The Lens

Stergios is a Social Worker in Rochester, NY and has contributed hours of compassionate care and laughter to folks at The LENS. As an avid participant in ecstatic Native American rites such as sweat lodge, sundance, and vision quest, Stergios is a constant source of fully embodied wisdom. We spoke today about the tragedy of being an unwanted child, abandonment, healing, and ways Stergios has found his home. What is home? Reach out to Stergios at LinkedIn.Earlier in the show…Denis announced his private psychotherapy practice. The LENS had their Spring 2021 Retreat in June on the shores of Lake Erie near Buffalo, NY. They are planning 3 more retreats between now and September 2022. Your next opportunity to participate is September 2021 (this time on the shores of Lake Ontario near Rochester, NY). After that there will be 2 more retreats near Buffalo on Lake Erie again. For a full schedule of the events planned please contact info@TheLENSPodcast.org. The wonderful setting for my conversation with Stergios is Love In Motion Yoga provided courtesy of Kathleen Engelhardt.

Valdis Abols is the editor of Rigas Laiks Magazine. He served as the Latvian ambassador to Spain for 4 years. Denis met him in 1989 when Valdis, an English teacher at Janis Rosenthal Riga Art School, organized an exchange program with Rita Auerbach, an art teacher at Clarence High School (a suburb of Buffalo, NY).Denis and Valdis talk about Dundaga, Rock Music, The BBC, Voice of America, Glasnost, The Green Movement, Denis' attempts to spread Christianity with a guitar, Valdis publishing the first Latvian translation of Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, the Chautauqua Institute exchange between The Eisenhower Institute and the Friendship Society, the recently opened archives of Checka, mass deportations to Siberia, and the beautifully terrifying film, The Chronicles of Melanie. [See Movie Trailer]

Curtis and Denis had this conversation over a year ago. Before the pandemic. Before the murder of George Floyd. And before the passing of Curtis' mother, Lorna C. Hill, just two short weeks ago. Even though their time-capsuled conversation lacks an awareness of today's sorrows, would you say the poignancy of our present day reality is diminished? Or is it amplified?Show NotesDenis and Curtis first met after her performance at Creative Mornings, a monthly gathering of creative people. They talk about why all the superlatives attributed to her mother, Lorna C. Hill, are forever fitting.Curtis talks about “being raised on the stage” in the shining light of Ujima Company, a multi-ethnic and multicultural professional theater company founded by her mother.As a child, Curtis performed in Ujima's annual mother's day production, And Bid Him Sing written by her mother. The play is a celebration of the poetry and vision of Paul Laurence Dunbar, and has also been a perennial celebration of Buffalo's great talent in theater, music, and dance.Curtis mentioned performing in the Buffalo Infringement Festival.Curtis' spoke fondly of her brother Amilcar, also known as DJ Milk, who provides the grooving thump and pump at practically every professional sporting event in Buffalo.Curtis mentioned recording in Bobby Takac's studio, GCR Audio, in Buffalo, NY.Curtis attended PS 192 Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts and is proud of her music and performance apprenticeship with such mentors as George Davis and Frank Scinta.Curtis reminds us that the original Me Too movement was an empowering message of empathy among women of color who were sexually abused. Denis mentioned that he had just recently heard the original history of Me Too from Marxist, Slavoj Žižek.Curtis and Denis discuss what makes it possible for disparate people to maintain their humanity and civility while engaging in challenging discourse.Curtis breaks down her song, Exorcise and remembers the astonishing moment this song brought an audience member to tears.You can follow Curtis' performances and projects on her website, CurtisLovellMusic.com, and listen to her music on Spotify.

Katie Krawczyk is Chief Executive Officer and Partner at 19 IDEAS, a marketing, PR, and web development company she started with her husband, Dan Gigante. Katie qualifies a genuine Buffalo Boss Babe, but if you ask her (or Denis), she's simply the boss. Denis and Katie talk about growing up in the eighties, life in the burbs (Katie was born and raised in Hamburg, NY), taking risks, playing the game we need to play vs. playing the game we want to play, and finally… choosing the life we've lived. The question arises, just how much of our lives can be considered a choice? Well… how much responsibility can you handle? Katie will inspire you to accept more.Show NotesKaite mentioned that Mamoser's has highly rated, quintessential Buffalo wings.Denis mentioned co-counseling (or re-evaluation counseling) which encourages people to discharge their pent up emotions (distress patterns) created within each of us through traumatic and harmful encounters.Katie mentioned how, in a addition to therapeutic outlets for releasing rage and grief, she found Krav Maga to be an excellent way to release rage while also connecting. But few interventions have served her better than the good old fashioned punching bag.Denis first met Katie at Larkin Square, a happening place that was built in Denis' neighborhood shortly after he moved to Buffalo ten years ago.Earlier in the show…Denis talked about the upcoming LENS event, The Entheogenic Experience. If you can't make it, there are more events coming.

Avi was born in Jerusalem as a wave of hope was cresting. Hope in a peace that had drawn closer than anyone dared to imagine. Hope felt so strongly by Avi's parents, his middle name is Shalom. Over the next twenty years Avi and his family found themselves in Cleveland, Chicago, Phoenix, New Jersey, Manhattan… and finally… Avi found his own personal Shangri-La… Fredonia, NY, where he attended college, discovered nature amongst the charms of small-town life, and had his first psychedelic experience.Denis and Avi talk about where hope yet lies this quarter century since his birth. Could it be the promising results emerging from psychedelic research? And yet Avi hastens to qualify every statement he makes about psychedelics with attention to honesty and critical thinking. He's careful to point out the small study samples, and he humbly admits that his own experiences are highly subjective. Details, caveats, conditions, and contingencies are generously supplied. His candor reveals a wider ratio of risk to benefit than one is likely to hear from the growing throng of psychedelic enthusiasts. Denis found Avi's rational exuberance for inebriants nothing short of… sobering.

Garrett Shea wants to bring poetry to pop. And if a song happens to save a life, that isn't too shabby either (stay tuned to hear THAT story and song at the end of the episode).As a proud Villa Maria student, Garrett majored in Music Industry. There he connected with Grammy nominated producer Anthony Casuccio who produced Garrett's first album with the band, Breckenwood. If you listen to their two albums you can not only hear loads of growth in his recording and song craft, but also a shift from pop-punk to just… pop. The pull of pop eventually led Garrett away from the band four years ago. He continues to write and record original songs, while having a blast in his cover band, The Red Letter Kings.Garrett talked about that “switch” that needs to go off in his mind and heart before he is able to release a new song to the public. It took him over a year before he was willing to put his song, Travel On up on Spotify.Garrett is also a music instructor who heads up the music lessons department at Guitar Center in Cheektowaga. They are putting together a Rock Show program where students get focused training for a week in a rock ensemble that makes immediate use of their skills and taste. You can keep up with Garrett's latest singles, announcements, vlog, and brisk gigging schedule on his web site, GarretSheaMusic.com.Show NotesGarrett mentioned a recent article by Buffalo music critic, Jeff Miers about the music scene in Buffalo. Garrett also mentioned his friend, Tim Britt who he thinks does a great job straddling the line between original and cover band vital to a band's success in Buffalo. Garrett also mentioned Matt Bannister whom he collaborates with as an acoustic duo. Garrett gave a shout out to his album art designer, Daniel Morris.Earlier in the show, Denis used the tool, Inner Authority by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels to help him bring some authenticity and creative energy to his upcoming job interview.Denis also mentioned that he is starting a therapeutic community in the form of a religion, which you can find out more about in the episode, We are Building a Religion. There is a very special first meeting coming up on Sunday March 31. If you want to take part, please contact Denis at Denis@TheLensPodcast.org.Denis mentioned Dennis McKenna's book, The Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss.Garrett mentioned this fascinating Ted Talk on how lyrics in pop music have gotten measurably more repetitive over the years.

In this Sunday Shit-Show edition of the Lens. Denis invites you to create a reasonable religion with him. What could go wrong?

Dave began his career as a dog trainer with mentor Josh Moran, who Denis interviewed in Episode 3. Dave and Josh have a podcast, Philosophers and Madmen, which focuses on dog-training and world-renowned dog-trainers.Dave and Denis talk loads about BJJ. As they explore Dave's life journey from childhood it became clear that Dave's path led not only to dog training, but human training. Eventually they arrive at Dave's recent strides in self development, and their conversation turned to the role of psychedelics in becoming more whole.Dave talked about Learned Irrelevance, a concept described in the book, Excel-Erated Learning.Dave's favorite poets are Pablo Neruda and E.E. Cummings, and he shared one of Rupi Kaur's poems, which raises questions about what traits we ought to praise in one another.Denis mentioned the book, The Secret Chief Revealed, about a psychotherapist who simply provides psychedelic experiences in a safe and supportive set and setting, then helps people integrate these extraordinary trips into one's ordinary day-to-day living.Denis recounts how he got into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu shortly after reading this Psychology Today article,Earlier in the show…Denis mentioned a book he's reading, Entheogens and the Future of Religion. How this book, and the dozen or so similarly titled books he's currently reading will affect his life in 2019 will be revealed in the next episode.Also, Denis earned a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It was once an impossible idea he dared not to believe. But sometimes the impossible is manifested as reality. Denis loves it whens that happens. He suspects that may be the very definition of a life worth living.

In this Sunday Shit Show edition of the The Lens, Denis practices Inner Authority, a tool that helps you get in touch with your shadow so that you can speak to an audience. Do you want to be real? Do you want to be brilliant? Do you believe that gaining the attention of your audience actually matters? This tool will tip the scales in your favor.Also… Denis moved!

Shari Berman's movie, My Life as Abraham Lincoln, is a journey with a woman desperately trying to unravel the tragic mystery of her own mind. It's also a joyous love letter to films and film genres Shari most enjoys. Shari also directed Sugar, a rock-and-roll movie about middle-aged women making the most of what could be their last moment to shine (even if it's only on “MILF-at-Loser-Tube-Dot-Com”!). Denis marveled at the film's bass-player, June Millington, a kick-ass guitar player from the all-girl band, Fanny.Shari is pulling her next production together, Pink Mist. For starters, it has muslim immigrants, neighborhood bullies, a yiddish ghost and a tween amputee. Denis is looking forward to seeing where this all goes, and how Shari will weave her sense of humor into the tale. Shari is producing Pink Mist with actor/producer Michael Cuomo. She highly recommends Michael's film, Happy New Year. One of the lead roles will be played by Lynn Cohen, who is also well known for her character Mags, from the Hunger Games. Shari's husband, Chris Benker will be the director of photography.Shari edited the web series, Switch, a dramatic exploration into the real life experiences of people who work in BDSM dungeons.

Denis attended The Horizons Conference: Perspectives on Psychedelics. There he met with other enthusiastic attendees, most notably Kalindi Iyi, Hamilton Morris, and Roberta Russell. He also got to hear accomplished speakers share their research findings on the therapeutic applications of MDMA to treat PTSD, DMT for treatment-resistant depression, and psilocybin to treat cocaine addiction. Michael Pollan was a highlight. Pollan's in depth, solemn, and almost ‘mainstream' treatment of psychedelics in his book, How to Change Your Mind, was the inspiration Denis needed to attend this conference and seek out other therapists who are bringing entheogenic substances to the folks who need them.

Myron is a renaissance man. A devoted full time engineer, and part time music writer, producer, and charismatic leader of the band, Those Idiots. If you find yourself in Buffalo the day after Easter, prepare to encounter a parallel universe in which everyone is Polish, armed with pussy willows and squirt guns, and willing to FIGHT… for your RIGHT… to POOOOOOOOOLKA! Denis and Myron talk about immigrants, millennials, creating the digital future of Ukraine as the Soviet Union crumbled, and how to be popular with help from harmonicas.Myron also talks about the tragic night music saved his life.

Just because something doesn't last doesn't mean it sucks.

Denis goes on a road trip to Kentucky with a couple of his former church brothers. They talk creationism vs. evolution, christianity vs. agnosticism; all the while surfing waves of cognitive dissonance.

In this episode of the Sunday Shit Show, Denis gets his Hospital Bill. It was absolutely shocking. He also talks about the Rust Belt Adventure Cottage that will rise from the ashes of what his wife claims is a buffet of human flesh for rat-mites and other assorted vermin.Hovel of wretched parasites? Or the happiest place on earth? We'll let airbnb decide.

Max is an arborist and black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu living in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. He and Denis talk about the ‘street-readiness' mindset of Jiu Jitsu, and how training and experience has brought him on a voyage from warrior to protector.Show NotesYou can train with Prof. Max at Gracie Barra Vancouver. Denis mentioned a book by Jordan Peterson, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, in which it is revealed that the lives of lobsters are a fascinating study in our own struggle to establish a solid place in a hierarchy that determines our success and happiness in life, and it all starts with fighting.Earlier in the show, Denis talks about a workshop he went to in NYC where Barry Michels helped him cross a new threshold with The Shadow. It was yet another forward-moving experience fueled by The Tools. Denis goes into some detail regarding Rudolf Steiner's take on the shadow, wherein the shadow becomes a guide to new thresholds. Inspired by what he experienced there, Denis wrote the following Prayer of Repentance to My Shadow.The workshop was at a completely unique fitness, wellness, and medical facility, Shift where folks there treated Denis (and his fucking irresponsible shadow) with kindness and compassion. Denis also made reference to previous podcast episodes, including The Trip to Vancouver, an interview with filmmaker Chris Benker, and that time Denis' shadow waged an all out take-over, a cautionary tale told in A Predator Like Me.

Reading Adrian's novel, Down Sterling Road was an emotional experience for Denis. They talk about Adrian's writing, and growing up in a small town in 1970s Canada. Adrian also shares the tools (from the book, The Tools) that help him move forward and strengthen his commitment to writing.Adrian's next book, a collection of linked stories, comes out this October and is titled, The Ambassador of What. You can learn more about Adrian, his writing, teaching, and coaching at his website, https://adrianmichaelkelly.com/

Denis goes to Boston to see Radiohead with his son, Matvey, and their generous friend, Dave. Denis mentioned how Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now provided some perspective as even a perfect trip like this is not without its problems.

In this episode of the Sunday Shit Show, Denis talks about his anniversary with Marjorie and how his legs stopped working and how he thought he was having a stroke and how he then performed a daring and romantic feat of telepathy.It was a good day.

Why not win? All it takes is micro-transactions in The Field, combat on the mats, and regular cleansing from demoralization with help from The Mother.

Even when they have the best intentions, your developer may be deluded into thinking they are writing the solution you need for a price worth paying. Despite bad estimates and misplaced priorities, these simple steps will ensure you end up with a useful solution that's worth the cost.

Physician assisted suicide is legal in some states and countries. Should mental health counselors play a part in that process? Or is suicide a therapist's ultimate failure? What is our job anyway?

I came to watch some thoughtful people make history. I encountered a socialist paradise, the greenest city in the world, and numerous BJJ enthusiasts who made me feel quite at home. Cheers, Vancouver!

Welcome to the first edition of The Sunday Shit-show. It's a commitment to ship a podcast, guest or no guest, good life or no good life, rainbows or snowflakes... each and every week.I've found (once again) that when I don't make this podcast happen, the psychic weight of un-purged consciousness gets pretty fuckin' heavy and threatens to extinguish my spirit. And as I discovered immediately after recording this episode, flushing the pipes of thoughts and feelings is really good medicine. The sense of relief and increased mobility that attends this practice is truly remarkable.I've been reading Irvin Yalom's The Gift of Therapy (again) this week, and his words echo and affirm what I've been thinking and feeling. We gotta be human, and we gotta communicate that humanity. And other folks in our life, the ones we care about and want to connect with, also need to bear witness to our humanity. And by human I mean impotent, flawed, and embarrassing.Show NotesDenis took a psilocybin trip in Zoar Valley State Park on the anniversary of his 49th trip around the sun.Next month Denis plans to Tap Out Cancer (if not his BJJ opponent). You can support this mission here:

Denis and Chris catch up after 20 years of not seeing each other. They talk about the miracles of their birth and the stunning impermanence of their work. Lola the aztec mountain chihuahua performs her high and lonesome song.Show NotesYou can view films by Chris Benker on Amazon. Including:Monkeys and RobotsThe Yakuza and the MermaidChris is working on a new 3D film, The Kamikaze of Fort Greene Park.Chris and Denis talk about his beautiful and most personal short film, Sleepwalk: ...which you can view along with much of his other most recent work on Chris' Be Independent Productions channel.Earlier in the show...Denis talks about getting too close to prison guards and the next 100 minds that need to be changed on the issue of mass shootings.

Today on the Lens I talk to Marquean Tucker… or maybe you know him as ENOK. Marquean is a DJ and producer of experimental trap music. He is the opening act for many of his DJ, EDM, TRAP, and DubStep idols. He's got even bigger things planned in his professional and personal life this year. We talk about music, race, church, the EDM club scene, his upcoming wedding, and how he grows in his craft by seeking out criticism from his EDM heroes.Show Notes:Marquean's music can be heard on his Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/enokalypse.Two of Marquean's (ENOK's) tracks we listened to and discussed on the show were: LIC and Viral.Earlier in the show...Denis talked about how greatly The Black Sun helped him this past week. It's a tool from the book, Coming Alive by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels. Also Denis mentioned how inspired he was by thoughts from Jordan Peterson on the topic of trust.

Abdul Sallaj is a psychiatrist in Chicago. We talked about aspects of the developing mind that are unique to growing up in a household steeped in religious fundamentalism. We also talked way too much about spanking... ouch! Abdul and Denis conducted their interview in Undergrounds Coffee House and Roastery, converted a year or so ago from a funeral home. Denis thinks it's to die for.Show NotesEarlier in the show, Denis talked about how he fell through the attic into ceiling (he didn't fall all the way through... just a leg or two dangling down). This video details the aftermath.

Jon and Denis talk about the #MeToo movement, Denis' own Title IX hearing at Medaille College, Carl Jung's Shadow, and the latest stories in the news, especially Louis CK, Jian Ghomeshi, Roman Polanski, Kristen Gillibrand, Salma Hayek, Harvey Weinstein, Al Franken, Garrison Keillor, Viktor Frankl, Betsy Devos, Roy Moore, and Donald Trump.Earlier in the show Denis mentioned Sara Heidinger who opened Undergrounds Coffee House and Roastery. You can read this article about how she is working on a project to bring something akin to Manhattan's High Line to our very own Old First Ward.Denis visited his friend Chris Benker and met Chris' wife, Shari Berman both filmmakers in Brooklyn. They visited an art installation by Lary 7, a New York artist, musician, recording artist, and all-round inventive bloke.Denis also talked about The Music Lesson by Victor Wooten, and they guy who recommended the book to Denis... songwriter Omeri Monroe.Denis talked about how Babe Magazine is taking the conversation about men, women, and sex to a whole new place.... a place that at all at once seems strangely foreign, yet eerily familiar.

Brian is an educator who wrote the young adult novel, Miss E. Brian began his teaching career in Washington DC area middle schools. He continues to work in school districts to help educators better integrate learning with technology. We talk about his book, Miss E., and the impact it made on my mind. Brian's next book, Cross Country is due this Spring.Brian has also been on the Chasing Earhart podcast.

Val is also known as "Valociraptor", she is the first professional woman MMA fighter to hail from our Western New York region. Show NotesVal mentioned that she has trained at Grappling Unlimited, in Honolulu, Hawaii and Gracie Barra Himeji which is also home to Himeji Castle, the most glorious castle in Japan.Valerie has also trained at Western New York MMA, and is now training at Buffalo United Martial Arts (BUMA), KC Fitness., and Lake Effect Martial Arts. Val also mentions our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) professor, Josh Ketry. She talks about the Japanese MMA organization, PRIDE, and its famous fights and fighters, like Bob Sapp and Kazushi Sakuraba who propelled BJJ's popularity since the 1990's.Denis recalled the documentary, Choke, featuring Rickson Gracie.Val and Denis practiced the Tool, Inner Authority (or The Shadow) by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels.You can keep in touch with Val and her upcoming fights through her Facebook page.Check out Val-ociraptor in this ferocious video:

Today I heard my friend's voice pronounce that I was old. I was out of touch. And I was a predator. And a predator like me should never be allowed to become a mental health counselor.Quite a moment, eh?Well... How did I get here?

Inspired by testimony and evidence supplied by Tim Ferris, Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, Terrance McKenna, Kilindi Iyi, and Anthony Bourdain, Denis embarks on a psychedelic trip to discover the void.

Phil wrote The Tools, and Coming Alive with his writing partner Barry Michels. Their tools are helping thousands of people (me included) live courageously by releasing them from traps set by resentment, fear, inauthenticity, worry, hurt feelings, demoralization, lethargy, and self-gratification. I first discovered Phil three years ago on Marc Maron's WTF. Mind blowing! I bought the book immediately. Life changing! Phil was back in Marc's garage just a few days ago.

Abby created Intimacy Alive, where she offers coaching in relationships and intimacy. She is also a yoga instructor. We talked about her transition from interior design industry employee in NYC to business owner in Buffalo.

Omeri Monroe writes songs. He performs two of them on today's show. We talk about the people that inspire him, and what he does to prepare for a performance.

Joshua Curry-Bascome works with the homeless so YOU don't have to, and he does it with an open mind, brimming with enthusiasm for philosophy and maximum awareness.

Erik Light discovers interesting people doing interesting things. Then he conceptualizes, writes, directs, shoots, and edits a reality web series with them. The process to bring one concept to life takes loads of personal sacrifice and years of his life. He's having a blast, and he's learned a ton about how to prevent a creative dream from being snuffed out by the naysayers.

Stephen has written for a dozen television shows, including Roseanne and Spin City. He was the Executive Producer and head writer of the acclaimed series Dead Like Me on Showtime. He has written television pilots for CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, FX, TNT and USA. He was nominated for a Writers Guild Award for Best Original Television Movie for his film “Charlotte,” part of the film anthology Five on Lifetime. He is adapting Walker Percy's celebrated novel “The Moviegoer,” winner of the 1962 National Book Award for Fiction, as a screenplay for the film producer Cary Brokaw and Sony/TriStar.

A self-described, recovering cellist... Angela wrote the book on how to create a career in music, and she works directly with composers, giving them tools to get unstuck, take risks, and face the hard questions only art can answer.

Josh is The Barefoot Dog Trainer. He is also one of the Philosophers and Madmen who trains Jiu Jitsu at BUMA. We talk about how he became a full time dog trainer and the ways we all discover behavior that "just works", and how natural it is for us to misjudge and misplace the meaning of behavior.

Margo is a life coach and ADHD coach at Meijer & de Beijer in Amsterdam. We talk about how The Tools lit a fire under our midlife asses, what it ultimately takes to switch to an entirely different career in your forties, and the medicine Margo herself uses and shares with her growing client base.

In this introductory episode, we look through the lenses of curiosity, psychotherapy, music, psychedelics, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Sexual Harassment, Marriage, Transgender, Midlife Crisis, and the impending loss of all our jobs and major industries. The question... Is this really the show for you?