Podcasts about contemplating

This episode was a particular joy for me. I had the honor to talk with Jacob Howland. We start with LSD—talking about it, that is — go back to the steam engine in ancient Greece to return to the 20th century's nuclear bomb and today's artificial intelligence. What is the interplay of the human condition with ever more potent technology? What constitutes progress, education, and how can we deal with the challenges of our time? Jacob Howland served as Provost and Dean of the Intellectual Foundations Program at the University of Austin from 2022 to 2025, and before that, as McFarlin Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tulsa. He is the author of five books on Plato, Kierkegaard, and the Talmud, and over sixty articles on literature, politics, and the academy for general readers. He will be a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the School of Civic Leadership at the University of Texas during the academic year 2026-27. I was intrigued by a conversation Jacob had with Jordan Peterson talking about the CIA gets its hands on LSD. Jacob described the situation as “This is potent stuff, what can we do with it?” Was this a special case or is this our general approach to innovation? Is innovation thus simply reasoning backwards? What is technology? Since when do we speak of technology? “The marshalling or harnessing of significant social resources for the explicit purpose of advancing and applying science.” Mastering and possession of nature, as Descartes put it, is a core aspect of that. During that process, is the focus put too much on the means, while the ends might get lost? “The means justify the end? […] We can do this, therefore we should do it.” Innovation and the mindset of the time — do people even understand what was just invented? Example: the steam engine in antiquity. How does the world appear to people in antiquity, in the Christian tradition, and later in the modern age? Or in other words: when did transforming the world become an objective? Descartes already understands that: “Desire is implicitly infinite.” This shifts the relationship between man and world. In what way specifically? “When we take away the limits of desire, we open up an infinite and unlimited desire for wealth, an unlimited desire for new devices, conveniences and so forth.” Descartes already expresses that if we become the masters of nature, we might be able to find a way to limit the infirmities of old age and to extend life. What was the role of Francis Bacon in The New Atlantis? What role did he play for science? Contemplating the history of technology and science, it appears we are treating new inventions and innovations like children — even those with extraordinary potential. How could we have survived this attitude? “Technology contains its own fatality.” What changed between the nuclear bomb and the advent of artificial intelligence? “We are going to have to trust AI more and more, but we don't actually know if it is trustworthy.” What can we learn from Greek mythology about these complexities of technology? What is Pandora's box? “We exchange one kind of fatality for another.” Technology can be transgressive and totalising. How? “If the idea is to remove all limits, which would be a way of being like God, then, because we are human beings, we will just descend into chaos. […] You can take human beings out of chaos, but you cannot take the chaos out of human beings.” Is it true that interesting things happen at the edge of chaos, as Stuart Kauffman expressed it? “When you just have order without the vitality that comes from transgression, you have decay, you have fossilised formalism.” Henry Adams stated, about 100 years ago: Can the speed of change become too fast for human societies and thus fundamentally destabilising? “We have a hard time holding two opposing thoughts in our mind.” But this seems to be increasingly important — a fundamental human skill, in fact. How is this important to assess progress? What changed in the attitude towards progress, especially with young people? “Moderns and late moderns (us) believe that we can solve problems.” The way we address complex problems was discussed in other episodes. Noteworthy seems a quotation by Thomas Sowell: “There are no solutions, only trade-offs” Can we actually solve a problem in a complex “wicked” environment? How does this help us to understand how technology works? Why is maintenance at the centre of a complex techno-social society? What does that mean specifically? How does politics work, and why will we never arrive at morally perfect situations? Why is impatience rising and creating unreasonable expectations? Why is humility of huge importance in dealing with complex problems, for instance in science? On the other hand, why is it a bad idea to be afraid of your own shadow? “I am more concerned by what the bomb is doing already to young people,” C. S. Lewis. So, how do we go along, surrounded by radical uncertainty? What does this mean for science? “Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts,” Richard Feynman. “You are dealing with a real scientist when that scientist says: here is what we don't know.” In contrast to this, remember Anthony Fauci: “I am Science.” What is the role of generalists versus specialists to resolve or manage some of these issues? What about different perspectives of time? “The emphasis in our lives today is on the present. What is happening right now.” Where is expertise, what is the interplay between specialist knowledge and generalist “connecting tissue”? “I have never let my ignorance interfere with anything I wanted to study.” How is this relevant to living a decent and flourishing human life? But to make it even bolder: Do we have such stagnation in science and society because we have so few generalists? As a closing question: If the mission is to save (American) education, what are we supposed to do, and do we even have a chance still? “Harvard College taught little, and that little, ill. But it left the mind open, supple, and ready to receive knowledge,” Henry Adams. Could we at least get back to this situation again? “How many universities can we say that about? We have not succeeded in that. […] At the end of the day, we are suffering from a crisis of meaning. Any way we give people more meaning is significant.” How can we do that? In company with other people, ideally. There is hope, as Jacob states at the end of the conversation. We are at the start of a reconstruction, as Douglas Murray put it: “We should be the reconstructionists. The deconstructionists knew something about how to take things apart but, like children with bicycles, had no idea how to put them back together. […] We have the choice either to live in the wastelands or to rebuild them.” Other Episodes Episode 148: Künstliche Vernunft? Ein Gespräch mit Jan Juhani Steinmann Episode 145: Reflexion und Rekonstruktion! Episode 137: Alles Leben ist Problemlösen Episode 134: Das Werdende, das ewig wirkt und lebt? Transzendent oder Transient Episode 129: Rules, A Conversation with Prof. Lorraine Daston Episode 125: Ist Fortschritt möglich? Ideen als Widergänger über Generationen Episode 118: Science and Decision Making under Uncertainty, A Conversation with Prof. John Ioannidis Episode 116: Science and Politics, A Conversation with Prof. Jessica Weinkle Episode 110: The Shock of the Old, a conversation with David Edgerton Episode 107: How to Organise Complex Societies? A Conversation with Johan Norberg Episode 74: Apocalype Always References Homepage of Jacob Howland Jordan Peterson & Jacob Howland, Ancient Stories That Bridge The Heavens & The Earth (2025) René Descartes, Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting One's Reason and of Seeking Truth in the Sciences (1637) Francis Bacon, The New Atlantis (1627, posthum) Stuart Kauffman, At Home in the Universe: The Search for the Laws of Self-Organization and Complexity(Oxford University Press, 1995) Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams (1918) Thomas Sowell, A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles (1987) F. A. Hayek, The Use of Knowledge in Society (1945) Horst Rittel, Melvin Webber, Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning, Policy Sciences 4 (1973) Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (ca. 350 BC) C. S. Lewis, “Is Progress Possible? Willing Slaves of the Welfare State” (Essay, 1958) Richard Feynman, “What is Science?” (presentation 1966, published inThe Physics Teacher, 1969) Erwin Schrödinger, What is Life? The Physical Aspect of the Living Cell (Cambridge University Press, 1944) Plato, Timaeus (ca. 360 BC) H. J. Paton, The Good Will: A Study in the Coherence Theory of Goodness (1927) Bryan Caplan, The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money (Princeton University Press, 2018) Douglas Murray - "The Age of Reconstruction Has Begun!" | ARC 2025

Breaking Down Survivor 50 Episode 12 What do we think of this final five?Contemplating each remaining contestant's case to win Survivor 50 The Cirie Fields Legacy and our utter devastation over her fateA New Mount Rushmore? Rick Devens Delivered Who is going to win Survivor 50? 

Following the defeat, the narrative takes on a "film noir" quality as the lovers return to Alexandria. Antony fell into deep melancholy, while Cleopatra focused on the survival of her dynasty, even contemplating exile in India. Octavian used the interim to consolidate power and negotiate with Antony's former allies. A treacherous three-way negotiation began, with both Antony and Cleopatra secretly dealing with Octavian while lying to each other. When Octavian finally invaded Egypt in 30 BC, Antony's remaining forces deserted him. Driven by a false report of Cleopatra's suicide, Antony attempted to kill himself and died in her arms on August 1. Cleopatra eventually committed suicide—likely via a cobra bite—to avoid being paraded in a Roman triumph. Octavian immediately secured the Egyptian treasury and ordered the execution of Caesarion, the 16-year-old heir, to eliminate any rival claims to Caesar's legacy. (7/8)CICERO AND FULVIA

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 NLT) Reflecting on the passing of human life, ethicist Michael Josephson wrote, “Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. . . . So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? . . . Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.” The author of Ecclesiastes wrote, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest” (Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 NLT). The psalmist wrote, “My future is in your hands” (Psalm 31:15 NLT). And Job said to God, “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer” (Job 14:5 NLT). Contemplating how short life is and how powerless we are to change that can trigger anxiety in some people. It magnifies the importance of being proactive in the choices you make, not to mention the importance of starting to make those choices as early as possible. To put it another way: The evening of your life is determined by the morning of your life. If you start prioritizing healthy eating and exercise as a young person and continue the practice throughout your life, you will enjoy the benefits for years and years. Likewise, if you start prioritizing the things of God as a young person and continue the practice throughout your life, you will reap unimaginable blessings for as long as you live. The author of Proverbs touched on this principle when he wrote, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 RSV). If you’re in the morning of your life—if, statistically speaking, you likely have many years ahead of you—now is not the time to sow your wild oats or to do the things you plan to repent for later. Now is the time to establish the habits, practices, and principles that will guide your life. Now is the time to study God’s Word, to memorize and apply it to every area of your life. Now is the time to begin the discipline of prayer, to set aside time every day to speak and listen to the Lord. Now is the time to develop and sharpen your skills when it comes to sharing your faith. If time is on your side, don’t let that advantage slip away. If you’re in the afternoon or even in the evening of life, the same principle applies, just in a different time frame. It’s never too late to adopt God-honoring disciplines. And right now, you’re as young as you’ll ever be. Reflection question: How can you prioritize and embrace God-honoring disciplines in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! Stay updated on all important event details. — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final week of our Contemplating the Cross series we look at the significance of the Lord's table and how the Bread and Cup are to shape our lives.

Patreon/Supercast Special Release – Bonus – The 5 Phases of Divorce: From Heartbreak to Healing with Oona Metz (297) This is a sneak peek of our episode with Oona Metz – available only on our Premium Supercast and Patreon platforms. For as little as $5/month you can have access to special releases like this one, first-to-know about upcoming events and discounts and an ad-free feed. Click here to join & finish the episode!! Divorce Isn't One Moment—It's 5 Phases Therapist and author Oona Metz draws on three decades of experience supporting women through divorce. She breaks down the emotional arc of separation through her five-phase model, offering a clear lens into the grief, upheaval, and eventual growth that can unfold. The episode also explores common misconceptions, practical guidance for clinicians and individuals, and the powerful role of support groups in the healing process. “Well meaning friends and family who are not divorced often can’t grasp the weight of uncertainty that coincides with dismantling a family. No one brings a lasagna or sends flowers when a marriage dies.” – Oona Metz, LCSW CGP Time Stamps for Bonus – The 5 Phases of Divorce: From Heartbreak to Healing with Oona Metz  06:40 Contemplating divorce: The struggle and decision-making process 12:22 The five phases of divorce: Understanding heartbreak 26:03 Mending: Healing and self-care after divorce 28:14 Navigating parenting through divorce 30:54 The process of letting go 54:28 Supporting friends through divorce About our Guest – Oona Metz, LCSW CGP I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Group Psychotherapist, and a Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. I have 30 years of experience working with individuals, families, and groups. My private practice offices are located in Brookline and Arlington, Massachusetts.  I am active on numerous committees and boards related to group therapy and prioritize ongoing learning in diversity, equity, and inclusion. My practice is focused on individual adults, and group therapy. I specialize in working with women+ who are in transition. Whether transitioning from college to graduate school or work, beginning or ending a relationship or job, becoming a parent or empty nester, or coming out to family and friends, these experiences offer an opportunity for reflection, insight and meaningful change Resources for Bonus – The 5 Phases of Divorce: From Heartbreak to Healing with Oona Metz  Oona’s Website – Resources, trainings & other information Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women – Get your copy on Oona’s book Looking for our Upcoming Events? Click here!! Our Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW! Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s

What if the defining revolution of Earth's history wasn't led by animals or humans, but by flowers? Are we truly individuals, or are our bodies and minds just walking ecosystems?Our guest today is David George Haskell, a biologist who has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories.(0:00) How Flowers Made Our WorldThe incredible ancient history of flowers on Earth(4:56) Contemplating the SmallExpanding our world by restricting our gaze(14:30) The Illusion of IndividualityWhy atomism is false and interconnectedness is the foundation of life(26:08) We Are Grass ApesThe evolutionary origins of humans and our dietary dependence on grass(33:32) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(38:55) The Networked Intelligence of ForestsHow trees communicate and share resources beneath the soil(44:00) The Earth in Full SongTracing the sonic history of our planet(51:08) The Practice of ListeningWhy tuning in to the natural world is crucial for our survival(1:01:21) Silence Without ExpectationSitting with nature without demanding progress or enlightenment(1:11:01) Transforming OurselvesWhy personal change matters in the fight for the climate(1:15:20) Escaping the ScreenFinding real human-to-human connection away from technology(1:16:16) The True Cost of AIThe devastating impact of data centers on our fossil fuel consumption(1:23:18) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureWhat we must preserve for the generations not yet bornEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Step into the deep time of the forest floor, where a single fallen leaf contains the history of the world, and invisible fungal networks hum with ancient conversations. Biologist and acclaimed author David George Haskell reveals a staggering truth: we are completely dependent on the botanical world, and our belief in strict human individuality is a biological illusion.Haskell has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories. (0:00) How Flowers Made Our World(1:33) Networked Connection is the Foundation of Life(2:00) Contemplating the Small(4:07) Consciousness, Intelligence & Memory in the More-Than-Human-World(4:18) We Are Grass Apes(5:41) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(6:34) The Networked Intelligence of Forests(7:45) The Earth in Full Song(8:46) The Practice of Listening(10:11) Escaping the Screen: Real Connections in the Classroom(11:35) The True Cost of AI(12:11) Transforming Ourselves(14:23) Silence Without Expectation(15:32) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Step into the deep time of the forest floor, where a single fallen leaf contains the history of the world, and invisible fungal networks hum with ancient conversations. Biologist and acclaimed author David George Haskell reveals a staggering truth: we are completely dependent on the botanical world, and our belief in strict human individuality is a biological illusion.Haskell has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories. (0:00) How Flowers Made Our World(1:33) Networked Connection is the Foundation of Life(2:00) Contemplating the Small(4:07) Consciousness, Intelligence & Memory in the More-Than-Human-World(4:18) We Are Grass Apes(5:41) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(6:34) The Networked Intelligence of Forests(7:45) The Earth in Full Song(8:46) The Practice of Listening(10:11) Escaping the Screen: Real Connections in the Classroom(11:35) The True Cost of AI(12:11) Transforming Ourselves(14:23) Silence Without Expectation(15:32) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

What if the defining revolution of Earth's history wasn't led by animals or humans, but by flowers? Are we truly individuals, or are our bodies and minds just walking ecosystems?Our guest today is David George Haskell, a biologist who has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories.(0:00) How Flowers Made Our WorldThe incredible ancient history of flowers on Earth(4:56) Contemplating the SmallExpanding our world by restricting our gaze(14:30) The Illusion of IndividualityWhy atomism is false and interconnectedness is the foundation of life(26:08) We Are Grass ApesThe evolutionary origins of humans and our dietary dependence on grass(33:32) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(38:55) The Networked Intelligence of ForestsHow trees communicate and share resources beneath the soil(44:00) The Earth in Full SongTracing the sonic history of our planet(51:08) The Practice of ListeningWhy tuning in to the natural world is crucial for our survival(1:01:21) Silence Without ExpectationSitting with nature without demanding progress or enlightenment(1:11:01) Transforming OurselvesWhy personal change matters in the fight for the climate(1:15:20) Escaping the ScreenFinding real human-to-human connection away from technology(1:16:16) The True Cost of AIThe devastating impact of data centers on our fossil fuel consumption(1:23:18) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureWhat we must preserve for the generations not yet bornEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Step into the deep time of the forest floor, where a single fallen leaf contains the history of the world, and invisible fungal networks hum with ancient conversations. Biologist and acclaimed author David George Haskell reveals a staggering truth: we are completely dependent on the botanical world, and our belief in strict human individuality is a biological illusion.Haskell has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories. (0:00) How Flowers Made Our World(1:33) Networked Connection is the Foundation of Life(2:00) Contemplating the Small(4:07) Consciousness, Intelligence & Memory in the More-Than-Human-World(4:18) We Are Grass Apes(5:41) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(6:34) The Networked Intelligence of Forests(7:45) The Earth in Full Song(8:46) The Practice of Listening(10:11) Escaping the Screen: Real Connections in the Classroom(11:35) The True Cost of AI(12:11) Transforming Ourselves(14:23) Silence Without Expectation(15:32) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

What if the defining revolution of Earth's history wasn't led by animals or humans, but by flowers? Are we truly individuals, or are our bodies and minds just walking ecosystems?Our guest today is David George Haskell, a biologist who has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories.(0:00) How Flowers Made Our WorldThe incredible ancient history of flowers on Earth(4:56) Contemplating the SmallExpanding our world by restricting our gaze(14:30) The Illusion of IndividualityWhy atomism is false and interconnectedness is the foundation of life(26:08) We Are Grass ApesThe evolutionary origins of humans and our dietary dependence on grass(33:32) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(38:55) The Networked Intelligence of ForestsHow trees communicate and share resources beneath the soil(44:00) The Earth in Full SongTracing the sonic history of our planet(51:08) The Practice of ListeningWhy tuning in to the natural world is crucial for our survival(1:01:21) Silence Without ExpectationSitting with nature without demanding progress or enlightenment(1:11:01) Transforming OurselvesWhy personal change matters in the fight for the climate(1:15:20) Escaping the ScreenFinding real human-to-human connection away from technology(1:16:16) The True Cost of AIThe devastating impact of data centers on our fossil fuel consumption(1:23:18) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureWhat we must preserve for the generations not yet bornEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Meta has officially launched Muse Spark, a sophisticated multimodal AI model developed by the newly established Meta Superintelligence Labs. This release represents a significant strategic pivot, as the company has moved away from its traditional open-source approach to keep this high-performance model proprietary. Designed to achieve "personal superintelligence," the system features a novel Contemplating mode that uses multiple agents to solve complex problems in parallel. The model excels in specialized domains like health and medical reasoning, yet current benchmarks show it still trails competitors in advanced coding tasks. Muse Spark is currently being integrated across Meta's major social platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, as well as their smart glasses. This ground-up rebuild of Meta's AI stack emphasizes computational efficiency, matching the power of previous models while utilizing significantly less processing energy.

Venerable Ariyananda Thero explains fundmental Buddhist contemplations. We have been circling through Saṃsāra, the wheel of repeated death and rebirth, since beginningless time. We don't know where we came from (what was our last rebirth?), we don't know where we're going (what will be our next rebirth?), and still we pretend everything's fine and try to be merry. Instead, the Buddha ecourages us to contemplate death and impermanence, so that we don't get lost in negligence, but make the effort to escape the round of death and birth through practising the Buddha's teaching and realizing the supreme securtity from bondage, the Deathless Element, Nibbāna. Venerable Angulgamuwa Ariyananda Mahāthera is the abbot of Na Uyana Aranya, the largest forest monastery in Sri Lanka: ⁠https://nauyana.org/⁠ He has kindly accepted our invitation to visit Dhammagiri from 2nd to 4th April. You can find all details of his program with us here: https://www.dhammagiri.net/post/visiting-senior-monk-at-dhammagiri-buddhist-monastery Bhante will be accompanied by Bhante Pāsādika Thera (abbot of Dhamsuwa Forest Monastery near Melbourne), Bhante Buddhavihārī Thera, and Bhante Jinaratana Thera. Bhante has been a monk for 33 years. He has visited Dhammagiri once before in November/December 2010, giving special blessings to our newly arrived main Buddha statue. This visit was actually the first time Bhante Ariyananda gave formal teachings in English ourside of Sri Lanka. Bhante Ariyananda and Ajahn Dhammasiha have known each other for 31 years. Bhante has been a true Kalyāna Mitta to Ajahn Dhammasiha during his arrival at Nissaraṇa Vana: preparing him for ordination, helping him with his visa, teaching him some Sinhala, and introducing him to his Upajjhāya, Most Venerable Kadawedduwe Jinavaṃsa Mahāthera. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our email Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Latest Photos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Youtube Channel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724#buddhism #dhamma #dhammatalk #buddhistmonk #buddhistmeditation #meditation #death #impermanence

What if the defining revolution of Earth's history wasn't led by animals or humans, but by flowers? Are we truly individuals, or are our bodies and minds just walking ecosystems?Our guest today is David George Haskell, a biologist who has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories.(0:00) How Flowers Made Our WorldThe incredible ancient history of flowers on Earth(4:56) Contemplating the SmallExpanding our world by restricting our gaze(14:30) The Illusion of IndividualityWhy atomism is false and interconnectedness is the foundation of life(26:08) We Are Grass ApesThe evolutionary origins of humans and our dietary dependence on grass(33:32) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(38:55) The Networked Intelligence of ForestsHow trees communicate and share resources beneath the soil(44:00) The Earth in Full SongTracing the sonic history of our planet(51:08) The Practice of ListeningWhy tuning in to the natural world is crucial for our survival(1:01:21) Silence Without ExpectationSitting with nature without demanding progress or enlightenment(1:11:01) Transforming OurselvesWhy personal change matters in the fight for the climate(1:15:20) Escaping the ScreenFinding real human-to-human connection away from technology(1:16:16) The True Cost of AIThe devastating impact of data centers on our fossil fuel consumption(1:23:18) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureWhat we must preserve for the generations not yet bornEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Meta komt na ruim een jaar eindelijk weer met een nieuw AI-model: Muse Spark. Het model markeert een opvallende koerswijziging voor het bedrijf, want het is niet open source en daarmee het tegenovergestelde van alles wat Meta eerder uitbracht. Stijn Goossens bespreekt het in deze Tech Update. Muse Spark is het eerste resultaat van Meta Superintelligence Labs, de nieuwe AI-eenheid die Mark Zuckerberg vorig jaar oprichtte nadat zijn Llama 4-modellen breed werden afgeschreven als tegenvallend. Als onderdeel van die ommezwaai investeerde Meta 14,3 miljard dollar in een belang van 49 procent in Scale AI en haalde het Alexandr Wang binnen als eerste chief AI officer in de geschiedenis van het bedrijf. Meta positioneert Muse Spark niet als het krachtigste model op de markt, maar benadrukt de efficiëntie en competitieve prestaties op specifieke taken. Het model accepteert spraak, tekst en beeldinvoer en heeft een Contemplating-modus waarbij meerdere AI-agents parallel aan een vraagstuk werken. Meta zegt ook te werken aan een open source versie. Gebruikers moeten inloggen met een bestaand Meta-account om het model te kunnen gebruiken, wat privacyvragen oproept: Meta zegt niet expliciet dat persoonsgegevens van Facebook of Instagram worden gebruikt, maar dat ligt voor de hand gezien het trainingsbeleid van het bedrijf. Het aandeel steeg meer dan zes procent na de aankondiging. Verder in deze Tech Update Federaal hof in Washington laat Pentagon toe Anthropic als veiligheidsrisico te labelen. Een panel van drie rechters wees het verzoek van Anthropic voor een tijdelijke blokkade af, terwijl een rechter in California het label eerder juist al had geblokkeerd; op 19 mei volgt de inhoudelijke behandeling in Washington. Hacker steelt meer dan 10 petabyte aan data uit Chinees supercomputercentrum. Een account onder de naam FlamingChina claimt via een gecompromitteerd VPN-domein maandenlang onopgemerkt te zijn binnengedrongen in het Nationaal Supercomputer Center in Tianjin en biedt de gestolen data, waaronder vermoedelijk militaire documenten en raketschema's, te koop aan via Telegram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Step into the deep time of the forest floor, where a single fallen leaf contains the history of the world, and invisible fungal networks hum with ancient conversations. Biologist and acclaimed author David George Haskell reveals a staggering truth: we are completely dependent on the botanical world, and our belief in strict human individuality is a biological illusion.Haskell has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories. (0:00) How Flowers Made Our World(1:33) Networked Connection is the Foundation of Life(2:00) Contemplating the Small(4:07) Consciousness, Intelligence & Memory in the More-Than-Human-World(4:18) We Are Grass Apes(5:41) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(6:34) The Networked Intelligence of Forests(7:45) The Earth in Full Song(8:46) The Practice of Listening(10:11) Escaping the Screen: Real Connections in the Classroom(11:35) The True Cost of AI(12:11) Transforming Ourselves(14:23) Silence Without Expectation(15:32) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

What if the defining revolution of Earth's history wasn't led by animals or humans, but by flowers? Are we truly individuals, or are our bodies and minds just walking ecosystems?Our guest today is David George Haskell, a biologist who has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories.(0:00) How Flowers Made Our WorldThe incredible ancient history of flowers on Earth(4:56) Contemplating the SmallExpanding our world by restricting our gaze(14:30) The Illusion of IndividualityWhy atomism is false and interconnectedness is the foundation of life(26:08) We Are Grass ApesThe evolutionary origins of humans and our dietary dependence on grass(33:32) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(38:55) The Networked Intelligence of ForestsHow trees communicate and share resources beneath the soil(44:00) The Earth in Full SongTracing the sonic history of our planet(51:08) The Practice of ListeningWhy tuning in to the natural world is crucial for our survival(1:01:21) Silence Without ExpectationSitting with nature without demanding progress or enlightenment(1:11:01) Transforming OurselvesWhy personal change matters in the fight for the climate(1:15:20) Escaping the ScreenFinding real human-to-human connection away from technology(1:16:16) The True Cost of AIThe devastating impact of data centers on our fossil fuel consumption(1:23:18) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureWhat we must preserve for the generations not yet bornEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Step into the deep time of the forest floor, where a single fallen leaf contains the history of the world, and invisible fungal networks hum with ancient conversations. Biologist and acclaimed author David George Haskell reveals a staggering truth: we are completely dependent on the botanical world, and our belief in strict human individuality is a biological illusion.Haskell has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories. (0:00) How Flowers Made Our World(1:33) Networked Connection is the Foundation of Life(2:00) Contemplating the Small(4:07) Consciousness, Intelligence & Memory in the More-Than-Human-World(4:18) We Are Grass Apes(5:41) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(6:34) The Networked Intelligence of Forests(7:45) The Earth in Full Song(8:46) The Practice of Listening(10:11) Escaping the Screen: Real Connections in the Classroom(11:35) The True Cost of AI(12:11) Transforming Ourselves(14:23) Silence Without Expectation(15:32) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Step into the deep time of the forest floor, where a single fallen leaf contains the history of the world, and invisible fungal networks hum with ancient conversations. Biologist and acclaimed author David George Haskell reveals a staggering truth: we are completely dependent on the botanical world, and our belief in strict human individuality is a biological illusion.Haskell has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories. (0:00) How Flowers Made Our World(1:33) Networked Connection is the Foundation of Life(2:00) Contemplating the Small(4:07) Consciousness, Intelligence & Memory in the More-Than-Human-World(4:18) We Are Grass Apes(5:41) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(6:34) The Networked Intelligence of Forests(7:45) The Earth in Full Song(8:46) The Practice of Listening(10:11) Escaping the Screen: Real Connections in the Classroom(11:35) The True Cost of AI(12:11) Transforming Ourselves(14:23) Silence Without Expectation(15:32) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

What if the defining revolution of Earth's history wasn't led by animals or humans, but by flowers? Are we truly individuals, or are our bodies and minds just walking ecosystems?Our guest today is David George Haskell, a biologist who has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories.(0:00) How Flowers Made Our WorldThe incredible ancient history of flowers on Earth(4:56) Contemplating the SmallExpanding our world by restricting our gaze(14:30) The Illusion of IndividualityWhy atomism is false and interconnectedness is the foundation of life(26:08) We Are Grass ApesThe evolutionary origins of humans and our dietary dependence on grass(33:32) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(38:55) The Networked Intelligence of ForestsHow trees communicate and share resources beneath the soil(44:00) The Earth in Full SongTracing the sonic history of our planet(51:08) The Practice of ListeningWhy tuning in to the natural world is crucial for our survival(1:01:21) Silence Without ExpectationSitting with nature without demanding progress or enlightenment(1:11:01) Transforming OurselvesWhy personal change matters in the fight for the climate(1:15:20) Escaping the ScreenFinding real human-to-human connection away from technology(1:16:16) The True Cost of AIThe devastating impact of data centers on our fossil fuel consumption(1:23:18) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureWhat we must preserve for the generations not yet bornEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Step into the deep time of the forest floor, where a single fallen leaf contains the history of the world, and invisible fungal networks hum with ancient conversations. Biologist and acclaimed author David George Haskell reveals a staggering truth: we are completely dependent on the botanical world, and our belief in strict human individuality is a biological illusion.Haskell has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories. (0:00) How Flowers Made Our World(1:33) Networked Connection is the Foundation of Life(2:00) Contemplating the Small(4:07) Consciousness, Intelligence & Memory in the More-Than-Human-World(4:18) We Are Grass Apes(5:41) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(6:34) The Networked Intelligence of Forests(7:45) The Earth in Full Song(8:46) The Practice of Listening(10:11) Escaping the Screen: Real Connections in the Classroom(11:35) The True Cost of AI(12:11) Transforming Ourselves(14:23) Silence Without Expectation(15:32) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Step into the deep time of the forest floor, where a single fallen leaf contains the history of the world, and invisible fungal networks hum with ancient conversations. Biologist and acclaimed author David George Haskell reveals a staggering truth: we are completely dependent on the botanical world, and our belief in strict human individuality is a biological illusion.Haskell has spent much of his life training himself to see the universal within the infinitesimally small. He's famously sat for a year in a single square meter of Tennessee's forest, a mandala experience that revealed the deep history of the world through a single fallen leaf. He's a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken, and he received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees.His work often focuses on what he calls the unwaged labor of the natural world, the complex biological communities that sustain our planet without a monetary ledger. And his latest book is How Flowers Made Our World. In it, he argues that we are essentially grass apes dependent on the ancient innovations of flowering plants for two-thirds of our daily calories. (0:00) How Flowers Made Our World(1:33) Networked Connection is the Foundation of Life(2:00) Contemplating the Small(4:07) Consciousness, Intelligence & Memory in the More-Than-Human-World(4:18) We Are Grass Apes(5:41) Memories of His Childhood in Paris & Wild Orchids(6:34) The Networked Intelligence of Forests(7:45) The Earth in Full Song(8:46) The Practice of Listening(10:11) Escaping the Screen: Real Connections in the Classroom(11:35) The True Cost of AI(12:11) Transforming Ourselves(14:23) Silence Without Expectation(15:32) A Sensory Legacy for the FutureEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

3-28-26: Contemplating the Passion- St. Leo by

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea revisit 1 Corinthians 13 following Svea's weekend sermon—looking beyond its reputation as a wedding passage to what Paul was actually addressing in a deeply dysfunctional church. What emerges is a clear picture of spiritual maturity shaped by love.Svea shares how her understanding of the passage grew as she studied it, alongside a six-stage framework of spiritual growth—discovering, learning, doing, contemplating, becoming, and loving—and the experience many encounter as “the wall,” where faith can feel uncertain or stalled. Rather than signaling failure, this season may be an invitation to deeper, more lasting transformation.The conversation also names a tension many feel: much of church culture emphasizes learning and doing, while the deeper, more inward work of formation often goes unexplored. Through practical examples like patience, Rick and Svea show the movement from something we try to practice to something that becomes part of who we are as we follow Jesus. Topics discussed in this episode:00:00 — Intro01:07 — Introducing the sermon on 1 Corinthians 13.01:14 — Svea's initial reaction to preaching the Love Chapter.02:36 — The true context of 1 Cor. 13: love as a recipe for a dysfunctional church, not a wedding poem.06:11 — What was left on the cutting room floor (tongues, knowledge ceasing, preview of Rick's next sermon).08:10 — Paul's character: the tension between his perceived harshness and writing the most beautiful words about love.10:41 — The opening sermon illustration: love that is imperfect but genuine vs. flawless but loveless.12:53 — Introduction to the Spiritual Growth Framework.12:57 — Stages 1–3: Discovering, Learning, and Doing.17:41 — The Wall: what it is, what causes it, and why it's not a punishment.23:41 — Stage 4: Contemplating (and why the church has an allergy to it).25:16 — Stage 5: Becoming (motivation shifting from obligation to identity).27:30 — Stage 6: Loving (virtue becoming instinctive, not intentional).29:56 — Practical walkthrough of all six stages using patience as the example.

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This week begins a new 5 week series and a deep dive into the meaning of the Cross. This will be an enriching empowering experience that will open doors to deeper encounters with Jesus. 

Week 2 of a 5 week series. This weeks message explores the important theme of blood sacrifice when understanding the cross of Jesus. This message unpacks another angle of the cross, and what His blood sacrifice means for our daily lives.

Week 3 of Contemplating the Cross - This week we explore how Jesus' work on the cross defeated the "powers" that have wrecked our world. We discover the power of the cross and what it means for our everyday lives, especially in the face of personal and global pain, evil and death.

Week 4 of Contemplating the Cross. This week is all about Substitutionary Love of God. "God does not love us because Christ died for us; Christ died for us because God loved us"

Contemplating death is the fastest way to start truly living. Ancient warriors meditated on death before every battle—full commitment, no fear.Put big rocks in first, then sand settles around them. Small things first, you can't fit everything. Awareness "I will die" clarifies what matters. Jesus walking on water—disciple sinks, Jesus says "you have little faith." Faith lets you work with uncertainty. When I do jiu-jitsu, there's no insecurity—just full presence. Time warps when you flow with the rhythm. Your intuition processes millions of bits simultaneously. Cleanse your heart first.Early bedtime, journaling, meditation, exercise, healthy food, self-reflection, gratitude—do all of them. The eternal Tao cannot be spoken. Live each day as if you have both forever and no time at all.Listen if you're ready to consider the hard things. Your awareness of mortality creates urgency without anxiety.Get The 1.6:1 Ratio System: https://go.justinegliskis.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=book_funnelEmail: hey@justinegliskis.com to get in contact with meDiscover a podcast designed for entrepreneurs and solopreneurs navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, offering insights on stress management, health and wellness, and overcoming imposter syndrome, while emphasizing work-life balance, energy alignment, and inner peace; explore topics like burnout recovery, business automation, scaling a business, business growth strategies, client management, mental resilience, overcoming anxiety, and achieving clearer thinking for sustainable success, using the blade of awareness, solving emotional dysfunction and unveiling the trickster within. Experience transformative solitude for entrepreneurs who seek to overcome loneliness while embracing spiritual isolation as a pathway to energy alignment and emotional clarity; learn to thrive alone and awaken in solitude through purposeful mental reset practices that cultivate an abundance mindset and build emotional resilience rooted in inner peace and deep self-inquiry, enabling mindful business growth through productivity that flows from peace rather than pressure, offering essential burnout recovery and healing alone strategies with specialized alignment coaching focused on deep listening skills that unlock success in silence and develop a resilient entrepreneur mindset capable of sustainable achievement.

Harper Grace is forever her father's daughter on “if daddy says no.” The Texas native finds herself caught between two men who hold her heart: the one who raised her and the one who pursued her. Contemplating the consequences of choosing one over the other, while acknowledging their similarities, she pleads for patience as she seeks her father's blessing on a coming-of-age track rooted in real-life vulnerability, not storybook endings. “if daddy says no” was written by Harper Grace, Kyle Schlienger, and Scott Stepakoff; and produced by Cooper Bascom."'if daddy says no' was written during a season where I thought I could run away and fall in love on my own terms. I believed love meant choosing freely, without looking back - but internally, I felt a deep push and pull. I was raised in a family where tradition matters, where respect matters, and where my relationship with my father has always been rooted in love, protection, and trust. His "yes" has always meant something to me. This song lives in the tension between wanting to make the right decision for yourself and not tearing down everything else around you in the process. It's about choosing long-term values over short-term emotion, and realizing that love isn't just about who you fall for - it's about who you become and what you're willing to protect."Harper Grace's burgeoning career has already seen her perform twice on national television on NBC'S Today Show, collect 17 million global streams, and co-write a song she recorded that landed a sync placement in a Netflix film in 2025 ("Getaway"). She has opened for many incredible artists, including OneRepublic, Dylan Scott, Maddie & Tae, Nelly, and Walker Hayes. She has performed at NFL, MLB, NBA, and MLS games. She has been featured by NPR, Taste of Country, and US Weekly. And she has released songs with Kelsey Hart, Mason Ramsey, and Franklin Jonas. Harper's songwriting abilities, vocal prowess, and engaging personality have and continue to propel her rise. “if daddy says no" is currently at Country radioBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Contemplating questions based on unusual experiences.

Hour 2 for 3/9/26 Ed Morrissey and Brooke Taylor pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (1:00). Then, author Peter Giersch covers his new book Talking of Michelangelo (25:41), finding God in popular culture (31:12), and the Last Judgment (40:45). Link: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/talking-of-michelangelo/?srsltid=AfmBOoqijzcbcj9DaSOHn24wVV_snVvSS77w6XUMOkaJ0X9IIxPHkY72

Resources and Links* Join Venus & Mars, a 3-month alchemical immersion to rekindle your inner flame and fall back in love with your life, starting on March 2, 2026 here* Support the podcast on Substack here* Book a reading with Jonathan here* Apply for a mentorship with Jonathan here* Join the waitlist for Venus & Mars, a 3-month alchemical immersion to rekindle your inner flame and fall back in love with your life here* Try the breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free here_______Have you ever felt like your muse is working you overtime? That ideas continue streaming even when you're well past your ability to execute them?My guest today is the brilliant guide Verena Borell. She's no stranger to the experience of burnout, which she experienced at multiple junctures in her journey.Her Venus in Aries placement wouldn't let her resign to these patterns, though. Through continued reflection and experimentation, Verena created her unique blend of evolutionary astrology, somatic experiencing, and other modalities to heal herself and teach her clients to soften and slow down.This conversation is fresh and brilliant. I hope Verena's generous share of her journey inspires you and reminds you that you're not alone if these patterns are present for you, too.Connect with Verena:Website: https://www.verenaborell.com/enWeekly Newsletter: https://verenaborell.myflodesk.com/newsletter-htsSoul & Soma Podcast: https://www.verenaborell.com/podcastSubstack Creating My Full-Body-Yes-Life: https://myfullbodyyeslife.substack.com/  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonathankoeofficial.substack.com/subscribe

55 months in combat. Three Iraq deployments. Countless missions in Mosul. And when it was over… he didn't want to come home.In this Urban Valor Podcast interview, JayR McIntyre opens up about surviving 55 months in combat, losing over 20 soldiers, being issued a body bag, and battling severe PTSD after returning home. This is a powerful United States Army combat story about survival, mental health, and the reality of war.JayR grew up in gang culture in Long Beach before joining the U.S. Army after time in jail. He deployed to Iraq three times, served during some of the deadliest years in Mosul, and ran hundreds of combat missions. But what nearly killed him wasn't the enemy...it was survivor's guilt and the mental weight of coming home.In this episode, he discusses:• 55 months in combat• Iraq War missions in Mosul• Losing brothers in battle• Being issued a body bag before deployment• Contemplating suicide four times• PTSD in the military• Survivor's guilt• Life after deployment• Becoming “The Hood Motivator”This is the truth about combat trauma, military mental health, and rebuilding your life after the battlefield.If you're a veteran struggling with PTSD, you are not alone.

In this week's episode of the Reformed Journal Podcast, the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Sara Kay Mooney about her poem “Contemplating the Redactions in the Newly Released Epstein Files.” Sara Kay is a writer based in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she lives with her partner and three children. Her writing has appeared in Earth & Altar, The Charlotte Observer, Mockingbird, and Bustle, among other publications. A former librarian and middle school teacher, she helps manage communications for a global nonprofit. In her spare time, she curates a weekly poetry reflection on Substack during Advent and Lent and shares poetry recommendations on Instagram.

Brother Luke Harriman shared these thoughts on the impact of contemplating the cross. If we allow God to lead us, He will walk us through seven phases in our attitude toward our sin that will result in a transformed life, lived to His glory.

In a season of loss, how does absence offer a greater understanding of presence? This week, Terry Tempest Williams brings us into her love affair with Utah's Great Salt Lake, a place that nourishes twelve million migrating birds, bison herds, and deep-rooted human communities, and which is now in retreat. Contemplating how we might be in service to this dying lake, Terry summons us to be present with the losses in the landscape. Read the story. Discover our latest print edition, Volume 6: Seasons.Photo by Christina Seely

What happens when the people meant to protect you become the ones you have to run from?In this raw and deeply personal episode of the Rollercoaster Podcast, I sit down with Willie Wolfgramm to uncover a story of survival that most people wouldn't make it out of. Willie takes us inside the darkest corners of his past: being thrown down stairs by a drunken stepfather, being chased through a field by a truck, and the crushing weight of a culture that told him showing emotion was a fatal weakness.We dive deep into the day he lost his mother to cancer at 17 and the decade-long spiral into addiction and homelessness that followed. This conversation is about childhood abuse, grief, the cycle of trauma, and the miracle of finding a path forward when you've hit absolute rock bottom.If you've ever felt like you weren't enough, Willie's transformation is your wake-up call.Watch now and share this with someone who needs to feel less alone.Key Moments:0:00 I Watched Him Beat My Mother4:05 The Beliefs I Had to Unlearn6:40 My Earliest Memory of Abuse9:04 Running Away to Survive Another Day11:08 Chased Down by a Truck in a Field13:59 Contemplating the Road to End the Pain18:51 Breaking the Cycle with My Own Kids21:29 How Childhood Trauma Shows Up in Marriage24:58 Meeting Wayne: What a Real Man Looks Like28:45 Moving in While My Mom Fought Stage 4 Cancer32:36 Your Mom Passed Away This Morning34:54 Walking into a House That Felt Cold38:09 Just Keep Moving. Don't Show Emotion.42:49 The Spiral into Drugs and Alcohol46:03 Finally Loving the Man in the MirrorGuest Info:IG: @willie.wolfgramm (https://www.instagram.com/willie.wolfgramm/)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willie-wolfgramm-a95127a4

On the show today, we discuss items that you have rediscovered that turned out to be very valuable, we check in with John Flynn again on the Guthrie case, and have you retired? If so, any advice you'd pass along to someone contemplating retirement?

(Gaia House)

(Gaia House)

Contemplating the death of a loved one is a very difficult thing to do, but a necessary one for finances and family members. The ability to have uncomfortable conversations about our mortality, and the consequences it may have on others, is something we cannot avoid and can get help with. FOX's Tonya J. Powers speaks with Lori Friedman, founder of 'The Love Policy' and insurance industry veteran, who says having those uncomfortable conversations is a very important expression of love. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge)

Could Eagles stud offensive lineman Landon Dickerson be contemplating retirement at just 27? The WIP Afternoon Show breaks it down — what it could mean for the team and why this conversation is heating up. Plus, special guest Nick Kostos joins the show for his take.

Marissa wants to take her 7-month-old and leave her husband who admits to being a drunk and a cheater throughout their marriage. Call 1-800-DR-LAURA / 1-800-375-2872 or make an appointment at DrLaura.comFollow me on social media:Facebook.com/DrLauraInstagram.com/DrLauraProgramYouTube.com/DrLauraJoin My Family!!Receive my Weekly Newsletter + 20% off my Marriage 101 course & 25% off Merch! Sign up now, it's FREE!Each week you'll get new articles, featured emails from listeners, special event invitations, early access to my Dr. Laura Designs Store benefiting Children of Fallen Patriots, and MORE! Sign up at DrLaura.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Culture Friday John Stonestreet covers social media bans, the doctrine of hell, and the new media landscape. Plus Collin Garbarino reviews The Perfect Neighbor documentary, Peter Mead reflects on the Incarnation, and the Friday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from I Witness: The Long Shore: A faith-based audio drama that brings history to life. iwitnesspod.comFrom Ridge Haven Camp in North Carolina and Iowa. Winter Camp starts December 29th. Registration open at ridgehaven.orgAnd from His Words Abiding in You, a Podcast where listeners memorize Bible verses in each episode. His Words Abiding in You, on all podcast apps.