Protect Your Noggin

This is a sort of book report Jeff brings after reading Sarah Allen, The Way of Water and Sprouts of Virtue (Chinese Philosophy Culture). We discuss how in ancient China, the root metaphor of water was the focus itself. It's not as if water is a metaphor for an abstract reality. Its flow is the flow. Meditating on water is to glimpse the Tao, not an object lesson for some ideology.

It is important to be flexible rather than brittle in life, in our families, at work, and when it comes to entire nations. After discussing several recent events in the world news and our lives, we discuss the principle in Tao Te Ching 76 that flexibility is related to youth and life but rigidity is associated with death. In other words, we should bend rather than break as we exist in the wins of...

It seems to many that we in the USA are on the precipice of something like a civil war. But then, when asked, the vast majority reject the idea of political violence. What conditions might exist where that changes, according to Tao Te Ching chapter 75?

Tao Te Ching 74 starts by suggesting that people don't naturally fear death. Then it suggests that nefarious leaders try to instill a fear of death in those they dominate in order to control them. We discuss how this applies to contemporary times. Then Jeff shares some of the emerging research he's doing into the extent to which early Taoism applied, evolved, rejected, or ignored archaic C...

We start with a parable about being at peace with reality and not overreacting. Then there's chapter 73 of the Tao Te Ching that says that the Tao will ultimately bring everything along in its cosmic net. In other words, nature ensures that things are brought to balance in the end. The question is, will we be around to see the righting of injustice? As Bob Marley said, it is our duty to fight...

The similarities and differences between the perspectives of Aristotle and Lao Tzu on the nature of happiness and how this relates to the ways in which we might navigate our precarious times. Inspired by Tao Te Ching chapter 72. We also spend some time discussing how this is all related to the Zen parable about the Master of Tea Ceremonies and a Ronin.

Drawing from Tao Te Ching 71, we discuss the ways in which dogmatism can lead to madness but recognizing truths, even the truth that we do not know things with certainty, can bring us to a place of sanity. We talk about a poet named Theodore Beza who traded in his love of classical poetry and creating new versions of it himself to concocting a contorted and arguably monstrous dogmatism known as hy...

We discuss why the Sage doesn't seem to be a winner in the minds of many "successful" people. But we also find that the Sage can have better quality items and quality of life by following the way of minimalism, compassion, and non-domination. After we discuss the meaning of Tao Te Ching chapter 70, we list about 15 of our favorite purchases over the last decade, since we discovered t...

Drawing from Tao Te Ching chapter 69, we discuss the history and philosophy of restraint. Jeff provides three historical examples when not acting led to catastrophe and three where it just might have saved the world from nuclear annihilation. How does all this relate to the ways in which we deal with verbally abusive relatives at family gatherings?

Inspired by Tao Te Ching chapter 68, and drawing from our work with sport stadium security, elementary students, comedy show door work, and event lead roles with concerts, we discuss the idea that the best warrior is not warlike. Even if you don't usually vibe with this, consider listening to this show to learn a bit about the art of de-escalation. We also discuss an interesting candidate for...

We explore the ways in which New Age spiritualities and gurus might lead to disengagement from issues that matter in the world. Using chapter 67 of the Tao Te Ching, we contrast this with an engaged spirituality based on minimalism, compassion, and the way of non-domination. We also mention the potential problems with karmic thinking in Ram Dass and the value of a non-dogmatic inspiration from Jes...

We attempt to weave together the history of Route 66 (The Mother Road) and Tao Te Ching chapter 66 in order to answer a listener question. Whether we pull it off or not, we at least address a few key ways in which the Tao Te Ching can shed light on global issues of our day, especially the ways in which economic injustice globally can bring insecurity and chaos to our local communities. There's...

We aren't sure what this chapter is saying. We think we might disagree with what it's saying. This week, we discuss how we read the Tao Te Ching differently than we read the Bible during our youth in Evangelical youth groups and why indoctrination of even something we think is true is not helpful in the long run. Come experience the interpretive discomfort with us and consider the ways in which ed...

We discuss Tao Te Ching 63, which encourages us to tackle major projects by focusing on one component part at a time. Applied to our lives and community building projects, instead of focusing on grand ideological constructs, it might be best for us to ask whether each small action we take serves our overall plan. We cross reference a similar teaching from Jesus in Luke 14, where he encourages us t...

Alongside our discussion of Tao Te Ching Chapter 62, we contrast New Age interpretations of the yin-yang symbol that is so familiar today. It turns out to be more about the ebbs and flows of existence and less about fining symmetry, balance, or moderation. Surfing the Tao also provides a perspective from which we can view our own failures compassionately and in a way that helps bring healing and f...

A discussion of Tao Te Ching 61 and the ways in which larger countries, or leaders of large groups can benefit from a way of yin-like humility and the feminine principle. taosurfers.com protectyournoggin.org Buy our rendition of the Tao Te Ching online today.

Friend of the pod, poet and rapper Micah Bournes is back at it with another powerful protest album. On it, he challenges us to consider seeking the freedom of even those who've committed crimes against humanity. This is a challenging but timely conversation, given our recent discussions of parts of the Tao Te Ching that encourage us to draw former enemies into the virtuous community (this of c...

Instead of going on to a new Tao Te Ching chapter, we address a superb comment from a listener about feeding a zeitgeist of resistance. We conclude by discussing the unique character of proto-Taoist shamanism.

Lao Tzu explains how to cook a small fish and govern a great nation. A discussion of how the Tao Te Ching has been seen differently over the ages, due to different emphases throughout the commentary traditions. Regardless of whether one assumes that the ghosts of our ancestors and the demons of our human nature are literal or figurative (or somewhere in between) this chapter teaches warns against...

Drawing from Tao Te Ching 59, we critique the idea that cultures have a fixed life span. Surveying the longevity of various societies from the Indigenous Australians to the end of Imperial China in the twentieth century, we suggest that Lao Tzu was right that a deeply rooted, maternal, nurturing society that is adaptable and respects its natural resources can restrain its predation and outlast dra...

Jeff and Stacie discuss Tao Te Ching 58's second half, which says the experts don't even know how history will play out in a certain situation. They share their plan for surviving the economic challenges ahead. Jeff explains the concept of "late stage capitalism." By the way, if you are serious about considering living a different lifestyle, in terms of your domicile, feel free t...

Jeff and Stacie share what’s been going on in their lives since their last episode. Then they launch into part one of a discussion of TTC 58 and it’s relevance these days.  What if libertarians of various stripes banded together to resist authoritarianism and build networks to care for all members of community in need? Protect Your Noggin is a show about the pursuit of happiness amid the ruins of...

How might working with the gig economy factor into the pursuit of happiness and freedom? What are the similarities and differences between the Aristotelian tradition on happiness and that of Lao Tzu?

Singer and songwriter Jenna joins us to discuss finding one's voice and addressing life traumas with the healing medicine of music. We share her newly released single "Trigger" which is now available online. https://www.instagram.com/jennna.wav/ www.protectyournoggin.org

A survey of several issues in the news and reflection on how a warrior perspective might help us think about engaging issues of our day, albeit in nonviolent forms of "battle." Why the culture wars matter. Sinead O'Connor, and the hearings regaring UAE (UFO) technology.