NOBODY’S PRODIGY: Recent Episodes
The Sapient Simian
Nobody’s Prodigy but his own. (Formerly The Sapient Simian) Food for thought and mental musings from a curious mind. (Like TED Talks) Celebrating free thinking, the self taught, and free-range ideas that spread beyond the box!
The cup of tea. An unassuming choice it may seem, but the culture it engenders by its very nature creates a fascinating social vehicle.
What some may decry as a stuffy or rigid exercise, actually can provide an insight into a community seldom found elsewhere.
In this episode we will delve into the unique ways the English teatime can be used to create a very real social network, built upon actual experience and personal connection. Perhaps in looking at earlier methods of networking, we can choose to adopt similar practices ourselves. Doing so not only for the connectivity, but also for the simple pleasure of a warm cup.
Enjoy!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Not all damage can be seen. Not all struggles happen in public view. When we hide our true pain from others, not only do we rob them of the ability to sympathize, but we turn away help we do not recognize from areas we do not expect it.
In this episode I tackle a topic I have been putting off for over a year now. Mostly this was because of my desire to maintain a positive attitude with others. Lately however, my symptoms have driven me to candor with more and more people. In that spirit of speaking my own story, I offer this podcast.
It is not a request, a ploy, or a play for sympathy. If all goes well, it shouldn’t come up at all.
Thank you for listening!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
We beg for it, we plead for it, offer deals, and go to great lengths to achieve it, but the moments of inspiration fall sparingly upon those who hunger most for them.
Throughout history the pursuit of inspiration has been a mystery for all who have had the experience. The agreed upon position seems to point mostly toward the impression that the phenomenon is a capricious and easily offended one that exists beyond our control.
In this episode I delve into the idea of inspiration as an external force. For those of us who depend upon it, life can be stressful and difficult, even when busy on a current project. Yet, there are concepts developed by career creators that can help to change that dynamic.
If we are bold enough to take the power back… dare we risk the chance?
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Choosing gifts is possibly one of the most stressful parts of participation, when it comes to the holidays. The desire to conjure an idea both uniquely appropriate, and unexpectedly welcome sets a very high bar not only for one person, but for possibly dozens at a time.
This imperative often is broken down into a monetary metric. Gifts are ruled equivalent if their particular value is synonymous with another. And yet, the emotional impact of different gifts falls by the wayside. In this calculation of equivalency, the memory of past successes is often forgotten.
In this episode, I delve into the unique art of finding the perfect gift. From discerning your audience, to determining a gift’s importance, to my own general guidelines when facing the unknown recipient, I seek to explore the topic to the fullest.
Unlike my episode from last year “Fixing Santa”, this episode actually manages to be posted reasonably well before the day itself. I can only hope it proves inspirational and helpful when facing your own challenges for the year to come.
But, to find out, you have to open that box and look inside!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
‘It’s the season, to bundle up! Not only ourselves, but our homes and buildings as well! As we transition from days spent running from the heat and humidity into days spent equally chasing them down, there are some useful techniques to keep in mind as we do.
Maintaining a livable environment is not only a priority for comfort and efficiency, but has been proven to be a major part of public health. With each of us looking again at the forms our own areas use to ensure this, it seemed a good time to explore the topic in a greater depth.
This episode was recorded in memory of my father, who was a staunch advocate for the proper use of these techniques. I can even now hear him preaching about windows and doors left open, for better or worse, and I sincerely hope he is in a well ventilated space today, for everyone’s peace and comfort. After all, sometimes another person really does know best!
So can you crack a dang window? This could take a minute…
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
What do you get the man who has everything? Why, everything, of course!
Throughout history, attempts have been made to conquer vast swathes of the globe beneath a single banner and ruler. Some notable examples could even have been said to have effectively achieved a mythical domination. But, what does it actually take to win the biggest prize of all? What can be gleaned from the successes and failures of those who came before?
In this episode, I delve into a series of instances over time in an effort to uncover the unique skills each brought to the task in turn. From the ancient world to our modern century, I find that the goal remains fundamentally unchanged, while simultaneously evolving with each passing day.
For those who would seek to achieve their own global dominance, this episode may prove helpful. For the rest of us, it may prove a handy way to prepare ourselves to welcome our next set of overlords.
Besides, what else were you going to do tonight - but try and take over the world!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
How do you change the makeup of a whole community? Where do you begin if you have an idea for a whole new way to live? Who gets to decide how we structure our lives and relationships in an ever evolving society?
We live at a time when our ability to get into contact with each other has never been easier, and yet we live lives more isolated from actual human interaction than ever. In an attempt to achieve some semblance of connection, we cling ever tighter to our devices, forever refreshing pages in the hopes we can be up to date. But, it is the simple companionships that prove most elusive. The basic acquaintances taken for granted by our forebears leave cold voids in their absence today.
In this episode, I attempt to put forward an idea I developed a few years ago as a possible alternative to our unfulfilling social norms. Somewhat difficult to encapsulate succinctly, I hope the gist is nevertheless understood. A peculiar hybrid of a series of prior systems - from hippy communes, to mill towns, to artist communities, to corporations - it strives to glean the best of all while maintaining a necessary adaptability for each unique circumstance.
Having nowhere else to put such a thought, I opted to present it for your consideration this week. Just to lay the foundations, so to speak…
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Halloween! The most contested, controversial, and confusing holiday on the western calendar. Half beloved, half derided, it seems to either engender disgust, or adoration. Its celebration alone can be seen as grounds for religious condemnation among certain sects, even as history itself tells a different tale.
In this episode, we discover not only the fascinating past of the ever evolving Halloween traditions, but also the timeless ancient and astronomical underpinnings of this holiday and many others. We will discuss how the church itself created and championed many of the traditions we now practice every year, and of how much of the negative behaviors sited against the holiday were also created.
At a time of year that is by far my personal favorite, I hope to share more of the fascinating depth behind an ancient observance. With a more thoroughly grounded understanding, you may just find your own opinions of the holiday change. You may even discover new traditions to integrate into your own holidays, if you dare to listen!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
What is in a name? We are told that a rose smells the same no matter its title, yet we pin a great deal of our perceptions upon the smallest of things. Would there be an actual shift in our collective perception if the touchstones of our lives were suddenly given drastically different titles?
What is the true significance of the few words we choose to place upon ourselves as we move through life? How does the experience of our world adapt or even grow smaller as a consequence of those decisions?
In this episode I explore the curious ways each variation of title we are given adds color to an experience. In subtle ways, each name we choose to answer to connects different emotional pathways to our deepest perceptions of ourselves. By seeing these links, we are given the opportunities to define ourselves in remarkably new ways, should we choose to take the leap.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
The idea of the mechanical beings we create inevitably dominating our species is a trope that goes back to before robotics were even possible. Even today, we seem to instinctively view any advancement in the development of Artificial Intelligence with a skeptical, paranoid, and even hostile perspective. But could our fears be the very thing that makes such eventualities likely?
In this episode I put forward a new perspective on ways we may approach our next creations and avoid such a fate. In particular, I outline a simple framework by which the nature of the interactions between humanity and its objects might take on a different set of overtones. By reassessing the emotional cues and feedback that define our interpretation of behavior, I seek to engender a more familiar and affectionate foundation between ourselves and the things we may soon find are possible.
For your consideration…
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Cryptocurrency is ironically elegantly named. It seems, as the understanding of its function and meaning has become one of the most confusing new tasks in finance since the invention of fine print. The fact that the term NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token is likewise obtuse enough to be practically useless information among the general population. Yet, the words themselves buzz around among conversations with tales of millions of dollars made, and lost.
In this episode, I try to toss away the annoying jargon and address the pure concepts by which cryptocurrency works in the hopes of laying a stable groundwork upon which more rational decisions can be based.
With the understanding that the technology and marketplace are likely to persist far into our collective futures, it seems most proper to help clarify things in the hopes of foiling the devious plans of those who seek to mislead everyone.
This one goes out to all the Nigerian Princes…
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
The brooding artist pulling greatness from the very depths of their soul; the greatest art coming from those who suffered much for their art; the haunting tragedy of artistic genius lost all to young…
As a culture we celebrate The Arts as a sign of greatness within a civilization. The very foundations of a nation’s self identity can be based upon the great works it holds in high esteem, and the minds and hands these masterpieces sprang forth from are held in nearly hallowed regard.
Yet, as a society reaping the benefits of this output, we seldom stop to consider the effects such pursuits have upon those who chase them. Even as we willingly acknowledge the tendency for artists to suffer greatly for their work, starving, and even coming to desperately dark ends, we tell ourselves that artistic people are somehow “simply built like that.”
But what if the pursuit of artistic greatness itself in our society drives people into depressions, self doubt, and the very discontent we take as inevitable?
Are there hidden repercussions to oneself within the arts community as a whole?
In this episode, we delve into the topic in the hopes of uncovering lesser explored aspects of the creative process. For better or worse!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
How strictly practical does a line of inquiry need to be to have merit? Is there value to be had in exploring purely fantastical possibilities? There was a time in our lives when this question was easier to answer in the affirmative; a time when pretending was its own reward.
In this week’s episode we delve into the depths of my own penchant for over analysis to answer the simple question: “Which fictional movie prop would you choose to own if you were given the opportunity to select one?”
With the topic so liable to provoke opinions and debates of all sorts, this week I put forth my own unique perspective. At first underwhelming and unassuming, you may be surprised what opportunities can be created with the simplest of things.
Would you like to hear about it?
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
What does it take to create a unique world for yourself, become someone completely different, and dive inside to explore and create amazing adventures? Most people spend hundreds of dollars on advanced game systems, all of the latest games, or even thousands building custom computers for just this purpose, only to see them rendered obsolete within a year or two. But what if there were a way to create even more potentially vivid and engrossing games with nothing but a pencil and paper, a few good friends, and a handful of dice?
The creation and long adaptation of Tabletop Rollplaying Games has sought to perfect this idea for nearly 4 decades now. Beginning in the early to mid 1970s with the publishing of Dungeons and Dragons, it has developed into a collection of variations with themes from fantasy, to noire, to space, and even popular franchises like Star Trek, Star Wars, Stranger Things, and Rick & Morty.
What is it that drives this longevity? What continues to enthrall gamers after so many years with so many high powered electronic alternatives?
In this episode we will explore the lesser known qualities of the tabletop genre, its surprising benefits for those who participate, and reasons why someone might consider delving into the games that are on offer. You might just find yourself surprised to hear what you have been missing all this time, even if you already think you have every reason to avoid the topic!
Care to roll the dice?
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Homes are the most beloved and important buildings we interact with on a day to day basis. Their structures not only serve to protect us from the harsh elements and provide security from the outside world, but also serve as a backdrop for memories and events that can follow us throughout our lives, sculpting us in unseen ways.
Despite this integral and critical roll in our existence, the nature and structure of a home is often disregarded by most of the population. Forced into placid acceptance of the homes they are given access to, they strive to make do as best they can. Too often, when the rare chance arises to sculpt a home from scratch, the major decisions are handed off to some other person who, for better or worse, makes decisions with the understanding that they will never be expected to live within their choices.
In this episode, therefore, we delve into my personal hobby of home design. I discuss the challenges, the pitfalls, and the misconceptions that await anyone seeking to try their hand at designing. With the chance to define the stages future lives will be lived upon, we also undertake the daunting challenge of sculpting that environment in the three dimensional puzzle it represents.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Bias and Prejudice! Dirty words to throw around among modern society. Indeed, at a time of avid “social justice activism” the very hint of such a feeling is tantamount to full blown bigotry and xenophobia. Yet, the truth is, the development of bias and the implementation of prejudice is a normal and natural practice of human behavior.
How then do we identify this activity? By what metric can we judge its quality and utility? Is its presence always an evil? How do we identify the malicious sort from the benign? If it is a natural event, how do we eradicate it?
In this episode, we boldly stride into the social minefield that is a discussion about prejudice from a nuanced perspective. In stark contrast to the prevailing narrative of our time, we then broach the idea that the practice itself is not devoid of utility - when properly wielded.
But, you may have already made up your mind about that…
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Poetry, while perhaps one of the oldest and most fundamental forms of shared art, has become a medium looked upon with shades of disdain among the average population in our modern society. Like abstract art, it can be viewed as too obtuse and esoteric for the public at large to approach.
Once the center of celebrations in longhouses and mead halls for days on end, it has been relegated to moody teen bedrooms and snooty artist open mics as the population has lost contact with it.
In an effort to reconnect with this powerfully expressive and free flowing method of conveyance between individuals, I seek to break down the many ways in which the artform can be used to shape the end result. By learning to identify and recognize the peculiar structures a poet may choose to adopt when crafting a piece, we can better understand the quality and effectiveness of the end result. By breaking down the barriers of understanding, it is hoped that this episode opens up fissures through which enjoyment can eventually pass.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Boldly launched amid the turbulent 1960s, the fantastic world of Star Trek has become a cultural icon for generations. It has existed in our collective memories for so long that we can take its guiding principles and established tropes for granted.
What happens then when we decide to turn a more critical eye on a universe that has long been held up as a utopian ideal? What less stellar realities await for those within the Star Trek universe who happen to exist outside of our usual frame of reference? What is life like for those living Beyond the Bridge?
In this episode, we explore the hypothetical daily lives of the many people passing through the backgrounds of our most beloved stories. We seek out the experiences of those deep within the federation civilization. We boldly go into detail about what the true nature of the starfleet system might amount to in realistic terms. In the end, we are left asking ourselves if the conclusions set forth a reality we could really call ideal; a future we would really choose to manifest.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Our planet is in crisis. Our future is uncertain, and the challenges of becoming a multi-planet species are not only daunting, but likely to be the purview of the wealthy and privileged.
How then do we act here, with our feet on the ground to save our planet for everyone else? Is there a new way to learn to live with our existing planet for the benefit of all?
In this episode, I put forward a proposal for just such a change. By looking at our behaviors, needs, and unique requirements from a different angle, I think there is a way to have all the space we could ever need for pristine wilderness, vast farmlands, and ample human settlement - without ever turning to the harshness of Space at all.
Instead, I offer a different method to move into a healthier and more secure future in the way our most distant mammal ancestors knew best. Curious? Good.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Never meet your heroes. But why? We as a culture are in love with the idea of exceptions and super-humanity. The natural converse of a media that exploits our own shortcomings for profit is the creation of manufactured images of idols, be they physical, mental, or emotional, that have seemingly no flaws at all.
But, the reality is, people are very much flawed. No genius ever avoided moments of simple idiocy; No guru, moments of awkwardness; No wise man, moments of folly.
And yet, these things should not detract from the value of their work otherwise. Indeed, even a foolish person should be allowed the possibility of having moments of great inspiration, and bad ideas aspects of some value.
In this episode, we explore the nature of wisdom, expertise, and the messy process of speculation that leads to improving ideas. Along the way, I make a point to remind my listeners that I too am not beyond the ability to talk utter nonsense. For better And worse! Thanks for listening!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Love, love, love. Is there a more popular word? From tshirts to stickers, to songs, to stories and media of all kinds, it seems we are awash in it. Yet, what do we actually mean when we use the term?
In specifics, the definition seems to morph from one situation to the next almost beyond recognition leaving only the vaguest of through lines to discern. At the same time, we are raised in a culture that values and praises almost nothing more highly.
What then are the effects of this simultaneous ambiguity and importance? More importantly, how do those who struggle with the concept adapt to a culture that sees the shortcoming as a fundamental flaw?
In this episode we explore a subject too readily taken for granted, and discover the surprisingly insidious ways in which our own failures to express the realities of nuance might cause much of the suffering we now experience as a community.
Smells Like Humans
Like spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Preparing for the impending catastrophic end of the world has become a hobby and obsession for a portion of the population known as “Preppers”. Sales of “survival” gear and training for catastrophic scenarios have never been as lucrative. Even as this population marks more potential situations averted than any before it, we remain fixated upon the seeming inevitability of a coming collapse.
However, as we stockpile goods beyond our wildest needs, and buy gadgets never tested in a real-world scenario, do we ever stop to consider what things would prove the most useful of all?
Do we ever question the stories we are told and tell ourselves about the sorts of threats we would face in a realistic event?
In this episode we discuss the nefarious motivations that drive some of us to plan for the worst, even as we delve into the most important things to remember that cannot be bought and stored up at all. You may just be surprised what the most powerful weapon of all turns out to be!
Smells Like Humans
Like spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
The unique look of the Motorscooter is commonly represented in media, but the particular physics such a format creates is far less well known. At a time when motorcycle safety training is compulsory in many places, the unusual challenges faced by those riding scooters remain all but unexplored.
In this episode, I call upon years of experience spent riding, wrecking, and finding solutions to piece together a set of tips and points to help keep my fellow scooterists safe on an often hostile roadway. From the most glaring mistakes new riders make, to the particular points to value most when looking to buy, this episode seeks to offer up all the key points needed to begin your riding journey.
There are open roads to be enjoyed, sunshine waiting, and all the best days yet to come. Here’s hoping this helps you enjoy them that little bit more safely!
How to Create a Glitch in the Matrix
A useful guide on how to experience simulation theory, first hand.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Across Acoustics
The official podcast of the Acoustical Society of America's Publications' Office....
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
The traditional gas powered scooter is a vehicle with roots going back to the world wars, but they remain something of a red herring in today’s society. In a nation obsessed with gasoline powered transportation, they have somehow been relegated to a side-note among popular culture; an oddity mentioned as an aside.
And yet, the format and design of the scooter offers its drivers unique advantages over other forms of ride. Not only are they unparalleled for efficiency, but they also offer practicalities found among no other form of its class.
Moreover, the experience of riding such a vehicle offers a unique perspective on the structural issues of one’s environment and the society in which we exist. By choosing to extract ourselves from the sheltered bubbles of steel and glass we live within, we can experience surprising joys and curious moments.
In this episode we explore the many reasons for choosing to try the scooter, and we address the issues that might arise. With years of real-world experience to draw upon, my aim is to present an honest and sober perspective on an option I think too few people consider.
How to Create a Glitch in the Matrix
A useful guide on how to experience simulation theory, first hand.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Bigfoot Classified
Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 may have had the biggest Bigfoot cover-up in history.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Words have a power, but what is it? Throughout religion and mythology the world over we are told of the unimaginable forces that can be wielded by the spoken word, but is it all overblown poetic license? What is the nature of the use and effect of language upon ourselves, our lives, and the very fabric of our perceived realities?
In this episode I explore a topic that has fascinated me for decades. The way in which our use of language has effects beyond what we anticipate has been a favorite quandary of mine from childhood. From the significance-laden usage I experienced in church as a child, to breakthrough discussions made in passing as a teen, this topic has been a long time developing its legs. Where it goes from here is anyone’s guess.
How to Create a Glitch in the Matrix
A useful guide on how to experience simulation theory, first hand.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Bigfoot Classified
Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 may have had the biggest Bigfoot cover-up in history.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
“Cool” has become a cultural monolith in the past hundred years, and an idea we all instinctively recognize, but what is its nature? Beyond the temporary fads or current trends, what is the essence of the thing we all mean when we point to the “Cool” itself? Who decides what is, and what is not cool, and how do we know what will be cool in the future?
In this episode, we discuss the fundamental foundations of coolness and the core values that define it beyond the particular momentary expressions. We delve into the historical instances that are held up as icons, and the peculiarly unique ways we each can find our own sorts of cool within ourselves. In a world fueled by insecurity, we seek to reach beyond the dictation of powers that would make us second guess our own instincts, to learn how to stand in our own unique awesomeness.
Bigfoot Society
Your favorite cryptozoology focused interview podcast!
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
The “Million-Dollar Idea”, the proverbial “Better Mousetrap”, the secret hope of Tinkerers and Homemakers Everywhere… but, what is the reality between the moment of brilliance and the journey to homes across the globe?
The process of inventing, and obtaining patents on unique ideas has evolved in fascinating ways over the years. Not only has the paper process changed, but the social mindset that drives the pursuit as well.
In this episode we explore inventors, and the various ways our society helps or hinders the process of bringing the next great thing to our homes. The major actors may not surprise you, but the small things we each can do to help as the situation evolves just might!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
In this time of fuel crisis, I present Everything you could Ever want to know about Saving Gasoline! Or, at least, everything I can share about it…
For those who are looking to buy new, to those shopping for what can be found used, to those trying to stretch what they can from the vehicles they have, this exhaustive episode delves into every possible nuance of the internal combustion conundrum in the hopes of squeezing every last mile from your dollars!
Some things we all know would be nice, like owning a tesla, but other things can make a difference just by changing the subtle ways we drive down the road in Any car at all.
In my own attempt to help relieve the burdens I see on my fellow working people, I have put together perhaps my longest and most complete episode yet. It is my hope that, indeed, everyone can find something to help us do the best we can today, tomorrow, and into future hardships beyond the horizon.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
The subject of evolution has been a battleground for the culture wars for generations, but what if we have been missing something key in the details of Both Evolution, AND the Culture Wars all this time? What surprising insights can be gleaned when we step away from the hot-button talking points and explore the more subtle stories that hide within natural history?
In this episode we explore a moment in the daily life of an ancient ancestor and discover how my own ideas and fascinations from childhood might carry broader implications for the future of humanity itself!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
A Special Bonus Episode - in response to the fruitless arguments filling the airwaves after yet another senseless tragedy. Instead of taking sides, or playing into the same old grooves of debate, this week I explore a New Perspective, and the possibility for a New Solution that might actually Satisfy BOTH sides of the issue…
In a rare “unscheduled” post, I seek to explain the basics of the arguments, their legitimate points, and discover the hidden common ground that might potentially be found between. At a time when we seek to array our various forces and arguments against one another, we have the unique potential to pursue a new path together that can bring about a future with the Best of Both worlds.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
From the retro-futurism of steampunk and dieselpunk to the dreams and fertile imaginations of the whistfully minded creatives the world over, the concept of the airship seems destined never to die. Both imposing and somehow gentle, they loom overhead and sail through the clouds like quiet whales in an areal sea.
It has become taken as common knowledge in modern society that the actual use of airships has gone the way of countless other antiquated technologies deigned too inappropriate for our current lifestyle, yet it may be that there is more benefit to be found among these forgotten beasts than we may imagine.
In this episode, we explore the curious nature of the airship. You may be surprised to find that many assumptions we all know are less than correct, and even more intrigued to find the truly remarkable possibilities that could lie within the bones of these forgotten dinosaurs.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Time marches ever onward, but why? And, to what end? What stops time from moving around freely and how could it be made to run backwards?
In an episode mostly exploring the sorts of free associating ideas that bounce around in my brain, I look at the interesting connections between certain scientific concepts, my own notions, and the existential and religious implications that arise in the mix.
In a purely conceptual exercise, we explore the vastness of the end of the universe, the experience of time in different events, and the possibilities that could exist well beyond ourselves. Truly food for thought.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Few things haunt the first-world experience like that of moments of impending Boredom. In a culture replete with opportunities for entertainment at every turn, the average person finds themselves with no tolerance or ability to cope with a lack of stimulation. Nevertheless, these moments inevitably come about.
Not only essentially unavoidable, boredom and tedium have been weaponized and used as tools to control the population through structured systems. By predicting and strategizing the deployment of boring situations it becomes possible to manipulate the masses even to their own detriment.
However, there are moments of value and perspectives of worth to be found in the quiet and seemingly empty times of our lives. This podcast seeks not only to open your eyes to those possibilities, but to also help guide you and offer several techniques to discover enjoyment in moments others cannot withstand.
If you can simply learn to look.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
I know what you’re thinking… who is this? The Sapient Simian has a New Name, a New Look, and a New Logo, but is the Same great show from the same creator!
He who is “Nobody’s Prodigy but his own” - celebrating free thinkers and the independent intellectuals of the world by exploring ideas from outside the box!
I hope you continue to enjoy!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Goodness, pureness, and virtue are held up as ideals of high praise among our society, but where do such states come from? It can seem an odd question to consider how someone becomes “pure” and yet, the method has changed drastically in the past few centuries. As we collectively worship these states of imagined perfection, we also willfully condemn those who have actions in their past seen to permanently ban them from such a status.
But, where is the value in learned experiences? Is a life devoid of knowledge actually better than one where a person has chosen goodness and overcome adversity?
Especially when choosing leaders and heads of authority, are we not making a mistake in insisting only the unsullied can apply?
In this episode we explore these and other ideas around the relatively new concepts of purity. You may just be surprised to find how outside of the norm our modern ideas can seem when looking to the understandings of our ancestors.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
It has become the buzzword of our daily economic lives, but what do we really know about Inflation? Somehow turning to bank managers, money market men, and hedge funds to explain things seems like asking to be lied to, yet how do our very real experiences and daily struggles factor in?
In this episode we attempt to explore the subject from the perspective of an average person’s pocketbook. What is the worry? What is the solution? Who is to blame, and who should take the hit for the good of us all?
You may be surprised to learn what is safe from worry, and just who may be the least able to control the dials of worth.
(This episode was moved forward in the publishing schedule so you might listen to it earlier than otherwise…)
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Earth, Air, Fire, and Water are among the most referenced touchstones of traditional philosophy writ large, and yet a comprehensive grasp of the idea behind their usage remains largely elusive. In this absence of understanding, the contemporary intellectual tends to seek refuge within the adamant position that the totality of such conceptions were naught but superstition and drivel. Peering resolutely down their noses at a thousand years of thought, they scoff at the very idea of even considering the subject.
In this episode, however, we explore the assumptions and misconceptions that may add to the confusion, and by so doing, seek to reframe the conversation so as to lend credence to the ideas of our forebears.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
As our lives are lived more and more in virtual spaces, and among man-made structures, we find our experiences too often consisting far more of manufactured realities. Presented with photoshopped images as a matter of fact, and a media environment too often constructed to present a contrived aesthetic, our own lives, and those around us can fall inevitably short. But what is the effect of this unrealism on our culture as a whole? Why are we subjected to these images so often and so persistently?
In this episode we will explore the motivations of those who sculpt these experiences and depictions around us, and the consequences, both intentional and unintentional, that their machinations elicit among us.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
What does it take to achieve great things? How do we define abilities and the differences between the able and the less able?
As a culture, we have long fixated upon the idea of talent, often given by God. Seen as gifts that enable specific individuals to reach heights and achievements beyond their control, the concept serves as a balm to those who seek to minimize any labors involved, or admit to their own choices to do otherwise.
Yet, I believe the idea unnecessarily hinders far more than it ever encourages. By removing an individual’s own agency in the matter, we discourage ourselves from pursuing our goals in the face of perceived mediocrity. Likewise, by ascribing successes to the intervention of divine powers, we deny ourselves the rightfully earned joy of achievement from a job well done.
In this episode, we explore the topic of creativity and motivation in the hopes of reframing the idea of the pursuit as one in which we all can participate.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Money and business. Buyers and sellers. Competition and the invisible hand of the market. Our economy is an evolving ecosystem of producers and consumers, but who is producing and who is being consumed?
The simple trades that formed the foundation of merchant behavior in our past have long been replaced by more complex and evolved systems of shares and commodities, credit and finance, incorporation and mergers. Yet we, as consumers, remain much as we were. Left to browse the options in our markets, we choose what we are offered, and give up what we have to trade.
In this episode, we explore the vastly altered landscape of modern economies, and probe the methods behind their function. Delving into techniques used to manipulate the buying public, we also search out ideas for effective actions to counteract the processes.
At a time when populations are farmed and milked like livestock, we seek to regain the authority to make impactful choices yet again. After decades of being told, we seek to be heard.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Night and day, hot and cold, childhood and adulthood, our lives are lived among recognized extremes, and yet it is the lines between these points that define us. From birth to death, within to without, and all points in between, we gather together to celebrate the times of change, and yet our modern society seeks to blend these collective experiences into one of endless flux. The appearance of on-demand culture, and a 24-hour flood of information has left no time to experience the ends and beginnings that give a life form.
In this episode we explore the forgotten benefits of establishing boundaries within our lives, and the peculiar joys of withholding that which we desire until the time is correct, not just for ourselves, but for society as a whole - Providing purpose and definition with delineation, and taking time to celebrate the unique aspects of each individual moment along the way.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Music is not only a powerful art form that can make you move your body, stop to think, or vent your emotions. It is also a complex and intricate language through which we, as humans, can communicate on a level sometimes beyond words. While this experience is often one that occurs on an instinctive level, there are ways in which we can learn to recognize and explore layers of nuance within the sounds around us that can add to the experience.
More importantly, an informed listener can often find aspects within types of musics they would not ordinarily be drawn to that can offer value despite the initial impressions we so often base all decisions upon. As a musician myself, I enjoy delving into more obscure areas of the art, and have come to appreciate much I had not before. In this episode, we seek to bring forward forgotten levels of listening in a time when popular music leaves little or no space for them. With luck, this will give us the chance to seek beyond the surface levels of a sound to find value beneath. If nothing else, however, it is hoped that the discussion will offer up suggestions for how others can find value in ways you may not expect… giving credit and recognition to those within a genre striving to connect with the listeners, whoever they be.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Bigfoot, the chupacabra, unicorns, dragons, and fairies… our world is filled with tales of amazing creatures spanning the depths of time. Some, we have found. Some, we have killed. Some, however, we insist have never been, and never are.
But, what do we actually know definitively about our universe? How do we know with such certainty things cannot be? Is there room amongst our encyclopedias and specimen trays for new discoveries, and unexpected surprises?
In this episode we explore the topics, and discuss possibilities that may not have been given enough consideration. The simple truth is, even in a world containing only those animals we know to be real, in the quiet corners of the planet, Thar Be Monsters!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
The rise of environmentalism, after centuries of neglect, has become the great transformation of our time. Grasping, for the first time, our power to alter the very nature of the planet around us has been a long and slowly evolving shift of mindset not yet completed.
What is the roll of humanity among the planet’s inhabitants then? How are our unique skills meant to integrate into the greater system? More interestingly, what should be our eventual goal in the development of our world, and ourselves within it?
In this episode, we explore the place of mankind among all of nature’s children. Our special powers, and their responsibilities when making decisions give us a fascinating potential, if we can manage to wield it wisely, not just now, but for ages to come.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Every decade has its flavor and style, driven by unique circumstances, but over time the essence of a cultural era can be forgotten, or even corrupted.
In this episode we explore the particular motivations of each generation, and how their decisions led to an expression of life unique to their time.
In particular, I delve into the forgotten ideals of my own decade, the 1990s, and how their vital essence has been co-opted and manipulated by cultural institutions in the years after.
All in the hopes of better representing the most important parts, often least understood in retrospect.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
The transition to electric vehicles seems all but an inevitability. The serious consequences associated with fossil fuels have made that clear. Yet, despite the imperative, the transition has remained difficult and haphazard.
In this episode, I explore the possible reasons for this, and put forward a solution that has been on my mind for some time.
Times of systemic shifts often require a unified effort, and universal adoption means shaping the framework across the board.
For your consideration.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Crafting artwork is the act of struggling to represent a vision, feeling, or idea through the manipulation of a set of materials. Time and expertise can greatly facilitate the process, but ultimately the artist is faced with maintaining their inspiration through the tedium of actual creation.
Over time, with the development of tools and methods, this has become easier. Breakthroughs in pigment creation, and the rise of more stable, forgiving, and predictable formulas, have given us a world of options our ancestors could never have imagined. This has led to a flourishing of expression, and more people than ever having the power to create.
No single potential upgrade in capability comes close, however, to the possibilities offered by the conversion to a digital platform. For the first time, an artist can utilize, not only a full spectrum of color, but the potential to use every kind of tool and technique without the serious investment in material this would usually require.
While interfaces and quality can vary as the format is honed, there is a single important issue found among nearly every program that can undo this utility.
In this episode, I explore this flaw, and the very basic shift in organization that could fix it.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Kids will be kids…
There comes a time in every generation, and in every person’s life, when doing what you are told becomes a very real struggle. As we develop into adulthood, we are faced with periods where we experience an undeniable urge to deviate from expectations. These phases of life become almost cliché for the level of angst they contain, and adults of every generation learn to anticipate their arrival.
Yet, even with generations of predictability, it seems our institutions and social norms continually fail to predictably mitigate these effects. Time and again, we create for our descendants structures and rulebooks almost designed to fail those who fall under them.
But, by taking ownership of our agency within these structures, we gain the potential to create a more perfect system.
In this episode, we explore the nature of this collective experience, and the mistakes and assumptions behind each of our failures. By reassessing our actions with the benefit of history, we can begin to achieve the wisdom we are meant to attain in our mature years, and become the sorts of people we wished we had known in our own pasts.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
(Recorded at a slightly more pertinent time of year…)
As we grow older, and our years sweep by more quickly in retrospect, it can be easy to forget the precious windows of time that lay the groundwork for our most foundational life experiences. With decades behind us, it can seem harmless to neglect seasonal celebrations among a busy lifestyle. In so doing, however, we cede control over the very fabric of our cultures to forces with ulterior motives.
As adults, we are given power to define our traditions for a very short time. As parents, we are given control over the nuance of the experience that can even outweigh all other external opinion. With these gifts, and a bit of forethought, we can begin to reshape the threads of myth beneath events to bring about a more fulfilling expression.
Among all of the year’s milestone events, none is perhaps as manipulated, overhauled, and hijacked as that of Christmas. While the season’s events are a tangle of practices and beliefs, not themselves detrimental, there exists beneath them a greedy and materialistic streak that would do well to be ousted.
To this end, I put forth two subtle changes to the season, specifically concerning Santa, that I feel have such an impact. Small and simple, they require no great abandonment of norms. Yet ultimately they have the potential not only to add color and value to events, but also to become nuances of family lore moving forward.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
In a universe of untapped possibilities, we live within a culture too often bounded by certitudes. From the moment an idea is given voice, it is assaulted by assertions of what simply can and cannot be. Too often, even after the fact, events are dismissed as impossible by authorities who may have no firsthand experience that remotely relates.
In an effort to throw off these bonds, and break through the false walls that seek to hem us in, this episode delves into the subject of certitudes. By understanding the incorrect assumptions that fuel the establishment of false authorities, we can arm ourselves against them, and choose to live in a world of untapped potential and infinite possibilities.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
The Pyramids, grand palaces, cathedrals, Stonehenge, and even the world’s biggest ball of yarn… we are privileged to witness acts of greatness at will in today’s media-heavy world. We wonder at the accomplishments of our ancestors, given such drastic limitations, while readily accepting mediocrity in our own endeavors.
With skills, powers, and resources our predecessors could never have dreamed of, we nevertheless embrace a culture of mere adequacy in the face of great possibility. But, what drives us to fail to achieve our highest goals? What arguments stop us from striving to build a better world, and how do we argue in favor of the bigger actions?
In this episode, we will explore the creation of past great works, and put forth a position in favor of their creation for a new millennium!
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
Popular culture loves to speculate about beings beyond our small planet. Conquerors, monsters, unknowable mysteries, or simply differently shaped versions of ourselves, it seems we have conjured every possible variation of the theme, yet the reality of actual contact eludes us.
In a universe so vast that other forms of life become basically inevitable, we have to wonder, why no one has stopped to meet us in all of this time. When we profess to desire membership into an interstellar community, why do we remain alone?
In this episode we explore possible theories for this silence. A change of tactic is laid out, and a new approach put forth. Ideas for new facilities and a change in values are presented, hopefully altering your perceptions of possibilities, and potentials.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
At a time in our nation’s history when nearly every action, opinion, or decision is painted with the broad brush of political partisanship, it seems that our lives are split down the middle into one of two opposing directions. Destructive though this simplification is on its own, there are fundamentally antagonistic tendencies to any system that breaks down into only two choices.
The fact of the matter is, the dualistic portrayal of political arguments is a serious problem not only for our understanding of each other’s positions, but of our own positions as well.
In this episode, I try to explore and explain a more complete view of the broad spectrum of beliefs that can be taken on political subjects beyond the unhelpful ‘left’ and ‘right’. By better understanding the nuances of the positions we hold, it is hoped that a better and more useful dialogue can develop among those who might only view each other as opponents in today’s either/or climate.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
In a world of unprecedented breakthroughs in entertainment and visual aids, the simple skills of self-creation languish in the competition. As our society grows more and more dependent upon given examples for understanding, an ability to conjure our own conceptions become a rarer and rarer trait.
In this episode, we explore the overlooked nature of creativity as it pertains to the skill to imagine. More importantly we delve into ideas of what environments and exercises can be most helpful in developing a greater ability to find our own methods to create from nothing.
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
What is the nature of Qualification? How does it relate to skill? By what measure were our ancestors deemed to be capable to take on a task? More importantly, what standard do we hold for each other in modern society when determining ability?
Our development as a culture has largely depended upon the spread of ideas and the increase in knowledge among the population. At a time when ideas can spread more rapidly than ever, and knowledge is more accessible than our predecessors could ever have imagined, our notions of gatekeeping have failed to adapt.
In this episode we explore the new dynamic brought about with the spread of information, and the access to expertise it makes possible. Perhaps a shakeup of established notions is warranted?
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show
The first ever podcast!
A brief rundown of the show, and what to expect in future...
Support the Show!
Direct Donations via PayPal - thesapientsimian@gmail.com
Patreon page - http://www.patreon.com/TheSapientSimian
Support the show