realities of what comes with growing up in an at-risk community like the Nickerson Gardens Housing Projects in the Watts neighborhood. Beginning the show with his reasons for a slow-cook approach to doing this podcast and then his experiences doing gang-intervention work and some of the key dilemmas and pressures that went with it, we get a feel for the values and lessons Dameian has earned in his life. For example, he describes how political agendas and lack of trust between different organizations in a community add more pressure to one's that are already struggling. We also see how he positioned himself in relation to those politics. Following that, we begin to hear about the challenges that come with life after being in a gang. The uphill battle of re-establishing a positive reputation along with carrying the war-like events of street battles without a reconciliation process to move forward in the way military veterans have is a hard edge to have in one's reality. Sharing with us some details of his journey, like being shot at the age of fifteen and having to deal with conflict zones like ‘Hamburger Hill,' we come to learn why the trauma of being a young, misdirected, urban warrior would need healing places like the one where we first met — at a men's retreat held by the Mosaic Multicultural Foundation deep in the redwoods of Mendocino, California. It was there Dameian and I have formed a relationship that has transcended our native neighborhoods and social upbringings. Next, Dameian takes us into the powerful decisions and transformations that took place for for him as he spent a decade in prison, repaying his debt to society. We hear how he learned to become a communicator, leaving behind his older strategies of simply acting in ways that he thought were needed. Dameian made key decisions to use his prison sentence for his own personal development, even knowing he had a very real possibility of never making it out. In this part of the podcast, we get some profound contours of Dameian's path through this important period of change and soul searching. Further on we learn about how, when he was on the run for a case against him, his relationship with his mother kept him from getting into deeper trouble, perhaps even getting killed. Dameian also walks us through how his Mom imparted to him the realities of the financial struggles they had, and pulled along his questions and challenges into a place of greater understanding and participation in the struggle. Even in his darkest moments of despair, his Mom was able to help him see beyond his hopelessness. In these stories we get a powerful picture of his mom's capacity to guide in the face of adversity, and the important impact that had. In total, this powerful, authentic episode takes us underneath the illegality of gang life in an at risk community, providing us with a sincere portrait of the human lives in and around those situations. And just when we think we are wrapping up, Dameian takes us a step further into his life experiences. He closes out our conversation with an incredibly moving and undeniable accurate portrait of what the challenges of being a black man in the American story is like. *****Dameian Hartfield primarily grew up in Nickerson Gardens housing projects in Los Angeles, California. He also spent part of his youth in Pomona, CA. Currently, Dameian spends his time growing his company, 1 Tamu Essentials, with his wife Dana, and spending time with his kids and grandkids. Mr. Hartfield

Episode SummaryThere are few better equipped to take us into the fascinating world of the gut microbiome than University of Colorado professor Dr. Christopher A. Lowry. In addition to his rich understanding of humans ancient and critical relationship with the bacterial world, Dr. Lowry has a thorough understanding of the complex interactions of our biology as it relates to stress. In this episode Professor Lowry helps us envision the amazing workings of our invisible interiors. From the role of stress hormones and neuronal connections in the Enteric Nervous System that tie the gut and brain together, to the intricacies of our immune system balance and the essential role our microbiomes play with inflammation. And he's just getting started. This captivating dive into our inner-workings with stress and our microbiomes shows us again that our environmental exposures matter to us at obvious and hidden levels. Stress is a double-edged sword in the microscopic world too.If you love health, the body or you are simply interested in environmental balance, this show will be right up your alley. With Dr. Lowry's studied understanding we get a powerful glimpse into our vital interdependence we have on the bacterial world and its astounding connection to our stress systems. Dr. Christopher Lowry is an Associate Professor of Integrative Physiology at CU Boulder where he leads a neuroendocrinology lab focused on the neural mechanisms underlying emotional behavior and the stress-induced control of physiology and emotional behavior. With an extensive academic background in zoological studies, neuroscience, neuroendocrinology and stress, Dr. Lowry has authored and co-authored hundreds of papers advancing our understanding the web on intricacies at work in human biology.

In episode #31, Templates for Change, Darcy Ottey from Youth Passageways joins the show for an extended conversation about her love for Rites of Passage (RoP) work as well as her recent book on the subject: Rites and Responsibilities: A Guide to Growing Up. With an extensive and deeply personal connection to Rites of Passage practices, Darcy helps us to see how these original cultural technologies offer us templates for negotiating the phases of our lives. In ROP practices, she says, we find the blueprints for helping us to honor the cycles of change with what Darcy calls transition literacy. We explore the value transition literacy offered her during the COVID-19 lockdown, as well as other stressful periods of change. Along the way we can see how the frames and language of RoP, including Arnold van Gennep's three-phase of separation, transition and return, support us in learning to be with change more effectively. In thinking about the function of Rites of Passage in young peoples lives, Darcy not only shares poignant stories about the value of letting the dependencies of childhood die away as a necessary part of development, but she also strongly implores young people to call for their own rites as a birthright for authentic belonging and self-discovery. With care and honesty, Darcy shows us why a culturally respectful approach to contemporary Rites of Passage is essential. Creating genuine belonging and re-empowered communities without furthering repetitions of ongoing harms of domination-based societies requires such respect. Moreover, we come to see how RoP work itself is a profound way to heal old wounds and violations that got us to a place where meaningful and wise rites have been stolen or scrubbed away. Finally, Darcy shares hard-earned guidance on the tricky terrain of drugs and sex as part of the coming of age journey. She gives us a sense of how we might consider these issues as young people or for the young people in our lives. Templates for Change offers a fresh voice to old ways, and as we listen to Darcy share her experiences and considered knowledge, we are reminded how we can all benefit by embracing the technology Rites of Passages, especially in times of stress.

Episode SummaryIn this special episode of the How Humans Work Podcast, Juliet and Kelly Starrett from the The Ready State join the show to share all about their newest book: Built To Move! With clear vision and simple practices, they provide a persuasive invitation to rethink our approach to a healthy life. Throughout the show they offer a powerful transmission about why it is most important that we move not just actively, but dynamically as well. If you're not ready to give up on your body and want to live an active and fulfilling life, then this is the show for you!Along the way we take a stroll down memory lane and Juliet and Kelly open-up about their formative 70's childhood adventures from Bavaria, Germany to Boulder, Colorado. After these telling tales in their personal movement stories, we then end up waterside on rafting trip, going down the Grand Canyon with family and friends. It is here we get a compelling portrait of why being a mover is vital to a fully engaged life. In all of their tales and anecdotes we come to see why being active throughout our lives in ways beyond prescribed exercise matters. It turns out that our basic lifestyle behaviors that keep us moving are essential to not just a longer life, but having a durable one as well. There are few better positioned than The Starrett's to guide us through the pitfalls and traps of the snazzy fads in Health and Fitness. Having worked with elite professional athletes all over the world and been exposed to the best tech options out there, the road they have chosen is not one of gimmicks. Instead, their path is one that supports ancestral health needs which are critical to our wellbeing. Expanding and practicing movement choice, as they suggest, can shift the arc of our lives is ways that make sense over time.In a season dedicated to stress, Juliet and Kelly tell us the why and show us the how getting realigned with what our bodies need to be balanced and functional is a viable way forward. With their teachings we can modulate our harder stresses while stressing our bodies in the ways that benefit us. About:Juliet Starrett is an entrepreneur, attorney, author and podcaster. She is the former co-founder and CEO of San Francisco CrossFit, one of the first 50 CrossFit affiliates. She is the co-author Built to Move with her husband Kelly and of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Deskbound. She's also the co-host of The Ready State Podcast. Before turning her attention to The Ready State and San Francisco CrossFit fulltime, Juliet was a professional whitewater paddler, winning three World Championships and five National Titles. She also had successful career as an attorney, practicing complex commercial litigation at Reed Smith for nearly eight years. Kelly Starrett DPT: Kelly Starrett is coach, physical therapist, author, speaker, and co-founder of The Ready State.Kelly's clients include professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. He also works with Olympic gold-medalists, Tour de France cyclists, world and national record holding Olympic Lifting and Power athletes, Crossfit Games medalists, ballet dancers, military personnel, and competitive age-division athletes.Kelly is the author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers Becoming A Supple Leopard and Ready to Run. He is also co-author of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller Deskbound and Built to Move.

Episode SummaryChase Jackson is a jazz vibraphonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, and producer. He also just happens to be the beloved musical backbone for the How Humans Work Podcast. In Episode #29, Chase drops in for a lengthy exploration of how music and stress intersect. Fully saturated in the world of sound creation, we learn from this young master that sound, music and musicianship have much to teach. Indeed, they run parallel to other arts, sports and life endeavors when it comes to stress.In LESSONS IN TENSION we don't just come see the connection between sound, math, culture and feelings, we also come to see through Chase's eyes how the musical modes of artistry relate to our lived experience. Whether that is with his electronic, nu-disco, funk band Wake the Wild, running a Jazz ensemble, or jamming on the vibraphones, we get a strong sense of how Chase's musical path has given him abundant life lessons for him. We hear how music is not only a way to get ideas across but a way to deepen into the flowing sonic conversation and as importantly, to be alive in the moment. Chase also offers us a deeper perspective on the nature of sound in human life. Wisely pointing out that our vocabulary of sounds and the reference points there in are richer and more complicated than they have ever been in human history. Our age is period of tremendous elaboration on this primal sense, and Chase Jackson is right up there when it comes to dedicating one's life to the world of sound. Beyond the realms of music making, we come to find how the unique path of being a jazz vibraphonist called for a broader life strategy to better position himself. The adaptive moves there and elsewhere in Chase's journey are a remarkable example of how the inner-spirit can use stressful situations to propel one's life forward with meaning and ingenuity. Chase also generously reflects on a substantial moment in the life of his band, as well as the experience he and I shared in the Stepping Stones Coming of Age program. Episode #29 with Chase helps us to connect the dots to stress' vital contribution to not just the world of sound, but to the sound of the world.

Episode SummaryDossie Easton is a co-author of The Ethical Slut and four other books on sex, BDSM and relationships. As a pioneer in the world of polyamory she renders fascinating and mirthful accounts of her hard-earned wisdom on navigating the dynamics of non-traditional relationships, particularly with the ethics of “sluthood.” Dossie is also a psychotherapist in private practice and an accomplished poet. Episode #28 of the How Humans Work Podcast w/Jef Szi jumps right in, as Dossie spontaneously recounts a key psychedelic experience from 1969. Her visions in this pivotal “trip” made clear that the path forward in life would be at least a five-year commitment to exploring her sexuality in a non-monogamous way. As an Ethical Slut for more than 50 years since, Dossie has a wealth of experience and wisdom to share. We had a wide-ranging conversation across nearly two hours, delving into an array of lessons and issues which are connected to non-monogamy and polyamory. Specifically we talk about: the role of feminism in sexual liberation - the “discovery” of the clitoris in 1973 - ethical tales in “one night stands” - the community benefits that come with a village of lovers - the importance of language in talking about sex - the the self discovery found in sex and relationships - how to work with sexual jealousy - the ethical responsibilities that come with difference in sexual experience - aspects of navigating polyamory - dealing with transgressors effectively - why sexual freedom requires an absence of sexism - active and receptive roles in sexual relationships unbound by gender and much more.This show is definitely one of most interesting and joyful conversations to date on the podcast. Dossie's deep sincerity and amazing capacity to talk about matters of sex with courage and knowledge was an afternoon to be remembered. I hope you find it as thought provoking and meaningful as I did. Enjoy the show and let me know what you think.

Episode Summary The vital and lucid Dr. Kelly Starrett from The Ready State (TRS) joins the How Humans Work Podcast for a rich and captivating conversation about Stress, Fitness, & Society. In this wide-ranging episode, we get a strong feel for Kelly's learned perspectives on a host of matters like movement, behavior change, human nature, misguided approaches to fitness, the promise of performance sport and more. With an extensive background coaching elite athletes and armed service members, Kelly breaks down why the most basic dimensions of human life (breathing, walking, fermented foods, community, etc.) ought to warrant the bulk of our attention and interest when it comes to health. With humor and energy, Kelly shows us in numerous ways how ancestral health behaviors are actually the spine for a life with durability, fitness and vitality over the outright shiny and heroic displays of elite fitness achievements. Along the way Kelly opens-up about his 13-day long episode of hiccups and how it was connected to an overload of pandemic stresses. He also shares how his forthcoming book, Built To Move, (co-authored with TRS cofounder Juliet Starrett) reflects a greater emphasis on everyday ancestral health behaviors. This nutrient packed episode also talks about pain, mobilization and so much more. Buckle your seat-belts for this one, because with relentless anecdotes and expert precision, Dr. Starrett makes a powerful case about where we should set our sights when it comes to matters of How Humans Work- matters like Stress, Fitness and Society. About Kelly Starrett DPT: Kelly Starrett is coach, physical therapist, author, and speaker. Along with his wife Juliet, Kelly is co-founder of The Ready State. Kelly's clients include professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. He also works with Olympic gold-medalists, Tour de France cyclists, world and national record holding Olympic Lifting and Power athletes, Crossfit Games medalists, ballet dancers, military personnel, and competitive age-division athletes. Kelly is the author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers Becoming A Supple Leopard and Ready to Run. He is also co-author (with Juliet) of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller Deskbound and forthcoming book (April 2023) Built to Move. On top of co-founding The Ready State, Kelly and Juliet also started San Francisco CrossFit and StandUpKids together. Founded in 2005, San Francisco CrossFit was the 21st CrossFit affiliate in the world. And StandUpKids is a non-profit dedicated to combating kids' sedentary lifestyles by bringing standing/moving desks to low-income public schools. To date, StandUpKids has converted 95,000 kids from sitting to standing.

In Bonus Episode #05, Brent MacKinnon jumps into the interviewer chair, reversing the roles with show host- Jef Szi. At nearly eighty years of age and with a tremendous range of life experiences (poet, combat war veteran, grandfather, teacher ++), Mac brings a littany of inquiry with mirth and erudition. With the efficiency of a marine, he grills Jef to find out where his substance is and isn't. Jef makes good on his promise to take Mac's incoming fire, benevolent as it turned out ot be. This bonus episode is a genuine conversation between these two men from different periods in the American story. With Mac's examplary lines of questioning to his younger counterpart, the show covers a range of life issues: stress, healing, harmony, podcasting, fathers, death, mistakes, and prophecy. It's a rich and expansive pod session between two recent friends, providing How Humans Work Podcast listeners an inner-view on what makes Jef tick.

Episode Summary Marc Brackett is the author of Permission to Feel and the Founding Director at Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. He is a driving force in bringing the power of emotional intelligence and basic emotional know-how into schools, communities, and professional settings across the world. Marc joins us on Episode #26 for a dynamic and musing conversation about the vital role emotions do play in our lives. With equal measure of savvy perspective and humor, Marc helps us to see why emotions matter, how we can take a curious posture with them, and why it is important that we learn to regulate our emotional states. Indeed, he explicates how there is much at stake with the presence or lack of emotional intelligence. It impacts our decision making, our relationships and even our ability to achieve our dreams. Along the way Marc tells us why it is essential that we get granular with our emotions, highlighting his R-U-L-E-R Approach to Emotional Intelligence. He also offers many personal examples of his own challenges and practices he uses to navigate his life through the global pandemic and beyond. You're invited to listen into Permission to Feel, because Marc is a capable guide who shows us the value and benefits that come when we attune to and balance our emotional lives. *****

Dr. Kelly McDermott joins the show for a spirited conversation on the upstream factors which influence our health and impact our society. With her wealth of knowledge about research, policy and health behaviors, Kelly helps us make connections between chronic disease, Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences, rites of passage, and stress. Along the way we learn when Kelly's professional trajectory aligned with her personal passions for yoga and meditation, she found herself researching things like the impact of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Body Awareness interventions on Veterans with PTSD. These early windows into the power of behavior rather than drugs to improve health fostered her desire to seek out answers to important questions like what interventions could impact health outcomes before they became chronic disease? And where does the capacity to have an integrated body awareness get established? In Turning Our Gaze Upstream, we not only discover the roots that led Dr. McDermott into her current research on Rites of Passage, we find there is a certain gift and power the emerges when someone like Kelly chooses to translate that calling into the language of data and policy. So consider yourself invited to listen into this energetic and important conversation with Jef Szi and Dr. McDermott as they look at the profound interactions between stress, behavior and health in our own lives but also in how we steward the next generations.

Episode Summary Brenton ‘Mac' MacKinnon is an American poet, combat veteran, polyglot, world-traveler, and creative writing teacher. Mac joins us for a deeply moving conversation about his hard-earned knowledge of warfare, PTSD, writing, healing and the profound desire to be known and belong. In After You Have Suffered; we come to know Mac as he recounts some of the life events which shaped him: the revelation writing was to his adolescent self and the tremendous bonding experience he had with Vietnamese villagers with wartime dangers about. We also explore how war intensifies the instincts which are called forth during combat and how the journey back to American and conventional life was fraught with confusion, hurt, and PTSD. With Cpl. MacKinnon we get a patient and forthright account with not just the impact of war, but the marks it leaves in the human soul. We get a remarkable sense of how the stress of war changed the way he evaluates American culture and its false-maturities. More than that we get from this elder a irreplaceable sense of why it is important to give our attention and regard to those amongst us who've endured overwhelming circumstances, because, as Mac simply says: it's different after you have suffered.

In Episode 23 of the How Humans Work Podcast, wildly entertaining Jimmy Conrad joins us for a deep dive into his life in and beyond his tremendous thirteen year career as a professional soccer player. In Let's Make This Matter we get a real and buoyant account of what it took for a lad from Southern California with a profound drive to prove his value, to move from being a perpetually underrated talent into a notable career littered with successes. Equally vociferous, funny and honest, Jimmy breaks down not just the things he did to make himself into a highly respected player who was able to become an MLS CUP Champion, the 2005 MLS Defender of the Year and a starting player on US Men's National Team at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but also the team dynamics, the personal subplots, and the assorted adversities he encountered. Along the way we learn something about what it means to face stress by choice, to “learn to learn” and how one can build the keys to success “brick by brick.” In finding ways to create control and make progress, Jimmy shows us through his journey in the American soccer landscape how his determination, planning and effort came together to get him a place in the Mecca of World Football: the World Cup. Deep in the throws of that career apex, we get an honest portrait of his World Cup experience as Jimmy reflects at length about a handful of key moments where he was called upon to play his part in untenable circumstances. Not only did his play earn him Man of the Match in a pivotable game, Jimmy tells us his one regret from that game. We end the show with a look into Jimmy's present and future. Sharing his coaching approach with his charming and spirited U-10 girls team with his daughter, we learn how Jimmy's values for the game are being imparted to the next generation. We also find out what Jimmy's vision for his future is after his current media run up through the 2026 World Cup in North America. Consider yourself heartily invited to not only listen-in but to stay tuned. Because with the effervescent and authentic jester there's much more to learn about meeting our stresses, taking our game to a higher level, and making this life matter!

In Episode 22, violinist, poet and multimedia artist Zameen-a Iqbal joins the podcast for moving and insightful conversation around the transcendental nature of beauty. Describing an “unbearable ache of inspiration” she has experienced since childhood, we learn how across her life beauty became the virtue by which Zameen-a came to understand how knowledge expands in each of us. We find in Zameen-a more than studied insight on the power and function of beauty beyond artifice, we find a blend of musing seeker and forthright teacher who imparts knowledge about art, music and writing as traditions across time which offer a doorway into ineffable dimensions of life. By tying the arts and beauty into tragedy and sorrow, beauty becomes a deeper force by which we can reconcile ourselves with the transcendent. As seen through her encounters with Haiku and classical violin training as well as the unique but welcomed challenges that come with an artist's life, This Virtue of Beauty gives us a wonderful way to consider how the Nature of Stress is transformed through art and meaning. Considered yourself invited to drop-in to this one, because the journey into stress makes another kind of sense when we bring the genuinely beautiful along with us.

In Episode 21, master storyteller William J. Hornyak kicks-off our third season of the How Humans Work Podcast on The Nature of Stress. Will shows us how both stories and storytelling have power and medicine inside of them to aid us in our times of stress. At the outset of this show we learn how the craft of storytelling came into Will's life and what he discovered about stories and their telling: to trust in his love of story to carry the moment. Further, we hear from this master of lore how images and moments in a story are condensed source of energy which can awaken the depths of our psyche. Gradually we find ourselves hearing Will spin not one, not two, but three different stories which all have something to teach us about how stories and storytelling can transform the way we look at the world, including our adversities. In the tales and the telling we gather a greater understanding of not just how humans work, but how the magic of stories can help us be wiser, more imaginative and prepared to meet life's ordeals. You're heartily invited to listen-in to this one, because with Will and his beloved friends (Biddy Early, Finn McCool and Scheherazade) we adventure into the land where lore, magic, and medicine meet.

In Deepening into the Small Soul, Jef Szi welcomes Rory Higham for another dive into the nature of the ego and its place in our lives. Picking up on Bonus Episode #3 - Compassion for the Small Soul, Rory and Jef continue the conversation, primarily through an Internal Family Systems (IFS) perspective on the relationships between Parts and the Self. Splashing through culture, spiritual traditions, life experiences and more, the small soul is reflected in a myriad of ways. In particular, Rory's encounters with sadhus in India, sitting with the Dalai Lama and spending time with plant medicines in the Andes of Peru help illuminate some of the ways Western and Eastern traditions approach the matter of the Ego differently. In Deepening Into the Small Soul, the next layers of ego are peeled back to find not one, but many. Seeing the small soul as something of a Mosaic Mind we expand our sense of what's going on with the ego and discover again, that it persists in the story of lives. Listen-in to this one, because Rory provides a beautiful sense of how the ego can be explored in ways that bring healing. In this bonus episode there's insight to be gathered as we find our way deeper into the aspects of human experience, as we all still find ourselves unfurling the sails of our self. Rory Higham is an IFS practitioner with extensive training in spiritual and healing traditions, including Yoga, Buddhism, and Chinese Medicine. Currently Rory spends his time working and traveling between England, India, Nepal and Peru.

In Compassion for the Small Soul show host Jef Szi welcomes special guest Alice Treves for a rambling and musing conversation about the value, function and limitations that come with our human ego. While the ego is often castigated and frequently misunderstood, this conversation explores and “defends” the egoic aspect of life as purposful and necessary, even with its notable imperfections. As they reflect on the ego in light of evolution, the pressures and stimulation of modern times, as well as the inherent dance between our fractured and unified self, Alice and Jef lean on their years of partnership, professional experiences, and personal conversations to create a flowing and thought provoking show on how our “sense of self” is indigenous to our human condition. Listen-in to this one, because in this special end of 2021 bonus episode there's food for the small soul when we offer deep listening and compassion toward the egoic experience and the “parted self.”

Episode Summary Michael J. Meade, D.H.L., is a storyteller, author, scholar of mythology as well as the founder of Mosaic Multicultural Foundation and the creator of the Living Myth Podcast. In Standing in the Rivers of Time, Michael offers us his rich understanding of story and myth as we venture further into our season two conversation around passages in general, and rites of passage in particular. By focusing on the importance of ordeals and their role in challenging the ego and awakening the deep self, Meade shines a clear light into the territory of individual and collective rites of passage in our time of ‘collapse and renewal.' Like a river, the show courses its way through many more moments in Michael's life, touching on an array of themes like finding one's lineage, kinds of mentoring and the need for confirmation, time and timelessness, violence, trauma and peace, the muses and the mystic as well as the ancient sense that the world is flooded with an eternal knowledge which we all need to find ways to tap into. Your invited to drop-in to this extended show where Michael Meade offers a profound guidance through matters of myth, massive planetary adversities, and his own stories of finding his way in the world. Their confluence merge into a powerful river of tales and knowledge that carry us further along the long journey home, home to an eternal sea. Learn more about https://www.mosaicvoices.org/ (Michael Meade & the Mosaic Multicultural Foundation) ***https://www.patreon.com/howhumansworkpod (Support the How Humans Work Podcast)*** Listen & Subscribe https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-humans-work-with-jef-szi/id1540593975 (Apple) | https://open.spotify.com/show/2if2onmbLuiwuSuCKwtGJw (Spotify) | https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaG93LWh1bWFucy13b3JrLw?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwiQiKfX0-PyAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQLw (Google) | https://feeds.captivate.fm/how-humans-work/ (Feed) Follow https://www.instagram.com/how.humans.work.pod/ (Instagram) | https://www.facebook.com/howhumansworkpodcast (Facebook)

Dr. Anna Lembke, MD is a psychiatrist, professor, researcher and the medical director of Stanford Addiction Medicine. Dr. Lembke is also the author of Dopamine Nation, a salient book that explores the neuroscience of addiction and the lessons we can learn from those who've been caught in its powerful spell. In episode #19 of the How Humans Work Podcast, Anna and show host Jef Szi have a deep and broad ranging conversation from the basics of addiction and how dopamine works in the brain to the greater implications our ancient pleasure and pain circuits have for us individually and collectively in our age of easy and abundant rewards. With a deep clarity and a compassionate heart, Dr. Lembke paints a powerful portrait of what we are up against in the clash between our drive to seek pleasure and avoid pain in a culture that has taken this tendency to the extreme. She shows us how ascetic approaches to our lifestyle (#dopaminefasting) and the willingness to endure hardship, pain and discomfort can bring about a deeper balance in ourselves and generate a more rich and rewarding life. You are invited to drop-in on this conversation, because in this age of addiction we all need to drink from the stream of wisdom flowing from someone like Dr. Lembke...someone who understands the role of dopamine in our lives and the risks that come with the web of pleasure we find ourselves in. ***https://www.patreon.com/howhumansworkpod (Support the How Humans Work Podcast)***

Episode Summary David M. Buss is a professor of evolutionary psychology and runs the Buss Lab at the University of Texas, Austin. For the past four decades he has focused his research on studying strategies in human mating. He has authored notable books on the subject, including The Evolution of Desire and his recent book on sexual conflict, When Men Behave Badly. Dr. Buss possesses an unsurpassed knowledge about the evolutionary roots tied to solving the adaptive problem of finding (and keeping) a mate. In Making Sense of Mating of the How Humans Work Podcast, we take a long look under the hood of what's at work in desire for partnership. By doing so, we can learn something about ourselves and make better sense of our own mating stories. With equal measure of clarity, mirth and blunt truths about human motivations, David introduces us into the evolutionary factors that are at play in mating. You're invited to listen-in as host Jef Szi talks with a true master in his field, because the implicit forces powering how, who, and what we value in our mating relationships is a story we all need to hear. https://labs.la.utexas.edu/buss/david-buss/ (Learn More About David Buss) Follow David on https://twitter.com/ProfDavidBuss (Twitter) Buy https://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Desire-Strategies-Human-Mating/dp/0465097766/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1635216377&sr=8-1 (The Evolution of Desire) Buy https://bookshop.org/books/when-men-behave-badly-the-hidden-roots-of-sexual-deception-harassment-and-assault-9780316419352/9780316419352 (When Men Behave Badly) Follow Jef Szi on https://www.instagram.com/jefszi/ (IG) * https://twitter.com/JefSzi (Twitter) Follow https://www.instagram.com/how.humans.work.pod/ (How Humans Work Pod ) ***https://www.patreon.com/howhumansworkpod (Support the How Humans Work Podcast)***

Episode Summary Listen in as https://www.instagram.com/jefszi/ (Jef Szi) welcomes the generous and joyful https://www.instagram.com/taracoyote/ (Tara Coyote) to the show. In this remarkable episode Tara recounts the many trials and blessings that have been her companions over the last several years. From her picture perfect marriage and career that fell apart to the death of her best friend from leukemia, and onto her own Stage III breast cancer diagnosis in 2016 and all that followed, Tara's recent passage has been intense and profound passage in equal measure. Along the way we find a moving portrait (fully documented in her recent memoir https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Grit-Gratitude-Thrivers-Recovery/dp/1737247402/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2C6N8JXV9FMV&dchild=1&keywords=grace%20grit%20and%20gratitude%20by%20tara%20coyote&qid=1633714862&sprefix=grace%20grit%20and%20g%2Caps%2C271&sr=8-1 (Grace, Grit and Gratitude)) of what it means to have a life-threatening health crisis and the grit it takes to find ways to survive and thrive. We hear from Tara just how deep into the bosom of pain she had to dive, but as importantly how the power of the mind, valuing one's self and finding the courage to swim in the face of the most difficult odds can bring one back to the surface of the precious gift of living. This show is not to be missed, because through Tara's story we can all become a little braver, a little more grateful, and a lot more inspired in her willingness to seek the gift in adversity. Follow Tara Coyote on: https://www.facebook.com/cancerwarrioress (Facebook) | https://www.instagram.com/taracoyote/ (Instagram) Work with Tara at https://www.windhorsesanctuary.com/ (Windhorse Sanctuary) Order a Copy of https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Grit-Gratitude-Thrivers-Recovery/dp/1737247402/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2C6N8JXV9FMV&dchild=1&keywords=grace%20grit%20and%20gratitude%20by%20tara%20coyote&qid=1633714862&sprefix=grace%20grit%20and%20g%2Caps%2C271&sr=8-1 (Grace, Grit and Gratitude) ***https://www.patreon.com/howhumansworkpod (Support the How Humans Work Podcast)***

In Dreaming On Mother Earth show host Jef Szi weaves a morning dream with a figure of illness into an episode about personal and collective passages. Beginning by recounting his lifelong connection to his dreaming-self, as well as a handful of some of the dreams that came along in key moments of his life, Jeffrey then lays the ground to look at the figure of illness as a teacher for the unwanted initiation that we are all caught up in with the increasing sense of stress in the world. Relying on personal moments where the planet Venus seemed to make herself known, Jeffrey relays how not only Venus but dreams, vision quests and studies into stress gave him his most profound teaching about how stress works inside of us. It turns out that hidden inside our stress response lives the wise voice of the earth herself. And yet the voice tends to be opaque to us for reasons spelled out in the show. At the end of the show, Jeffrey invites the listeners to engage in simple acts that help us re-anchor to the rhythms of the earth. Because in such acts the wisdom of the earth becomes more clear and in such times as ours we need such a deep sense of belonging to our home planet. ***https://www.patreon.com/howhumansworkpod (Support the How Humans Work Podcast)***

Ms. Amy Armstrong teaches AP Psychology and Major Religions at a private Catholic High School in the San Francisco Bay Area. In Resting in the Ancient we hear how chance, activism, and wisdom powerfully blend together in the dedicated heart of one teacher. Deeply attuned to the global challenges in which her students are coming of age, Amy sheds light on how she seeks to impart wisdom and trust in the deep self as an antidote to culture not interested meaningful identity formation. Myth, wisdom traditions, cutting edge brain and social sciences are some of the rivers of knowledge that Armstrong relies upon to guide her students who are faced with navigating the passage of growing-up in a radically changing world. In this show we find a moving portrait of how teaching can be a sacred responsibility in the continuity of time which contributes to and fosters a more holistic sense of self for young people. Furthermore we learn how activism, books, and synchronicity pulled Amy into a career as an educator and the wonderful ways she embraces her ‘weird,' encouraging her students to do the same. Along the way we learn how many, many years of teaching social justice and Peace and Conflict Studies required effort that once again, by chance, transformed into another kind of mode; that of the mystic. No longer driven to be a warrior dedicated to the hardwork of addressing social justice education, Ms. Armstrong now is turning her teaching toward the deepest part of the self, willing to acknowledge life's miracles and accept the power of the mystic within. Always ready to grab threads of value and meaning, in Amy's personal passage of coming to rest in the ancient as well as being a much needed guide for young adults about to take flight, we find in her a compelling voice for the power of education that blesses young people with the radical notion that they too have a living wisdom within which they can rely on. Connect with Amy professionally on https://www.linkedin.com/in/msamyarmstrong/ (LinkedIn) Join Amy in https://protectnativeelders.org (Protecting Native Elders) with PPE Supplies ***https://www.patreon.com/howhumansworkpod (Support the How Humans Work Podcast)***

Episode Summary https://www.jenniferberitbooks.com (Jennifer Berit Wilson) is an author, writing coach and activist. In Episode #15 we journey with Jen into the difficult realities in parenting. Relaying the consuming blend of demands from sleep deprivation, work pressures, raising very young children in the absence of village and desire to commitment to be emotionally present, we can taste the bittersweet flavors that are part of modern life and contemporary motherhood. Jen then takes show host https://howhumanswork.us (Jef Szi) and all of us with her into the indescribably intense encounter that labor and birth were for her. Recalling the hours of work and psychedelic like visions therein, we learn that in the monumental effort in labor there is the possibility for dramatic encounter with the profound forces of both beauty and terror. Taken far beyond her edge and into the muddy underworld, Jen wakes us up to what dwells between the thoughts she had prior to birth and how it actually was experienced. From it she draws teaching on how birthing holds guidance for our difficult global times. They also explore the essential connection between birthing and the initiation needs and practices for men from ceremonies like https://www.notesfromthefrontier.com/post/the-sun-dance-sacred-ceremony (The Sun Dance) and others. Gradually they wind their way into another passage in Jen's life, where Jen found herself willingly walking toward a dark night of the soul. As she freed herself out of her persona and privilege she thought here life was suppose to be, a more genuine and satisfying self followed, slowly and assuredly. We hear not just the value of those hard times, we hear the poetry that came from it. Throughout The Moon Dance of Motherhood we find that the intrinsic wisdom of life is alive and at work, moving Jen toward a fuller sense of self. From her transformations we can garner inspiration knowing that in life's most potent passages, we too shall become more authentic in ourselves… even as we encounter sacrifice, surrender and the touch of death on the way. https://www.jenniferberitbooks.com (Learn More About Jennifer Berit Wilson) ***https://www.patreon.com/howhumansworkpod (Support the How Humans Work Podcast)***

Episode Summary In Episode #14 https://howhumanswork.us (Jef Szi) welcomes poet, memoirist, and writing coach https://albertflynndesilver.com (Albert Flynn DeSilver) to the podcast for an engaging conversation about the personal passages in his life as well as the passages that have come with being a writer. We begin by exploring Albert's latest book project on consciousness and addiction. On the heels of that we are given a few of Albert's secret sauce ingredients for guiding writers in particular, but creatives in general. Albert's then takes us into the moving contours of how the writing process awakens us to the unseen field of possibility and self-discovery, both in grace and in hardship. Not just in theory, but from the ache of his own adversities. Trusting the Wild Mind then turns toward Albert's own upbringing and intiations into, among other things, the problematic side of alcohol at sleep-away camp and at the neighborhood “Derelict Den." Along the way we come to see how the destructive elements of Albert's coming-of-age was rooted in childhood pains but would eventually lead to crisis moments that brought Albert to a life more connected to nature, words and art, and the depths of his own nature. In this heartful episode with Albert, we can hear an intimate portrait of change and healing and how chance and calling come together in on the long road of one life. Sharing a mosaic of passages, we eventually arrive with Albert as he finds https://www.spiritrock.org (Spirit Rock Meditation Center) and where meetings with https://jackkornfield.com (Jack Kornfield) and http://jamnian.org (Anjahn Jumnian) brought Albert further along on his destiny to blend the art of writing with dedication to the practices of awakening to a deeper connection to his original nature. https://www.instagram.com/albert_flynn_desilver/ (Connect with Albert on Social) ***https://www.patreon.com/howhumansworkpod (Support the How Humans Work Podcast)***

Episode Summary In Episode #13 https://www.instagram.com/jefszi/?hl=en (Jef Szi) welcomes https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002528687794 (Randy Fortes) for a dynamic conversation about his passage into becoming a social-emotional facilitator. In it we hear how Randy began his journey first working with young children then teaching hip-hop culture at his local community center before an epic encounter with young people around the world as a https://www.challengeday.org/ (Challenge Day) facilitator for eight years. Along the way Randy takes us into his nature with an honest, wise and heart-full account of what moves him and how he's had learned to move others toward the most essential aspects of human experience. In Warrior of the Forgotten, we feel the pain and the beauty in life's difficult edges and empowering blessings. As Randy takes us with him into varied and authentic emotional tones: creativity, empathy, grief, humor, curiosity and more, we find an incredibly kindred spirit, willing to share what is most real in his personal and generational passages, his growing connection to his native roots, and inspire us with his fountain of timeless creativity! Connect with Randy on social…. https://www.instagram.com/fr33dom_fl0w/ (Instagram) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002528687794 (Facebook) Bring Randy into to do Soul Shoppe work with your community… https://soulshoppe.org/ (Soulshoppe) Check Out Randy's Freedom Flow Internet Radio Show http://www.kcbzradio.com/shows.html (Freedom Flow Radio Show) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5DuRTZdZME (Clips on teaching B-boy Dance in Livermore) (note: turn volume down) Learn more about the the Tohono O' odham Nation and People http://www.tonation-nsn.gov/history-culture/ (Official website) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohono_O%CA%BCodham (Wiki summary) https://native-land.ca/ (View a Map of Native Nations and Tribal Communities)

Episode Summary In Episode #12 https://www.instagram.com/_.yungog/ (Popa (Kaiwann King)) is our first and much welcomed guest for the new season. In this show, North Heaven, Popa and Jef talk about their recent times from first meeting in Watts to having a community weekend in the Sierra mountains. Gradually they find their way toward two great passages in Popa's life that he wanted to share on the show. The first one happened after school one May day when Popa was in third grade. On that fateful afternoon, Popa had an accident that changed him forever. Overtime, he came to believe the power of “the man above” is what gave him the strength to overcome and adapt to his physical and situational hardships. This show is the first time Popa has ever shared his profoundly personal story. The second passage Popa shares is one that is happening right now. Just 17 years young and Senior in high school with a great love for basketball, Popa is taking hold of his future in a creative way by blending his vision for a postive social message for the urban realities and deep gratitude and faith in Jesus into a vibrant clothing brand. https://www.instagram.com/northheavenbrand/ (North Heaven Clothing Brand) seeks to resonate with a hip and spirited approach to life, offering a values based message in the complex conditions to inner-city life. In his ambition and courage we can see how Popa is setting up his many tomorrows in extremely admirable way. North Heaven, the show, is a chance to hear from a brave heart and patient soul rising from great adversities to claim something that's both chill and profound at once. North Heaven, the brand, is something listeners are invited to get behind. In so doing we can all add oxygen to a young fire inside of a knowing mind. Connect with Popa on…. https://www.instagram.com/_.yungog/ (Instagram) Email Popa Support North Heaven Brand https://northheavenshop.com/password (Shop North Heaven Brand) https://www.instagram.com/northheavenbrand/ (Follow North Heaven on Insta)

In this short, solo episode https://www.instagram.com/jefszi/ (Jef Szi ) kicks-off season two by laying-out the intention and the shape of what's to come. He invites the listeners to expand his reach for guests beyond his social set. After a short musical break, Jef shares his new found passion for the language of astrology and how it is helping him rethink what's at play in human life. In paticular he compares and contrast the earthly studies of stress with the invisible forces at play in astrology and how both influence human life. About Season Two: Passages Season Two will be another sojourn into the contours of our human nature. In these episodes we will explore the impacts of tranformative journeys, be they marked or unmarked, purposeful or accidental, that help define and direct the course of our lives. This season's guests share with us the real events the shaped them. As we listen to their stories we get closer in someway to what's at stake and what's at work in the passages we all find ourselves in, especially the great passage of time. Come sit by the fire and listen in as we travel through yet another array of human stories. Navigated by https://www.instagram.com/jefszi/ (Jef Szi )and his mosaic of guests, let yourself get inspired by tales of all kinds which reveal and renew our sense of how humans work.

Episode Summary In Episode #10, Jef Szi reflects on the personal impact Season One's shows has had on him. He also opens up about about a few memories he carries of his own late father, Bill Szilagyi. Among them, Jef recounts how his dad tended to him when he was injured in minor household accident. Another is how his father directed his sense of injustice and anger over a murder of teenager into helping start the https://www.cityofslt.us/327/Secret-Witness#:~:text=Make%20an%20Anonymous%20Tip,(530)%20541%2D6800. (South Tahoe Secret Witness )program. Later Jef shares a deeply personal story that took place in the moments after his father died. Listen in to Recasting Fatherhood as Jef speaks out about how a season of podcasting on the subject of fathers and fatherhood has deepened his sense of How Humans Work.

Episode Summary In Episode #09 https://www.instagram.com/lakshmiloka000/ (Lakshmi DelSesto) joins the show for beautiful conversation about music, fathering, and spirituality. In Lakshmi's life we can gather much about the sacred and healing power of music, the challenge of coming-of-age without an invested father and the moving way a nomadic heart reconciles life's adversities with creativity. Leading a self-described ‘unconventional' path into adulthood, we can see both the beauty and tenderness that comes when a daughter's unique spirit is untended by a father caught-up in religious beliefs and generational limitations. Ride the Mystic Dragon gives us a brave portrait of the contours of the heart, the impact in a father's choices, and the way the inborn spirit will find a way to make a meaningful life no matter what. By the shows end, we not only melt into the sonic genius of Lakshmi's gifts, we taste how love can still flow in the heart, even in the face of disappointment, especially when one is willing to honor the threads of connection beyond differences. Connect with Lakshmi on…. https://www.instagram.com/lakshmiloka000/ (Instagram) https://open.spotify.com/artist/27cEc18bJNvFdPYl8kbqu6 (Spotify) https://soundcloud.com/lakshmimusic (Sound Cloud)

In Episode #08, Jef Szi welcomes the high energy and creative https://www.instagram.com/ned_schaut/ (Ned Schaut) to the podcast. In Getting Beyond Good Ned reflects on his his adventuresome father Richard, whose long-leash and experience focused fathering style contrasted with his mother's strong religious values and morality. Through his stories about growing up in a tiny Northern California town of Hidden Valley, spending massive amounts of time outdoors with his brother, and having long summer roadtrips with his family, we come to learn how Ned found his way between the unique parenting value sets each of his parents provided him. We also discover the important influence his faith played in his development and sense of self. We come to learn how Ned's dream to create an out of this world youth center imploded into something far more important, waking up to the gifts in fatherhood. Being the father of five children turned out to be the overlooked opportunity to affirm Ned's search for meaning and value in his life. Embracing the hidden treasure of fatherhood brought about a wave of creativity in Ned's life. Writing the books https://www.rebelandcreate.com/product-page/rebel-and-create-a-compass-to-mastering-the-craft-of-fatherhood (Rebel and Create) and https://www.rebelandcreate.com/product-page/fatherhood-legacy-journal (Fatherhood Legacy Journal), as well as creating the https://www.rebelandcreate.com/podcast-1 (Fatherhood Fieldnotes Podcast) with more than 140 episodes followed his life-changing insight. You're invited to listen in as we journey with an affable and open man on the road of fatherhood and faith, who is finding for himself that a father's teachings can be sitting there, patiently waiting for us to discover them.

Episode Summary In Episode #07, Jeffrey welcomes Amir Ebrahimi to the podcast. We begin by learning about why Amir's passions for the cutting edges of computer science has become a spiritual quest that provides a sense of home in and a connection to the greater nature of the universe. The show turns toward Amir's sense of self and how it was influenced by his father Noujan. Growing-up mainly in Alabama as the son of a Haitian mother and Persian father, the podcast get's into some of the roots of his father's life and how Noujan's fathering style didn't fully meet with Amir's introverted nature, seeding questions for Amir about their relationship. We then come to know a few of the many other men in Amir's life who offered a quality of attention the begat trust and more confident self. In particular we hear about Steve, Brad's father and especially Ed Morrison, a onetime business partner of his parents who fostered Amir's interest in computers and reassured Amir's growing personhood. In this episode we find again the utter importance of present and attentive fathers who attune the energy inside of, in this case, a boy on his way to becoming a man. In Amir's brave portrait of his felt world, we can hear glimpes of the too common tale about a father who isn't quite tooled, for whatever reason, to bless and welcome the soul of his children. We also hear, again, how community and the instincts find surrogate sources of fathering energy that aid in the project of becoming a full and adult human. Later in the show Amir turns the interview back on Jef and asks him about his Hungarian name and lineage. After reflecting on the temperment of his father's line and sharing a vision of long ago Central Asian ancestors whilst taking part in a medicine cermony inside an ancient stone temple in Ireland, Jef opens up about the harder aspects of finding the father within himself and why the Odyssey was a seminal book for him on the way to becoming a father. In this episode we can not only find the inspiring connection between the quantum dimensions of the universe and the quest of human technology, but we find the delicate understory in the ecology of when a son misses a father.

In Episode #06, Jeffrey welcomes respected friend and dedicated father Alexie Dossa to the show. A man rich with stories, Alexie recounts the forceful life of his late father Ramzan Dossa and how he connected with his father's heritage and legacy through an old leather suitecase filled with mementos. Alexie shares what it was like growing-up in the wake his father's untimely passing at the young age of 36, and how he found an important connection to him through yoga, mindfulness and his father's academic achievements and spiritual traditions. Through these and other tales, we come to learn who the men were that came into Alexie's life and stood-in as father-figures, including the eccentric restaurateur Angelo. Spending over 1,000 nights talking into the late into night, smoking cigarettes, drinking wine and coffee and playing chess, Alexie became a son-figure to Angelo who imparted his hard-earned life-wisdom. We also learn how, eventually, Alexie came to find the father within himself in ways that he never thought possible. This episode bends the contours of time and energy as it reveals fathering energy to be working in part, beyond the bounds of life and death.

In Bonus Episode #01, listen in as Jef Szi aims to make sense of the failed insurrection of January the 6th by connecting the dots between stress, convenience and deception. By tying the willingingness to buy into the Big Lie about the election results to the evolved benefits of deception and the need to do things cheaply, Jef lays out a way to understand the incentive behind the behaviors in the US Capitol. We will use these ideas as a foundation for talking about solutions in his future bonus episodes as we continue to consider How Humans Work.

In Episode #05, Jef Szi welcomes the always forthright and more than occasionally provocative Robert Trivers. Together they discuss one of Robert's many seminal papers in the field of Evolutionary Biology: Parental Investment and Sexual Selection. Written in 1972, this paper lays bare how time and energy investment differences between the sexes of any species (maternal/paternal) influence who makes the mating choices and who competes to be chosen. Joining the show by Zoom over a couple of beers at an increasingly noisy Jamaican saloon, Trivers waxes professorial while never shying away from explicit and sometimes abrasive thoughts on matters of relationship, sex and violence. In Episode #05 we get a sense of not just the brilliance of strong-willed biologist who made waves across academia, but also one of a man, a son, and a father in whose life we can hear the hurtful, the turbulent, the unreconciled and the messy. Among the stories Robert recounts are a few searing memories about his father's harsh ways of parenting. Through it all, we come to see Robert Trivers in his human complexity. He has clear biological theories for our collective condition but becomes more opaque, in some measure, with his personal understandings…something we can all relate with to one degree or another. Buckle-up for this one, because the father of modern evolutionary biology is not only an insightful genius that transformed a field, but a maverick and forceful soul who rides roughshod over decorum as he gets real with his life and the ways of evolution.