Radical Humanity

A four-part miniseries where I explore my spirituality through four interconnected stories in the ancient writings. In the last episode I unravel the statement “…You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” and why I believe Jesus was talking about a liberation from the voice of judgment and connecting to the truth inherently living inside ourselves.

A four-part miniseries where I explore my spirituality through four interconnected stories in the ancient writings. In episode #3, I explore the profound and enigmatic encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman and why it is a story about becoming free from judgment through an invitation to genuinely connect. Also, what “living water” means, and why I think Jesus uses “worship” as a euphemism for unrestricted connection to life.

The Eighth Affirmation in the beatitude series, where Jesus gives eight odd blessing statements that maps a transformative journey of rupturing dependency on others and the external world in order to feel secure and satisfied, to a vibrant and passionate embrace of life lived from within, opening us up to enjoy this mysterious existence in freedom, compassion, joy, authenticity and aliveness. The last episode of the beatitude series, exploring the reason why the “peacemakers” become vilified and the targets of attack. Who really killed Jesus and a different theory of understanding his death. Also, how we tranquilize or attempt to extinguish our “problems” and disorders rather than learn from them, and why the “scapegoats” of our humanity might be the reflectors and illuminators of truth needed to generate change.

Part two in the miniseries where I explore my spirituality outside the walls of religion. In this episode I unravel Jesus’s statement, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Also, why “conversion” is not about changing religion, what humble means and why that is the route to finding this childlike nature within.

The Seventh Affirmation in the beatitude series, where Jesus gives eight odd blessing statements that maps a transformative journey of rupturing dependency on others and the external world in order to feel secure and satisfied, to a vibrant and passionate embrace of life lived from within, opening us up to enjoy this mysterious existence in freedom, compassion, joy, authenticity and aliveness. Here I discuss and explore why the “peacemakers” Jesus talks about are those that have found an inner peace, and disrupt, challenge, and confront the artificial systems of manufactured “peace” at large and on an individual level. The peacemaker is an anomaly to society who boldly, lovingly and passionately embraces life and addresses the illusions and false realities we construct to avoid facing the truths living within ourselves. Also, I talk about a new way of understanding sacrifice and martyrdom and how the “sons of God” affirmation is a subversive, disruptive and political designation that confronts the reigning systems of power, sustained through control and violence.

A new miniseries where I explore my spirituality through four interconnected stories in the ancient writings. In this first episode, what did Jesus mean when he said, “The Kingdom of Heaven is Within (Inside) You?”. Also, I talk about the difficult and equally wonderful journey of losing religion and belief, becoming “naked”, facing my inner self and the joys of seeking.

How dating unearthed my own unfinished work/pain from my childhood, why I looked to an ex-girlfriend to fill a void within, and how these past relationships and heartbreak drew me closer to myself.

New dating episode! Here I talk about my dating experiences and the realization of why dating is a wonderfully “selfish” endeavor of finding my identity, unearthing my genuineness, and the kind of intimate connection I inherently desire. Also, the importance of having that “daaamn!” factor… according to my chiropractor.

The Sixth Affirmation in the beatitude series, where Jesus gives eight odd blessing statements that maps a transformative journey of rupturing dependency on others and the external world in order to feel secure and satisfied, to a vibrant and passionate embrace of life lived from within, opening us up to enjoy this mysterious existence in freedom, compassion, joy, authenticity and aliveness. Here, I journey into understanding this “pure at heart” phrase, discovering it to mean a state of genuineness; where one lives out of the core of one’s self, finding and trusting their genuine voice and expressing such in undiluted honesty and truth. I talk about ceremonial cleansing rituals, why shame and judgment are the oppressors that cause us to feel “dirty”, where these “forces” originate, how our disorders are vital communicative agents of truth and what Jesus might indicate when he talks about “seeing God”.

The Fifth Affirmation in the Beatitude Series, where Jesus gives eight odd blessing statements that maps a transformative journey of rupturing dependency on others and the external world in order to feel secure and satisfied, to a vibrant and passionate embrace of life lived from within, opening us up to enjoy this mysterious existence in freedom, compassion, joy, authenticity and aliveness. In this episode, I unravel that mercy, when stripped of its popular religious connotations of forgiveness and repentance, is actually this deep, visceral and inherent nature of compassionately embracing the stumbling journey of living and discovering one’s true humanity. Mercy is rather this state of engaging the transformational process with a full and unrestricted capacity to feel and interact with life, especially approaching one’s self and others with the remedial balm of humor and laughter.

The Fourth Affirmation in the Beatitude Series, where Jesus gives eight odd blessing statements that maps a transformative journey of rupturing dependency on others and the external world in order to feel secure and satisfied, to a vibrant and passionate embrace of life lived from within, opening us up to enjoy this mysterious existence in freedom, compassion, joy, authenticity and aliveness. Here I discuss what this hunger and thirst means, how it is actually both a primal anger/rage and desire that both fuels confrontation of the early hurts, pains and woundings that has derailed one’s self and compels one to find their genuineness separated from what their family, society and the world at large dictates.

The Third Affirmation in the beatitude series, where Jesus gives eight odd blessing statements that maps a transformative journey of rupturing dependency on others and the external world in order to feel secure and satisfied, to a vibrant and passionate embrace of life lived from within, opening us up to enjoy this mysterious existence in freedom, compassion, joy, authenticity and aliveness. In this episode, I explore how “meek” is the subsequent return to our intrinsic human nature marked by vulnerability and a grounded position to living in the present after having grieved the loss of our inauthentic identity and attachments to the external for security and satisfaction. Also, why this “gentle” state of being is not devoid of anger, but a position that primes one for self-exploration and to embrace life openly and boldly. And what does Jesus mean when he talks about the meek “inheriting the earth”?

Here I read a personal poem on the loss of God, for me, as an object or being out in the ether, the wars that are created over this Divine being, the painful disorientation of that personal loss, and how the presence of the Divine is revealed through a passionate, connected, and bold embrace of life.

A reading and commentary of a personal poem exploring a time judgment kept me from being present and the sudden moment when it left, giving way to a peaceful, and euphoric connection with the environment around me while hiking through Point Lobos.

A surprising and profound conversation with a friend after a chance encounter that led to meeting up for beers. Ultramarathons, the obstruction of judgment, becoming fully present and attuned to one’s body despite the pull to give up, giving way to a euphoric energy to master the seemingly insurmountable, and why this is connected to the way I live and engage in the world.

After a “chance” run-in with a friend at a grocery store that brought about deeper sharing and an opportunity to be honest, I realized that there are those enigmatic moments in life that seem to be more than just an ordinary encounter.

The Second Affirmation in the beatitude series, where Jesus gives eight odd blessing statements that maps a transformative journey of rupturing dependency on others and the external world in order to feel secure and satisfied, to a vibrant and passionate embrace of life lived from within, opening us up to enjoy this mysterious existence in freedom, compassion, joy, authenticity and aliveness. Here, I explore the integral step of mourning or grieving the loss of what we depended on and the mask we wore, that covered up our genuine self, to feel secure, loved, accepted and connected. Also, why grieving this loss leads to an inner strengthening or “comfort” necessary for finding the authentic self.

A series within a series where I discuss my life in uncensored fashion. In this episode, disappointment that came from rejection from a woman on a dating site after vetting me for my belief system and spiritual lifestyle, led me to explore what I want in an intimate romantic connection, what was driving the need to get others to believe my way of seeing life, conflict over differences in a past relationship and a moment with a friend that taught me why diversity and difference can lead to a more genuine and deeper connection than a homogenized one.

A series within a series where I talk about my life in uncensored fashion. In this episode, I explore my dream about a moldy thermos and why this was symbolic of me leaving my family and finding my own identity. Also, I talk about differentiation, enmeshment, and why the process of scarification of plants is related to the necessary process of separating from the identity of a family/tribe.

The First Affirmation in the beatitude series, where Jesus gives eight strange blessing statements that maps a transformative journey of rupturing dependency on others and the external world in order to feel secure and satisfied, to a vibrant and passionate embrace of life lived from within, opening us up to enjoy this mysterious existence in freedom, authenticity and aliveness. In this first blessing statement, why despair and the utter loss of meaning and our self is the imperative first step to finding who we genuinely are. Also, what poor in spirit means, the brilliant psychological tale of Adam and Eve, the magical object, differentiation, the lack that lives inside us and why we turn to the external world to feel secure and satisfied, which inevitably creates more problems.

My series within a series where I explore my own life in uncensored fashion. In this episode I explore an unsettling and lingering memory of why I held back my anger on the last day with my ex while in Ireland and why I felt peace when I discovered the truth behind holding back that feeling.

Another poetry reading and commentary. This was written as I explored my own experience with suppressing feelings and truths, our conditioning that teaches us to suppress to avoid disturbing the “peace” and what arises, on a global scale, when we censor ourselves. Also, those that we demonize and scapegoat, may be mirroring deeper and profound truths for us to see that live and infect the soil of our humanity.

Series within a series where I talk about life in uncensored fashion. In this episode, how soccer parents are the suburban version of political protestors, the challenge of being vulnerable and wanting others to join in, following my inkling to go the lake, confronting judgment towards myself and embracing that I am still holding on to my ex-girlfriend. Finding peace.

How the ancient story of the healing of a woman hemorrhaging for twelve years, revealed to me that faith is not a belief system, but an inner compelling stirring of our genuine voice, that thrusts us into the unknown, breaking cultural and societal barriers to find freedom and aliveness within ourselves.

A new series within a series, where I talk about my life in an uncensored fashion. In this episode. Porn. Fear. Anger. How much I stress over a podcast episode. Honesty versus artificiality. Confrontation. Sharing controversial topics. The risk of losing friends and clients. Ex-girlfriends and the crazy things I do when in pain. Standing a girl up and then getting rejected. Oh, and profanity.

How a conversation with a friend at a bar over his passions to start a YouTube channel on politics generated a realization that sometimes our own path is one that’s walked alone and why that’s Good News.

I discuss why I think grief is the inspiration behind horror movies, what happens when we grieve and why embracing it is healing. I share my own experiences with grieving.

Rules, laws, and why love lives out of a deeper realm beyond humanity’s mandates. In this episode I explore the meaning behind the ancient story of the pharisees, Jesus, and the woman caught in adultery. Here I discuss why love operates out of a different register and is commonly construed to be “transgressive”.

A sort of humorous exploration, in poetic form, on leaning too heavy on the “heavy” and the obstructions around enjoying pleasure in my life. After, I give a “behind-the-scenes” commentary on its meaning.

A reading and commentary of my poem exploring a time I spent alone in a cabin over a weekend and the events that unfolded over those days. Hiking, grief, dreams, writing, facing loneliness, pleasure, connection.

Why dancing alone felt intensely uncomfortable, freed me from self-judgment, helped me find myself, and taught me to live by experience and intuition.

A reading and commentary on a very special poem I wrote capturing the experience over the loss of love.

What the story of the healing of the blind man in the Ancient Scriptures taught me about judgment, the nature vs. nurture question, and how love boldly embraces the unknown and opens up to the unfamiliar.

I discuss my terror of sweating at the chiropractor and how my unavoidable perspiration led to an exploration on the tactics we use to protect ourselves from the judgment and harm of others.

My return to poetic form! In this episode I read my poem and give a personal commentary exploring what faith and the Sacred now mean to me after going through some existential revamping!

A personal discussion about taking life too seriously, anxiety around change and going after pleasure in life.

A soliloquy on what "radical" means, why I went on retreat from the podcast and approaching life with questions instead of answers.

Why light means consciousness, darkness unconsciousness and salvation talked about in a way you may have never heard.

I explore, using childhood development, attachment work, defense mechanisms to understand how the demonic and Satan might be the projection of our own shame and judgment.

Why Jesus's Temptations are more Human than we realize and how the story is beautifully symbolic about the Ego we all face, the hunger within, emptiness, and listening to call of these needs.

In this episode I connect, part of the Sermon on the Mount, Pharisees, reframing lust, reframing adultery, and what Jesus might have meant in his confrontation on affairs.

Why listening to our hearts is essential for addressing the problems that exist in our own lives and in the world. Why neglecting this part of ourselves creates problems and to turning to the heart is what changes and heals them.

Why Faith is different than belief and how it is an inner compelling nudge to participate in the unfolding experiences of life beyond the realms of man-made religious constructs.

Reframing doubt and why it is a vital part of being human, change and transformation. Doubt is about loss, feeling lost and movement towards something new. How to embrace it.

Why anger is integral to humanity, change and growth and how not feeling it creates unending problems.

Delving into the mystery of how and why we change.

Sharing my personal story, I delve into the understanding of anxiety and why it it has the nagging presence in your life. It is telling you to listen, for there is something else behind it!

Changing up the way of communicating ideas through the framework of my own personal experiences. Operating more vulnerably in the hopes that others will move towards greater connection within themselves.

I delve into the meaning of the word "religion", incorporating the powerful concept of mindsight, why Jesus instructs us to travel into our own hearts, and how all this "reconnection" happens in the dimension of intimacy.

Exploring Jesus's conversation about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking in regards to expressing our needs. How he is communicating a sequential journey in discovering something greater and the answer to our existential churning of "there must be something more".

Discussing why communion is more than "taking" bread and wine, but opening us up to God's Love and Divine Moving Presence that leads to healing and transformation.