In this episode I try to unpick the puzzle of presence. I draw a line between perceived safety and protecting the precious parts of ourselves. I argue for integrity and wholeness as the pathways to self-acceptance and the tools for calm and confident presence. I also share a very personal story to illustrate the power […]
The here, the me, the now – the challenge of being present – Episode 11 Read More »
Control. The ultimate illusion. And yet one to which we are all addicted, or at the very least, conditioned. It is the great self-deception of which most of us are guilty. It is a mind game. We are merely toddlers who have learned how to walk straighter and grip tighter. None of this should sound
Spinning in Infinity Read More »
This episode is all about stars! I discuss at length the many versions of A Star Is Born and their relative strengths and weaknesses, as well as their gender politics. I also use those movies to look at trauma and the dire male response to trauma and addiction by one of the central characters that
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire! – Episode 10 Read More »
Episode 9 of the podcast has a look at what we know and what we understand, and asks if we can reduce our anxiety by getting more comfortable with what we don’t know and what we can’t control. Pets with confusing names feature early on. There is also a trip to the river, a return
Getting comfortable with chickens and ignorance – Episode 09 Read More »
Episode 8 of the podcast has me taking a good look at madness and placing it in a context of conflict and self-defence. My knowledge of karate and the systematised code of conduct in that world informs the discussion. I find counsel from one of the great fictional madmen – The Joker, and the words
Drawing the line at madness – Episode 08 Read More »
In this week’s episode, I wade into the murky waters of identity politics and woke culture. The stepping off point is a lovely podcast I was listening to that raised a few different points of discussion in my head. Movies and casting are discussed, as well as giving offence, protecting ourselves, identity and representation, and
Wake up and smell the Rousseaus – Episode 07 Read More »
In episode 6 of the podcast, a trip down memory lane leads to one especially dodgy haircut and some rather nice hats. It also takes in a teenage summer in the USA and a trip to Canada while there. I share some thoughts and further context in response to my recent post on anxiety. This
Patchouli in the crow’s nest, or The search for cool – Episode 06 Read More »
In this episode I get stuck into bad behaviour and why we tolerate it in ourselves towards the people closest to us. I reflect on the dangers of unchecked parenting and the legacies of unaddressed trauma, and the difficulty of putting that stuff to bed. Finally, I use the Man Cold as a starting point
Slurp! or How I learned to love licking (kind of) – Episode 05 Read More »
Merely I’m sorry. I’m just a man. I don’t know what I represent to you or anybody else. I only know who I am and who I’m not, what I’ve done and what I haven’t. I’m not trying to steal air or drink water or take space that was meant for you. I’m not looking
In this episode of the podcast I go from outer space and isolation and space music to cricket, and my attempts to introduce the finer points of that game to my daughter. From there it is a short jump to baseball and a deep dive into The Natural, both the Bernard Malamud novel of 1952
A big slab of handsomeness – Episode 04 Read More »
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