Almost Awakened Archives - Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup: Recent Episodes

Bill Reel

Navigating Mormonism One Episode At A Time

What if the reason you felt like you were never enough… wasn’t you? In this episode, Teresa explores the striking parallels between narcissistic relationship dynamics and high-demand religious systems, specifically within Mormonism. Through a compassionate but honest lens, she examines how institutional patterns like shifting expectations, avoidance of accountability, image preservation, and conditional belonging can shape identity, nervous system regulation, and long-term wellbeing, especially physical health. This conversation goes beyond theology and into lived experience and explores: • Why high-demand systems can mirror narcissistic dynamics. • How that creates codependency patterns. • Chronic self suppression and its impact on the nervous system. • Why chronic symptoms like fatigue, pain, anxiety, and autoimmune conditions can emerge in these environments. • How healing often requires moving through grief, anger, and identity reconstruction. • And why the body’s response is not a character flaw, but a survival adaptation. If you’ve ever felt exhausted from striving, confused by persistent symptoms, or disconnected from your authentic self after leaving a high-demand environment, this episode may help you understand why and that healing is possible.

Join us at our NEW CHANNEL: @almostawakenedpodcast

Teresa will be launching her upcoming Anchor and Regulate groups beginning March 11th. These groups are structured nervous system healing spaces designed for individuals navigating chronic symptoms, chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety and mystery illnesses that are driven by stress or trauma. These groups combine psychoeducation, somatic practices, emotional processing, and supportive community to help you rebuild safety in the body and support you in resolving chronic symptoms.
Learn more here: https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/group-support

Join the conversation. Like, share, and subscribe to support this work.

Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2

Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org

The post Mormonism: A Narcissistic System: Why It’s Never Enough appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

What happens after you leave religion — but still feel a deep pull toward meaning, ritual, spirituality, or transcendence? In this conversation, Bill Reel and Britt Hartley sit down with religious ethicist and author Liz Bucar to explore what fills the vacuum when traditional faith falls away. From modern wellness culture and yoga to psychedelics, embodiment, and moral pressure, we ask hard questions about where people turn next — and whether those new spaces truly free us or quietly recreate the same dynamics we thought we escaped. Liz shares insights from her work and her book Beyond Wellness, examining how even “spiritual but not religious” communities can reproduce shame, hierarchy, and invisible expectations — often without realizing it.

Together, we explore:
• Why wellness culture increasingly functions like religion
• How moral pressure sneaks into spiritual spaces
• What it means to “steal from religion” ethically
• Why humans still crave ritual and transcendence
• How authority, identity, and meaning-making persist after deconstruction
• What secular communities often miss emotionally
• How embodiment, yoga, and psychedelics can be approached with care rather than dogma

This is an honest, thoughtful, and deeply human conversation for anyone navigating life after faith — especially those who are intellectually out but still feel emotionally or culturally tethered to their religious past. If you’ve ever wondered why leaving belief didn’t automatically bring peace… this episode helps explain why

00:02:41 – Who is Liz Bucar and how she became a religious ethicist
00:04:13 – Why Liz wrote Beyond Wellness
00:07:01 – What modern wellness culture gets wrong
00:12:22 – When spirituality becomes moral pressure
00:16:45 – Stealing from religion ethically
00:22:38 – What secular people often miss after deconstruction
00:30:14 – Yoga, embodiment, and deeper spiritual practice
00:38:52 – Psychedelics, meaning-making, and ethical use
00:49:41 – Authority, experience, and who gets to decide truth
01:00:27 – Why humans still crave ritual and transcendence
01:10:36 – Advice for those intellectually out but emotionally tethered
01:17:39 – Reflections on Beyond Wellness and modern spirituality
01:19:26 – Britt & Bill reflect on Liz’s insights

The post Stealing from Religion Without Losing Your Soul appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

What happens when reason starts questioning itself? In this episode of Almost Awakened, Britt Hartley and Bill Reel sit down with Austin DiValentino, creator of the rapidly growing platform Reason & Religion (@austindivalentino). Austin has built a large following by exploring philosophy, belief, atheism, morality, and meaning—often asking the questions most people quietly avoid. While he has identified as an atheist, his thinking continues to evolve, and this conversation dives straight into the tension between certainty, doubt, and what it actually costs to pursue truth.

Together, we explore:
• What led Austin to begin creating content around religion, philosophy, and critical thinking
• When belief or disbelief stops being theoretical and becomes deeply personal
• Whether reason and religion are truly opposed—or falsely framed as enemies
• Why modern humans vastly overestimate how rational we actually are
• Where reason genuinely helps us—and where it completely breaks down

We also wrestle with some of the biggest existential questions people face after faith shifts:
• Can morality exist without God or a transcendent framework?
• Is losing belief in God harder—or losing belief that the universe “cares”?
• Is it always good to know what’s true, even if truth destabilizes hope and meaning?
• Should everyone be exposed to ideas that may unsettle mental health—or should some stories be handled with care?

Austin also reflects on:
• The emotional cost of studying philosophy deeply
• Whether there are ideas that feel beautiful even if they may not be true
• What modern people most avoid asking because the answers might change them
• What he ultimately hopes people take away from his work beyond simply “being right”

This is an honest, human conversation about meaning after certainty—about what remains when belief loosens, and how we learn to live anyway. If you’re navigating belief, disbelief, or somewhere painfully in between, this episode is for you.

Follow Austin DiValentino
— Reason & Religion Instagram: @austindivalentino

Support Almost Awakened https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2

If anyone needs support dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at: https://awakenandthrive.org/

The post Reason & Religion: Austin DiValentino appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this episode of Almost Awakened, we sit down with Rainn Wilson, best known to many as Dwight Schrute from The Office, for a wide-ranging conversation on spirituality, meaning, and the search for depth in a modern world. Rainn Wilson has spent the years since moving beyond sitcom fame to explore some of life’s biggest questions. Through his podcast Soul Boom, Rainn brings together voices from across belief systems to wrestle with spirituality, purpose, and how humans make sense of existence in an age of disconnection, certainty loss, and cultural fragmentation. This conversation explores: What spirituality can look like outside rigid religious frameworks Why meaning, wonder, and transcendence still matter—even in a skeptical age How storytelling, community, and curiosity shape spiritual growth The role Soul Boom plays in creating conversations that unite rather than divide Rather than preaching answers, this episode leans into thoughtful exploration—asking how we live well, stay grounded, and remain open when traditional narratives no longer hold the same power. Rainn is joined by hosts Britt Hartley of No Nonsense Spirituality and Bill Reel of The Almost Awakened Podcast for a conversation that is curious, grounded, and refreshingly human. Whether you’re familiar with Rainn Wilson from his acting career, his work on Soul Boom, or you’re simply interested in thoughtful conversations about spirituality without dogma, this episode invites you to explore the edges with us.

0:00 Intro
2:15 Why Rainn Wrote Soul Boom
6:40 The Workbook and Creative Spirituality 10:22 Mental Health and Faith 14:48 The Baha’i Path 19:50 Wrestling with God and Morality 24:30 Spiritual Bypassing and Recovery 28:55 A New Kind of Religion?
33:10 Atheism, Truth, and Meaning
37:50 Science, Mystery, and Humility
42:20 How Words Like “God” Divide Us
47:10 The Future of Faith
52:05 Spirituality and Privilege
56:40 The Purpose of Religion Today
1:00:25 Finding Awe in the Modern World
1:05:10 Unlocking the Heart
1:09:30 Final Reflections

RESOURCES:
NEW Soul Boom Workbook https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Boom-Workbook-Spiritual-Modern/dp/1538775549
Original Soul Boom Book – https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Boom-Need-Spiritual-Revolution/dp/B0BCCGD7WP
Soul Boom Podcast – https://www.youtube.com/@SoulBoom

The post Rainn Wilson – Soul Boom appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

None

None

The Hardest Part of Leaving Religion: On Loss of Community Leaving religion often comes with a sense of relief, clarity, and freedom, but for many people, the hardest part isn’t the loss of belief. It’s the loss of community. In this episode, Teresa talks about the quiet grief that often follows a faith transition: losing built-in belonging, shared language, familiar rhythms, and the sense of social safety that religion once provided. I explore why rebuilding connection outside of organized religion can feel so difficult, especially in a post-pandemic world where many of us are already feeling more isolated and disconnected than before. This episode isn’t about fixing yourself or rushing the process. It’s about understanding what you’re actually grieving, normalizing why this phase feels so hard, and gently reminding you that meaningful connection is still possible, even if it looks different than it did before.

Join us at our NEW CHANNEL: @almostawakenedpodcast

Resources mentioned: Bill Reel and Teresa Hobbs facilitate a Faith Transition & Deconstruction Support Group, a trauma-informed, bi-weekly space for people navigating life after religion. The next group begins January 20, 2026, and a few spots are still available. Sign up here: https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle

Join the conversation.
Like, share, and subscribe to support this work.
Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2
Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle
Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org

The post The Hardest Part of Leaving Religion: On Loss of Community appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this solo episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, Teresa Hobbs explores codependency through a nervous-system and systems lens, with a specific focus on why high-demand religious environments, especially Mormonism, are fertile ground for codependent patterns. Rather than framing codependency as a flaw or character issue, this episode reframes it as a survival adaptation that develops when safety, belonging, and worth are tied to external approval, emotional harmony, or compliance. If you grew up: Monitoring other people’s moods Scanning the room before checking in with yourself Feeling responsible for others’ emotions Struggling to identify your own needs, feelings, or limits …this conversation is for you. Interested in the Upcoming Religious Deconstruction Support Group starting in January?

Go here to sign up: https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle

Join us at our NEW CHANNEL: @almostawakenedpodcast

Join the conversation.
Like, share, and subscribe to support this work.
Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2
Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle
Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org

The post I’m Not Ok Unless You’re Ok: Codependency & Mormonism appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Getting together with family during the holidays can be beautiful… or it can feel like stepping into a spiritual escape room you never signed up for. In this episode of Almost Awakened, Teresa and I dive into the real-life challenges that mixed-faith families face this time of year — from surprise prayers to passive-aggressive testimony moments to the subtle pressure to play your old role in the family system. In this episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, We’ll walk through 10 practical, human, and emotionally intelligent tools that help you stay regulated, connected, and true to yourself when the room is full of different beliefs and a whole lot of history. If you’re navigating a faith transition, supporting someone who is, or just trying to get through Thanksgiving without a meltdown or a debate about Kolob, this one’s for you.

What you’ll get in this episode:
• Tools to stay grounded when old patterns show up
• Ways to create internal boundaries that actually work
• Scripts for redirecting tricky conversations
• Tips for mixed-faith families who want peace (not pressure)
• How to choose connection over correction
• Why you don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to
• And yes… how to sneak outside for a 2-minute nervous-system reset

We’re here to make your holidays less stressful, more connected, and a whole lot more human.

Join us at our NEW CHANNEL: @almostawakenedpodcast
Join the conversation.
Like, share, and subscribe to support this work.
Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2
Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle
Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org

The post Navigating Mixed-Faith Holidays Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Family) appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt Hartley from No Nonsense Spirituality and Bill Reel from the Almost Awakened Podcast are teaming up again for a brand-new series built around honest, wide-open conversations on spirituality, atheism, psychology, consciousness, and whatever else grabs our curiosity in the moment. In this first episode, we jump from one fascinating question to the next. What is the nature of reality? Are we living in a simulation? What does an AI revolution mean for human meaning and purpose? And would you pull your kids out of a religion you know is false… even if staying in it meant they’d live a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life? No scripts, no guardrails, just two friends following the most interesting threads wherever they lead. If you enjoy deep questions, sharp insights, and conversations that blend intellect with real-life stakes, this new series is for you.

Support Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2

Spiritual Trauma Support: If anyone needs support dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at https://awakenandthrive.org/

Britt Hartley’s work can be found
https://nononsensespirituality.com/
https://www.audible.com/pd/No-Nonsense-Spirituality-Audiobook/B0F25P5DV2
* https://www.youtube.com/@nononsensespirituality

RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE:
DMT and the Mapping of Other Dimensions
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2016.00211/full
https://newrepublic.com/article/169525/psychonauts-training-psychedelics-dmt-extended-state
https://www.dmtx.org/resources-1
https://psychedelicspotlight.com/researchers-are-mapping-out-new-dimensions-through-dmtx-technology/

Donald Hoffman and What is Reality
https://sites.socsci.uci.edu/~ddhoff/
https://www.mindscienceacademy.org/en/do-we-see-reality-as-it-is-donald-hoffman/
https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-evolutionary-argument-against-reality-20160421
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/consciousness-self-organization-and-neuroscience/201912/what-is-reality-interview-donald
* https://tim.blog/2022/04/13/donald-hoffman

The Argument That We Are Living In A Simulation
https://simulation-argument.com/simulation.pdf
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-we-living-in-a-computer-simulation/

The post Exploring The Edges with Bill Reel & Britt Hartley appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Purity culture didn’t begin with religion, it began with control. In this episode, Teresa and Bill explore how ancient systems of ownership and inheritance evolved into moral laws that still shape our relationship to the body, desire, and worth today. Even after leaving high-control faiths, the conditioning remains embodied, showing up as shame, numbness, fear of pleasure, self-policing, and confusion about intimacy. From a trauma-informed and nervous-system lens, Teresa unpacks how sexual shame becomes a learned state of dysregulation, where the body equates arousal with danger. Together, they trace the historical roots of purity codes, examine how they persist in secular culture through double standards and body judgment, and invite listeners to begin reclaiming trust in their own desire and sensual aliveness. This episode explores: The anthropological origins of purity culture and why it once served social survival. How shame becomes wired into the nervous system. The psychological and somatic effects of sexual repression. How purity messages impact women, men, and queer people differently. The process of deconstructing purity conditioning and rebuilding embodied safety, curiosity, and pleasure. Healing isn’t rebellion, it’s integration and remembering who you were before shame told you your body was the problem.

Join the conversation.

Like, share, and subscribe to support this work.

Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2

Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle

Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org Referenced

Resources:
Pleasure Activism – Adrienne Maree Brown
Come As You Are – Emily Nagoski
Pure – Linda Kay Klein
Shameless – Nadia Bolz-Weber
Beyond Shame – Matthias Roberts

The post Purity Culture & Sexual Shame appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this episode of Almost Awakened, we dig into the emotional weapon that too many of us have been shaped by—shame. Bill and Teresa break down how unhealthy systems—religious, familial, and relational—use shame to keep people small, obedient, and disconnected from their true selves. We explore the difference between guilt and shame, unpack the mechanics of control, and call out the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways shame is embedded in Mormonism and beyond. Topics covered: How shame hijacks our sense of worth and belonging Lesser-known examples of shame-based control in high-demand religions The psychological damage caused by chronic shame Why not all shame is bad (and how it can serve society) A quick overview of Brené Brown’s Shame Resilience Method How to build awareness, speak shame, and reclaim your inner authority Whether you’re fresh out of Mormonism or years into your healing journey, this episode offers insights to help you recognize shame for what it is—and reclaim your right to live free from it.

Join us for a conversation that’s raw, real, and liberating. You’re not bad. You’re awakening.
Join us at our NEW CHANNEL: @almostawakenedpodcast3619
Join the conversation.

Like, share, and subscribe to support this work.
Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2
Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle
Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org

The post Shame as Control Unmasking the Manipulation appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

What happens when trauma awareness turns into over-protection, and healing gets stuck in the identity of what harmed us? In this episode of Almost Awakened, Teresa Hobbs and Bill Reel unpack the concept of fragilization; the process by which individuals and cultures become organized around avoiding discomfort in the name of safety. Drawing from their work supporting people through religious trauma, deconstruction, and nervous system healing, Teresa and Bill explore how the instinct to protect ourselves can sometimes keep us trapped in patterns of helplessness. They discuss how to honor pain without becoming fused with it, how validation can restore dignity without reinforcing dependency, and why resilience requires learning to tolerate life’s inevitable discomforts. They also explore: How “trauma bonding” can become a comfort zone The difference between co-regulation and dependence Why denial breeds fragility How true strength comes from integration, not suppression The cultural consequences of fragilization: polarization and loss of resilience This conversation invites nuance, compassion, and empowerment, recognizing that honoring the wound is essential, but staying in it can keep us small. For those healing from high-demand religions or systems of control, it’s a reminder that real freedom isn’t the absence of pain, it’s the ability to hold both safety and strength as we grow.

Join us at our NEW CHANNEL: @almostawakenedpodcast3619
Join the conversation.
Like, share, and subscribe to support this work.
Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2
Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle
Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org

Books Mentioned:
“The Expectation Effect” by David Robson – https://a.co/d/aRCk3wy
“The Coddling of the American Mind” by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt – https://www.thecoddling.com/buy

The post Fragilization: What Happens When We Over-Identify with Our Wounds appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill and Teresa explore one of the most misunderstood aspects of emotional health, boundaries. We unpack what safe and unsafe boundaries look like, how trauma and conditioning shape the ways we draw our lines, and why some “boundaries” are really just walls disguised as self-protection. You’ll learn how to identify when a boundary is rooted in fear versus self-respect, and how to create space for connection without sacrificing your safety or authenticity. If you’ve ever felt guilty for setting boundaries, or confused when someone else’s “boundary” felt more like a punishment, this conversation will help you untangle what’s actually going on beneath the surface.

Join the conversation. Like, share, and subscribe to support this work.

Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle

Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org/

Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2

The post Holy Boundaries or Holy Control? Learning What Safety Really Feels Like appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

What happens when your church convinces you that your own memories, questions, and feelings can’t be trusted? In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill Reel and Teresa Hobbs unpack the dark art of religious gaslighting — how high-demand faiths twist reality, dismiss legitimate concerns, and make believers doubt themselves under the guise of “God’s will.” We’ll explore: What gaslighting is and how it got its name Five real-world examples from Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology, and more How leaders rewrite history, dismiss evidence, and blame the victim The deep psychological harm caused when faith makes you distrust your own perception Practical tools and therapeutic insights for healing from religious gaslighting If you’ve ever been told “you’re misremembering” or “your doubts are from the adversary,” this conversation will hit home. And if you’re working through the trauma of spiritual manipulation, we’ll share concrete steps to reclaim your reality, rebuild trust in yourself, and move forward with clarity.

Support our work: If you find value in these conversations, consider donating:
Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2

Need support? If you’re dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at https://awakenandthrive.org/

Join our Religious Transition support group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle

The post Holy Manipulation: Gaslighting in High-Demand Faiths appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

The Almost Awakened Podcast is planning out a “Opposing Viewpoints” series and in this first episode of our new Opposing Viewpoints series, Bill shares a recent confrontation he had with a Mormon apologist—an exchange where both sides walked away feeling the other had acted in bad faith. Together, Bill and Teresa unpack the experience, steelman the apologist’s position and motivations, and vulnerably explore Bill’s own thought process and responses in the moment. What happens when two people both believe they’re standing for truth, yet each feels misrepresented by the other? What drives these kinds of clashes, and what would it take to not only understand each other better, but to create more productive, respectful dialogue? Join us as we wrestle with the paradoxes of human interaction—where sincerity meets suspicion, conviction meets doubt, and the chance for deeper understanding lies in the tension between.

Please consider supporting the show – Almost Awakened | Mormon Discussion Inc. (Powered by Donorbox)

The post Opposing Viewpoints: Religious Apologists V. Critics appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, Bill Reel and Teresa Hobbs explore why stillness can feel so uncomfortable, especially for those recovering from religious trauma, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation. Teresa shares a powerful moment between them as a couple when a simple request for soothing touch opened the door to a deeper mindfulness and somatic tracking practice. Together, they talk about why so many of us are constantly moving, fixing, distracting, or bracing… and how mindfulness can help us gently be with our sensations rather than run from them. They discuss: The science behind mindfulness and why it heals. How early life stress and religious programming affect the nervous system. What it means to separate the “story” from the “sensation”. How mindfulness can repattern trauma responses and support nervous system regulation. Mindfulness as a form of re-parenting and building secure attachment. This episode is raw, vulnerable, and full of practical insight, especially for post-Mormons, ex-vangelicals, or anyone rebuilding safety in their body and relationships after trauma.

Teresa’s blog post on mindfulness: https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/post/rewiring-for-connection-how-trauma-informed-mindfulness-rebuilds-the-inner-architecture-of-safety

Book on Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness: https://a.co/d/4tXisU2

Interested in trauma-informed coaching or somatic healing? Learn more at: https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com Whether you’re deconstructing religion, healing from chronic symptoms, or just trying to slow down… this episode offers a sacred tool to help you come home to yourself.

Support the Almost Awakened Podcast and help us create more conscious content!

Donate via DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2

Join our Mailing List: subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion

Listen on Your Favorite Podcast Apps:

Follow Us: Instagram: @mormondiscussion @monarchintegrativecoaching TikTok: @mormondiscussion YouTube: @monarchintegrativecoaching‬
Visit Our Website: https://almostawakened.org https://monarchintegrativecoaching.com
Contact Us: Bill Reel: MormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.com
Teresa Hobbs: monarchintegrativecoaching@gmail.com

Mindfulness #NervousSystemHealing #ReligiousTrauma #SomaticPractice #AlmostAwakened

The post Why You Can’t Sit Still: Mindfulness, Trauma, and the Nervous System appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill and Teresa explore the transformative shift from external obedience to internal integrity. What happens when we stop living by someone else’s rules and start listening to our own inner voice? The conversation dives into the psychology of control, the cost of compliance, and the courage it takes to choose authenticity. With humor, vulnerability, and practical insight, they unpack how we were conditioned to equate obedience with virtue—and how reclaiming our autonomy is the path to real wholeness. If you’ve ever felt like your strings no longer fit, this one’s for you. [Almost Awakened: 192]Help support Bill Reel & Teresa Hobbs in creating Awakened Resources and Content DONATE VIA DONORBOX! https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2Join our Mailing List – subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/almost-awakened/id1470786994 https://open.spotify.com/show/59vB23bBAvNvdP74vIO3UT Instagram: /https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/ TikTok: @mormondiscussion https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussion Mormon Discussion Merch store https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsMormon Discussions Website – https://mormondiscussions.org/ Contact Bill Reel or Teresa HobbsMormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.comThe post From Obedience to Integrity [Part 2] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

[Almost Awakened Ep: 191] What happens when obedience no longer defines you? In this episode, we explore the tender, disorienting, and ultimately liberating journey of shifting from a life shaped by external authority to one grounded in inner truth. We unpack how high-demand systems condition us to equate obedience with worth—and how, once that structure falls away, we’re left with a terrifying silence that’s actually a blank canvas. Together, we examine what integrity really means—not moral perfection, but alignment between who you are and how you live. With honesty, vulnerability, and practical insight, we guide you through the void, the rebuilding, and the quiet bravery of living in congruence with yourself—especially when it costs you belonging. This isn’t a call to rebellion. It’s an invitation to return to yourself.Help support Bill Reel & Teresa Hobbs in creating Awakened Resources and Content DONATE VIA DONORBOX! https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2Join our Mailing List – subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/almost-awakened/id1470786994 https://open.spotify.com/show/59vB23bBAvNvdP74vIO3UT Instagram: /https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/ TikTok: @mormondiscussion https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussion Mormon Discussion Merch store https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsMormon Discussions Website – https://mormondiscussions.org/ Contact Bill Reel or Teresa HobbsMormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.comThe post From Obedience to Integrity: Rebuilding Identity from the Inside Out PART 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Why do some relationships thrive after conflict while others crumble? What if conflict wasn’t the problem in your relationships—but the key to deeper connection? In this powerful episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, Bill Reel and Terresa Hobbs dive into the vital but often misunderstood cycle of rupture and repair. From parenting to romantic relationships to friendships and even spiritual community, we explore how moments of disconnection can either erode trust—or, when repaired with care, build unshakable emotional safety. You’ll learn why healthy relationships aren’t rupture-free, how our nervous systems respond during conflict, and what real repair looks like. We also share personal stories, practical tools, and science-backed insights to help you show up more authentically and courageously in every relationship. Whether you’re navigating challenges in a romantic partnership, friendship, or family bond, this conversation is for you.

00:00 – What Is Rupture & Repair? 06:00 – Attachment Theory: It’s Not About Perfection 10:30 – Secure Attachment Only Requires 30% Attunement 13:00 – Can Adults Shift Attachment Styles? (Earned Secure Attachment) 19:00 – Common Causes of Rupture 27:00 – The Role of the Nervous System in Rupture 39:00 – Taking Responsibility Without Shame 48:00 – Why Most People Avoid Repair (and What It Costs) 51:00 – Spiritual & Religious Ruptures in Family Systems 56:30 – Grieving the Relationship That Was 1:03:30 – Healthiest Way to Bring Up a Rupture 1:17:40 – Can Every Rupture Be Repaired? Not Always 1:19:30 – Real-Life Example: When Repair Fails 1:34:44 – Repair Checklist Recap 1:39:50 – Bill & Terresa Share a Repair Example: Laundry Soap & Grace 1:50:15 – Self-Rupture and Inner Repair 1:53:00 – Final Reflections: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Safe

Support the Almost Awakened Podcast and help us create more conscious content!
Donate via DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2
Join our Mailing List: subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion
Listen on Your Favorite Podcast Apps: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/almost-awakened/id1470786994 https://open.spotify.com/show/59vB23bBAvNvdP74vIO3UT
Follow Us: Instagram: @mormondiscussion @monarchintegrativecoaching
Visit Our Website: https://almostawakened.org https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com
Contact Us: Bill Reel: MormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.com Teresa Hobbs: monarchintegrativecoaching@gmail.com

The post What Healthy Relationships Do Differently ! appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this powerful episode, we explore the fascinating—and at times unsettling—truth that your body can carry pain, anxiety, and illness long after the danger is gone. Through bizarre medical stories and neuroscience-backed insights, we expose how the brain can misfire protective signals, trapping us in cycles of suffering with no clear physical cause. But we don’t stop at science. We take a hard look at how religious trauma—especially from high-demand systems like Mormonism—can sabotage the nervous system, teaching us to fear our own instincts and stay hypervigilant in the name of obedience. From chronic pain to panic attacks to unexplained sickness, we reveal how trauma—spiritual or otherwise—can become embedded in the body… and how healing is possible. If you’ve ever wondered why you still feel unsafe, even when you’re “out,” or why your symptoms don’t match your diagnosis—this is the episode that connects the dots.

The post The Mind & Body’s Connection to Religious Trauma appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this powerful and vulnerable episode, Teresa Hobbs opens up about her personal journey through years of chronic illness, unexplained symptoms, and deep emotional and physical collapse — and what it took to slowly find her way back to life. From early signs of nervous system dysregulation to being dismissed by doctors, chasing countless integrative and alternative healing paths, and finally hitting a wall that forced her to leave everything behind — this is the full story. For the first time, Teresa shares how trauma, stress, and disconnection from self, played a role in her decline, and how she began the slow, gentle work of re-regulating her nervous system and learning how to truly heal. This episode is not about education or theory — it’s about lived experience. It’s raw, real, and deeply human. If you’ve ever felt like your body is failing you, if you’re lost in your symptoms and afraid that things may never change, this story is for you. Resources Mentioned in the Episode * Raelan Agle YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RaelanAgle * The Way Out by Alan Gordon: https://a.co/d/5gKIXjy * Symptomatic Me: https://www.symptomatic.me

Learn more or inquire about coaching with Teresa at:www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com Support the Almost Awakened Podcast and help us create more conscious content! Donate via DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 Join our Mailing List: subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion Listen on Your Favorite Podcast Apps: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast… https://open.spotify.com/show/59vB23b… Follow Us: Instagram: @mormondiscussion @monarchintegrativecoaching YouTube: @monarchintegrativecoaching‬ ‬ Visit Our Website: MormonDiscussions.org Contact Us: Bill Reel: MormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.com Teresa Hobbs: monarchintegrativecoaching@gmail.comThe post Your Body Isn’t Broken: Teresa Hobbs Shares Her Personal Healing Journey [Almost Awakened 188] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Why does the world feel so divided—and why is it so hard to stay curious when we disagree? In this episode of Almost Awakened, we unpack the hidden forces driving today’s polarization. From ancient survival wiring to cognitive biases to trauma-shaped perception, we explore how our brains are glitching in a modern world built to… Read More »Why We’re So Divided: Trauma, Bias, and the Human Brain [Almost Awakened 187]

The post Why We’re So Divided: Trauma, Bias, and the Human Brain [Almost Awakened 187] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

What happens when the very thing that was supposed to save you ends up breaking you? In this deeply personal episode of Almost Awakened, Bill and Teresa dive into the hidden wounds left by high-demand religions and spiritual systems. From shame-laced teachings to fear-based obedience, they unpack the symptoms of religious trauma and explore what… Read More »Healing from Religious & Spiritual Trauma

The post Healing from Religious & Spiritual Trauma appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

You’ve heard the word ‘trauma’—but do you really know what it means? In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we break down the truth about trauma: not just the dramatic events, but the subtle, often invisible wounds that live in our bodies, shape our behavior, and distort how we see the world. We explore: *What trauma… Read More »Unmasking Trauma: What It Really Is and How We Heal

The post Unmasking Trauma: What It Really Is and How We Heal appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Ep. 184 | Almost Awakened In this episode we explore how nervous system dysregulation affects your health, relationships, emotions, and identity—and how understanding this system can radically change the way you live and heal. Welcome to the reboot of the Almost Awakened Podcast—where big awakenings meet real-life healing. Bill Reel is joined by his new… Read More »Healing Starts Here: Understanding the Nervous System & Trauma

The post Healing Starts Here: Understanding the Nervous System & Trauma appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill shares his two month dive into relationship research. From John & Julie Gottman to Jordan Peterson

RESOURCES:

Thanks so much for watching! Please like, subscribe, and leave a comment!

Visit our Channel to find everything Mormonism! https://www.youtube.com/c/MormonDiscussionsInc or @MormonDiscussion Our mission at Mormon Discussion is to be a beacon of support for those who are questioning the truth claims or renegotiating their relationship with faith.

Our podcasts like “Mormonism Live,” “Radio Free Mormon,” and “Mormon Discussion” offer a safe space for Discovery and healing. But we need your help. Your donations power our work – expanding outreach, improving content, and creating new initiatives.
Visit https://donorbox.org/umbrella-entity or https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/please-consider-donating-today/ and make a difference today.

Your support empowers us to empower others. We are a 501C3 Non-Profit and your donation is tax deductible inside the United States https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/please-consider-donating-today/ Thank you for being part of the change. Together, we’re making a real impact.

The post Creating A Fulfilling Romantic Relationship [Almost Awakened 182] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Join Bill Reel and Jon Streeter in a thought-provoking conversation that delves deep into the complexities of the Gender Dysphoria & Transgender Debate. In this YouTube video, these two articulate voices engage in a nuanced exploration that transcends the surface-level discourse often seen in mainstream media. At the heart of their discussion lies a fundamental clash between two philosophical frameworks: Modern Scientific Rational Empiricism and Postmodern Relativism, which includes Gender Theory. Bill and Jon carefully dissect the implications of these opposing paradigms on the understanding and acceptance of transgender identities. Throughout the video, they unpack the Philosophy surrounding gender theory to illuminate the experiences of transgender individuals. Simultaneously, they critically examine the role of postmodern theories in shaping societal attitudes towards gender, highlighting the importance of acknowledging diverse perspectives while upholding scientific rigor. Through their insightful analysis, Bill and Jon guide viewers towards a deeper understanding of the Gender Dysphoria & Transgender Debate as a microcosm of broader philosophical tensions in contemporary society. By elucidating the clash between Modern Scientific Rational Empiricism and Postmodern Relativism, they empower audiences to critically engage with the nuances of gender discourse and cultivate empathy towards diverse experiences. Ultimately, this YouTube video serves as a beacon of intellectual inquiry, inviting viewers to embark on a journey of introspection and dialogue that transcends ideological divides. Join Bill and Jon as they navigate the intricate intersections of science, theory, and human experience in the pursuit of greater understanding and compassion.

Resources:

The Trojan Unicorn: Queer Theory and Paedophilia (Audio Essay) (youtube.com)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAP4czG3DjE

Sex & Gender: An Evolutionary Perspective – Heather Heying (youtube.com)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkjL58HOS60

The post The Gender Dysphoria & Transgender Debate: A Foundation Conversation [Almost Awakened: 181] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Join hosts Bill Reel & Britt Hartley on this thought-provoking episode of Almost Awakened as they engage in a profound conversation with Dr. Dan McClellan. With a rich background in Ancient Near Eastern studies and a doctorate in the cognitive science of religion, Dr. McClellan brings a unique perspective to the table.

In this interview, delve into the intricacies of Mormon doctrine, particularly examining James E. Talmage’s role in codifying beliefs about the Godhead and exploring how this approach is received in wider biblical scholarship. Beyond the theological discussion, the conversation opens up to the broader benefits of studying the Bible, even for those in the post-deconstruction phase of their spiritual journey.

Dr. McClellan shares insights on the significance of biblical literacy in understanding Western civilization, literature, art, and government. The interview doesn’t shy away from tough questions, addressing Dr. McClellan’s experience with various religious groups claiming him and how he navigates identity in the context of evolving beliefs.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into Dr. McClellan’s perspective on Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible, his favorite stories for deep exegesis, and the challenges and rewards of being a public scholar. As the conversation unfolds, the hosts explore the delicate balance between data and dogma, pondering the impact of changing doctrines on spiritual experiences.

The interview wraps up with a glimpse into Dr. McClellan’s ongoing projects, his stance on reporting religious aspects of global situations like Gaza, and a shout-out to his social media platform, courses, and the Data over Dogma podcast. Tune in for a captivating dialogue that transcends boundaries, inviting you to discern between data and dogma in your own spiritual exploration. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your understanding of the Bible and religion with Dr. Dan McClellan on Almost Awakened!

Thanks so much for watching! Please like, subscribe, and leave a comment! Visit our Channel to find everything Mormonism! https://www.youtube.com/c/MormonDiscussionsInc or @MormonDiscussion

Our mission at Mormon Discussion is to be a beacon of support for those who are questioning the truth claims or renegotiating their relationship with faith. Our podcasts like “Mormonism Live,” “Radio Free Mormon,” and “Mormon Discussion” offer a safe space for Discovery and healing. But we need your help. Your donations power our work – expanding outreach, improving content, and creating new initiatives. Visit https://donorbox.org/umbrella-entity or https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/please-consider-donating-today/ and make a difference today. Your support empowers us to empower others.

We are a 501C3 Non-Profit and your donation is tax deductible inside the United States https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/please-consider-donating-today/

Thank you for being part of the change. Together, we’re making a real impact.

The post Dan McClellan: Discerning Between Data and Dogma [Almost Awakened: 179] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this thought-provoking episode, host Bill Reel engages in a candid and enlightening conversation with the incredible Natasha Helfer—a Mental Health & Sex Therapist. Join us as we dive deep into the realms of vulnerability, authenticity, and a topic bubbling to the surface for many: Post Religious Sexuality.

Natasha brings her expertise to the table, unraveling the layers of the human experience after leaving religious frameworks. From navigating the complexities of relationships to rediscovering intimacy, this conversation is a powerful exploration of personal growth and liberation.

Have you ever wondered about the impact of religious conditioning on your sexuality? Curious about the journey to reclaiming autonomy and authenticity in this aspect of your life? Natasha Helfer shares her insights, experiences, and professional wisdom to guide us through these important discussions.

Topics Covered: Vulnerability and Authenticity in Personal Growth Navigating Relationships Beyond Religious Constraints Rediscovering Intimacy and Connection The Intersection of Mental Health and Sexuality Overcoming Challenges in Post Religious Sexual Exploration

Join Bill Reel and Natasha Helfer in this eye-opening episode of Almost Awakened. Whether you’re on your own journey of self-discovery or simply interested in understanding the diverse facets of the human experience, this conversation is sure to inspire and resonate.

About Natasha Helfer: Natasha is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, and a prominent voice in the mental health and sexuality field. Her work extends beyond traditional therapy, advocating for healthy conversations around sex, relationships, and spirituality.

Following deals available to listeners.

Save $225 when you pay in full for the October 2024 Couples Retreat when you use the coupon code UNWIND225 at checkout https://www.natashahelfer.com/store/p/unwind-together Save $65 on any of Natasha’s 2024 groups when you pay in full. Use the coupon code GROUPSAVE65 when you register. To register please call our office at 1-208-391-7804 or fill out the form at https://symmetrypath.com/group-registration RESOURCES: https://www.natashahelfer.com/ https://www.natashahelfer.com/the-natasha-helfer-podcast https://symmetrypath.com/groups Tune in, engage with us, and let’s embark on this enlightening exploration together! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments below.

AlmostAwakened #NatashaHelfer #PostReligiousSexuality #PodcastInterview #PersonalGrowth #Relationships #SexualityExploration

Thanks so much for watching! Please like, subscribe, and leave a comment!

Visit our Channel to find everything Mormonism! https://www.youtube.com/c/MormonDiscussionsInc or @MormonDiscussion

Our mission at Mormon Discussion is to be a beacon of support for those who are questioning the truth claims or renegotiating their relationship with faith.

Our podcasts like “Mormonism Live,” “Radio Free Mormon,” and “Mormon Discussion” offer a safe space for Discovery and healing. But we need your help.

Your donations power our work – expanding outreach, improving content, and creating new initiatives.

Visit https://donorbox.org/umbrella-entity or https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/please-consider-donating-today/ and make a difference today.

Your support empowers us to empower others. We are a 501C3 Non-Profit and your donation is tax deductable inside the United States https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/please-consider-donating-today/

Thank you for being part of the change. Together, we’re making a real impact.

The post Natasha Helfer & Post Religious Sexuality [Almost Awakened: 178] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

“Awakened Perspectives” is a transformative podcast series that invites listeners on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. In each episode, your host Bill Reel sits down with a remarkable individual who embodies a wealth of grounded life experiences and wisdom. These guests have traversed diverse paths, accumulating a treasure trove of insights and practical tools for navigating life’s complexities. Today’s Guest is Utah Family Law Lawyer Manda Beers.

RESOURCES:

If you need Legal help in Utah in the area of Family Law you can reach Manda at mandabloxbeers@gmail.com

Thanks so much for watching!

Please like, subscribe, and leave a comment!

Visit our Channel to find all the desired info on Mormonism!
https://www.youtube.com/c/MormonDiscussionsInc

You can support our channel by donating here! (We are a 501C3 Non-Profit)

Please Consider Donating Today!!!!

The post Awakened Perspectives – Manda [Almost Awakened: 177] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

“Awakened Perspectives” is a transformative podcast series that invites listeners on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. In each episode, your host Bill Reel sits down with a remarkable individual who embodies a wealth of grounded life experiences and wisdom. These guests have traversed diverse paths, accumulating a treasure trove of insights and practical tools for navigating life’s complexities. Today’s Guest is Radio Personality and friend Michael Foley.

RESOURCES:

https://www.facebook.com/mikeyandthemrs/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mikey-the-mrs/id1639895192

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mikeyandthemrs

The post Awakened Perspectives – Michael Foley [Almost Awakened: 175] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

“Awakened Perspectives” is a transformative podcast series that invites listeners on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. In each episode, your host Bill Reel sits down with a remarkable individual who embodies a wealth of grounded life experiences and wisdom. These guests have traversed diverse paths, accumulating a treasure trove of insights and practical tools for navigating life’s complexities. Through intimate conversations, “Awakened Perspectives” offers a rare opportunity to glean from the collective wisdom of these extraordinary individuals. From seasoned spiritual guides to accomplished artists, from resilient adventurers to compassionate healers, each guest brings a unique perspective that is both deeply rooted in their own journey and universally resonates with our shared human experience. Listeners can expect to embark on a voyage of self-reflection, growth, and empowerment. With each episode, you’ll discover new perspectives, invaluable tools, and profound insights that can be applied to your own life journey. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, guidance, or a fresh outlook on life’s challenges, “Awakened Perspectives” is a sanctuary for seekers of truth, purpose, and fulfillment. Tune in and join us as we dive into the hearts and minds of these extraordinary individuals, uncovering the timeless wisdom that has shaped their awakened perspectives. This podcast is a beacon of light, inviting you to illuminate your own path towards a more conscious, fulfilled existence. Today’s Guest is Ammon Arave. He is an entrepreneur, creator, marketer, and a friend and he has a lot of depth to share and I deeply enjoyed the conversation we created.

The post Awakened Perspectives – Ammon Arave: AA: 174 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

“Awakened Perspectives” is a transformative podcast series that invites listeners on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. In each episode, your host Bill Reel sits down with a remarkable individual who embodies a wealth of grounded life experiences and wisdom. These guests have traversed diverse paths, accumulating a treasure trove of insights and practical tools for navigating life’s complexities. Through intimate conversations, “Awakened Perspectives” offers a rare opportunity to glean from the collective wisdom of these extraordinary individuals. From seasoned spiritual guides to accomplished artists, from resilient adventurers to compassionate healers, each guest brings a unique perspective that is both deeply rooted in their own journey and universally resonates with our shared human experience. Listeners can expect to embark on a voyage of self-reflection, growth, and empowerment. With each episode, you’ll discover new perspectives, invaluable tools, and profound insights that can be applied to your own life journey. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, guidance, or a fresh outlook on life’s challenges, “Awakened Perspectives” is a sanctuary for seekers of truth, purpose, and fulfillment. Tune in and join us as we dive into the hearts and minds of these extraordinary individuals, uncovering the timeless wisdom that has shaped their awakened perspectives. This podcast is a beacon of light, inviting you to illuminate your own path towards a more conscious, fulfilled existence. Today’s Guest is Phil McLemore. He is an Yogi, Meditator, and Wisdom Teacher.

The post Awakened Perspectives – Phil McLemore: AA: 173 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

This is the second in series of Conversations where I sit down with people to delve into the deeper conversations of humanity. People I know and respect and sense they have wisdom and experience that will benefit us all. Today that is life coach Miles Hunsaker . Miles was a gay man who grew up in a homophobic religion and tried so hard to be the human others commanded him to be. But in the end he chose to be himself and that just so happened to be one of the kindest coolest human beings on the planet. Please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE and please share your thoughts in the comments.

RESOURCES:

https://www.mileshunsaker.coach/

You can support the Mormonism Live show by donating here https://almostawakened.org/donate-to-almost-awakened-podcast/

The post Awakened Perspectives – Miles Hunsaker: AA: 172 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today begins a new chapter in the Almost Awakened Podcast. A series of Conversations where I sit down with people to delve into the deeper conversations of humanity. People I know and respect and sense they have wisdom and experience that will benefit us all. Today that is Comedian and Friend, The Fresh King Benjamin. Ben Brown grew up in fundamentalist polygamy Mormonism and knows a thing or two about trauma, about calling out bullshit, and about reconstructing a healthy vibrant life. I think you will find this series and this conversation specifically deeply insightful and beneficial.

Please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE and please share your thoughts in the comments.

RESOURCES:

The Fresh King Benjamin full set “The Spring Prophecy of The Fresh King Benjamin” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBx5g6FOEaM&pp=ygUXVGhlIEZyZXNoIEtpbmcgQmVuamFtaW4%3D

You can support the Mormonism Live show by donating here https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/please-consider-donating-today/

The post Awakened Perspectives – The Fresh King Benjamin: AA: 171 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt and Bill sit down to look back at the work they have done and to discuss the future of Britt, of Bill, and of the Podcast.

The post Looking Back & Looking Forward: AA: 170 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

The Almost Awakened Podcast has some news to share and we wanted to tell our audience that news and how it will affect the show. And we have a short discussion on Trauma

The post The Future Of The Almost Awakened Podcast: AA: 169 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this enlightening episode, we delve deep into the life and philosophy of the Naked Pastor, a remarkable figure whose journey from the pulpit to the canvas has captivated hearts worldwide. Known for his candid approach to faith and art, the Naked Pastor offers a raw and authentic perspective on spirituality. Join us as we… Read More »Baring it All With The Naked Pastor: Almost Awakened: 158

The post Baring it All With The Naked Pastor: Almost Awakened: 158 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Christ, Krishna, and the Buddha with Bob Peck, Mystic Author Almost Awakened: 167 “Christ, Krishna, and the Buddha” is a exploration of the lives and teachings of three iconic spiritual figures who have left an indelible mark on the world. We sit down with mystic author Bob Peck delving into each of these spiritual figures investigating their timeless wisdom, remarkable stories, and enduring legacies of Jesus Christ, Lord Krishna, and Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha.Bob Peck is a festival award-winning filmmaker, author, lawnmower, meditator, and a spiritual student of Christ, Krishna, the Buddha. With bachelor’s degrees in Religious Studies & Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas, he has made ‘conscious films’—spiritual & advocacy documentaries—since graduating in 2011. He’s also a Kriya Yoga practitioner through KYI and a certified mindfulness & meditation teacher. His day job is centered around ads and mindfulness in Big Tech. A native Austinite, he lives with his wife and young son in Austin, Texas. “Original Sin Is A Lie” is his first book. RESOURCES:https://www.originalsinisalie.com/https://www.amazon.com/Original-Sin-Lie-Spirituality-Reveals/dp/B0BCD1YBG8https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Original-Sin-Is-A-Lie-Audiobook/B0BF66JYY1https://www.tiktok.com/@originalsinisalieThe post Christ, Krishna, & the Buddha – A Mystical Approach W/ Bob Peck: AA: 167 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

None

Barbie & the Heroines Journey Bill and Britt outline the heroines journey and how it differs from the hero’s journey. RESOURCES: https://heroinejourneys.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/victoria-schmid.jpg Weird Barbie – https://creations.mattel.com/products/weird-barbie-barbie-the-movie-hyb84 https://heroinejourneys.com/heroines-journey/ https://maureenmurdock.com/articles/articles-the-heroines-journey/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroine’s_journey https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/22/books/maria-tatar-heroine-with-1001-faces.html https://storygrid.com/heroines-journey/ https://mythcreants.com/blog/using-the-heroines-journey/

The post Barbie & the Heroine’s Journey: Almost Awakened: 166 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Brene Brown has said that, “practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives.” She defines spirituality in terms of connection to others and to a power greater than ourselves. For some, they call a greater power God. For others, they call it nature, or fishing. Whatever name we use for… Read More »Vulnerability With The Other: Almost Awakened: 165

The post Vulnerability With The Other: Almost Awakened: 165 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Celtic Spirituality is not a church. It was never formed into a unified institution. So what is it? And how can learning about it help people dispossessed of their early religious formation continue to explore their spirituality? How does this tradition of “Insular Christianity” originating in the British Isles survive without a formal religious structure?… Read More »Celtic Spirituality: Almost Awakened: 164

The post Celtic Spirituality: Almost Awakened: 164 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Delve into the intricate relationship between mysticism, religion, societal control, and progress in this thought-provoking podcast episode. Explore how mysticism, the pursuit of direct spiritual experience, weaves through diverse religious traditions, fostering inner transformation and unity with the divine. Uncover the “wounded healer” archetype, where personal suffering becomes a wellspring of wisdom, guiding others on… Read More »Mysticism & Esoterica: Almost Awakened: 163

The post Mysticism & Esoterica: Almost Awakened: 163 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this podcast, we present six beautifully crafted parables, each designed to illuminate the significance of values and perspectives in resolving conflicts. Through these timeless tales, we celebrate the art of taking a tie – whether through compromise, agreeing to disagree, or fostering room for understanding. Join us on this insightful voyage as we reflect… Read More »Values, Perspectives, & Taking The Tie: AA: 162

The post Values, Perspectives, & Taking The Tie: AA: 162 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this thought-provoking episode of The Almost Awakened Podcast, we courageously delve into the heart of some of the most contentious and divisive topics of our time. Guided by a commitment to open-mindedness, empathy, and enlightenment, we embark on a journey to explore the complexities of highly controversial conversation topic such as euthanasia, security vs.… Read More »Controversial Conversations: Almost Awakened: 161

The post Controversial Conversations: Almost Awakened: 161 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Unveiling the Layers of the Self: AA: 160 In this follow-up episode, we delve back into the Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, a groundbreaking modality that seeks to understand and heal the multiple facets of our inner selves. Jana ( and Bill are rejoined by Cory Reese (a professional therapist… Read More »Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Unveiling the Layers of the Self: AA: 160

The post Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Unveiling the Layers of the Self: AA: 160 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this Episode of Almost Awakened we take a look at Integral theory also known as Spiral Dynamics, a cognivitive development model made famous by Ken Wilber. We take a look a Introductory Look at this the through the lens of its facets of stages, states, lines of development, Types, and Quadrants RESOURCES: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2164956120952733 https://spiraldynamicsintegral.nl/en/about-sdi/integral-theory/… Read More »An Introduction To Integral theory: AA: 159

The post An Introduction To Integral theory: AA: 159 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today on the Almost Awakened Podcast Bill sits down with Licensed Professional Counselor and Author Sarah Westbrook to discuss the intersection of Psychedelics & Spirituality within therapy. RESOURCES: daisygirlcommunications.com https://unpackingmormonism.blogspot.com/ https://open.spotify.com/show/6KjeKzIAPLTzHxQIZIzHUJ https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingcrazy/ Sarah’s Email – daisygirlcommunications@gmail.com

The post Clinical Perspective On Spirituality & Psychedelics: AA appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

While being kind and thoughtful others are traits that are correlated with thriving relationships, when they dominate to the detriment of our own needs, wants, and feelings, relationships can suffer. Bill and Jana will be joined by seasoned coach, Sara Fisk, host of The Ex-Good Girl podcast, to explore how people pleasing shows up and… Read More »How to Stop People Pleasing with Sara Fisk: AA: 157

The post How to Stop People Pleasing with Sara Fisk: AA: 157 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

One of the big modalities currently in therapeutic practices is “Internal Family Systems” or “IFS” and the idea that the core you can learn to communicate with the parts that protect you and the parts of that have been exiled due to shame and fear. IFS is showing itself to be a deeply productive way… Read More »Internal Family systems – Therapy Talking To Your Parts: Almost Awakened: 156

The post Internal Family systems – Therapy Talking To Your Parts: Almost Awakened: 156 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Reel and Gabe go for round 2 of looking at the nature of reality. They look at various models of seeing the world, check in on Modern Science such as Quantum Physics, and share insights from their own learning and experience to investigate if the world we all believe we are seeing is in… Read More »What Can We Say About the Nature Of Reality: AA: 155 & MD: 387

The post What Can We Say About the Nature Of Reality: AA: 155 & MD: 387 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

What are the 7 variations of atheism and the 7 new religions on the rise. Based on two books – The Seven Types of Atheism by John Gray and Strange Rites: New Religions in a Godless World by Tara Burton

The post 7 Kinds of Atheism & 7 New Religions: AA: 153 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hartley and Reel sit down with Lincoln Cannon to discuss Transhumanism and to evaluate if it could, in fact, become a new religion.

RESOURCES:

https://lincoln.metacannon.net/

The post Almost Awakened: 152: Transhumanism – A New Religion? appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today we talk with TikTok sensation Matt Hershberger, whose interests lie in Nihilism, Anti-Natalism, and the Dark Arts.

resources:
https://betterstrangers.substack.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterstrangersbooks

The post Nihilism, Anti-Natalism, and the Dark Arts w/ Matt Hershberger: Almost Awakened: 151 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hundreds of thousands of years, maybe millions, and this is the furthest we have come in creating a healthy world of Humans. War, genocide, starvation, homelessness, Poor or non-existent healthcare, abuse, & trauma. Today we lay out and discuss 10 Changes that would elevate our human race to a healthier state of peace, health, and inner wellbeing.

The New Ten Commandments – https://chat.openai.com/

Respect the dignity and worth of every human being.
Practice empathy and compassion towards others.
Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Foster a sense of community and promote social responsibility.
Promote equality and fairness for all individuals.
Encourage honesty, integrity, and transparency in all dealings.
Promote peaceful conflict resolution and nonviolence.
Respect the environment and preserve natural resources for future generations.
Encourage lifelong learning and personal growth.
Promote the common good and work towards the betterment of society as a whole.

These principles are not exhaustive, but they could form a foundation for a set of commandments that could guide individuals towards creating a better, kinder world. Ultimately, it is up to society as a whole to determine what values and principles are most important and how best to promote them.

The post Top 10 Changes That Lead To Better Human Societies: Almost Awakened: 150 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

We sit down with Jonathon Streeter, founder of the Blog and Youtube Channel “Thoughts On Things And Stuff” to discuss the manipulative tactics of High Demand Religions and how to spot them immediately.

RESOURCES:
https://thoughtsonthingsandstuff.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVTCFh3uDMH0GZlwl1JOoHQ
https://www.facebook.com/ThoughtsOnThingsAndStuff/

The post How To Recognize Cult Mind Control: Almost Awakened: 149 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In This Week’s episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, Hartley and Reel peek behind the curtain of Zen Buddhism to discuss the rampant sexual misconduct happening there. We are so used to hearing about sexual abuse with Catholicism or Mormonism or the Jehovah’s Witnesses but while sort of unexpected, Buddhist circles are also deeply affected by these atrocious acts. We sit down with TikTok’r @LifeAfterZen to discuss this sensitive issue and to learn how we can better be aware of and address the such problems.

RESOURCES:
https://www.shilohproject.blog/sexual-misconduct-and-buddhism-centering-survivors/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzoMdW8GEVI&list=PLpxqAk60QqWrlqnlVVWr4IvLyv1GtBw5I&index=2
https://www.religionandsexualabuseproject.org/
https://tricycle.org/magazine/sexual-abuse-in-buddhism/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-shocking-scandal-at-the-heart-of-american-zen
https://tricycle.org/magazine/sex-sangha-again/
https://www.lionsroar.com/openletteronabuse/

The post Almost Awakened: 148: Sexual Abuse In The Zen Buddhist Community appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Abraham Maslow’s pyramidal “Hierarchy of Needs” model is a highly-influential way of organizing human needs from the most “basic” to the most advanced. Maslow’s argument is that the most basic needs must be met before people can move “up” to the more advanced needs. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are: physiological (food and clothing), safety (job security), love and belonging needs (friendship), esteem, and self-actualization. Needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to higher needs. What is not as commonly known about Maslow is that toward the end of his life, he began to have some doubts about this model and just prior to his death added a 6th stage at the top of the pyramid called “Self-Transcendence” and today we review the standard hierarchy and finish by discussing at length the missing piece, Self-Transcendence.

RESOURCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow’s_hierarchy_of_needs

https://www.wichita.edu/services/mrc/OIR/Pedagogy/Theories/maslow.php

https://www.thecareerproject.org/blog/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs/

https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT6BpFhPsfY

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4136760

https://www.thoughtco.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4582571

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs

The post Almost Awakened: 147: Maslow’s Unpublished Work – Self Transcendence appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hartley and Reel sit down TikTok Sensation Jordan The Grey Witch, an Atheist Witch to discuss what it even means in 2023 to be a witch and how being a witch plays out. https://www.tiktok.com/@jordanthegreywitch

The post Almost Awakened: 146: A Magical Conversation With An Atheist Witch appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today we sit down with Dr. Lisa Miller author of “The Awakened Brain” and “The Spiritual Child”. The discussion centers around spirituality and awakeness and what the science and research says about both. How can we humans be our best healthiest selves? How can we thrive while also progressing as a species to achieve our potential?

Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and a professor in the clinical psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the founder and director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spirituality and psychology, and for over a decade has held joint appointments in the department of psychiatry at Columbia University medical school. Her innovative research has been published in more than one hundred empirical, peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cerebral Cortex, The American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and three children.

a.i. chat gpt was used to arrive at the following answers

Some potential solutions for world peace may include:

Building strong international partnerships: Countries can work together to establish partnerships and collaborations aimed at achieving common goals, such as reducing poverty, addressing climate change, and promoting human rights.
Promoting diplomacy and conflict resolution: Diplomacy can play a critical role in resolving conflicts and preventing violence. International organizations, such as the United Nations, can facilitate diplomatic negotiations and promote peaceful solutions to disputes.
Encouraging tolerance and understanding: Education and awareness-raising programs can help promote tolerance and understanding between different cultures and religions, reducing the risk of conflict.
Investing in economic development: Economic development can promote stability and reduce the risk of conflict by creating job opportunities, improving infrastructure, and reducing poverty.
Strengthening human rights protections: Protecting human rights can help prevent conflict by reducing inequality, promoting social justice, and ensuring that individuals are treated with dignity and respect.

Ultimately, achieving world peace requires a sustained and coordinated effort from individuals, communities, and governments around the world. It is important to recognize that there is no easy solution or quick fix, but rather a long-term commitment to promoting peace and cooperation.

Global climate change is a complex and urgent issue that requires a comprehensive approach at all levels of society. Here are some steps that can be taken to address and solve global climate change:

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: This can be achieved by transitioning to renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Implement carbon pricing: Implementing a carbon pricing system can help incentivize companies and individuals to reduce their carbon emissions.
Increase investment in research and development: Developing new technologies and innovations, such as carbon capture and storage, can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Encourage sustainable agriculture and land use practices: Promoting sustainable agriculture practices and reducing deforestation can help mitigate the impact of climate change.
Educate and raise awareness: Educating people about the causes and impacts of climate change can help build support for climate action and encourage individuals to take action in their own lives.
Encourage international cooperation: Climate change is a global problem that requires a coordinated effort by all countries. Encouraging international cooperation and agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, can help ensure that all countries are working together towards a common goal.

Addressing and solving global climate change will require significant effort and action from individuals, businesses, and governments around the world.

The post Almost Awakened: 145: Lisa Miller: Spirituality and Awakeness appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hartley and Reel take on a conversation around the book “The Four Agreements” by Miguel Ruiz. Reel has read the book 4 times but Hartley is tackling the content for the very first time. This will be the backdrop of this incredible conversation.

“The Four Agreements” is a self-help book written by Don Miguel Ruiz. It offers a code of conduct based on ancient Toltec wisdom that can help transform one’s life by breaking free from self-limiting beliefs and behaviors.

The book’s insights can be summarized in the following four agreements:
Be impeccable with your word – Speak with integrity, say only what you mean, and avoid using your word to speak against yourself or others.
Don’t take anything personally – What others say or do is a projection of their own reality and has nothing to do with you. Don’t take things personally or make assumptions about others’ motives.
Don’t make assumptions – Avoid misunderstandings by asking questions and clarifying things. Don’t make assumptions about others’ thoughts, feelings, or intentions.
Always do your best – Give your best effort in everything you do, regardless of the circumstances. Focus on the process, not the outcome.

These agreements can help you improve your relationships with others, free yourself from limiting beliefs and self-judgment, and live a more authentic and fulfilling life. One of the deepest insights of the book is the idea that much of our suffering comes from our own thoughts and beliefs, which can be changed through conscious awareness and a commitment to personal growth. The book encourages readers to take responsibility for their own happiness and to create their own reality through their thoughts and actions.

The post Almost Awakened: 144: Revisiting the Four Agreements For The Very First Time appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Brian McLaren has proposed 10 reasons to stay inside Religion and 10 reasons to leave Religion. Hartley and Reel dive into this list and share their thoughts and contemplate how much weight these reasons might have and what these reasons bring up within them.

The post Almost Awakened: 143: Religion – 10 Reasons to Leave & 10 Reasons To Stay appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt runs solo this week exploring a course for Teens she has created. The conversation will delve into what that course looks like and who it is designed for and will share several facets of Gen Z Spirituality.

The post Almost Awakened 142: Gen Z Spirituality Program – Modern Options For Teens appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill will be flying solo today (Britt had step away from this week’s episode due to an unexpected event). and discussing a couple of thoughts he had this week and to discuss the mass exodus out of Christianity.

The post Almost Awakened: 117: How Consciousness Feels About Trauma appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

The 5 Big Personality Traits are openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Everyone of us at any given moment fall somewhere on a spectrum within each of these traits. These traits affect our mood, our energy, our behavior, our ability to connect with others, how we disagree, and how we perceive our outer and inner world. Reel and Hartley not only explain each trait and how such affects our perception and behavior but also give a ton of examples and insights into how an awareness of these traits and how they play out in our lives can help us navigate these differences with less disruption and less negative impact on ourselves and others.

RESOURCES:

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-big-five-personality-dimensions-2795422

https://www.typematchapp.com/application-features/?forkey=Big%205%20Compatibility%20Dating%20-%20TypeMatch%20App

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/big-5-personality-traits

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits

https://www.simplypsychology.org/big-five-personality.html

https://www.truity.com/test/big-five-personality-test

https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-big-five-personality-traits

https://positivepsychology.com/big-five-personality-theory/

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/big-five-personality-traits

https://www.bustle.com/p/what-is-self-distancing-this-practice-can-help-your-mental-health-relationships-17298648

https://effectiviology.com/self-distancing-rational-decisions/

http://selfcontrol.psych.lsa.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1-s2.0-S0065260116300338-main-2.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org//wiki/Distancing_(psychology)

https://positivepsychology.com/psychological-distancing/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7a3mm/why-you-should-talk-to-yourself-in-the-third-person-inner-monologue

Aphantasia: The inability to visualize images (medicalnewstoday.com)

The post Almost Awakened: 140: The 5 Big Personality Traits appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hartley and Reel sit down with “Faith Transition Coach” Kyle Bishop to discuss the process of deconstruction and what lies beyond God and Religion?

RESOURCES:
https://www.beyondgodandreligion.com/

The post Almost Awakened: 139: Beyond God and Religion appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hartley and Reel welcome back Jana Spangler as their guest to discuss the Netflix Program “Stutz”. Stutz features Jonah Hill’s conversation with his friend and therapist, Phil Stutz as they try to present Phil’s unique, visual model of therapy To come to the conversation prepared, please take the opportunity to watch Stutz on Netflix.

RESOURCES: https://www.netflix.com/title/81387962 https://www.thetoolsbook.com/tools/insecurity

The post Almost Awakened: 138: Thoughts on The Psychology Of Stutz appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

An ISM is defined as “a distinctive doctrine, cause, or theory”. And in this week’s episode we explore just that. Everything from Theism to Nihilism to Absurdism and everything in between. What Ism’s do you ascribe to and how useful are the labels known as Isms.

Isms –

Is there a God? Theism, Deism, Atheism, Agnosticism

Theism – Belief in a supreme being, especially a belief in one supreme entity as a creator of the universe intervening intentionally and having a personal relationship with humans.

Three Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Bill: – A Need to explain the three questions (Where did we come from, why are we here, where are going) while also dealing with our sentient consciousness

Deism – Popular in the 17th and 18th century, deists insisted that religious truth should be subject to the authority of human rather than divine revelation. Rejected the Bible as the word of God, rejected supernaturalism and superstition like miracles and prophesy. For Deists, God was a benevolent, and distant, creator whose revelation was nature and human reason.

Bill: – Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient – When we boil God down to this base level of agreement of what God is such easily fits within the atheist view of the universe. (Analogy – blood cell in the body)

John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine

Thomas Jefferson: “Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.”

You can be a Christian deist and believe in the moral teachings but not divinity of Jesus.

You can be A-deist which is that you don’t believe in a creator of any kind.

Atheism – Not a belief structure, simply is familiar with the arguments of theism and is not convinced.

Agnosticism – Agnosticism in our culture kind of means I just don’t know, but from a philosophical definition kind of place its the idea that we can’t know. Some people say that agnostics are then by definition atheists because they are not convinced by the theist and just say we can’t know, but that is a semantic argument that is up for debate.

Picture 1 – There is a scale of agnosticism. Agnostic Atheist – doesn’t believe in God but also doesn’t claim to know there is no God. Agostic theist, believes a god exists but doesnt claim to know the belief is true Gnostic atheist – does not believe any god exists and knows that. Gnostic theist believes a god exists and claims to know.

Picture 2 – Scale of theistic probability which is in The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

1 – Strong theist 100% probability of God. I do not believe, I know.

2 – De facto theist very high probability but short of 100%. “I dont know for certain but I strongly believe in God and live my life on the assumption that he is there.”

3 – Leaning towards theism. Higher than 50%, I am very certain but I am inclined to believe in God.”

4 – Completely impartial. Exactly 50% Gods existence and non existence are e ually probable.

5 – Leaning towards atheism, more than 50% believe there is no God. “I do not know whether God exists but I’m inclined to be skeptical.”

6 – De facto atheist. Very low probability but short of zero. “I don’t know for certain but I think God is very improbably, and I live my life on the assumption that he is not there.”

7 – Strong atheist. “I know there is no God.”

Dawkins argues that while there appear to be plenty of individuals that would place themselves as “1” due to the strictness of religious doctrine against doubt, most atheists do not consider themselves “7” because atheism arises from a lack of evidence and evidence can always change a thinking person’s mind. In print, Dawkins self-identified as a “6”, though when interviewed by Bill Maher he suggested “6.9” to be more accurate.

“Once you assume a creator and a plan, it makes us objects in a cruel experiment whereby we are created sick and commanded to be well, and over us to supervise this is installed a celestial dictatorship. A kind of divine North Korea.” – Chris Hitchens

We will include quiz in the show notes

https://bigthink.com/articles/atheism-easter-atheister/

What Kind of God? – Monotheism, Polytheism, Henotheism, Pantheism, Panentheism, Animism

Monotheism – Belief in one God

Is Christianity tritheistic?

Polytheism – Belief in many Gods

Bill: Allows us to separate good and bad, various skills, different and contradicting but also important values

Tribal religions in Africa, some folk religions in China

Henotheism – Worship one god but recognize many Gods

Most forms of Hinduism for example, are not polytheistic where there’s a bunch of Gods like in Greece, these are all manifestations of the same God that they worship. There are very few Hindu atheists and I think that’s because there’s just a high level of choice. One worships the god that one chooses. There are no rules in this regard. All gods yield the desired fruit, if properly worshiped. There are some guidelines in the form of class or sex or if you’re a leader or king but these are all manifestations of the same God that people come to know by different names.

Is Mormonism technically henotheism? Eugene England thinks so.

Bill: Allows some individualism as we select the God we want to emphasize

Pantheism – Everything shares the same spiritual essence and individuals do not have distinct spirits or souls. Its the idea that God is one and its the collective consciousness of all living creatures. Richard Dawkins says pantheism is sexed up atheism. So there is a rejection of God but there’s still some romanticism around the universe or life or the earth enough so to still call it God. Mushrooms?

Bill: touch on again a connected universe and creative energy

Panentheism – Picture 3 Pantheism is that God is the universe, they are identical, Theism is that God created the universe, and Panentheism is that there is a God, but God is a part of the universe. So you can still get the everything is divine or spirit, but there is also a God, and God is a co-creator or a part of the universe. The shocking thing is that Mormonism now is God to prophet direct line and just be obedient, but early Mormonism from the Pratts and from Joseph’s King Follett Discourse God was very much a co-creator. God didn’t create the universe from nothing. He awoke and Jesus awoke and they made plans to help others awake but God can’t make all the rules because God didn’t create the universe out of nothing. So one way that Mormonism was interesting at the time is that when everyone else in this second great awakening in America were fighting about the extent of God’s power and the fall, Joseph has a unique answer to that. He doesn’t believe in the Fall, he doesn’t believe God is just a distant spirit, and he puts everything on a path of eternal progression, even apple trees and animals. So everything is spirit and can progress and is part of the universe. Its one of the most interesting things about Mormonism, but its been entirely lost in the bureaucracy which if you want to learn more about that transition please see all of Bills other podcasts.

Animism – The attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena and the belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe.

Science that our organs have their own consciousness, Mushrooms, Twins.

Philosophies – Humanism, Nihilism, Absurdism, Existentialism

Nihilism – Life is meaningless and to pursue meaning is pointless. You can get there with depression, you can get there with philosophy, you can get there just by thinking about how in the time span of 1,000,000,000 years nothing anyone does matters, or you can get there when you lose God. Philosophers call this place the void and I’ve talked about this on the podcast before because its something I struggled with and reached out to my own spiritual directors for help. It’s a black hole where you can’t make any decisions and its dangerous to individuals because its related to suicide. Its a hatred of being itself which we find in the Columbine killers if you ever read their journals. So you’re not just like there’s not God you’re just unimpressed with life itself.

Bill: If the only meaning is the meaning you make up in your head what does such mean
How important is any of us – Analogy with Presidents (zachary taylor, benjamin harrison, james buchanon, james polk), a speck of dust flying through the universe and some day humans won’t exist, and some day all life on earth won’t exist, and some day this galaxy won’t exist. None of it really matters and in the effort to help life on earth within my realm of influence to have their trauma reduced and for life to have more pleasant moments and less unpleasant moments collectively, this very moment means everything..

Active nihilism – Blow up the matrix so that you and other people could construct their own narratives and meanings. Nietszche wants us to erect our own values.

Bill: If the last 3 minutes of one’s life hurts beyond comprehension will it matter all the good they experienced prior? Will that life have been worth living?

Passive nihilism – There will never be any meaning in the world so best you can do is separate yourself from your desires and reduce suffering where you can. You stay within the matrix of traditional values, but you have severe doubts about those values.

Absurdism – Like the nihilism believes that the universe is absurd, but it embraces the absurdity and is open to the possibility of creating meaning, or enjoyment. Its like sunny nihilism. You want to spend your life surfing? Great life is absurd might as well. Want to collect cat posters? Cool why not? Embrace the absurdity and be free to do whatever you want to do with life as long as it doesn’t hurt others. So Absurdism is not about finding a meaning to life but about rebelling against the absurdity of life, it’s about standing aloof of the demand to find a meaning, rebelling against the absurd game itself and affirming life for what it is.

Albert Camus 3 choices when you face nihilism

Suicide but you add more absurdity to life so you become the thing you hate, and your life was a miracle to begin with
Philosophical Suicide where you take a leap of faith and pretend there’s a higher power that gives our life meaning
Embrace the Absurd and realize that we’re truly free. From there, we’re free to pursue anything we want and try to embrace what life has to offer.

Bill: I try to intentionally choose (No, I don’t believe in free will) 3 everyday.

Existentialism – Existentialists also doesn’t believe that the universe has intrinsic meaning but insists we have free will, awareness, and personal responsibility to become everything we can be and create subjective meaning. No one else is responsible for meaning except us and it is created through our existence and the choices we make. So Kierkegaard who was the first existentialist philosopher believed that each individual is tasked with giving meaning to life. He was also Christian so there’s room to work within religion here if you think the best expression of yourself is on a religious path.

Humanism – Rejection of the divine and putting prime importance on human matters.

Ten Commandments of Humanism:

Promote the greater good
Be curious
Harm to your fellow human is harm to humanity. Do no kill, rape, rob, or victimize anyone.
Treat all humans as equals
Use reason as your guide. Science, knowledge, observation, and rational analysis are the best ways to determine any course of action
Do not force your beliefs onto others or insist that yours is the only way to live happily
Govern with reason not superstition, religions should have no place in any government
Act for the betterment of your fellow humans ans be altruistic in your deeds
Be good to the earth and its bounties for without it humankind is lost
Impart your knowledge and wisdom gained in your lifetime to the next generation so that with each passing century, humanity will grow wise and more humane.

Secular Humanism – Rejection of all supernatural, most popular form of humanism.

Religious Humanism – Atheist but finds value in congregational rites and community activities. Self-described religious humanists differ from secular humanists mainly in that they regard the non-theistic humanist life stance as their religion while organizing with a congregational model. Religious humanism is sometimes referred to as non-theistic religion or congregational humanism.

Difference between empiricism and rationalism for Atheists

Rationalism – knowledge comes from reason and logic

Empiricism – knowledge comes from experience and experimentation

The best example I’ve ever heard of this is that an empiricist would say that it would be valuable for the President of the United States once a week to walk up to a statue of George Washington and tell George what you did that week for the country. A rationalist would say George Washington is dead and there’s no reason this. But an empiricist says true but there’s something valuable in the experience. So Richard Dawkins is a rationalist, he read Alain de Botton’s Religion for Atheists and thought it was stupid. Steven Fry is an empiricist, he’s an atheist the problem of evil doesn’t make sense to him but he loves story and allegory and myth and symbolism and sees something valuable in those things on the level of experience.

A few last isms that come up in modern conversations there’s hundreds of isms but some ones that are interesting:

Panpsychism is all the rage right now. Anciently it is an old idea from early Greek philosophers that there was an element of mind to everything that is physical. We would instead use the word consciousness today instead of mind. This theory says that consciousness does not emerge from matter, which is the hard problem of consciousness, but is a fundamental character of the universe. So the lights are on for everything. You’ll hear Sam Harris and especially his wife Annaka Harris discuss the possibility of panpsychism. The problem is we can’t test for it. If the universe was alive, if the sun was alive, everything would act how it acts now so its not currently falsifiable. But one way to solve the consciousness problem is that maybe everything is conscious.

Bill: It is this battle of whether Consciousness can only be born of itself or could it have been created for the first time out of a universe that is unconscious (And happy a billion times in a billion places in the universe)

Daoism – Daoism sometimes its pronounced Daoism or Toaism it depends when you’re translating from Chinese, but its become an increasingly popular ism because of Star Wars. The easiest way to describe it is that yoda is a taoist. Daoism is a Chinese philosophy of living simply, honestly, and in harmony with nature and with the flow of life. In balance with the flo of life. So when Luke is teaching ray about the force, this is what she says and its so close to Daoist scripture its unbelievable.

Luke Skywalker: What do you see?

Rey: The island. Life. Death and decay, that feeds new life. Warmth. Cold. Peace. Violence.

Luke Skywalker: And between it all?

Rey: Balance and energy. A Force.

Luke Skywalker: And inside you?

Rey: Inside me, that same Force.

The yin yang symbol which is popular enough in America that you see it everywhere has its roots in Daoism. Its this balance. In Star Wars you would say its a balance of the force, but in Daoism you would say the balance of the Dao. The yin, which is the dark swirl, is associated with shadows, the feminine, chaos, creativity…and the yang is the light swirl which is masculinity, passion, growth, strength. So even if you go down to your local yoga studio there is yin yoga which is softer and more flow and easier, and there is yang yoga which is like we’re going to kick your ass yoga.

The purpose of daoism is to recognize opposing forces and recognize which side of the coin is needed in that moment and flowing with that energy so to speak.

Doaism through Star Wars became so popular that in 2015 Jediism was recongized as an official religion by the US government. These are people from what I understand who know that Star Wars isnt real but find the life of a jedi and the meditation and balance of the force and simple life of service to be a moral life worth living and they take it to heart.

5 last isms that come up in popular culture

Asceticism – Severe self discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence. This happens in America mostly in the exercise world. Christian asceticism is not as common because right now in American history you’re more likely to get prosperity gospel Christianity which is the opposite of asceticism. But if you know someone who does long periods of fasting, limits social media, very strict diet, never any sugar or alcohol, takes cold showers, exercises obsessively, its kind of like a religion because it puts aside pleasure in order to strengthen your discipline and its a way to a kind of enlightenment or self transcendence. Sometimes it mixes with religion directly, like this link here:

https://exodus90.com/how-it-works/

Or in certain cults like this new cult movie I saw on HBO The Way Down where it was a whole cult that was Christian but also a weight loss club where you give up all your temptations for Jesus.

Buddha started out as an ascetic just long time fasts he was skin and bone, but then the story goes he heard someone playing music and the string was strung so tight that the string broke so walked away from that life and developed “The Middle Path” that wasnt so extreme.

Bill: I find the juxtaposition between indulgence and restraint deeply interesting.

Hedonism – The ethical theory that pleasure and satisfying desire is the proper aim of human life. What do you think? Charles Darwin was a fan of motivational hedonism which is that our behavior is founded on avoiding pain and pursuing pleasure and we should build lives that intentionally increase pleasure. Pleasure not just as sex and heroin but actually looking at ok what seems to be a life that has the most pleasure? It seems like being married gives you a built in safety net, my husband took care of me all week with my knee surgery, being 600 pounds doesnt look pleasurable so I’ll eat as pleasurable as I can while remaining relatively healthy, having friends both extends life and improves pleasure in life, so its building up a life of pleasure intentionally not because its the right the to do but because that’s what we are as creatures and you can study the science of happiness and pleasure and build your life on it to enjoy life as much as possible.

Philosophical weakness – people who choose more suffering in their life for more meaning

Bill: I am drawn to the ying/yang of the two extremes and finding balance and a middle way. Not forcing indulgence but allowing oneself to enjoy the good that comes one way and to allow and be present with the things that hurt or are uncomfortable.

Materialism – Nothing exists except matter and its movements, everything is matter. Richard Dawkins is a materialist. He argued that human beings are nothing apart from a body and physical matter consisting of atoms. He denied the existence of both a soul and the idea of consciousness. Dawkins also claimed that we are each the total sum of our DNA.

Bill: Consciousness is an illusion?

Determinism – The idea that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will. Some philosophers have taken determinism to imply that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions.

Stoicism – The Daily Stoic is a very popular influencer on Instagram and stoicism is very popular right now as an ism. Its a 3rd century philosophy made popular by Marcus Aurelius, we should review his book Meditations a lot of the people we listen to really are inspired by his book Meditations. There are four virtues in stoicism Courage, temperance, justice, wisdom. Stoics live by the phrase memento mori, remember that you will die, which I love, and that remembering that because you will die focus on what you can become. And stoics are very suspicious of emotions. Just notice the emotion, decide what you want to do with it, make a correct choice, and move on. So in popular culture if someone says that person is very stoic, its kind of come to mean that person isnt very emotional. A Stoic lives well through having a good character, and death is the final test of it. While every death will be a bit different, the Roman Stoics believed that a good death would be characterized by mental tranquility, a lack of complaining, and gratitude for the life we’ve been given.

Marcus Aurelius. “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

Tom Brady, Tim Ferriss, Anna Kendrick, Arnold Schwarzennegar, Bill Belechick, are modern stoics

George Washington inspired by stoics, Thomas Jefferson had a bust of Seneca on his nightstand,

Transhumanism – a philosophical and scientific movement that advocates the use of current and emerging technologies—such as genetic engineering, cryonics, artificial intelligence (AI), and nanotechnology—to augment human capabilities and improve the human condition. Basically they are on board with the idea that we can become Gods, but what’s going to get us there is technology. Surprisingly enough, many man post Mormons find themself in this ism because its there’s a lot of still talk about progression and progression as a human society, but its not through temple ordinances its done through genetic engineering and curing cancer and living 500 years.

Should we associate with isms? “Not that I condone fascism, or any -ism for that matter. -Ism’s in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon, “I don’t believe in Beatles, I just believe in me.” Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus.” Ferris Bueller

What’s your ism?

Bill: I deeply relate to or even believe or subscribe to most of these even as I recognize they sort of contradict each other

The post Almost Awakened: 137: “Isms” – What Isms Make Sense to You? appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this week’s episode, Bill sits down with Mushroom Medicine Minister, Gabi, and we discuss mushrooms as a tool. We will touch on the ancient traditions in which Mushrooms have been used. We will discuss the how this tool is used generally and discuss several specific Mushroom species. We will hit on Gabi’s work as a Mushroom Medicine Minister and what that entails.

Sam Harris has said – “I have two daughters who will one day take drugs. Of course, I will do everything in my power to see that they choose their drugs wisely, but a life lived entirely without drugs is neither foreseeable nor, I think, desirable. I hope they someday enjoy a morning cup of tea or coffee as much as I do. If they drink alcohol as adults, as they probably will, I will encourage them to do it safely. If they choose to smoke marijuana, I will urge moderation.[2] Tobacco should be shunned, and I will do everything within the bounds of decent parenting to steer them away from it. Needless to say, if I knew that either of my daughters would eventually develop a fondness for methamphetamine or crack cocaine, I might never sleep again. But if they don’t try a psychedelic like psilocybin or LSD at least once in their adult lives, I will wonder whether they had missed one of the most important rites of passage a human being can experience.”

DISCLAIMER:
This episode is for information purposes only. Please consult a physician and seek professional medical advice as we are not physicians or experts of anything. Please be aware that these drugs are illegal in at least some states. please ensure you follow local, state, and federal laws.

RESOURCES:
@churchofthesacredfruit – Instagram
@gabichaibird – YouTube
minister@churchofthesacredfruit.org – email
universalministryoftranscendence.org – Website

The post Almost Awakened: 136: The Magic of The Mushroom appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hartley and Reel sit down with Author David Lawrence to explore Free Will. Do we have Free Will? Are we the one’s in control of our choices? David seeks to offer a counterpoint to Sam Harris’ argument that there is in fact no Free Will and this conversation is one you won’t want to miss!

RESOURCES:

https://smile.amazon.com/Are-We-Really-Biochemical-Robots/dp/B09WHPYX3Y/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TComkS60UU8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCGtkDzELAI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCofmZlC72g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u45SP7Xv_oU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J_9DKIAn48
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O61I0pNPg8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI3JCq9-bbM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_BTVN68-ZA

The post Almost Awakened: 135: Do We have Free Will with David Lawrence appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hartley & Reel sit down with renowned children’s author Andrew Newman to discuss his series “Conscious Stories” Each book seeks to help children grasp the practice of meditation, helping them begin to comprehend complex emotions, exercises to regulating one’s feelings, and helping them develop tools on the way to healthy adulthood.

RESOURCES:

Andrews Author Profile on Amazon (Amazon Smile) – https://smile.amazon.com/stores/Andrew-Newman/author/B00L5OEAI8?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Andrew Newman’s Website – https://consciousstories.com/

Conscious Stories Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/ConsciousBedtimeStories/

The post Almost Awakened: 134: Conscious Stories With Andrew Newman appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hartley and Reel once again invite Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller on to dive deep into the idea of Doubt. This is the Third and Final part using Brian McLaren’s book “Faith After Doubt” as the framing for this conversation. And along the way they hope to address how to move away from right belief in to encompassing Love and how to hold people as they are while make a big box for other’s humanity to fit in.

RESOURCES:

https://upliftkids.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@UCtQo1nPDdzxeLFq021DMmTA

The post Almost Awakened: 133: Faith After Doubt Part 3 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today Bill sits down with his good friend and past guest Jess Foutz to discuss her work in Sound Therapy. Sound therapy is the practice of using beautiful sounding instruments to help you be both present and to go deep within yourself to process things in your past or present life. Jess gives us the example of multiple instruments that she owns and plays and around these instruments we engage in a deep conversation around music and sound.

RESOURCES:

Grow With Soul Website – https://www.growwithsoul.com/
Shamanic Sound Healings – https://www.growwithsoul.com/shamanicsoundhealings
What there is to know about Sound Healing – https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/sound-healing

The post Almost Awakened: 132: Sound Therapy with Jess Foutz appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hartley and Reel decide to celebrate the Christmas Season by diving into their favorite stories that surround Christ. In spite of not holding a literal view of the Christ figure of the New Testament they still find a way to draw out modern spirituality through the stories attributed to the Christ figure!

The post Almost Awakened: 131: Jesus As A Wisdom Teacher – Christmas Special appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Spiritual Atheist is a ground-breaking ‘philosophical memoir’ that draws on the author’s knowledge of cutting-edge neuroscience, physics, and psychology; his insights into wisdom traditions like Taoism, Kabbalah, Advaita Vedanta, Buddhism, Zen, and Sufism; and twenty years experience leading hundreds of major organizations, and tens of thousands of individuals, to transform themselves. Unable to find lasting… Read More »Almost Awakened: 130: Spiritual Atheism with Nick Jankel

The post Almost Awakened: 130: Spiritual Atheism with Nick Jankel appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt & Bill once again invite Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller on to dive deep into the idea of Doubt. This is the second of three parts using Brian McLaren’s book “Faith After Doubt” as the framing for this conversation. And along the way they hope to address the following.

The post Almost Awakened: 129: Faith After Doubt Part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Most of us believe inside our mind that we are being objective, fair, and reasonable. And at the same time we sort of grasp we are not and that our mind leans towards beliefs, conclusions, and taking sides on various issues. Today we discuss biases and how they affect us and how we can best… Read More »Almost Awakened: 128: Human Biases

The post Almost Awakened: 128: Human Biases appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

A dive into Greek Mythology and archetype for this episode. Chiron was the wisest of all centaurs, who can teach a lot about our wounds. It is in our wounds that we are healed.

The post Almost Awakened: 127: Chiron and the Wounded Healer appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Hartley and Reel sit down with Theologian and Philosopher Thomas Jay Oord to discuss Theology. Namely how Religion helps us connect with our inner and outer world. How humans are social creature who crave connection and whose minds seeks meaning constantly. Oord, Hartley, and Reel facilitate a conversation where we look into the Idea of… Read More »Almost Awakened: 126: Thomas Jay Oord – Open & Relational Theology – A Modern View Of God

The post Almost Awakened: 126: Thomas Jay Oord – Open & Relational Theology – A Modern View Of God appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt & Bill once again invite Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller on to dive deep into the idea of Doubt. Using Brian McLaren’s book “Faith After Doubt” as the framing for this conversation. And along the way they hope to address the following. * Doubt as Loss – How did you experience doubt as a… Read More »Almost Awakened: 125: Faith After Doubt Part 1

The post Almost Awakened: 125: Faith After Doubt Part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

On this weeks episode Bill and Britt discuss How to have “Difficult Conversations”. When a Hard Disagreement occurs, often our Egos get in the way of having hard conversations where both sides feel heard and understood. Often even small conversations with nothing at stake can have us misunderstanding each other. So today Bill & Britt… Read More »Almost Awakened: 124: Navigating Difficult Conversations

The post Almost Awakened: 124: Navigating Difficult Conversations appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Often when we hear “Brainwashing” or “Mind Control” it feels weird or a little science fiction to us. In reality, mind control refers to a specific set of methods and everyday normal appearing techniques that influence how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Our minds can easily be influenced… simply notice the billions spent in… Read More »Almost Awakened: 123: The B.I.T.E. Model – How Mind Control Works

The post Almost Awakened: 123: The B.I.T.E. Model – How Mind Control Works appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill runs solo today and decides to talk about Privilege. How privilege permits a person or group of people to redistribute negatively felt experiences or trauma and allowing others or imposing others take that additional trauma or negative experience on. He then talks about who were the system makers. Why did we choose them to… Read More »Almost Awakened: 122: Privilege & Broken Systems – And The Invitation to Wake Up

The post Almost Awakened: 122: Privilege & Broken Systems – And The Invitation to Wake Up appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt and Bill explore the concept of “Dangerous Ideas”. Ideas that have the potential to turn our world upside down or to cause disruption to current systems, the outside world, or chaos to the inner mind. QUESTIONS DISCUSSED Sending signals into space to contact extraterrestrial life Is not having a concept of Free Will dangerous… Read More »Almost Awakened: 121: Dangerous Ideas

The post Almost Awakened: 121: Dangerous Ideas appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

This Week Britt & Bill take a look as various data including the Pew Research Data and try to extrapolate some of the shifts away and beyond from past generations, that Generation Z is making. How are they different from their parents and Grandparents and how healthy or unhealthy might these shifts be. And where… Read More »Almost Awakened: 120: Who is Gen Z

The post Almost Awakened: 120: Who is Gen Z appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

The Tree of Contemplative Practices illustrates some of the many contemplative practices used in education and secular organizations. In this Episode Britt & Bill walk us through this graphic discussing its meaning and usefulness. On the Tree of Contemplative Practices, the roots symbolize the two intentions that are the foundation of all contemplative practices: cultivating… Read More »Almost Awakened: 119: Contemplation Tree

The post Almost Awakened: 119: Contemplation Tree appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill and Britt Discuss the four Attachment styles. What are the Attachment Styles. What leads to someone displaying said style. What is healthy and unhealthy about each. And what can be done if anything to move towards a secure attachment style. RESOURCES: https://www.attachmentproject.com/blog/four-attachment-styles/#:~:text=There%20are%20four%20adult%20attachment,Secure https://www.attachmentproject.com/blog/anxious-attachment/ https://www.attachmentproject.com/blog/avoidant-attachment-style/ https://www.attachmentproject.com/blog/disorganized-attachment/ https://www.attachmentproject.com/blog/secure-attachment/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-with-the-basics-attachment-theory/id1488275879?i=1000548791151&fbclid=IwAR3k7n25dN_ij1X41qlByqH7gU_2HsYlOhtv_wlK5qLkGAsik2CAQcIABCs

The post Almost Awakened: 118: Attachment Styles appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Religious Humanism seeks to heal the world through religion done better. It uses the cultural technology of religion to foster individual and collective thriving, and aims this uniquely motivating force at the urgent problems that confront us today. We sit down with Humanist Chaplain Jared Anderson to discuss Religious Humanism is and how its approach… Read More »Almost Awakened: 117: Jared Anderson – What is Religious Humanism

The post Almost Awakened: 117: Jared Anderson – What is Religious Humanism appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt & Bill tackle Spiritual Bypassing on todays episode. Spiritual bypassing describes a tendency to use spiritual explanations to avoid complex psychological issues. Rather than working through hard emotions or confronting unresolved issues, people would simply dismiss them with spiritual explanations. RESOURCES: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-spiritual-bypassing-5081640#:~:text=Spiritual%20bypassing%20is%20a%20way,Avoiding%20feelings%20of%20anger https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-empowerment-diary/201901/what-is-spiritual-bypassing

The post Almost Awakened: 116: Spiritual Bypassing appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

We pick up from last week’s episode and continue the conversation here in Part 2. Where does morality come from and how best might we humans nudge to a more effective way to create and perpetuate a healthier morality. RESOURCES: Sam Harris – TED Talk “Science can answer moral questions” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj9oB4zpHww Sam Harris — The… Read More »Almost Awakened: 115: Morality and Ethics Post Religion Pt 2

The post Almost Awakened: 115: Morality and Ethics Post Religion Pt 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this Episode Britt and Bill tackle a question that often comes up. If you leave religion how will you know right from wrong and how will you maintain a healthy morality rather than a laissez-faire attitude where anything goes? RESOURCES: Sam Harris – TED Talk “Science can answer moral questions” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj9oB4zpHww Sam Harris —… Read More »Almost Awakened: 114: Good Without God – Redefining Morality Post Deconstruction

The post Almost Awakened: 114: Good Without God – Redefining Morality Post Deconstruction appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

We sit down with Mike Bahr who deconstructed his religious system later in life. We discuss what all is involved in deconstruction. The letting go of beliefs, the re-evaluating the existence of God, and the loss of community. But we also talk about how for most this feels like growth and involves feeling happier and… Read More »Almost Awakened: 113: Deconstructing Religion

The post Almost Awakened: 113: Deconstructing Religion appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt and Bill pick up off last week’s conversation where they discussed the benefits of a religious narrative and religious community when one is faced with tragedy and trauma and attempt in this conversation to help us understand how we got there. How did God come to be? Which Gods had more holding power? What… Read More »Almost Awakened: 112: The Invention & Evolution Of The Word Of God

The post Almost Awakened: 112: The Invention & Evolution Of The Word Of God appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt comes back to update us on her life and to expound with Bill on the idea of how Religion helps us to deal with trauma. And How one receives such support outside a religious paradigm. They hope to help you see value in the mechanisms religions bring to the table and to help us… Read More »Almost Awakened: 111: Religion & Post-Religion In Times Of Trauma

The post Almost Awakened: 111: Religion & Post-Religion In Times Of Trauma appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

The world is finally coming around to see the value in psychedelic drugs. These drugs are offering new and incredible ways to help people navigate the outside world and their own inner world and are giving people a way to treat PTSD and depression with huge success. On today’s episode Bill and Fin go into… Read More »Almost Awakened: 110: An Introduction to Conscious Altering Tools

The post Almost Awakened: 110: An Introduction to Conscious Altering Tools appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt shares an update on her family situation and thoughts about spirituality in trauma after religion. To help Britt, her daughter and their family please consider the following options 1.) You can donate to the Almost Awakened Podcast and where Britt receives a significant majority of the funds collected. https://almostawakened.org/donate-to-almost-awakened-podcast/ (Tax Deductable) 2.) You can send money directly to… Read More »Almost Awakened: 108: Spirituality in Trauma and Britt’s Farewell

The post Almost Awakened: 108: Spirituality in Trauma and Britt’s Farewell appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt and Bill take a look at spiritual practices on the edges of society. Tarot, Necromancy, Divination, Crystals, Clairvoyance, Reiki, and many others. What is real and what isn’t and how can we know. And if some or even all of these practices contain no real supernatural processes, can they still be useful?

The post Almost Awakened: 107: Separating Spirituality From Woo appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill & Britt dive into some wisdom around friendship and what it takes to be in relationship with others. We discuss little intricacies that we have learned over the years that will contribute to healthy relationships and community

The post Almost Awakened: 106: Friendship & Social Etiquette appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill sits down with Carol Hollowell, founder and Executive Director of SwitchPoint. Switchpoint is a non-profit whose goal is to tackle homelessness and poverty throughout the state of Utah. They are doing this in dynamic ways that hitting the issue head on. Today we sit down and talk about the problem of homelessness in the… Read More »Almost Awakened: 105: Switchpoint -Addressing Homelessness

The post Almost Awakened: 105: Switchpoint -Addressing Homelessness appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today Bill flies solo and discusses the mechanisms and process by which two parties in a shared social space relieve each other of the pain or trauma and the shame or guilt when one party disrupts another. Once we grasp how this process works and what is going on underneath, we are much more likely… Read More »Almost Awakened: 104: Shame and Pain in Social Interactions

The post Almost Awakened: 104: Shame and Pain in Social Interactions appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill and Britt sit down with Kimber Dutton, host of the podcast “Just Be Your Bad Self” to explore a conversation around being the bad ass person you are without the limitations the world places on you and even the limitations you place on your self. The topics we hope to center the conversation on… Read More »Almost Awakened: 103: Kimber Dutton “Just Be Your Bad Self”

The post Almost Awakened: 103: Kimber Dutton “Just Be Your Bad Self” appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt and Bill tackle the topic of Drugs or better yet Psychedelics, as “Conscious Altering Tools”. What is their usefulness, thoughts on safety, ideas around the experiences they provide, the therapeutic benefits being shown in studies, and a conversation around why these substances were labeled as bad when we are now finding they have the… Read More »Almost Awakened: 102: Psychedelics As Conscious Altering Tools

The post Almost Awakened: 102: Psychedelics As Conscious Altering Tools appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill & Britt sit down with Jessa Bangerter to go over the Enneagram. The Enneagram is a model of the human psyche which is principally understood and taught as a typology of nine interconnected personality types. Understanding these types and where you are and where those in relationship with you are can be helpful to… Read More »Almost Awakened: 101: The Enneagram with Jessa Bangerter

The post Almost Awakened: 101: The Enneagram with Jessa Bangerter appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

The number one question heard by us from those who after having committed to stepping away from their religious system is “How am I going to raise healthy, wise, responsible children post religious deconstruction?” The answer to that is now easy…. UPLIFT. Britt and Bill sit down with Jon Ogden, one of the creators of… Read More »Almost Awakened: 100: Spiritual Education for Non-Religious Families with Jon Ogden

The post Almost Awakened: 100: Spiritual Education for Non-Religious Families with Jon Ogden appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt does a deep dive into soul work through the story of Jonah and the Whale. She discusses the four existential fears, the places humans avoid most of all. Dive into the story and into your own fears to see what peace comes on the other side.

The post Almost Awakened: 099: Jonah, the Whale, and Existential Fears appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt and Bill sit down with author and the host of the “Secular Buddhism” Podcast, Noah Rasheta, and discuss second half of life principles and how secular Buddhism can be utilized to lean into growth and compassionate living. RESOURCES:No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C31XJGP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0Secular Buddhism: Eastern Thought for Western Minds – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7Y7953/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1The 5-Minute Mindfulness Journal:… Read More »Almost Awakened: 098: Noah Rasheta & Secular Buddhism

The post Almost Awakened: 098: Noah Rasheta & Secular Buddhism appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Secular Buddhism

No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners: Clear Answers to Burning Questions About Core Buddhist Teachings

Britt and Bill sit down with Cami Hurst, host of the podcast “Sex Therapy 101” and discuss common issues within intimacy and relationships. Her podcast can be found at https://camihurst.com/sex-therapy-101-podcast. Cami’s Bio: As a personal counselor I operate from a place of compassionate curiosity. I will help you visualize and own what you are wanting… Read More »Almost Awakened: 097: Sex Therapy 101 with Cami Hurst

The post Almost Awakened: 097: Sex Therapy 101 with Cami Hurst appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today we dive into Alain De Botton’s Ted Talk Atheism 2.0. While in the original conversation we included the entire talk of Botton’s, his sections are condensed in this audio to the most important parts. The jist of the episode is that while we may discard religion as made up bunk, we will do ourselves… Read More »Almost Awakened: 096: Religion For Atheists

The post Almost Awakened: 096: Religion For Atheists appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill’s wife Amanda fills in for Britt today and Bill and Amanda dive into a conversation about Miguel Ruiz’s book, the Four Agreements. Agreement 1: Be Impeccable With Your Word Agreement 2: Don’t Take Anything Personally Agreement 3: Don’t Make Assumptions Agreement 4: Always Do Your Best And we wrap up talking about his book… Read More »Almost Awakened: 095: The Four Agreements

The post Almost Awakened: 095: The Four Agreements appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Brittney and Bill sit down with David Peck Ph.D (Sufi al-Hajj Daud) to discuss sufism and its wisdom & value to the awakening soul. Sufism is among the most ancient spiritual traditions in the world. Sufism traces its origins back thousands for years through a golden chain of individually guided meditation and mystical practice. The… Read More »Almost Awakened: 093: Of Saints And Sufis with David Peck

The post Almost Awakened: 093: Of Saints And Sufis with David Peck appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In the Yoga tradition, there is a state of consciousness called, Atma Darshan, which simply means, “Glimpsing the Soul”. In todays episode we sit down with Philip McLemore as he shares preparatory “direct awareness” practices that have helped individuals “Glimpse their Soul”, which either motivated them to establish a practice or gain a vision of… Read More »Almost Awakened: 092: Glimpsing the Soul with Philip McLemore

The post Almost Awakened: 092: Glimpsing the Soul with Philip McLemore appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt and Bill dive into the Hero’s Journey. The discuss the various elements and the ways in which those elements connect with the human world in reality. RESOURCES: https://youtu.be/3S8O95fCbhQ?t=1 ted.com/talks/matthew_winkler_what_makes_a_hero?language=en https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/458496650/the-heros-journey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tssOG2rS1AA

The post Almost Awakened: 091: The Hero’s Journey & Sacred Story Elements appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt flies solo today doing deep dive into nihilism, when deconstruction goes too far, and how to rebuild from the ashes.

The post Almost Awakened: 090: Alexandr Solzhenitzen – Climbing out of the Dark Night of the Soul appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt and Bill take a deep dive into the topic of Consent. What is consent, How does it operate in our society in formal ways such as Medical consent or consent within research. What about Consent within the topics of Marriage, raising a family, and yes even Sex? Britt & Bill help the audience to… Read More »Almost Awakened: 089: Consent

The post Almost Awakened: 089: Consent appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt and Bill sit down with American humanist speaker and co-author of the book “Why I Left, Why I Stayed: Conversations on Christianity Between an Evangelical Father and His Humanist Son” and discuss Deconstruction, Reconstruction and the future of Religion and humanity. Part one focused on the deconstruction of religion while part 2 delves into… Read More »Almost Awakened: 088: Bart Campolo – Humanize Me Part 2

The post Almost Awakened: 088: Bart Campolo – Humanize Me Part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Britt and Bill sit down with American humanist speaker and co-author of the book “Why I Left, Why I Stayed: Conversations on Christianity Between an Evangelical Father and His Humanist Son” and discuss Deconstruction, Reconstruction and the future of Religion and humanity RESOURCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Campolo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Campolo https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/magazine/the-evangelical-scion-who-stopped-believing.html https://ehrmanblog.org/my-interview-with-erstwhile-evanvgelist-now-secular-humanist-bart-campolo/ https://www.amazon.com/Why-Left-Stayed-Conversations-Christianity/dp/0062415379 https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/

The post Almost Awakened: 087: Bart Campolo – Humanize Me – Part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Why I Left, Why I Stayed: Conversations on Christianity Between an Evangelical Father and His Humanist Son

Today the Almost Awakened Podcast is revamped and goes through an upgrade and we share with all of you the improvements and the redesign.

The post Almost Awakened: 086: A No-Nonsense Approach to Spirituality appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today we delve into three stories of experiences that I was present for where something occurred and I was given by the universe an opportunity to respond. I will be bragging a bit but with the hope that you can each learn something that equips you to respond better in the world. Visit us at… Read More »Almost Awakened: 085: Three Conversations

The post Almost Awakened: 085: Three Conversations appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Brittney Hartley, Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 12 and the final session of Jack Kornfield’s series in an effort to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and its contemplative nature. We are… Read More »Almost Awakened: 083: Buddhism For Beginners Part 12 – The Buddha’s Last Teachings

The post Almost Awakened: 083: Buddhism For Beginners Part 12 – The Buddha’s Last Teachings appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Brittney Hartley, Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 11 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and its contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12… Read More »Almost Awakened: 082: Buddhism For Beginners Part 11: The Ten Perfections of the Heart

The post Almost Awakened: 082: Buddhism For Beginners Part 11: The Ten Perfections of the Heart appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 10 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and its contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation… Read More »Almost Awakened: 081: Buddhism For Beginners Part 10: The Four Elements

The post Almost Awakened: 081: Buddhism For Beginners Part 10: The Four Elements appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 9 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and its contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation… Read More »Almost Awakened: 080: Buddhism For Beginners Part 9: The Four Abodes

The post Almost Awakened: 080: Buddhism For Beginners Part 9: The Four Abodes appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler, Britt Hartley, and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 8 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12… Read More »Almost Awakened: 079: Buddhism For Beginners Part 8: Buddhist Psychology

The post Almost Awakened: 079: Buddhism For Beginners Part 8: Buddhist Psychology appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Brittney Hartley and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 7 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation… Read More »Almost Awakened: 078: Buddhism For Beginners Part 7 – The Basic Characteristics of Life

The post Almost Awakened: 078: Buddhism For Beginners Part 7 – The Basic Characteristics of Life appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler, and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 6 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation… Read More »Almost Awakened: 077: Buddhism For Beginners Part 6 – The Law of Karma

The post Almost Awakened: 077: Buddhism For Beginners Part 6 – The Law of Karma appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler, and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 5 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation… Read More »Almost Awakened: 076: Buddhism For Beginners Part 5 – Five Hindrances of Awakening

The post Almost Awakened: 076: Buddhism For Beginners Part 5 – Five Hindrances of Awakening appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Brittney Hartley, Jana Spangler, and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 4 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12… Read More »Almost Awakened: 075: Buddhism For Beginners Part 4 – Four Fundamentals of Mindfulness

The post Almost Awakened: 075: Buddhism For Beginners Part 4 – Four Fundamentals of Mindfulness appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill sits down with his wife Amanda and they discuss “TRUE LOVE” or rather the hard work one will do to wrestle with their own ego in an attempt to make safe space for their partner to be their authentic self. And that True Love allows others to be their real self

The post Almost Awakened: 073: Amanda & Bill & The Inner Work of True Love appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller as they present part 2 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation… Read More »Almost Awakened: 072: Buddhism For Beginners Part 2

The post Almost Awakened: 072: Buddhism For Beginners Part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler, Brittney Hartley, and Anthony Miller and they embark on a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation… Read More »Almost Awakened: 071: Buddhism For Beginners Part 1

The post Almost Awakened: 071: Buddhism For Beginners Part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today Bill brings some Buddhism in and discusses the cause of suffering or grasping at how we want the world to be rather than sit with how it is. He explains why argument and conflict start and how they spiral and how good humans can learn to sit with the disturbances early in those conflicts… Read More »Almost Awakened: 070: How We Experience Conflict And Taking The Tie

The post Almost Awakened: 070: How We Experience Conflict And Taking The Tie appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

This conversation is held that involves the following 5 questions as well as other interesting places we take the conversation along the way.1. What is more dangerous for the future of humanity, nihilism or dogmatism? What are the dangers of each? 2. What are the most important aspects of developing a spiritual life out of… Read More »Almost Awakened: 069: Brittney Hartley & Bill Reel – A Deep Conversation

The post Almost Awakened: 069: Brittney Hartley & Bill Reel – A Deep Conversation appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

This episode includes open conversation regarding sex and sexuality – For mature audiences only ** Today with sit down with Veronica Funess, Intimacy Coach in Training and we discuss sexual shame that exists within society. We discuss how healthy negotiation of sexuality can look. We discuss kinks, fantasies, and how to incorporate your most… Read More »Almost Awakened: 067: Veronica Funess -Sex, Shame, and Negotiation

The post Almost Awakened: 067: Veronica Funess -Sex, Shame, and Negotiation appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

My friend Phil McLemore comes back on the podcast and this time to debate the question of “What is the life well lived”? We talk about societies and individuals and how freedom versus control makes or inhibits space to be a growing responsible healthy adult who is happy with their life and producing a positive… Read More »Almost Awakened: 066: Phil McLemore & Bill Reel – What is the life well lived

The post Almost Awakened: 066: Phil McLemore & Bill Reel – What is the life well lived appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

A couple of moments this past week helped Bill connect the dots of some emotional wisdom that had been on his mind recently. IT has to do with how arrogant we are on the first half of life and and how at some point a light bulb goes on and we begin to sense how… Read More »Almost Awakened: 065: Every Moment is Precious – Take on Me

The post Almost Awakened: 065: Every Moment is Precious – Take on Me appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

I sit down with my friend, Professor, Podcaster, and Author Jon Westover and we discuss his new book, “The Alchemy of Truly Remarkable Leadership: Ordinary, Everyday Actions That Produce Extraordinary Results”. We talk about what makes a good leader. What toxic leadership looks like. How good leaders foster principles like trust, diversity, inclusivity, and belonging.… Read More »Almost Awakened: 064: Jonathan Westover and the Alchemy of Leadership

The post Almost Awakened: 064: Jonathan Westover and the Alchemy of Leadership appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Bill talks today about how each of us is quirky, how each of us is seeking validation and acceptance. How we each are weird and have strange thoughts and yet each of us is fighting to reveal our true selves

The post Almost Awakened: 063: Are We Not all Seeking Acceptance? appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.