This Patreon-exclusive drop was born out of my current preoccupation with the upcoming election here in the United States. I share my growing understanding of the MAGA-cult dynamics at work in the hopes that both you and I might respond to supporters from a place that is more grounded and informed. October 18, 2024 >> MAGA-Cult Mentality & The Fascist Playbook that Shapes It In this episode, I share: Brief reference to the MAHA...
I recorded this episode on a whim over the weekend. This one is for all of my fellow new-age apostates + anyone who catches themselves checking their smartphone WAY too often. September 23, 2024 >> Losing My Religion + Is Social Media Colonizing Us? In this episode, I talk about: Healing as an active state (vs. a destination) & why I think writing the 'cult'ure series book may take long than I think. Is new-age spirituality a...
In the latest episode of Subject To Change, I'm incorporating listener contributions and taking a closer look at high-arousal states and groupthink landmines. September 6, 2024 - Goldilocks Complex: High Arousal or Electoral Sobriety? To open, I examine: Are high-arousal states inherently problematic? When is psychosocial sobriety of existential importance? What factors contribute to when and where the collective high goes wrong? And then: In...
I recorded this unscripted episode after Day 3 of the DNC. It's a reflection on how Democratic leaders are 'clapping back' and why I feel it's critical to be critical during these challenging times. There's a lot more I could say today, so I'll be back with you sooner rather later this time around. In the meantime, I look forward to your comments. August 2024 - Criticism Without Cruelty: Democrats Poke The Bear To open things up: I take a...
In this episode I talk U.S. Politics - sharing why I'm going there & where I'm willing to draw hard lines when it comes to discussing 'the issues'. I tell you about my red-state neighborhood & how the timing of my most recent move might just be a blessing in disguise. What I'm learning about why is it that so many Americans are entirely willing to embrace authoritarianism. Dialogue - what is it really? & what differentiates it...
This week, I sit down with Joelle Tamraz to discuss her award-winning memoir, The Secret Practice: Eighteen Years on The Dark Side of Yoga. Here's a quick summary: "Joelle Tamraz was barely past twenty when she traveled to India in search of spiritual enlightenment. In Rishikesh, the home of yoga, she met an alluring older man who offered to teach her a secret practice. This encounter would realign her next twenty years. Joelle was controlled...
Over in our After The Org recovery group, the topic of 'good-girl conditioning' has come up on several occasions, and it inspired Maria Skinner to suggest we chat it out! I loved the idea, and today we're sharing the result. We lost a chunk of our convo to tech issues, but I was able to salvage the best parts. Please note: While the title of this episode is gender-specific - focusing primarily on the psychosocial indoctrination of those...
Hey friends. Once again, I'm coming to you solo with a new episode of Deconstructing Dogma, because our examination of how to make meaning without making a gd-mess is far from over. And in this week's release, I'm sharing more personally about my own journey with spirituality and ontological inquiry. dd #61 - The Empty Husk: Belief, Indoctrination, & Healthy Alternatives In the first few minutes of this episode, I share some...
In this week's episode of Deconstructing Dogma was inspired by an offline discussion with Adi & Tracy, and I immediately felt we needed to take things deeper. It's a convo that focuses on psychosocial 'safety' and what it really means - in our bodies, our relationships, and culturally. dd #59 - Safety & Belonging: How Our Definitions & Experiences Vary First: Adi shares about comments she made that inspired this discussion, sharing...
In this week's episode of Deconstructing Dogma, I'm coming to you solo with a metaphysical buzzkill - as I dissect dogma, magical thinking, and how they shape our perceptions of the world and of one another. I offer up some personal stories - a few of which I've shared before - to illustrate what I (we?) often mean when we say something looks, feels, or sounds 'culty.' And I celebrate how, at times, magical thinking can be...