Finlos Lives

Recorded on 06.02.2025 In this episode of Rowing with the Homies, I explore the profound human need for magic and wonder in an increasingly scientific world, drawing inspiration from the recent spectacular displays of the Aurora Borealis. I delve into the scientific explanations for the aurora's southern reach, alongside its rich interpretations across cultures, from dancing ancestors to omens...

In this episode Finlos Lives I'm diving into why some of life's changes, especially those tied to decisions we've made, are truly permanent. We often find ourselves dwelling on regrets, replaying "what ifs" and "if onlys," wishing for a "redo" button on past choices. This longing for a different outcome, whether it's a career path not taken or words we wish...

Recorded on 05.19.2025 In this episode of Rowing with the Homies, I tackle the complex interplay of leadership, age, and personal well-being. I open by examining the recent news concerning President Biden's health, and the broader discussion it ignites about the age and fitness of global leaders like Donald Trump. This leads me to explore how different cultures, from the epic of Beowulf to Afr...

Recorded on 05.15.2025 In this episode of Rowing with the Homies, we navigate various currents – from galactic rebellion to personal solace. I begin by diving deep into the profound resonance of Andor Season 2, exploring why this grounded Star Wars series stands out for its exceptional writing, powerful performances, and its stark, relevant portrayal of authoritarianism and the messy birth of resi...

Recorded on 5.12.2025. In this episode of Rowing with the Homies, I grapple with the multifaceted nature of power, accountability, and personal control. I begin by examining the reach of presidential power, specifically through the lens of executive orders, analyzing their definition, historical usage trends, and the potential implications for the balance of power when combined with discussions ar...

Recorded on 5.9.2025. In this episode, I explore the pervasive theme of internal friction and its profound impact on trust, drawing connections across different scales. I begin by observing the significant internal conflict within the U.S. government that has been unfolding specifically since President Trump's most recent inauguration in January 2025, discussing examples of clashes between bra...

Recorded 05.06.2025. On this episode of Rowing with the Homies, I can't shake the image of an AI-generated Pope Trump – it got me thinking about power, influence, and how we see ourselves. Join me as I explore the cultural impact of such grandiose imagery before diving into the dynamics of personality cults, looking at their appeal and potential pitfalls, even drawing lessons from Dune . Then,...

Recorded on 5.2.2025. In this episode I engage in exploration of consciousness, that subjective inner awareness that defines our experience. I dive into the leading scientific theories, Integrated Information Theory and Global Neuronal Workspace Theory, and discuss how new research and phenomena like lucid dreaming are complicating our understanding. I also consider how sleep profoundly impacts ou...

Recorded on 4.28.2025. In this episode I dive into the often-challenging journey of starting and maintaining an exercise routine while navigating the complexities of mental well-being. I begin by unpacking the common hurdles that prevent many of us from embracing regular physical activity. From the ever-present crunch of time and the weight of psychosocial barriers like motivation and self-doubt,...

Recorded on April 22, 2025. In this episode, I grapple with the Supreme Court case Mahmoud v. Taylor out of Maryland. This case, concerning parents wanting to opt their elementary schoolers out of lessons involving storybooks on gender identity and sexual orientation, has been been on my mind. I explored the central tension between what some parents see as potential indoctrination and the school b...

In this episode I discuss how podcast (and other types of media) consumption is often used as a way to replace or mimic meaningful connection and relationships. The intent is not to diminish the value of podcasts (that wouldn't be very productive), but rather to consider how people, especially men/people AMAB can challenge their own consumptive patterns or extractive patters and build meaningf...

This series is focused on combining a healthy exercise routine with conversation about current events, big ideas, and mental health. In this episode I discuss recent research into misaligned circadian rhythms and sleep schedules and how productivity dominates so much of our time. These intersecting ideas have the consequence of making already problematic issues of low energy, negative feelings, an...

The struggle with the rowing machine continues, so this episode will feature a walk rather than a rowing session. But, to be honest, the day was so nice I didn't even mind. In this episode I fust look upward to the moon before looking inward and considering our relationship orbits. It's a change of pace from the politics of the prior episodes, but I think it's fun to change things up....

This series is focused on combining a healthy exercise routine with thoughts and discussion about current events, big ideas, and mental health. In this episode I connect the recent nationwide "Hands Off" protests with the human need for connection. I wrap up with a discussion of what I call the "shields up" effect, essentially a barrier to connection that is exacerbated by my dysth...

A new series focused on combining a healthy exercise routine with thoughts and discussion about current events, big ideas, and mental health. In this first episode I connect the recent marathon speech by Senator Cory Booker to the challenge of observing measurable change as a result of our direct actions. I wrap up with a discussion of the impact of dysthymia. Recorded 04.02.2025

It's been nearly six months since the last episode and many things have changed since then. But there's still more work to do, and we're still here to do it.  Support us on Patreon and PayPal !

In this episode I examine the sources of my identity and consider how much control I or anyone has over their ability to make changes or take ownership of who they are.  Music by Luke Holizna https://holizna.com/ Support us on Patreon and PayPal !

In this episode I consider how routines can help to organize time but also contribute to a sense of repetition and boredom. I also consider boredom as a symptom of depression in modern life. Music by Luke Holizna https://holizna.com/ Support us on Patreon and PayPal !

In this episode I shift the conversation about media consumption to consider the ways we seek and internalize journalistic information in order to build "factual" stories about the world around us. So much attention gets paid to the word bias, but how often do we consider our own biases or the reality that there is no communication free of bias because our experiences shape the language we...

In this episode I discuss how we can use our relationships to media and creatives as practice for how to interact in healthy ways with relationships with the people in our daily lives. I address harm doing, apologies, healing, the role of community, and how all these things are part of the accountability process.  Music by Luke Holizna https://holizna.com/ Support us on Patreon and PayPal !

In this episode I discuss what it means to engage with the media we consume as well as the artists and creators who make that media. What happens when we love the art, but loath the artist? Media, whether its books, music, films, paintings, comics, or any art form becomes interwoven into our lives and identities, until the things we love feel like living parts of our lives. This creates the need f...

I’m happy to welcome back Eva as co-host to which she brings her knowledge and experience for this series about the five love languages. Whether on social media or in pop-culture, it seems as if these 5 methods of giving and receiving love have become a near ubiquitous shorthand for discussing personal tastes in people and determining potential compatibility in relationships. This conversation has...

I’m happy to welcome back Eva as co-host to which she brings her knowledge and experience for this series about the five love languages. Whether on social media or in pop-culture, it seems as if these 5 methods of giving and receiving love have become a near ubiquitous shorthand for discussing personal tastes in people and determining potential compatibility in relationships. This conversation has...

I am happy to welcome back Eva who brings her knowledge and experience as co-host for this series about the five love languages. Whether on social media or in pop-culture, it seems as if these 5 methods of giving and receiving love have become a near-ubiquitous shorthand for discussing personal tastes in people and determining potential compatibility in relationships. This is a long and detailed c...

In this episode I discuss a recent re-viewing of a formative film from my youth: Hackers, and consider its relevance to our modern world. Spoilers: there's actually quite a bit.  Music by Luke Holizna:  https://holizna.com/ Support us on Patreon and PayPal !