Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Voices in the Dark
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| The 7 Primes of Life | 16 Oct 2021 | 02:00:41 | |
We live in a culture that prizes youth and tells us that, once our wild 20s are over, we're basically on the slow train to decay and death. But modern science tells us otherwise, as we set out to explore in this episode. Given the cultural narrative of decline and fall, do we even have a sense of what the stages of life are beyond child–teenager–worker–pensioner–dead? New research suggests that there are seven distinct 'primes of life', each with their own strengths, which call into question the narrative of inescapable decay. We look at what we gain as well as what we lose as our years increase – but not without questioning how the scientists came to these conclusions! The studies prompt us to ask what we should prioritise at different stages of our life – when's the time to go all-out, to study something deeply, or to be hitting the gym on the regular? The story of our physical and psychological development is complex and sometimes paradoxical. But beyond the science of it all, how can (and how should) we conceptualise all this so we can say we've led a Good Life? We dig into:
Jon riffs on what Carl Jung called the 'Individuation Process', the ancient concepts of the Daimon and the Genius, and we ask how these theories can help us to grow and become who we truly are. LINK: The scientist whose creativity was unleashed after having a stroke is Dr Jill Bolte Taylor. Check out her TED talk here. Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| (Economic) Apocalypse Now – Are We Weeks Away From Global Financial Meltdown? | 18 Jun 2021 | 01:51:26 | |
Jon’s been getting disturbing dispatches from Andrea. Is the economy about to crash like never before? Was 2008’s Big Short just a dress rehearsal for an incoming apocalypse that will shred the stock market and rewrite the future of society? More importantly, should we all be investing in GameStop? Well, perhaps. Andrea’s been going incredibly deep into this very confusing world and he’s back to fill the rest of us in. Jon’s not convinced the end is nigh, but there’s definitely something disturbing going on in the financial heart of our ‘civilisation’. Whatever happens next, we need to arm ourselves with better information and think about the kind of society we’d want to build in the prospective ruins of the current world order. Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| Corona Chronicles, Black Lives Matter and Poetry | 05 Jun 2020 | 01:34:25 | |
It feels like we're living through a tipping point in world history. The year 2020 began with the Pope slapping a woman and the Australian wildfires (remember them?). That seemed dramatic at the time, but since then we've found ourselves in the midst of a pandemic, followed by mass protests that began in the US and are now spreading around the world. This episode we try to look behind the matrix: is anything really going to change as a result of the protests, or even the pandemic? Are politicians able or willing to change? And what should we be doing about it? As Trump sends in the army, Andrea thinks we're looking at a resurgence of Fascism. Is he right? Are we once again ignoring the warning signs as our grandparents did 100 years ago? We also respond to criticism we received for our last discussion of COVID-19. Are we just being armchair virologists, acting as if we know better just because we have a podcast? Well, we don't think so... Before the world goes down in a fireball of intolerance and disease, Jon wants to read you some poetry which has been making a positive impact on his life. David Whyte is an incredible poet and thinker – we hope his words will give you pause for thought amidst the chaos. Plus we contemplate the future of the podcast and what directions we might decide to take going forward. Get In Touch! Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| Metaprogramming: The Science of Becoming Who You Are – Erick Godsey Interview | 08 Nov 2017 | 01:45:44 | |
This is one of the best interviews we've ever done. We sat down with Erick Godsey to talk metaprogramming: the science and art of changing your fundamental habits to become the best version of yourself. Metaprogramming means becoming aware of the stories you've been telling yourself about yourself, mostly unconsciously, and often with negative consequences... And then going a step further to consciously create a new, better, and more authentic one. Erick has spent years dissecting how we can make genuine, lasting change to our lives, and how to avoid the pitfalls which claim 99% of everyone's shiny new resolutions. And for Erick, this has been a deeply personal journey. From living in a state of fear, working in a fast food chain wondering if his life would ever become what he knew it could be, Erick dedicated himself to reading psychology, psychoanalysis and philosophy, but all with the aim of making practical, real-life changes. So how can we map our consciousness – to understand the basic building blocks that are the foundations on which our ego, identity, and everything else we consider to be 'me' is built? We head into some dark places to find the gold that hides inside – turning shit into sugar, or, as Carl Jung put it, 'in the filth, it will be found'. Erick's podcast is a laboratory in which he draws out the guests' fundamental habits and programming. But in this interview we use a powerful psychological exercise to turn the tables and delve into Erick's own unconscious. You can play along too and discover how your own parents or parental figures have each programmed you one way or another – inflecting you with their own coping mechanisms, hang-ups, and also indirectly nurturing in you your own coping mechanisms whenever you feel your fundamental needs are unmet.We can go through our whole lives unconsciously acting out these patterns, but the Card 3 Exercise brings them directly, bracingly into focus and allows us to begin the acknowledging, healing and then metaprogramming process to move forwards and to grow as more conscious, self-aware human beings. Erick then turns the tables right back on us and starts digging into the stories we both tell ourselves! We get into psychedelic emergencies, the traps of Autism and depression, and how we've each learnt to tell ourselves better stories. Take The Test:
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| The Modern Stoic #5: Seeing Reality, Rejecting the Rulebook | 06 Nov 2017 | 00:58:31 | |
This episode explores the psychology of sharing and over-sharing; understanding and cultivating true friendship; how to use your own eyes rather than society's rulebook; and how to judge which role models are genuinely worth emulating. Countless thousands of people have turned to Stoicism as a tool for self-development, but how do we even start improving ourselves without shunning aspects we don't like: you can't cut off your arm and not injure yourself in the process. And how can we improve ourselves when the wisest philosophers we've had can't even agree whether a 'self' exists at all? Dre breaks down the biology and psychology of this, while Jon highlights the powerful but often-ignored parallels between Stoicism and Buddhism. What is modern friendship, in the hyper-connected yet strangely cold world of social media? Jon explains what 'contextual friendships' are and why we shouldn't value (or dismiss) them too quickly. In this letter, Seneca asks what the point of learning is if we don't share that knowledge with others, but this prompts us to ask what are the limits of sharing? Where's the line between sharing life and experience and simply dumping your baggage on everyone else around you? We dig into where the healthy balance lies; why American culture over-shares and yet reaps unexpected benefits from doing so; and how watching The Lion King taught Dre a fundamental lesson in personal confidence. Humans are pattern-recognition machines, but society teaches us to switch off those skills and read the cultural rulebook instead. So how often are you wasting time grumbling about how things ought to be, rather than working on the evidence before your own eyes? Jon shares personal stories of how some of the smartest professors in Oxford are utterly dysfunctional as humans; Dre drops the bombshell that RuPaul has been quoting Seneca for years; and we both unpack the reality behind our own friendship and why it's so strong even though we spend most of the time vehemently disagreeing with each other. Also Including:
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| The Modern Stoic #4: On Not Being A Dick | 30 Oct 2017 | 00:47:45 | |
Self-development – becoming better humans – is what Voices in the Dark is all about. But how do we set about it without showing off, making others feel insecure, or adopting the obnoxious air of the 'oh look how simple a life I lead' bohemian? Being egotistical about how much you've worked on your ego is the next, subtle trap along the path to self-improvement. So how can we avoid it? Seneca has some answers, but we don't agree with all of them. We talk about how to present yourself so that others will follow your example and warm to your cause; how to avoid blinding yourself to the good parts of otherwise 'bad' people; and why Donald Trump wants to paint everything gold. Human nature has its own traps, too: we have to watch out for our own (self)destructive animal and tribal behaviours before we end up copying others rather than becoming ourselves. As Seneca warns, 'It is the sign of an unstable mind not to be able to endure riches'. There's a panoply of under-acknowledged mental illnesses in our society surrounding wealth and pleasure. We throw the spotlight on these and why it's just as dysfunctional to deny yourself the opportunity to enjoy privilege as it is to be, well, Donald Trump. This is all about action, though. Philosophy has to be useful to be worthwhile – it's about living the Good Life, not analysing life into a dusty grave. Needless to say, there's also time to contemplate the importance to life of pizza and anal. Including:
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| The Modern Stoic #3: Dying (And Living) Well | 23 Oct 2017 | 00:42:44 | |
You forget to look before crossing the street; your foot slips as you walk down the stairs... and it's all over. Are you ready? Can you be at peace with that? The Stoics took care to remind themselves of death: Memento mori. In the cutthroat world of the Romans, this could be all too close, but we all so easily forget that death can turn up any moment. And yet most people are caught between the fear of death and the unwillingness to live. We're too scared of losing things – possessions, jobs, relationships – to actually enjoy having them at all. As Seneca hammers home, the secret to a good life is to remember death: that it will all be taken from us in an instant, so we'd best make the most of now. What's the point of living a life worrying about something we cannot change? Seneca doesn't think it's worth the time at all... But Dre's still planning to live forever, and with advances in modern technology this could soon become a reality. What would that mean for our lives, friendships, values, and goals, though? On the other hand, if this was the last day of your life, wouldn't you just eat ice cream rather than fulfil all your ambitions, only for them to vanish? This episode, we get into some serious disagreements about whether there's any point in being afraid of death; we hear Jon's plans to wank on mountains and read an entire library; and Dre adamantly refuses to die. Including:
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| The Modern Stoic #2: True And False Friendship | 16 Oct 2017 | 00:44:36 | |
Who would you help to bury a body? Just how good a friend would they need to be? Would they do it for you? How can you be sure? Friendship is deeply human, but it's something we frequently take for granted and make foolish assumptions about. It's time to give it another, deeper look. This episode, we debate what Stoicism has to tell us about true friendship, what trust really means, and how to build the personal bonds we want in our lives. What do we even mean by 'friend', anyway? Seneca thought that a friend is someone you trust as much as you trust yourself – but what does that really mean? Do you trust yourself? And why should we trust someone else with every part of our inner lives? The English language doesn't make enough distinction between close friends and casual acquaintances. And without clearer distinctions, we blur the boundaries and make fateful, harmful choices. Sociological research tells us that some of the closest trust bonds are forged outside conventional society: by criminals, vagabonds and misfits. Inside society, we're often too busy being polite to notice that we're being taken for a ride (often by our own stupidity). Trusting someone with your secrets isn't the same as trusting them to turn up on time; trusting someone to have your back isn't the same as trusting them to look after your kids. But do you take enough time to consciously consider the difference? We explain how to craft a healthy, powerful friendship or relationship, and how so many people poison them from within. We break down the John Watson Dynamic and how it can simultaneously strengthen your own character and other people's. Jon shares how he's learnt how to make better decisions about when to keep his cards close to his chest, and the time his friend's dad decided to admit he had an affair (while en route to a strip club). Dre refuses to work out with Aubrey Marcus and reveals who he'd do jail time for (it's not you). Including:
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| The Modern Stoic #1: How To Know When You've Struck Gold – And Then How To Mine It | 09 Oct 2017 | 00:46:43 | |
We all like to keep our options open – to play the field, diversify our portfolios, enjoy the freedom of an all-you-can-eat buffet. But there's a catch – a hidden, bitter price-tag we overlook at our peril. Freedom without focus is a merciless dream killer. The superficial succeed only at getting fat, complacent and insecure. Breadth and quality do not go hand in hand. The most successful and creative people don't prize knowing a little about a lot – they know when to pick an interest, business or project and drill down deep to mine the gold within. In this first episode of our new series on Stoicism, we explore the Stoic master Seneca's timeless advice on how to do the same in your own life. Whether it's showing off at the Roman Senate or chasing Likes on Instagram, Seneca's wisdom cuts to the core of the issue. The answers are deceptively simple – but are you up to the challenge? This Episode Includes:
Dre also unleashes a trick for how you can learn anything from anything and Jon reflects on how he found true happiness in cheesecake. Find Out More:
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| DMT Before & After: Spirit Molecule Or Psychedelic Blackhole? | 02 Oct 2017 | 01:10:21 | |
Ever been on a white-knuckle cosmic sleigh ride over the mountain peaks of enlightenment? Would you like to? They call it the Spirit Molecule. Just a few quick breaths of DMT, and reality dissolves around you, thrusting you into another dimension and bringing you back again in time for tea. For some, it's a super-powered psychologist who cuts right to the core of your deepest fears and traumas. But that's not what happened when Dre took it for the first time, live on this episode. We hit record right before and immediately after Dre sucked on a homemade crack pipe and launched himself into the next dimension. Julian Deane – a leading UK comedian – joined us to trip-sit and to share his own terrifying experiences with DMT. It helped him to overcome addiction and confronted him with his own ego games... And yet, he wonders, couldn't we discover all of this through yoga and meditation instead? Without all the terror? Despite his long personal history with psychedelics, this is Dre's first time trying what many call the most powerful psychedelic in the world. So how does DMT measure up? Controversially, Dre doesn't think you can really learn anything from it... and yet he wants to go back for more. Why? Find Out More:
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| Perfection In A Glass – David Waterlow Interview (Jon's Bro) | 25 Sep 2017 | 01:22:28 | |
Do you know what makes the perfect dram? By popular demand, we delve back into the world of whisky – the essential drink of the modern Renaissance Man. And this time, we've got insider knowledge from Jon's brother, David. David's managed whisky shops on Edinburgh's iconic Royal Mile – the ancient cobbled street running between the castle and Holyrood Palace. He started by answering a job ad on Gumtree, before working his way up to running stores and selling whiskies to celebrities and Texan oil barons alike. As you'd expect, he's got a few stories to share... So how did he get into whisky in the first place; how do you become an expert in selecting and drinking it; and why is it informally known as 'baby cocaine'? Who actually buys a £5,000 bottle of whisky, and how did James Bond manage to skyrocket one distillery's fortunes overnight? We dissect how to taste whisky properly and to discover which is the perfect dram for you. What happens behind the scenes? Why does it take at least 3 years to make whisky; what dodgy stuff do whisky companies get up to when the cops aren't looking; and why are Angels constantly getting drunk on the fumes? Jon and David also share drinking tales from the isles of Scotland to the Moscow winter; when Jon was stalked by a rabid Harry Potter fan; and why whisky tasting is basically the same as rimming. This is a deeply cultured episode. Find Out More:
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| Legalising Drugs: Behind The Headlines – Anna Ross & Rosalind Roux Interview | 18 Sep 2017 | 01:20:08 | |
Legalise drugs? Sounds crazy, right? Think again. Drug policy isn't shaped by medical, sociological, or psychological data. It's shaped by tabloid scare stories and politicians' fears of losing the conservative vote. This week we speak to researchers and activists Anna Ross and Rosalind Roux to dig behind the headlines and into the actual data (as well as some truly surprising insights into what politicians really say behind closed doors). Anna brings a sociological and legal perspective to drugs and makes it clear that there's no real moral or philosophical basis for current legislation. Rosalind focuses on the psychological and mental health aspects, as well as sharing her involvement with the growing movement of Students for Sensible Drug Policy network. We ask why drug policy advisors are routinely ignored by politicians; where addiction actually comes from (it's not from the drugs); and how governments fiddle the figures, avoid the facts, and ignore the realities... at least in public. There's still some cause for hope, though. It turns out there's a little-known moral crusade underway in Durham by the Police Commissioner, who's using his local power and funding to quietly decriminalising many substances. Is this the beginning of a revolution? We also share our personal stories of how to come out of the psychedelic closet to your friends and family and begin your own quiet revolution at home. Find Out More:
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| Probably Offensive – Comedians Nick Dixon & Francis Foster Interview | 11 Sep 2017 | 01:47:33 | |
Are you easily offended? It’s time to ask yourself why. Offence is taken, not given. So do comedians really have a responsibility to tip-toe round your sensitivities? Comedy is never a safe space, and yet in a world of Social Justice Warriors, comedians are running scared of saying the ‘wrong’ thing. Is there such a thing as going ‘too far’ in comedy? What does ‘offence’ really mean, and why is the comedy world increasingly cracking down on anyone who isn’t a virtue-signalling leftie? Our guests this week are two brilliant stand-up comedians whose own podcast, Probably Offensive, was immediately banned on iTunes, so they know a thing or two about censorship. We dive into the world of identity politics and discuss why it’s OK to assume people’s race but not their gender; who gets a free-pass to make gay and ethnic jokes; and why Francis is so damn white. Mental health stalks the green rooms of comedy, but Nick rejects the myth of the Sad Clown. Even if anxiety and depression seem all too common in the industry, do we really need to suffer to be funny and creative? Find out why some people become comedians – and why they should always be ugly; just how much mental abuse Francis receives from his mum; and what it’s like opening for Eddie Izzard. Anxiety and mental breakdowns aside, we talk dating apps and the caustic effect they can have on interpersonal communication. Also featuring: Sexism, Daleks, and Sex-Daleks. Find Out More:
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| The Laws of Human Nature 7: Why Do You Want To Get Rich Quick? | 16 May 2020 | 01:19:48 | |
Why do people get caught up in wild and implausible conspiracy theories, get-rich-quick scams and other tantalising pyramid schemes? As we learn in this episode, even brainboxes like Isaac Newton can't seem to resist the excitement that so easily overcomes our better judgement when we think we can shortcut our way to success. And that's the problem – it's exciting. The danger comes from our emotions: we are caught in the present, enslaved to our immediate hopes and fears. Robert helps us to pause and draw back from the desire for immediate (re)action. We need to learn to play the long game and stop living in the now. This is a double-edged sword, though: we mustn't get stuck in over-planning things either, or we lose sight of what truly matters... Jon unpacks his own history of paralysis by analysis, while Andrea highlights the underlying problem: If you're constantly terrified of making The Wrong Decision, then you either never choose, or never feel you made the right call. But what about when it comes to other people? When we're quick to judge, are we going with our gut, or are we just seeing what we want to see? We take a look at some strategies and tools to tell the difference – and in the process save your relationships, friendships, and indeed yourself from dubious business opportunities. Along the way Jon and Andrea reflect on their own major fuck-ups and offend all of China. Also Including:
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| We Need To Talk About Drugs – Jason Reed Interview | 04 Sep 2017 | 01:47:58 | |
We need to talk about drugs. Not a shouting match; not a series of threats. We need a real, unemotional and scientifically-based conversation which places harm reduction and a respect for personal sovereignty at its core. So we spoke to Jason Reed to do just that. Jason is Executive Director at LEAP UK (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition); a producer on the superb documentary film, The Culture High; the host of the Stop and Search podcast; and an acclaimed author in his own right. From sniffer dogs to media meltdowns to draconian laws, deterrence fails each and every time to reduce the harms of drug misuse. So what are governments actually trying to do? Why do people take drugs at all? And why should we, as a society, care about it? In this no-holds-barred interview we get into all these questions and more. Along with personal stories from Jon and Jason about when the medical profession completely failed to help them, we go behind the nature of addiction itself. People become addicted to drugs for a reason – usually trauma – so unless we can address and resolve that trauma, the addiction only mutates and never disappears. Truth be told, we live in an addicted society: from reality TV to binge-eating, people are running away from pain and lack the tools to face and integrate these shadows healthily into their lives. How can we help them and ourselves without triggering guilt, fear, and further depressive spirals? We need more conversations like this – and we need you to get involved if we want to live healthier, happier lives. Oh, and we have a surprisingly enlightening discussion of what pro-wrestling can teach you about real life and how to make a positive impact in the world... Find Out More:
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| Romantic Encounters In A Darkened Room – Charlie Robb Interview | 28 Aug 2017 | 01:00:13 | |
When should we hold on and when should we let go? It's one of the most challenging questions we face in our lives, and it's never more difficult to know than when it comes to love and lust. Charlie Robb's brilliant show, Romantic Encounters in a Darkened Room, is a darkly comic exploration of what it costs to place your self-worth in the hands of others and your future on hold for the sake of unrequited love. Romantic Encounters is also a smart and skilful satire on how gadgets and social media screw up our personal lives, identities and self-worth. The show never officially gets going because of these (darkly hilarious) interruptions, but amidst the rubble of distractions, poor choices and personal rejection, a powerful and optimistic message of self-awakening gradually shines through. We caught up with Charlie at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to talk about comedy, self-discovery, and what it takes to bring a one-man sketch show to one of the biggest cultural events in the world. Does all comedy come from tragedy? Should humour ever be censored? And is the comedy world increasingly under the thumb of the Political Correctness Police? We dive into all these questions and more. Find Out More:
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| Trashed: When Life Goes Off The Rails – Sascha Moore & David Bryan Interview | 25 Aug 2017 | 01:10:03 | |
Ever made a bad decision? Ever felt like life just wasn't playing fair? In Trashed, the breakthrough, critically-acclaimed play hitting the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year, one man's life unravels as a few questionable decisions cascade into tragedy. This riveting human drama blew us away and we knew we had to speak to the people behind it. We sat down with the playwright and the star of the show, Sascha Moore and David Bryan, to find out how this brilliant, morally-challenging drama came about and what it takes to perform with honesty, intensity, and 7 cans of cider every day for a month. Sascha wrote the play while working a full time job, while David left a promising career in rugby to pursue acting. We dig into their personal stories, the inspirations behind the play, and what it's like performing at one of the world's largest and most diverse cultural events. Find Out More: Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| Virtual Awakening: VR And The Future of Humanity – Visual Artist José Montemayor Interview | 21 Aug 2017 | 01:18:07 | |
Virtual Reality is the future – but do we know what we're getting ourselves in for? This is a powerful conversation about technology, the future, and if we can remain human as we continue to evolve. What can we do now to steer our technological development towards a Star Trek rather than a Blade Runner future? Visual artist, psychonaut and VR programmer José Montemayor joins us to talk near-death experiences; what cutting-edge technology can teach us about being human; and how psychedelics and VR are combining to create 'Cyberdelic Psychotherapy'. We talk about how virtual and augmented reality are already being used to heal traumas, dementia and body dysmorphia, and the lessons we can take from psychedelic therapy to harness these new technologies. Everything is changing – the content and the audience. In VR experiences, the viewer no longer experiences content, but becomes the medium itself. This is a paradigm shift not only in tech, but also in Art and our ability to share common human experiences. José himself has designed a near-death experience which Jon and Dre both plugged into right before the show. We share our impressions of this experiential, artistic piece based on scientific research, and compare it to our most potent ego-destroying psychedelic experiences. We also question the role of art in our personal and cultural lives; whether we need sex to be creative; and what happens when technology begins to remove our bodily desires. José also previews his amazing next project – a massive VR experience blending Eastern mysticism and cutting-edge physics to help shift our perception of ourselves and our place in the universe, a project soon to be demoed at Sundance Film Festival. Find Out More:
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| Psychedelic Philosophy: Dr Chris Letheby Interview | 14 Aug 2017 | 00:51:27 | |
Chris Letheby Asking big philosophical questions about psychedelic experiences and what they mean If a delusion leads to positive outcomes for us in life, does it matter if it's a delusion? Chris thinks it does matter, and that to say 'If it works, I don't care' isn't good enough. Linking into classical, modern and Buddhist philosophies Humans' quest for certainty and how far that serves or hinders us Trying, through it all, to get just a little bit less wrong. When we feel a deep connection with the cosmos Unpacks the idea of 'epistemic innocence' Psychedelic therapy ... mystical experiences .. but are these comforting delusions foisted on the sick and dying – what's the morality of it ... or a genuine insight into how things are. Would you willingly plug yourself into the Matrix if it was designed to make you feel good? Are we all living in a delusion – and if so, what sort of delusion? And is it one we share with other people? Find Out More:
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| On The Whisky Trail | 07 Aug 2017 | 00:45:29 | |
The modern Renaissance man needs a drink with culture and heritage. So Jon and Dre hit Cadenhead's whisky tasting rooms to learn all about Scotch malt whisky: the amber nectar, its rich history, and to try a selection of the very best from across Scotland. We chat with Steve, who found a passion for whisky after a helping out for a weekend which turned into more than 20 years in the industry. Who drinks whisky these days and why? Is the culture being lost in favour of market values or a cheap JD and coke? We get into how whisky first came to be sold to the masses, how to taste it 'properly', and whether it's true that James Bond suddenly drinking MacAllan led to China buying out the warehouse... Steve fills us in on the different whisky regions of Scotland; how the big brand names keep their taste consistent; and how he fared in a blind tasting challenge. Find Out More:
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| The 50th Law – Part 11: Confront Your Mortality. The Sublime. | 31 Jul 2017 | 01:34:15 | |
Are you afraid to die? You don't have to be. You can overcome those fears – and in the process you'll unlock your truest potential. This episode uncovers the real Robert Greene and gets right to the core of what it means to be human to the best of our potential: to live fearlessly, powerfully, and to be attuned to the beauty of the human experience. We look at what happened when 50 Cent confronted his own morality; consider whether knowledge of our own morality helps or hinders us; and we drop insight bombs from physics, Buddhism, and personal experience. There's a how-to guide to uncover your warrior spirit and harness it, rather than let it destroy you (and the people around you). We dismantle the current obsession with 'being present' and explain what it really means. And we ask: Is today a good day to die? If not, why not? Jon shares his personal confrontations with mortality, both through suicide attempts and the most powerful psychedelic in the world. Dre explains why contemplating his own morality just leads to paralysis and nihilism (and basically why he's too cool for death). This is the final episode of the 50th Law, and in it we discover the sublime – the awesome threshold between life and death which empowers us like nothing else in creation. This Episode Includes:
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| The 50th Law – Part 10: Push Beyond Your Limits. Self-Belief. | 24 Jul 2017 | 01:32:38 | |
You are your own limiting factor. Who you think you are defines what you're capable of. If identity is an illusion (and it is), how do we set about changing it so we fulfil and surpass all our ambitions? But big egos are a bad thing, right? It depends. This episode we deconstruct what 'ego' is all about and how to cultivate the strong, positive sort. The kind that doesn't need reinforcement and validation from others – the kind based in security of self and a mind that remains open to an ever-changing world. We look at how 50 Cent built his vision and tribe in his grandparents' living room; how parents fuck their children up by praising them the wrong way; and how to become who we are without getting wrapped up in identity-labels. Robert provides the tools we need to surpass our limits, but how can we put them into practice? We explore how to to turn dead time into learning time, but without deceiving ourselves that all those barista skills are magically going to help us later in life. Should parents kick their kids out when they reach 18? Are babies and young children actually people? And how can we be strong without needing to show it? Jon shares personal revelations uncovered by his counsellor and why he gave up ironing at age 18; Dre shares his plans to open his own Jurassic Park and his latest psychedelic insights; and we use the soon-to-be immortal phrase 'circle-jerk lubricated with tears'. This Episode Includes:
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| Bringing The Veterans Home: Ayahuasca & Healing PTSD | 19 Jul 2017 | 01:09:30 | |
What happens when you come back from a war-zone and try to reintegrate into everyday, humdrum reality? For countless veterans, coming home can be worse than war: depression, alienation, anxiety, and PTSD. As many as 20 take their own lives every single day. Recorded under the setting sun in the Amazon rainforest, Jon spoke with two former US Marines who've turned to the plant medicine Ayahuasca to overcome their mental health issues. This is a raw, deeply human conversation. We talk about life, love, hopes, dreams and fears. We talk about family, comradeship, and the struggle to keep hold of a sense of self once you've left an institution that demands you craft yourself to fit its mould. There's great advances being made in psychedelics-assisted therapy, particularly using MDMA, but Ayahuasca can be still more powerful. It tears away all the masks and all the stories we tell ourselves, leaving behind... love. Tony and Buck explain what PTSD means in everyday life, the shocking failures of the state to support its veterans, and how hard it can be for tough military men to even admit they have a problem and to seek help. They've started their own podcast to support veterans and those close to them – sharing tools and tactics to find healing and a meaningful life after the military. We talk about how Jiu Jitsu, float tanks, and even just sharing a smile with a stranger can make a profound difference. Finally, we reflect on the lessons of Ayahuasca and how we plan to make lasting changes once we get back from the jungle. This is a truly unique episode. Please share it with anyone you think would benefit from hearing about these issues. What We Get Into:
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| The 50th Law – Part 9: Respect The Process - Mastery | 17 Jul 2017 | 01:27:40 | |
Stop scrolling. You're bored. But what sort of bored are you? Remember blackouts? Remember how you managed to have fun, play games, and actually talk to each other when all the electronic distractions were forcibly removed? Remember tedious hours at work when you let your plans and ideas unfold? Or dull hours of practising something that mattered to you? From Wi-Fi on planes to infinite newsfeeds, now more than ever we have to make the choice to focus our attention and get the deep work done. But it might not be fun. This episode is all about changing our relationship to boredom. It's time to weaponise it and turn it into a training ground for the things we want to achieve and become. We explore how 50 Cent turned his hustling days into an apprenticeship in business; how spending a couple of hours in a sensory deprivation tank actually gives you more time in your day; and how to turn the daily grind into the perfect opportunity. From Michelangelo to BeeBop, Demosthenes to serial killing, this episode is packed with tales of creativity born from hardship and tedium. We explain why kids don't actually learn languages quickly (and are pretty dumb, too); why 75% of doing a PhD is simply not giving up; and how reading can improve your breathing. Jon reflects on his failure to learn to play guitar, but his persistence in learning how to ad lib on piano; Dre reconquers the Rubik's Cube; and we both discuss the continuing influence of toxic relationships on the present. This Episode Includes:
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| Corona Chronicles: Conspiracies, Censorship and Life under Lockdown | 17 Apr 2020 | 01:36:51 | |
It’s Week 4 of Lockdown in the UK and we’ve got the band back together. Well, the duo. Andrea and Jon are back in the virtual studio to make some sense of a world awash with fear, confusion, conspiracy theories and lots of very bad science. What does the coronavirus mean politically, socially and culturally? How far should the state be involved in tackling the crisis? Are Sweden’s fears justified that any kind of lockdown opens the door to a totalitarian state that’d somehow be far worse than mass death? Andrea breaks down the science and the numbers (bad news, Sweden – you’re fucked). Despite that, Andrea is unusually optimistic about the world that might come after the crisis. What if breaking our routines or an unreflective faith in capitalism might lead us to build a more balanced, compassionate civilisation? How might that happen, and dare we believe it’s even possible? What the hell is going on with David Icke and conspiracy theories about 5G? In times like these, it’s hard to know what to think, and in the UK the authorities are clamping down hard on these ideas. But what about free speech? What’s the difference between censorship and ‘no-platforming’? Should we be supporting the principle of free speech, or should we be getting misleading fools off the airwaves? Away from the media, what are you doing during lockdown? There’s a strange sense of pressure to be super creative – to start all those projects you’ve been putting off for a rainy day… but is it really so bad (or ‘unproductive’) to just sit on the couch and rest? We also ask what The Black Swan has to teach us about the present moment and whether outsourcing your moral compass makes you a monster (like Batman). LINKS
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| The 50th Law – Part 8: Know Your Environment From The Inside Out. Connection. | 10 Jul 2017 | 01:21:35 | |
You don't know what you're talking about!' We've all said it, at one time or another. When we receive criticism and feedback that disrupts our confidence or seems to utterly miss the point of what we were trying to do. So we reject it – screw them, screw their stupid views! But that's a mistake. We can't travel through life without calibrating ourselves to the environments and people we encounter. The trick is learning to discern which feedback is important and what the feedback is actually expressing. Not all opinions are equal, and in this episode we lay out the ground rules for telling which is which. 50 Cent used both drug addicts and fan forums to shape his strategy; Eleanor Roosevelt asked the nation to write to her; and Vincent van Gogh listened to no one. Who was right? This episode is all about avoiding delusion while staying true to your vision. Is listening to your gut a good thing, or is it another illusion? Should we apply a Tim Ferriss-like scientific method to problems, or is this just another way to keep a safe distance between ourselves and experiential reality? We push you to get into some uncomfortable situations and be open to the lessons you'll learn; explain why witness testimonies cannot be trusted; and how to decide whether you're making art for its own sake, or if you really want to find a connection with a broad audience. In fact, do creators even know what they're doing? Most of the time, not consciously, it turns out... There's also time to hear about Dre's time-travelling coaching service and his superiority complex (which is complex), while Jon recalls the time he was told he doesn't know anything about a subject he's spent 10 years researching, and then makes a deeply ill-advised 'your mum' joke. This Episode Includes:
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| Psychedelic Therapy Goes Mainstream: Rick Doblin Interview | 07 Jul 2017 | 00:43:49 | |
We're on the cusp of a profound cultural shift. Amidst a depression epidemic and huge numbers of veterans and others suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, psychedelic-assisted therapy offers a powerful new – and scientifically-proven – hope for the future. For decades, Rick Doblin, the founder and Executive Director of MAPS – The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies – has worked to bring psychedelic medicines into the mainstream. And now his hard work is paying off. We spoke to Rick at Breaking Convention 2017, one of dozens of major psychedelics research conferences now taking place around the globe. The USA is both at the forefront of prohibition and clinical research in these areas. We dig into the upcoming FDA rulings on Phase 3 clinical trials for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for people suffering from PTSD, and what the Trump administration means for the future of this groundbreaking work. Rick explains why he's so optimistic about the future of non-profit drug development, despite Big Pharma's love of patents and profits above the health and wellbeing of the population. If today we're experiencing a Psychedelic Renaissance, we ask Rick to reflect on the lessons we have to learn from the '60s so that it doesn't all go up in flames once again. A key strategy which Rick strongly advocates is a worldwide Psychedelic 'Coming Out'; he reveals that MAPS has been assembling a list of high-profile people ready to come out of the psychedelic closet en masse – and we encourage you to join their ranks. But beyond the policies and cultural trends, there are deeply personal stories to tell. Rick opens up about his ow history and what's driven him to pursue this mission despite decades of opposition. He talks about his relationship with fear, growing up in the shadows of the Holocaust and the Cold War, as well as sharing a beautiful story of how taking MDMA and speaking with his grandmother opened up a whole side of family history that she'd never been able to share before. Jon and Dre share their own stories of using psychedelics for mental and social health, and we reflect on how to cultivate the best life we can live, together. What We Get Into:
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| The 50th Law – Part 7: Lead From The Front. Authority | 03 Jul 2017 | 01:39:18 | |
We know it when we feel it. Sometimes we hate it. Sometimes we crave it. But how does authority work? In these modern times, we often distrust authority by default, but in this episode we reveal how deeply we screw ourselves over in the process. What if we think of authority as the act of authoring something new – leading people forward, willingly, with dynamism and creativity, even if it means pulling them uncomfortably out of their stupor? This is a deep exploration of one of the core elements of our tribal nature. We dissect charisma (it's learned and honed, not simply gifted by the gods); aggression (it's necessary, but rarely); and the need to set and police your personal boundaries at all times. We disagree with Robert, too, and argue it's not better to be feared and respected than to be loved... but it's more complicated than you think. There's lessons to be learned from 50 Cent, but also Adolf Hitler, and drag queen extraordinaire RuPaul. We learn how to use the term 'wanksta' correctly, debate the ever-fraught subject of gender pronouns and whether we should use the litany of new ones, and wonder how we can be 'men' or 'women' in a culture that exhorts us to embody impossible ideals. Dre curses his nemesis, Elon Musk, and the guy who broke his jaw in high school, while Jon embraces his role as a fashion icon and promptly unleashes the most disturbing chat-up line yet coined. This Episode Includes:
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| The 50th Law – Part 6: Know When To Be Bad. Aggression | 25 Jun 2017 | 01:27:50 | |
Will you stand your ground? Do you get what you want? Are you prepared to be uncomfortable to do what's right? Probably not. In our society, we're taught to fear confrontation and to consider it dangerous and destructive. We call it being polite, but this emotional avoidance can lead to fundamental dishonesty with yourself and turn you into other people's doormat. This episode is all about setting personal boundaries and refusing to let others walk all over you. It isn't about becoming a bully, but about refusing to be bullied by anyone. Democracy is meant to involve intense disagreements and confrontations, so why are we so scared of it and think 'consensus' is inherently a good thing? If 'aggression' sounds bad, what if we saw this as sparring, haggling, or playing a game with other people? And why do we avoid confrontations in our society, yet simultaneously worship individuals who doggedly pursue their goals and get their way? We take a trip to Southside Queens to hear about 50 Cent's mind-games with Ja Rule, and how aggression underlaid with humour was the key to success. But we also dig into relationships and how to spot the toxic types – the passive aggressive, the hopeless cases, and the hidden narcissists. Guest stars this week include Catherine the Great, Thelonious Monk, Abraham Lincoln and Sherlock Holmes! There's also time for Jon to recall his short-lived hit-and-run career; and Dre forces Apple to see things his way, punks out some bullies, and makes Jon to describe 10 years' work in 3 seconds. This Episode Includes:
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| The 50th Law – Part 5: Keep Moving. Calculated Momentum. | 18 Jun 2017 | 01:35:24 | |
We're all creatures of habit, but creativity dies on the vine of inaction. Change is the only constant in the world, but why are we so resistant to it? This episode shoves us all unceremoniously out of our comfort zones: We change, or we simply fade away. But things aren't as bleak as that makes them seem: all we need is a little momentum. Momentum is manufactured in the mind – it's not something mystical or outside our control. This week we learn how to harness the power of Emotional Flow; it's like Stoicism on steroids. We also learn how 50 Cent changed the game on the streets, but also in the record industry. Ossified systems couldn't resist his disruptive momentum – and these are lessons we can take into our own lives (with considerably less gun violence, too). It's time to pry open your death-grip from the impossible ambition of controlling everything: the micromanager isn't just the death of business, but also the death of joy. We can't control it all, so we have to learn how to flow with the needs of the moment. This means always challenging your assumptions and to beware those who say they've found the truth. From Leonardo da Vinci to Apple Computers; Nazi war crimes to jazz music; Lady Gaga to hipster vampires, this episode's got it all. Dre also hatches fresh plans to rule his own world, Jon tries to escape his university training, and both of them debate hairstyles of the future. This Episode Includes:
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| The Shaman's Path: Don Howard Lawler Interview | 16 Jun 2017 | 01:52:01 | |
For the last five decades, Don Howard Lawler has been practising shamanism, using his deep knowledge of plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and Huachuma (San Pedro) to heal people's depression, addictions, and to help reconnect them with their purpose and the world around them. Jon's met Don Howard before. Eighteen months ago, he went to SpiritQuest Sanctuary, the shamanic healing centre Don Howard set up in the Peruvian Amazon, and drank Ayahuasca for the first time. The medicine turned his life upside down, but Don Howard was always there to guide the often immensely challenging process with wisdom and deep compassion. As regular listeners know, Jon headed back to SpiritQuest for the second time to learn more, and this time he took a microphone with him. Few people know more than Don Howard about the history, power and practices of plant medicines. With a background in biology and natural sciences, he forms a bridge between the worlds of shamanism and western science, although he's committed to 'shamanising the west', rather than 'westernising shamanism'. Whatever your perspective on psychoactive plants, there's plenty to get your teeth into in this episode. Don Howard also shares his own personal, emotional journey to the plant medicines, from rural Kentucky to the Amazon Rainforest; seeking out Ayahuasca to heal a period of intense depression; and his mission to reconnect us with the rituals and practices – the technology – of our ancestors, whose knowledge of the plants far outstripped our own. At Voices in the Dark, we're 'Learning How to Human'. Or, in Don Howard's words, 'In order to serve, first you have to become fit for service'. What We Get Into:
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| The 50th Law – Part 4: Turn Shit Into Sugar. Opportunism. | 12 Jun 2017 | 01:12:31 | |
Shit is abundant – a near infinite supply of it as available to you at any given moment. But like most things that're easy to come by, it's not what we want or what we value. So how can we transform it into something sweeter? This week we explore how to turn negatives into positives without disappearing up our own asses in a cloud of glitter and new-age platitudes. Instead, we tease out the crucial difference between believing 'everything happens for a reason', and rising to the occasion to turn shitty situations into something better. 'Turning shit into sugar' is Stoicism made real for modern times, pushing us into becoming the venture capitalists of our own life experience. That's how 50 Cent turned nine bullet wounds and a lost record deal into the springboard that launched him to superstardom. Thankfully, you don't need to get shot to do the same in your own life. Opportunism gets a bad rap, but we reveal how this really stems from power structures designed to keep you down. Haven't people always praised ingenuity and the ability to seize the moment? So why does doing it today get labelled 'opportunism', as though you're some dodgy character dedicated to screwing everyone else over? We dive into the archetypes of Greek and Roman and Norse mythology; weigh up whether cramming or planning reaps the best rewards; and ask what kind of intelligence is really the most useful? And there's plenty of time to lay into the stupidity of clinging to 'strong and stable' systems, Donald Trump, and people who go to the gym and do nothing to challenge themselves. This Episode Includes:
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| Ayahuasca and Huachuma Before & After: Back From The Jungle | 08 Jun 2017 | 01:45:12 | |
Eighteen months after Ayahuasca turned his life upside-down, Jon headed back to the jungle to see what would happen this time around. For one thing, this time it was a veritable plant medicine odyssey: Four Ayahuasca ceremonies, one Bobinsana ceremony, three Huachuma ceremonies, and a final, terrifying Vilca ceremony. Recorded the day after he got back to the UK over a ceremonial mapacho 'cigar', we reflect on the experience from Jon's perspective, and Dre breaks down the neurochemistry and psychology of how and why these things unfold. We consider how modern societies screw us up and how plant medicines can reconnect us with the world and with ourselves; we talk about ritual and its place (and absence) in Western life; and we explore what people are really trying to communicate when they say 'everything is love', or 'it's all connected'. Whether it's how to find a way to authentically express yourself, how to avoid bitterness when a life path hits a dead end, or how to overcome your inner critic, there's plenty to get into in this episode. All in all, Jon's come back with a new understanding of his motivations and and purpose in life – and what ultimately drives all of us to choose the paths we follow. This is the only time he's going to talk about these things, too, to avoid fading the memories through repetition. And now for the hard work: integrating the insights and lessons into everyday life, and not just slipping back into familiar patterns... Here goes. Mentioned in the Episode:
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| The 50th Law – Part 3: Make Everything Your Own. Self Reliance. | 05 Jun 2017 | 01:26:23 | |
Who owns you? Think about it. Who controls your time, your work, even your sense of self-worth? If someone else controls any of these things, you're neither free, nor powerful. But breaking those chains is a daunting challenge. For 50 Cent, this was a tale of crack hustling, escaping the vampiric embrace of the record industry, and seizing control of his art and image. But the dynamics at play in all these areas can be related directly – and often pointedly – to the rest of us, too. Making everything your own isn't simply about material possessions. This is about self-ownership and finding the fullest expression of yourself. In this episode, we explore how Robert taps directly into powerful wisdom that's been passed down through ancient philosophies and religions, but which most of us continue to ignore. In the end, we all die alone: we can't live our lives only calibrating our self-worth to the opinion of others. Unless we grow and develop, we stagnate, give up, and lose ourselves. Our uniqueness is our strength, yet we all scurry to fit into society's pigeon holes. We're not talking special snowflakes and being a self-righteous prick, though. Things are more nuanced and complex than that, as we explore. We challenge you to ask: What's the true worst-case scenario if you go All In, and is it really something you couldn't come back from after a few months? Plus: How to be honest with yourself – are you a follower or a creator? Whether pre-nups or start-ups, we explain why you have to make clear agreements and boundaries before you enter any relationship. And why, really, it's fear that stops us from striking out on our own and taking responsibility for what happens next. We unleash the idea of Brain Yoga to unify the body, mind and spirit and cut out the bickering and confusion in ourselves. Jon grapples with the fear of hurling himself out of all safety nets, and Dre opens up about the times he's accidentally ended up working himself to death trying to fulfil other people's dreams. And it's time to get excited for our brand new, fool-proof seduction one-liner... This Episode Includes:
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| Time For A New Politics – Election Special | 02 Jun 2017 | 01:11:45 | |
In this special episode, we sit down with musician, rapper and political activist Kayne Anthony to break down the upcoming UK General Election. Where are British and world politics in 2017? Are we looking at a picture of apathy and chronic social inequality? Or are there glimmers of hope for a new politics to be found in this mess? We ask what can we do, really, to effect change in the modern world; whether going on protest marches changes anything; and if young voters may actually be more conservative than their parents. We argue that critical thinking needs to be taught in schools if we're ever to have an informed electorate, but wonder if music – especially rap – might be the most effective way to get more people thoughtfully engaged in politics. We also dig into race, class and ideological divides and question where they come from and if they even really exist. Don't boundaries always divide us, but can open borders and non-geographical constituencies work? Time to envision a Star Trek-like world in which people live in peace with a sense of comradeship across all divisions... but how can we get from here to there? On top of all this, tune in to find out why Dre thinks that a certain Donald Trump is actually a Good Thing for America, if not the world. Find Kayne Anthony
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| Coronavirus Cast – Laughing in the Dark | 31 Mar 2020 | 00:30:56 | |
We're living through some damn strange times. We wanted to release something to stay connected with you and to share some thoughts on the current Coronavirus crisis and its effects. Jon shares an article he's written about the vital role of humour in helping us to cope with and make sense of crisis, and why all those dark memes you might feel guilty for laughing at are actually essential for keeping us connected and (more or less) sane. Let us know what you'd like to hear right now. Do you have questions, topics, or other ideas that can spur is into recording action! Drop us a line: Get In Touch! Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| The 50th Law – Part 2: Intense Realism | 29 May 2017 | 01:43:29 | |
More than likely, you're living in a dream world. A fabrication. A projection of how you think the world is or should be. And just as likely, the world has a habit of slapping you in the face with something quite different. Time to change things up. Time to start seeing things clearly and fearlessly. In this deep and wide-ranging episode, we explore how to develop the Hustler's Eye: the ability to see things and people how they actually are, rather than how we wish them to be. To do so, we first have to realise our own foibles – 'being yourself' can well be a bad thing if modern society lets us off the hook by accepting shitty character traits, after all. What does it mean to be smart? We dismantle popular ideas of 'intelligence' to get to what really matters. The street savvy hustler often knows far more than any university professor, especially where other people are concerned. Can we trust others at all? And if we don't, how can we live a life that isn't lonely and paranoid? This week we also reflect on the pioneer spirit of America and the increasing urge to escape things we don't like, rather than to face them and push ourselves further. We dig into how to set personal boundaries which benefit everyone, not just ourselves. And we outline Robert's strategies for how to hone and develop the Hustler's Eye in the modern world. Needless to say there's also time to discover why Dre's mum is the 50 Cent of the family; why all jobs make you a whore; the disturbing figure of the rapey intellectual; when Jon changed his name simply to give his employer the finger; and how we must learn and grow from personal betrayals. Oh, and we still call 50 Cent by the wrong name. Sorry. This Episode Includes:
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| The 50th Law – Part 1: Becoming Fearless | 21 May 2017 | 01:31:44 | |
When the hip-hop phenomenon 50 Cent asked to meet Robert Greene after reading his phenomenal bestseller, The 48 Laws of Power, it was only a matter of time before the two collaborated on a project. They immediately found similarities that transcended background and ethnicity – not least, the ability to truly see and analyse the power games that people constantly play and the multifarious ways they manipulate others. 50 Cent came from the violent streets of Southside Queens; he never knew his father and his mother was murdered when he was eight. He rapidly learnt to depend only on himself, and rose from small-time hustling to become a worldwide branding machine with a portfolio ranging from precious metals to platinum albums; clothing lines to videogames; boxing promotions to young adult novels. As Robert puts it, Fifty is the ‘hip-hop Napoleon Bonaparte’. What distinguishes him from everyone else is the core of The 50th Law, and which, as we explore, is also the fullest realisation of Robert’s Laws of Power in action. The 50th Law is all about fearlessness: how to cultivate it, how to embody it, and how to live a life neither afraid, nor merely being brave in spite of some fear. No, the goal is to transcend the need for bravery by becoming fearless in all things. Historical and contemporary examples combine to illustrate deep and vital insights into social psychology and human nature. In this first episode, we dive need into why people are so scared of being themselves and spend so much of their time trying to become someone else… and the price they pay for doing so. We tackle the toxic effects of rolling TV news and obsessing over social media; which vested interests and old business models are ripe for disruption and destruction; and we elucidate the crucial difference between cooperation and outright relying on others. Things get personal, too. We talk about the how the fear of feeling embarrassed holds us back from becoming and expressing ourselves; how Dre overcame fear and reset his shame ‘zero point’ wearing only his underwear; and Jon shares a disturbing personal story of when he was assaulted in Russia. This Episode Includes:
Be Silly. Be Kind. Be Weird. | |||
| Autism is my Superpower - Life On The Spectrum | 18 May 2017 | 01:29:27 | |
We all know someone who’s ‘on the spectrum’. Someone a little weird. Not good with social cues, but passionately (perhaps disturbingly) intense in some other part of their lives. But what do we really know about them and how they see the world? We’re all a lot more comfortable with the idea of Autism these days, but do we really understand what life is like for these people? Not so much… Our very own Autiste, as we shall insist on calling Dre, is on hand to share his personal story, from a late diagnosis to using the excessive focus the condition gives him to study human nature and social psychology. For him the obstacle became the way, and now he’s terrifyingly accurate at reading your thoughts even before you know you’re having them. In this personal but wide-ranging episode, we reflect on our friendship and the ways Autism has affected it; how the closer he feels to someone, the more he comes to forget they’re not actually a part of him and can’t read his mind; and how social norms and ‘common sense’ often shatter against his experience of them. Dre makes a powerful challenge to anyone who claims that Autistic people just don’t try hard enough to integrate into society. In fact, he argues, it’s you who don’t try and instead simply surround yourself with people who think much the same as you do, shielding yourself from ever needing to grapple with alternative perspectives. This is a fascinating and deeply personal journey into Dre’s mind, but also an open challenge to reflect on how we all relate to others and to ourselves. What We Get Into:
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| Law 49 - The Secret Power Principles | Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power | 15 May 2017 | 01:58:42 | |
Now you know the Laws, but which ones should you put into practice first? And what are the underlying themes which bind them together? How can we truly practise the Laws in order to achieve mastery? This is a Special Episode that brings you the most important insights from our in-depth exploration of The 48 Laws of Power AND gives you exclusive access to our new companion book to Robert Greene’s masterpiece. Sensing the spirit of the times is always important and we reveal how to crest the wave of the moment and then get the hell out of the way before the saturation point in which every trend dies. We show how to move beyond crude dualities and learn the ultimate flow-power of being able to simultaneously hold contradictory opinions. This is the next level shit that means you always have room to manoeuvre, no matter what life and other people throw your way. We also dig into psychological tricks like ‘gaslighting’, how to craft charisma and dominate a room; and even how to get people to change their minds by supporting them. In complementary fashion, we untangle the tricks we play on ourselves when we over-promise (even in good faith), the power of keeping your mouth shut, plus the return of #AccidentalPower! There’s also time to beat up heavily on Ned Stark, hear some disturbing revelations about Italian cuisine, and delve into Dre’s plans to defeat his arch-nemesis, Elon Musk. This Episode Includes:
CHALLENGES: Take the knowledge you’ve gleaned from this series and actually go and practise it in real life. Get yourself a copy of our companion book (either by signing up to our mailing list, or buying a copy from the publisher or Amazon, and take the most important steps of your life: the journey towards personal power. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird.Join us as we continue our 48 Laws of Power review, exploring Robert Greene’s provocative and compelling book, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the ‘modern Machiavelli’, we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually. Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they’ve either observed or transgressed them). | |||
| Ayahuasca Before & After: Back To The Jungle | 11 May 2017 | 01:01:48 | |
Almost two years after he first went to the Amazon rainforest to drink the most potent psychedelic known to man, and after his whole life was turned upside-down as a result, Jon's heading right back out there to do it again. We get into the spiritual, the biological, the personal and the philosophical in this episode. There's a psychedelic 'renaissance' underway in modern culture, but what does that really mean for us as individuals? Recorded just the day before boarding his flight to Peru, Dre quizzes Jon on why he's going back, what his expectations are, and what place he thinks psychedelics have for people trying to improve and understand themselves. We break down what Ayahuasca is, how it works, and why people are increasingly downing draughts of this murky, foul-tasting brew, which causes projectile vomiting as well as incredibly powerful insights into our deepest psyches. This time, Jon's also going to drink Huachuma, aka San Pedro, which is a mescaline-based psychoactive medicine drawn from a cactus which grows in the Andes. What's the difference between the two, and why take so many mind-altering substances so close together? All this and plenty more in Part 1... We'll be recording Part 2 as soon as Jon's back from the jungle in a few weeks' time... Mentioned in the Episode:
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| Law 48 - Assume Formlessness | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power | 08 May 2017 | 01:40:03 | |
One Law to bring them all and in the darkness bind them… Yes, it’s time for the final and most crucial Law of Power: Assume Formlessness. Law 48 is all about how to move beyond mechanical repetition of the individual Laws and become a virtuoso performer who flows effortlessly with the needs of the moment, untroubled by countervailing winds. As Robert drives home, nothing can be relied on except the inevitability of change – if we are rigid and unprepared for it, then we will simply shatter. All of life is a battle between order and chaos, but everything interesting happens in the tension between them. Law 48 puts that tension and those moments under the microscope. This week we explore the deep archetypes of human nature that can be seen everywhere from ancient philosophies to comic superheroes; we explain why empires fall and what truly makes a great leader; and why bureaucrats can be so powerful while seeming to be the antithesis of this Law. We also fantasise about their deaths. There are tools and techniques to guide you into formlessness, and we explore the ways psychedelics can remind us of and re-invigorate flow-states; the crucial difference between powerful formlessness and passive ‘going with the flow’; and we reveal how to defeat someone else who’s assumed formlessness. Dre also decides to unleash his Grand Theory of Art on us (Jon disagrees with it); we fuck up trying to understand music theory; and celebrate those who can tell jokes minutes after terrorist attacks. This episode marks the completion of the first step in a much longer journey of social and self-exploration… Tune in next week as we begin the next, even more powerful stage of our evolution. This Episode Includes:
Be silly. Be kind. Be weird. Join us as we continue our 48 Laws of Power review, exploring Robert Greene’s provocative and compelling book, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the ‘modern Machiavelli’, we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually. Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they’ve either observed or transgressed them). | |||
| Law 47 - Do Not Go Past The Mark You Aimed For - In Victory, Learn When To Stop | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power | 01 May 2017 | 01:09:43 | |
We've all done it. At certain times in our lives we've all settled for second best; accepted what we thought we could get, rather than pushing for what we really wanted. But what about the other side of the coin? When you refuse to recognise the victory for what it is and keep on pushing until you've burnt yourself out, alienated people around you, and find yourself left with nothing at all? When the ego comes knocking, Total Victory can seem like a real goal – but is it? Victory can also be the moment of greatest vulnerability, as events shake out and you need quickly to set the agenda for what comes next, before someone else does it for you. In these delicate transitional moments, it's easy to start believing your own hype, which history shows is very much like penning your suicide note... Law 47 centres around the need, above all things, to plan what you intend to do – to respond rather than simply to react in the moment, buffeted by the winds of fate. Do you know where you're trying to get to? Will you even recognise your goal once you've reached it? it's all too easy to imagine an emotional state in place of the tangible victory, and start pouting and whining when you achieve the latter without the former. This Law – presaging the final, 48th Law – emphasises adaptability above all things. Ego must come second: do you want to be right, or do you want to be effective and successful? Most of the time, the two don't go together. As ever, we share our own stories and difficulties with this Law. Dre explains how he's still working to overcome the habit of thinking his goal was closer than it appeared, and not to get sick of something he's working for when it simply takes too long to achieve. Jon wonders about education and whether degrees and qualifications actually matter – especially when they, like other paper goals, end up getting substituted for self esteem. We also explore how to cultivate an awareness of how things are going, rather than falling into nameless anxiety; seeing luck as the Absence of Catastrophe; we advocate more sleep to avoid becoming Margaret Thatcher; and also define the nature of belief... Because, why aim low? This episode includes:
Challenge: Start an argument with somebody on a particular subject... and stop as soon as you get one concession. Don't press beyond that mark and see what happens. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird.Join us as we continue our 48 Laws of Power review, exploring Robert Greene’s provocative and compelling book, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the ‘modern Machiavelli’, we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually. Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they’ve either observed or transgressed them). | |||
| Law 46 - Never Appear Too Perfect | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power | 24 Apr 2017 | 01:20:11 | |
The green demon is among us! Envy is a dangerous affliction and one which we all fall victim to at times. But being a victim is obviously not what we're aiming for here... and if envy is something everyone is susceptible to, how can we make use of it on our journey to power? On the flipside, humility can take you a (very) long way. But in a world dominated by social media and self-promotion, have we forgotten to tone down our virtues for the sake of the long game? Law 46 challenges the cult of the resumé and reminds us to cultivate our sensitivity to insecurities – our own, and the people around us who hold if not the keys, then the locks to our success. This episode delivers a murder-suicide; Jon getting assaulted on the street; how to defuse other people's envy; and how Putin plays two roles at once to maintain his power. We encourage you to affect small vices; avoid falling into hero-worship before it turns to bitter poison; and remember that everyone around you may be just one false step away from losing their shit. In the realm of envy, 'I hate you' is simply a mask for 'your life sounds great' – but how can we avoid making life a rush to the bottom out of insecurity and self-aggrandisement? If the only way you can find to build yourself up is to pull everyone else down, you're not improving at all. You're just a dick. The answers, as ever, lie within. This episode includes:
Challenge: When meeting someone new, affect an imperfection as early as possible – and note the differences compared to when you've tried to talk yourself up. Let us know what happened next! Be silly. Be kind. Be weird.Join us as we continue our 48 Laws of Power review, exploring Robert Greene’s provocative and compelling book, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the ‘modern Machiavelli’, we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually. Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they’ve either observed or transgressed them). | |||
| Law 45 - Preach The Need For Change, But Never Reform Too Much At Once | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power | 17 Apr 2017 | 01:25:38 | |
There is only one constant in life: Change. It destroys, creates, excites... but also terrifies. Most of us, however opened-minded we claim to be, instinctively resist change and prefer to cling to our familiar routines and circles. But creatures of habit are rarely powerful. Law 45 breaks down this inertia: how can we make changes that suit us? How can we overcome the innate, tribal resistance of the people and structures which surround us? Acceptance can come surprisingly quickly if you know how to play the game effectively, and in this episode we reveal the tools you need to do so. From Henry VIII telling the Pope to take a hike to why contemporary America has no real left wing politics, we explore how to make change without being destroyed. We accidentally reveal our own resistance to change when it comes to new social networking gimmicks; explain why it's best to ask for forgiveness rather than permission; and why everything mainstream gets ruined. We get into quite a debate on how scientific and cultural progress can and should happen, and argue that the idea of a 'slippery slope' is relevant, and talk about the terrifying historical examples which continue to repeat into the present day, even as we try to ignore them. With examples from Stalin and Mao to Zuckerberg and Jobs, this is one packed and essential step on the road to power. This episode includes:
Challenge: Seed the idea for change at your workplace, rather than trying to forcibly fix it yourself. Can you get someone else to do the work for you and take the flak? Let us know what happened next! Be silly. Be kind. Be weird.Join us as we continue our 48 Laws of Power review, exploring Robert Greene’s provocative and compelling book, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the ‘modern Machiavelli’, we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually. Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they’ve either observed or transgressed them). | |||
| Law 44 - Disarm And Infuriate With The Mirror Effect | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power | 10 Apr 2017 | 01:15:47 | |
Who's that in the mirror? And what are they trying to do to you? We all calibrate ourselves to the world around us, but if we're not careful we get caught in a hall of mirrors – lost in the warped and warping realities of other people, trapped in their funhouse. The root of all power is to lower people's resistance to you, but that takes time and teaching. The Mirror Effect is the perfect teaching device; the perfect mask; and the perfect weapon when used at the right time. But mirrors, like the Laws themselves, are tools – and we can learn how to use them. Law 44 is a difficult one to get your head around, but we untangle it in this episode and lay out the core principles you need to use it effectively and protect yourself when it's used against you. We explore Dre's tales of when The Ugliness Mirror was used on him, and what he learnt in the process. We reveal the hidden messages in other people's body-language, and how to craft your own to convey the message you want others to react to. Group dynamics are also a key factor when using the Mirror Effect: who can and should you be in any given context? What are 'idiocultures' and how do they underlie all our social groupings? We also explore Jon's skills in translating you back to yourself... and how you can use those same skills to get people to think how you want them to. And Jon comes clean about his dysfunctional relationship with cake – and why it's all everybody else's fault. This episode includes:
Challenge: Deploy the mirror effect! Use the Ugliness Mirror to reveal other people's bad behaviour to them... Did they pick up on it? What happened next? Let us know! Be silly. Be kind. Be weird.Join us as we continue our 48 Laws of Power review, exploring Robert Greene’s provocative and compelling book, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the ‘modern Machiavelli’, we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually. Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they’ve either observed or transgressed them). | |||
| The Laws of Human Nature 6: Why Are You Always Dissatisfied? | 08 Feb 2020 | 01:26:56 | |
In this episode, Robert Greene forces us to confront our inherently covetousness nature: we always want what we don't have. And yet, if we do get those things, we rapidly fall out of love with them. Why does possessing something make our enjoyment of it fade? Why is the grass always greener on the other side, no matter how often we jump back and forth over the fence? Jon has experienced a lot of this recently. Nomadically wandering the globe was often stressful and demanding, and he found himself longing for stability and being closer to his friends. But, just a few months after settling back into the UK, he finds himself looking back at rose-tinted memories of life on the road. Context changes everything: the parts of us which are undernourished in any setting start to shout the loudest for attention. Is there a way to balance these competing desires? But this is about more than wanting physical things. We also do this with people! It's easy to become taken for granted if you make yourself too available to others; if you lay all your cards on the table; or if you act 100% predictably all the time. It's time to change things up and become more mysterious and elusive. This Law of Human Nature is closely connected to several of the 48 Laws of Power: Law 4: Always Say Less Than Necessary, Law 8: Make Other People Come to You – Use Bait if Necessary, and Law #16: Use Absence to Increase Respect & Honour. We humans just can't seem to help ourselves – when something seems scarce or just out of sight, we clamour to possess it, to unlock its mysteries. But what if being mysterious and playing games just isn't your nature? What if we're so bombarded these days by people being either ultra mysterious or ultra vulnerable that we're forgetting something crucial. We need to be more sensitive to context: tricks and tips about being mysterious and distant might work if you're playing networking or seduction games, but they are far less effective if you're trying to build deep interpersonal bonds. Doing a vanishing act and refusing to open up can be toxic for friendships, and, in truth, not even that good for business relationships (especially when dealing face-to-face). Ultimately, our innate covetousness – our desire for change and for more – can be harnessed for good. It can drive us to grow, to learn, to have new experiences and use our imaginations as a springboard into the future. The danger is that we just keeping looking for change and never enjoy what we have when we receive it People often say that, after climbing some kind of mountain in your life you realise it's lonely at the top. But wait a minute – what actually happens when you climb a mountain is an incredible, exhilarating sense of achievement and peace as you stop to take in the view. The trick is not to think about the next mountain, but to take the time to appreciate where you are, here and now. Also Including:
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| Law 43 - Work On The Hearts And Minds Of Others | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power | 03 Apr 2017 | 01:25:12 | |
Coercion is a dirty word; manipulation no better. But that's what social life is all about, down at its very core: we're all trying to get people to see our point of view, to join forces in some fashion, whether it's building a world-changing company or just going to the cinema together. Brute force doesn't do the job, or certainly not for long. So how can we win people over effectively, and without the stench of coercion blighting our attempts? Law 43 answers these questions and much more besides. Drawing together the threads of many of the previous Laws, this is a powerful exploration into the heart of emotional intelligence and how to calibrate yourself effectively to the world and people around you. Along with Robert's historical examples, we highlight the ways in which Hillary Clinton transgressed this Law in her failed run for the presidency; just how deeply Facebook is controlling your mind; and why people get so mixed up about love and seduction. We also overthrow the idea that millennials are entitled pricks; compare notes on our respective parental conditioning (which turns out to be a story of polar opposites); and unpick the myth of Steve Jobs. There's also time to hear Dre's tales of early sexual dramas, and discuss the unhinged world of pun-based porn movies... This episode includes:
Challenge: Pause. Breathe. And try to see where the other person is coming from. Then construct your plans around that: how can you win them over on their terms? Be silly. Be kind. Be weird.Join us as we continue our 48 Laws of Power review, exploring Robert Greene’s provocative and compelling book, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the ‘modern Machiavelli’, we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually. Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they’ve either observed or transgressed them). | |||
| Release Into Now: Cory Allen Interview | 30 Mar 2017 | 01:26:47 | |
Cory Allen is a man of many parts: musician, producer, podcaster, meditation expert, philosopher... and now a full-time Professional Cory. He's gathered a huge audience for his work, but his driving force continues to be the simple/complex mission to Reduce Suffering and Raise Awareness. But what exactly does that mean in everyday life, away from the meditation cushion? Jon caught up with Cory in Austin, Texas, to find out. The result was a deep, fun, and enriching conversation about what it means to be human. We talked about love, sex, and death; the tension between our often stress-making animal natures and our mental capacity to find lasting peace; and how we can grow and change without simply disowning parts of our self. We explore the profound difference between emotional and intellectual understanding, how other people see you through the lens of their own TV Sitcom, and when spirituality and meditation just end up turning you into a vegetable. Resistance is a factor in all our lives, but how can we experience is as something more than an enemy? Do we need to have an audience for our lives, or is that egotistical indulgence? And how far can we overcome the warping effect of subjectivism? If that wasn't enough, we compare art to acts of friendship, explain why we need to let go in order to have anything... and tell you to go on dates with people you find obnoxious . What We Get Into:
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| Law 42 - Strike The Shepherd And The Sheep Will Scatter | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power | 27 Mar 2017 | 01:27:17 | |
Bad apples, shit-stirrers and fifth-columnists. It only takes one to disrupt and destroy your power, but how can you spot and remove them before it's too late? Purging, banishment, shame and rebellion – Law 42 explores the enormous power of isolation and exile, but it's frequently more complicated than it seems to put into practice. How can you keep people on side without pandering to their whims, and how can you dethrone a power-player without fostering an eventual counterstrike? This episode we get controversial. We get into a tense debate about whether mercy can ever be a tool of power; why prison systems always undermine their own goals; and why democracy means representation, but not the rule of the people. Jon's got plenty of examples from authoritarian Russia, but just how distant are they from our own 'democratic' systems? He rants about why he left his union while simultaneously thinking unions are a Very Good Thing; Dre reveals his grand plan for redesigning government from the ground up, before promoting strike action... and saying he would've crushed Gandhi. Are you ready for this one? This episode includes:
Challenge: Push the negative person out of your group; don't invite them to the party and see just how much of a better time everyone has. Allow others to realise the benefits of that person's absence... and see their toxic power diminish. Let us know what happened next...! Be silly. Be kind. Be weird.Join us as we continue our 48 Laws of Power review, exploring Robert Greene’s provocative and compelling book, in which he lays bare the history, practice, psychology, and philosophies of power that ultimately shape all human relations. Often seen as a handbook for the ‘modern Machiavelli’, we take a closer look, beyond the hyperbole, and discuss how understanding and implementing these Laws can actually enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually. Jon and Dre aim to get to the heart of each of the Laws, grapple with their sometimes disturbingly amoral nature, and discuss what the Laws mean in everyday life (often revealing their own experiences – good and bad – when they’ve either observed or transgressed them). | |||