Episodes

  • Episode: Yana Skorstengaard
    Jul 2 2021

    Woah, this episode was great. Yana (She/they) is currently finishing their masters and moving into their Phd, and her research focuses on dance programs in women's prisons. This podcast is HUGE, we talked about everything from riding the bus to prison abolition, and we got deep into both subjects and all the stuff in between. Yana has graciously provided a drive with resources for those interested in prison reform and what they discussed in this episode, you can find that here. I referenced a couple of death row inmates, one is Jarvis J Masters, who has spent 30 years on death row for a crime he did not commit. You can learn more about him by visiting https://www.freejarvis.org/ or checking out the book The Buddhist on Death Row by David Sheff. I also referenced Tookie Williams, who while on death row became a powerful anti-gang advocate, and was unfortunately put to death in 2005. I misspoke when I said that he had committed the crimes he was executed for, I had confused him with another death row inmate I was also reading up on at the time. Williams maintained his innocence until his death and that fact is important in any discussion of the death penalty, and its important to include it in any discussion of his life. You can read more about Tookie's life in "Blue Rage, Black Redemption: A Memoir".

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    2 hrs and 10 mins
  • Episode 8: Billy Hepper
    May 5 2021

    This episode was A LOT of fun to work on. Billy (he/him) is someone I am always excited to hear from. We talked about the magic of books and using books as an escape, Initiation, Freemasonry, the importance of authentic Tradition, the practice of Virtue and ethics, the dangers of conspiracism and the holistic discipline of self improvement of mind and body. The biggest subject we talk about is Freemasonry, which I know nothing about, and Billy was gracious enough to run with my weird questions and really give a comprehensive view of what he gets from it.

    Links: Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon website: https://freemasonry.bcy.ca/ Mount Hermon Lodge No. 7 (my lodge): https://hermon7.ca/ Freemasonry: A Journey Through Ritual and Symbol by W. Kirk MacNulty Angel Millar: www.angelmillar.com YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt1KUBeGisBawNuH3ksnIRQ Book: 'The Three Stages of Initiatic Spirituality: Craftsman, Warrior, Magician': https://www.amazon.ca/Three-Stages-Initiatic-Spirituality-Craftsman/dp/1620559323 Billy's music: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/billy-hepper Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7mVDkK8695GDxchGKOPOrf
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Episode 7: Sigmund Amadeus Werndorf
    Mar 30 2021

    This episode I sit down with Sigmund Amadeus Werndorf and we talk cheese, conspiracy theories, and anti-vaxxers. We talk about some neat historical facts, the ancient aliens theory's ties to nazi Germany, and whether you can really know what you know. Quick content warning: We talk about anti-Semitic conspiracy's, and the medical trauma of black and indigenous communities. Some key links: Emma’s website - http://www.emmawent.com

    Emma’s podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/0SKHIhMOXbaM0gdGpFhddh

    Jess’s Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/jessfinley/posts

    Hubert Dryfus - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20707665-skillful-coping

    Swami Vivekananda in Thousand Islands Park - https://www.swamivivekananda.guru/portfolio-items/thousand-island-park/

    Sigmund isn't really that present on social media, but you can email him on Sigmund.proxy@gmail.com

    LHAMAS' (Sigmund's historical european martial arts group) FB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057482288028 NOTE: I reference the Oakland buddha as being erected in the 70's, but it was actually put up in the 90's. Both of those time periods were 30 years ago right? Thats what it feels like :)

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    1 hr and 32 mins
  • Episode 6: Tiffany Rae
    Feb 27 2021

    Content warning: discussion of pregnancy loss and trauma, mention of sexual assault Hey folks, Welcome to episode six, me and Tiffany discuss trauma and healing, the loss of her son, and the importance of balancing joy and grief. We talk about how science can be liberating, forest bathing, and her plans for the future. We talk about religion, and when your faith loses you. We talk cosmologies, what really matters and how elephants worship the moon (See notes below). This was a great episode, and was an opportunity to talk with one of my oldest friends about our respective and somewhat convergent journeys. LINKS:

    Tiffany's links are: IG @sufjana.moon (personal) @driftwoodandjuniper (cabin/art) FB Tiffany Rae Sufjana People mentioned: Fey Wolf shamanic healer @fey.wolf Mary DeJung eco theologian & rewilding mentor @waymarkers Estelle Thomson http://www.estellethomson.com/ https://www.instagram.com/estelle.thomson/ Notes - I use the term "cosmology" and neglected to mention I am using this in the historic sense, a method of explaining how the universe came to be, versus the modern field of astrophysics. It makes sense in context but I wanted to clarify - Got to own this: I reference elephants worshipping the moon which it turns out (despite being referenced in academic work) is not validated, however other seeming religious behaviors have been observed in animals, including funeral practices https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_behavior_in_animals
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Mini Episode 1: Mini episodes and you!
    Feb 22 2021

    Just a short one in which I talk about why I am making mini episodes, what I want to do here, and why I am grateful for this connection with you during these pandemic times.

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    6 mins
  • Episode 5: Claire Wemyss
    Jan 30 2021

    This episode is got really deep on harm reduction, self care, anger and the census. We talk about things that made us cry, finding space for anger and joy, and giving people space to be mischievous. Claire (She/her) is an ADHD coach, martial arts teacher and owner of two obnoxious cats. Relevant links The Canadian Anti-Hate Network Lama Rod Owens Dolly Parton on BLM Harm Reduction Rogue Fencing Fear Is The Mind Killer- Kaja Sadowski Zen Mind, Beginners Mind- Shunryu Suzuki

    Claire's coaching website

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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • Episode 4: Boots
    Dec 31 2020

    CW: This episode talks a lot about bodies, diet culture and medical discrimination. This episode was a long time coming, but I was so glad to finally be able to bring it to you. I talk to the awesome Boots, who uses they/them pronouns. In this episode we talk about healthism, "What can a body do?", and how images of non-normative bodies can be liberating or threatening. I also get to talk octopuses and 'nice' Buddhism, which are two of my favorite topics to ramble on. We discuss Giles Deleuze, Judith Butler, Lama Rod Owens, Sunaura Taylor and Sonya Renee Taylor.

    Examined Life (2008) a doc film by Astra Taylor, featuring a conversation between artist & disability activist Sunaura Taylor, and philosopher & gender theorist Judith Butler. "What Can a Body Do?" essay by Gilles Deleuze in his book, Expressionism in Philosophy: Spinoza (1990) (originally published in French in 1968) The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love (2018), book by artist, author & activist Sonya Renee Taylor. Love and Rage (2020), book by Lama Rod Owens, buddhist teacher, author and activist: https://www.lamarod.com/

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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • Episode 2: Shanna
    Sep 18 2020

    In this episode, I chat with Shanna Zak (She/her). We talk about childhood, trauma, the inherent dignity of all people, and the time Frederick Douglass spoke to a meeting of Suffragettes. We also chat about the wonderful world of amoebas, the kindness of friends, and the very real and tangible ways you can get involved with your community. This podcast touches a lot of topics, so here's a few of the things we referenced in case you want to look into them yourself: The Body Keeps The Score Tara Brach Carl Linnaeus and the Genus Chaos The Woman’s Rights Convention held at Seneca Falls in 1848, where Frederick Douglass spoke

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    1 hr and 3 mins