The Lens

Reading Adrian's novel, Down Sterling Road was an emotional experience for Denis. They talk about Adrian's writing, and growing up in a small town in 1970s Canada. Adrian also shares the tools (from the book, The Tools ) that help him move forward and strengthen his commitment to writing. Adrian’s next book, a collection of linked stories, comes out this October and is titled, The Ambassador of Wh...

Denis goes to Boston to see Radiohead with his son, Matvey, and their generous friend, Dave. Denis mentioned how  Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now  provided some perspective as even a perfect trip like this is not without its problems.

In this episode of the Sunday Shit Show, Denis talks about his anniversary with Marjorie and how his legs stopped working and how he thought he was having a stroke and how he then performed a daring and romantic feat of telepathy. It was a good day.

Why not win? All it takes is micro-transactions in The Field, combat on the mats, and regular cleansing from demoralization with help from The Mother.

Even when they have the best intentions, your developer may be deluded into thinking they are writing the solution you need for a price worth paying. Despite bad estimates and misplaced priorities, these simple steps will ensure you end up with a useful solution that's worth the cost.

Physician assisted suicide is legal in some states and countries. Should mental health counselors play a part in that process? Or is suicide a therapist's ultimate failure? What is our job anyway?

I came to watch some thoughtful people make history. I encountered a socialist paradise, the greenest city in the world, and  numerous BJJ enthusiasts  who made me feel quite at home. Cheers, Vancouver!

Welcome to the first edition of The Sunday Shit-show . It's a commitment to ship a podcast, guest or no guest, good life or no good life, rainbows or snowflakes... each and every week. I've found (once again) that when I don't make this podcast happen, the psychic weight of un-purged consciousness gets pretty fuckin' heavy and threatens to extinguish my spirit. And as I discovered immediately afte...

Denis and Chris catch up after 20 years of not seeing each other. They talk about the miracles of their birth and the stunning impermanence of their work. Lola the aztec mountain chihuahua performs her high and lonesome song. Show Notes You can view films by Chris Benker on Amazon . Including: Monkeys and Robots The Yakuza and the Mermaid Chris is working on a new 3D film,  The Kamikaze of Fo...

Today on the Lens I talk to Marquean Tucker… or maybe you know him as ENOK. Marquean is a DJ and producer of experimental trap music. He is the opening act for many of his DJ, EDM, TRAP, and DubStep idols. He’s got even bigger things planned in his professional and personal life this year. We talk about music, race, church, the EDM club scene, his upcoming wedding, and how he grows in hi...

Abdul Sallaj is a psychiatrist in Chicago. We talked about aspects of the developing mind that are unique to growing up in a household steeped in religious fundamentalism. We also talked way too much about spanking... ouch! Abdul and Denis conducted their interview in Undergrounds Coffee House and Roastery , converted a year or so ago from a funeral home. Denis thinks it's to die for. Show Notes E...

Jon and Denis talk about the #MeToo movement, Denis' own Title IX hearing at Medaille College , Carl Jung's Shadow , and the latest stories in the news, especially Louis CK, Jian Ghomeshi , Roman Polanski , Kristen Gillibrand , Salma Hayek, Harvey Weinstein , Al Franken , Garrison Keillor , Viktor Frankl, Betsy Devos , Roy Moore , and Donald Trump . Earlier in the show Denis mentioned Sara Heiding...

Brian is an educator who wrote the young adult novel,  Miss E . Brian began his teaching career in Washington DC area middle schools. He continues to work in school districts to help educators better integrate learning with technology. We talk about his book, Miss E., and the impact it made on my mind. Brian's next book,  Cross Country  is due this Spring. Brian has also been on the...

Val is also known as "Valociraptor", she is the first professional woman MMA fighter to hail from our Western New York region.  Show Notes Val mentioned that she has trained at   Grappling Unlimited, in Honolulu, Hawaii  and Gracie Barra Himeji which is also home to Himeji Castle , the most glorious castle in Japan. Valerie has also trained at Western New York MMA , and is now train...

Today I heard my friend's voice pronounce that I was old. I was out of touch. And I was a predator. And a predator like me should never be allowed to become a mental health counselor. Quite a moment, eh? Well... How did I get here?

Inspired by testimony and evidence supplied by Tim Ferris , Sam Harris , Jordan Peterson , Joe Rogan , Terrance McKenna , Kilindi Iyi , and Anthony Bourdain , Denis embarks on a psychedelic trip to discover the void.

Phil wrote The Tools, and Coming Alive with his writing partner Barry Michels. Their tools are helping thousands of people (me included) live courageously by releasing them from traps set by resentment, fear, inauthenticity, worry, hurt feelings, demoralization, lethargy, and self-gratification. I first discovered Phil three years ago on Marc Maron's WTF. Mind blowing! I bought the book immediatel...

Abby created Intimacy Alive, where she offers coaching in relationships and intimacy. She is also a yoga instructor. We talked about her transition from interior design industry employee in NYC to business owner in Buffalo.

Omeri Monroe writes songs. He performs two of them on today's show. We talk about the people that inspire him, and what he does to prepare for a performance.

Erik Light discovers interesting people doing interesting things. Then he conceptualizes, writes, directs, shoots, and edits a reality web series with them. The process to bring one concept to life takes loads of personal sacrifice and years of his life. He's having a blast, and he's learned a ton about how to prevent a creative dream from being snuffed out by the naysayers.

Stephen has written for a dozen television shows, including Roseanne and Spin City. He was the Executive Producer and head writer of the acclaimed series Dead Like Me on Showtime. He has written television pilots for CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, FX, TNT and USA. He was nominated for a Writers Guild Award for Best Original Television Movie for his film “Charlotte,” part of the film anthology Five on Lifetim...

A self-described, recovering cellist... Angela wrote the book on how to create a career in music, and she works directly with composers, giving them tools to get unstuck, take risks, and face the hard questions only art can answer.

Josh is The Barefoot Dog Trainer. He is also one of the Philosophers and Madmen who trains Jiu Jitsu at BUMA. We talk about how he became a full time dog trainer and the ways we all discover behavior that "just works", and how natural it is for us to misjudge and misplace the meaning of behavior.

Margo is a life coach and ADHD coach at Meijer & de Beijer in Amsterdam. We talk about how The Tools lit a fire under our midlife asses, what it ultimately takes to switch to an entirely different career in your forties, and the medicine Margo herself uses and shares with her growing client base.

In this introductory episode, we look through the lenses of curiosity, psychotherapy, music, psychedelics, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Sexual Harassment, Marriage, Transgender, Midlife Crisis, and the impending loss of all our jobs and major industries. The question... Is this really the show for you?