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Welcome to The Best of You Every Day. Today's Scripture is: Phillipians 2:1-11 Topics covered: Humility that isn't self-erasure How to cultivate true inner strength A daily reset for uncovering confident humility Go Deeper: Episode 18: Selfhood vs. Selfishness Episode 56: Am I Really Supposed to Die to Myself? Misconstrued Messages and How to Disentangle From Them Be sure to share this episode with a friend! And don't forget to leave your 5-star review—it helps get the word out to others. Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Sign up for Dr. Alison's free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! What is consciousness? Is consciousness based completely on the physical, on neurons firing in the brain? What makes us who we are? In this episode, Danny and Randy explore consciousness and the self.Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening! Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com
What is consciousness — and how should biology explain it?In this second conversation with Professor Kevin Mitchell, we examine whether consciousness can be fully accounted for within physics alone — or whether biological organization introduces new levels of explanation.Mitchell develops a non-reductive naturalist framework in which organisms are genuine agents, higher-level causal structures matter, and subjectivity cannot be ignored in any adequate theory of mind.We explore:• What needs explaining when we talk about consciousness• The limits and strengths of physicalist reduction• Weak vs strong emergence• Biological organization as a causal framework• Downward causation and levels of explanation• Organisms as agents rather than passive mechanisms• The role of the conscious subject• Mental causation and explanatory gaps• Teleology in evolutionary systems• Whether artificial systems could instantiate subjectivityTIMESTAMPS:(0:00) – Introduction(0:32) – Kevin's Approach to Consciousness(1:12) – Consciousness and the Requirement of a Subject(3:59) – AI, Functionalism, & Biological Naturalism(7:37) – Embodiment, In-Mindedness & Experiential Bedrock(11:19) – Control Architectures, Attention, and Illusionism(15:21) – Selfhood Perspectives: Jennings, Graziano & Humphrey(19:08) – Temporal Continuity & Brains as Semantic Engines(23:03) – Top-Down Causation and Dynamical Self(27:00) – Levels of Selfhood & Autobiographical Continuity(30:43) – Neuroscience, Psychiatry & Emergent Mental Phenomena(38:15) – Altered Subjectivity & Embodiment in Injury(44:06) – Life, Consciousness, and AI Agents(50:23) – Philosophy, Science & Indeterminacy(56:28) – Neural Noise, Decision-Making & Agency(1:10:48) – Reasons, Choices & Moral Development(1:20:43) – Emergence, Transcendence & First-Person Neuroscience(1:26:50) – Kantian Structures & Perception(1:30:35) – Defining Mind & Relational Perspectives(1:34:52) – Final ThoughtsEPISODE LINKS:- Kevin's Round 1: https://youtu.be/UdlkYGbuD7Q- Kevin's Website: https://www.kjmitchell.com/- Kevin's Blog: http://www.wiringthebrain.com- Kevin's Books: https://tinyurl.com/2p9yjzxr- Kevin's Publications: https://tinyurl.com/mskdpvce- Kevin's Twitter: https://twitter.com/wiringthebrain- Consciousness needs a subject:https://philpapers.org/rec/MITCNA-2- Reframing the free will debate: the universe is not deterministic:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11229-026-05455-7- Beyond Mechanism—Extending Our Concepts of Causation in Neuroscience:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ejn.70064- Undetermined: Free will in real time and through time:https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=10358095- The origins of meaning - from pragmatic control signals to semantic representations:https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/dfkrvCONNECT:- Website: https://mindbodysolution.org - YouTube: https://youtube.com/@mindbodysolution- Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mindbodysolution- Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu- Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://instagram.com/drtevinnaidu- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu- Website: https://tevinnaidu.com=============================Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.
John sits down in Costa Rica (yes, literally in a golf cart) with two therapists — Vanessa Bennett and Madeleine Downey — for a “therapists are humans too” episode built around questions you'd ask in therapy… that end up turning into real-time revelations about identity after 40, emotional safety, and what we stop tolerating once we've lived a little. This conversation lands especially hard if you're in that season of life where you're asking: Why doesn't the old version of me fit anymore? and What do I actually want now — in love, in friendship, in myself? Inner Compass Academy (Next cohort starts Feb 15, 2026) Apply Here: https://www.vanessabennett.com/inner-compass-academy
TALK TO ME, TEXT ITWhat if a date-stamped “leak” claimed gravity would shut off for seven seconds—and millions believed it? We walk through the viral rumor, why NASA's explanation is straightforward, and how fake authority (project names, budgets, rigid timestamps) tricks our brains into trusting nonsense. The real story isn't just physics; it's how the feed rewards spectacle while our skepticism gets softer.From there, we pivot to a scene you can't unsee: a man stuck headfirst in an anti-vandal recycling bin, legs pointing skyward as firefighters dismantle the frame to pull him free. It's ridiculous and revealing. Design meant to prevent damage can also ensnare people in unpredictable ways, and it says something honest about trust in public spaces. We laugh, then look closer at what our cities try to prevent—and what they enable.Comfort food takes the mic next with a practical debate: chicken soup or tomato soup. We break down calories, protein, sodium, and the big swing factors—cream, broth, and labels. The simplest strategy wins: cook more, read the fine print, aim for low sodium, add vegetables and lean protein, and let lycopene-rich tomatoes and classic chicken stock work for you. Nutrition isn't a myth to debunk; it's a set of choices we can actually control.All of that opens a larger worry: the hollowing of local news. Newspapers dim, local beats vanish, and national outlets loop viral clips instead of funding reporters who know our streets. When the town square moves to timelines, we lose meeting times, voting records, and the small facts that let neighbors act together. We talk about stepping back from the content churn—ending projects, keeping the writing that still feels true—and ask a question worth sitting with: who are we without the scroll? If attention is our vote, where are we casting it?If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Tell us your take: chicken or tomato—and what hobby still feels like you?Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREE Thanks for listening! Liberty Line each week on Sunday, look for topics on my X file @americanistblog and submit your 1-3 audio opinions to anamericanistblog@gmail.com and you'll be featured on the podcast. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREESupport the showTip Jar for coffee $ - Thanks Music by Alehandro Vodnik from Pixabay Blog - AnAmericanist.comX - @americanistblog
Sara Swenson is Assistant Professor of Religion and Affiliated Faculty in Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages at Dartmouth College. Her areas of expertise include Religions of Southeast Asia, Buddhism in Vietnam, Gender and Sexuality, Affect Theory, and Ethnography. She received her Ph.D. in Religion from Syracuse University in 2021. She also holds an M.Phil. in Religion and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Women's and Gender Studies from Syracuse University, an M.A. in Comparative Religion from Iliff School of Theology, and a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She pursues projects that highlight the power and agency of everyday people. Religions are often a vital resource for grassroots social action and community engagement, as exemplified by Buddhism in Vietnam. Her projects have received generous grant support from the American Council of Learned Societies; Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA); and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowship in Buddhist Studies. Swenson's new book, Near Light We Shine: Buddhist Charity in Urban Vietnam (Oxford UP, 2025) is one of the first major ethnographic studies on Buddhism in southern Vietnam, featuring new histories and interpretations of this rich subject. It shares new context for how religious practices affect urban migration, development, and humanitarian concerns, and presents theoretical advancements for understanding grassroots charity. Near Light We Shine offers a diversity of perspectives on grassroots Buddhist practices throughout Vietnam, by featuring interviews that have never been published before from marginalized Buddhist practitioners in Vietnam, such as day laborers, queer men, elderly women, and retired communist soldiers. References mentioned in the interview: Le Hoang Anh Thu, "Doing Bodhisattva's Work: Charity, Class, and Selfhood of Petty Traders in Hồ Chí Minh City" here Nhung Lu Rots, "Towards an Alternative Buddhist Modernity: Hòa Hảo Charity Healing and Herbal Medicine in the Mekong Delta" here Elizabeth Perez, Religion in the Kitchen here Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI) at the University of Wisconsin here Van Nguyen-Marshall, Between War and the State: Civil Society in South Vietnam, 1954–1975 here Casey R. Collins, Buddhist Contramodernism: Shinnyo-en's Reconfigurations of Tradition for Modernity here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Sara Swenson is Assistant Professor of Religion and Affiliated Faculty in Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages at Dartmouth College. Her areas of expertise include Religions of Southeast Asia, Buddhism in Vietnam, Gender and Sexuality, Affect Theory, and Ethnography. She received her Ph.D. in Religion from Syracuse University in 2021. She also holds an M.Phil. in Religion and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Women's and Gender Studies from Syracuse University, an M.A. in Comparative Religion from Iliff School of Theology, and a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She pursues projects that highlight the power and agency of everyday people. Religions are often a vital resource for grassroots social action and community engagement, as exemplified by Buddhism in Vietnam. Her projects have received generous grant support from the American Council of Learned Societies; Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA); and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowship in Buddhist Studies. Swenson's new book, Near Light We Shine: Buddhist Charity in Urban Vietnam (Oxford UP, 2025) is one of the first major ethnographic studies on Buddhism in southern Vietnam, featuring new histories and interpretations of this rich subject. It shares new context for how religious practices affect urban migration, development, and humanitarian concerns, and presents theoretical advancements for understanding grassroots charity. Near Light We Shine offers a diversity of perspectives on grassroots Buddhist practices throughout Vietnam, by featuring interviews that have never been published before from marginalized Buddhist practitioners in Vietnam, such as day laborers, queer men, elderly women, and retired communist soldiers. References mentioned in the interview: Le Hoang Anh Thu, "Doing Bodhisattva's Work: Charity, Class, and Selfhood of Petty Traders in Hồ Chí Minh City" here Nhung Lu Rots, "Towards an Alternative Buddhist Modernity: Hòa Hảo Charity Healing and Herbal Medicine in the Mekong Delta" here Elizabeth Perez, Religion in the Kitchen here Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI) at the University of Wisconsin here Van Nguyen-Marshall, Between War and the State: Civil Society in South Vietnam, 1954–1975 here Casey R. Collins, Buddhist Contramodernism: Shinnyo-en's Reconfigurations of Tradition for Modernity here Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies
Sara Swenson is Assistant Professor of Religion and Affiliated Faculty in Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages at Dartmouth College. Her areas of expertise include Religions of Southeast Asia, Buddhism in Vietnam, Gender and Sexuality, Affect Theory, and Ethnography. She received her Ph.D. in Religion from Syracuse University in 2021. She also holds an M.Phil. in Religion and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Women's and Gender Studies from Syracuse University, an M.A. in Comparative Religion from Iliff School of Theology, and a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She pursues projects that highlight the power and agency of everyday people. Religions are often a vital resource for grassroots social action and community engagement, as exemplified by Buddhism in Vietnam. Her projects have received generous grant support from the American Council of Learned Societies; Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA); and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowship in Buddhist Studies. Swenson's new book, Near Light We Shine: Buddhist Charity in Urban Vietnam (Oxford UP, 2025) is one of the first major ethnographic studies on Buddhism in southern Vietnam, featuring new histories and interpretations of this rich subject. It shares new context for how religious practices affect urban migration, development, and humanitarian concerns, and presents theoretical advancements for understanding grassroots charity. Near Light We Shine offers a diversity of perspectives on grassroots Buddhist practices throughout Vietnam, by featuring interviews that have never been published before from marginalized Buddhist practitioners in Vietnam, such as day laborers, queer men, elderly women, and retired communist soldiers. References mentioned in the interview: Le Hoang Anh Thu, "Doing Bodhisattva's Work: Charity, Class, and Selfhood of Petty Traders in Hồ Chí Minh City" here Nhung Lu Rots, "Towards an Alternative Buddhist Modernity: Hòa Hảo Charity Healing and Herbal Medicine in the Mekong Delta" here Elizabeth Perez, Religion in the Kitchen here Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI) at the University of Wisconsin here Van Nguyen-Marshall, Between War and the State: Civil Society in South Vietnam, 1954–1975 here Casey R. Collins, Buddhist Contramodernism: Shinnyo-en's Reconfigurations of Tradition for Modernity here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology
Sara Swenson is Assistant Professor of Religion and Affiliated Faculty in Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages at Dartmouth College. Her areas of expertise include Religions of Southeast Asia, Buddhism in Vietnam, Gender and Sexuality, Affect Theory, and Ethnography. She received her Ph.D. in Religion from Syracuse University in 2021. She also holds an M.Phil. in Religion and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Women's and Gender Studies from Syracuse University, an M.A. in Comparative Religion from Iliff School of Theology, and a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She pursues projects that highlight the power and agency of everyday people. Religions are often a vital resource for grassroots social action and community engagement, as exemplified by Buddhism in Vietnam. Her projects have received generous grant support from the American Council of Learned Societies; Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA); and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowship in Buddhist Studies. Swenson's new book, Near Light We Shine: Buddhist Charity in Urban Vietnam (Oxford UP, 2025) is one of the first major ethnographic studies on Buddhism in southern Vietnam, featuring new histories and interpretations of this rich subject. It shares new context for how religious practices affect urban migration, development, and humanitarian concerns, and presents theoretical advancements for understanding grassroots charity. Near Light We Shine offers a diversity of perspectives on grassroots Buddhist practices throughout Vietnam, by featuring interviews that have never been published before from marginalized Buddhist practitioners in Vietnam, such as day laborers, queer men, elderly women, and retired communist soldiers. References mentioned in the interview: Le Hoang Anh Thu, "Doing Bodhisattva's Work: Charity, Class, and Selfhood of Petty Traders in Hồ Chí Minh City" here Nhung Lu Rots, "Towards an Alternative Buddhist Modernity: Hòa Hảo Charity Healing and Herbal Medicine in the Mekong Delta" here Elizabeth Perez, Religion in the Kitchen here Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI) at the University of Wisconsin here Van Nguyen-Marshall, Between War and the State: Civil Society in South Vietnam, 1954–1975 here Casey R. Collins, Buddhist Contramodernism: Shinnyo-en's Reconfigurations of Tradition for Modernity here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies
Sara Swenson is Assistant Professor of Religion and Affiliated Faculty in Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages at Dartmouth College. Her areas of expertise include Religions of Southeast Asia, Buddhism in Vietnam, Gender and Sexuality, Affect Theory, and Ethnography. She received her Ph.D. in Religion from Syracuse University in 2021. She also holds an M.Phil. in Religion and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Women's and Gender Studies from Syracuse University, an M.A. in Comparative Religion from Iliff School of Theology, and a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She pursues projects that highlight the power and agency of everyday people. Religions are often a vital resource for grassroots social action and community engagement, as exemplified by Buddhism in Vietnam. Her projects have received generous grant support from the American Council of Learned Societies; Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA); and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowship in Buddhist Studies. Swenson's new book, Near Light We Shine: Buddhist Charity in Urban Vietnam (Oxford UP, 2025) is one of the first major ethnographic studies on Buddhism in southern Vietnam, featuring new histories and interpretations of this rich subject. It shares new context for how religious practices affect urban migration, development, and humanitarian concerns, and presents theoretical advancements for understanding grassroots charity. Near Light We Shine offers a diversity of perspectives on grassroots Buddhist practices throughout Vietnam, by featuring interviews that have never been published before from marginalized Buddhist practitioners in Vietnam, such as day laborers, queer men, elderly women, and retired communist soldiers. References mentioned in the interview: Le Hoang Anh Thu, "Doing Bodhisattva's Work: Charity, Class, and Selfhood of Petty Traders in Hồ Chí Minh City" here Nhung Lu Rots, "Towards an Alternative Buddhist Modernity: Hòa Hảo Charity Healing and Herbal Medicine in the Mekong Delta" here Elizabeth Perez, Religion in the Kitchen here Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI) at the University of Wisconsin here Van Nguyen-Marshall, Between War and the State: Civil Society in South Vietnam, 1954–1975 here Casey R. Collins, Buddhist Contramodernism: Shinnyo-en's Reconfigurations of Tradition for Modernity here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion
Sara Swenson is Assistant Professor of Religion and Affiliated Faculty in Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages at Dartmouth College. Her areas of expertise include Religions of Southeast Asia, Buddhism in Vietnam, Gender and Sexuality, Affect Theory, and Ethnography. She received her Ph.D. in Religion from Syracuse University in 2021. She also holds an M.Phil. in Religion and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Women's and Gender Studies from Syracuse University, an M.A. in Comparative Religion from Iliff School of Theology, and a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She pursues projects that highlight the power and agency of everyday people. Religions are often a vital resource for grassroots social action and community engagement, as exemplified by Buddhism in Vietnam. Her projects have received generous grant support from the American Council of Learned Societies; Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA); and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowship in Buddhist Studies. Swenson's new book, Near Light We Shine: Buddhist Charity in Urban Vietnam (Oxford UP, 2025) is one of the first major ethnographic studies on Buddhism in southern Vietnam, featuring new histories and interpretations of this rich subject. It shares new context for how religious practices affect urban migration, development, and humanitarian concerns, and presents theoretical advancements for understanding grassroots charity. Near Light We Shine offers a diversity of perspectives on grassroots Buddhist practices throughout Vietnam, by featuring interviews that have never been published before from marginalized Buddhist practitioners in Vietnam, such as day laborers, queer men, elderly women, and retired communist soldiers. References mentioned in the interview: Le Hoang Anh Thu, "Doing Bodhisattva's Work: Charity, Class, and Selfhood of Petty Traders in Hồ Chí Minh City" here Nhung Lu Rots, "Towards an Alternative Buddhist Modernity: Hòa Hảo Charity Healing and Herbal Medicine in the Mekong Delta" here Elizabeth Perez, Religion in the Kitchen here Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI) at the University of Wisconsin here Van Nguyen-Marshall, Between War and the State: Civil Society in South Vietnam, 1954–1975 here Casey R. Collins, Buddhist Contramodernism: Shinnyo-en's Reconfigurations of Tradition for Modernity here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sara Swenson is Assistant Professor of Religion and Affiliated Faculty in Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages at Dartmouth College. Her areas of expertise include Religions of Southeast Asia, Buddhism in Vietnam, Gender and Sexuality, Affect Theory, and Ethnography. She received her Ph.D. in Religion from Syracuse University in 2021. She also holds an M.Phil. in Religion and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Women's and Gender Studies from Syracuse University, an M.A. in Comparative Religion from Iliff School of Theology, and a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She pursues projects that highlight the power and agency of everyday people. Religions are often a vital resource for grassroots social action and community engagement, as exemplified by Buddhism in Vietnam. Her projects have received generous grant support from the American Council of Learned Societies; Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA); and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowship in Buddhist Studies. Swenson's new book, Near Light We Shine: Buddhist Charity in Urban Vietnam (Oxford UP, 2025) is one of the first major ethnographic studies on Buddhism in southern Vietnam, featuring new histories and interpretations of this rich subject. It shares new context for how religious practices affect urban migration, development, and humanitarian concerns, and presents theoretical advancements for understanding grassroots charity. Near Light We Shine offers a diversity of perspectives on grassroots Buddhist practices throughout Vietnam, by featuring interviews that have never been published before from marginalized Buddhist practitioners in Vietnam, such as day laborers, queer men, elderly women, and retired communist soldiers. References mentioned in the interview: Le Hoang Anh Thu, "Doing Bodhisattva's Work: Charity, Class, and Selfhood of Petty Traders in Hồ Chí Minh City" here Nhung Lu Rots, "Towards an Alternative Buddhist Modernity: Hòa Hảo Charity Healing and Herbal Medicine in the Mekong Delta" here Elizabeth Perez, Religion in the Kitchen here Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI) at the University of Wisconsin here Van Nguyen-Marshall, Between War and the State: Civil Society in South Vietnam, 1954–1975 here Casey R. Collins, Buddhist Contramodernism: Shinnyo-en's Reconfigurations of Tradition for Modernity here
Wittlinger, Wehner and Wolf's 2006 “stilts and stumps” Science paper revealed how ants pull off extraordinary feats of navigation using a biological odometer, and it inspired Tuthill to consider how other insects sense their own bodies.
In this episode, Jay Vidyarthi discusses how to reclaim your mind and build a healthier relationship with technology. He explores common pitfalls—like avoidance, anxiety, and judgment—and shares practical strategies for using digital tools consciously. Jay emphasizes personal agency, setting boundaries, and the value of both online and offline connections. This conversation challenges the idea that technology is inherently good or bad, instead encouraging listeners to cultivate awareness, compassion, and intentional habits to foster well-being and authentic relationships in a tech-driven world. Exciting News!!!Coming in March 2026, my new book, How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life is now available for pre-orders! Key Takeaways The relationship between technology and mindfulness. The tension between the desire for genuine connection and the allure of digital devices. The concept of technology as neither inherently good nor bad, but shaped by our relationship with it. Strategies for engaging with technology mindfully, as discussed in Jay Viviani's book. The "two wolves" parable and its implications for attention and emotional awareness. The importance of clarity and awareness in managing emotions related to technology use. The role of meditation and mindfulness practices in cultivating a healthier relationship with technology. The impact of societal narratives on perceptions of technology and its users. The significance of personal agency in setting boundaries and making conscious choices regarding technology. The potential for technology to meet emotional and social needs when approached mindfully. For full show notes, click here! Connect with the show: Follow us on YouTube: @TheOneYouFeedPod Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Follow us on Instagram If you enjoyed this conversation with Jay Vidyarthi, please check out these other episodes: The Hidden Costs of Technology and Our Search for Selfhood with Vauhini Vara Distracted or Empowered? Rethinking Our Relationship with Technology with Pete Etchells By purchasing products and/or services from our sponsors, you are helping to support The One You Feed, and we greatly appreciate it. Thank you! This episode is sponsored by: Hungry Root: For a limited time, get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to www.hungryroot.com/feed and use code FEED. Aura Frames: For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com /FEED to get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames – named #1 by Wirecutter – by using promo code FEED at checkout. This deal is exclusive to listeners, and frames sell out fast, so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays! Uncommon Goods has something for everyone – you'll find thousands of new gift ideas that you won't find anywhere else, and you'll be supporting artists and small, independent businesses. To get 15% off your next gift, go to UNCOMMONGOODS.com/FEED LinkedIn: Post your job for free at linkedin.com/oneyoufeed. Terms and conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is transgenderism a mental disorder? Is transexualism a delusional pursuit? Is sexual identity a cultural value arbitrarily assigned at birth? This is the topic of today's discussion. My first experience with a person seeking transexual modification was as a private practice marriage counselor in Idaho, back in the early 1980's. This fellow was seeking an official diagnosis of transexualism as required by the state in order to proceed with surgical procedures. He had been denied certification by other psychologists and was hoping I would provide him with the needed diagnosis. One session was enough for me to deny his claim. Why? After hearing his story, it turned out that his wife had recently decided she was a lesbian and no longer wanted to have sex with him. In order to save his marriage he decided to have his genitals surgically removed so he could “become a woman” to save their marriage. Though motivated by love for his wife, this reason would not qualify him for surgery under any transgender or transexual definition. I can tell you he was plenty pissed off by my refusal to go along with his plan. By definition, a transgendered individual is one who identifies with a gender incongruent with their body. They prefer dressing in clothing usually associated with the “other” gender and purposely minimize their secondary sexual characteristics. They may prefer engaging in activities more popular with the “other” gender. Population estimates of transgender persons has jumped from an historically steady 0.6% of the total population as of 2016 to 1.0% of the population surveyed in 2025, with young people ages 13-17 now accounting for 3.3% of the general population. Transexual is defined as taking the extra step of body modification through surgery or hormones to bring the body into closer congruence with self-identity. It is estimated that 25% to 30% of transgendered individuals now undergo body modification, up from an estimated 10% to 15% in the early 2000's. What accounts for this rise in trans identity? Is it merely a rise in societal acceptance that grants the freedom to declare one's identity publicly as many claim, or is there another, more gnostic, interpretation of this phenomena? Let's consider this carefully. Many gnostic texts suggest that the spiritual plane is gendered and populated by male and female entities, which gives rise to tidy mythological pantheons of male and female gods. However, I question the meaning of the term “gender” as it applies to the aeonic realm. At least one important book of the Nag Hammadi makes no mention of gender in the spiritual realm, and that's the Tripartite Tractate upon which this gnosis is based. [I take that back. Actually, there's one mention of the fallen Aeon being as one stripped of their masculinity, but that's more a statement of overall loss of integration and power arising from the fall.] Everything I'm sharing with you today is based upon the Tripartite Tractate and the logical conclusions that arise from that book. Yes, the terms “Father” and “Son” are assigned to the originating consciousness out of which our consciousness flows, but the meaning of those terms has nothing to do with sexual attributes or form. Neutral names like “Source” and “Offspring” would do as nicely but lack the personal relatability of family and the familiarity of traditional names. Sexual orientation and activity only applies to us creatures here in the Deficiency for purposes of reproduction. The portal between the ethereal and the so-called material cosmos requires a mechanism for fruiting the 2nd Order Powers arriving from the Fullness. Sexual activity is primarily responsible for populating the 2nd economy for all creatures above the level of bacteria, amoeba, fungi, and some plants and invertebrates. It would seem that the rules for fruiting changed from asexual to sexual as the complexity of the 2nd Order creatures arriving on the planet changed from smallest to largest. The Aeons are not male and female. They are fully integrated units of consciousness. What we call male identity and female identity reflect our lack of integration of our complete identity, or what Jung referred to as the lack of self-actualization of our animus and anima. In other words, our essential identities are neither male nor female but both. So identifying with either is actually a deficiency that represents incomplete individuation hampered by overidentification with the physical form. Male identity is misclassified as belonging to a man's soul identity, or what we here at Gnostic Insights call “ego” identity. The same goes for female identity. Remember, all 2nd Order Powers share the same One Self consciousness that flows unimpeded from Above. What distinguishes us is our ego identity—our self-identified name, position, place, and duty. The same goes for the Aeons. The Aeons share their One identity with the Son as fractals of the Son, and are distinguished from one another by their self-identified egoic position within the hierarchy of the Fullness of God according to name, position, place, and duty. Like the Aeons, we encompass and embrace the full anima/animus spectrum within our ego identity. But down here, physical and material forces act upon our bodies and influence self-identity as either male or female. In reality, we are equally both. Furthermore, the memes we pick up here from our childhood experiences, especially childhood sexual trauma, can affect our gender identity. The Son is the Father's only direct emanation. The Son is a monad, not a dyad or syzygy. Even though we call this monad the Son, it is not a male figure. The Son is a fully realized individual representing all aspects of the originating Source. The Son is the singular embodiment of the ALL. The Totalities of the ALL are the full expression of the diversity of the Son. The Totalities of the ALL are not self-aware; they are fully identified with the ungendered Son. The ALL is called the “aeon of the Aeons.” During the act of singing glorious praise to the Father, this “aeon of the aeons” produces a limitless variety of Aeons that occupy the Fullness of God. The Aeons of the Fullness are fractal iterations of the ungendered Son. The Aeons self-sort themselves into a hierarchy of unique positions, ranks, and duties within the Fullness. Their job is to continue giving glory to the Father through song. The Aeons do not reproduce sexually. They combine with other Aeons and sings songs of glory to the Father all together within these various combinations, which produces fruit from their comingled glory. And during the giving of glory, the Aeons dream of Paradise. We 2nd Order Powers are the fruit of these Aeons dreaming of Paradise. We enjoy making love the same way the Aeons enjoy giving glory together. In our fallen world, we 2nd Order Powers manifest as only two sexes for the purpose of reproduction. Self-assigned gender identity is irrelevant to the end goal of biological reproduction; male plus female are required. Love is not confined to sexual activity or reproduction. Love is love and we are all full of love that flows like an unending stream from the Father through the Fullness. Love is not limited to sex, reproduction, or gender identification. Now we move on to a consideration of reincarnation and its implications for transgender confusion. We've talked about reincarnation in prior episodes. If you would like to review those, the links are in the transcript to this episode, so if you are listening to an audio podcast, please visit the Gnostic Insights website where all previous episodes are posted, or view this transcript at the Cyd Ropp Gnostic Reformation Substack. [Revisiting Reincarnation] [Reincarnation, Research, and Gnosis] Reincarnation provides an excellent counter-argument to transgenderism, so let's consider the logic of this together. We do not necessarily reincarnate as the same gender from lifetime to lifetime. Therefore it follows that our ego's memory houses all of our prior gender identities. What we take for our gender identity is usually associated with the body we are currently inhabiting. A person may identify with their previous life's gender and carry those memes strongly forward into this incarnation. It is not an error to notice those gender-identified memes and behave accordingly. The error is thinking this current body needs to conform to that previous meme chord that we call gender. Confusion arises from thinking one is born into the wrong body or telling a child they are born into the wrong body. No. We are born into the most perfect body possible for our current incarnation. We are sent into this fallen world by our aeonic parents with our full cooperation. We forget our mission once we are here. We forget why we are here and who we really are, just as the Demiurge did. The error is thinking we know better than the Fullness from our fallen perspective down here who we are and what body we should be wearing. “Tomboy” girls and so-called “effeminate” boys are just that. There is no need to make the body conform to the previous life's body. There is a reason to inhabit the body one is born into. Perhaps lessons to be learned by living a lifetime in a less familiar body configuration. Remember, our talents are gifted by our aeonic parents, just as our DNA comes through our earthly parents. A female who is gifted with so-called “masculine” traits is not masculine. The words masculine or feminine are misnomers of our gender-obsessed, fallen culture. Here's a chart of so-called masculine and feminine traits drawn up by an AI at my request. The AI noted that, “Personality traits are often categorized as masculine or feminine, though it's important to note that these traits exist on a spectrum and can be present in anyone, regardless of gender.” And, indeed, you can see by the chart that a well-balanced, integrated personality would display both types of traits as needed, regardless of sex. Trait Type Communication Masculine: Direct, assertive Feminine: Empathetic, nurturing Emotional Expression Masculine: Reserved, independent Feminine: Expressive, relational Leadership Style Masculine: Authoritative, task-oriented Feminine: Collaborative, inclusive Conflict Resolution Masculine: Competitive, confrontational Feminine: Cooperative, harmony Decision Making Masculine: Decisive, risk-taking Feminine: Reflective, consensus-building Problem Solving Masculine”: Analytical, logical Feminine: Intuitive, holistic Self-Perception Masculine: Self-reliant, confident Feminine: Community building, supportive Offering my own experience as an example, this unit of consciousness that is known as Cyd is often miscategorized by others as exhibiting so-called masculine traits in academic and workplace settings. Yet, at home, I skew much more toward the “feminine.” That's probably why I enjoyed running a large bed and breakfast for several years, because both types of traits make for an efficient yet caring innkeeper. Growing up, I was considered a “tomboy,” preferring wrestling and sports to playing with dolls and trying on make-up. My pixie haircut displays my lifelong disdain for futzing with hairdo's, curlers, and hair products. My mother was a glamorous woman, a real girlie-girl that forever tried to force me into pink and ruffles while I preferred jeans and hoodies, much to her frustration. Again, I don't think that any of these distinctions have one whit to do with gender. It never even crossed my mind that I should be a boy. Rude people from time to time have suggested I “come out” as gay and join the alphabet community. No thanks. No need. I am not confused. I am who I am. Knowing who you are, your aeonic inheritance and lifetimes of experience, transcends the tidy categories the culture would like to cram us into. The categories become irrelevant. We carry our fixed, God-given personalities along with our self-identity egos with us from lifetime to lifetime, adding and subtracting memes and meme chords like gender identity as we go. However, our initial personalities were formed by Aeons giving praise together in various combinations. Eventually we reach our final resting place. That resting place is not the silence of decomposing flesh in the grave. We have occupied countless bodies and forms throughout our lifetimes. We have left those bodies behind every time. We are not confined to those vessels of flesh and bone that sicken and die. Our One Self spirit and ever-evolving ego carry on. We either return to the next, most perfect body for our unit of consciousness to inhabit, or we stay in the higher ethereal plane occupied by Aeons and 2nd Order Powers who have left behind the material cosmos and the confusion that arises in the Deficiency. We will remain recognizable by ourselves and others. Our ego identification is not dependent on our gender or appearance; we have occupied so many different bodies in so many different incarnations that there is no way our identity is anchored by a single material form. Like Christ and the 3rd Order of Powers, we will all be recognizable to those who know us, irrespective of appearance or sexual traits. Like the Aeons, our ego is tied to our mind, our words, our rank in the overall system of the Fullness. “Each of those who glorify has his own station, rank, dwelling place, and place of rest, which is the glorification he brings forth.” [Tripartite Tractate verse 70] “For each of the aeons is a name corresponding to each of the Father's qualities and powers. Since he exists in many names, it is by mingling and through mutual harmony that they are able to speak of him, by means of a richness of speech. Thus, the Father is a single Name because he is One, but nevertheless innumerable in his qualities and names.” [verse 73] Just be who you are without labels or gender identification. Embrace your self-identity irrespective of how you present to others as long as it is true to your aeonic, God-given Self and ego. Drop those confusing and unnecessary cultural memes that weigh down your soul. Our God Above All Gods is not the author of confusion. Gender confusion is just another demiurgic ploy to throw you off track and keep you down. The Father's will is strong and clear and uplifting. The path of discovering gnosis and self-actualization is not through the labyrinths of despair and self-doubt. And it is certainly not through a surgeon's scalpel. Turn your eyes up to the Fullness and within to find true self identity and acceptance. This article is not meant to criticize but to uplift divergent individuals like myself. God blesses all of us. Onward and upward. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Stripe Credit Card *Choose your item *Item A - $10.00Item B - $25.00Item C - $50.00Total$0.00Submit
Is transgenderism a mental disorder? Is transexualism a delusional pursuit? Is sexual identity a cultural value arbitrarily assigned at birth? This is the topic of today's discussion. My first experience with a person seeking transexual modification was as a private practice marriage counselor in Idaho, back in the early 1980's. This fellow was seeking an official diagnosis of transexualism as required by the state in order to proceed with surgical procedures. He had been denied certification by other psychologists and was hoping I would provide him with the needed diagnosis. One session was enough for me to deny his claim. Why? After hearing his story, it turned out that his wife had recently decided she was a lesbian and no longer wanted to have sex with him. In order to save his marriage he decided to have his genitals surgically removed so he could “become a woman” to save their marriage. Though motivated by love for his wife, this reason would not qualify him for surgery under any transgender or transexual definition. I can tell you he was plenty pissed off by my refusal to go along with his plan. By definition, a transgendered individual is one who identifies with a gender incongruent with their body. They prefer dressing in clothing usually associated with the “other” gender and purposely minimize their secondary sexual characteristics. They may prefer engaging in activities more popular with the “other” gender. Population estimates of transgender persons has jumped from an historically steady 0.6% of the total population as of 2016 to 1.0% of the population surveyed in 2025, with young people ages 13-17 now accounting for 3.3% of the general population. Transexual is defined as taking the extra step of body modification through surgery or hormones to bring the body into closer congruence with self-identity. It is estimated that 25% to 30% of transgendered individuals now undergo body modification, up from an estimated 10% to 15% in the early 2000's. What accounts for this rise in trans identity? Is it merely a rise in societal acceptance that grants the freedom to declare one's identity publicly as many claim, or is there another, more gnostic, interpretation of this phenomena? Let's consider this carefully. Many gnostic texts suggest that the spiritual plane is gendered and populated by male and female entities, which gives rise to tidy mythological pantheons of male and female gods. However, I question the meaning of the term “gender” as it applies to the aeonic realm. At least one important book of the Nag Hammadi makes no mention of gender in the spiritual realm, and that's the Tripartite Tractate upon which this gnosis is based. [I take that back. Actually, there's one mention of the fallen Aeon being as one stripped of their masculinity, but that's more a statement of overall loss of integration and power arising from the fall.] Everything I'm sharing with you today is based upon the Tripartite Tractate and the logical conclusions that arise from that book. Yes, the terms “Father” and “Son” are assigned to the originating consciousness out of which our consciousness flows, but the meaning of those terms has nothing to do with sexual attributes or form. Neutral names like “Source” and “Offspring” would do as nicely but lack the personal relatability of family and the familiarity of traditional names. Sexual orientation and activity only applies to us creatures here in the Deficiency for purposes of reproduction. The portal between the ethereal and the so-called material cosmos requires a mechanism for fruiting the 2nd Order Powers arriving from the Fullness. Sexual activity is primarily responsible for populating the 2nd economy for all creatures above the level of bacteria, amoeba, fungi, and some plants and invertebrates. It would seem that the rules for fruiting changed from asexual to sexual as the complexity of the 2nd Order creatures arriving on the planet changed from smallest to largest. The Aeons are not male and female. They are fully integrated units of consciousness. What we call male identity and female identity reflect our lack of integration of our complete identity, or what Jung referred to as the lack of self-actualization of our animus and anima. In other words, our essential identities are neither male nor female but both. So identifying with either is actually a deficiency that represents incomplete individuation hampered by overidentification with the physical form. Male identity is misclassified as belonging to a man's soul identity, or what we here at Gnostic Insights call “ego” identity. The same goes for female identity. Remember, all 2nd Order Powers share the same One Self consciousness that flows unimpeded from Above. What distinguishes us is our ego identity—our self-identified name, position, place, and duty. The same goes for the Aeons. The Aeons share their One identity with the Son as fractals of the Son, and are distinguished from one another by their self-identified egoic position within the hierarchy of the Fullness of God according to name, position, place, and duty. Like the Aeons, we encompass and embrace the full anima/animus spectrum within our ego identity. But down here, physical and material forces act upon our bodies and influence self-identity as either male or female. In reality, we are equally both. Furthermore, the memes we pick up here from our childhood experiences, especially childhood sexual trauma, can affect our gender identity. The Son is the Father's only direct emanation. The Son is a monad, not a dyad or syzygy. Even though we call this monad the Son, it is not a male figure. The Son is a fully realized individual representing all aspects of the originating Source. The Son is the singular embodiment of the ALL. The Totalities of the ALL are the full expression of the diversity of the Son. The Totalities of the ALL are not self-aware; they are fully identified with the ungendered Son. The ALL is called the “aeon of the Aeons.” During the act of singing glorious praise to the Father, this “aeon of the aeons” produces a limitless variety of Aeons that occupy the Fullness of God. The Aeons of the Fullness are fractal iterations of the ungendered Son. The Aeons self-sort themselves into a hierarchy of unique positions, ranks, and duties within the Fullness. Their job is to continue giving glory to the Father through song. The Aeons do not reproduce sexually. They combine with other Aeons and sings songs of glory to the Father all together within these various combinations, which produces fruit from their comingled glory. And during the giving of glory, the Aeons dream of Paradise. We 2nd Order Powers are the fruit of these Aeons dreaming of Paradise. We enjoy making love the same way the Aeons enjoy giving glory together. In our fallen world, we 2nd Order Powers manifest as only two sexes for the purpose of reproduction. Self-assigned gender identity is irrelevant to the end goal of biological reproduction; male plus female are required. Love is not confined to sexual activity or reproduction. Love is love and we are all full of love that flows like an unending stream from the Father through the Fullness. Love is not limited to sex, reproduction, or gender identification. Now we move on to a consideration of reincarnation and its implications for transgender confusion. We've talked about reincarnation in prior episodes. If you would like to review those, the links are in the transcript to this episode, so if you are listening to an audio podcast, please visit the Gnostic Insights website where all previous episodes are posted, or view this transcript at the Cyd Ropp Gnostic Reformation Substack. [Revisiting Reincarnation] [Reincarnation, Research, and Gnosis] Reincarnation provides an excellent counter-argument to transgenderism, so let's consider the logic of this together. We do not necessarily reincarnate as the same gender from lifetime to lifetime. Therefore it follows that our ego's memory houses all of our prior gender identities. What we take for our gender identity is usually associated with the body we are currently inhabiting. A person may identify with their previous life's gender and carry those memes strongly forward into this incarnation. It is not an error to notice those gender-identified memes and behave accordingly. The error is thinking this current body needs to conform to that previous meme chord that we call gender. Confusion arises from thinking one is born into the wrong body or telling a child they are born into the wrong body. No. We are born into the most perfect body possible for our current incarnation. We are sent into this fallen world by our aeonic parents with our full cooperation. We forget our mission once we are here. We forget why we are here and who we really are, just as the Demiurge did. The error is thinking we know better than the Fullness from our fallen perspective down here who we are and what body we should be wearing. “Tomboy” girls and so-called “effeminate” boys are just that. There is no need to make the body conform to the previous life's body. There is a reason to inhabit the body one is born into. Perhaps lessons to be learned by living a lifetime in a less familiar body configuration. Remember, our talents are gifted by our aeonic parents, just as our DNA comes through our earthly parents. A female who is gifted with so-called “masculine” traits is not masculine. The words masculine or feminine are misnomers of our gender-obsessed, fallen culture. Here's a chart of so-called masculine and feminine traits drawn up by an AI at my request. The AI noted that, “Personality traits are often categorized as masculine or feminine, though it's important to note that these traits exist on a spectrum and can be present in anyone, regardless of gender.” And, indeed, you can see by the chart that a well-balanced, integrated personality would display both types of traits as needed, regardless of sex. Trait Type Communication Masculine: Direct, assertive Feminine: Empathetic, nurturing Emotional Expression Masculine: Reserved, independent Feminine: Expressive, relational Leadership Style Masculine: Authoritative, task-oriented Feminine: Collaborative, inclusive Conflict Resolution Masculine: Competitive, confrontational Feminine: Cooperative, harmony Decision Making Masculine: Decisive, risk-taking Feminine: Reflective, consensus-building Problem Solving Masculine”: Analytical, logical Feminine: Intuitive, holistic Self-Perception Masculine: Self-reliant, confident Feminine: Community building, supportive Offering my own experience as an example, this unit of consciousness that is known as Cyd is often miscategorized by others as exhibiting so-called masculine traits in academic and workplace settings. Yet, at home, I skew much more toward the “feminine.” That's probably why I enjoyed running a large bed and breakfast for several years, because both types of traits make for an efficient yet caring innkeeper. Growing up, I was considered a “tomboy,” preferring wrestling and sports to playing with dolls and trying on make-up. My pixie haircut displays my lifelong disdain for futzing with hairdo's, curlers, and hair products. My mother was a glamorous woman, a real girlie-girl that forever tried to force me into pink and ruffles while I preferred jeans and hoodies, much to her frustration. Again, I don't think that any of these distinctions have one whit to do with gender. It never even crossed my mind that I should be a boy. Rude people from time to time have suggested I “come out” as gay and join the alphabet community. No thanks. No need. I am not confused. I am who I am. Knowing who you are, your aeonic inheritance and lifetimes of experience, transcends the tidy categories the culture would like to cram us into. The categories become irrelevant. We carry our fixed, God-given personalities along with our self-identity egos with us from lifetime to lifetime, adding and subtracting memes and meme chords like gender identity as we go. However, our initial personalities were formed by Aeons giving praise together in various combinations. Eventually we reach our final resting place. That resting place is not the silence of decomposing flesh in the grave. We have occupied countless bodies and forms throughout our lifetimes. We have left those bodies behind every time. We are not confined to those vessels of flesh and bone that sicken and die. Our One Self spirit and ever-evolving ego carry on. We either return to the next, most perfect body for our unit of consciousness to inhabit, or we stay in the higher ethereal plane occupied by Aeons and 2nd Order Powers who have left behind the material cosmos and the confusion that arises in the Deficiency. We will remain recognizable by ourselves and others. Our ego identification is not dependent on our gender or appearance; we have occupied so many different bodies in so many different incarnations that there is no way our identity is anchored by a single material form. Like Christ and the 3rd Order of Powers, we will all be recognizable to those who know us, irrespective of appearance or sexual traits. Like the Aeons, our ego is tied to our mind, our words, our rank in the overall system of the Fullness. “Each of those who glorify has his own station, rank, dwelling place, and place of rest, which is the glorification he brings forth.” [Tripartite Tractate verse 70] “For each of the aeons is a name corresponding to each of the Father's qualities and powers. Since he exists in many names, it is by mingling and through mutual harmony that they are able to speak of him, by means of a richness of speech. Thus, the Father is a single Name because he is One, but nevertheless innumerable in his qualities and names.” [verse 73] Just be who you are without labels or gender identification. Embrace your self-identity irrespective of how you present to others as long as it is true to your aeonic, God-given Self and ego. Drop those confusing and unnecessary cultural memes that weigh down your soul. Our God Above All Gods is not the author of confusion. Gender confusion is just another demiurgic ploy to throw you off track and keep you down. The Father's will is strong and clear and uplifting. The path of discovering gnosis and self-actualization is not through the labyrinths of despair and self-doubt. And it is certainly not through a surgeon's scalpel. Turn your eyes up to the Fullness and within to find true self identity and acceptance. This article is not meant to criticize but to uplift divergent individuals like myself. God blesses all of us. Onward and upward. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Stripe Credit Card *Choose your item *Item A - $10.00Item B - $25.00Item C - $50.00Total$0.00Submit
The Masterclass Hegemony, Revolt and Selfhood: India's Encounters with Languages explores three defining moments in India's linguistic journey: the arrival of Sanskrit, Persian, and English. Each language came from beyond India's borders, gained a foothold, and extended its influence across diverse cultures, communities, and tongues. Their dominance shaped not only communication but also identity, politics, and thought. Thus, becoming inseparable from the larger story of India itself. These lectures will trace how each language consolidated its power, how resistance took form, and how new voices emerged in the process. Strikingly, in every encounter, it was not the imperial language that endured, but the languages rooted in the soil (the desa, the nadu) that reshaped and redefined the cultural landscape. As we step into an uncertain digital future, this series asks whether India's linguistic resilience will once again carry it forward, as it has so often before. Language and Hegemony Explore how Sanskrit, Persian, and English reshaped India across centuries. Each entered from outside, claimed cultural power, and ruled the imagination, but India remained a linguistic civilization defined by diversity. This talk uncovers why language became both a tool of hegemony and the essence of India's selfhood. In this episode of BIC Talks, G N Devy delivers a masterclass. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in Sep 2025. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible, and Amazon Music.
The Masterclass Hegemony, Revolt and Selfhood: India's Encounters with Languages explores three defining moments in India's linguistic journey: the arrival of Sanskrit, Persian, and English. Each language came from beyond India's borders, gained a foothold, and extended its influence across diverse cultures, communities, and tongues. Their dominance shaped not only communication but also identity, politics, and thought. Thus, becoming inseparable from the larger story of India itself. These lectures will trace how each language consolidated its power, how resistance took form, and how new voices emerged in the process. Strikingly, in every encounter, it was not the imperial language that endured, but the languages rooted in the soil (the desa, the nadu) that reshaped and redefined the cultural landscape. As we step into an uncertain digital future, this series asks whether India's linguistic resilience will once again carry it forward, as it has so often before. Decline and Transformation Sanskrit reigned for millennia, Persian for centuries, English for decades. Yet, none endured unchallenged. Each gave way to the resilient desi-bhashas, rooted in the land and people. This lecture traces the rise, fall, and transformation of languages in India, and what these shifts reveal about power and imagination.
The Masterclass Hegemony, Revolt and Selfhood: India's Encounters with Languages explores three defining moments in India's linguistic journey: the arrival of Sanskrit, Persian, and English. Each language came from beyond India's borders, gained a foothold, and extended its influence across diverse cultures, communities, and tongues. Their dominance shaped not only communication but also identity, politics, and thought. Thus, becoming inseparable from the larger story of India itself. These lectures will trace how each language consolidated its power, how resistance took form, and how new voices emerged in the process. Strikingly, in every encounter, it was not the imperial language that endured, but the languages rooted in the soil (the desa, the nadu) that reshaped and redefined the cultural landscape. As we step into an uncertain digital future, this series asks whether India's linguistic resilience will once again carry it forward, as it has so often before. Language between Nationalism and Technology In today's charged climate, languages carry the weight of both nationalism and digital futures. This session asks how India's linguistic diversity will evolve in the twenty-first century, and whether the voices of many can thrive amid the pulls of technology, identity, and the search for cultural belonging. In this episode of BIC Talks, G N Devy delivers a masterclass. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in Sep 2025. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible, and Amazon Music.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Shais Taub, the rabbi behind the organization SoulWords, about shame, selfhood, and authenticity. In this episode we discuss:How are we to deal with the pain of embodiment and individuation?How does one uncover their mission in the world and align their life with the transcendent?How can we work to reorient our desires toward the right things? Tune in to hear a conversation about the interior experience of fragmentation from Ultimate Being. Interview begins at 10:28.Rabbi Shais Taub is a well-known figure in Jewish teachings and personal development and delivers Torah lectures and classes worldwide. He is renowned for his ability to make complex ideas accessible. He heads SoulWords.org and serves as scholar-in-residence at Chabad of the Five Towns in Long Island, New York.References:God of Our Understanding by Shais TaubSin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David BashevkinTop 5 by David BashevkinSeinfeld: “The Soul Mate”"Eric Adams on Dyslexia, Trauma, and Fixing What's Broken in Politics”Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtFor more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyWhatsApp: join hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
Theologian Miroslav Volf reflects on solitude, loneliness, and how being alone can reveal our humanity, selfhood, and relationship with God.This episode is part 1 of a 5-part series, SOLO, which explores the theological, moral, and psychological dimensions of loneliness, solitude, and being alone.“Solitude brings one back in touch with who one is—it's how we stabilize ourselves so we know how to be ourselves with others.”Macie Bridge welcomes Miroslav for a conversation on solitude and being oneself—probing the difference between loneliness and aloneness, and the essential role of solitude in a flourishing Christian life. Reflecting on Genesis, the Incarnation, and the sensory life of faith, Volf considers how we can both embrace solitude and attend to the loneliness of others.He shares personal reflections on his mother's daily prayer practice and how solitude grounded her in divine presence. Volf describes how solitude restores the self before God and others: “Nobody can be me instead of me.” It is possible, he suggests, that we can we rediscover the presence of God in every relationship—solitary or shared.Helpful Links and ResourcesThe Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us WorseFyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and PunishmentRainer Maria Rilke, Book of Hours (Buch der Stunden)Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Creation and FallEpisode Highlights“Nobody can be me instead of me. And since I must be me, to be me well, I need times with myself.”“It's not good, in almost a metaphysical sense, for us to be alone. We aren't ourselves when we are simply alone.”“Solitude brings one back in touch with who one is—it's how we stabilize ourselves so we know how to be ourselves with others.”“Our relationship to God is mediated by our relationships to others. To honor another is to honor God.”“When we attend to the loneliness of others, in some ways we tend to our own loneliness.”Solitude, Loneliness, and FlourishingThe difference between solitude (constructive aloneness) and loneliness (diminishment of self).COVID-19 as an amplifier of solitude and loneliness.Volf's experience of being alone at Yale—productive solitude without loneliness.Loneliness as “the absence of an affirming glance.”Aloneness as essential for self-reflection and renewal before others.Humanity, Creation, and RelationshipAdam's solitude in Genesis as an incomplete creation—“It is not good for man to be alone.”Human beings as fundamentally social and political.A newborn cannot flourish without touch and gaze—relational presence is constitutive of personhood.Solitude and communion exist in dynamic tension; both must be rightly measured.Jesus's Solitude and Human ResponsibilityJesus withdrawing to pray as a model of sacred solitude.Solitude allows one to “return to oneself,” guarding against being lost in the crowd.The danger of losing selfhood in relationships, “becoming echoes of the crowd.”God, Limits, and OthersEvery other person as a God-given limit—“To honor another is to honor God.”Violating others as transgressing divine boundaries.True spirituality as respecting the space, limit, and presence of the other.Touch, Senses, and the ChurchThe sensory dimension of faith—seeing, touching, being seen.Mary's anointing of Jesus as embodied gospel.Rilke's “ripe seeing”: vision as invitation and affirmation.The church as a site of embodied presence—touch, seeing, listening as acts of communion.The Fear of Violation and the Gift of RespectLoneliness often born from fear of being violated rather than from lack of company.Loving another includes honoring their limit and respecting their freedom.Practical Reflections on LonelinessQuestions Volf asks himself: “Do I dare to be alone? How do I draw strength when I feel lonely?”The paradox of social connection in a digital age—teenagers side by side, “completely disconnected.”Love as sheer presence—“By sheer being, having a loving attitude, I relieve another's loneliness.”The Spiritual Discipline of SolitudeVolf's mother's daily hour of morning prayer—learning to hear God's voice like Samuel.Solitude as the ground for transformation: narrating oneself before God.“Nobody can die in my place… nobody can live my life in my place.”Solitude as preparation for love and life in community.About Miroslav VolfMiroslav Volf is the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School and Founding Director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. He is the author of Exclusion and Embrace, Flourishing: Why We Need Religion in a Globalized World, and numerous works on theology, culture, and human flourishing—most recently The Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse.Production NotesThis podcast featured Miroslav VolfInterview by Macie BridgeEdited and Produced by Evan RosaProduction Assistance by Alexa Rollow, Emily Brookfield, and Hope ChunA Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/aboutSupport For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give
This week, Vee and Elle sit down with journalist and sexual freedom philosopher Nicolle Double L to explore the intersection of BDSM, psychedelics, and sexuality as tools for self-discovery and healing. The conversation dives into cervical orgasms, DMT release, altered states, and how sex can mirror a psychedelic journey, especially when paired with presence and aftercare. The discussion delves into the neurochemistry of orgasms, the therapeutic aspects of BDSM, and the significance of set and setting in both sexual and psychedelic experiences.Chapters: Introduction and Connection To Writing, Shame, and BDSM (00:00)The Role of MDMA and Psychedlics in Healing (13:49)Does MDMA Ruin Sober Sex? (17:03) The Neuroscience of Edging, Orgasms and Psychedlelics (25:40)The Parallels of Set, Setting and Integration After Sex/BDSM Experiences As Seen in Psychedelic Experiences (29:03)What is Integration? Ex: Aftercare or Honest Space For Feedback & Reflection (32:30)Safe Space vs Brave Space (35:16)Do Cervical Orgasms release DMT? (39:55)Visions and Taste Changes During Orgasms (47:18)The Descent of Inanna: The First Dominatrix? (53:46)Rape Fantasy or Consual Non-Consent (CNC) (57:07)BDSM: Flow States, The Default Network Mode (DNM), the Suspension of Selfhood, Good Dom Vs Bad Dom (59:28)Listener Q/A: If You Are Experimenting With Psychedlics, What Should Take Into Consideration To Not Have A Bad Experience? (01:10:18)Nicolle Double L articles referenced in this episode:Can MDMA Increase Women's Sexual Desire?Do Orgasms Cause the Release of DMT?BDSM is the temporary suspension from the burden of selfhoodSign up for her substack to get more!The Sexual Freedom Philosopher Substack Follow:Instagram nicolledoublelInstagram menwhotakebathsLearn More:Nicolle Double L's LinkTreeWhere to find us, and how you can support us:Instagram: @girlsgonedeeppod Merch: girlsgonedeep.com/shop Woo More Play Affiliate Link: Support us while you shop! WHOREible Life: Get 10% off your deck with code GONEDEEP at whoreiblelife.com Instagram: @wlthegameContact: girlsgonedeep@gmail.com © 2025 GGD Alchemy, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
What if the real work of healing wasn't about fixing yourself, but about breaking free from the systems that taught you to feel small?In this episode, Sarah explores what it means to release toxic patriarchal conditioning from our thoughts, relationships, and sense of worth. Through honesty, humor, and spiritual insight, she unpacks how this system lives inside us and how we can begin to unravel it with compassion and courage.You'll hear:Why patriarchal programming quietly shapes our self-image, ambition, and emotionsHow burnout and codependency are connected to internalized hierarchySarah's personal story of reclaiming her sovereignty and rewriting her relationship patternsWhy collaboration rather than competition creates true liberationThe importance of honoring all your genders, energies, and expressionsPractical ways to dismantle scarcity, binary thinking, and overgiving in everyday lifeJoin Our Community:Join the Moon Studio Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themoonstudioBuy the 2025 Many Moons Lunar Planner: https://moon-studio.co/collections/all-products-excluding-route/products/many-moons-2025Subscribe to our newsletter: https://moon-studio.co/pages/newsletterFind Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gottesss/
Milton, inspired by the Bard's Song, returns and enters Blake, who is thereby united to Los, the imagination, resulting in a vision of nature redeemed by imagination. Then Milton confronts his Selfhood and renounces it, reconciling with his Emanation Ololon, a kind of renewed marriage witnessed by the married couple William and Catherine Blake in their garden.
On this week's brand-new Mailbag episode, no one warned you that post-baby bliss can come with a side of bedroom bust, or that rediscovering your inner siren can feel like starring in your own erotic montage. Plus, Nikki and Steve talk about vulnerability, washing machine climaxes, and how honesty in a relationship might just be the hottest thing of all. Nikki is now an ambassador for Club WPT Gold! Check out: https://clubwptgold.com and use code NIKKI to sign up! Follow the podcast on Insta: @shttheydonttellyou Follow Nikki on Insta: @NikkiLimo Follow Steve on Insta: @SteveGreeneComedy To visit our Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/stikki To watch the podcast on YouTube: http://bit.ly/STDTYPodYouTube Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening, or by using this link: http://bit.ly/ShtTheyDontTellYou If you want to support the show, and get all our episodes ad-free go to: https://stdty.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be amazing! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/ShtTheyDontTellYou To submit your questions/feedback, email us at: podcast@nikki.limo To call in with questions/feedback, leave us a voicemail at: (765) 734-0840 To watch more Nikki & Steve on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/nikkilimo To watch more of Nikki talking about Poker: https://www.twitch.tv/trickniks To check out Nikki's Jewelry Line: https://kittensandcoffee.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Award-winning tech journalist Vauhini Vara discusses whether tech companies are delivering on their promises, how AI chatbots manipulate us into giving them data, and how we can circumvent bias baked into the AI code itself. Vauhini's latest book is Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age.
In this episode, Vauhini Vara discusses the hidden costs of technology and our search for selfhood. She explains how we live in a world where technology functions as both a lifeline and a trap—offering connection, convenience, and possibility while also shaping our choices, exploiting our attention, and redefining how we see ourselves. Together, Eric and Vauhini explore the tension of relying on tools we can't seem to live without, the subtle ways algorithms alter our communication, and what it means to hold onto authentic selfhood in the digital age.Feeling overwhelmed, even by the good things in your life? Check out Overwhelm is Optional — a 4-week email course that helps you feel calmer and more grounded without needing to do less. In under 10 minutes a day, you'll learn simple mindset shifts (called “Still Points”) you can use right inside the life you already have. Sign up here for only $29!Key Takeaways:Exploration of the dual nature of technology as both beneficial and exploitative.Discussion on the impact of major tech companies like Amazon, Google, and OpenAI on personal identity and society.Examination of the ethical implications of consumer choices in a global capitalist system.Reflection on how technology alters human communication and relationships.Analysis of the concept of "algorithmic gaze" and its effects on self-perception and identity.Personal narratives intertwining technology with experiences of grief and loss.Consideration of AI's role in creative processes and its limitations compared to human expression.Discussion on the commodification of identity in the age of social media and audience capture.Insights into the ongoing negotiation between convenience and ethical considerations in technology use.Emphasis on the importance of individual agency and conscious decision-making in navigating the digital age.If you enjoyed this conversation with Vauhini Vara, check out these other episodesDistracted or Empowered? Rethinking Our Relationship with Technology with Pete EtchellsCan Radical Hope Save Us from Despair in a Fractured World? with Jamie WhealHuman Nature and Hope with Rutger BregmanFor full show notes, click here!Connect with the show:Follow us on YouTube: @TheOneYouFeedPodSubscribe on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyFollow us on InstagramThis episode is sponsored by AG1. Your daily health drink just got more flavorful! Our listeners will get a FREE Welcome Kit worth $76 when you subscribe, including 5 AG1 Travel Packs, a shaker, canister, and scoop! Get started today!BAU, Artist at War opens September 26. Visit BAUmovie.com to watch the trailer and learn more—or sign up your organization for a group screening.LinkedIn: Post your job for free at linkedin.com/1youfeed. Terms and conditions apply.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Olympic champion. Icon. And then… nothing.Apolo Ohno spent his entire life training for one thing - winning gold. He became the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history, chasing perfection at all costs. But when the spotlight faded and the podium disappeared, he faced a battle far tougher than any race: Who was he without the sport?In this raw and honest conversation, Apolo opens up about the identity crisis that hit after retirement, the role of ego in driving success - and destroying it - and the painful process of starting over from scratch.This isn't just about sport. It's about life after the thing you thought defined you. It's about resilience, reinvention, and the ongoing journey of self-discovery.Feeling stuck? If you need help getting out of your rut, Will can help - head to willnotfear.com to learn more about his coaching to get you off the hamster wheel. More from MTM at: https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/ Chapters:00:00 - Introduction04:17 - Masculinity Without a Father Figure07:58 - Success Through Small Wins08:43 - Athletic Success and Confidence14:35 - Gender Dynamics in Work and Education16:35 - Perspectives Across Class Lines18:38 - Men, Mindfulness, and Perception23:00 - The Tightrope of Masculinity and Its Impact27:45 - Effortlessly Yourself in Conversations34:51 - Injury Recovery and Mindful Detachment36:40 - Selfhood and Fragile Manhood46:37 - Teaching Daughters Vigilance52:47 - Reading Romantic Cues for Young Men58:19 - Emotions in Work and Raising Boys01:01:33 - Psychological Safety at Home01:03:15 - Emotional Miscommunication with Kids01:19:01 - Autonomy and Choosing Your CircleHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues Vauhini Vara, on the the tech moguls and A.I. Vauhini Vara, Pulitzer Prize finalist for her novel, “The Immortal King Rao,” and former tech journalist for the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere, discusses her book, “Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age” with host Richard Wolinsky. “Searches” is an exploration of how the internet and digital technologies influence and reshape our personal identities and self-perception, and the quest for meaning in contemporary society. The interview focuses on various aspects of her book, most notably the relation of the tech giants and corporations to politics, and specifically, the ins and outs of the corporate product known as “A.I.” Review of “Aztlan” by Luis Alfaro at the Magic Theatre through July 13, 2025. Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025. Book Passage. Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc. Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith. Monthly Event Calendar. BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. Summers at John Hinkel Park: Cymbeline opens July 4; The Taming of the Shrew opens August 16. See website for readings and events. Actor's Reading Collective (ARC). All readings at 7 pm: The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath, July 7 Z Below; July 13 Aurora; Appropriate by Brandon Jacob Jenkins, July 20 Aurora, July 21 Z Below. The Best We Could by Emily Feldman, July 27 Aurora, July 28 Z Below; Recipe by Michael Gene Sullivan, August 4 Aurora; August 5 The Magic. African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar. Afro-Solo Theatre Company.See website for calendar. American Conservatory Theatre Co-Founders. a world premiere hip-hop musical May 29 – July 6, Strand. Young Conservatory: Hadestown, Teen Edition, August 8-17, Strand. Kim's Convenience by Ins Choi, Sept 18 – Oct 19, Toni Rembe Theatre. Aurora Theatre The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe by Jane Wagner, with Marga Gomez, July 12 – August 10. Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information. Berkeley Rep. The Reservoir .by Jake Brasch, Sept. 5 – Oct 12, Peets Theatre. See website for summer events. Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming events and productions. Boxcar Theatre. The Illusionist with Kevin Blake, live at the Palace Theatre. Tony Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings. The Heat Will Kill Everything written and performed by Keith Josef Adkins, July 17-19. BroadwaySF: & Juliet, July 1-27, Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters. Broadway San Jose: Moulin Rouge!, The Musical. July 8-13. See website for other events. Center Rep: Indecent by Paula Vogel, September 1 – 28. Lesher Center. Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond Central Works The Last Goat by Gary Graves, June 28 – July 27. Cinnabar Theatre. Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood by Ken Ludwig, September 12-28, Sonoma State. Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings. Contra Costa Civic Theatre Pippin, August 30 – Sept. 14. See website for other events. Golden Thread The Return by Hanna Eady and Edward Mast, August 7 – 24, The Garret at ACT's Toni Rembe Theatre. Hillbarn Theatre: Murder for Two, a musical comedy, October 9 – November 2, 2025. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for specific workshops and events. Los Altos Stage Company. Guys & Dolls, July 18 – 27, Los Altos Youth Theatre. Lower Bottom Playaz August Wilson's Two Trains Running, August 8 -31. August Wilson's King Hedley II, November 8 -30. BAM House, Oakland. Magic Theatre. Aztlan by Luis Alfaro, World Premiere, June 25 – July 13. See website for additional events. Marin Shakespeare Company: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, June 13 – July 13, Forest Meadows Amphitheatre. See website for other events. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Ride the Cyclone, the musical, July 11 – August 15. New Performance Traditions. See website for upcoming schedule Oakland Theater Project. Les Blancs (The Whites) by Lorraine Hansberry, July 11 – 27. Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming. Palace of Fine Arts Theater. See website for event listings. Pear Theater. Constellations by Nick Payne, June 27 – July 20. See website for staged readings and other events. Playful People Productions. See web page for information on upcoming shows. Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances. Ray of Light: 9 to 5, the Musical. September 2025. Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events. San Francisco Playhouse. My Fair Lady, July 13 – Sept. 13. SFBATCO. See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. The Day The Sky Turned Orange by Julius Ernesto, Sept 5 – Oct. 5, Z Space. San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season Shotgun Players. The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest, July 12 – August 10. South Bay Musical Theatre: The Sound of Music, September 27 – October 18. Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Lunatico See website for upcoming events and producctions. Theatre Rhino Doodler by John Fisher, May 31 – July 6, The Marsh, San Francisco. The Laramie Project, June 19-29.. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean, A New Musical, June 18 – July 13. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Word for Word. See website for upcoming productions. Misc. Listings: BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Fort Mason Center. Events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org . . The post July 3, 2025: Vauhini Vara: “Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age” appeared first on KPFA.
Writer and journalist Vauhini Vara has been entangled with the tech world for most of her life — first as a kid in the Seattle suburbs and a college student in the Bay Area, and then as a reporter covering Silicon Valley for The Wall Street Journal. But it wasn’t until she turned to creative writing that Vara began to see just how deeply technology had shaped her own life. Vara sits down with Karah to talk about her new book, Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age and how she’s learning to use technology as a writing tool, while remaining critical of the industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send us a textHow brains compute and learn, blending neuroscience with AI insights.Episode Summary: Dr. Marius Pachitariu discusses how the brain computes information across scales, from single neurons to complex networks, using mice to study visual learning. He explains the differences between supervised and unsupervised learning, the brain's high-dimensional processing, and how it compares to artificial neural networks like large language models. The conversation also covers experimental techniques, such as calcium imaging, and the role of reward prediction errors in learning.About the guest: Marius Pachitariu, PhD is a group leader at the Janelia Research Campus, leading a lab focused on neuroscience with a blend of experimental and computational approaches.Discussion Points:The brain operates at multiple scales, with single neurons acting as computational units and networks creating complex, high-dimensional computations.Pachitariu's lab uses advanced tools like calcium imaging to record from tens of thousands of neurons simultaneously in mice.Unsupervised learning allows mice to form visual memories of environments without rewards, speeding up task learning later.Brain activity during sleep or anesthesia is highly correlated, unlike the high-dimensional, less predictable patterns during wakefulness.The brain expands sensory input dimensionality (e.g., from retina to visual cortex) to simplify complex computations, a principle also seen in artificial neural networks.Reward prediction errors, driven by dopamine, signal when expectations are violated, aiding learning by updating internal models.Large language models rely on self-supervised learning, predicting next words, but lack the forward-modeling reasoning humans excel at.Related episode:M&M 44: Consciousness, Perception, Hallucinations, Selfhood, Neuroscience, Psychedelics & "Being You" | Anil Seth*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts
In the first of a three-part series on Richard Rorty's Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity (1989), Let Us Think About It delves into the concept of contingency. Host Ryder Richards guides listeners through Rorty's radical argument that language, selfhood, and liberal communities are not grounded in universal truths but are crafted through historical chance, like tools in a dynamic toolkit. Drawing on Chapter 1, Ryder explores how language, far from mirroring reality, builds truths through evolving vocabularies, with examples like the French Revolution and Donald Davidson's “passing theories.” Chapter 2 reveals the self as a contingent construction, sculpted through redescriptions, as seen in Freud and Proust. Chapter 3 examines liberal societies as experimental creations, sustained by imaginative solidarity rather than fixed foundations, referencing Isaiah Berlin and Judith Shklar. While admiring Rorty's vivid metaphors and provocative ideas, Ryder critiques his potentially reductive view, questioning whether freedom alone can ensure moral progress. Packed with direct quotes and punchy insights, this episode sets the stage for upcoming discussions on irony and solidarity. Tune in to rethink how we create our world with the tools of language!
Healing doesn't come from fixing yourself.It comes from understanding yourself.Not just the polished parts but the scared ones, the striving ones, the parts we hide to survive.This week's guest, Sarah Jones, is a storyteller, artist, and activist known for her fearless exploration of identity. But this conversation isn't just about identity in the outer world, it's about the stories we carry inside, and the compassion it takes to hold them with care.Raised in a racially and culturally mixed household, Sarah unpacks what it means to belong to many worlds and sometimes feel at home in none. Through humor, vulnerability, and incredible emotional depth, she shares how the practice of Internal Family Systems (IFS) helped her name, understand, and begin to heal her inner landscape.We explore:Why perfectionism is often just pain in disguiseWhat it means to live with “multiple parts” and how to listen to themThe link between emotional safety and self-worthHow addiction, self-abandonment, and survival can mask our basic goodnessAnd the healing power of play, creativity, and radical curiositySarah reminds us that real self-love isn't about declarations it's about attention. Tending to the parts of us that didn't get to speak, and learning to meet them with kindness.Love,Sarah Ann
How can mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and a reimagined masculinity help American men and boys thrive in today's world?Jon and Will talk with Former Congressman Tim Ryan about his journey into mindfulness, its power to heal trauma - especially for veterans - and the need to rethink masculinity. Drawing from his experiences in sports, politics, and mental health advocacy, Tim explores the loss of traditional rites of passage, the rise of emotional intelligence, and how technology is reshaping manhood.Try NEURISH - Personalized nutrition for your mental health. Our new sponsor. 15% off with Promo Code MTM. Visit https://tinyurl.com/57e68ett to learn more about this incredible daily supplement.Feeling stuck? If you need help getting out of your rut, Will can help - head to willnotfear.com to learn more about his coaching to get you off the hamster wheel. More from MTM at: https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction04:17 - Growing Without a Father Figure 07:58 - Small Wins, Big Impact 08:43 - Sports, Confidence, and Connection 14:35 - Gender Dynamics in Work and Education 16:35 - Perspectives Across Class Lines 18:38 - Men, Mindfulness, and Society 23:00 - The Psychology of Modern Masculinity 27:45 - Being Yourself in Real Conversations 34:51 - Injury Recovery and Mindful Detachment 36:40 - Selfhood and the Fragility of Manhood 46:37 - Teaching Daughters Critical Awareness 52:47 - Decoding Romantic Signals for Young Men 58:19 - Emotions and Relationships for Boys and Men 01:01:33 - Building Emotional Safety at Home 01:03:15 - Misreading Kids' Emotions 01:19:01 - Autonomy and Choosing Your Circle Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Eric Newman speaks with journalist and author Vauhini Vara about her new book Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age. The book hybrid blend of memoir and modern tech history explore how the internet, AI, and the corporate tech giants behind them have shaped the way we see ourselves and connect with others. Through Vara's personal anecdotes and digital history deep dives—including a nostalgic look at AOL chat rooms, a rundown of her Google search history and prolific Amazon product reviews, and her reporting on the rise of AI and how an early version of ChatGPT helped her write an essay about her sister's death—Searches shows how our search for meaning and identity online defines life in the digital age in ways both fascinating and concerning.
Eric Newman speaks with journalist and author Vauhini Vara about her new book “Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age.” The book hybrid blend of memoir and modern tech history explore how the internet, AI, and the corporate tech giants behind them have shaped the way we see ourselves and connect with others. Through Vara's personal anecdotes and digital history deep dives—including a nostalgic look at AOL chat rooms, a rundown of her Google search history and prolific Amazon product reviews, and her reporting on the rise of AI and how an early version of ChatGPT helped her write an essay about her sister's death—“Searches” shows how our search for meaning and identity online defines life in the digital age in ways both fascinating and concerning.
What does it really mean to live with discipline, and how does it create true freedom?Jon and Will sit down with retired Navy SEAL and leadership expert Jocko Willink to explore how discipline, ownership, and presence shape a fulfilling life. Jocko shares why taking action beats waiting, how to manage emotions under pressure, and the link between structured habits and personal freedom. They dive into the evolving landscape of masculinity, the role of sports in building confidence, and how to foster emotional intelligence in boys and young men. From leading teams to raising children, Jocko offers grounded insights on building trust, staying focused, and leading by example - whether on the battlefield or at home.Try NEURISH - Personalized nutrition for your mental health. Our new sponsor. 15% off with Promo Code MTM. Tap this LINK
What does it really mean to live with discipline, and how does it create true freedom?Jon and Will sit down with retired Navy SEAL and leadership expert Jocko Willink to explore how discipline, ownership, and presence shape a fulfilling life. Jocko shares why taking action beats waiting, how to manage emotions under pressure, and the link between structured habits and personal freedom. They dive into the evolving landscape of masculinity, the role of sports in building confidence, and how to foster emotional intelligence in boys and young men. From leading teams to raising children, Jocko offers grounded insights on building trust, staying focused, and leading by example - whether on the battlefield or at home.Try NEURISH - Personalized nutrition for your mental health. Our new sponsor. 15% off with Promo Code MTM. Tap this LINK
Vauhini Vara grew up alongside internet startup companies. She was in middle school when AOL sent those first floppy discs to our homes, inviting us to dial up to the world wide web. A graduate of Stanford and the Iowa Writers' Workshop, she became a tech writer for The Wall Street Journal and a business reporter for The Atlantic, The New Yorker and other publications. In 2017, Vara profiled Sam Altman, a cofounder of OpenAI, and gained early access to ChatGPT. She used the program to write about a topic that had long eluded her — the grief she experienced over the death of her sister. “Ghosts” came out in The Believer in the summer of 2021 and quickly went viral (as evidenced by its adaptation on This American Life). That piece, and several others, are part of Vara's latest book, Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age. Vara's 2022 novel, The Immortal King Rao — also steeped in the tech industry — was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and her story collection, This is Salvaged, came out the following year. She joins Marrie Stone to talk about how these technologies, including ChatGPT and other A.I. models are impacting writers and where she sees things going. Her insights are both hopeful and terrifying. She also talks about writing in different genres as a journalist, a novelist, a writer of creative nonfiction and short stories. She shares her insights about playing with different structures and how to release yourself from conventional forms of storytelling. For more information on Writers on Writing and to become a supporter, visit our Patreon page. For a one-time donation, visit Ko-fi. You can find hundreds of past interviews on our website. You can help out the show and indie bookstores by buying books at our bookstore on bookshop.org. It's stocked with titles by our guest authors, as well as our personal favorites. And on Spotify, you'll find an album's worth of typewriter music like what you hear on the show. It's perfect for writing. Look for the artist, Just My Type. Email the show at writersonwritingpodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our listeners! (Recorded on April 29, 2025) Host: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Host: Marrie Stone Music: Travis Barrett (Stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Etc.)
Vauhini Vara's new book “Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age” is a deeply personal and provocative exploration of how tech companies have both fulfilled and exploited our human desires for understanding and connection. It shows how we are complicit in all of this.
When tech writer Vauhini Vara was struggling to process her sister's death in 2021, she asked an early version of ChatGPT to write about it through an increasingly complex series of prompts. The essays in her collection, “Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age” build on her conversations with AI, enlisting its help to grapple with what it means to be human when our thoughts, our words — and with them, our very humanity — are filtered through machines. We talk to Vara about how technological capitalism is redefining what it means to be human. Guests: Vauhini Vara, tech journalist and novelist; her new collection of essays is “Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 0915 - On Authenticity, X [FINAL] (Click on the above link, or here, for audio.) Concluding discussion on the concept & reality of authenticity, and degrees of self-knowing congruence. Levels of Selfhood/identity (conscious mind/personality, soul, Atman, Source) as differentiations of true Nature, and the relative maturity of wisdom & self-knowing. Views of
Episode 0912 - On Authenticity, VII (Click on the above link, or here, for audio.) Continuing discussion on the concept & reality of authenticity, and degrees of self-knowing congruence. Levels of Selfhood/identity (conscious mind/personality, soul, Atman, Source) as differentiations of true Nature, and the relative maturity of wisdom & self-knowing. Views of Authenticity
Episode 0913 -On Authenticity, VIII (Click on the above link, or here, for audio.)Continuing discussion on the concept & reality of authenticity, and degrees of self-knowing congruence. Levels of Selfhood/identity (conscious mind/personality, soul, Atman, Source) as differentiations of true Nature, and the relative maturity of wisdom & self-knowing. Views of Authenticity
Episode 0914 - On Authenticity, IX (Click on the above link, or here, for audio.)Continuing discussion on the concept & reality of authenticity, and degrees of self-knowing congruence. Levels of Selfhood/identity (conscious mind/personality, soul, Atman, Source) as differentiations of true Nature, and the relative maturity of wisdom & self-knowing. Views of Authenticity
Sarah is having another medical situation, and this time Susie is blaming all of her wild outlaw habits lately. Susie explains why Gen Z insists on using all lower case letters, and we're wondering if the kids are alright. We discuss the Surviving Black Hawk Down documentary, and the ways the government, society, and media paint a picture of the United States as the "good guy," but often it's just a matter of perspective. We talk about a brain surgeon who describes the ways our brains lie to us about our "selfhood," identity, and free will, and why things may not be what they seem when it comes to how we see ourselves. We hear about the Sly Stone documentary that looks at the idea of "Black genius," and the price Black artists and thinkers can pay because of their incredible talent and the pressures of success. Susie's favorite scams are by the Chinese, but this time, it's not a zoo, it's a tourist attraction that is truly phoning their scam in and it's hilarious. We learn about a child influencer who is making a splash in the restaurant world with his mission to bring honor to the classic mocktail beverage, the Shirley Temple. Plus, we hear why YouTube's branding doesn't really match how people are using its infrastructure.Listen to more podcasts like this: https://wavepodcastnetwork.comJoin our Candy Club, shop our merch, sign-up for our free newsletter, & more by visiting The Brain Candy Podcast website: https://www.thebraincandypodcast.comConnect with us on social media:BCP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastSusie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterSarah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBCP on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodSponsors:Visit https://cozyearth.com and use our exclusive 40% off code BRAINCANDYVisit https://www.carawayhome.com/BRAINCANDY to take an additional 10% off your next purchase.Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code BRAINCANDY15 at https://lumepodcast.com/BRAINCANDY15 #lumepodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 0910 - On Authenticity, V (Click on the above link, or here, for audio.) Continuing discussion on the concept & reality of authenticity, and degrees of self-knowing congruence. Levels of Selfhood/identity (conscious mind/personality, soul, Atman, Source) as differentiations of true Nature, and the relative maturity of wisdom & self-knowing. Views of Authenticity from fields of
Episode 0911 - On Authenticity, VI (Click on the above link, or here, for audio.) Continuing discussion on the concept & reality of authenticity, and degrees of self-knowing congruence. Levels of Selfhood/identity (conscious mind/personality, soul, Atman, Source) as differentiations of true Nature, and the relative maturity of wisdom & self-knowing. Views of Authenticity
Episode 0909 - On Authenticity, IV (Click on the above link, or here, for audio.) Continuing discussion on the concept & reality of authenticity, and degrees of self-knowing congruence. Levels of Selfhood/identity (conscious mind/personality, soul, Atman, Source) as differentiations of true Nature, and the relative maturity of wisdom & self-knowing. Views of Authenticity from fields of
Episode 0906 - On Authenticity, I (Click on the above link, or here, for audio.) Introductory comments on the concept & reality of Authenticity. Lin Chi and personal relevance, levels of illusory identity (conscious mind, soul, Atman, Source), differentiations of True Nature & the matter of Selfhood. Greek etymology and views of Authenticity from fields of Philosophy and Psychology.
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