Podcasts about Being Human

SFX makeup artist & creative influencer Aleena Averly joins me to discuss two films that portray dystopian futures against a backdrop of ecological collapse, Blade Runner 2049 and Elysium. We talk about how technology, AI, surveillance, inequality, and class oppression—but also pockets of heroism and sacrifice—are portrayed in both films, how the real world is racing alarmingly fast towards both futures, and why the fight to stay human in an increasingly inhuman world matters more than ever. Topics include:   • Class divides and structural oppression   • Immigrant scapegoating as a way to maintain class oppression   • "Are you a replicant?"   • AI, AI companions, and the illusion of "realness"   • The erosion of empathy, humanity, and authenticy   • Echoes of Philip K. Dick's ideas   • Outward rebellion vs. inner awakening   • Staying real and human in an increasingly unreal and inhuman world ⚠️ Spoilers: Blade Runner 2049, Elysium ✅ No Spoilers: All other works mentioned Find Aleena Averly: YouTube: @AleenaAverly https://www.youtube.com/@AleenaAverly Instagram: @aleena.averly https://www.instagram.com/aleena.averly/   Opening quote: From a 1979 interview w/ Philip K. Dick, edited for brevity and clarity, accessed via Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/PhilipK.DickRAWInterview Outro music: "Replicant Love" by Francesco Berta, licensed via AudioJungle  Read more about the real-life lessons of Blade Runner 2049 and the fiction of Philip K. Dick on PopMythology: • The Blade Runner 2049 Replicant's Guide to Being Human in an Inhuman World https://www.popmythology.com/blade-runner-replicant-guide-becoming-human/ • Be a Dick-Head: The Philip K. Dick Way of Spiritual-Political Resistance https://www.popmythology.com/philip-k-dick-way-of-political-resistance/  

Listen to this episode if you're feeling defeated, tired, run down, or if you're hearing yourself complain a lot. Elysia Skye is a speaker, mindset and leadership consultant, and host of The Brilliance Method Podcast, and here's what I learned from talking to her: authenticity in action is one of the most compelling expressions of humanity. Elysia is brave, bold, deeply caring, and filled with hard fought wisdom. She has faced battles in her own life to reach her goals, and she brings this same passion and practical knowledge to us in this episode. Her work is all about bringing out the “brilliance” in all of us, and I'm so thankful she shared her gifts with the Work of Being Human audience! Follow me on Instagram!https://www.instagram.com/vanessathetherapist?igsh=MTJ6NTYwdWFsOG5ieg%3D%3D&utm_source=qrhttps://www.instagram.com/theworkofbeinghuman?igsh=MXd6cTY3b3ZwNXZ1&utm_source=qrTo connect with Elysia… Watch or Listen to The Brilliance Method Podcast: https://linktr.ee/elysiaskyeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elysiaskyeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/elysiaskyecoachTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elysiaskyeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elysiaskyeLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elysiaskye/

This week Pastor John Starke preaches from Ephesians 5:21-33, continuing in our sermon series "The Ache of Being Human".

Brent Billings, Reed Dent, and Josh Bossé dive into the virtues by talking about prudence (or wisdom).Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie DillardAsking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty SolomonThe Gospel of Being Human by Marty Solomon and Reed DentInspired by Rachel Held EvansBEMA 454: Qohelet Goes OffOrdet (1955 film) — LetterboxdThe Cardinal and the Deadly by Karl Clifton-SoderstromReed on Instagram

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/   What if your identity is far bigger than your thoughts, your history, or your body? In this episode of Being Human, I sit down with Christy Whitman — New York Times bestselling author, transformational coach, and teacher of the Seven Universal Laws. Christy shares her core insight that we are not the ‘meat suit' we inhabit, but energetic beings expressing light, intuition, and divine intelligence.   Christy is the embodiment of an abundant spirit. She has very evidently ‘done the work' to transform divorce and debt to transform herself into the powerhouse she is today.    We discuss:  How to shift from victim consciousness into deliberate creation How frequency shapes every result in our lives Practical tools to shift our energy in the moment Links: Christy's Website   A powerful conversation about identity, energy, and the creative force within each of us.

It's nearly impossible to live a fully technology-free life. But what is the impact of being constantly digitally connected and online? Author and podcaster Carlos Whittaker shares from his book, "Reconnected: How 7 Scree-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human." Originally aired November 21, 2024 Check out Susie's new podcast God Impressions on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: click here

In this episode of The Practice of Being Human, Marta reflects on the heart of conscious parenting — not as a performance, but as a practice of presence.Through stories of friendship, belonging, and lessons inspired by Gabor Maté, she explores how our children don't experience our intentions, but our energy. They feel the nervous system beneath our words — the steadiness, safety, and attunement that say, you're loved, you're safe, I'm here.You'll hear insights on:The unseen impact of stress, fear, and perfectionism on connectionHow to bring compassion, not shame, to our past parentingThe power of repair, curiosity, and regulationWhy conscious parenting begins with our own healingThis episode is a reminder that we can't give what we haven't yet received — and that tending to our own hearts is the most loving act of all.Because the most sacred gift we offer our children is not our perfection, but our presence._____________________________________________________________We are so glad you're here. Big love.Connect with Marta:⁠Ask Marta Anything⁠ for a chance to be featured in a future episode!https://martabrummell.com/Instagram: ⁠@martabrummell⁠LinkedIn: ⁠@martabrummell⁠If you're loving the insights and tools shared on the podcast, we'd love to invite you to join The Practice, our online membership community. It's a space for growth, connection, and transformation, where like-minded and like-hearted people come together to navigate life's transitions with intention and courage. Through meaningful conversations, compassionate collaboration, and weekly coaching, you'll gain practical tools and support to enrich your life and reconnect with your true self.Join The Practice ⁠here⁠.

John Starke preaches from 1 Corinthians, continuing in our sermon series “The Ache of Being Human".

When everything around us is changing, how do we stay grounded without shutting down?In this week's episode, we dive into The Three Marks of Existence. Qualities that are true for anything that exists. Yes, anything!We'll explore impermanence, suffering, and the concept of “not-self” and talk about how releasing clinging to our sense of Self can deepen connection and freedom and ease in our lives. This allows us to love AND ride the challenging times more freely.You will learn:• Why facing change, instead of fighting it, might be the most radical act of peace.• How to turn the ache of impermanence into appreciation, presence, and freedom.• The real meaning of “suffering” in Buddhism (and why it's not as depressing as it sounds).• What the Buddha meant by “not-self” — and how loosening our grip on identity can bring deep relief and belonging.• Simple ways to meet uncertainty and loss with steadiness, not fear.• How these teachings can make you more grounded, compassionate, and awake in a world that's constantly shifting.Resources:// Episode 9: Impermanence, Death, and Other Sexy Things// Episode 60: How to Avoid Unnecessary Suffering// Episode 63: Being Human is Hard – the First Noble Truth// Episode 64: Cultivating Radiant Inner Confidence – Ziji// Episode 222: Struggling with When Things End// If you're new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You'll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.// Want something more self-paced with access to weekly group support and getting coached by yours truly? Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. We dive into taking wisdom and applying it to our daily lives, with different topics every month. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can't wait to see you there!// Have you benefited from even one episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast? I'd love it if you could leave a 5-star review on iTunes by clicking here  or on Spotify by clicking here.

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/   Is telepathy real — and can it be proven scientifically?    And what does it mean for our understanding of consciousness? In this episode of Being Human, we speak with Dr. Diane Hennacy, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, former Johns Hopkins faculty member, and author of The ESP Enigma. Diane has spent years rigorously testing individuals — including autistic savants — who appear to demonstrate astonishing telepathic abilities.   We explore why she believes consciousness is not produced by the brain but decoded by it, and what this means for our understanding of what it is to be human.   Diane is hugely entertaining in this profound conversation linking neuroscience, intuition, and human potential.   We explore: Early experiences with extrasensory perception First meeting a telepathic autistic child Finding fame with The Telepathy Tapes and plans for even more sophisticated experiments Implications for society What is consciousness and can AI develop it? Links: Diane's Website

Christian College Sex Comedy: Part 25 Being Subversive Isn t As Much Fun As It Looks In 30 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the podcast at Explicit Novels.             Friends stand by you through the struggles your enemies create   "You are depraved and despicable," Mhain seethed. "I get that a lot; now get out," I growled back, "because I have a thousand other bitches who are, scratch that, 999 other bitches, Doctor Kennedy is growing on me; the rest I'm not so sure about, who are making my life miserable." "Don't get your hopes up, Mr. Braxton," Doctor Kennedy warned me. "I'm happily married." "Cool," I responded. "I hope to be like that one day." "Happily married?" Virginia inquired. "No; a female law professor at an all-girls school," I grinned. "It sounds like a real cool job." "Feel free to hit him," Dana interrupted. "I swear that is the only way to get him to learn anything; or the only way we will discuss at this moment." Ah, sex. I thought my life had gone on a bit too long without the mention of sex. "It is also a fun form of stress relief." A painful blow rocked my shoulder and nearly sent me sprawling. "You are right," Gabrielle noted clinically. "I feel better." Fuck, she hits hard. I look at her and try not to get pissed off and say something stupid. She makes my life difficult but my existence at FFU makes her life far too interesting as well. Whack! Someone hit me with a briefcase. "I have to agree," Doctor Kennedy confirmed. "It has a therapeutic quality to it." "Bloody hell," I blurt out. "Everyone, please stop physically abusing Zane," Ms. Goodswell snapped. "He's a student, for Pete's sake. He's not subject to corporal punishment." "Virginia, have you ever punched or slapped Zane?" Dana teased. "Give it a try before dismissing it out of hand." "He likes spanking," Barbie Lynn beamed happiness as she skipped by on her way to my/our bedroom. Technically, it is mine, Vivian's, Barbie Lynn's, Rio's, and Mercy's, plus whoever is feeling lonely on a given night. As for the spanking, I'm more of a giver than a receiver, but I doubt explaining that right now would be appropriate. "Uhmm, okay, I think that is my cue to leave," Virginia piped up. "I have rounds to make," Gabrielle added. "I'm going home to my family," Doctor Kennedy headed out. "I'm going to stay here, kick back, and watch some Pay-per-view," Dana grinned. "What are you going to watch?" Hudson inquired. "BBC America has this show called Copper that I've been meaning to catch," Dana informed her. "Mind if I watch an episode with you?" Hudson asked. "Sure, knock yourself out. You can pick the second show," Dana yawned. "It's only Zane's money after all." The rest of my guests filed out and I retired to the showers and then to my room. The day's stress revealed itself as the women curled into bed calmly and soon were cuddled together, including the odd ones out. On the far side we had the rather unusual appearance of Valarie. Next to her was Rio, who had her arms wrapped around Mercy. Mercy was snuggled against Barbie Lynn who held the middle spot. I was on my side, face-to-face with Barbie Lynn. After a few minutes, Vivian came to bed, wedged up against my back, and put an arm over me. I was in close proximity to several beautiful women but as long as no one doused the room with an aphrodisiac, we'd do just fine. "Zane," Barbie Lynn whispered, "my vibrator burned out this morning, and I'm terribly horny." Oh, fuck!   Barbie Lynn gazing down at me, I'm not sure another guy should ever see this because it could break one's heart to see it once and never again. She's built a faint sheen of sweat on her body already and she's looking at me with a definite Zen to fuck. My cock is cocooned deep inside her rectum, rubbing inside as she rotates forward on her hips. The distant, dreamy look in her eyes flashes to alertness as she catches me looking at her; 'hi' she whispers. I nod and smile so she inclines into me so that we can start kissing. She leads in with her tongue along my lips. I touch the tip of her tongue with my own, snaking inside her mouth before we are done. She starts murmuring, deepens our kiss, and begins rubbing my nipples. "Vivian?" Valarie says softly. She snuck around the bed to settle behind my guardian. "Yes?" Vivian replies. She is on her side watching Barbie Lynn and I. "I, umm, Valarie moans. Out of the corner of my eye I catch it as Val's hand brushes Vivian's hair off her neck and her lips start suckling on the exposed flesh. Vivian closes her eyes briefly but doesn't move Valarie away. "Oh, Baby," Barbie pants with barely an inch separating our lips, "I know I say this often but I so love this. You tear me up inside and I want it so bad all the time, it scares me." "Vaginal sex with you scares me," I tease back. "Will it be even better?" she draws in an even deeper, breast flaunting breath. "You never know, but you are so damn good at everything else, I can't imagine you doing anything but haunting my dreams forever," I say, as I coax her movements with my hands on her hips, flanks, and thighs. Barbie shows her appreciation by running her hand through my bangs and pushing my hair back so that she can cover my forehead, eyes and nose with kisses. "You like that romantic shit, don't you, Mercy-slut?" Rio grumbles playfully from the other side. "Yes," Mercy whispers. I know Rio well enough to know that when a spiteful reply isn't immediately forthcoming, she's dusting off (and unchaining) her Better Angel. Mercy is looking at Barbie Lynn and me, her head facing sideways as she lies on her back. Rio crawls on top of Mercy, prompting Mercy to open her legs, and locks her hands over her head to gaze down on her. "Your skin is so pure, your hair so black, and your eyes so full of passion, it breaks my heart to look at you, My Little Whore," Rio begins. She leans in and bites Mercy's earlobe, causing her victim to moan and buck up slightly. "Mercy, you give and give, making me so hot inside that I want to grab you and never let go." "Really?" Mercy gasps. "I, " "Don't get used to this," Rio growls with famished sexual enticement. "But, well, I want you to know that I hope all our children look just like you." Poor Rio was running out of material. It was terribly uncomfortable for me to show her where to go. I ran my hands over Barbie's body, which is an absolute torture I am forced to struggle through repeatedly. I start by massaging Barbie Lynn's tits, rotating three fingers over the nipples before rolling up the whole meaty breast in my palms. Barbie Lynn starts pushing back on my cock harder and grunting to the rhythm. "Damn, Mercy," Rio teases, "I love these titties." She accentuates by sucking the top third of one breast into her mouth and twirling her tongue around it. Vivian gives a visible shiver from her side of the bed; Valarie has done something to her beneath the sheets to turn her on. In the interim while I have been watching Rio and Mercy, Valarie has been working over Vivian, temple to shoulder, with her lips. Now I see Vivian pulling up her left (upper) leg until it is resting snugly against my upper ribs, giving someone easier access to her snatch. She's also put her left arm behind her back between herself and Valarie. I'm starting to wonder if there is something in the air filters of my place, some undiscovered aphrodisiac mold, fungi, or spores that turns nice, virtuous girls into promiscuous bi-sexual vixens. To the best of my knowledge and belief, neither Valarie nor Vivian had the slightest lesbian tendencies before they started coming to my room. I give Barbie Lynn's luscious orbs one final squeeze before migrating my hold down to her ass, giving each cheek a double-slap. Barbie Lynn exhales a huff of ecstatic relief as the impact travels through her. Rio smirks and follows suit, her hand reaching between their thighs, prying Mercy's leg up, up and up until Mercy's knee is nearly at her breast. "Your body is the first female form that I've ever lusted after," Rio murmurs as she rubs and pats Mercy's buttocks. "I think I've always wanted you, to taste you on my tongue, your scent strong in my mind and your sweet, sweet ass under my hand." Mercy brings one hand up to stroke Rio's cheek as she gives a strangled sob. No matter how much Mercy fears loving a woman, Rio can chisel that away and get her to love openly and freely. Barbie Lynn bounces up and slams down on me repeatedly as she is coming to the end of her fuse. "Zane, Zane, oh yeah," she pants. Vivian chooses this moment to sneak her climax in on the rest of us. I am vaguely aware of her biting her lip, rocking her hips under the sheets, and perspiration beginning to bead on her lower lip. "Holy God, Christ, and, my, hot damn, Val, ugh, Oh, God!" Vivian squeals as Valarie vigorously whips her hand in a tight pattern, cloaked from sight but obvious to the knowledgeable. Vivian's clit, lips, and the gateway to her cunt are all supers-stimulated. Valarie cools her down and holds her with enough strength to stop Vivian from rolling face-first into the sheets. "Jesus Loves Me!" Barbie Lynn screams one last time. Her body bows, her breasts thrust forward and up, bouncing so deliciously while her thighs tremble in climax. Her anal muscles rippling from sphincter toward my cockhead are grinding me toward orgasm. Finally, she collapses against me, still twitching and fighting for breath. With my arms wrapped around her, I roll us over toward Mercy and Rio, placing Barbie Lynn on her back. Barbie Lynn has her legs pulling back before I can even move to push them back. While I had never fully pulled out, I was nearly there. I shove my hips forward, forcing my cock back in hard, causing Barbie Lynn to grunt, her mouth to gape open, nostril flaring, as her eyes squeeze shut. "Oh, hell, yeah," Barbie Lynn gasps, "hammer me!" "Oh, fuck," Valarie moans, "I am so lonely." Vivian is still roaming her hands over Valarie's special place, picking up the pace as she's inspired by Barbie Lynn's passion. Rio expresses her perverse nature by going at Mercy slow while the rest of us are going gangbusters. "Here is my baby-smooth, tasty friend," Rio says as she kisses Mercy's bald twat. Rio pushes her thighs apart, her leg muscles taught while laying on the bed. Rio's restraint could only last so long. Every lick became more insistent, every nibble elicited a greater yelp, and every hip-thrust by Mercy into Rio's hungry mouth was more desperate. Valarie gives off one long, cavernous growl, then screams in between Vivian's shoulder blades. "Damn," Vivian whispers, as a sympathetic orgasmic shiver coasts through her body. I'm pushing up on my knuckles, Barbie Lynn's legs between them as I rise up until my bulbous head is fixed in her sphincter; then I slam down once more. She's rocking her hips up to maximize the depths I reach as she cries out, again and again and again. When I finally let go, I feel a volcano of lust, frustration, and fulfillment exploding out all at once. Barbie Lynn's head sways rapidly side to side as she comes unglued. "Zane, Jesus loves me, Jesus Loves Me!" she howls loud enough to shake the glass panels overhead. Those words ringing in my ears are going to haunt me in whatever church I go to. "Ugh, ugh, ugh, Love, right there, feels so good," Mercy drags out with shallow breathes. "Umm, Rio gurgles. Mercy has gotten quite wet and visibly aroused. I'm sure Rio has worked a finger or two into the action and in Mercy's ass. Mercy starts bouncing off the sheets as she hisses out the last of her restraint. "Mother-fucker-god-damn!" Mercy cries out. Rio growls, slurps, and sucks up Mercy's cunt juice while lapping up and down her slit. "That's my baby," Rio's fluid-marked face looks up from between Mercy's legs and smiles. "Was that good for you?" Rio asks? Mercy nods dreamily. "Are you a happy little whore?" Rio teases. Again, Mercy nods with pleasure. "Did you use the 'L' word, Ass-fuck slut?" Rio hardens. This time Mercy realizes her mistake and shudders. She raises her head and looks into Rio's eyes. "Yes. I'm sorry, Rio," Mercy mumbles. "Sorry isn't going to cut it this time, Bitch," Rio sneers. "Tomorrow morning you are going to get it coming and going, all day long." I am actually aware of what that threat means. "Okay," Vivian sighed, with more contentment than annoyance, "we've all cum so let's try and get some sleep." "I haven't gotten off yet," Rio chuckled. I knew what I had to do before someone else volunteered my services. "Come here, Rio." I smile to her and extend a hand. "Let me get another taste of my best bro." "I'll clean you up," Barbie Lynn grins up at me, as she wiggles her body around my own so she's on top again. She slithers down my torso, waggles my still mostly hard cock against her lips, then begins to take it into her mouth. Barbie Lynn's tongue licks along my shaft as she gobbles up more of my rod. I expect Rio to come over but Mercy, following along and lying on her belly, her head propped up on her hands and elbows as she watches my blonde angel's skilled fellatio, is a bonus. Rio ends up near my pillow, one hand on my chest and the other resting between Mercy's ass cheeks. Her fingers are definitely sliding in and out of Mercy's cunt. If Mercy is a bit sore, she's smart enough not to complain to her Mistress about it. "What do you have in mind, Zane?" Rio catches my gaze. "I want your teeth tearing up the mattress with your ass up in the air as I plow you through the headboard," I inform her. I make a focus group assessment of the situation by slipping a finger into her cunt, she's creaming already. For Rio, the greater physicality of the sex, the better it is for her. She'll let me have my foreplay and some good loving, but she goes wild over the raw, brutal act of sex itself. "I think you are ready to put that smile on her face," Barbie Lynn taunts Rio as she informs me she's finished. "Come with me," Barbie Lynn turns to Mercy. "My nipples need some attention. Can you do that for me?" After checking with Rio, Mercy gives a hungry look and lick of the lips at Barbie Lynn. Barbie crawls over Mercy to land on her back on the far side. Mercy twirls around and latches on to Barbie Lynn's left breast with such rapidity, it momentarily causes my visage to blur. "I want some of that," Valarie suddenly blurts out. She makes her own quick trek around Rio and me as we are still positioning ourselves to come swooping down on Barbie Lynn's right side. The right nipple disappears into our school biker girl's mouth with a decidedly audible smacking of the lips. Val's hand starts to stroke the inside of Barbie Lynn's thigh but Mercy's free hand reaches over and starts tweaking Valarie's closest nipple. Yes, I definitely must check the air filters. Rio resumes her sensually crawl my way and I give her a beguiling look to lure her in. I'm on her in a flash once she's close enough for me to make my move. She screeches like an alley cat but I've got a hand on the back of her head and the other on her hip as I slam her face first into the pillow. "Bastard," she screams through the fabric, but she's not following through with the anger. "Give it up, Bitch," I snarl back. My cock slides full-throttle all the way into her cunt on the first pass. Her cunt feels like slick, melted butter as I bottom out in her hole. At the same time, I let up on her head a bit. "Oh, fucking-A," Rio gasps. "Did someone sneak a gerbil up behind me or is it Needle-cock pretending he's a man?" I give her another powerful slam. "Oh, fuck, stop that." "What? Too much for the bitch whose had it all?" I tease Rio. "I swear, if I spit up, my ovaries," she chokes, "we are, going to have, words." "Words like I'm the best fuck you've ever had'?" I taunt Rio between packing her cunt as full and deep as I can. She's squealing and moaning yet thrusting back strongly against me all the way. I move my hand off Rio's hip and take hold of a breast, squeezing and torturing the nipple. She's snarling like a wounded tigress now. She possesses no acceptance of defeat, no surrender to exhaustion, and no fear of pain; in fact, what we are doing is a turn-on. I'm actually becoming beaten up by all the impact of my hips against Rio's ass. Within ten minutes, her fluids are all over her crotch and mine and she's actually starting to dribble down her thighs and onto the mattress. "Zane, don't forget she's your friend," Vivian sounds worried. "Shut, up," gasps Rio, violently and with passion. This is what Rio craves right now, a brutal fucking, and she's not going to be denied by Vivian's compassionate sensibilities. "Ah, fuck me, fuck me, break me, you bastard," Rio pants. "Hammer me, Bitch!" she screams, and that's all she can take. She has some sort of seizure, thrashing and pulsating all over the place. For the second time tonight I'm shooting my seed into a woman; this time Rio's cunt. I plunder Rio's barely responsive form for several more savage thrusts until I'm spent, collapsing with my full mass on top of her, which is not my normal form but I want Rio to feel warm and encompassed by me at this moment. I make sure that some of my weight is taken onto my knees and elbows so I don't suffocate my crazy best friend. "Zane," Rio pants a half-minute later, "that vice-like bump you were feeling with that horse-cock of yours, " "Yes?" I respond softly. I pull her hair out of her face as she turns it to the side so she can speak clearly. "That was my cervix, dumbass," she giggles. "Next time I want my uterus scrubbed, I'll call a fucking gynecologist." "Hardy-har-har," I chuckle. "Doing it with a Princess Barbie Pony Action Figure doesn't qualify as bestiality, you bimbo, and it certainly doesn't give you horse-cock experience." "Rio, you are kind of gross," Vivian chastises my buddy. "Thank you," Rio pants, "I knew you cared." "Behave, Rio, and next time it's going up your ass," I murmur into Rio's ear. "Oh, that's just cold, Bro," Rio pouts as she wiggles her tight ass against my semi-flaccid cock. "A person uses the threat of denying anal sex to a girl as a means of enforcing polite behavior," Vivian ponders as she flops on her back and stares up at the stars through the glass ceiling. "Worse, it makes sense to me. What has happened to my life?" "Rio, are you okay?" Mercy whispered. Rio turns her head the other way to address her lover: "My cunt is numb, my hips feel dislocated, I'll be pulling pillow fiber out of my teeth for a week, and I think he bruised a nipple, I feel fucking awesome." "I'd ask Zane to do it to me again but I know Vivian would choke me out," Rio snickers. "I know what I am going to do, though: In the morning I'm going to have Zane pounding your ass as hard as he fucked me right now so I can hear you cry and scream." "Um, okay," Mercy answered, trying not to sound too anxious. "Damn," Valarie mutters. "I hate being a virgin, and I'll pimp slap the first one who suggests anal sex. All I want to do is get laid without the repercussions." No one said anything for a minute. "I'll help with that," Barbie Lynn and I volunteered almost at the same time. "Bed," Vivian laid down the law. Thankfully, the rest of us were too tired to argue. POWER PLAYFULNESS At our five a.m. wake up, I swept up Valarie into a six-nine, her on top. Barbie quickly got behind Val and began licking my nose, the back of Val's cunt, and teasing her butthole with tiny probes. At first our biker babe resisted and grumbled with her mouth around my cock, but Barbie Lynn was as relentless as she was sensually enticing. Val returned the surprise by slamming her thighs together as the dam of her sexual frustration burst; she clamped her thighs tightly on my head and bucked so hard she bounced us off the bed as she screamed. There were no words to it; the scream was primal, violent and somewhat frightening. The other remarkable thing was that Barbie Lynn retained her hold on Valarie's ass cheeks and kept tongue-fucking Val's anus. Valarie's mouth had released my cock seconds before orgasm. She gave it an occasional swipe of the tongue until her last orgasmic quivers stopped. I motioned for Barbie to let up and when she did, Valarie collapsed beside me. "Oh," Valarie panted, "that was good. That should tide me over until lunch time." "Showers, everyone," Vivian reminded us. There were a few groans but cleanliness was an inevitable bonus for all of us, and Rio, if we bundled her up and took her squirming, griping form with us. Rio gained a measure of revenge by announcing to my shower buddies that I had an unresolved morning blowjob begging for attention. Brandi elbowed two girls aside to bend over at the waist and take me in. Opal was kind enough to stroke Brandi's kitty from behind, getting us off almost at the same time. Opal gave me several finger scoops of Brandi's nectar to slake my sexual thirst. I was busy getting a taste of Opal with a bonus clitoris massage when Iona dragged me away. Outside the showers, I bent down, wrapped my arms beneath Iona's towel-clad posterior, and lifted her up so that she was looking down at me. "Thank you," I smiled at her. "You've always got my back." "You are welcome," she beamed happiness back down at me, "and it is my pleasure, Zane. Do you think we can go motorcycle shopping Thursday?" "Sure, that won't be, oh fuck, it's Wednesday," I gasped. I realized I had confused Iona. "I told Erin I would call her Monday and totally lost track, of a woman," I blinked. "I don't think that's ever happened before." "You have a ton of things going on," Iona comforted me while hovering above me still. "I think she'll understand." "Thanks again, Iona," I sighed as I let her slide down my body. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" she asked. "Of course," I grinned. "Are you going to give me your scrumptious behind?" Iona's smile grew even brighter. "You will have to wait and see," she teased me before racing off to her room. I made my way up to my room for a short workout and a few minutes meditating. I was peripherally aware of Paige coming into my room and rummaging around (i.e., she wanted me to know she was there without noticeably ruining my concentration). The main distraction was Rio and Mercy getting dressed. They had both long since moved all their belongings into my place; that wasn't a problem because of the massive space I had. The problem was, it is insane to put two pseudo-lesbian young lovers who are new to their relationship into a space where they are constantly tantalized by each other's naked or scantily clad bodies. Mercy couldn't resist reaching out shyly and touching Rio's lesser erogenous zones. Rio couldn't resist bending Mercy over the bed, licking her from behind, and/or spanking her, just a few taps but that hardly helped them get their clothes on. Today, Rio added the extra complication of inserting a vibrating ass plug into Mercy's ass and taping a vibrating egg against her clit. She was finishing up the work when I felt a glimmer of evil intellect enter my mind. "Hey, Rio, why don't you do the same thing?" I suggested. "Are you going to ring my bell?" she teased me. "No. I actually thought you would share with Mercy," I clarified. "Share what?" Valarie questioned as she entered the room. "They are each going to have a vaginal and anal stimulation device, theoretically with the other having the controlling mechanism," Paige stated. She held up two pairs of bra & panties for me to examine, gossamer peach bow-knot or strawberry crotchless/cupless. "I don't know, Babe," I mused. "I'd have to see you naked to make a determination." "You've seen me naked, my Boy-toy," Paige gave a wicked turn of the lip. "I, I have no recollection of it," I confessed. "Maybe it was that blow Rio gave me upside my head. I guess I need to see your nude, nubile form once more." "Oh, my poor baby," Paige pouted. "Someone as helpless as you cannot afford to lose any of your already inadequate brain power. I really should help you out." She was knee crawling up the bed, unbuttoning her shirt. When she was only a few feet in front of me, she sat down and worked her skirt off as well. She wasn't naked; she still had her knee-high socks on. "You really ought to cover those little boobies up," Rio taunted Paige. "Someone is going to think Zane has a middle-schooler up here." Paige's head turned and I could feel her anger, but before she could spew forth her vitriol, I latched on hungrily to her closest teat and sucked it in on one gulp. Paige gasped and thrust her body against me. Soon her hands were running through my hair as I soaked up her tender flesh and swelling nipple. I also stroked my hands down her body. My left hand drifted from right below her suckled breast, along her smooth, flat stomach, before dropping south until I cupped her sex. My right hand went down the ribs and around to her ass. I weighed and fondled her small yet firm buttocks, then reached between her cheeks and rubbed over her sphincter without pressuring it. "Paige," I said quietly as I released her nipple, "today go with the peach." "Umm, maybe I will," Paige teased me with a nibble to my neck, "after all, there are a very few things you are good at, and female sexiness is one of them." "Paige?" I continued. She was a little more suspicious now. Our relationship had always been rocky. "I appreciate you giving me some space the last few days," I thanked her. "It has really helped me get my head on straight." Paige's eyes lit up once more. She had sacrificed (in her mind), and I had noticed and was grateful. "I'm surprised you noticed," she started to say, then abruptly softened. "You mean a lot to me, you really do." I put my hands on each side of her jaw and pulled her into close face-to-face contact. "Paige, bouncy, bouncy," I whispered into her ear. Paige gasped slightly and twisted her head to make eye contact, looking somewhat expectant. "Meet me for lunch and I'm going break that ass open," I taunted her quietly. Rocky the squirrel must have snuck up on me and then clubbed me with Bullwinkle the Moose because her response was, "Okay," while she looked at me with a mixture of fear and lust. "Are you sure?" I was curious. "If that is what you really want," Paige responded. "Oh, I don't want to do it until you feel ready, Paige. We'll wait," I confessed. "I will have to think of something else to do with you at lunch today." All Paige did was grin in a very mysterious way. She held that look until Valarie put a hand on each ass cheek and pulled them apart. This time, someone had snuck up on Paige. "Hey!" Paige gasped. "What are you doing?" "Encouraging you to get dressed," Valarie chuckled. "Otherwise, Zane and I are going to slip one finger into your pretty little cunt and rub them in and out like a buzz-saw. Then we will smear your juices over your face and force you to go to breakfast smelling like sex." My girls really need to work on their 'discouraging' speeches. "I should get dressed," Paige hiccupped with reluctance. "Peaches, got it." Paige scurried away and began dressing while eyeing Valarie and me. "Oh, yeah," I joked with Valarie, "that terrified her." "Ask her about the party; then it will make sense," Valarie snickered. In the annals of female migration through my bedroom, Vivian wasn't really sneaking up on anyone, but her presence didn't send up shockwaves of alarm either. "Zane, we need to be heading out soon," she greeted me. She greeted Valarie by putting a hand on her shoulder and rubbing it. Quickly enough, Paige got dressed, Rio and Mercy got their acts together, and we gathered up Iona, Barbie Lynn, Brandi and Opal before heading down to join the rest of feminine humanity that constituted my dorm. My old (way back in Chapter 3) buddy Easter Valentine had me rate the top ten Christian Rock bands which was made much more difficult by my utter disbelief that there was actually something called Christian Rock, color me biased. Breakfast passed uneventfully, as did Assembly, before things began happening. First off, I touched base with Erin now that she was most likely awake. "Hey Erin, this is Zane," I started off, "and I am so sorry that I blanked on my promise to call you. Can I make it up to you and Gerry?" "Oh,um,okay, I guess," she drew me out. "What do you have in mind?" That was a good question; what was I going to do to make it up to them? "Have you ever heard of the SYFY network?" I asked. "Sure, Eureka, Warehouse 13, Being Human, and Lost Girl," she answered. "Saturday night they are showing Ice Spiders versus Snow Beast, I know, great title; right? And I'd like it if you two would come over to my house, get some pizza, and watch it with me," I offered. "Let me think about it, yeah, we'd be glad to come by and eat something," I could feel her grin coming through the airwaves. "Okay, one more question; how do you feel about three-ways?" "I've never been part of one but I'm willing to give it a try," Erin sighed happily, "if I must." "It's a date, then," I agreed, and after trading 'goodbye's', I hung up and caught my crew gathering outside. As I made my approach I saw Heaven give me a look and a smile then turn on Rio. "Handmaiden's Duty, Rio," Heaven beamed maliciously. "What do you want, you old cow?" Rio sneered right back. "Give me your controllers." Heaven grinned as she held out her hand to Rio. Mercy gulped (the two boxes controlled her vibrators) and Rio looked stunned. "Hand them over." Technical Mercy would have been immune, except it was Rio with her controllers. "How?" Rio mumbled. She looked around for support but found some sympathetic eyes, not comrades in arms. She angrily slapped Heaven's palm as she handed them over. Heaven handed those two small white devices to Hope, then reached out toward Rio once more. "Give me the ones Mercy is holding for you, too," Heaven snickered. Rio snarled before motioning for Mercy to hand them over to her. In short order, she handed those over to Heaven as well. "I'll be expecting those back at ten o'clock (one hour from now)," Rio growled. "Of course," Heaven chuckled. "I'll see you then, Sweet-cheeks." "God damn it," Rio leaned into me and whispered, "who, ah, hmm, betrayed me?" Apparently, someone was playing with her controllers. By the way Mercy developed a little tremble and a blissful smile, someone was having a go at her too. "I swear to God, it wasn't me," I shrugged. "Well, it wasn't Iona, she'd never do that to Mercy," Rio mused, then, "Paige! That little cunt did this to me." "I don't know if she did it or not," I pleaded, "but please don't kill her." Rio was several seconds in responding as she wobbled slightly and skipped a step. "Two fucking vibrators," Rio glared at me. "What were you thinking?" "Liking it?" I teased. "Love it," Rio gasped. "Mercy?" "Mumph," Mercy gasped. Added to the smile on her lips, I had to see that as an affirmative. Ms.  Goodswell's class was good but what came afterwards was far more amusing. "What do you mean, you traded them to some random upperclassmen?" Rio snarled. "Oh, I had to explain what they did. When I told them they were inside you, they jumped at the chance," Hope nodded serenely to the furious Rio. "How am I, oh, oh, oh, yeah, supposed to get them back?" Rio fumed. "Maybe they will run out of power soon," Mercy put a positive spin on things. "I put long-life batteries in those bitches this morning," Rio grumbled. "They can go for 24 hours of continuous use." "I insisted that they be returned to Zane at nine this evening," Christina said in a detached manner. "I swear, I'm going to tie down all you bitches one weekend and then we will see who's so superior," Rio seethed; "Dildos and lube all around. Arrgh," Rio growled. She staggered over to the closest wall and put her hand against it to stop from falling over. "Some whore just discovered the '10' setting," she gasped. "I was going to say something cruel," Hope stated, "but now it would be redundant." "Rio and Mercy, stay hydrated," Chastity suggested. "I'll pick you up between classes to, decrease your difficulties." "Thanks, Chastity," I patted her arm. "Heaven and I will watch after Mercy," Christina chimed in; being surprisingly helpful to someone she had shown no interest in before now. Christina was all about responsibility and since this was Heaven's stunt (or so it seemed), she was doing 'the right thing'. "Classes everyone," Vivian insisted. Thankfully I had one capable adult in my life. I hoped that me turning her into a vibrant bi-sexual didn't change that. Today I received an hour's warning of my lunch appointment with Doctor Victoria Scarlett, our beloved Vice-Chancellor. I let Paige know that I had to postpone our get-together. "It is good to see you, she was going to say 'Mr. Braxton' but she was sensitive to my preferences, ", Zane. How are things going on this first full day of our experiment?" "Well, Doctor Scarlett, let me say that you are even more deftly beautiful than you are deceptively manipulative," I countered. "As to your question, my efforts to corrupt your intentions precede a pace." She smiled, shook her head, and walked around the table, stopping when she was in front of my chair-bound form. "Come now; the tribal elections have begun. Seven leaders have been named and the rest of the tribes should do the same tonight," she informed me. "What were you able to accomplish yesterday?" Oh, so that was today's tune. I stood up and cupped her facial cheeks. "What do you think you are doing?" Victoria Scarlett mumbled. I pressed in and kissed her, leading by example as opposed to words. Her hands pressed against me. She wasn't shoving so I didn't stop. Victoria didn't even make a token effort to keep her mouth shut, though her tongue refused to play an overly active part in my French kiss. My hands didn't wander and my body didn't thrust against her. "I think I'm working out our relationship, your Kahina to my Pelagius," I responded, our faces only inches apart. Victoria rested her hands on my hips so I placed mine on her shoulders. "Kahina, have you been reading my works?" she smiled far too seductively. You would figure that a dedicated, righteous Christian theoretician would have body proximity issues. Not Victoria, damn it. "The only things hotter than smart, sexy chicks are smart, sexy, and sensually lethal chicks," I allowed. "This could be construed as sexual harassment or inappropriate sexual behavior," Doctor Scarlett grinned, all bold and gracious. "A 'no' on your part would suffice," I assured her. "Not you, Zane; me," she corrected me. "You are my student, after all, and my hands are on your hips." I arched an eyebrow; she kept smiling so I went back in for a kiss. Three minutes later I had worked over her lips, eyelids, cheeks, jawline, and the left side of her neck, and it was getting me nowhere except closer to a sexual-deprivation induced coma. "Damn, you are good," I panted. "I think this is something we need to work through first before we can constructively move on," she related patiently. She was trying to break me with her highly developed self-control. I had to figure out what the hell I was doing wrong. Overt sexual contact, breasts, buttocks, pubic area, was off-limits, or was it? Lingerie; why did Scarlett wear racy lingerie? I slipped my arms around Victoria's waist and pulled her off the desk and into me. I caught a slight, over-confident smirk on her lips. We started kissing again, Scarlett somewhat passively, as always, and me out to disguise my intentions. She didn't protest when my fingers wandered below the beltline or when I traced out the very risqu lines of her panties. Fighting the urge to yank them up and make her squirm, I languidly let my fingers dig into her skirt and hook the bottom elastic of her panties, then slowly wiggled the fabric gently. She gave me a few uninterrupted seconds before I sensed her inner struggle begin; did she stop me and give me this round in the struggle, a psychological edge over her, or did she see if she could tough it out. She went with the spiritual resistance. Once I had my fingers inside, I could move freely forward and back. I avoided the cunt and the bottom of her ass. I was able to make the bottom of her panties a very tight fit, allowing the thrumming of my tugs to vibrate along her most sensitive spots. Victoria's nostrils flared, her breath caught, and after a daring but futile attempt to distract me with her tongue, she broke our lip embrace and put her head on my shoulder. I immediately stopped what I was doing and waited for her to speak. "Oh, this is not good," she muttered to herself. Then after a pause, "Thank you for stopping. How did you know what to do?" "Where to begin," I answered. "You are beautiful, passionate, and a woman who appreciates fine fabrics on your skin. I stopped because I'll fight you with every tool I can, but I won't violate you," I added. Victoria looked up into my eyes. "You see me as Kahina?" she changed the subject. "You have this tragic, fervent yet noble character that charges with a burning blade into the face of adversity," I waxed romantic. "The last Christian Queen of the Berbers who, when faced with the inevitability of her defeat, sent her sons to the enemy for their protection while she sought death in battle against the Islamic invaders." "I'm not very martial," she countered. "Ah, but in the Greco-Roman culture our faith grew up in, you would be considered a Patrician's daughter, versed in Socrates and Virgil as well as St. Augustine," I made my argument. "Besides, martial valor is in the job of the tribesmen; it is the job of the Queen to provide leadership, hopefully in the right direction. You are a smart damn cookie so the comparison is apt." "Thank you." She then pursued her agenda. "What have you been up to?" "I'm creating a democratic system with your tribal leaders as the parliament, a selected group of girls to become judges, and another group to become enforcers of the rule of law," I responded. "Technically, I remain the guy at the top of the pyramid, so that's a victory for you." Her look told me I hadn't made an end-run around her Grand Plan, which was pretty unsettling. I was missing something. "Why do you let me put my hands on you?" I questioned. "I can't take pleasure in the mannerisms of a proficient young man?" she countered. "Care to prove that?" I challenged. I had her in a minor trap of her own connivance. "Very well," she bowed with a smile on her lips. "Turn around and lean over your desk, if you dare?" I directed. She accepted my orders and did as requested. I knelt down behind her and placed my hands on her ankles before rubbing upward in slow but strong finger-furrows. I teased my way up to her stocking line, grinding the silk hose into her skin, making her flesh shiver from the stimulation. I had her trembling by the time I migrated upwards to the elastic at the top of the stocking, past the garter, and onto her pliant warm thigh. As I brushed against the tuck of her butt-cheek and thigh, Victoria moaned. "Stop," she whispered. "Do you really want me to stop," I inquired, "or do you want me to stop before you reveal something?" I ceased my activities, waiting on her reply. "You know the answer," she panted briefly. I moved off and up, placing my hands on her shoulders and pulling her back up to my chest. "Can you promise me to consider the possibility that a woman wants something outside the realm of motherhood and spiritual purity?" I suggested. Doctor Scarlett turned around while remaining in my grasp. "The body may feel a certain way but you must resist those impulses from the Devil," she told me. "Fortunately, you are the only one on campus that can elicit such response." "Huh? Seriously, I can only imagine the kind of sexual trouble the women on campus can get into, unless you don't believe in Sapphic impulses either," I grinned. "Homosexuality is a myth," Victoria stated firmly. "There are misdirected desires and abnormal passions, but men don't lie with men and women don't lie with women, except as a perversion of the normal, natural order of things." Oh, here we go again, I groaned. "I hate that you would think that way. It stands in opposition to God's Love in my eyes and portrays you as a weak creature given over to the Devil's lure of fearing, hating, and even denying what is mostly a good thing, namely, compassion for one another," I sighed. "How can you have compassion for instincts you can hardly understand?" she posed. "I've been with men before," I informed her; "on more than one occasion." "What?" Victoria was stunned. She struggled to get away from my arms and I let her. "You have such a strong ardor for so many female students. How can you be tricked into perverse practices?" On the bright side, I'd finally gotten under her cool exterior; on the downside, I had shaken her faith in me. "Can I incite a rational moment, please?" I said calmly. She was halfway around the desk when she stopped and nodded. "Okay," the Vice-Chancellor responded with a careful edge. "How am I any different than the man you thought me to be two minutes ago?" I led off. "I certainly liked your body and you appeared to appreciate the touches I gave you. How does anything I did with anyone else before touching you matter? You are very attractive to me. Am I now repulsive to you?" "Those are multiple questions," Victoria seemed suddenly weary. "You are the same person you were a minute ago, but I had forgotten that you are a boy, not a man, and boys have infatuations with unusual, rebellious ideas. With your Father dead, it seems you were rudderless. You are definitely not repulsive to me. I admire you, but you also reveal yourself to be immature. Would you please leave? I need to reconsider some things." "No," I replied. "No? No, you won't leave, or no, I've committed some grievous error?" she inquired. "You believe I'm a boy, you don't believe in homosexuality," I answered, though I fondly day-dreamed of Victoria and Barbie Lynn, or Hudson Lane, the school lawyer, in a lesbian tryst, "but I don't want your newfound doubts in me making you change, specifically how you treat yourself." "You want me to keep wearing lingerie," she sliced to the heart of the matter. "It is a simple pleasure you allow yourself, the only one I can detect. I will certainly be a source of displeasure for you in the future; don't let me do you harm over my careless confession," I pleaded. "My indulgence is a form of weakness," she argued. "Wrong," I fought back. "It is a 'fuck you' to temptation. It makes you stronger. Doctor Scarlett, I have never had a woman hold out as long as you did this afternoon. If you change the way you dress, then I win and you lose because I've proven you don't have faith in your own convictions." Victoria was contemplative for a moment, frowning, then slowly letting a smile win out. "Come here," she beckoned. I came up and she kissed me, not a fevered rush but a smooth, subtle thing, driven by curiosity more than passion. "You are going to require more work than I imagined," she eventually commented. "Have you forgiven me?" I asked. "Have I returned to being a good boy?" "Yes and yes." "Does this mean I can cop a feel? Ya know, a freebie?" I hoped. She kept looking up at me as she studied my features. "You are going to be a whole lot of work, Zane," she answered, "and no, no free fondling of my private parts." I growled up at the ceiling. "Damn it, woman," I snarled. "Stop trying to break me to your will." "Mr. Braxton," she patted me on the cheek, "I have no idea what you are talking about." Yeah, right. We ve Come So Far The Festivities Committee broke up once more. I was helping Mrs. Jaspers to her car since she'd taken a tumble in her home and her ankle was a bit sore. I had to return to the conference room to find my usual crowd of women overstaying the meeting, Mrs. Sahara Penny, Kendra Bainbridge, and Rochelle Wellington. "Hello, Kendra. Those frills around your collar are very enticing to the eye," I jibed. "Did you come tonight with some ulterior motive?" "No!" she snapped. "I am not that kind of woman." "Technically, if you've had children, you are that kind of woman," Sahara chimed in. "I am not a fornicator," Kendra defended herself. "No one said you were," Rochelle smiled at her rival's discomfort. "All Zane did was give you a compliment and a gentle teasing." "After his 'date' with the Reverend's wife, I am not sure any of us can be considered safe from Mr. Braxton's intentions," Kendra spat. Sahara's laugh was musical. "Yes, Kendra, I was positively scandalized that Zane would approach me with such blasphemous intentions as the Gospel of Judas, Pistis Sophia, and the origins of God's true word," Sahara grinned too sweetly. "I am sure that is what was on his mind," Kendra insinuated. She was probably coming to regret being tricked into talking to the Preacher's wife. "What would that be?" Rochelle prodded. Kendra's mouth gaped. "Well, we all know what Mr. Braxton is up to at school," she rebounded snootily. "Oh, so you have seen his website," Sahara pointed out. Kendra turned a deep shade of red. "Well, I, with everything going on," she sputtered, "we need to know how to keep our daughters safe." "Oh, Kendra, I agree," Rochelle smiled my way. "I think we can all agree that young Ms. Masters (Barbie Lynn) was lucky to escape Zane's clutches." "Yes," Sahara added sternly, "apparently she's been lucky on a nightly basis." Hey, now! Why is everybody picking on me? Half the time she's on top. "You make it sound like she enjoys, that, what he does to her," Kendra fought back. "Yes," sighed Sahara, "I can understand how horrible it must be to be crying out God's name while having sex." "Several times a night," Rochelle added. "I have such sympathy for the poor girl." "You do know that it is plausible Ms. Masters seeks me out for our mutual enjoyment," I groused. "After all, it's my bedroom and my shower we are seen in." "The Devil is known to be a great seducer," Kendra countered. "You've lured her into debauched behavior." "Oh, well, Kendra, you are on to me. I guess my deep-seated lust for you will remain unquenched," I groaned. "That's not fair," Rochelle chided me. "You are neither a tool of the Devil nor prone to give up on anything you desire, so apologize to Kendra for the sarcasm." "I apologize for making light of your concerns, Mrs. Bainbridge," I nodded toward Kendra. "Very well," Kendra snorted. "Perhaps counseling with Pastor William would do you some good." Oh, like that was going to happen; I was right in ol' Bill's preferred age range and gender. Added to that, I had sort of threatened to have him murdered for threatening Sahara Monday night. "I would prefer to be guided by someone I didn't have a desire to toss out of a fast moving aircraft," I allowed myself to say. Kendra gasped, Sahara became very still, and Rochelle choked. "Wha-, what makes you say that?" Sahara asked cautiously. "He insulted my Uncle Tim within the hearing of Aunt Jill," I answered. "I really couldn't stand Uncle Tim but would rather put my hand in a garbage disposal than let someone cause her pain. He apologized at that time but I have not forgotten." "Have you ever worried about being a bit too bloody?" Rochelle cautioned me. "I ask a lot out of life; I risk more than most and I accept that the price I pay may be higher," I replied. "I believe in the Rule of Law and I believe in punishing the wicked who attempt to abuse the rules for their own agenda. If the price is blood, then blood it shall be; if I can get a heartfelt repentance instead, so much the better." "Aren't you simply forcing your world view on everyone else?" Rochelle questioned me. "Absolutely," I admitted. "My world view is relatively easy to understand; keep to your word, accept that others will be different, and live and let live. I would prefer that my friends and I be left alone. If I have to use physical force to protect my views, I can live with that." "What of the Christian virtues of forgiveness and 'do no harm'?" Sahara countered. "I make a lousy Christian at times," I looked embarrassed. "You seem to have very little time for Christ in your life," Kendra responded snidely. "Really?" I muse. "I go to church six days a week, I get quizzed on some sort of Bible lore at least twice a day, and I come to this meeting once a week. I know sin is not a balancing act but I think I do some good." "Maybe if you gave less energy to carnal pursuits and more to Christian righteousness, you wouldn't have so many sins to balance," Kendra pronounced. "And here we are, three women of relatively good looks, discussing righteousness and virtue, Kendra," Sahara smiled. Kendra gawked at her. "Yes, I imagine I looked something like you look now when I saw Zane's devious trap Monday night." "What do you mean? We are talking about Zane's sexual lifestyle," Kendra rebutted. "No. You are talking about Zane's sex life; the rest of us are talking about sin, forgiveness, and virtue," Rochelle smiled in a superior manner. "But, but you, both, Kendra stammered. "I asked Zane about his world view," Rochelle corrected. "And I asked him about Christian forgiveness and 'do no harm', as I recall," Sahara smiled sedately. Kendra gaped like a fish out of water. "Yes, but now that I know about Mrs. Bainbridge's obsession with my bedroom antics, I'll make sure to show her more attention," I nodded. "I mean, there is an attraction that mature women possess that girls cannot equal. There was a long silence that followed that statement. "Zane, you wouldn't dare do, all, all of those lewd acts to one of us, would you?" Kendra stuttered. "I can't imagine what would make me refuse consensual sex with anyone in this room," I grinned at her. "But we are married women," Rochelle teased me. "Thus consensual, I don't want to break up a happily married couple but I don't like seeing a woman trapped in a relationship solely because she thinks there are no other options," I explained. "Women deserve to be free, and quite frankly, unhappily married women have built up an exciting reservoir of carnal energy." "Zane, I find it difficult to believe that a young man as kind to this committee as you have been would make us disrobe one article of clothing, run your rough hands over every inch of our bodies, and then force us to perform all kinds of vile sexual acts on and for you," Rochelle kept taunting me. My guess was that she was really pissed on learning her husband was having an affair with one of his employees in the Mayor's office. "You wouldn't do that to Kendra, would you, Zane?" Sahara quizzed me. "What do you mean?" I seemed confused. "She's one of the hottest MILF's in the parish; all the guys in Bible Study say so." "Wha, what?" Kendra gulped. "Milf, Mothers I'd Like to Fornicate with," I told her. "I know that!" Kendra snapped, clearly disoriented and unsure of herself. "Certainly you've noticed the men's eyes follow you around the church every Sunday after service?&

In this episode of The Practice of Being Human, Marta reflects on the growing role of AI companions and what their rise reveals about our longing for ease, validation, and control.But she reminds us — friction is not a flaw in human connection. It's the fertile ground where growth, understanding, and love take root.Through insights inspired by Adam Grant, Marta invites you to see tension and discomfort as opportunities for expansion — for building the emotional muscles of patience, curiosity, forgiveness, and humility.Because while AI might comfort us, only real relationships can transform us.This conversation is an invitation to stay — to remain tender, awake, and willing to be shaped by the beautiful mess of being human.

John Starke preaches from Romans 1, continuing in our sermon series “The Ache of Being Human".

Your customers are changing because of AI. But so are you—whether you realize it or not. Host Dan Nestle welcomes back Mark Schaefer, whose new book How AI Changes Your Customers reveals a transformation most people aren't prepared for. As one of 300 futurists who contributed to Elon University's Being Human in 2035 study, Mark brings insights beyond the usual AI hype. Mark and Dan explore the psychological rewiring that is happening as AI reshapes human agency, empathy, purpose, and trust. They confront the choice everyone faces: use AI to augment your thinking, or delegate so much that critical skills atrophy. This isn't another "AI will save us" or "AI will ruin everything" conversation. It's a balanced look at implications most people haven't considered—like algorithms becoming decision-makers, with conversion rates from AI referrals 23 times higher than those from traditional SEO. Listen in and hear about... The psychology of AI and how humanity is being rewired Choosing between augmentation and delegation in your AI usage Why algorithms are becoming your actual customers The loss of agency, empathy, and purpose when we depend too heavily on AI How AI reveals patterns you didn't know existed through intellectual archaeology Notable Quotes On The Psychology of AI: "No one's talking about the psychology of AI that literally before our eyes, humanity is being rewired. The psychology of human beings is changing." - Mark Schaefer [00:08:13 → 00:08:28] On Attention Spans: "Don't tell me people don't have a long attention span. The problem is they're being more selective. You've got to earn it. So it's not that they have a short attention span. You, You've got a short interesting span. They're abandoning you for something else." - Mark Schaefer [00:15:38 → 00:15:53] On The Power of Vulnerability: "What this world is lacking is a real human voice, friendly, accessible, vulnerable. And think about the power of that. To really be human. You've got to be. Have a sense of vulnerability. But we don't get that from brand voices. Very, very rarely. And think of the opportunity to stand out, to be audacious, to just by flubbing up once in a while, just by admitting you made a mistake every once in a while." - Mark Schaefer [00:27:37 → 00:28:05] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Mark Schaefer Mark Schaefer | Website and Blog How AI Changes Your Customers | Book (Amazon) The Marketing Companion | Podcast Mark Schaefer | LinkedIn The RISE Community | Apply to Join Timestamps 0:00:00 AI's Impact: Dan's Intro and Use of NotebookLM0:03:03 Mark's Reaction: AI Enables Bolder, Creative Work0:05:16 Mutual Mentorship and AI Experimentation0:07:29 Mark's Book: Humanity's Changing Psychology with AI0:09:12 Agency, Empathy, Intimacy, and AI Decision-Making0:11:41 AI Search: GEO, Marketing to Algorithms0:13:02 The Golden Age of PR: Credibility and Authority0:15:13 Attention Span Myth & Content Selectivity0:17:21 Volume vs. Quality: Content for AI and Humans0:19:35 Cumulative Advantage & Brand Authority in AI Era0:21:42 Personal Brand Building: Quality is Essential0:23:13 Earning Social Signals & Genuine Content0:25:47 AI Editing, Strategic Awkwardness, and Vulnerability0:28:46 Challenges for Corporates: Embracing Awkwardness0:31:20 Feelings as a Competitive Advantage0:35:28 Transcendence: Artful, Long-Form, and Human Content0:37:56 Respecting the Reader: Content Length & Value0:39:55 Hopeful AI: Augmentation, Mentorship, Markbot0:42:24 Real Education & AI: Preparing Young People0:42:46 Closing Remarks: Book Recommendation & Mark's Links (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Castmagic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve and Lisa Cuss explore how to transform emotional reactivity into deeper, more authentic relationships in this episode of Being Human. Guests Carla Harding and Brian Heasley from 24-7 Prayer share insights on using prayer to turn anxiety into spiritual growth, even across partisan divides. Alicia Britt Chole discusses sacred lessons found in the dark nights of the soul. We dive into practical tools for healthier communication, understanding generational dynamics, and fostering compassion in all your relationships with Clarissa Moll. Join us and learn to navigate life with greater presence and relational resilience. Episode Resources: Rich Mullins' Eli's Song John Townsend's 21 Relational Nutrients Dr. Alicia Britt Chole's The Night Is Normal: A Guide through Spiritual Pain Dr. Alicia Britt Chole's The Sacred Slow: A Holy Departure from Fast Faith Learn more:  24-7 Prayer International Download & Explore: Lectio 365 (a free daily prayer app) Carla Harding's Stories of Prayer (Video) Books by Brian Heasley Article: “Gen-Z Is Labeled As ‘Difficult' In The Workplace, But There's More To The Story” Article: 'We See Children As Pestilent' (building on the idea attributed to Socrates) Clarissa Moll's The Bulletin podcast Explore Clarissa Moll's website Read Clarissa Moll's substack Matthew 26:36-46 (ESV) - The Garden of Gethsemane Sign up for Steve's Newsletter & Podcast Reminders: Capable Life Newsletter New Candles, Advent Prayers, and Journals: https://www.stevecusswords.com/ Join Steve at an upcoming intensive: Capable Life Intensives Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Starke preaches from Matthew 19:3-12, continuing in our sermon series “The Ache of Being Human".

In this podcast, the Kyle welcomes Edmund Knighton, a guest known for his deep understanding of the teachings of The Law of One and Rudolf Steiner. Knighton's journey with spirituality is shared, including his awakening, transformative experiences, and integration of Steiner's and Ra's teachings. The discussion also delves into the significance of the seven-year life cycles according to Steiner, the concept of harvest from The Law of One, the polarization of service to self versus service to others, and the implications of modern disruptions on spiritual growth. In addition, Knighton touches on current spiritual practices, community building, and teaching initiatives, emphasizing the importance of self-initiation, wisdom, and love.   Connect with Edmund here: Website Edmund is co-host of Being Human, along with Be Here Farm + Nature founder, Jared Pickard.  Being Human is 12 weeks of community-supported self mastery and spiritual growth featuring 12 Visiting Masters from a wide range of fields, including Kyle Kingsbury, Joel Salatin, Del Bigtree, Asha Nayaswami, Gabby Reece, and more.  Full details on the 2026 season can be found at tinyurl.com/beinghuman2026.  Enrollment is open now.   From Kyle: The Community is coming! Click here to learn more   Our Sponsors: Let's level up your nicotine routine with Lucy. Go to Lucy.co/KKP and use promo code (KKP) to get 20% off your first order. Lucy offers FREE SHIPPING and has a 30-day refund policy if you change your mind. These are the b3 bands I was talking about. They are amazing, I highly recommend incorporating them into your movement practice. To SUPERCHARGE YOUR STEM CELLS, go to qualialife.com/kyle15 for up to 50% off, and use code KYLE15 for an additional 15%. If there's ONE MINERAL you should be worried about not getting enough of... it's MAGNESIUM. Head to http://www.bioptimizers.com/kingsbu now and use code KINGSBU to claim your 15% discount.   Connect with Kyle: I'm back on Instagram, come say hey @kylekingsbu Twitter: @kingsbu Our Farm Initiative: @gardenersofeden.earth Odysee: odysee.com/@KyleKingsburypod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kyle-Kingsbury Kyle's Website: www.kingsbu.com - Gardeners of Eden site If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & leave a 5-star review with your thoughts!

An Education in Being Human with Dr. David Norris If you are looking to deepen your relationship to yourself and your reality…Dive in with Nicky Clinch and Dr. David Norris from an Ontological and Maturation perspectiveIn this episode, Nicky Clinch is joined by Dr. David Norris to dive into the nature of human existence, the role of context in shaping our experiences, and the evolution of education. David shares his journey from academia to transformational education, emphasising the importance of understanding context over content in personal development. Dive into current societal shifts, the awakening of human consciousness, the need for individuals to recognise their own power in creating their reality, and the distinction between being in love and true love. If you're curious about what it means to be human and want to create a much deeper understanding of yourself in the process - you're not going to want to miss this!— You'll Learn: Ways to unlock more powerful shifts by moving from content to contextHow to navigate a crisis in a healing wayWhy relationships are a tool for deepening consciousness and how to create this depth with anotherHow to shift from judging to learningAnd lots more!— Resources & Next Steps:Next Episode Teaser:  Nicky will teach you the next step to turn your integrated shifts into 3D results and change. The next step in your transformation journey!Connect with Nicky:  Go Deeper into your Maturation - https://nickyclinch.lpages.co/the-discovering-freedom-masterclass/Visit my website: https://nickyclinch.com/ Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicky_clinch/ Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickyclinchmaturation Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/nicky-clinch-surrender---Remember:  Transformation always feels uncomfortable – until it doesn't. Your next breakthrough might just be on the other side of what feels like falling apart.

John Starke preaches from Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 2:18-25, continuing in our sermon series "The Ache of Being Human".

John Starke preaches from Matthew 26:36-46, continuing in our sermon series “The Ache of Being Human”.

REPLAY (Original Air Date March 10, 2025) Today we are joined by Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos. Dr. Kostopoulos is a globally recognized strategist that brings clarity and context as to what is on the horizon. Her unique expertise at the intersection of emerging technology, security and macro-trends has been sought by the United Nations, U.S. Special Operations, the European Commission, NATO, multi-nationals, tech companies, design agencies, academia, such as MIT and Oxford Saïd Business School, and foreign governments. She helps her clients understand new technologies, emerging value chains, and contextualizes the convergences of our time. She founded the boutique consultancy Abundance Studio and has experience working in the US, Europe, Middle East and East Asia. [March 10, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:19 - Intro Links -          Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/ -          Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/ -          Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/ -          Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/ -          Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb -          CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/ -          innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/                                02:10 - Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos Intro 03:30 - From Counter Terrorism to Conflict Landscapes 05:35 - The Imagination Dilemma 09:13 - Technological Tit for Tat 11:38 - Four Facets of Imagination 12:18 - Facet 1) Identity 13:36 - Facet 2) Convergence 15:38 - Facet 3) Humanity 16:48 - Facet 4) Dreams 18:18 - Turning Crisis Into Strategy 22:39 - Being Human 26:04 - Future-Proofing Organizations 29:51 - Real Value Proposition 31:26 - Webinar Series -          Website: imaginationdilemma.com -          YouTube: @ImaginationDilemma 32:12 - Find Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos online -          Website: abundance.studio -          LinkedIn: in/lydiak -          Instagram: @HiLydiak 32:46 - Book Recommendations -          The 100-Year Life - Andrew Scott & Lynda Gratton -          Imagination Dilemma - Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos 37:02 - Mentors -          Parents -          Women Suffragists 38:15 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Jamie Leahey preaches from John 2:13-22, continuing in our sermon series "The Ache of Being Human".

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/   What if telepathy isn't a rare gift, but a skill anyone can learn?   In this episode of Being Human, I sit down with Ditte Young - family therapist, author, and internationally renowned animal communicator. Ditte shares her extraordinary journey from working in Danish television to becoming a trusted voice for both humans and animals. She explains how she teaches telepathy, why 100% of her students succeed, and what animals reveal about love, presence, and our polluted world.   If you're already sold on people having these abilities, you'll love Ditte's story. If you're sceptical about this stuff and think it's all woo-woo nonsense, this episode might just give you pause to think again.   We explore: - Teaching telepathy - How animals mirror their owners' emotions and health issues - Battling scepticism, direct evidence, and practice - Enhancing leadership through trusting intuition and self-belief - How her life as the mother of Philip, her neurodivergent son, shaped her healing path   Links: Ditte's Website

John Starke preaches from Ecclesiastes 4, continuing in our sermon series “The Ache of Being Human”. 

Cam Leids shares how ayahuasca and mushrooms helped him move beyond patterns, open to Spirit, and let creativity flow through.What happens when we step beyond our patterns and allow Spirit to flow through us? In this episode of The Spiritual Artist Podcast, CJ Miller sits down with storyteller and guide Cam Leids, host of the Being Human and Shit podcast. Living in Peru, Cam works with plant medicines such as ayahuasca and magic mushrooms to help people deepen their self-awareness, release fear, and reconnect with their higher selves.Cam shares, “When I can do anything to get past that fear, it allows me to open myself up. Creativity is not even coming from me—it's allowing Spirit to move through me onto the stage or canvas. It's about opening the channel to God, to Spirit. All humans are creators at our core.”Together, CJ and Cam explore:How intention shapes every experience with plant medicine.Why psychedelics can open space to witness our thoughts, dissolve ego patterns, and heal stuck emotions.The connection between creativity, presence, and Spirit—whether through art, meditation, or natural medicines.Cam's journey from a high-paying career to finding fulfillment in guiding others through awakening and inner healing.The role of love, humor, and even comedy in rediscovering what it means to be fully human.Cam reminds us that these experiences don't teach us something new—they help us remember who we truly are.For more about Cam, follow him on Instagram and TikTok @camleids. Listen to his podcast Being Human and Shit on YouTube and major platforms.Want to learn more about CJ Miller? Check out his Spiritual Artist Retreats, 1:1 Personal Coaching, and Speaking Engagements at www.spiritualartisttoday.com. His retreats are designed to help you reconnect with your Creative Intelligence and express your true artistic voice. You can also find his upcoming schedule there, and his book, The Spiritual Artist, is available on Amazon.

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/   What if your brain isn't creating consciousness but filtering it?   Could the scientific study of so-called ‘psi' abilities break the assumptions of materialist science?   In this episode of Being Human, I speak with Jeff Tarrant — psychologist, neuroscientist, and author of Becoming Psychic.    Jeff shares his research on psychics, mediums, and channelers, revealing surprising EEG findings that suggest our minds may tap into a broader field of information.    We explore: - Why the brain blocks 99% of reality - The American mum who suddenly started chanting indigenous hymns - How meditation and psychedelics can loosen our filter - What happens when intuition takes the lead - The mysteries of human potential   Links: Jeff's Website

In this episode Ross Beveridge, co-founder of our Podcast, and guests discuss the topic of digital cities and democracy. Digitalisation is transforming cities, urbanization and urban life – but how is it changing urban politics? What issues of justice and democracy are at stake in the advance of digital technologies? What are the power implications of the unending rise of corporate digital platforms, like Amazon? How are social media platforms reconfiguring the ways we live in cities and the ways we conduct politics? And what does the future hold? Ross discusses these questions with 4 scholars who have recently published important books in this field: Myria Georgiou, who is a Professor of Media and Communications and Head of the Department of Media and Communications at LSE. She is the author of the book: Being Human in Digital Cities, published by Polity Press. Rob Kitchin, who is a professor in the Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute at Maynooth University. He is the author of Critical Data Studies: An A to Z Guide to Concepts and Methods, published by Polity Press. Yu-Shan Tseng, who is an Anniversary Research Fellow in Geography at the University of Southampton. She is the author of Liquid democracy: a comparative study of digital urban democracy, published by Wiley & Sons. Justus Uitermark, who is Professor of Urban Geography and the Academic Director of the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research at the University of Amsterdam. He is the author, with Petter Törnberg, of Seeing Like a Platform An Inquiry into the Condition of Digital Modernity, published by Routledge.

John Starke preaches from Psalm 63, continuing our sermon series "The Ache of Being Human".

How can I do something for someone else that brings me joy? Vanessa Maleare defines self-care by casting a vision of service as self-care. [1 Peter 4:7-11]   Reflection  What area of helping others bring you joy or energy?  Is there an area of service in which you'd like to grow?  If there is a barrier to you giving your time somewhere, could that barrier be moved in a creative way? Resource Book: How to Be a Living Thing: Meditations on Intuitive Oysters, Hopeful Doves, and Being Human in the World by Mari Andrew

We are far from powerless… though we often we imagine we are. And neither are we able to control how life goes… though we often long to be able to. Our making ourselves too small or too big rarely serves life. So what would it be to find a way to be in a responsive partnership with life itself - acting into life and then opening ourselves to life's response, bringing the qualities we have to offer as humans and letting ourselves be changed by what comes? This week's conversation is hosted, as always, by Lizzie Winn and Justin Wise of Thirdspace. Episode Overview 00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Turning Towards Life 02:50 The Emergence of a Collective Self 06:07 Exploring Uncertainty and Aliveness 09:05 Navigating the Unknown: Embracing Change 11:50 The Dance of Certainty and Uncertainty 15:07 Partnership with Life: Making Our Moves 17:50 The Nature of Human Qualities in Crisis 20:57 Reflective Practice and Self-Discovery 24:00 Being Human in Uncertainty 26:49 Closing Reflections and Gratitude Here's our source for this week: We look with uncertainty We look with uncertainty beyond the old choices for clear-cut answers to a softer, more permeable aliveness which is every moment at the brink of death; for something new is being born in us if we but let it. We stand at a new doorway, awaiting that which comes… daring to be human creatures, vulnerable to the beauty of existence. Learning to love. Anne Hillman Photo by Karissa Mason on Unsplash --- Join Us Live in 2026 Turning Towards Life Live Season 2, from March 2026 Our Turning Towards Life live programme of community, learning and reflection runs in six month seasons, in person on Zoom once a month. We're very excited about it. A chance to expand beyond the bounds of a podcast into forming a community of learning and practice. You can find out more and join us here: www.turningtowards.life/live ---- About Turning Towards Life Turning Towards Life, a week-by-week conversation inviting us deeply into our lives, is a live 30 minute conversation hosted by Justin Wise and Lizzie Winn of Thirdspace.  Find us on FaceBook to join in the lively conversation on this episode. You can find videos of every episode, and more about the project on the Turning Towards Life website, and you can also watch and listen on Instagram, YouTube, and as a podcast on Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify. Join Our Weekly Mailing: www.turningtowards.life/subscribe Support Us: www.buymeacoffee.com/turningtowardslife Keywords: uncertainty acceptance, essential qualities, human aliveness, partnership with life, permeable existence, doorway metaphor, vulnerable beauty, reflective practice, present moment awareness, control letting go, death brink living, softness cultivation, new birth allowing, offering making, response receiving, qualities emerging, steadfastness courage, generous heart, human goodness, unpredictability embracing, participation dance, life partnership, essential self, turning towards life, relationship reflection

Hello Listeners, Here is the link a machine-generated transcript via Descript.  To check out Cristy's podcast interview with Jacqueline Fisch from How Women Write, click here to find it on pod link. To schedule coaching or an astrology reading through a special offer with Cristy (for Somatic Wisdom listeners) using natal astrology and coaching, please use this Calendly link. Discount from her corporate rate for a limited time. For more written work from Cristy, check out Our Somatic Wisdom on Substack. Cristy's LinkedIn page (if you'd like to hire her and you're NOT a bot).  *** We would love to hear your thoughts or questions on this episode via SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/SomaticWisdomLoveNotes To show your gratitude for this show, you can make a one-time gift to support Somatic Wisdom with this link. To become a Sustaining Honor Roll contributor to help us keep bringing you conversations and content that support Your Somatic Wisdom please use this link. Thank you! Your generosity is greatly appreciated! *** Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/composers/dpmusic/ Cover art credit: https://www.natalyakolosowsky.com/ Cover template creation by Briana Knight Sagucio

The last few weeks have brought us stories of horrific violence - a shooting during mass at a Catholic school in Minneapolis resulting in dozens of injuries and two dead children, a senseless murder of a young woman on a train, who came to our country for a better life, then the assassination of political leader, Charlie Kirk, killed in cold blood while debating students on a university campus. The next day was... September 11. Twenty four years after I saw my city come to its knees. (I'm a former New Yorker.) I knew the world would never be the same that day. I felt the same way when that bullet ripped through Charlie Kirk's throat - we'd crossed a line. Again. The world will never be the same. And I found myself, as I often do, soul searching: "What is the root of this violence?" On this special episode of "The Work of Being Human," I analyze the tragedies we've witnessed in the last month as well as the root of violence that is exploding in our nation. It's not political. It's not ideological. Tune in for more.I love hearing from you: contact@vanessabentley.co

Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Reed Dent embark on a journey through the vices and virtues.The Gospel of Being Human by Marty Solomon and Reed DentConfessions by Augustine of Hippo (Amazon)Confessions by Augustine of Hippo (Project Gutenberg)Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas — WikipediaGlittering Vices by Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoungThe Cardinal and the Deadly by Karl Clifton-SoderstromThe Seven Deadly Sins by Kevin VostThe Seven Deadly Sins by Solomon SchimmelThe Inferno by Dante Alighieri (Amazon)The Inferno by Dante Alighieri (Project Gutenberg)Seven (1995 film) — Letterboxd

Self-care isn't bubble baths, spa days, or a once-a-year vacation. True self-care is the daily, often uncomfortable work of living in alignment with your values, honoring your needs, and stepping into the person you aspire to be. In this episode of The Practice of Being Human, Marta shares what it means to “becoming her” — not chasing after some distant version of yourself, but stretching into the woman you already are. She unpacks how to tolerate discomfort, expand your capacity for growth, and root your self-care in presence, purpose, and authenticity.____________________________________________________________We are so glad you're here. Big love.Connect with Marta:Ask Marta Anything for a chance to be featured in a future episode!https://martabrummell.com/Instagram: @martabrummellLinkedIn: @martabrummellIf you're loving the insights and tools shared on the podcast, we'd love to invite you to join The Practice, our online membership community. It's a space for growth, connection, and transformation, where like-minded and like-hearted people come together to navigate life's challenges with intention and courage. Through meaningful conversations, compassionate collaboration, and weekly coaching, you'll gain practical tools and support to enrich your life and reconnect with your true self.Join The Practice here.

John Starke preaches from Hebrews 2, beginning our new sermon series “The Ache of Being Human".

We all want to encourage our children, but what if the words “I'm proud of you” are doing more harm than good? In this episode of The Practice of Being Human, Marta unpacks how this well-meaning phrase can create a cycle of codependency and external validation—teaching kids to chase approval instead of defining success on their own terms. She shares how to shift from pride to presence, equipping parents with new language and tools to help their children grow confidence, resilience, and self-trust from the inside out.__________________________________________________________We are so glad you're here. Big love.Connect with Marta:Ask Marta Anything for a chance to be featured in a future episode!https://martabrummell.com/Instagram: @martabrummellLinkedIn: @martabrummellIf you're loving the insights and tools shared on the podcast, we'd love to invite you to join The Practice, our online membership community. It's a space for growth, connection, and transformation, where like-minded and like-hearted people come together to navigate life's challenges with intention and courage. Through meaningful conversations, compassionate collaboration, and weekly coaching, you'll gain practical tools and support to enrich your life and reconnect with your true self.Join The Practice here.

In her monthly visit to Being Human, Clarissa Moll from Christianity Today's The Bulletin takes the host's chair and turns the tables on Steve Cuss for another rich exploration of the Four Spaces of Anxiety. Together, they discuss how the frenetic pace of modern life can obscure God's presence—and how intentional pauses can restore spiritual clarity and resilience. The conversation dives into rumination, false needs like control and approval, and the role of prayer and journaling in nurturing healthier relationships. Steve and Clarissa offer insights on differentiation, boundaries, over-functioning, and even the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Episode Resources: Listen: The Bulletin Read: Genesis 28 (NLT) Read: Tom Hanks' most iconic roles, from Forrest Gump to Toy Story (EW) Explore: Introduction to Bowen family systems theory Other Media: Steve and Clarissa's August episode of Being Human The Bulletin: Steve and Clarissa on Smart Drugs in the Workplace Explore Clarissa Moll's website Read Clarissa Moll's Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we talk about the misguided idea that if it's meant to be, it should be easy, and if it's hard, it's a sign that something is NOT meant to be. While there's some validity to certain experiences like this, it isn't universally true. In this episode, I share ways you can actually differentiate if your suffering is an indication of misalignment, or if it's a part of the universality of the human experience. Plus I'll share one practice you can start today to connect with that discomfort and keep moving forward, instead of fearing and being stuck in it.You will learn:// Why discomfort doesn't mean we are misaligned or that it's not meant to be… and what it ACTUALLY signifies// Why we tend to fear discomfort in the first place// How to know the difference between difficulty that comes from being misaligned on our path, and the universal challenges of the human experience// One practice you can start today to connect with discomfort instead of fear it - and move towards opennessResources:// Episode 9: Impermanence, Death, and Other Sexy Things// Episode 44: The Power of the Pause// Episode 63: Being Human is Hard - The First Noble Truth// Episode 100: How to Know You're Making Progress// Episode 156: Savoring When Suffering Is Not Present// If you're new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You'll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.// Want something more self-paced with access to weekly group support and getting coached by yours truly? Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. We dive into taking wisdom and applying it to our daily lives, with different topics every month. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can't wait to see you there!// Have you benefited from even one episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast? I'd love it if you could leave a 5-star review on iTunes by clicking here  or on Spotify by clicking here.

In this very special episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna welcome Kelly Kapic. His work on human limits was part of the inspiration for this Can't Do It All season. In this episode, you will learn how God-given limits are not only not sin, they are blessings, God's good plan for our flourishing. Kelly touches on humility, academics, faithfulness, and hard work. In addition to being a husband and father, Kelly is a professor of theological studies at Covenant College, and the author of more than 15 books, including Christianity Today book award winner You're Only Human, and most recently, a devotional called You Were Never Meant to Do It All: A 40-Day Devotional on the Goodness of Being Human. Kelly is already a friend of the ministry, having been a main speaker at our 2023 conference in Franklin, TN.  The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der KolkFollow us @rootedministry!Please rate and review the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Romans 8:31-37Psalm 61:1-4 Romans 8 for ParentsWhy Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago

What happens when a simple game becomes a teacher? In this episode, Bobby Riley—author of Pickleball and the Practice of Being Human and an award-winning principal—sits down with Lori and Sara to share how pickleball became a space of joy, release, and community. For Bobby, every dink, rally, and moment of rhythm carries wisdom about life itself.Beyond pickleball, Bobby opens up about the beauty and strain of leading students, how burnout reshaped his path, and the courage it takes to admit when you're not okay. This is a conversation about play as poetry, and about finding renewal through honesty, vulnerability, and human connection.Also, remember to submit your questions or topic suggestions anonymously for a future Insight Exchange. https://collectinginsight.com/insight-exchange All episodes edited and mixed by Jake Musiker.

Steve Cuss is joined once again by his wife and fellow counselor, Lisa Cuss, for a practical conversation on the Four Spaces of Anxiety and how these shape our relationships, leadership, and faith. Building on recent Being Human dialogues with Toni Collier and Dr. Les Parrott, Steve and Lisa unpack the hidden assumptions that fuel reactivity, disconnection, and stress. Steve and Lisa explore how faith, vulnerability, and intentional community can break anxiety's grip and create healthier families, churches, and neighborhoods. Episode Resources: Steve & Clarissa Moll discuss the Four Spaces of Anxiety Explore Toni Collier's website Toni Collier's Don't Try This Alone Toni Collier's Broken Crayons Still Color Toni Collier's Brave Enough to Be Broken Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott's Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts Dr. Parrott and Judah Smith's Bad Thoughts: A Preacher and a Shrink's Guide to Reclaiming Your Mind and Soul Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott's website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's episode, I welcome back Dr Soph - psychologist, author of A Manual for Being Human and Unstuck. With her brilliant mind and eloquent way of explaining complex ideas, Dr Soph helps us unpack some of the big questions weighing on our collective hearts right now. Are we really on the brink of societal collapse, or is there another way to view the chaos around us? Together we dive into the noise of the global news cycle, the divisive conversations online, and how all of this impacts our mental health. This is an episode about finding perspective, clarity, and a sense of sanity in uncertain times. We talked about: - A woman who slept with 1000 men in a day and what this means for society. - How the ongoing conflict in Gaza is impacting our mental health - Why the internet loves to hate women like Blake Lively and Meghan Markle - How to stay grounded and manage anxiety when the world feels overwhelming This conversation is raw, insightful, and deeply needed. I hope it helps you feel less alone in navigating the intensity of our times and offers practical wisdom to steady yourself through the noise. Please share this episode with someone who might need it too. Find Dr Soph here: Instagram: @_drsoph Substack: The Grey Zone Website: drsoph.com Resources & Next Steps Try Anxiety Masters today FREE for 7 days https://anxiety-reset.mykajabi.com/offers/hLCNeydj Ready for a deeper transformation? Sign up for The Anxiety Masters Membership in FULL here https://georgiecollinson.com/membership Watch my FREE Anxiety Reset Masterclass for women with high-functioning anxiety https://anxiety-reset.mykajabi.com/free-masterclass Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety here https://georgiecollinson.com/books

This week on The Bulletin, Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll discuss President Trump and Vladimir Putin's meeting in Alaska to talk about the war in Ukraine. Then, Mr. Trump chooses a new head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after firing the previous head for an unfavorable jobs report. Why should Christians care? Next, advances in genome sequencing allow those going through IVF to select embryos without specific disabilities or medical conditions. Finally, Steve Cuss from the CT Media podcast Being Human joins the show to talk about smart drugs in the workplace and better ways to deal with anxiety at work.   GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: - Join the conversation at our Substack. - Find us on YouTube. - Rate and review the show in Apple Podcasts. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Steve Cuss is a pastor, former chaplain, and founder of Capable Life which helps people lower internal and relational anxiety in the workplace and at home. He is the author of Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs and The Expectation Gap: The Tiny, Vast Space between Our Beliefs and Experience of God. Steve hosts the CT Media podcast, Being Human. ABOUT THE BULLETIN:The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today's editor in chief) and Mike Cosper (director, CT Media). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more.  The Bulletin listeners get 25 percent off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Producer: Clarissa Moll Associate Producer: Alexa Burke Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs Music: Dan Phelps Executive Producers: Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part One is Live! Greg Burdulis on Monastic Life, Mindfulness & the Power of Presence In this first half of our two-part conversation, Greg Burdulis—former monk, speaker, and mindfulness mentor—shares what led him to spend seven years in silence and how that time reshaped his understanding of life, suffering, and joy. We talk about: -Life as a Monk  -Why mindfulness isn't about escaping pain -The beauty of ordinary moments -How to begin again—no matter your past Greg's wisdom is raw, grounding, and full of soul. Tune in for a conversation that invites you to slow down, breathe deep, and connect to what's real. Watch Greg's TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/greg_burdulis_the_power_of_presence Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregburdulis http://gregburdulis.com/

In the collection of essays, How to Be a Living Thing: Meditations on Intuitive Oysters, Hopeful Doves, and Being Human in the World, the writer and artist reflects on the ways animals mirror, challenge, and deepen our experiences as living creatures and how they can teach us to live more fully as humans. This program was held on July 15, 2025. Watch this conversation on YouTube.

Recent finds in the Atapuerca site in Spain have confirmed and expanded our understanding of the tates and culinary practices of Homo antecessor.  This species is enigmatic and its place in the evolutionary tree unclear. But what is very clear is that it was cannibalistic. And on a large scale.  It had a taste for young hominins, probably from competing tribes. How, you ask, could we possibly know that?In this epsiode of The History of Being Human, we cover everything we know and how we know it.  Height, habitus, habits, diet of animals and hominins, and behavior.  This episode expands significantly on the previous consideration of archaic human cannibalism in episode 3.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-being-human--5806452/support.

The Four Spaces of anxiety and emotional freedom take center stage as Being Human kicks off a new monthly appearance from Bulletin moderator Clarissa Moll, who flips the script and interviews Steve Cuss. Together, they'll shape the conversation threads that future episodes will explore every four weeks. This month, Steve unpacks the wildfire spread of anxiety and lays out practical disciplines to disrupt reactivity and foster emotional resilience. Rooted in biblical wisdom and grounded in everyday experience, Clarissa re-introduces Steve's transformative “four spaces” framework—a must-hear for anyone seeking peace, clarity, and connection in a chaotic culture. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Explore Clarissa Moll's website Read Clarissa Moll's Substack Listen to The Bulletin Watch Steve explain The Four Spaces of Anxiety Sign up for Steve's Newsletter & Podcast Reminders: Capable Life Newsletter Join Steve at an upcoming intensive:  Capable Life Intensives Explore more CT with our free newsletters: christianitytoday.com/newsletters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Renowned Fatherhood Expert Dr Anna Machin reveals the #1 lie about monogamy, how cheating hijacks human brains, and the evolutionary truth behind love, trust, and fatherhood! Dr Anna Machin is an evolutionary anthropologist and relationship scientist known for her groundbreaking research on human connection, love, fatherhood, and attachment. She is also the author of books such as, 'Why We Love: The New Science Behind Our Closest Relationships'. She explains: How cheating activates your brain's reward system like an addiction. Why modern men are in emotional crisis and how society is breaking them. The hormonal reason you fall for the wrong person again and again. How your DNA, oxytocin, and dopamine shape who you love and trust. 00:00 Intro 02:31 Why Love Is the Core of Being Human 07:29 The Forgotten Role of Fathers 09:26 Individualism and the Current State of Love 15:00 Women Find Their Right Partner by Smelling Them 20:37 Testosterone Is Linked to Success in Men 22:07 How to Increase Your Attractiveness (Backed by Science) 26:39 Never Say This on a Date 27:52 Are “Icks” Red Flags We Should Listen To? 30:14 We've Got Too Many Dating Options 34:01 Monogamy and Polyamory 40:23 Why People in Polyamorous Relationships Hide It 42:05 Are We All Pretending to Be Monogamous? 43:25 Why the First 1000 Days Are Critical for a Baby 49:10 Rough and Tumble: The Parenting Technique Everyone Should Teach 52:06 How Your Brain and Body Change When Becoming a Dad 54:41 Why Some Dads Don't Instantly Bond With Their Kids 58:38 Mental Health Issues From Lacking a Father Figure Early On 1:02:16 Implications of an Absent Mother 1:11:24 Biological Fathers vs. Father Figures 1:12:57 Father Figures in Lesbian Couples 1:15:04 Are Parents Needed in the First Two Years? 1:21:27 The Optimal Scenario to Raise a Child 1:26:19 How Dads Can Bond With Their Newborns 1:30:02 Love Drugs 1:38:51 Understanding Attachment Styles 1:43:14 Is Modern Society Pushing Us Toward a Specific Attachment Style? 1:44:36 Doomscrolling on Dating Apps? This Is Your Attachment Style 1:47:43 How to Change Your Attachment Style 1:51:41 How ADHD May Impact Your Love Life 1:57:48 Do People With ADHD Cheat More Often? 2:01:59 How to Contain Your Impulses 2:03:18 Sex Life and Neurodivergence 2:04:04 Relationships as the Biggest Factor in Health and Longevity 2:10:20 What Happens to the Brain When It's in Love 2:14:23 When Did You Feel Like You'd Made It? Follow Dr Anna: Instagram - https://bit.ly/45ElU4p Website - https://bit.ly/3GcTT9S  You can purchase Dr Anna's book, ‘Why We Love: The New Science Behind Our Closest Relationships', here: https://bit.ly/3GjfOfo  You can purchase Dr Anna's book ‘The Life of Dad: The Making of a Modern Father', here: https://bit.ly/4lbtE2A Get your hands on the Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards here: https://bit.ly/conversationcards-mp   Get email updates: https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt  Follow Steven: https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb  Sponsors:  KetoneIQ - Visit https://ketone.com/STEVEN for 30% off your subscription order Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 4502: The WHO Continues To Propagate lies In Geneva; Life 3.0 Being Human