Fresh Aesthetic: Recent Episodes
Stephen Garton
Keeping our minds open to creativity and change can be a real struggle; we love patterns, predictability and same-sameness. This show is all about exploring the scariness of change and our tendency to put creativity in the too hard basket. Join hosts Stephen Garton and Matt Guddat as they embark on the search for truth and meaning through creativity, art and pop culture.
Today’s episode is my interview with Ian Turner. Ian is a writer, musician, and producer. Ian also has a podcast called Garden of Sound where he interviews a range of artists and highlights New Zealand music.
For more of Ian's work, be sure to check out gardenofsound.nz
All music used in this episode is written, recorded and produced by Ian Turner and used with permission. The songs are performed live by The Jack Street MPs. They are not out yet, so these are sneak peak snippets, exclusive for this episode.
Be sure to follow Ian's work to be up to date when these songs are officially released.
Today’s episode is my interview with Michael Wright.
Michael is a writer, most well known for his weekly letter on art and spirit called Still Life. Michael is a thoughtful, contemplative person with a passion for art and spirituality.
You can find his writing at mrmichaelwright.substack.com
This episode is rich in reflections on the trappings of a modern society that prioritises productivity and profit above all else. Michael and I discuss the balance between doing work and bringing collective good in the world, and living a contemplative and peaceful life unburdened by the weight of expectations.
Today’s episode is my interview with Nyree Huyser.
Nyree is a singer songwriter who competed in the Voice Australia in 2023. She has just released her debut album, called Fixing Heads and Chasing Tails, which you can find on all major streaming platforms. It is a powerful blend of originals and covers, all with her signature soulful vocals with an eclectic blend of musical styles.
You can support Nyree’s work by buying tickets to her upcoming Celine Dion show at The Piano in September. You can also find her official merch on her Spotify shop.
Make sure you stick around to the end of the episode to hear Nyree give a live rendition of her song By The River.
Today’s episode is my interview with Jackie G. Jackie is an author, YouTuber, public speaker and podcaster.
In this episode Jackie dives deep into her journey through numerous challenges and hard times. She discusses what it was like coming to terms with her sexuality, battling an eating disorder, alcoholism and being constantly compared to her sister.
Ultimately, she poses the question: what would it be like to live as your truest self, without a mask?
For more of Jackie's work, be sure to check out her podcast, The Unity Project. You can find her YouTube channel @JackieGTV. Her book, Finding Home, can be found on Amazon, and her website is jackiegronlund.com.
Content warning: Eating disorders, alcoholism, depression.
If you are struggling with these things or anything else, please reach out for help and don't try to overcome it alone.
If you are in New Zealand, you can:
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Contact EDANZ
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Contact the Alcohol and Drug Helpline
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Get help with depression
If you are overseas, the relevant help centres in your area are just a Google search away.
Today’s episode is my interview with podcaster and author Meghan Tschanz
Meghan discusses what faith means to her today, and her extensive journey with social justice work.
Meghan is the author of the book, Women Rising: Learn to Listen, Reclaiming Our Voice. She also hosts a really great podcast called Faith and Feminism, and is a keynote speaker who is dedicated to reclaiming intersectional feminism for the Christian church.
Meghan is also a wife and a mother, and is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity and ordination in the United Methodist Church.
For more information about Meghan and her work, be sure to check out her website, meghantschanz.com.
Today’s episode is my interview with Tara Teng.
Our conversation covers a whole range of topics around sexuality, including: embodiment. doing the work of decolonisation, comprehensive and enthusiastic consent, having a healthy sexual ethic, and much more.
Content warning: This conversation covers rape culture, human trafficking and exploitation of marginalised bodies.
Tara is a somatic practitioner, and seeks to offer her clients embodied Sexuality after Trauma. She is also the author of the incredible book, Your Body Is a Revolution: Healing Our Relationships with Our Bodies, Each Other, and the Earth
For more of her work, or to book a one to one coaching session, be sure to check out her website, tarateng.com.
She also has a TedX talk called Jesus Made Me A Feminist, and a great article written about her on The Peak all about breaking out of purity culture.
In today’s episode, the wonderful Katie Brookfield returns to the show to share more of her expansive expertise on sexual ethics, purity culture, patriarchy, women’s rights and a whole lot more.
We unpacked a wide range of ideas around what it means to have a healthy sexuality for yourself and how that might interact with the ethics of others.
Katie's first episode is called Navigating Identity Through the Intersection of Theology, Faith and the Lived Experience and I would highly recommend checking it out before listening to this episode to hear her backstory and experiences with Soul Survivor and a whole lot more.
Content warning: There are multiple references to sexual abuse in the episode.
Since recording this episode, Matt Redman released a documentary about the sexual abuse and other harm done at Soul Survivor, and you can find it here
Today’s guest is the exceptionally talented musician and songwriter, Dylan Chambers. We dive into Dylan’s backstory and explore how his journey led him through some dark times of loneliness and how he channels those feelings into positivity in his music.
Dylan’s new single, “I can Never Get Enough” is out on April 10th, and is from his upcoming EP called For Your Listening Pleasure! Which is out on May 17th. Be sure to show your support and stream it when it’s out!
All the music in this episode is copyrighted to Dylan Chambers and used with permission.
A celestial meditation inspired by the iconic photo taken during the Voyager 1 mission in 1990. The photo was taken from a distance of 6 billion kilometres in deep space where Earth appears as a tiny, "pale blue dot" suspended in a beam of sunlight.
Some of the words in the meditation are direct or slightly altered versions of astrophysicist Carl Sagan's quote, “Consider again that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us […] a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.” This quote comes from his iconic book, Pale Blue Dot.
Original music composed by Stephen Garton, featuring Maddie De'Ath on electric guitar. You can find the instrumental version of the piece here - https://soundcloud.com/stephengarton/spacebound
Today's episode is my interview with David Hayward, more commonly known as the Naked Pastor. This episode hones in on what it means to be vulnerable and open-hearted to the entirety of the human experience. David shares about what vulnerability means to him, and also what it means to evolve and grow as a creative artist and as a person.
A recurring theme in this episode is what it really means to be your authentic self and how that privilege should be available to everyone.
It was so inspiring to see someone as honest and open as David share what vulnerability means to him and how he is challenging himself to incorporate that sense of authenticity into his art and what he shares online.
The video referenced in the interview about how David got started in drawing cartoons can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXwXsSpJSoI
To see more of David’s work, be sure to check out his website nakedpastor.com. You can also find him on Instagram at @davidhayward_art and @nakedpastor
Today's episode is an interview with writer, podcaster, life coach, teacher, LGBTQ+ advocate and queer theology enthusiast, Mike Maeshiro. Mike is also the founder of Numa, an organisation that supports people recovering from religious toxicity.
Mike has a powerful quote that summarises what he stands for: “HUMANS MATTER MORE THAN THEOLOGY.” The ethos behind that quote comes across loud and clear in this conversation as we take a deep dive into the human experience of being gay.
We also discuss other things over the course of the conversation, such as Mike’s writing, how he stays emotionally regulated in the midst of horrendous bullying and backlash, why he currently uses the word pastor in his bio, and a look into his journey into self-acceptance and embracing every aspect of who he is.
For more of Mike’s work, be sure to check out his podcast, Confessions of a Reformer, which can be found on all the platforms where you get your podcasts. You can also check out his website, mikemaeshiro.com. He is also active on Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok and YouTube.
This podcast is edited and produced by Stephen Garton. All the music is original work composed for the show by Stephen Garton.
Today’s episode is my interview with Andy Dickson.
Andy describes himself firstly as a husband, a dad and a son. But he is also a spoken word poet, a writer, a podcaster, a business director and has a Masters in Theology.
Andy’s podcast is called Down to Earth Conversations where he talks to ordinary people who are doing good in the world, or as he likes to say, are "bringing a bit of heaven Down to Earth."
This conversation is a raw and real look into what it means to be inclusive of minorities and not exclude anyone based on belief.
For more of Andy’s work, make sure to check out his podcast:
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Down to Earth Conversations - https://www.downtoearthconversations.com/
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His spoken word poetry - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HaoksLx4-CQpnLzoeUTsg
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His book, Three Things to Know: An E Tū Tāngata Story - https://shop.etutangata.nz/collections/books/products/three-things-to-know-an-e-tu-tangata-story
Today’s episode is my interview with Mason Mennenga. Mason is a theologian, podcaster, YouTuber, and self-identifies as the "Internet's youth pastor.” He has an impressive academic background with a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Theology.
Through his platforms, Mason mixes theological concepts with a dose of fun and approachability. His content is clever and thought-provoking, sparking discussions and challenging conventional thinking within theological circles and beyond.
For more of Mason’s work, make sure to check out his podcasts:
A People’s Theology. A People’s Theology explores inspiring and liberating theologies that transforms you and the world.
The BlackSheep Podcast: Presented by HM Magazine. Mason and his co-host and best friend, Cullen, interview musicians, artists, and other creatives about their art, life, faith, and much more.
Welcome to Season 4 of Fresh Aesthetic! Join in the conversation as we explore the vastness of the human experience through creativity, authenticity, science and spirituality.
Today’s episode is my interview with Phil Drysdale. Phil helps people who are going through radical shifts in what they believe. He works online doing one to one coaching, academic research, and is now training to be a therapist.
One of the key themes that keeps reoccurring in this conversation is the way that humans crave safety, security and comfort and how this can often limit our potential to grow and evolve.
Questioning what you believe can seem scary at first, but is a completely normal part of what it means to be human.
For further learning I would recommend digging into some of the psychological models referenced in the episode. These are:
Spiral Dynamics (Beck and Cowan) - A model of evolutionary development that describes how value systems and worldviews emerge from the interaction of "life conditions" and capacity of the mind.
Stages of Moral Development (Kohlberg) - A theory that asserts that individuals progress through 6 stages of moral reasoning as they move from infancy to adulthood.
Ego Development Theory (Cook-Greuter) - A theory that outlines how individuals journey through existence by using navigational lore, common sense, increasingly complex maps, algorithms, and intuition.
In this special episode I roll back the clock to look at the highlights of Fresh Aesthetic in 2023. There were some amazing guests that came on the show last year and I am grateful to all of them for their time and wisdom they shared. This episode is a little late as January is nearly over, but I still wanted to put it out there before heading into season 4 of the show.
This episode is my interview with Katie Brookfield. Katie has a Degree and Masters in Theology and is a deep thinker with a passion for women’s rights, sexual ethics and empowering others through sharing her experience. Katie has a clear and concise way of sharing her perspective that holds space for nuance and compassion for the journey.
Katie is extremely humble, and has a very balanced way of looking at the world. I’m so grateful to have had this conversation and hope that it encourages others to think critically while still being loving, kind and compassionate of the human experience that we are all going through.
This episode is my interview with the one and only Kevin Garcia. Kevin is a spirituality coach, mystical theologian, content curator and is the author of 2 amazing books - Bad Theology Kills and their brand new book, What Makes You Bloom, which releases January 9th 2024. This episode is so fun, so raw and so real, and I am incredibly grateful for to be able to share it with you.
Today’s episode is a follow up interview with Sarah Norquoy after her interview with Matt about a month ago. In this interview I go deeper with Sarah about her faith journey and some of the struggles and triumphs she’s had along the way. Over the conversation we talk about things like death, loneliness, isolation, evolving beliefs, critical thinking and a whole lot more.
In today’s episode we are discussing the current recession happening in the world from the lens of Oliver Anthony’s explosive new single, “Rich Men North of Richmond”. If you haven’t already heard the song, I’d encourage you to watch the recording on YouTube before you listen to our discussion of it.
In today’s episode we do a deep dive on the rapidly expanding world of AI and machine learning. The discussion goes from things as simple as how we use AI in our everyday lives all the way through to what it means to be human. We also consider the possibility of a Singularity and if machine learning will ever be capable of consciousness or reproducing the human experience.
In today’s episode we are discussing the idea that the process of unknowing or questioning has been one of the best things that has ever happened to us. We go into our journeys through doubt, anxiety and fear of the great unknown, and where that road has led so far. This is a topic quite close to my heart and I loved having the opportunity to dive into it with someone who can hold space for difference of opinion and is able to appreciate detail.
In today’s episode we dive into the documentary Shiny Happy People which is centered on the lives of the Duggar family and their journey growing up in a large family with their childhood spent mostly in front of the camera. We use the documentary as a springboard to talk about topics like emotional regulation, religious trauma and how fear can be used as a weapon to maintain systems of control. If these are triggering topics for you, you might want to skip through sections or just skip it entirely.
In today’s episode I’m joined by singer, songwriter, poet and artist, Davy Bennett. This is a great conversation about the journey of being an artist and all of the insecurities that seem to come with the territory. Davy shares some of her struggles with vulnerability when sharing her art along with some steps she has taken to overcome them.
Our conversation with highly successful business entrepreneurs, Chris Renwick and Lucy Greenwood, discussing their journey as owners of the funky, ethical and inclusive clothing brand Lucy and Yak. This is such a fun discussion about how fulfilling life can be as a business owner, but also some of the extreme challenges that go along with the territory. Chris and Lucy have so much insight to share and we hope to get them back on sometime to carry on the conversation!
Make sure to check out Chris and Lucy's podcast, Trust Yourself, here: https://open.spotify.com/show/6An9fI3O8RJD9sZKdiqZDb?si=98b62ece20964b2c
In today’s episode I’m joined by my co-host, Matt Guddat, for the first time this season! We cover a lot of topics, but mostly focus on the unseen darker moments of relocating your life to a new town, some of the early signs of burnout, and the ego’s reluctance to admit that it will soon be forgotten. Whenever I try to still my mind and seek quiet times of meditation, the mind is pretty quick to protest and revert back to getting lost in worry and the trance of thinking about what’s next. I love the way that meditation challenges that and reminds us of the beauty and peace found in quieting the soul.
Today’s episode is my conversation with business owner and entrepreneur, Chris De-Ath. In this interview we discuss anything and everything business related, including the highs and lows of owning your own business, dealing with personal and professional conflict, and finding what you are passionate about by relaxing into the journey of the day to day experience.
In today’s episode Jed and I are discussing our predictions for the Oscars. Who will win the coveted Best Picture? Best soundtrack? Best animated short? Tune in to hear our thoughts! We also talk about the new hit HBO show The Last of Us and how they have treated the source material with such love and care and attention to detail to make something truly outstanding.
If you enjoy this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend, and leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts.
Today’s episode is a conversation with singer, music educator, and business owner Rachel Yung. Rachel has such an interesting story to share — one that is full of highs and lows and moments of overcoming intense difficulty. In this interview we discuss her journey as an undiagnosed celiac, burnout at the age of 17, black and white thinking, purity culture in the 90s and much more.
In this episode Jed and Stephen share their favourite media from 2022 with top 5 picks in movies, music, games and TV shows. This is the very first episode of season 3 and also a new format of episode where we focus just on pop-culture and media. If you enjoy this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend, and leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts.
This episode is a highlights reel of the best parts of the interviews from season 2 in 2022. Since this is the first official episode of 2023 it seems only fitting to say Happy New year to all of you wonderful listeners. I’m sure all of us are hoping for a better year than last year, and that we become slightly better versions of ourselves in 2023.
Going back through all the content in order to put this best of episode together, I was reminded of just how much amazing stuff was covered and also some surprisingly great moments of 2022. We covered a lot of ground, from analysing the Rings of Power series, to providing tips on staying creative, to dealing with burnout and depression and a whole lot more.
I look forward to podcasting again this year even though I know it will be hugely different to how it was last year. If you have any feedback about the show or want to make suggestions for guests or things to discuss, please get in touch on Instagram. I would love to hear from you.
If you enjoy this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend, and leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts.
This episode is the season finale and boy is it a goodie. We cover a wide swath of topics from women in business, to toxic masculinity, to white saviour syndrome to being a young mum while in survival mode to being completely overwhelmed and burning out. There is a whole bunch more in here but you’ll have to listen to find out. If you haven’t already, make sure you check out Sawmill Brewery at sawmillbrewery.co.nz. Even if you don’t like beer, it’s always good supporting local New Zealand businesses. And if you are listening from somewhere else in the world, welcome! I hope you enjoy the yarns!
It’s been a minute since we released an episode, but you’re in for a treat with this one. We start off the episode talking about Amazon’s new Lord of the Rings show, Rings of Power, and then quickly move into a hearty discussion about suffering, joy and being present. It’s basically just 4 people having a great time together and discussing some of the deeper parts of life.
In today’s episode we continue on in the creative process by talking about moving on after finishing a project, or in a much bigger sense, after a big life change. It is so challenging to leave what we’ve known and embark out once again into the world of the unknown which can be so full of scary new things.
Today's episode is a deep dive into the vulnerability required to share your art with the world. Everyone makes stuff for different reasons, but in the age of dopamine hits from the little red notifications on social media, our reasons for creating can often end up being centred around affirmation from our peers or randoms on the internet. Be encouraged to share your creative work with the world! We need your art and your voice. Make it loud!
This week on the show I interview Sally Bodkin-Allen. Sally is a music educator, composer, author, mother, and a million other things, and it was great to be able to sit down with her and discuss all things music and mental health.
Check out some of the music for the musical she collaborated on, 18 Eden Avenue, here: https://www.youtube.com/user/beetrootsal
Check out her Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/sallybodkinallencomposer/
Your story is worth sharing! As Brené Brown would say, "owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” The process of editing is simply stripping away anything that is detracting from this message and striving to make the delivery as powerful as possible.
From small town country boy to living in the big smoke, Jaden shares some great insight from his journey so far. This was a really fun conversation that touched on themes of identity, sexuality, and finding your way without worrying about what people think of your journey. We had a lot of laughs and really enjoyed the dynamic of a 3-way conversation as it added a new flavour to the show and overall vibe of the episode.
This episode was deep, even by our standards! We touch on what Western culture defines as success, and how it can be such an empty pit or a forever elusive mirage. We also talk quite a bit about burnout later in the conversation and how to maintain healthy boundaries between personal life and work life.
Travis Bloem is a director at PDC Creative and swung by the studio to impart some of his wisdom. He shares some of his story and struggles with mental wellness, along with plenty of practical approaches to creativity. The episode also focuses on the importance of acknowledging the part the ego plays in driving motivations to create, and if left unchecked can be extremely unhelpful.
Would it be a true episode on writer’s block if it wasn’t released late made from a completely blank ideas page? This episode tries to offer a balance between the line of thought that writer’s block is just an excuse for lazy artists who have nothing to say, and the feeling that there is no gas in the tank when you sit down to create.
Tim Buchanan has a wealth of wisdom and life experience and it was fun to be able to sit down with him in a non professional context. It was so encouraging hearing his thoughts on topics like creativity, mental health and the latest scandals with churches in New Zealand.
CW: Sexual abuse and rape briefly mentioned from 49:50 - 50:45
Losing yourself in the weeds of details can cripple you with ineffective time management on a project if you don’t keep an eye on it. However, it’s also an extremely effective way to make your creative projects stand out from the crowd. So, how do you manage your time effectively while maintaining high quality standards in your work?
Episode 15 is out now!
In this interview with Aaron Hardy from Te Rautini, I was absolutely blown away by his reflections on things such as white supremacy, pushback from the church towards te reo Māori in songs, and just general racism in Aoteaora. We have a very complicated and troubling history here in New Zealand and I was both saddened and inspired by this interview. I hope you enjoy our discussion - please send through your feedback!
Make sure to check out Te Rautini here: https://www.terautini.com/
And their music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6tdwiSwwKUKn4HiyKfCVsN?si=InmyJQAxQMCMwDnuvyMIyg
In today’s episode we continue on in the creative process by talking about the problem with trends and how quickly and badly things can date. We also throw around ideas about why we feel like we need to keep up with the times and copy what other people are doing.
Elsie Andrewes is an extremely talented illustrator from Northland, New Zealand and talks candidly in this episode about all things art, creativity, and finding your voice. You can find her work on Instagram here @elsieandrewes_illustration, or on her website here https://elsieandrewes.com/
The ever looming threat of deadlines can sometimes feel so overwhelming. If you don’t tread carefully, this can lead to a loss of quality in your work over time as you try and meet the ongoing deluge of incoming work. Today's episode is a raw and honest look at the importance of boundaries in our lives while still aiming to stay playful in our creating.
This episode is an interview I did with Jasher Drake. This conversation really inspired me to be more intentional about maintaining creative outlets in any way that I can in my life. Creativity and times of play can be the first things to disappear when we get busy or have really stressful weeks, but they are often the one thing that is actually keeping us sane. The recurring theme that kept jumping out to me in this conversation was to prioritise time to be creative!
Go check out Jasher's Podzilla podcast here: https://anchor.fm/podzilla9
Vulnerability is very important for sharing our ideas with others, and healthy collaboration is an important part of progressing ideas and moving a creative project forward. In today’s episode we continue our discussion on the creative process by talking about how to progress an idea forward into a more refined version of itself. We also discuss the benefits of collaboration along with the vulnerability required to offer up your ideas to other people for critique.
This week's episode is an extended interview with Josh Peacey of @viloeyewear. One of the many highlights from the interview is the discussion around happiness compared to contentedness. We also discuss social media, the Metaverse, creativity outside the arts, and how to be present every day.
Resources from the episode:
- Follow @viloeyewear on Instagram
- The Rise and Fall of Boosted Boards https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-rise-and-fall-of-boosted-boards/id1474429475?i=1000517361316
Join us as we discuss the stage of the creative process where an idea is born. One of the things we talk about is that you have to have a strong balance between blind tenacity and teach-ability when launching into a new idea in order to keep yourself in a healthy position creatively. We also discuss the need to be open to critique when being creative, which is extremely difficult when it's something that is so close to your heart.
In this week's episode I interview a good friend, Jeremy Tattersall, and we discuss life, theology, and the importance of living in community.
A hook is the device used to reel a potential audience member into your art form. Crafting a good hook is a vital part for first getting an audience and then maintaining them. In the age of innumerable distractions, this is no mean feat! Join us in this episode as we discuss what it means to craft a good hook.
In this week's episode I talk to Kimberley Kilgour about the highs and lows of starting out on a new adventure in business, lessons from a single mum, and tips for living a more fulfilled life with better mental well being.
Following on from episode one where we discussed the importance of showing up, this episode dives into the importance of increasing your range of influences in order to get inspired to make fresh art of your own. The premise of "stealing like an artist" comes from Austin Kleon's book by the same name, where he posits that in order to make good art you need to "steal from many", as opposed to disrespecting an artist by stealing from just one person. If this concept intrigues you then be sure to check out his book linked below. Whether we like it or not, we are all influenced by the world around us, so we may as well embrace it and expand the amount of art and content that influences us in order to make better art.
Books referenced in this episode:
My Inner Sky - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55472612-my-inner-sky
Steal Like an Artist - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13099738-steal-like-an-artist?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=DfqglMwRn3&rank=1
This week on the show I interviewed Whangarei's Mayor, Sheryl Mai. She shared about some of her experiences leading a city and reflected on her time as Mayor. She also shared some insight into how to overcome some of the many criticisms that can come your way when in a place of authority or leadership. If you enjoy the episode, consider sharing it with a friend and leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for the support as always!
Welcome to season 2 of the show! This first episode is all about showing up, and the relentless search for truth and meaning through art. I'm joined by my co-host Matt Guddat and we talk about the highs and lows of everyday life and what it means to show up even when you don't feel like it. If you like the episode, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or a comment on our Instagram page.
Do you struggle to engage in conflict in a way that doesn't burn bridges and destroy relationships? In this episode my wife joins me to discuss how we have grown in conflict resolution over the years, and to discuss techniques for engaging in effective dialogue when the conversation gets heated.
Do you want to have better control of your emotions? Have you struggled with the less desirable ones such as anger and sadness? In this episode we take a deep dive into the world of emotions in order to regulate what goes on inside of us. Without knowledge in this area, we are prone to overthinking and over identifying with our emotions and therefore making our inner state much worse than it already was. With the techniques discussed in this episode you will be able to effectively regulate your emotions and live a more peaceful and content life.
CW: Suicide is briefly discussed from 13:41 - 14:10
Death is the ever looming notion that we strive to forget. But perhaps acknowledging its existence can provide a key to living wholly present in the now. This is a very simple idea, but one that is profoundly difficult to live out every day.
Welcome to the start of 2022, where the world collectively holds its breath in nervous anticipation for the year to come. We can't help but wonder if this new year could be even more volatile than the last two years combined. Whatever happened to normality or any sort of map of the future? All things considered, perhaps it is for the better that we have been thrust into such uncertain times, as it has tried to teach us to be more present.
This special New Years' Eve episode is all about change! The possibilities of a new year are usually very exciting, brimming with untapped potential. However, coming into 2022 many people are tired, overworked, and facing crippling uncertainty about the future. How do we keep an optimism about the future while in the middle of challenging times? How do we not get completely overwhelmed at the myriad of things to worry about in 2022 and beyond? It can be so hard to stay thankful for what we have in front of us in the present moment while still being open and receptive to the beckoning call of adventure. Change disrupts our comfortable lives in very real and often scary ways - let's talk about it!
Ableism can be explained as "discrimination in favour of able-bodied people", while able-bodied is defined as "fit and healthy; not physically disabled." In this episode I talk to good friend Nicholas Cullen about his journey through multiple sclerosis and the ongoing impact it has on his life.
Links:
Terms to Avoid When Writing About Disability
When Architecture Disables: Teaching Undergraduates to Perceive Ableism in the Built Environment
The ongoing climate crisis can feel very overwhelming to think about. The sheer weight of the task required to mitigate disaster feels out of reach. This can be daunting when considering what sort of planet we will be handing onto the next generation.
We can educate ourselves into making everyday decisions that have less harmful effects on the environment. If you're stuck, start with these ten simple actions.
If you want to find out more about climate change, head to https://climate.nasa.gov/
The oceans are filling with plastic, and we aren’t getting any happier, yet still consumerism is as rampant as ever. Why is that? What is the void that is trying to be filled with things like “retail therapy”? Black Friday was only a week ago, and already stores are moving to Christmas sales as another way to lure us in. Perhaps there is something deeper at play here, and if so, how do we fight it?
Links:
What Does Lacan Say About Desire?
Problems of Capitalism
Mental health is a hot topic at the moment and for very good reason. We live in a system that correlates success with owning more things, achieving more at work, having as much screen time as possible and maintaining a poor work-personal balance. This is not sustainable as evidenced through a huge spike in anxiety and depression in recent years. Couple this with COVID-19 disruptions and you have a recipe for constantly rising levels of stress and anxiety. These can also lead to burnout, which can be a painful and debilitating experience. In this episode we look at our own journeys through mental health issues and share some tips for a more fulfilled and peaceful life.
Links:
Correlates of symptoms of anxiety and depression and mental wellbeing associated with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study of UK-based respondents
This week I have Chelsea Cullen on the show talking about veganism and plant-based diets. Join us as we discuss how to approach these lifestyles without feeling overwhelmed at the thought of the effort it would take to shift to eating foods not derived from animals and other animal products. We also discuss creativity and the balance between achieving goals and avoiding a poor work/rest balance.
For anyone interested in the studies referenced in the show, here are the links:
Which Diet Has the Least Environmental Impact on Our Planet? A Systematic Review of Vegan, Vegetarian and Omnivorous Diets
Dietary greenhouse gas emissions of meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK
Climate Change and Food Systems
Quantifying Carbon Footprint Reduction Opportunities for U.S. Households and Communities
To connect with Chelsea, check out these links:
@chelseamaecullen on Instagram
Lean With Plants
The Enneagram has been one of the greatest tools in my journey towards self-discovery. This episode is all about diving into what the Enneagram is all about and how it can be an excellent guide into beginning shadow work. "Shadow" is a term used by Carl Jung to describe the parts of our personalities that we actively and unconsciously suppress from a young age as a means of survival. Personality as a whole can also be called our "false self" (another Carl Jung term) as it is a story we tell the world about who we are in order to gain love and acceptance. If any of this sounds intriguing to you then by all means, come along for the ride!
Resources cited in the episode:
- Definition of shadow
- The Enneagram Institute
- The Road Back to You - Ian Morgan Cron
- The Complete Enneagram - Beatrice Chestnut
- The Wisdom of the Enneagram - Don Richard Riso
How can Jodi Foster say: “It was the same way when I walked on the campus at Yale. I thought everybody would find out, and they’d take the Oscar back. They’d come to my house, knocking on the door, ‘Excuse me, we meant to give that to someone else. That was going to Meryl Streep.’ “ Meanwhile, Meryl Streep can say, “You think, ‘Why would anyone want to see me again in a movie? And I don’t know how to act anyway, so why am I doing this?’ ” Probably because of imposter syndrome and the way we all seem to face this feeling of complete inadequacy, no matter what we try to do to mitigate it. Join us this week as we dive into some of the ways we’ve experienced this in our lives and how, if left unchecked, it can stop you from doing anything.
The title of this episode, along with much of the content, is inspired by Hillary McBride's work, and more specifically, her new book: The Wisdom of Your Body. McBride's work centres primarily around embodiment and the practice of coming home to our bodies. Join us in this episode as we share stories and experiences from our journeys of feeling intense shame about our bodies and how this tool of embodiment feels like a journey of healing and wholeness. A journey home.
This week I'm joined by Luke Tattersall to discuss what it takes to reprogram our brains and build new habits. Often the idea of building a habit or changing deep programming in our brains feels difficult or even impossible, but the tools in this episode make it seem like the easiest thing in the world.
Check out Luke's Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/luketattersallnz/. If you liked the things he had to say, make sure to give him a follow and share his work to extend its reach.
This week’s episode is incredibly pertinent to the times we find ourselves in. Disagreement is rampant at the moment, but perhaps even more significantly, so are severed relationships and burnt bridges as a direct result of strong emotional reactions to that dissonance. I hope you can find some sense amongst the confusion and some enjoyment from the discourse. Love is the way forward and our heart is to share connection through honesty with our listeners 💚
Perfectionism is the silent killer of creativity. Sometimes we can throw art away because it doesn’t fit a preconceived idea of what perfection should look like. Or even worse, we might not even start something for fear of doing it imperfectly. If you’re plagued by crippling anxiety of messing things up or letting people down for being less than perfect, this episode is for you! ⚡️💚
The hardest times in our lives seem to be the ones of the most use for developing character. Or as Richard Rohr says, "if you don't transform your suffering, you'll transmit it". Whatever suffering you have endured in your own life, we hope this episode leaves you comforted in the fact that you are not alone.
Public humiliation can feel a lot like a form of death. Join us this week as we discuss the pains of failing in public, the true self false self paradigm, and why our ego builds an image of ourselves that doesn't actually exist.
Content warning: brief discussion on pedophilia, Hitler and concentration camps from around 26:55 - 32:40.
Have you been forced through a drastic life change recently? Or maybe you’re considering putting yourself through one in the future. As always, you’re not alone. There is a joy that comes with hearing about our shared human experiences of suffering and growth and this can be extremely healing.
What causes that dreaded feeling in the pit of your stomach after releasing content to the world? What is it about the human condition that makes us so susceptible to over-identifying with the things we do? Join us as we dive into the complicated vulnerabilities of being alive on planet earth.
Have you felt the fear of pushing yourself outside of your normal go-to things you do? It’s can be a debilitating feeling that can stop you from doing what you love. What if I fail? What if nothing comes of it? What if I put myself out there and no one cares? We discuss all this and more in this week’s episode of the podcast.
How do you keep creating when you’ve exhausted everything you want to say? Join us as we dive into the topic and then later read an epic quote from Thomas Merton.
The YouTube clip referenced in this episode can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIW5jBrrsS0
The Thomas Merton quote is from his book New Seeds of Contemplation.