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Join Mike and Doug as they dive into the magic of the holiday season, faith crises, and the beauty of creative expression. From writing Christmas songs to discussing the themes of the movie Heretic, this episode takes listeners on a journey through existential questions, love, and the power of finding meaning. Plus, they introduce the first snippets of their quirky and heartfelt Christmas music project.

Show Notes:

• Holiday Magic & Music:
  • Mike shares his prolific streak, writing 25 minutes of Christmas songs with themes ranging from cozy nostalgia to solstice-inspired rebirth.
  • Doug introduces the playful anthem "Ho Ho Ho Hosanna," setting the tone for their holiday album.
• Themes from Heretic:
  • Exploring the psychology of faith crises and existential dread.
  • The metaphors of descent, transformation, and rebirth in the film.
  • The symbolic role of love and survival as guiding principles.
• Creative Flow vs. Performance:
  • Struggles with authenticity when sharing music on platforms like TikTok.
  • Balancing the joy of creation with the pressures of performance and visibility.
• Connection to Archetypes:
  • Tying holiday traditions back to their ancient, archetypal roots.
  • The solstice as a time of hope and renewal amid the darkest days.
• Listener Engagement:
  • Updates on the "Mormons on Mushrooms Underground" newsletter.
  • Teasing a live episode and ways to stay connected.
• Special Endings:
  • Stay tuned for clips of their original Christmas songs!

Enjoy this festive and thought-provoking episode filled with laughter, reflection, and a sprinkle of holiday cheer.

Mike and Doug dive into a candid conversation exploring themes of chaos, music, and the rising feminine energy in today’s world as well as the wild dance of the human experience, holding space for both the serious and the playful.

Highlights:

• Divine Feminine Rising: Mike shares a oncert experience that led to a deep connection with feminine energy, including an encounter with the goddess Hecate.
• Reconnecting with Prayer: Mike talks about rediscovering prayer, not as a religious ritual but as a way to ground himself and send love to the people in his life.
• Embracing Community: We’re excited to keep Mormons on Mushrooms underground, and we’re building a close-knit, lo-fi network to keep our listeners connected without all the noise of mainstream platforms.
• Reflecting on the Election: We reflect on some hard truths we have learned about ourselves this past week.

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Mike and Doug dive deep into the emotional whirlwind of the recent election results, expressing their frustrations, disappointments, and hopes for the future. They navigate complex topics like voter turnout, the power of social media echo chambers, and how political figures shape—and sometimes divide—our perceptions.

Key Topics:

1. Election Reflections:
   • The impact of voter turnout and explores why many eligible voters stayed home this election.
   • Doug vents his frustrations about the current political climate, particularly about how the media and social media algorithms feed polarized views.
   • Kamala Harris’s campaign and the barriers faced by women and people of color in politics.
2. Echo Chambers and Social Media:
   • Mike opens up about getting swept into TikTok's echo chambers and reflects on how quickly it feeds confirmation bias.
   • The importance of staying aware of these digital bubbles, how they influence emotions, and their role in elections.
3. Tripping with Men:
   • The importance of spaces for men to connect, find camaraderie, and be wild.
   • Sometimes, all we need is a safe space to let it all out, to howl at the moon, and reconnect with ourselves and each other

Mike and Doug catch up after a break, covering everything from luggage durability tests to the strange world of TikTok rabbit holes. They dive into echo chambers, politics leading up to the election, and the odd realities of air travel.

Highlights:

• Doug’s quest for the toughest carry-on luggage.
• Mike’s deep dive into TikTok, from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to political spirals.
• The value of stepping out of echo chambers, and how air travel forces us to interact with different people.
• A chat on Trump, Kamala, the election landscape and feeling like elitists.
• Mike’s reflections on freedom after losing their Mormons on Mushrooms Instagram account.

Mike is joined by Ann Amberg, M.C.S., M.A., depth psychology & ecopsychological scholar, and visionary guide, to explore how reconnecting with the Earth and its archetypal forces can transform our relationship with ourselves and the world around us. They dive into the erotic nature of the Earth, the power of longing, and the archetypal patterns that shape both personal and collective experiences.

Ann invites us to embrace the archetypal forces of Eros and Allurement, revealing how our culture's disconnection from nature has left us emotionally unfulfilled and spiritually disconnected. The conversation touches on everything from mythical understandings of Eros to practical ways of reconnecting with nature and the cosmos.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• The erotic nature of the Earth and the concept of Eros as gravity and attraction
• Archetypal patterns and their influence on both personal and collective experiences
• How to connect with nature through praise, deep imagery, and somatic practices
• Ann’s upcoming year-long immersion program, Powers of the Universe, exploring archetypal forces in a ritualistic and interactive format
• Reflections on longing, belonging, and the cultural disconnection from nature

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Powers of the Universe by Dr. Brian Swimme
• The role of ritual in eco-psychology and how archetypal awareness can heal our disconnection from the Earth
• Jungian concepts of the self, longing, and the collective unconscious as they relate to our connection with nature

Connect with Ann Amberg: Ann’s work centers on providing transformative depth learning experiences and eco-psychological guidance. To learn more about her upcoming program or work with her one-on-one, visit:

AnnAmberg.com

Instagram: @annlevallyamberg

This episode is also available on YouTube

Mike is joined by Stephanie Brinkerhoff and Kelli Christine for a heartfelt and insightful discussion about their personal journeys out of Mormonism, the healing power of psychedelics, and navigating the complex emotions that come with deconstructing religious belief systems.

They explore topics like spiritual bypassing, the importance of embracing grief and anger, and how these raw emotions can lead to deeper self-understanding and growth. The conversation sheds light on the tension between wanting to leave the past behind and the continual process of healing from religious trauma.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Stephanie's and Kelli’s individual journeys of leaving Mormonism and how psychedelics helped them through their transitions.
• The concept of spiritual bypassing and why avoiding difficult emotions can block true healing.
• The role of anger and grief in personal growth, and how to honor these emotions rather than suppress them.
• How Mormonism’s focus on "happiness" as a measure of success can perpetuate emotional suppression.
• The importance of internal family systems (IFS) and parts work in healing from religious trauma.
• Breaking free from external validation and finding an authentic sense of self.

Notable Quotes:

• "I realized I've been giving myself love this whole time—I just thought it was Mormon God." – Stephanie
• "We have to be in that gestation period, in the cocoon, and trust that process before we can emerge on the other side." – Mike
• "Our souls want full participation in the human experience, and that includes both pleasure and pain." – Kelli

Recommended Resources:

• The Soul’s Code by James Hillman
• Perfect Love, Imperfect Relationships by John Wellwood (coined the term "spiritual bypassing")
• Francis Weller’s teachings on grief and the full spectrum of human experience.

Connect with Us: Follow Mormons on Mushrooms for more insights and episodes on spirituality, psychedelics, and life after leaving Mormonism:

• Instagram: @MormonsOnMushrooms
• Website: MormonsOnMushrooms.com
• YouTube: @MormonsOnMushrooms

Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with others who may benefit from these conversations!

Mike and Doug dive deep into the daily struggle of self-perception—are you a badass Samurai Warrior or... a Horny Santa Claus? Mike shares how his recent beach trip involved a self-baptism (because, why not?) and Doug introduces the golden rule: “You can’t force the night.” It's all about embracing your vibe, whether you're rocking the Samurai or channeling your inner Santa.

Key Topics:

• Samurai Warrior vs. Horny Santa Claus
• Mike’s coconut oil hair secrets
• Why you can’t force the night—let it unfold naturally
• Boundary-setting and just rolling with the vibe
• A spontaneous ocean baptism

Mike and Doug delve into deep reflections about self-love, body positivity, and the shame associated with personal pleasures rooted in their religious upbringing. The duo humorously tackles their experiences with masturbation, cultural guilt, and the journey of reclaiming self-compassion.

Key Topics:

• Doug’s experience with self-love and the epiphany of slowing down in intimate moments.
• Overcoming religious shame tied to sexuality and body image.
• The interplay between physiological comedowns and spiritual guilt.
• Reflections on how the church influences feelings of worthiness, even after leaving it.
• Comparing how individuals inside and outside the church face the same emotions of shame, guilt, and worthiness.
• Realizing personal success and happiness outside of the church's teachings.
• Mike’s nostalgia for simpler times and how the longing for innocence intersects with spiritual freedom.
• Reflections on personal growth, aging, and the realization that life is full of endless possibilities.
• Creative exploration through songwriting and the importance of expressing oneself artistically.