Explore every episode of the podcast The Mediocre Observer (Podcast)
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| YOU'RE BREATHING WRONG (and other useful observations) - Melissa Chereau talks about finding serenity in a challenging political climate without disengaging! | 25 Feb 2025 | 01:27:17 | |
Our friend, Melissa Chureau, former state prosecutor, purpose and mindset coach, mindfulness teacher, practicing lawyer, and the host of The Fully Mindful podcast brings her 25 years of personal mindfulness practice, her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law, and her a B.A. in English Literature from U.C. Berkeley to explain that we aren't great at breathing. *She's not wrong* We talk about staying sane in a challenging political climate. And, how to maintain health and serenity, while remaining engaged and politically active. CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS | |||
| TRANSference (Transphobia and the Scapegoating of Trans People) - Alyssa Ann Beall Talks Transitioning and Navigating a Hateful, Transphobic Climate | 05 Nov 2024 | 01:06:50 | |
Friend of the pod, Alyssa Ann Beall, co-founder of the People Too Alliance, and out trans woman, talks about her experience coming to her age of awareness, transitioning, and some of the barriers and hate she's encountered. CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS | |||
| F**k Thy Neighbor! - We go FULL SWAP, talking ENM when a friend of the pod "swings" by! | 18 Sep 2023 | 01:09:12 | |
I am joined by a member of "the lifestyle" to talk about ethical non-monogamy. We explore the risks and rewards of opening up your relationship. We talk about cucking, sucking, and f**king. We talk insecurity, jealousy, and the pleasure to be found in watching your partner pleasure (or get pleasured by) someone else. OPENING UP: A GUIDE TO CREATING AND SUSTAINING OPEN RELATIONSHIPS BY TAORMIND
CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS Cover photo by Annie Spratt, courtesy of Unsplash | |||
| Your Brain Hurts My Brain - Dr. Andrea Liner (the Breakup Doc) - Clinical Psychologist stops by the pod to talk about critical thinking in America. | 30 Jun 2023 | 01:31:01 | |
I am joined by Dr. Andrea Liner (the Breakup Doc), Clinical Psychologist, to talk about what's wrong with America's brain! We spitball on critical thinking among our electorate and how it manifests in dating and relationships. We talk about the dumbing down of America, the role of religion in critical thinking, and common errors in thinking and how to avoid them. BREAKUP, DATING, AND RELATIONSHIP COACHING WITH DR. ANDREA LINER APPLY FOR COACHING OR THERAPY WITH DR. ANDREA LINER FOLLOW DR. ANDREA LINER ON INSTAGRAM MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT WITH DR. ANDREA LINER SCHEDULE FREE CONSULTATION WITH DR. ANDREA LINER CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS | |||
| Chronic Master Dater - Jenn Culbert - A friend stops by the pod to talk about dating in the digital age! | 15 Jun 2023 | 01:40:55 | |
I am joined by Jenn Culbert, my insightful, funny, thoughtful friend, to talk about dating in America in the digital age. We talk about being catfished, how awful texting is, people that don't know how calendars work, and misleading profiles. We discuss the fire hose of humanity that is online dating - how the inability of so many to think critically plays into imagined concerns about giving out phone numbers and so much more. BLOCKED - HOW YOU BECAME DISPOSABLE CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER Photo by Mindy Sabiston courtesy of Unsplash | |||
| F**k The Police? - Amanda Marshall - Former Federal Prosecutor Talks About Defunding And Abolishing The Police | 14 May 2023 | 01:30:13 | |
I am joined once again by Amanda Marshall, former Oregon Department of Justice Prosecutor, Obama appointed US Attorney for the District of Oregon, currently in private practice offering criminal defense and civil litigation services. We talk about the push for police abolition and the validity of the movement, the violent nature of policing, and the violence it perpetrates and perpetuates. THE BOOK NO MORE POLICE A CASE FOR ABOLITION CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER MARSHALL ADVOCACY CENTER (CONTACT AMANDA) SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER (CIVIL RIGHTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ADVOCATES) Cover photo by Sean Lee courtesy of Unsplash | |||
| A War On Black People - Amanda Marshall - America's War On Drugs is a War On Black People and Hippies - A talk with a former Federal Prosecutor. | 13 May 2023 | 01:25:48 | |
I am joined today by Amanda Marshall, former Oregon Department of Justice Prosecutor, Obama appointed US Attorney for the District of Oregon, and currently in private practice offering criminal defense and civil litigation services. We talk about the origins of America's fake and failed war on drugs. We riff on mass incarceration. We talk about the efficacy of treating drug addiction with handcuffs. We talk decriminalization. And she shares with me what her favorite drug is and why she appreciates the creative criminal exploits of meth addicts. | |||
| Oh, F**k Me! - Claire Doré - Author, Writer, Entrepreneur, and Coach joins me to talk about sex! Kinks, boundaries, self-pleasure, and shaking any guilt and shame surrounding it! | 31 Mar 2023 | 01:04:08 | |
I am joined today by Claire Doré, Author, Writer, Entrepreneur, and Coach. She talks with us about her upcoming book about her own sexual liberation and what she's learned and observed in the process. We talk about kinks, boundaries, communication, finding your voice, asking for what you want, learning your body, and enjoying the tremendous pleasure found in shaking loose the restrictions we adopt through religion, society, relationships, or our own old ideas. Wild Soul Business Facebook Group
| |||
| Maybe I'm Just Fat - Ashley Carlotta - Founder and Coach at Better Health By Accountability speaks on healthy eating, obesity, self-image, and how she developed body issues at age 6 | 28 Sep 2022 | 00:54:31 | |
I am joined today by Ashley Carlotta, Founder, Owner, and Health Coach at Better Health by Accountability. Ashley talks about body image issues and how we develop them. We talk about the culture shift towards celebrating people for being comfortable with bodies they shouldn't be comfortable with. I try to get attention for running a half marathon. We address many of the factors contributing to America's obesity problem. And she talks about how to get started. Learn more about Ashley Carlotta or schedule a consult at the link below. And you can always contact The Mediocre Observer with questions or input. We are happy to help. | |||
| Hiking the PCT - Ricki Silber - Thru-hiker, doctoral student, and Spiritual Coach speaks on hiking the PCT, living in Israel, being stalked by a mountain lion, and food delivery. | 19 Sep 2022 | 01:21:21 | |
I am joined today by Ricki Silber. Ricki is a bonafide thru-hiker who's completed the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada as well as other epic trails. She moved from New Jersey to Israel when she was 18 where she lived for 10 years. She is a spiritual coach specializing in helping people align their lives with their environments (or align their environment with their lives). She incorporates what she has learned in her travels and her communion with nature to help people. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in ecopsychology. Ricki shares her experience on the PCT, talks about living in Israel, we touch on religion, she draws the parallel between hiking and EMDR therapy. And I ask her what valuable lessons she learned on the trail that she applies to her life when back in the city. Learn more about Ricki Silber or schedule a consult at the link below. And you can always contact The Mediocre Observer with questions or input. We are happy to help. AWAKE THETA HEALING CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER | |||
| You're Dying - Erin Merelli - This TEDx speaker and Death Doula, talks about death and dying. We rap about the hereafter and find out who she'd most like to employ her services on. | 10 Aug 2022 | 00:49:59 | |
Death Doula Erin Merelli stops by the pod to share her insights on dying - people grappling with lifelong beliefs, talking to the dead, America's culture of death aversion, and how to speak to someone who is terminal. Please click the link below to get more information about death doulas from Erin Merelli's organization. And you can always contact The Mediocre Observer with questions or input. We are happy to help. | |||
| Take My Rights, Please! - Melissa Chureau - Former State Prosecutor, mother, and host of The Fully Mindful Podcast speaks on civil rights, SCOTUS, and her close relationship with Tupac. | 08 Aug 2022 | 01:21:32 | |
I am joined today by Melissa Chureau. Melissa is a former prosecutor, a mother, a woman, a voter, host of the podcast The Fully Mindful. We talk about life, getting and staying grounded, the current state and trajectory of the Supreme Court as it removes abortion rights protections and rolls back Miranda protections. Please click the links below to get involved. And you can always contact The Mediocre Observer with questions or input. We are happy to help. THE FULLY MINDFUL PODCAST VOTE SAVE AMERICA CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER Episode cover art by Stephanie Valencia | |||
| The Good Book And The Damage Done - Clint Heacock, Author, PhD, Podcast Host Talks Deconstruction and Reconstruction After Abandoning Christianity | 02 Sep 2024 | 01:08:57 | |
Author, and host of the Dismantling Doctrine podcast Clint Heacock returns to the pod to talk about his book "Not So Shiny Not So Happy People, How Bill Gothard, Church, and Family Taught Me Christianity Doesn't Work." Clint talks about turning away from a lifetime of studying and sharing the gospel in favor of an atheistic ideology. After earning a PhD in theology, becoming an elder in the church, teaching at a bible college, being a respected pastor, Clint ultimately came to find the belief system he had been propagating irreconcilable with reality. He deconstructed and reconstructed. He shares some of the revelations of the damage the church wrought on his young psyche and how he got out. NOT SO SHINY NOT SO HAPPY PEOPLE (THE BOOK) CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS | |||
| The King's Court - Former US Attorney Amanda Marshall Indicts the SCOTUS Presidential Immunity Ruling! | 19 Aug 2024 | 01:43:27 | |
Former US Attorney, Amanda Marshall returns to the pod to try and make sense of the presidential immunity ruling handed down by the US Supreme Court. She tells a great story about Kamala Harris going to the mat to protect the people she serves. And, she walks us through what led to the reversal of Oregon's drug decriminalization efforts (Measure 110). US SUPREME COURT DECISION (Presidential Immunity) ACLU STATEMENT ON IMMUNITY RULING NPR ON OREGON'S DECRIMINALIZATION RESULTS MARSHALL ADVOCACY CENTER (CONTACT AMANDA) CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS | |||
| Thinking Not Required! - AI Leader Elyse Maloni is Prompted to Generate the Risks and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence! | 30 Jul 2024 | 01:18:39 | |
Elyse Maloni, leader in AI Operations at PanasonicWELL, stops by the pod to lament the end of human creativity! We discuss likely job disruptions and displacements caused by AI but soothe ourselves, remembering that militarized superintelligence will be the death of us all, anyhow! THE NEURON (newsletter) THE IMPACT OF THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION ON THE BRAIN & BEHVIOR (NIH article) HOW GENERATIVE AI CAN AUGMENT HUMAN CREATIVITY (HBR article) ANDREW NG'S COURSERA OPTIONS (mostly free & approachable for anyone who wants to learn how to use & apply AI) CONCERNING AI (podcast) Links to popular AI models for people to experiment with (if so inclined): OPENAI (ChatGPT) GEMINI (Google) COPILOT (Microsoft) CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS | |||
| Analyze This (Intercepted Communication)! - Intelligence Analyst and Chief Warrant Officer Jon Molik takes a break from monitoring my Facebook activity to talk Israel, Ukraine, and data collection! | 28 May 2024 | 01:25:43 | |
Intelligence Officer, Former Narcotics Investigator, and Host of the podcast Headlines and History, Jon Molik taps into our Zoom call to share some historical context on the Israeli Palestinian conflict. After reciting my Google search history, he puts us at ease about government surveillance of US Citizens and explains the FISA warrant process. We discuss Putin and the differences in dealing with rational vs non-rational heads of state. As a Senior Intelligence Warrant Officer in the New York Army National Guard and former Organized Crime Investigator in the New York State Attorney General’s Office, he sheds light on the inner workings of our intelligence and criminal investigatory bodies. Grab your security clearance badge and meet us in the SCIF for a great talk! HEADLINES AND HISTORY YOUTUBE CHANNEL CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS | |||
| The Hussle of Flow (Examining the Renewable Energy Lift) - We go off-grid as US Department of Energy's Steve Bruno lights up the pod with his take on dictatorships and the problem with whales! | 14 May 2024 | 01:23:12 | |
Lewis and Clark College grad (History major) turned Baltimore Maryland City Planner turned US Department of Energy Sustainability Expert, and former high school student Steve Bruno stops by the pod for an illuminating discussion of all things energy policy. We walk through our divided political climate, disinformation, advances in sustainable energy, and we're left slightly more optimistic about the future of mankind. Slightly. OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY GLOBAL MONITORING LABAROTORY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH GLOBAL MONITORING LABORATORY BASICS OF THE CARBON CYCLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND SINKS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CLIMATE CHANGE INDICATORS US ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION GREENHOUSE GASSES AND THE CLIMATE US ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT EXPLAINED CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS | |||
| Losing My Religion - Doctor of Theology, Author, and Podcast Host, Clint Heacock Shares "God Isn't Real" and Other Holiday Conversation Starters! | 13 Nov 2023 | 01:16:40 | |
Former Pastor and church Elder Clint Heacock stops by the pod to talk about how his lifelong pursuit, study, and practice of his faith ultimately led him to abandon it. We talk about the damage religion is doing to our planet and the people on it. He shoots a couple holes in Noah's ark and explains why I probably shouldn't own Hebrew slaves (even if the bible tells me I can). Clint holds a PhD in Theology from the University of Chester, hosts The Mindshift Podcast, and is currently writing a book called Baptism, Third Time’s a Charm (My Story of Deconversion from Christianity). CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS | |||
| Discrimination Nation! - Attorney Amanda Bruss Talks About SCOTUS Green Lighting Discrimination Against Protected Classes! | 22 Oct 2023 | 01:13:00 | |
America is OPEN FOR BUSINESS (no gays, no blacks, no Jews)! I am joined by Attorney Amanda Bruss who offers her insights and concerns about the US Supreme Court's decision allowing a Colorado web designer to refuse services to gay couples. We discuss the the 303 Creative Case, the trajectory of the court, and the role religion plays in politics. CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS | |||
| Texting is Trash and So Are You! - A Bite-Sized Pod Examining America's Fixation on Texting and the Drawbacks of Communicating in Cartoons. | 30 Sep 2023 | 00:32:39 | |
In this bite-sized pod, we examine how texting might contribute to the devolution of communication in America. We discuss why Americans are demanding reductive communications. We try to decide what the best emoji is to convey, "I'm terrified to have an actual conversation." Chat and text can be useful but are their overuse driving us apart? CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS Cover photo by Asterfolio, courtesy of Unsplash | |||