Becoming Conscious

In this episode we talk about what it looks like to enact ecologies of practices, how Jamie Wheal’s hedonic engineering protocols can support the effort to install ecologies of practices in your life and why this is crucial for getting out of downward spirals in your life. Get full access to Becoming Conscious at becomeconscious.substack.com/subscribe

All too often we can get caught up in trying all the new transformational techniques, but never sticking with one for more than a few weeks. In this podcast I riff on the necessity of long-term dedication to development and bringing a badass ethos to inner work. The Hero100 Challenge is what a team of us at Phoenix Culture have put together to cultivate this ambition. Learn more here: https://phoe...

What is the gift economy and why does it matter? In what ways is our current economy flawed? I recorded this episode about a year ago and my ideas have changed so much since I recorded them. A lot of ideas in the initial rant were inspired by Charles Eisenstein, and a lot of my ideas have changed since then. This commentary is on the topic of what a more generative economy could look like the supp...

In this episode, Eric and I riff on the necessity of a balance between internal psychological development and external-facing action in the world. We also touch on the meta-crisis and how the various problems in the world are all co-arising and none of them are entirely separate from the others, which we like to describe using the cymatic frequency analogy. We also touch on rerouting one’s life if...

A good friend of mine, Joe Faulkner, joins me for my first IRL podcast interview. Joe is pursuing a master’s degree in Mindfulness-based Transpersonal Counseling and has tons of experience with the integration of altered states of consciousness and embodiment practices. This conversation is multi-faceted hovering around the topics of relationships, psychedelics, and the psychological/relational di...

I’m joined by the wonderful Lawrence Toye. He’s currently co-creating YES& , a conscious living startup with the big picture mission of “ Shifting Consciousness for a Generative Human Presence on this Planet. ” I had the pleasure to work with Lawrence on co-creating their podcast for the launch of the YES& Festival. Lawrence continues to inspire me with his dedication to the embodiment of ecologic...

* Why is advertising inherently corrupted, and what are some alternatives? * How do we create We-spaces that reduce the degree that we delude ourselves? * Steelmanning modernism, postmodernism & metamodernism. * Core insights of the metamodern approach to politics & a summary of Hanzi Freinacht’s Listening Society * Supporting the internal needs of everyone in society * Mass manipulation of people...

Jake Ruiz is a filmmaker and fellow integralist. He recently released the acclaimed Game B Film ( on Youtube here ) in collaboration with Jim Rutt, Daniel Schmactenberger, and other leading thinkers. You can find more of his work at Futurity (his production company) and on Twitter . In this conversation, we touched on: Game B vs. the Dark Renaissance, the nature of competition, the fall of integra...

This is the second podcast I’ve recorded with Daniel Garner. In this episode, we talk about the meaning crisis as a sign of hope, game theoretics, critical thinking, and the dark renaissance. The Meaning Crisis as a Sign of Hope The meaning crisis is a sign of hope because we have higher moral and ethical standards than we did in the past. In the past, we solved the meaning crisis through ideologi...

Zoe Curzi is an actress, writer, filmmaker and has an active interest in trauma-informed introspection, manipulation dynamics, healing journeys, and adult development. In this episode we have a fascinating conversation about the psychological dynamics of mind control, what it looks and feels like to have your reality distorted by a charismatic person or organization, and how to listen to and sense...

Colin Wright is a world traveler, writer, journalist, and entrepreneur. He’s written (and self-published) numerous books on topics ranging from world travel and minimalism to relationships and fictional stories. In this episode, Colin and I discuss his journey from starting a corporate media agency to quitting and traveling the world full-time to where he’s at now. We then dive into what it really...

Cadell Last is a philosopher (Ph. D.) with an interest in anthropology and psychoanalysis, and the author of Global Brain Singularity, Sex, Masculinity, God. In the conversation, we discuss everything from the practicality of philosophy to libido to the dialectical relationship between wholeness and lack. A more expansive list of topics discussed includes: * Breaking down the myth of armchair phil...

A 23-year-old full-time nomad and mother of one that I had the beautiful opportunity of meeting while in Guatemala joined me to speak on her experience with a natural/water birth, listening to our bodies, learning from our children, choosing a conscious approach to educating her child and what it’s like to travel as a mother. You can find more of char on her Instagram (@charemilyk) and her motherh...

I’m joined by Daniel Garner (part of the O.G Rose Duo ), a philosopher, intellectual, and fascinating thinker. In this episode, we discuss everything from creativity to rationality, from aesthetics to infinite formlessness and death drives. Here you can find their essays , audio essays + interviews , Instagram , and Twitter . You can listen to this episode of Becoming Conscious on Youtube . Get fu...

Nora White is such an inspiring human being that uses sexuality & tantric practices to explore the human experience. In this conversation, Nora speaks on using tantra to see the divine in the material and how we can engage with every moment in a tantric way in drawing forth our full presence in every instance of life. We also explore our cultural shame around sex and how we may begin to work with...

In this podcast, I’m joined by Katrina Michelle. Katrina is a holistic psychotherapist who practices from a transpersonal and humanistic framework that centers around cultivating psychospiritual growth at both the individual and cultural levels. For her doctoral thesis, she conducted research on Exploring Resistance to Spiritual Emergence , which I found particularly fascinating. In this conversat...

Susanne Cook Greuter is internationally known as the leading expert in mature ego development and self-actualization. In this episode, Susanne and I explore: * using metaphor and story to better understand Ego Development Theory * overcoming the idea that everyone needs to convert to your worldview * the necessity of every stage of development * the fantasy of integral — and the delusion that stag...

Ethan Kahn and I explore: * metaspirituality * spirituality outside of the common contexts we find it in * discernment in the spiritual developmental process * the importance of maintaining the diversity of spiritual traditions * toxic solipsism in modern spiritual communities — solipsistic awakening * ways in which absolute and relative truth isn’t as straightforward as we may think * how somethi...

In this episode we discuss: * survival anxiety * a multi-contextual lens on the world * the necessity of studying multiple different perspectives * different modes of knowing * operating from being mode and the beauty of existence * diving deeper into introspection * uncovering self-delusion * holism as having a long-term horizon * moving beyond right and wrong * focusing on the generator frequenc...

In this episode we explore: * survival anxiety as contrary to experiencing holism * survival anxiety as a mechanism that perpetuates separation/fragmentation * attaining security through a deeper lived experience of interdependence and adding value to the systems that I’m a part of * understanding the self as relationship / as interdependency * how science dismisses higher-order phenomenon * every...

We dive into: * non-linearity * emergent properties of systems * a systems approach beyond cognition and rationality * the un-pinndownable nature of systems * to cognitively understand a system is inherently to reduce it down * the importance of context in systems * holism as an antidote to navigating the information age * feeling into the emergence/complexity in order to act in a trans-rational m...

* Deep Polarity in Dating * Approaching dating and relationships from a place of unity consciousness * There’s no separation between meeting a women and anything that happens in the relationship, it’s a deep exchange of energy * Tantric Philosophy — the play of duality with masculine and feminine energies * Sex as the universe creating itself * Awakening experiences as a prerequisite to deep relat...

* Understanding Complexity * What is Sense-making? * Rule Omega * Primary Characteristics and Values of this Stage * How does this stage emerge * Survival vs. Being * Fully being within and operating in the world rather than trying to make it conform to our expectations * the limits of activism and pluralistic thinking * inhabiting complexity in the world vs. wanting the world * the felt experienc...

In this episode, I explore many aspects of sovereignty including: * intellectual sensemaking * being-level sensemaking * ability to act and respond to the world * dharma & connection to meaning in life * core confidence / knowing your worth * sovereignty amidst the complexity of the digital age * courage: the joy of living dangerously * asking better questions to respond more sovereignly * poking...

In this episode, I explore the different narratives, core beliefs, phenomenological experiences, and potential solutions and approaches to curing victim mentality. What is victim mentality? What does it feel like? What other similar topics are related to and intersect with the feeling of victim mentality? Going deeper into victim mentality to the level of ontology. Taking a more inclusive approach...