I've divided this episode of Subject to Change into four chapters: Satire (5:28) Turns out, there's a TikTok account heckling the same launch that I've been speaking critically about here on the pod. Is it distasteful according to wellness-cult standards? For sure. Do I think that's part of its brilliance? Absolutely, and I'll tell you why. The Eagle & The Crow (21:54) There's a viral post circulating with a parable about an eagle & a...
In the opening to this episode of Subject To Change, I share details about work I did as a wellness grifter when I was fresh out of Nia (2007-2009) for another mind-body fitness empire. I didn't know it, but I was re-enacting colonizer logic and creating top-down leadership models because capitalism teaches wellness influencers that this is really the only way to get ahead. Did you know that the (once-fringe) Wellness Industry is worth more...
I'm finally back with another episode of Subject To Change where I share about my recent travels to Los Angeles. Not much to say as a lead-in, this episode speaks for itself. Patrons can listen to the audio (or WATCH to experience what I experienced through photos and video footage) from the L.A. No Kings protest. In the second half of the episode, I share about my experience at a women's conference in the days just prior... my first real foray...
“Be Like Penny.” If you visit my current hometown of Cottonwood, Arizona, you’ll see these three words displayed around town. Penny Smith was a friend to many and a living example of how everyday citizens can make a meaningful difference in their local communities. She passed away in 2021, but her legacy lives on in the hearts of those who know and love her, and also through The Penny Peace Project. In this episode, I’ll...
Nikki G isn’t the type to say “I told you so.” Nevertheless, it was just one year ago when she was on the podcast, walking us through the evangelical vision behind Project 2025 and the looming theocratic dominionism of the far right. Now that the NAR agenda (see Ep.81) is coming to pass, she’s back to regroup. Nikki & I discuss how to maintain sanity and balance under narcissistic rule, what it means to occupy our lane in the...
Hey y'all. I'm back with another episode of Subject To Change. A parasocial relationship is the one-sided connection we feel to a leader, influencer, or public figure whom we’ve never met in person (and/or with whom we've had limited contact). Thanks to the internet, parasocial interactions are more common than ever, and they can influence our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. In this episode: I describe the parasocial bond, how it develops,...
In today's release, I lay the foundation for a series of episodes that'll be rolling out on the main feed in the coming weeks. Because as life would have it, 'cult'ure series content is syncing-up with my graduate studies... and in a big way! While I don't 'talk politics in this particular episode, a critique on modern leadership is of existential importance right now. Also, a friendly heads up... today's content may challenge your core beliefs...
Some of you may be relieved to hear that today's release will turn our attention away from current events, circling back to a 'cult'ure series topic that is yet-unfinished. I recorded the bookend portions of this episode a couple of weeks ago, just as I was wrapping up my first term of graduate study at ASU. I was still actively recovering from Covid, but I sat down to press record anyway. I was feeling fired up and eager to share some recent...
Ready or not, it's Inauguration Day / MLK Jr. Day here in the U.S. and I'm doing my best to stay grounded and connected in the ways that matter. Here's what's on my mind. January 20, 2025 | Ready Or Not: Inauguration Day, 'Meta' Madness, & Social Psych 101 DJT 2.Ugh - moving into this day & the next four years Context vs. Catastrophizing - who I'm looking to for solace and perspective Influence & the Collective - why I won't shut...
Welcome to the first Patreon release of 2025. January 4, 2025 | The Self-Help Grift: Who It’s Really Benefiting & Why It Can’t Save Us In this episode, I share: How the transition into 2025 feels different than in years past - in the best and worst ways. Why popular psychology regularly misses the mark when it comes to why we humans behave the way we do. What happens when self-help terms (ie. 'emotional intelligence') fall into the...
