Connecting the Dots

This is not inflammatory. This is the Art of Self Defense. It is my hope that when people hear this episode, they can walk away eager or at least curious to learn any new methods of self defense to help resist victimization, encroachment, and manipulation. Instrumentalize yourself. Your mind, your body, your spirit. Strength in the body, Knowledge in the mind, Courage in the heart = Empowerment ....

If you're a Marvel/Disney fan, this episode may piss you off.   If you glorify the military/empire, this episode may piss you off.  If you love propaganda,  this episode may piss you off.   PROTEST SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: Dead Prez- Propaganda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIhIsHEAM8w  Immortal Technique- Freedom of Speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAEbWSSo9AQ  BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:  Edw...

Just some thoughts for thought.   BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:  Bruce Lee- Striking Thoughts https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/striking-thoughts-bruce-lees-wisdom-for-daily-living-the-bruce-lee-library_bruce-lee/296561/?resultid=4dd9bac5-0ba2-47e4-93bc-3296be88a015#edition=3673054&idiq=4467350  Marcus Aurelius- Meditations https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/marcus-aurelius---meditations-adapted-for-the-contem...

This episode is meant to tie together our two worlds, the internal & the external. It emphasizes how the political, economical, and social issues of this country are capable of inducing mass trauma & mental suffering. I want to acknowledge how this affects us as individuals and as a society when we internalize it. More importantly, as a result of this reality, I want to emphasize the neces...

MAYDAY!!!  Protest Song Recommendations:  Paolo Nutini- Iron Sky,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF_PkvMm9_c  Bob Marley- Work, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKHdvDkDAHk  U2- Red Hill Mining Town, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yafHtWzWx0s  Jefferson Airplane- Volunteers, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xaw--HWHecg  Pete Seeger- Solidarity Forever, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW_1hP0SHSQ ...

LINK FOR THE BOOK: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/all-about-love-new-visions-bell-hooks-love-trilogy_bell-hooks/248913/?resultid=595b688d-e936-4181-b121-65b31be6db0b#edition=2337244&idiq=10183064  PROTEST SONG RECOMMENDATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enmitbt3yAs  LINK TO THE SPEECH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0uEVTh0ios GO FUND ME LINK: Please consider donating (if you can) to my f...

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:   1) Sorrows of Empire by Chalmers Johnson https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-sorrows-of-empire-militarism-secrecy-and-the-end-of-the-republic-the-american-empire-project_james-carroll_chalmers-johnson/257596/?resultid=fb0f7e1f-fa69-44cd-8991-f7fa1b27c13d#edition=3677168&idiq=2963848  2) Imperial Ambitions by Noam Chomsky https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/imperi...

This book by Timothy Faust, takes a critical look at the American Health"care" System, covering issues related to private insurance, uninsurance, racism, sexism, poverty, and disability within the industry and issues related around mental health, trans health, immigration, and work. There are so many levels at play in this one book and the author does an excellent job of honing in on them nicely....

This is one of the oldest books we've covered so far, The Other America by Michael Harrington, first published in 1962. As the title implies, it covers the other side of America, specifically regarding poverty. Harrington's personal experiences, analyzation, and critical perspective offer some truly insightful looks into the depths of the other America. The book also covers alcoholism, drug abuse,...

Out of all the books this podcast has covered, this one may be one of, if not the easiest to read and follow along. This doesn't mean the content is simple or easy to understand even, but Robert Reich, the author, is a phenomenal writer and he has the ability to make complex information easy to understand. This is important for the majority of people. He puts things in a way that allows for people...

This episode is centered around Anand Giridharadas' book: Winners Take All. Anand is a phenomenal speaker, writer, analyst, and he has incredible insight and understanding regarding contemporary social issues, especially pertaining to our elites. I recommend following him on social media/twitter if you want more exposure to his insights and perspective. This book covers issues with inequality, ext...

A great and critical book by Andrea Mcdonnell and Susan j. Douglas. They elaborate beautifully on how celebrities and celebrity culture has affected American culture. This episode hopes to elaborate on that just a bit and show how celebrity culture affects us individually and collectively. They also talk about in great detail how technology has been fundamentally useful for celebrities going back...

This episode is covering the book: Because We Say So, by Noam Chomsky. The book is actually a collection of short essays, covering many different issues and topics such as: threats to world peace, issues with Iran, Gaza, and Palestine, the 2012 election, Edward Snowden, and many more. This podcast episode covers the assault on public education, global warming, and the Vietnam war specifically. Its...

This is a phenomenal book that really emphasizes and illuminates the struggles of the middle class, the domination of the rich, and the myth of the American dream and upward mobility. The author, Daniel Markovits, puts together a brilliant book that deeply covers comparisons between the rich and the rest, related to education, healthcare, jobs, etc. He deeply covers our nations inequalities, contr...

A great, independent, non partisan book that covers issues related to our way of policing, the war on drugs, and militarized policing. The author, Radley Balko, provides loads of research and exposes a lot of history and scenarios in which policing methods and tactics clearly run wild, hurting and killing people as a result. The author asserts that our militarized way of policing is contradictory...

This episode is based on Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. This is a must read for anyone looking to expand their ideas and proposed solutions to our social issues. A great book for students, educators, instructors, and parents as well. The author provides a new way of looking at/engaging with the world and he proposes an entirely new style, method, and approach between the student/tea...

Back in the game. This is the first episode of a new season and this episode is centered around a book titled, The Revolution We Expected by Claudio Naranjo. This has quickly become one of my favorite books and there's a reason why I chose this one to kick off a new season. Its unique, expanding, thought provoking, and should lead to genuine and profound reflection if read with an open mind and he...

Final thoughts! PROTEST SONG RECOMMENDATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bURgTLHryrgLINK TO THE BOOK: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-art-of-war_sun-tzu_sunzi/250412/#edition=394366&idiq=3855993LINK TO THE SPEECH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGi9L85NSgs

This episode covers a book called Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges. Dope book. It provides incredible perspective and insight on American culture, entertainment, the media, elites, and corporations. I highly recommend it, its not too long, very easy to read, and it effortlessly compels the reader to reflect on what they are consuming, the reality of the entertainment industry/media, and the powe...

This episode covers a book titled: Diversity in the Power Elite by Richard Zweigenhaft and G. William Domhoff. It’s rich with analysis, statistics, insight, and names of some of the most powerful people in the country. It looks at minorities within the power elite including: Jews, Blacks, women, Latinos, Asian Americans, and gays and lesbians. It looks at their numbers and presence in the military...

This book is a highkey recommendation. It’s called On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder. Super quick read. You can have it done in one day. It’s light and easy to read but gives a lot of perspective to apply towards many of our current issues. Covers elements of history, tyranny. psychology, politics, activism, and social awareness. Definitely worth a look at. Get a quick read in. LINK TO THE BOOK: https:...

This episode covers a dope book titled The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Johnathan Haidt. It has such an independent tone and perspective, giving criticism towards both liberals and conservatives, shedding light on both of their shortcomings and habits. In addition, the book also covers contemporary problems regarding students and their anxiety/depression rates, social media,...

Just some personal thoughts and insights for the upcoming election and the ramifications of it. Applying everything we’ve covered so far to this episode and topic. There’s so much talk around the election so I tried very hard to apply a unique perspective and take a different angle on it, while filtering out all the bullshit and conventional rhetoric you can find literally anywhere. This is an ind...

This episode covers a book called the Nordic Theory of Everything by Anu Partanen. It’s the first book that we’re breaking down that’s authored by a woman and it’s inspiring as well as revealing. It’s one thing to complain and educate ones self on the social and systematic issues we face as a country, but it’s another to aspire for something better and this book helps provide that. The author is f...

This book takes a great, in depth look at the fast food industry, covering so many areas related to the unhealthy foods we eat, to the teens working in fast food restaurants, and the men and women who work in slaughterhouses and meat packaging facilities. It’s super light to read and not dense at all, but the reality of the industry is heavy and harsh. It’s very exposing and enlightening, and taug...