Garden of Thought

Bernie Taylor is back and this time we're tackling Homer. Specifically, the more monstruous and magical aspects of his famous journey home from Troy. We're covering the Oddysey. But paying specific attention to the monsters and some of what all of that might represent. 

Essay 1 is the first of what may become a more regular feature: me doing a solo show, talking about something I've thought a lot about but never decided upon the right way or place to present it.  While most GoT shows are apolitical, that's not entirely the case. My politics and those of guests, come through at times. I consider myself a Centrist. That doesn't mean I'm in the Center of every issue...

When we ask C The Superior to present on a topic as our apprentice host, she always brings the research.  She takes me through some of the premier Anime properties and their relationship to mythologies. Primarily Shintoism. But Taoism and Chinese myths are visited. Especially when we talk about how Goku and Dragonball Z is The Monkey King and Journey to the East! Along the way, there are the usual...

We meet Vicious Vicki Venuto. She's a Jersey Girl. A Jersey Shore girl to be precise. And she'll kick your teeth in if you don't like it.  Our own Mr. Thomas was a Jersey Shore guy because of course he was. They share tales and stereotypes.  We explore the Lubabu(?) craze. We talk food. We always talk food. Did she have any supernatural experiences or beliefs? Turns out everyone does. What's the N...

John Michael Godier is a scientist and an avid follower in the UFO phenomena. He hosts the Event Horizon podcast and has a huge YouTube channer of the same name. He's also the author of two science fiction novels. He's spoken to everyone even remotely in field from Professor Avi Loeb to the disclosure skeptics and advocates.  We discuss many of the recent stories including the disclosure efforts f...

Brian Townsend was in law enforcement for approximately three decades; primarily with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency. Since retired, he's involved with a 501C3 non profit educating and reaching regarding the extraordinary dangers of fetanyl.  We discuss his upbringing and professional career. He explains the remit of the DEA and we explore how the DEA works in other countries, the chain...

Arthur Slade was raised in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan (on a ranch). He wasn’t raised by wolves. It was elves. And one grumpy dwarf. He began writing at an early age. It took a few years but he is now the author of more than thirty novels, including Dust (which won the Governor General’s award), Dragon Assassin, and The Hunchback Assignments. He currently lives in the mythical city...

Hillary Johns is a business and trial litigator. Her offices are in Beverly Hills, San Francisco and New York. So, you know she's not messing around. But she's also an attorney that spends a lot of time with new and small businesses.  We discuss what a new businessperson should consider. What is necessary. What is good to seriously consider. And what are warning signs and items people routinely ig...

The Sun Runners, the latest young adult/new adult science fiction novel from Aurora Award-winning author James Bow (Icarus Down), comes out November 12 from Shadowpaw Press—alongside Tales from the Silence, and exciting collection of short fiction by a diverse group of notable authors set in the same future, releasing from Shadowpaw Press imprint Endless Sky Books. In Bows’s detailed future settin...

Wrestler, boxer, MMA fighter, personal trainer, peanut butter afficionado. That describes a particularly savage gentleman. We talk to Victor Benjamin, A little about wrestling. A lot about peanut butter, candy, and other really important things. 

Maxim W. Furek has been described as the 21st Century's John Keel. Keel was a groundbreaking paranormal investigator and author. He's also been described as Pennsylvania's iconoclastic paranormal author.  His works include Coal Region HooDoo, Flying Saucer Esoteric, Sheppton: The Myth, Miracle & Music, The Lost Tribes of Bigfoot, and the forthcoming Paranormal Apocolypse. We talk about his lif...

Brendon Traxler is working to provide residential lliving under the sea. Not a submarine. Not a hotel. Homes. For real. He's been developing the plans for some time. There's a company created and all sorts of experts. The Atlantis Sea Colony might be a reality in the decade one to two decades. We discuss his path and background. Of course, I ask about the legal issues ranging from entity formation...

Tricia Copeland believes in finding magic. She thinks magic infuses every aspect of our lives, whether it is the magic of falling in love, discovering a new passion, viewing a beautiful sunset, or reading a book that transports us to another world. An avid runner and Georgia native, Tricia now lives with her family and four-legged friends in Colorado. Find all her titles from contemporary romance,...

We're joined by Alex Kane just days after he became a free agent. So, we do talk about intra-wrestling business items related to that status. How it feel? How does a talent approach free agency?  Being Thomas' stable mate for years, they have a lot of chatting to do. Bomaye remains for the people.  What makes a top guy? Is being once ranked the 25th best wrestler in the world count? Does being a f...

Eduardo Castrillo produced and directed the indie creature feature Bears on a Ship. That's the pitch. What more needs to be typed? Fine. He also did Catfished and Cowboys v Samurais v Werewolves.  Oh yeah. He's my guest and we talk about the film. 

Justin Tepe is an attorney practicing in Maryland and DC and handles a lot of business clients in the business of cannibis. We discuss the law, the policies and some of the issues. There is a peculiar divergence between Federal law and the laws of many States. How did this happen? How do businesses navigate these waters? We banter about many of the nuances of this world, in the atypical Garden way...

How is it that the dreamers among us always know which way to go? The irrational path often appears brilliant in hindsight. When one takes a leap of faith, there can be challenging obstacles. How is it that the dreamers among us always know which way to go? The irrational path often appears brilliant in hindsight. When one takes a leap of faith, there can be challenging obstacles. First Place Gold...

Few people know how nonprofits work. Dan does.  Specializing in helping business owners and  professionals create nonprofits that last, Dan has  helped new nonprofits raise over $3 million,  turned around several struggling organizations,  and helped over 30 nonprofit leaders create  sustainable nonprofits.  Dan Johnson is a 4x nonprofit founder, former  impact evaluator, and nonprofit coach. He g...

This edition of the Gospel of Thomas welcomes in Kaia McKenna. Kaia is a professional wrestler hailing from Maryland's Eastern Shore. She also started training relatively late in life. NOt the typical combination. Luckily, she's persistent, level headed, and comes from a supportive familial extended coven. Yes, she's a witch. But a good witch. Mostly. 

Ann Charles is the author of several series' and co-creates other works with her husband. Her 14 book series takes place in Deadwood. Yes, the site of my favorite TV show. So, we had to meet. We have a wide ranging conversation about her works, Deadwood, cartography, and the usual unusual landscape that is the Garden. From Stephen King to the Chorus, we're talking about it.  USA Today Bestselling...

I'm confused and concerned about what's going on with immigration law and practice. Also, what's not going on: Due Process in a lot of cases. And I'm a lawyer, but not an immigration lawyer. So, I found one willing to talk. Sheri Hodra is the child of immigrants and is a zealous advocate for her client's rights. And she's flustered too. Yet she seems pretty cool, calm and collected. Most of my epi...

The Garden welcomes back Professor Richard Spence to continue in our "academic" exploration of the occult. This episode focuses on some of the better known names in Occultism over the past 200 years or so. We learn about Helena BLavatsky, Rudolph Steiner, Aleiter Crowley, Anton LaVay, among others. From the elite homes of Tsarist Russia to Marin County, California, we visit upon the truth, fiction...

Join hosts Jeff and Mister Thomas on this episode of GOT Presents as they welcome the incredible "La Princesa" herself, Tiffany Nieves! Fresh off winning the Exodus Pro Women's Championship and making waves in the NWA, Tiffany shares insights into her wrestling journey, including: Her training experiences at Flatbacks and OVW with legends like Al Snow, Tyler Breeze, Shawn Spears, Jay Lethal, and M...

Beth Castrodale is the author of 4 books. Her most recent is entirled "The Inhabitants" and it won the 2024 best horror book by Best Books Awards.  We discuss her biographical information and the book. We talk ghosts and hauntings and the writing process. Her influences and related aspects are explored. You'll get the typical Garden meanderings and accidental poignancies.  “A story of contemporary...

Jay Holland has a national practice focusing on employment law. Along with better known areas such as civil rights, he practices in a niche area involving certain types of whistleblowers in what are known as Qui Tam cases. Qui Tam is not a martial art. Qui Tam allows a private individual to prosecute a case on behalf of the government, with incentives, when that individual(s) is/are blowing the wh...