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OA1273 - On June 23, 2026, eight people were sentenced in DOJ's first so-called “Antifa” terrorism prosecution by federal judge Reed O'Connor in the Northern District of Texas to a combined 450 years in federal prison for their participation in a protest held at the Prarieland ICE detention facility on July 4th, 2025. Six of these defendants were charged with what amounted to being present at (or in the vicinity of) the protest, and one who wasn't even there received 30 years for moving a box of First Amendment-protected publications. In this continuing coverage of one of the most unjust criminal prosecutions of the second Trump administration, Matt goes deep on the government's case to show just how shoddy the “material support for terrorism” charges really were, and how DOJ used a few text messages, some consumer fireworks shot off on the 4th of July far from any people or property, and $4805.95 in property damage to engineer sentencing enhancements which virtually guaranteed that these protesters would receive harsher punishments than many defendants in the federal system charged with far more serious offenses. What does all of this mean for the future of dissent in the U.S., especially given the national security memo which promised heightened investigation and prosecution of “anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, [ ]anti-Christianity… and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality” after the assassination of Charlie Kirk? Then in today's footnote: An Arizona appeals court takes on one man's truly contemptible email address. OA 1252: “Peaceful Protestors Are Facing Decades in Prison - Inside the Prairieland Trial” (OA interview with Defense Committee member and attorney Xavier de Janon) 18 U.S.C. § 2339A (“Material support” statute) Full docket in U.S. v. Arnold et al — CourtListener Meet the Defendants (Prairieland Support Committee website) First Superseding Indictment Second Superseding Indictment Jury Verdict Benjamin Song — Rule 29 Motion Maricela Rueda — Rule 29/33 Motion Benjamin “Champagne” Song's statement at sentencing (6/23/2026) Defense court-documents hub Commans v. Dunbar, Arizona Court of Appeals #CA-CV 25-0256 (2/6/2026) Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do!
We're more connected than ever, yet, we've never been lonelier. We sit down with neuroscientist Dr. Ben Rein, author of Why Brains Need Friends, to look at what isolation does to the brain and body, why we badly underestimate our own social skills, and how to build real connection back into ordinary life. The conversation opens 45,000 years ago, with a healed bone that points to one of the earliest signs of human caregiving. From there it moves to the present: why "rejection hurts because it used to kill," how chronic loneliness raises cortisol and inflammation, and why regular social connection lowers the risk of dementia, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. In this episode: The 45,000-year-old skeleton (Shanidar 1) that points to the origins of human caregiving and friendship Why "rejection hurts because it used to kill," and how that ancient circuitry still runs in the modern brain What chronic loneliness does to cortisol, inflammation, and long-term disease risk The research on solitary confinement and why isolation tracks with higher mortality How regular social connection lowers the risk of dementia, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression The commuter-train experiment that shows strangers want to connect far more than we expect Introverts vs extroverts: the "plant watering" model for finding your own social dose The social diet: why a healthy social life, like a healthy plate, needs variety Why digital interaction flattens the social cues your brain evolved to read The Dunbar number, the loss of "third places," and the young men's loneliness epidemic One small, science-backed thing to try this week Dr. Ben Rein is a neuroscientist, science communicator, and author of Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection (Penguin Random House). He is chief science officer of the Mind Science Foundation, an adjunct lecturer at Stanford University, and a clinical assistant professor at SUNY Buffalo. His research focuses on the neuroscience of social interaction, and he teaches neuroscience to more than 1 million followers online. Resources: Why Brains Need Friends (book) Dr. Ben Rein Our 2026 Brain Health Retreat Hosted by Drs. Ayesha & Dean Sherzai Subscribe to The Synapse (free weekly newsletter): thebraindocs.com/newsletter Follow @TheBrainDocs on Instagram
Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Substackhttps://substack.com/@theoccultrejects?r=7auau0&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageCash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsPart 1 focuses on the drum as an ancient technology of altered consciousness. The argument is not that every beat causes trance, or that neuroscience has proven spirits. The stronger argument is that rhythm enters the human organism through hearing, motor prediction, breath, movement, attention, emotion, expectation, culture, and social synchrony. The drum becomes powerful when sound, body, group, ritual frame, and meaning converge. These sources support the archaeology, neuroscience, EEG research, shamanic studies, possession studies, Indigenous and culturally specific drum traditions, ritual theory, placebo and meaning-response research, ceremonial magic, and modern witchcraft material used in the episode.Core Academic and Scientific SourcesHuels, Emma R., Hyoungkyu Kim, UnCheol Lee, Tirsa Bel-Bahar, Ana V. Colmenero, Alexandra Nelson, Stefanie Blain-Moraes, George A. Mashour, and Richard E. Harris. “Neural Correlates of the Shamanic State of Consciousness.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 15 (2021): 610466.Gordon, Yoel, Golan Karvat, Noa Dagan, and Ayelet N. Landau. “Neural Tracking at Theta Predicts Drumming-Induced Altered States of Consciousness.” Scientific Reports 16, no. 1 (2026): Article 10204.Aparicio-Terrés, R., et al. “The Neurobiology of Altered States of Consciousness Induced by Drumming and Other Rhythmic Sound Patterns.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2025.Neher, Andrew. “Auditory Driving Observed with Scalp Electrodes in Normal Subjects.” Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 13 (1961): 449–451.Neher, Andrew. “A Physiological Explanation of Unusual Behavior in Ceremonies Involving Drums.” Human Biology 34, no. 2 (1962): 151–160.Maurer, R., V. K. Kumar, L. Woodside, and R. J. Pekala. “Phenomenological Experience in Response to Monotonous Drumming and Hypnotizability.” American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 40, no. 2 (1997): 130–145. Use for monotonous drumming, subjective altered experience, imagery, absorption, and hypnotizability.Maxfield, Melinda C. “Effects of Rhythmic Drumming on EEG and Subjective Experience.” PhD diss., Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, 1990. Use as older supporting context on drumming, EEG, imagery, body-image changes, and subjective altered experience. Do not make this the main scientific proof; use it as background.Nozaradan, Sylvie, Isabelle Peretz, and André Mouraux. “Tagging the Neuronal Entrainment to Beat and Meter.” The Journal of Neuroscience 31, no. 28 (2011): 10234–10240. Use for EEG evidence that the brain can track beat and meter. This supports the claim that the brain does not merely hear rhythm as background sound; it can represent rhythmic structure in measurable ways.Nozaradan, Sylvie. “Exploring How Musical Rhythm Entrains Brain Activity with Electroencephalogram Frequency-Tagging.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 369, no. 1658 (2014). Use as broader rhythm/EEG entrainment support. This helps explain frequency-tagging, beat tracking, meter, neural entrainment, and the measurable relationship between rhythmic structure and brain activity.Thaut, Michael H., Gerald C. McIntosh, and Volker Hoemberg. “Neurobiological Foundations of Neurologic Music Therapy: Rhythmic Entrainment and the Motor System.” Frontiers in Psychology 5 (2015). Use for rhythm as motor-system timing information. This supports the claim that a beat can become bodily instruction, not just sound for the ear. Especially useful when discussing rhythmic auditory stimulation, motor planning, gait, entrainment, and the auditory-motor bridge.Ross, Jessica M., John R. Iversen, and Ramesh Balasubramaniam. “Time Perception for Musical Rhythms: Sensorimotor Perspectives on Entrainment, Simulation, and Prediction.” 2022. Use for rhythm, timing, prediction, sensorimotor entrainment, and the way musical rhythm interacts with time perception.Hove, Michael J., and Jane L. Risen. “It's All in the Timing: Interpersonal Synchrony Increases Affiliation.” Social Cognition 27, no. 6 (2009): 949–960. Use for synchrony and social bonding. This helps support the group-body argument: moving or acting in time with others can increase affiliation.Wiltermuth, Scott S., and Chip Heath. “Synchrony and Cooperation.” Psychological Science 20, no. 1 (2009): 1–5. Use for the claim that synchronized movement can increase cooperation and attachment among participants.Tarr, Bronwyn, Jacques Launay, and Robin I. M. Dunbar. “Music and Social Bonding: ‘Self-Other' Merging and Neurohormonal Mechanisms.” Frontiers in Psychology 5 (2014): 1096. Use for music, synchrony, bonding, endorphin/social mechanisms, and why group rhythm can feel like more than private listening.Fancourt, Daisy, Rosie Perkins, Sara Ascenso, Louise Atkins, Fatima Kilfeather, and Aaron Williamon. “Effects of Group Drumming Interventions on Anxiety, Depression, Social Resilience and Inflammatory Immune Response among Mental Health Service Users.” PLOS ONE 11, no. 3 (2016): e0151136. Use for modern group-drumming research showing psychological and physiological effects, including anxiety, depression, social resilience, wellbeing, and inflammatory immune response. Use carefully: this does not make group drumming a cure-all. It supports the more grounded claim that embodied rhythm and group participation can affect mood, social connection, and body chemistry.Bittman, Barry B., et al. “Composite Effects of Group Drumming Music Therapy on Modulation of Neuroendocrine-Immune Parameters in Normal Subjects.” Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 7, no. 1 (2001): 38–47. Use as older supporting material on group drumming and neuroendocrine-immune measures. Keep secondary. Fancourt is cleaner for the main script body.Archaeology and Deep History of DrumsLawergren, Bo. “Neolithic Drums in China.” In Music Archaeology in China. 2006. Use for clay drums in Neolithic China and the deep-history claim that drums are not just poetic symbols of antiquity. They appear in the archaeological record as instruments tied to early sound-making, ceremony, and social order.Both, Arnd Adje. “Music Archaeology: Some Methodological and Theoretical Considerations.” Use as general support for why ancient instruments should be treated as ritual and social evidence, not merely decorative objects.Anthropology, Ethnomusicology, Ritual, and TranceRouget, Gilbert. Music and Trance: A Theory of the Relations Between Music and Possession. Translated by Brunhilde Biebuyck. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985. Essential source. Use for the caution that music does not mechanically or universally cause trance. Rouget helps keep the argument academically serious by emphasizing culture, ritual frame, meaning, and expectation.Becker, Judith. Deep Listeners: Music, Emotion, and Trancing. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2004. Use for music-linked trancing, emotional absorption, religious experience, and culturally trained ways of listening. This supports the “hearing versus entering” distinction.McNeill, William H. Keeping Together in Time: Dance and Drill in Human History. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1995. Use for marching, dance, drill, muscular bonding, synchronized movement, and rhythm as social glue. This is useful both for Part 1's group-body material and Part 2's war-drum material.Eliade, Mircea. Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1964. Use carefully. Eliade's phrase “archaic techniques of ecstasy” is powerful, but the episode should also note that later scholarship criticizes his tendency to universalize shamanism.Winkelman, Michael. Shamanism: A Biopsychosocial Paradigm of Consciousness and Healing. 2nd ed. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 2010. Use for shamanism as a ritual technology involving altered consciousness, healing, social integration, symbolism, and body-brain processes.Winkelman, Michael. “Shamanism and Psychedelics: A Biogenetic Structuralist Paradigm of Ecopsychology.” European Journal of Ecopsychology 4 (2013): 90–115. Use as supplemental background on shamanism, altered consciousness, and comparative models of trance and visionary states.Kontouli, Athanasia, Michael J. Hove, Alexandre Lehmann, Peter Vuust, and Peter E. Keller. “The Rhythms of Trance: Cultural Phenomenology and Neural Mechanisms of Music-Induced Lewis-Williams, David. The Mind in the Cave: Consciousness and the Origins of Art. London: Thames & Hudson, 2002. Use cautiously for altered states, entoptic imagery, ritual vision, and the relationship between neuropsychology and symbolic culture.Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2026. Use for the bridge between cultural phenomenology and neuroscience. This supports the point that music-induced trance is not only acoustics; it involves body, training, expectation, culture, environment, and interpretation.Tart, Charles T., ed. Altered States of Consciousness. New York: Wiley, 1969. Use as classic altered-state background.Hultkrantz, Åke. “The Drum in Shamanism.” Use for classic comparative material on the shamanic drum, especially Arctic, SiberiAlso want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A
Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of all charges – the judge said prison is “inevitable”. A jury of seven men and five women had considered its verdicts for more than nine hours over two days, and reached a verdict just after lunch on Monday. The 63-year-old former MP had pleaded not guilty to 18 offences including one count of rape. His wife Eleanor Donaldson found guilty of all charges including five of aiding and abetting – she was facing a trial of the facts and cannot be convicted or go to prison. Belfast Telegraph reporter Kyle Frazer joins Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of 18 historical sex offences, including one count of rape, 13 of indecent assault and four of gross indecency. The offences were against two women when they were children. His wife Eleanor Donaldson has been found to have committed the acts relating to offences of aiding and abetting following a trial of the facts. The leaders of the UUP and TUV immediately called for the Donaldsons to be stripped of their titles. Jeffrey Donaldson has been taken to Maghaberry prison to start his sentence. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris, Sam McBride, and Suzanne Breen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is dúiche Éireannach a chaith beagnach trí chéad bliana faoi thionchar na Lochlannach é Loch Garman. Sa bhliain 1170 tháinig na hAngla-Normannaigh chuig an chontae agus d'fhág lorg ann a mhaireann go dtí an lá atá inniu ann – an Béarla, cuir i gcás. Ní nach ionadh, glactar leis go minic, sa stairseanchas, agus sa stair scríofa ag an lucht léinn gur contae gallda amach is amach a bhí ann ó shin. Contae is ea é nach samhlaítear le Gaeltacht nó leis an nGaeilge. Léiríonn taighde gurbh ann do na Gaeil agus a dteanga sa chontae i gcónaí áfach. Labhair Ciarán Dunbar leis an Dr Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich, Príomhoifigeach Logainmneacha leis an mBrainse Logainmneach, comh-údar Gaelic Wexford: 1400 – 1660, agus thar rud ar bith eile, fear de bhunadh Bhaile Loch Garman. Sa chéad eagrán eile den phodchraoladh seo, gheobhaidh muid amach faoi cén chineál Gaeilge a bhíodh á labhairt, i nGaeltacht Loch Garman. Is ball den trust project é Seachtain agus ba mhian linn go mbeidh muinín agaibhse ionainn. Is féidir ár mbeartas eitice a léamh ag independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tim leads the community through a contemplative exploration of vulnerability and intimacy, picking up the thread from Doug's recent teaching on the significant self. Opening with a prayer to lift the heaviness of the season, Tim moves from Paul's thorn in the flesh to the myth of Achilles — reading the famous heel as the humble, grounded place where we meet our own finitude and our shadow. He traces the etymology of vulnerable (the capacity to be wounded), weighs the doctrine of divine impassibility against the image of a suffering, woundable Creator, and draws on Richard Rohr and C.S. Lewis to argue that we become only through letting others change us. Turning to the research of Reis and Shaver, he frames intimacy as a reciprocal four-step loop — perceiving, understanding, validating, caring — that resolves not in fusion but in cared-for difference. The heart of the session rests on the one place in the Law of One where Ra speaks of intimacy between two entities: our Creator-to-Creator relationship with the Logos. Tim closes with Dunbar's number and a fractal model of how intimacy scales, the green-ray "razor's edge" of staying open while declining to be harmed, and an original parable — The Parable of the Crossing — on surrender as the only way across the deep. Members contribute reflections on humility in counseling and parenting, vulnerability in a season of relocation, and an intimate encounter of being fully seen. Key References Ra, Session 65.17 — Our relationship to the Logos (sun) as Creator-to-Creator rather than parent-to-child; widening the field of "eyeshot" across the one infinite creation. (The single use of "intimacy" between two entities in the Law of One.) Ra, Session 32.14 — Green-ray activation is always vulnerable to the yellow or orange ray of possession; the four possession distortions (fear/desire of possessing and being possessed) that deactivate green-ray energy transfer. 2 Corinthians 12 — Paul's thorn in the flesh; power made perfect in weakness. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5) — Eight blessings read as corresponding to the eight densities and to aspects of an open heart. The myth of Achilles — Thetis, the River Styx, and the heel as the site of shadow and embodiment. Richard Rohr — Jesus as the naked, vulnerable infant; becoming through relationship. C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves — To love at all is to be vulnerable; the locked-away heart. Harry Reis & Phillip Shaver — The interpersonal process model of intimacy. Robin Dunbar — Dunbar's number (~150) and the nested layers of social bonding. Erich Fromm — "I love the whole world through you." David Hawkins, Letting Go — Surrender and release. Brené Brown — Vulnerability as willingness to be seen without guarantee of outcome. Original parable: The Parable of the Crossing (Tim).
Belfast Telegraph's Sam McBride went to East Belfast to ask people blocking a road – albeit peacefully – why they were protesting. That led to him being assaulted, challenged to a fight, intimidated and sworn at. The fallout from last week's riots continues with 35 arrests, and 23 people charged. Police have described the events as “inexcusable lawlessness”. Sam McBride joined Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join us in this episode as world-renowned British anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar sits down to discuss the evolutionary, cognitive, and neurobiological foundations of human relationships. Best known for developing Dunbar's Number, Professor Dunbar has spent decades studying how the human brain shapes the size and structure of our social networks, offering groundbreaking insights into friendship, community, and social behavior. Professor Dunbar is Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford and a member of the Social and Evolutionary Neuroscience Research Group. His research explores the mechanisms behind social bonding in both humans and primates, helping explain why we form relationships the way we do and how social connections influence well-being, cooperation, and group success… This discussion covers: The origins and meaning of Dunbar's Number Why humans can only maintain a limited number of meaningful relationships What happens when human group size increases The evolutionary role of friendship and community Why are human relationships structured the way they are – and what does science reveal about building stronger communities? Listen in as Professor Dunbar shares decades of research on the social brain and the hidden architecture of human connection! Connect with Robin Dunbar: University of Oxford Profile ResearchGate Publications LinkedIn
The Lord Is My… - Psalm 23 Paul Dunbar, Student Pastor Prayer Requests: https://fbco.wufoo.com/forms/m1a1pr9e0v0l9b9/ Subscribe to our Email Messenger (Weekly Newsletter): www.fbcopelika.com/messenger Guest Registration: https://fbcopelika.com/guest-registration/ Online Giving: https://www.fbcopelika.com/give Serve: https://fbcopelika.com/serve/ Sermon Archives: https://www.youtube.com/ OR fbcomedia.com.
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In the latest EMPOWER podcast episode, Dr. Jacob Lang leads a discussion with Dr. Dunbar and Dr. Garlich on how to integrate drops, lenses, and lifestyle considerations into a cohesive presbyopia strategy. From managing patient expectations to selecting the right modality, or combination of modalities, the conversation highlights practical approaches for improving satisfaction and long-term success.
Violence sparked by a knife attack in Belfast continues. A Sudanese man has been charged over that incident. Twelve police officers have been injured as they confront rioters and attempts to target minorities. The PSNI deployed a water cannon in Newtownabbey as they were pelted with bricks. Meanwhile a health trusts says it is ‘horrified' after a nurse ‘with different skin colour' was chased into hospital by masked men. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Kevin Scott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today, extra police are brought into Belfast and public transport is closing early, after a night of violence.The violence erupted after a knife attack in the city on Monday. The suspect has appeared in court charged with attempted murder, threatening to kill an NHS radiographer, and possession of a knife. Hadi Alodid, 30, was remanded in custody for four weeks and is due to re-appear in court via video-link in July.The family of Stephen Ogilvy, the victim in Monday night's knife attack in Belfast, say "unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward”. Meanwhile the Chief Constable of the PSNI has sworn to prosecute those involved in spreading misinformation online.Adam and Chris are joined Ciarán Dunbar, BelTel podcast presenter, to discuss.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren and Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Would you rekindle a friendship with someone you considered dead to you? In this episode, our guest Pete O'Dell shares the story of reconnecting with a once-inseparable friend after years of silence and resentment and why sending one uncomfortable email changed everything. Pete also shares why he does a yearly friendship assessment, why the maximum number of friends you can have is 150, and why making friends as an adult is so difficult. ABOUT GUEST Pete O'Dell is a retired tech executive, author of “Dying for Friendship and Community,” and co-founder of Conexus, a platform designed to help people build meaningful real-world friendships (https://getconexus.com). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:30) Meet Pete O'Dell (1:02) Rekindling a Broken Friendship (2:49) The Email That Worked (3:47) Dunbar's Number Explained (5:39) Friendship Circles (6:43) Annual Friendship Assessment (8:53) Community Groups Matter (10:34) Why Making Friends Is Hard (11:28) Building Conexus (13:41) Friendship as Lifeline (15:36) Conclusion
Tharla agóidí i gcathair Bhéal Feirste aréir, agus in áiteacha eile ó thuaidh mar gheall ar eachtra inar gortaíodh fear i dtuaisceart na cathrach oíche Dé Luain.
A man believed by police to be Sudanese has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a violent incident involving a knife in north Belfast. The attack, which has been declared a ‘critical incident', happened in Kinnaird Avenue shortly after 10.30 PM last night. The victim - a man in his 40s - is in hospital in a serious condition. A video of the attack has shocked and horrified the public in Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer labeled the incident as “sickening”. A major police investigation is ongoing. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph Visuals editor Kevin Scott This episode was recorded at 12PM on Tuesday 9 June. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today, I'm joined by Dane McCarthy, founder of Club Athletic. Club Athletic (fka The Athletic Clubs) is a team-based fitness concept centered on "training squads" — small, consistent groups that train together under a dedicated coach. In this episode, we discuss building community and accountability through small-group training. We also cover: The company's recent rebrand Expanding beyond NYC to Chicago Dane's vision to reach 2K squads by 2030 Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider Website: www.clubathletic.co Contact: dane@athleticclubsgroup.com Hiring: Coaches wanted https://apply.workable.com/the-athletic-clubs/?lng=en - The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com to learn more about its smart fitness ecosystem for fitness and health facilities. Fitt Talent: https://talent.fitt.co/ Consulting: https://consulting.fitt.co/ Investments: https://capital.fitt.co/ Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:54) Current state rebranding (03:08) Squad model (04:26) Training squads differentiation (06:06) Community infrastructure (08:09) Dunbar's law (10:01) Community building at scale (12:04) Modality details (14:29) Results and consistency (18:20) Gen Z training trends (21:04) Chicago expansion (24:01) Rebrand positioning (26:37) New locations timeline (29:36) Density strategy (31:46) 2K squads by 2030 (33:26) Where to find (35:55) Conclusion
Do you feel like you are doing all the "right" activities, sending cards, popping by, doing all the things? Only to then watch a past client list with a different agent and wonder what happened. The activities aren't the problem. The intention is.In this conversation, we get into the difference between quality time and quantity time, and why the referral-based business you're trying to build runs on the second one. Years ago, Garrett's dad passed along a lesson he learned from Stephen Covey that has heavily influenced how he treats the relationships in his world. You will hear recent personal stories, as well as, get a glimpse of how this plays out in the businesses of agents we coach who are closing high volume (70 to 90 sides a year by themselves). Once again, we explore Dunbar's number 150 and how it relates to your success, and we even get into the phone-on-the-table problem killing trust before you even realize it.Buckle up, this is a wide-ranging conversation with ideas you can implement today that will turn your business around. The best part is we are talking about game changers that cost nothing but some effort on your part. Get honest about your intention before every touch, hone in on the small group of people you want to commit quantity time to, and show up without keeping score. Done right, the database stops feeling like a list to work and starts feeling like the relationships that fuel your business and your life at the same time.
Claire Sugden is the only independent MLA in Stormont. Co-opted into the assembly for east Londonderry in 2014, she served as justice minister from May 2016 to March 2017. Widely considered a ‘liberal unionist', in May 2021 she turned down an invitation from Doug Beattie to join the UUP but she says she's no “soft unionist”. But under John Burrow's leadership, could she consider joining the party now? Can liberal Unionism be revived? And besides Unionism, what else does Claire believe in? And she tells the BelTel that she wants to continue as a politician but not “at the expense of my health anymore.” Claire Sugden joined Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A betrothal feast turns to terror when the man who comes courting Lady Margaret may be the same Earl of Dunbar who was stabbed to death on the road to claim her — and a Highland prophecy that the last of her line would be the bride of death seems to be coming true.Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTRCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater” (January 02, 1978) ***WD00:47:10.839 = Nick Carter Master Detective, “Death After Dark” (February 19, 1944) ***WD01:16:26.535 = Dark Venture, “Miser” (December 09, 1946)01:46:44.791 = Weird Circle, ‘Bride of Death” (1945)02:14:12.621 = The Whistler, “Dead Man Laughed” (February 19, 1945)02:44:38.214 = Witch's Tale, “Firing Squad” (August 31, 1931) ***WD (LQ)03:10:47.939 = X Minus One, “The Castaways” (November 28, 1956)03:33:51.090 = Zero Hour, “The Strange Odyssey” (May 17, 1945) (LQ)03:51:09.995 = ABC Mystery Time, “Death Walked In” (1956-1957) ***WD04:15:57.703 = Strange Adventure, “Damage Below” (1945)04:19:33.278 = Appointment With Fear, “My Fate Cries Out” (December 04, 1976) ***WD04:47:07.133 = Arch Oboler's Plays, “Cliff” (April 29, 1939) ***WD05:16:13.771 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0682
Flutist Agnes Vass asked Bernhard a question: what if you applied the Fifth Stage of psychological safety to an orchestra?It turns out an orchestra is one of the best models we have for how high-performing teams work.(With thanks to Agnes Was, co-principal flute at the Bremerhaven Philharmonic and founder of the Body Mind Music Lab.)WHY ORCHESTRAS?Peter Drucker used orchestras constantly as a model for organisations. So has Bernhard, given his background.The reason: an orchestra of 70 to 150 musicians creates an outstanding performance in three days—often led by a conductor they have never met before. The analogies for management write themselves.---DUNBAR'S NUMBERBritish anthropologist Robin Dunbar found that humans can maintain around 150 meaningful relationships at once (his average: 148.6).The proof arrived with social media. Remember the early joy of Facebook—reconnecting with old friends? Then somewhere around 150–200, your feed filled with people you didn't really care about. Dunbar's number, demonstrated at scale.Orchestras sit right inside that number. So does W.L. Gore, the company behind Gore-Tex—they cap units at around 200 people and build a new site rather than exceed it. The belief: people at work should genuinely know each other.THE REFRAME: RELATIONAL SAFETY ISN'T FRIENDSHIPAre 140 orchestra members all good friends? No. Some are close. Some can't stand each other. And yet the best orchestras deliver extraordinary performances."The safety a good orchestra has is this: even if I don't like my colleague, I know they are committed to the highest performance, just as much as I am."Relational safety, properly understood, is built on a shared, explicit common goal—the same standard of quality, the same drive, the same dedication to practice. Not affection."If you're a flutist and you haven't practiced, every person in the audience will hear it."FUZZY GOALS vs. MOTIVATIONAL GOALSOrganisations often run on fuzzy goals—"increase turnover by 10%." That's like telling an orchestra to finish five minutes early by playing faster. Nobody is moved by it.Motivational goals are about a meaningful outcome: electrifying the audience, leaving the customer completely wowed. When everyone is committed to it, everything changes.Underneath it: a commitment to practice. Musicians practice. Most managers wing it 80% of the time. That's why Bernhard built RolePlays.ai—a place for leaders to practice the difficult conversations.DIVERSITY: HACKMAN'S ORCHESTRA RESEARCHIn the 1980s, J. Richard Hackman of Harvard studied women in orchestras. At the time, many were all-male—the Vienna Philharmonic didn't admit women until US tour pressure forced the change.What Hackman found:Below 10% women: high turnover, mobbing, sexism. Women leave.Between 10% and 33%: a hard struggle.Around 33%: an equilibrium. Men and women playing together becomes natural. Sexism drops. Performance improves. Women stay. You can even hear it—diversity changes the sound.Not only a values argument: listed companies with diverse boards significantly outperform all-male ones.THE THREE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GROWTH ZONETo bring a team into the growth zone—where breakthroughs happen—you need three things beyond relational safety: a shared, motivating sense of purpose; a genuine commitment to practice; and space for diversity.True for a 140-person orchestra. Equally true for a team of five.Jon Katzenbach put it well: what separates a high-performing team from a merely good one is that its members are committed to their own learning—and to each other's.REFERENCES:Dunbar, R. How Many Friends Does One Person Need?Hackman, J. R. Leading Teams.Katzenbach, J. R. The Wisdom of Teams.Agnes Was — Body Mind Music Lab (Instagram).LINKS: bernhardkerres.com | roleplays.ai#PsychologicalSafety #Orchestra #Leadership #Teams #Diversity
Welcome to the Irreplaceable Dental Team podcast brought to you by DAME - Dental Assisting Made Easy. A safe space to be mentored, empowered, and equipped. We are here to discuss the important topic of "forgotten mouths" - meaning our senior citizens, courtesy of Dr. Sonya Dunbar. Let's learn and stay on the grow! Please remember to subscribe, rate, and share. DAME - Dental Assisting Made Easy. We are better together!A big thank you to local Jamaican artist, Owen Pinnock, for the original music on our podcast.
Loneliness can cost you up to 20 years of healthy life. More than poor sleep. More than any supplement. And until now, there was no way to measure it.Dr. Axel Schumacher spent 25 years at the forefront of genomics and epigenetic clock research and says your social life is a more powerful longevity biomarker than anything in your bloodwork. In this episode, he walks through the Social Connectivity Value (SCV): a framework he developed to map your social network, identify the relationships that drain your energy, and turn your social health into a number you can actually track. What you'll learn:* Why loneliness can cost 12–20 years of healthy life (men are hit harder than women) and why the “smoking 15 cigarettes a day” statistic doesn't change behavior without a way to measure it* How to build a sociogram using Dunbar's three layers, assign energy values to every person in your life (including the ones dragging you down), and calculate your SCV score* Why looking for a romantic partner through your close friends almost never works, and the “super connector” strategy that statistically gives you access to 150 new people from a single introductionWhat's the link between loneliness, AI companions, and living to 150? We get into all of it.Timestamps* 00:05 – Intro* 01:35 – Meet Dr. Axel Schumacher* 02:21 – From Genomics to Social Science (The Pivot)* 04:28 – How Loneliness Affects Your Health Span* 06:36 – The Loneliness Epidemic & Declining Birth Rates* 07:47 – Why Is Social Health So Hard to Measure?* 09:56 – The Holt-Lunstad Meta-Analysis Explained* 10:47 – Introducing the Social Connectivity Value (SCV)* 12:44 – The Sociogram: Mapping Your Social World* 13:13 –Building Your Sociogram: Mapping Social Connections* 14:54 – The Dunbar Layers: Your 3 Social Circles* 15:22 – The Invisible Load: Identifying Energy-Draining Relationships* 17:03 – The Invisible Load of Toxic Relationships* 20:09 – The Role of Family and Close Connections* 22:38 – What Is Your SCV Score?* 24:51 – How Your Nervous System Responds to Others* 28:08 – Tracking Your Social Life Like a Biohacker* 30:44 – Introverts vs Extroverts & Social Energy* 31:49 – AI Companions & The Future of Connection* 35:31 – Should Your Partner Be Everything?* 37:34 – Weak Ties & Super Connectors* 41:37 – The Mathematical Magic of Super Connectors* 42:57 – Rapid Fire: Social Media — Net Positive or Negative?* 43:51 – SCV vs Epigenetic Clocks: Which Matters More?* 44:59 – The Best City for Human Connection* 47:12 – One Weekly Habit to Protect Your Social HealthABOUT DR. AXEL SCHUMACHER: Longevity scientist and epigenetics researcher with over 25 years of experience, believes the most powerful biomarker for how long you live isn't in your blood it's in your relationships. After decades at the forefront of genomics and biomarker discovery, he now focuses on quantifying human connection, developing the Social Connectivity Value (SCV), a first-of-its-kind framework to measure your social network as a health metric and longevity tool.RESOURCES MENTIONED: * Website: https://www.grailmaster.com* YouTube ‘Inside the Dating Mind': https://bit.ly/4s2U2i4* Axel's Longevity Protocol: https://bit.ly/4qIL0pZ* Sociogram Preprint with DOI: https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/m6h58_v1* X: https://x.com/TheGrailmaster* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_grailmaster/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draxelschumacher/ABOUT NINA'S NOTES: Nina's Notes explores the intersection of longevity science, neuroscience, and human optimization. Hosted by Nina Patrick, PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and longevity researcher, each episode translates cutting-edge research into actionable insights for living longer, better.CONNECT WITH NINA'S NOTESNewsletter:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninapatrick/Website: https://www.ninapatrick.xyzThanks for reading Nina's Notes! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Nina's Notes at www.ninasnotes.xyz/subscribe
Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Substackhttps://substack.com/@theoccultrejects?r=7auau0&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageCash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsPart 1: The Road of RhythmPart 1 focuses on the drum as an ancient technology of altered consciousness. The argument is not that every beat causes trance, or that neuroscience has proven spirits. The stronger argument is that rhythm enters the human organism through hearing, motor prediction, breath, movement, attention, emotion, expectation, culture, and social synchrony. The drum becomes powerful when sound, body, group, ritual frame, and meaning converge. These sources support the archaeology, neuroscience, EEG research, shamanic studies, possession studies, Indigenous and culturally specific drum traditions, ritual theory, placebo and meaning-response research, ceremonial magic, and modern witchcraft material used in the episode.Core Academic and Scientific SourcesHuels, Emma R., Hyoungkyu Kim, UnCheol Lee, Tirsa Bel-Bahar, Ana V. Colmenero, Alexandra Nelson, Stefanie Blain-Moraes, George A. Mashour, and Richard E. Harris. “Neural Correlates of the Shamanic State of Consciousness.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 15 (2021): 610466. Use for the strongest modern EEG anchor. This study used high-density EEG with shamanic practitioners and controls during rest, shamanic drumming, and classical music listening. It assessed altered-state reports alongside brain measures such as power, connectivity, signal diversity, and criticality. Use carefully: the study does not prove spirits or show that drumming mechanically causes trance in everyone. It supports the more careful claim that trained practitioners entering shamanic states with drumming show measurable brain-state differences.Gordon, Yoel, Golan Karvat, Noa Dagan, and Ayelet N. Landau. “Neural Tracking at Theta Predicts Drumming-Induced Altered States of Consciousness.” Scientific Reports 16, no. 1 (2026): Article 10204. Use for the strongest updated drumming/theta/neural-tracking source. This study tested drumming at theta, delta, and alpha-rate rhythms while recording EEG, and found that stronger rhythmic neural tracking at theta was linked to stronger altered-experience reports. Use carefully: this does not mean theta equals the spirit world or that one frequency opens a portal. The serious point is that altered experience may depend partly on how strongly the nervous system tracks rhythmic stimulation.Aparicio-Terrés, R., et al. “The Neurobiology of Altered States of Consciousness Induced by Drumming and Other Rhythmic Sound Patterns.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2025. Use for the newer review literature showing that rhythmic sound is now a serious altered-consciousness research topic. This supports the opening claim that modern academia is examining drumming, rhythmic sound, absorption, relaxation, cognition, and neural activity without reducing the subject to one simple “trance frequency.” The review is especially useful for framing the field as promising but still complex.Neher, Andrew. “Auditory Driving Observed with Scalp Electrodes in Normal Subjects.” Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 13 (1961): 449–451. Use for the historical bridge between repetitive sound, EEG, auditory driving, and early scientific interest in rhythmic stimulation.Neher, Andrew. “A Physiological Explanation of Unusual Behavior in Ceremonies Involving Drums.” Human Biology 34, no. 2 (1962): 151–160. Use carefully. This is useful as an early attempt to connect ceremonial drumming and physiology, but it should be balanced with Rouget because the “drum simply causes trance” argument is too mechanical.Maurer, R., V. K. Kumar, L. Woodside, and R. J. Pekala. “Phenomenological Experience in Response to Monotonous Drumming and Hypnotizability.” American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 40, no. 2 (1997): 130–145. Use for monotonous drumming, subjective altered experience, imagery, absorption, and hypnotizability.Maxfield, Melinda C. “Effects of Rhythmic Drumming on EEG and Subjective Experience.” PhD diss., Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, 1990. Use as older supporting context on drumming, EEG, imagery, body-image changes, and subjective altered experience. Do not make this the main scientific proof; use it as background.Nozaradan, Sylvie, Isabelle Peretz, and André Mouraux. “Tagging the Neuronal Entrainment to Beat and Meter.” The Journal of Neuroscience 31, no. 28 (2011): 10234–10240. Use for EEG evidence that the brain can track beat and meter. This supports the claim that the brain does not merely hear rhythm as background sound; it can represent rhythmic structure in measurable ways.Nozaradan, Sylvie. “Exploring How Musical Rhythm Entrains Brain Activity with Electroencephalogram Frequency-Tagging.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 369, no. 1658 (2014). Use as broader rhythm/EEG entrainment support. This helps explain frequency-tagging, beat tracking, meter, neural entrainment, and the measurable relationship between rhythmic structure and brain activity.Thaut, Michael H., Gerald C. McIntosh, and Volker Hoemberg. “Neurobiological Foundations of Neurologic Music Therapy: Rhythmic Entrainment and the Motor System.” Frontiers in Psychology 5 (2015). Use for rhythm as motor-system timing information. This supports the claim that a beat can become bodily instruction, not just sound for the ear. Especially useful when discussing rhythmic auditory stimulation, motor planning, gait, entrainment, and the auditory-motor bridge.Ross, Jessica M., John R. Iversen, and Ramesh Balasubramaniam. “Time Perception for Musical Rhythms: Sensorimotor Perspectives on Entrainment, Simulation, and Prediction.” 2022. Use for rhythm, timing, prediction, sensorimotor entrainment, and the way musical rhythm interacts with time perception.Hove, Michael J., and Jane L. Risen. “It's All in the Timing: Interpersonal Synchrony Increases Affiliation.” Social Cognition 27, no. 6 (2009): 949–960. Use for synchrony and social bonding. This helps support the group-body argument: moving or acting in time with others can increase affiliation.Wiltermuth, Scott S., and Chip Heath. “Synchrony and Cooperation.” Psychological Science 20, no. 1 (2009): 1–5. Use for the claim that synchronized movement can increase cooperation and attachment among participants.Tarr, Bronwyn, Jacques Launay, and Robin I. M. Dunbar. “Music and Social Bonding: ‘Self-Other' Merging and Neurohormonal Mechanisms.” Frontiers in Psychology 5 (2014): 1096. Use for music, synchrony, bonding, endorphin/social mechanisms, and why group rhythm can feel like more than private listening.Fancourt, Daisy, Rosie Perkins, Sara Ascenso, Louise Atkins, Fatima Kilfeather, and Aaron Williamon. “Effects of Group Drumming Interventions on Anxiety, Depression, Social Resilience and Inflammatory Immune Response among Mental Health Service Users.” PLOS ONE 11, no. 3 (2016): e0151136. Use for modern group-drumming research showing psychological and physiological effects, including anxiety, depression, social resilience, wellbeing, and inflammatory immune response. Use carefully: this does not make group drumming a cure-all. It supports the more grounded claim that embodied rhythm and group participation can affect mood, social connection, and body chemistry.Bittman, Barry B., et al. “Composite Effects of Group Drumming Music Therapy on Modulation of Neuroendocrine-Immune Parameters in Normal Subjects.” Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 7, no. 1 (2001): 38–47. Use as older supporting material on group drumming and neuroendocrine-immune measures. Keep secondary. Fancourt is cleaner for the main script body.Archaeology and Deep History of DrumsLawergren, Bo. “Neolithic Drums in China.” In Music Archaeology in China. 2006. Use for clay drums in Neolithic China and the deep-history claim that drums are not just poetic symbols of antiquity. They appear in the archaeological record as instruments tied to early sound-making, ceremony, and social order.Both, Arnd Adje. “Music Archaeology: Some Methodological and Theoretical Considerations.” Use as general support for why ancient instruments should be treated as ritual and social evidence, not merely decorative objects.Anthropology, Ethnomusicology, Ritual, and TranceRouget, Gilbert. Music and Trance: A Theory of the Relations Between Music and Possession. Translated by Brunhilde Biebuyck. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985. Essential source. Use for the caution that music does not mechanically or universally cause trance. Rouget helps keep the argument academically serious by emphasizing culture, ritual frame, meaning, and expectation.Becker, Judith. Deep Listeners: MAlso want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A
Sixty years after being jailed with Ian Paisley, a veteran Free Presbyterian minister is daring his clerical colleagues to expel him. Now, the Rev Ivan Foster – himself a former DUP Assemblyman – is facing discipline for criticising Free Presbyterian ministers. A second cleric, the Rev David Linden, is also facing disciplinary measures. 83-year-old Rev Foster has publicly accused the church of breaking its own rules. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Message: NO Excuses - God Revealed Psalm 19 Paul Dunbar, Student Pastor Prayer Requests: https://fbco.wufoo.com/forms/m1a1pr9e0v0l9b9/ Subscribe to our Email Messenger (Weekly Newsletter): www.fbcopelika.com/messenger Guest Registration: https://fbcopelika.com/guest-registration/ Online Giving: https://www.fbcopelika.com/give Serve: https://fbcopelika.com/serve/ Sermon Archives: https://www.youtube.com/ OR fbcomedia.com.
A search has begun near the shores of Lough Neagh for one of the Disappeared. 29-year-old Seamus Maguire is thought to have been killed and secretly buried by republicans 50 years ago. The search operation is on land near to his homeplace of Aghagallon, near Lurgan. It is the first search for one of the Disappeared to take place in Northern Ireland for 16 years. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph Journalist Andrew Madden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The murder of Pat Finucane is one of the most notorious of the troubles. The 39-year-old Belfast solicitor was shot dead at his family home in north Belfast in 1989 by UDA gunmen. A series of investigations revealed collusion with the state. The first hearing of a public inquiry into the killing is set to take place next month – with Sir Gary Hickinbottom as chairman of the inquiry. Pat Finucane's family, including his son, Sinn Fein MP John Finucane, has long fought for an inquiry into the case to be opened. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris to preview the inquest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you enjoy this episode, we're sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects. In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we've got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge. So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below. Thank you and enjoy the episode!Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Substackhttps://substack.com/@theoccultrejects?r=7auau0&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageCash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsEPISODE 1 BIBLIOGRAPHYThe Building That Changes YouAckerman, Joshua M., Christopher C. Nocera, and John A. Bargh. “Incidental Haptic Sensations Influence Social Judgments and Decisions.” Science 328, no. 5986 (2010): 1712–1715. Key use: Haptics, touch, weight, texture, hardness, and the idea that physical sensation can influence judgment and social interpretation. This supports the tactile layer of the episode: heavy doors, cold stone, worn rails, kneelers, relic cases, and sacred matter as meaningful contact.Higuera-Trujillo, Juan Luis, Carmen Llinares, and Eduardo Macagno. “The Cognitive-Emotional Design and Study of Architectural Space: A Scoping Review of Neuroarchitecture and Its Precursor Approaches.” Sensors 21, no. 6 (2021): 2193. Key use: Neuroarchitecture, emotional response to built environments, and the idea that architecture can be studied as a cognitive-emotional stimulus rather than only as art or style.Kilde, Jeanne Halgren. Sacred Power, Sacred Space: An Introduction to Christian Architecture and Worship. Oxford University Press, 2008. Key use: Major backbone source for Christian architecture as a system of worship, power, spatial order, and embodied religious experience. Oxford's description emphasizes Kilde's argument that church buildings represent and reify different forms of power, especially divine power.Morgan, David. The Sacred Gaze: Religious Visual Culture in Theory and Practice. University of California Press, 2005. Key use: Religious seeing, visual culture, sacred images, and the idea that vision is an active religious practice that can invest images, persons, times, and places with spiritual meaning.Taves, Ann. Religious Experience Reconsidered: A Building-Block Approach to the Study of Religion and Other Special Things. Princeton University Press, 2009. Key use: Helps frame religious experience without reducing it to one fixed category. Useful for the episode's approach to how experiences become interpreted, named, and treated as religious or sacred.Clark, Andy. Surfing Uncertainty: Prediction, Action, and the Embodied Mind. Oxford University Press, 2016. Key use: Predictive processing, active inference, and the idea that perception is not passive recording but active prediction and model-building. This supports the “brain does not enter a church like a camera” argument.Krueger, Joel. “Extended Mind and Religious Cognition.” 2016. Key use: Extended and embodied cognition applied to religious practice, ritual objects, and environments. Useful for arguing that worship is not only inside the head but supported by bodies, tools, spaces, and shared action.Oxford Academic. “Embodied Cognition in Ecclesial Practices.” In Oxford Studies in Analytic Theology, 2023. Key use: Christian practices, embodied cognition, Eucharistic action, and religious material culture as cognitively significant rather than merely symbolic.Piff, Paul K., Pia Dietze, Matthew Feinberg, Daniel M. Stancato, and Dacher Keltner. “Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 108, no. 6 (2015): 883–899. Key use: Awe, vastness, the “small self,” and the psychological effects of encountering something perceived as larger than the ordinary self. This supports the cathedral-scale and sacred-vastness argument.Tarr, Bronwyn, Jacques Launay, and Robin I. M. Dunbar. “Music and Social Bonding: ‘Self-Other' Merging and Neurohormonal Mechanisms.” Frontiers in Psychology 5 (2014): 1096. Key use: Music, synchrony, social bonding, rhythmic action, and group cohesion. This supports the sections on chant, group singing, ritual synchrony, and bodies acting together in sacred space.Ittyerah, Miriam. “Memory for Curvature of Objects: Haptic Touch vs. Vision.” 2007. Key use: Haptic memory, touch-based object recognition, and the idea that touch can produce durable memory traces. Useful for worn rails, thresholds, beads, icons, relic cases, and repeated sacred contact.Lange, Lisa S., et al. “Tactile Memory Impairments in Younger and Older Adults.” Scientific Reports, 2024. Key use: Modern tactile-memory framing; useful for the claim that tactile experience is remembered and retrieved as part of embodied life.Freedberg, David. The Power of Images: Studies in the History and Theory of Response. University of Chicago Press, 1989. Key use: Image response, embodied reaction to sacred or charged images, and why religious images can provoke devotion, fear, destruction, reverence, or bodily response.Plate, S. Brent. A History of Religion in 5½ Objects: Bringing the Spiritual to Its Senses. Beacon Press, 2014. Key use: Material religion, objects, sensory experience, and the idea that religion is encountered through things, not only beliefs.Meyer, Birgit. Mediation and the Genesis of Presence: Toward a Material Approach to Religion. Key use: Material religion, mediation, presence, and how religious traditions use media, objects, images, sounds, and spaces to make the sacred present.Pallasmaa, Juhani. The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. Key use: Architecture as a multisensory experience, especially touch, materiality, atmosphere, and the limits of treating architecture as only visual.Mallgrave, Harry Francis. The Architect's Brain: Neuroscience, Creativity, and Architecture. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Key use: Architecture and neuroscience, built form, emotion, perception, and embodied response to space.Robinson, Sarah, and Juhani Pallasmaa, eds. Mind in Architecture: Neuroscience, Embodiment, and the Future of Design. MIT Press, 2015. Key use: Embodiment, neuroscience, architectural perception, and how built environments shape lived experience.Eliade, Mircea. The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion. Key use: Sacred space, threshold, center, axis mundi, and the distinction between ordinary space and holy space. This becomes more important in Episode 2, but it also supports Episode 1's general sacred-space framework.van Gennep, Arnold. The Rites of Passage. Key use: Separation, threshold, and incorporation. Useful for the threshold logic that runs through the whole series.Turner, Victor. The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Key use: Liminality, transition, communitas, and the ritual power of in-between states.Tuan, Yi-Fu. Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience. Key use: Lived place, memory, experience, and the difference between abstract space and meaningful place.Smith, Jonathan Z. To Take Place: Toward Theory in Ritual. Key use: Ritual as place-making; sacred places are produced through repeated action, interpretation, and return.Morgan, David. Visual Piety: A History and Theory of Popular Religious Images. Key use: Popular religious images, devotional seeing, sacred practice, and how visual material becomes part of lived religion.Kieckhefer, Richard. Theology in Stone: Church Architecture from Byzantium to Berkeley. Key use: Church architecture as theology in built form, useful as a broad Christian architectural bridge source.Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A
The trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson and the trial of the facts of his wife, Eleanor Donaldson, will be heard together. Eleanor Donaldson, who had faced charges of aiding and abetting which she strenously denies, has been declared unfit to stand trial. Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences, including one count of rape, as well as allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency spanning a time period between 1985 and 2008, with two alleged victims. The former DUP leader's trial and the trial of the facts will begin on Tuesday. The Attorney General has issued advice on commenting on legal cases. What is a trial of the facts, can you comment online about the case, and what can we expect next week? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
By the end of the 1880s, Dunbar was one of the most respected and influential members of Portland's business community, and a member of the Arlington Club. But all was not well with him. It's not clear what happened to push Dunbar over the edge into industrial-scale criminal enterprise. It may have been the death of his wife. It may also have been the influence of Nat Blum, a flamboyant cigar-store owner who was a junior partner in Merchants Steamship Co. Or maybe he was criminally inclined all along, believing on a philosophical level that the U.S. government had no right to tell him what he could and could not do with his steamships. Or, maybe he just hated waste. After all, nobody in Portland was buying shiploads of Chinese goods; each time one of his steamships left Portland, loaded with grain bound for buyers in China, it had to sail back home in ballast. Not only was the return trip wasted, but Dunbar had to pay draymen to load and unload the ballast rocks that would keep the ship stable and safe. We can imagine him thinking about this: What cargo could I bring from China to Portland, on the return voyages, after bringing wheat from Portland to China? And we can imagine him realizing that there were two cargoes that would be extremely lucrative for him: People, and opium. (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/22-12.blum-dunbar-opium-smugglers-616.html)
Cum ne afectează smartphone-urile și social media starea de bine, sănătatea mintală și relațiile? Începem astăzi seria Digital Wellbeing, 6 episoade dedicate acestei teme, susținută de Vodafone.În acest episod introductiv al seriei, Paul Olteanu și Luciana Baicea urmăresc viteza extraordinară de adoptare a smartphone-urilor și rețelelor sociale din 2007 încoace, ne arată ce spun datele globale și europene despre sănătatea mintală a tinerilor după 2010 și explică de ce sistemul nostru nervos nu e proiectat pentru felul în care folosim azi tehnologia.Discuția se sprijină pe cercetarea psihologului Jonathan Haidt (New York University), autorul cărții The Anxious Generation (O generație în pericol), pe studiul ISBRD 2026 realizat de Fundația Vodafone împreună cu Save the Children și Ipsos, plus date de la Eurostat, UNICEF și Organizația Mondială a Sănătății.În acest episod discutăm despre:Adopția smartphone-ului și a social media și de ce perioada 2010–2012 e un punct de cotiturăDatele despre anxietate, depresie, somn și singurătate la adolescențiDe ce designul rețelelor sociale activează aceleași circuite ca jocurile de norocCele patru riscuri fundamentale: atenție fragmentată, dependență, izolare și afectarea somnuluiResurse menționate în conversație:Cartea O generație în pericol (The Anxious Generation) de Jonathan HaidtCartea Dopamine Nation de Anna LembkeStudiul ISBRD 2026 — Fundația Vodafone, Save the Children, Ipsos - Copilărie Conectată: starea de bine și reziliența digitală a copiilor și tinerilor din EuropaAcest episod face parte din seria Digital Wellbeing, susținută de Vodafone și de Fundația Vodafone."(00:00) Intro""(02:30) Structura seriei și conținutul din cele 6 episoade ale ei""(06:46) Geneza: lansarea iPhone în 2007 și adopție globală smartphone""(10:07) De la 5% pe rețele la 85%: adopția social media""(13:04) De la camera frontală la TikTok: nașterea culturii performative""(16:45) Erving Goffman: 'instagramabil' și viața ca performanță socială""(20:50) Date Jonathan Haidt: anxietate +139% și depresie +145% după 2010""(25:41) Argumentul substituirii: restrângerea timpului petrecut cu prietenii""(29:47) Somn sub 7 ore la adolescenți: ce arată cercetarea""(30:54) 'Viața mea se simte fără sens' — colapsul speranței la tineri""(34:01) Studiul ISBRD 2026: bunăstarea digitală a tinerilor europeni""(37:12) 97% folosesc internetul zilnic — dar pentru ce anume?""(40:49) Pentru ce a evoluat sistemul nervos vs. lumea de astăzi""(44:30) Coldplay și ecranul ca fereastră: a trăi vs. a filma momentul""(47:38) Ritmurile biologice și joaca liberă (Gordon Neufeld)""(49:40) Recompensa variabilă și cele 31 de studii interne Meta""(53:07) De ce 'busy' a devenit medalie de onoare și filme pentru double screen""(57:04) Conexiune, autonomie și sens: iluzia competenței prin metrici""(01:02:30) Identitate, ierarhii și comparație: oglinda lui Dunbar vs. milioane de străini""(01:06:34) Întrupare și sincronicitate: ce se pierde în texte și emoji""(01:09:50) Dimensiunea audienței și stabilitatea comunității după Haidt""(01:14:05) Dauna 1 — Fragmentarea atenției: impactul notificării necitite""(01:20:53) Dauna 2 — Dependența și recompensa variabilă""(01:23:40) Anna Lembke și cele patru simptome ale sevrajului""(01:25:39) Dauna 3 — Izolarea socială și conflictul prin mesaje""(01:29:19) Dauna 4 — Lumina albastră, conținutul emoțional și 'revenge scrolling'""(01:31:36) Ce urmează în episoadele 2–6 ale seriei"
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Thank you and enjoy the episode!Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Cash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsFull show-notes bibliographyCore EEG and oscillationsAbubaker, M., & Dankaerts, W. (2021). Working memory and cross-frequency coupling of neuronal oscillations. *Frontiers in Psychology, 12*, 742860.Axmacher, N., Henseler, M. M., Jensen, O., Weinreich, I., Elger, C. E., & Fell, J. (2010). Cross-frequency coupling supports multi-item working memory in the human hippocampus. *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107*(7), 3228–3233.Jensen, O., & Mazaheri, A. (2010). Shaping functional architecture by oscillatory alpha activity: Gating by inhibition. *Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 4*, 186.Rayi, A., et al. (2022). Electroencephalogram. *StatPearls*. StatPearls Publishing.StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf. (2024). Introduction to electroencephalography (EEG). *NCBI Bookshelf*.Theta, alpha, beta, gamma, and controlCavanagh, J. F., & Shackman, A. J. (2015). Frontal midline theta reflects anxiety and cognitive control: Meta-analytic evidence. *Journal of Physiology-Paris, 109*(1–3), 3–15.Eisma, J., et al. (2021). Frontal midline theta differentiates separate cognitive control strategies while still generalizing the need for cognitive control. *Scientific Reports, 11*, 14641.Jensen, O., Bonnefond, M., & VanRullen, R. (2012). An oscillatory mechanism for prioritizing salient unattended stimuli. *Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16*(4), 200–206.Lundqvist, M., Herman, P., & Miller, E. K. (2018). Working memory: Delay activity, yes! Persistent activity? Maybe not. *Journal of Neuroscience, 38*(32), 7013–7019.Sleep architecture, spindles, and memoryCaporro, M., Haneef, Z., Yeh, H.-J., Mohamed, F. B., & Levin, H. S. (2012). Functional MRI of sleep spindles and K-complexes. *Clinical Neurophysiology, 123*(2), 303–309.Chen, P., Miao, X., Chen, J., et al. (2023). The devastating effects of sleep deprivation on memory: Lessons from rodent models, aging, and Alzheimer's disease. *Frontiers in Neuroscience, 17*, 1151639.Ng, T., et al. (2025). Bayesian meta-analysis reveals the mechanistic role of slow oscillation-spindle coupling in sleep-dependent memory consolidation. *eLife, 13*, RP101992.Patel, A. K., et al. (2024). Physiology, sleep stages. *StatPearls*. StatPearls Publishing.Páez, A., Gillman, S. O., Dogaheh, S. B., et al. (2025). Sleep spindles and slow oscillations predict cognition and biomarkers of neurodegeneration in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. *Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21*, e14424.Hypnagogia, N1, and dream incubationHorowitz, A. H., Esfahany, S., Boyle, M. R., et al. (2023). Targeted dream incubation at sleep onset increases post-sleep creative performance. *Scientific Reports, 13*, 5055.Lacaux, C., Andrillon, T., Bastoul, D., et al. (2021). Sleep onset is a creative sweet spot. *Science Advances, 7*(50), eabj5866.Meditation, prayer, chanting, and yoga nidraDatta, K., Mallick, H. N., Tripathi, M., Ahuja, G. K., & Deepak, K. K. (2022). Electrophysiological evidence of local sleep during yoga nidra practice in young male volunteers. *Frontiers in Neurology, 13*, 910794.Dobrakowski, P., Błaszkiewicz, M., & Skalski, S. (2020). Changes in the electrical activity of the brain in the alpha and theta bands during prayer and meditation. *International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17*(24), 9567.Gao, J., Leung, H. K., Wu, B. W. Y., Skouras, S., & Sik, H. H. (2019). The neurophysiological correlates of religious chanting. *Scientific Reports, 9*, 4262.Kaur, C., & Singh, P. (2015). EEG derived neuronal dynamics during meditation: Progress and challenges. *Advances in Preventive Medicine, 2015*, 614723.Lomas, T., Ivtzan, I., & Fu, C. H. Y. (2015). A systematic review of the neurophysiology of mindfulness on EEG oscillations. *Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 57*, 401–410.Hypnosis and suggestionJensen, M. P., Adachi, T., & Hakimian, S. (2015). Brain oscillations, hypnosis, and hypnotizability. *American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 57*(3), 230–253.Kirenskaya, A. V., Novototsky-Vlasov, V. Y., Chistyakov, A. V., & Zvonikov, V. M. (2011). Waking EEG spectral power and coherence differences between highly hypnotizable and low hypnotizable subjects. *International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 59*(2), 144–164.Mendoza, M. E., & Capafons, A. (2024). Neural correlates of hypnosis: A systematic narrative review. *Frontiers in Psychology, 15*, 1327738.Ritual rhythm, trance, and synchronyHuels, E. R., Kim, H. S., Lee, U., & Mollaahmetoglu, O. M. (2021). Neural correlates of the shamanic state of consciousness. *Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 15*, 610466.Mogan, R., Fischer, R., & Bulbulia, J. A. (2017). To be in synchrony or not? A meta-analysis of synchrony's effects on behavior, perception, cognition and affect. *Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 72*, 13–20.Tarr, B., Launay, J., & Dunbar, R. I. M. (2016). Silent disco: Dancing in synchrony leads to elevated pain thresholds and social closeness. *Evolution and Human Behavior, 37*(5), 343–349.Entrainment, binaural beats, fatigue, and overloadGoodman, S. P. J., et al. (2025). Approaches to inducing mental fatigue: A systematic review and meta-analysis of (neuro)physiologic indices. *Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 170*, 105957.Ingendoh, R. M., Posny, E. S., & Heine, A. (2023). Binaural beats to entrain the brain? A systematic review of the effects of binaural beat stimulation on brain oscillatory activity, and the implications for psychological research and intervention. *PLOS ONE, 18*(5), e0286023.Snipes, S., et al. (2024). Extended wakefulness alters the relationship between EEG theta and alpha bursts and behavioural outcome. *European Journal of Neuroscience, 60*(8), 6268–6284.Xiang, C., et al. (2024). A resting-state EEG dataset for sleep deprivation. *Scientific Data, 11*, 406.Parkinson's disease and pathological betaAsadi, A., et al. (2022). The origin of abnormal beta oscillations in the parkinsonian corticobasal ganglia circuit. *Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16*, 823719.Paulo, D. L., et al. (2023). Corticostriatal beta oscillation changes associated with cognitive function in Parkinson's disease. *NPJ Parkinson's Disease, 9*, 202.Ancient sleep, dreams, and Asclepian healingAskitopoulou, H. (2015). Sleep and dreams: From myth to medicine in ancient Greece. *Journal of Anesthesia History, 1*(3), 70–75.Kapotsis, G., & Steiropoulos, P. (2025). Sleep incubation [enkoimesis] in medical practice at Asclepieia of Ancient Greece — the Ancient Greek sleep medicine. *Sleep Medicine, 130*, 85–89.Pavli, A. (2024). Asclepieia in ancient Greece: pilgrimage and healing. *Journal of Integrative Medicine and Research, 3*(2), 100119.Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A
Watch it on YouTube here. What happens when Burner behavior goes under the microscope? Sociologists, ecologists, and economists have been on this show. Now we're looking at this culture through a new lens: primatology. Isabel Behncke is an evolutionary anthropologist and a Burning Man Project Board Member. From tracking bonobos in the jungle to observing humans on playa, she shares her groundbreaking research on ritual and play. In this mind-expanding conversation, she and Stuart explore:
The argument is a counterintuitive one: the thing holding most experienced marketers back isn't a lack of knowledge or skill. It's something they'd never think to look for. The episode opens with a challenge, think of someone in your life who isn't as smart as you, yet is more successful, less stressed, and more free, and then builds the case for why that gap exists and what's actually responsible for it. In this week's podcast, Casey explores a pattern that shows up constantly in fractional CMO practices: smart people taking on more, adding more, learning more, and wondering why they can't break through. The answer isn't more information. The episode makes the case that there's one quality doing more work than intelligence ever could, and most high-performers are actively avoiding it. Key Topics Covered: Why intelligence can become a ceiling instead of an asset Client volume and the hidden cost of too many relationships Dunbar's number and what it means for your practice Replacing clients vs. adding clients to grow revenue Simplicity in contracts, payment terms, and rates Why niche context-switching keeps you thin and underdelivering No partners, no complex subcontracting arrangements How to stop taking on work that doesn't fit just because it's money
What if loneliness isn't just an emotion… but one of the most dangerous biological threats to your health? In this deeply personal and scientifically explosive solo episode, Darin opens up about something he recently realized in his own life: despite being surrounded by people, he was lonely. But what began as an emotional realization quickly became a deep dive into some of the most shocking research he's ever uncovered, showing that chronic loneliness may increase the risk of heart disease, dementia, cancer, autoimmune dysfunction, accelerated aging, and early death. From inflammatory gene expression and cortisol dysregulation to oxytocin, vulnerability, and the collapse of real human connection in the digital age, this episode reveals why loneliness may be the most overlooked "fatal convenience" of modern life, and how vulnerability may be the medicine. What You'll Learn Why loneliness is a biological crisis, not just an emotional feeling The shocking link between loneliness and heart disease, dementia, and early death Why the quality of your relationships is the #1 predictor of long-term health How loneliness activates inflammatory genes inside your body The role of cortisol, sleep disruption, and chronic stress in social isolation Why social media and "surface-level connection" are replacing real intimacy The connection between loneliness and Alzheimer's disease How oxytocin and genuine connection reduce inflammation Why vulnerability is the gateway to meaningful relationships Practical ways to create deeper connection starting today Chapters 00:00:33 – Sponsor: the truth about the exploding NAD supplement market 00:01:04 – Why supplement verification and transparency matter 00:02:17 – Opening: Darin admits something deeply personal 00:02:30 – "I realized recently… I'm lonely" 00:02:37 – The difference between being surrounded by people vs being truly known 00:03:06 – Loneliness as a biological experience, not just an emotional one 00:03:27 – The hidden risks: heart disease, dementia, cancer, early death 00:03:45 – Why this is not fringe science 00:04:13 – The most important predictor of long-term health 00:04:34 – Why relationship QUALITY matters more than quantity 00:05:06 – The global loneliness epidemic 00:05:11 – U.S. Surgeon General advisory on loneliness 00:05:39 – Loneliness declared a public health crisis 00:06:02 – 50% of Americans report measurable loneliness 00:06:22 – "A generational collapse of connection" 00:06:30 – 29% of adults have no close friends 00:06:40 – Face-to-face interactions dramatically declining 00:07:01 – The UK, Japan, and Australia loneliness crisis initiatives 00:07:32 – The paradox: hyperconnected but deeply isolated 00:08:04 – Loneliness as a biological alarm signal 00:08:31 – What loneliness actually looks like in modern life 00:08:42 – The lonely CEO, the unseen mother, the isolated social media addict 00:09:31 – "Perceived social isolation" and why the brain can't tell the difference 00:10:21 – Meta-analysis of 3.4 million people 00:10:55 – Loneliness vs obesity and smoking risk comparisons 00:11:18 – The biology of loneliness begins 00:11:50 – NF-kB: inflammatory gene activation explained 00:12:33 – How loneliness changes gene expression 00:13:02 – Chronic inflammation and disease pathways 00:13:21 – Cortisol, sleep disruption, and immune dysfunction 00:14:00 – How loneliness affects brain repair and amyloid plaque clearing 00:14:21 – Sponsor: Fatty15 and cellular health 00:18:02 – The Alzheimer's and dementia connection 00:18:25 – Loneliness as a major modifiable dementia risk factor 00:18:57 – Cortisol, neuroinflammation, and brain degeneration 00:19:16 – The hippocampus physically shrinking in lonely people 00:19:27 – Social media as a "fatal convenience" 00:19:57 – The oxytocin economy: connection as medicine 00:20:15 – Oxytocin as one of the body's strongest anti-inflammatory molecules 00:20:30 – HeartMath research: emotional synchronization between people 00:20:48 – "You regulate each other's biology" 00:21:07 – The real barrier: vulnerability 00:21:32 – Darin's recent experiences with radical vulnerability 00:21:54 – Conversations with family, ex-partners, and loved ones 00:22:35 – Brené Brown's research on connection and worthiness 00:23:14 – The "depth audit" exercise 00:23:42 – Reaching out, expressing appreciation, and owning your emotions 00:24:01 – Sacred hours: spending time without phones 00:24:13 – Questions that create real intimacy 00:24:30 – Darin's emotional conversation with his brother 00:25:03 – Protecting yourself from social media disconnection 00:25:20 – Becoming a source of joy and connection in everyday life 00:25:25 – Darin reflects on seven years of subtle loneliness 00:25:48 – The shift from surface conversations to meaningful connection 00:26:01 – "If you want love, give love" 00:26:19 – Final message: generate the connection you want to receive 00:26:22 – Closing thoughts and outro Thank You to Our Sponsors Truniagen: Go to www.truniagen.com and use code DARIN20 at checkout for 20% off Fatty15: Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/DARIN and using code DARIN at checkout. Join the SuperLife Community Get Darin's deeper wellness breakdowns — beyond social media restrictions: Weekly voice notes Ingredient deep dives Wellness challenges Energy + consciousness tools Community accountability Extended episodes Join for $7.49/month → https://patreon.com/darinolien Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Platform & Products: superlife.com New Show: Roadmap to Happiness Key Takeaway "Loneliness isn't weakness. It isn't failure. It's a biological signal telling you that something essential is missing. And in a world addicted to surface-level connection, the real medicine may simply be this: vulnerability, presence, eye contact, honesty, and the courage to let yourself truly be seen." Bibliography/Sources The Loneliness Epidemic & Public Health Data Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). American time use survey. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/tus/ Cigna. (2023). Cigna U.S. loneliness index. Evernorth Health Services. https://newsroom.cigna.com/loneliness-epidemic-continues-to-rise-cigna-study Murthy, V. H. (2023). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf Survey Center on American Life. (2021). The state of American friendship: Change, challenges, and loss. American Enterprise Institute. https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/ Mortality & Systemic Health Risk Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Skoner, D. P., Rabin, B. S., & Gwaltney, J. M. (1997). Social ties and susceptibility to the common cold. JAMA, 277(24), 1940–1944. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9200634/ Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness matters: A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 40(2), 218–227. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20396846/ Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352 Valtorta, N. K., Kanaan, M., Gilbody, S., Ronzi, S., & Hanratty, B. (2016). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke. Heart, 102(13), 1009–1016. https://heart.bmj.com/content/102/13/1009 Genetics, Inflammation & The Immune System Cole, S. W. (2013). Social regulation of human gene expression: Mechanisms and implications for public health. American Journal of Public Health, 103(S1), S84–S92. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3786756/ Cole, S. W., Hawkley, L. C., Arevalo, J. M. G., Sung, C. Y., Rose, R. M., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2007). Social regulation of gene expression in human leukocytes. Genome Biology, 8(9), Article R189. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2375027/ Sleep & Cognitive Decline Cacioppo, J. T., Hawkley, L. C., Berntson, G. G., Ernst, J. M., Gibbs, A. C., Stickgold, R., & Hobson, J. A. (2002). Do lonely days invade the nights? Potential social modulation of sleep efficiency. Psychological Science, 13(4), 384–387. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12137144/ Holwerda, T. J., Deeg, D. J. H., Beekman, A. T. F., et al. (2014). Feelings of loneliness, but not social isolation, predict dementia onset. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 85(2), 135–142. https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/85/2/135 Oxytocin & The Biology of Connection Szeto, A., Sun-Suslow, N., Mendez, A. J., Hernandez, R. I., Wagner, K. V., & McCabe, P. M. (2017). Regulation of the macrophage oxytocin receptor in response to inflammation. American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism, 312(2), E183–E189. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpendo.00424.2016 Uvnas-Moberg, K. (2003). The oxytocin factor: Tapping the hormone of calm, love, and healing. Da Capo Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=b-aKjQoB_nQC Psychology, Vulnerability & Relationship Science Aron, A., Melinat, E., Aron, E. N., Vallone, R. D., & Bator, R. J. (1997). The experimental generation of interpersonal closeness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23(4), 363–377. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167297234003 Brown, B. (2010). The gifts of imperfection: Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are. Hazelden Publishing. https://brenebrown.com/book/the-gifts-of-imperfection/ Cacioppo, J. T., & Patrick, W. (2008). Loneliness: Human nature and the need for social connection. W. W. Norton & Company. https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393335286 Dunbar, R. I. M. (2012). Bridging evolutionary approaches to the social brain and social bonding. In F. B. M. de Waal & P. F. Ferrari (Eds.), The primate mind. Harvard University Press. https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674063104 Dunbar, R. I. M. (2021). Friends: Understanding the power of our most important relationships. Little, Brown and Company. https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/robin-dunbar/friends/9781408711736/ Waldinger, R., & Schulz, M. (2023). The good life: Lessons from the world's longest scientific study on happiness. Simon & Schuster. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Good-Life/Robert-Waldinger/9781982166694
We've been told there's a ceiling on how many deep client relationships an advisor can maintain — that human cognition has hard limits, and trying to exceed them means sacrificing quality for quantity. In this episode of The FutureProof Advisor, I challenge that assumption directly, drawing from a period in my own career when I absorbed a significant increase in client families and discovered that the real bottleneck wasn't my capacity for connection — it was the administrative weight surrounding every relationship. When that weight is lifted, something different becomes possible.The cognitive load that drains advisors isn't the human work. It's the tactical work masquerading as relationship management — email triage, information gathering, follow-up coordination, and the endless operational friction that surrounds every meaningful client interaction. I explore how AI and intentional system design can absorb that friction, not to make advising more mechanical, but to make it more human. Organizations like the Ritz Carlton have proven that deeply personalized experiences can scale — not by reducing standards, but by building infrastructure that makes those standards repeatable.The takeaway isn't that technology replaces depth. It's that technology protects it. When advisors are intentional about what they do with the time AI creates — investing it in genuine connection, emotional intelligence, and the kinds of conversations that can't be automated — the ceiling on meaningful relationships rises considerably. Scale and depth don't have to be a tradeoff. With the right systems underneath them, they can reinforce each other.
Stuart Dunbar of Baillie Gifford says short‑term market speculation is creating long‑term opportunities for patient growth investors. He highlights biotech, including Medpace (MEDP), and undervalued international stocks as areas where discomfort and uncertainty may signal real value.======== Schwab Network ========Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DEmpowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about
Most lawyers treat networking like a necessary evil, but what if you approached it as a science of human relationships instead of sales? In this episode, you'll learn how to build a small, powerful circle of trusted relationships that drive referrals, opportunities, and long-term career security. In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Dillon Zwick discuss: The Harvard study on adult development and why relationships drive happiness How to reframe networking from “selling” to genuine relationship building Finding common ground and “natural affinities” to build trust Prioritizing and qualifying strategic partners using likability and referability Using systems, Dunbar's numbers, and cadence to maintain a high-value network Key Takeaways: Long-term health, happiness, and even business success are far more correlated with the quality of your relationships than with money, status, or genetics. Networking works best when it is treated as a relationship-building exercise rooted in curiosity and service, not as a pitch or sales event. Common ground, including shared background, interests, values, or experiences, is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to create authentic connection and trust. Because time is limited, you need to intentionally prioritize relationships based on both how much you genuinely like someone and how capable and inclined they are to create opportunities for others. A simple, consistent follow-up system and a realistic understanding of how many relationships you can truly maintain, based on Dunbar's research, can ensure you are never forgotten and rarely without work. "Relationships don't happen just by happenstance. You have to invest in your relationships and the people around you to develop them." — Dillon Zwick Check out my new show, Be That Lawyer Coaches Corner, and get the strategies I use with my clients to win more business and love your career again. Ready to go from good to GOAT in your legal marketing game? Don't miss PIMCON—where the brightest minds in professional services gather to share what really works. Lock in your spot now: https://www.pimcon.org/ Thank you to our Sponsor! Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/ Lawyer.com: https://www.lawyer.com/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ About Dillon Zwick: Dillon has spent about 5 years in the field of corporate renewal with a background in heavy industrial design and manufacturing. Dillon's primary team role has been finding opportunities, solving difficult problems, and figuring out whatever needs to get done. He has helped numerous client companies successfully work through the corporate restructuring process. In that capacity, he has worked closely with CEOs, CFOs, and their respective accounting staff to support cash-constrained situations, providing transparency and strategic analytical support to the restructuring process. Dillon earned a B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.A. in History from the University of North Texas in 2011. He serves as President on the Turnaround Management Association – Central Texas chapter board, along with being a Director of the Association of Corporate Growth NextGen – Austin/San Antonio chapter board. Connect with Dillon Zwick: Website: https://meadowlarkadvisors.com/about/bio-dillon/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dillon-zwick/ Connect with Steve Fretzin: LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin Twitter: @stevefretzin Instagram: @fretzinsteve Facebook: Fretzin, Inc. Website: Fretzin.com Email: Steve@Fretzin.com Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more! YouTube: Steve Fretzin Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
High-performing men often lose attraction at home—not because they stop caring, but because they stop leading. AD Dunbar, known as "The Kingmaker," helps elite CEOs, founders, and executives ($200K–$2M+) restore desire, polarity, and masculine leadership in their marriages—without therapy, emotional negotiation, or "chore play." We discuss how reframing marriage as a leadership arena can reignite intimacy, strengthen authority at home, and balance professional success with personal fulfillment. If you're a high-achiever ready to reclaim attraction and connection in your marriage, this episode provides actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
Vance is back in the saddle, kicking off the new run of the show with Shay Falk for a wide-ranging, live conversation that starts in ag-tech and rides straight into faith, leadership, and how AI is reshaping both business and culture. Shay unpacks the origin story of Farm Profit Manager — how he, his brother Mac, and cousin Sam transformed a 30-year consulting tool from AgView Solutions into free software, why they bet on connection and advisory work rather than SaaS fees, and how rapid feedback, GitHub discipline, and even mermaid diagrams are helping them ship fast. Vance and Shay dig into the rise of vibe coding, the coming disruption to pricey ag apps, and the practical lessons of building durable AI systems. From there the conversation pivots into theology and community: the resurgence of churchgoing, the differences between Catholic symbolism and Protestant literalism, how history and geography shaped American denominations, and what leadership and humility actually look like — whether in combat or on a church session. They wrestle with AI's role in faith (should LLMs write homilies?), Dunbar's number, and why shared language and first principles matter just as much in congregations as in companies. It's a candid, spirited conversation about tools, tradition, and purpose — and why now is the moment to build and to reconnect.
What if the future of real estate, health, and human connection isn't about building more… but about restoring what we've already broken? Help restore 15,000 lost trees and protect a critical ecosystem: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5ARPGDXUKUK4C Every dollar goes directly to rebuilding this living forest and bringing the land back to life. In this powerful conversation, Darin sits down with Caroline Howell, CEO of Canopy Development Company, to explore a radically different vision for how we live, build, and relate to the natural world. From a high-performance career in investment banking to a full nervous system collapse, Caroline shares the deeply personal journey that led her to Panama, and ultimately to regenerating one of the most endangered ecosystems on Earth. This episode is a deep exploration of regenerative development, land stewardship, decentralization, and human sovereignty, and why the future may depend on our ability to rebuild both ecosystems and communities from the ground up. What You'll Learn How burnout and illness can catalyze a complete life transformation Why regenerative development builds with nature, not on top of it The importance of restoring degraded ecosystems like tropical dry forests How technology can be used to measure and support biodiversity Why modern agriculture is failing both land and farmers The concept of a "living currency" tied to life and regeneration How decentralization can restore human sovereignty Why community and local systems are critical for resilience The hidden mental health crisis among farmers Simple ways to shift from a reactive life to a creator mindset Chapters 00:00:03 – Opening: Creating a roadmap to a SuperLife 00:00:32 – Sponsor: Therasage and nature-based wellness technology 00:03:05 – Introducing Caroline Howell and her journey from finance to regeneration 00:04:02 – Restoring 400 acres of degraded land in Panama 00:04:49 – Fire destroys 15,000 newly planted trees and the urgency of restoration 00:06:19 – Beginning the conversation: regeneration and human connection 00:07:24 – Caroline's origin story: growing up in Iowa and connection to land 00:09:07 – Athletics, discipline, and pushing physical limits 00:10:42 – Investment banking, burnout, and nervous system collapse 00:11:31 – Failure of the healthcare system and misdiagnosis 00:12:18 – Panama trip and the moment everything changed 00:12:40 – "Coming home" to the body and feeling true health again 00:13:38 – From intuition to action: building a new life in Panama 00:14:30 – Healing through nature and ecosystem immersion 00:15:13 – Acquiring degraded cattle land and starting restoration 00:16:31 – Tropical dry forest: the most endangered ecosystem 00:17:16 – Planting 40,000 trees and achieving 95% survival rate 00:18:28 – Rethinking real estate: building within ecosystems 00:19:15 – Sponsor: Bite toothpaste and reducing plastic waste 00:21:10 – Designing environments where humans reconnect with nature 00:22:06 – Reforestation cycles and planting strategies 00:22:56 – Watching wildlife return and ecosystems revive 00:23:21 – Integrating local ranchers into regenerative systems 00:24:17 – Soil degradation and financial struggles in agriculture 00:25:02 – Using cattle as tools for regeneration 00:26:21 – Moving beyond reductionist thinking to systems thinking 00:27:57 – Measuring land health with sensors and bioacoustics 00:28:51 – Treating land as the primary stakeholder 00:29:52 – Using technology to support living systems 00:30:20 – Energy demands of Bitcoin, AI, and modern systems 00:31:14 – The idea of a "living currency" based on life generation 00:32:05 – Why current systems reward extraction instead of regeneration 00:33:26 – Expanding regenerative models and scaling responsibly 00:34:15 – Deep listening to land before expansion 00:35:04 – Zero-waste construction and modular housing innovation 00:36:11 – Sponsor: Manna Vitality and frequency-based wellness 00:38:06 – The mental health crisis among farmers 00:39:25 – The loss of pride and sustainability in farming 00:40:32 – Seeing thriving ecosystems vs dead land 00:41:41 – The collapse of unsustainable systems 00:42:39 – Living systems vs artificial systems 00:43:30 – Reframing carbon as a life force 00:44:24 – Is it too late to fix the planet? 00:45:07 – Nature's resilience and examples like Chernobyl 00:46:03 – Untapped energy potential in natural systems 00:46:55 – "The Town of Today" vs cities of the future 00:47:46 – Implementing solutions now instead of waiting 00:48:10 – Parallel realities: those who change vs those who don't 00:49:00 – Personal transformation through breakdown 00:49:21 – Life doesn't require consensus to evolve 00:50:03 – Shared human desires across all cultures 00:50:55 – Community accountability and deeper connection 00:51:18 – The Dunbar number and optimal community size 00:52:20 – Loneliness in large cities vs connection in small communities 00:53:26 – Decentralization and reclaiming sovereignty 00:55:24 – Anxiety from losing control over basic resources 00:56:20 – Food, water, and energy independence 00:57:20 – The future of real estate as stewardship 00:58:10 – Finding hope in a disconnected world 00:59:14 – Moving from victim mindset to creator mindset 01:00:02 – Creating new options in daily life 01:00:57 – Building resilience through small actions 01:01:39 – Personal growth through expanding environments 01:02:30 – Final reflections on agency and possibility 01:14:00 – Closing thoughts and outro Thank You to Our Sponsors Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN20 at checkout for 20% off Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order. Manna Vitality: Go to mannavitality.com/ and use code DARIN12 for 12% off your order. Find More from Caroline Howell Website: canopyvenao.com Instagram: @caroline.m.howell Donate:Azuero Eco Foundation Find More from Darin Olien: Instagram: @darinolien Podcast: SuperLife Podcast Website: superlife.com Book: Fatal Conveniences Key Takeaway "The future isn't something we have to wait for—it's something we can build right now. When we shift from extraction to regeneration, from disconnection to community, and from reaction to creation, we don't just heal the land… we reclaim our power, our health, and our place within the living systems that sustain us."