Seize the Moment Podcast

On episode 88, Alen and Leon talk about their favorite podcasts. They discuss what podcasts they listen to for inspiration, to laugh, and to learn. Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment

On episode 87, we welcome environmental lawyer and activist Robert Bilott to discuss the widespread prevalence and health effects of forever chemicals (including cancer and autoimmune disorders), his decades-long legal war with the DuPont chemical company over their decisions to dump chemical waste into the environment, Wilbur Tennant and the beginnings of Robert's investigation into DuPont's cove...

On episode 86, we welcome Marc Mero to discuss how and why he became a motivational speaker, speaking to kids about suicidal thoughts and other important mental health related struggles, working with Stone Cold Steve Austin and learning from him, Dusty Rhodes' mentorship and how he created the Johnny B. Badd character, overcoming drug addiction, the importance of a healthy mindset and gratitude fo...

On episode 85, we welcome writer Sofia Samatar to discuss her chapter in Philosophy Through Science-Fiction Stories titled "The New Book of the Dead," our obsession with and love of Artificial Intelligence, the persistent human quest for immortality, the process of uploading human consciousness, what a techno-topian future would look like, whether we'd still be ourselves if we were disintegrated a...

On episode 84, we welcome back Martha Lawton to discuss the how the pandemic worsened social mobility and exacerbated unstable incomes, the gig economy and how it pits us against one another, the beliefs and cognitive distortions of welfare recipients, the emotional effects of poverty, the barriers to accessing the social safety net, why people more often decline rather than accept entitlement ben...

On episode 83, we welcome back philosopher Helen De Cruz to discuss why science fiction is a great platform for bringing complex philosophical ideas to a wide audience, the history of the belief in the afterlife and its early link to the intellectual and financial elite, Christianity's democratizing of the hereafter, how philosophy is more about helping us become more fully human than about uncove...

On episode 82, we welcome Diamond Dallas Page to discuss his journey in professional wrestling, his various injuries and why he reluctantly began doing yoga, the early formation of DDPY, the successful transformations its practitioners have experienced (including DDP himself), Page's relationship with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Jake's resurrection through DDPY, the Halloween Havoc match with Bil...

On episode 81, we welcome Professor Jonathan Berman to discuss the skepticism surrounding vaccine safety and efficacy - especially given the skepticism surrounding taking the Covid-19 vaccine in the midst of a global pandemic, the motives of the anti-vaccine movement and the cognitive distortions underlying their beliefs, how and why people gravitate toward conspiracy theories, how we can begin di...

On episode 80, we welcome philosopher Ashley Bohrer to discuss intersectionality and the importance of combatting racism, sexism, classism, and ableism as separate but related challenges; Ashley's first-hand account of police brutality toward protestors; understanding the associated motives behind policing, academia, and the media; the whitewashing of philosophy and utilizing public philosophy to...

On episode 79, philosopher Ashley Bohrer interviews Alen and Leon for the blog of the American Philosophical Association. They discuss Leon's childhood, existential anxiety and how he found a remedy in philosophy, Alen's early experiences and the ways they shaped his drive to understand people, his fascination with the workings of the human ego and its toxic effects on relationships, how they bond...

On episode 78 we welcome Brian Muraresku to discuss the origins of religious rituals and their associations to psychedelic use, the history and rites of the ancient mystery schools, their understanding of immortality and how it differs from the notion of an afterlife, Brian's relationship with Graham Hancock, the development of Christianity and the subsequent banning of the mystery tradition, the...

On episode 77, we welcome philosopher Andreas Elpidorou to discuss the positive and negative aspects of boredom, frustration, and anticipation; the hedonic treadmill and why constant pleasure becomes tormenting; the difference between common boredom and chronic, existential boredom and the latter's link with depression; how frustration is associated with effort and pride; the importance of experie...

On episode 76, we welcome clinical psychologist Margaret Rutherford to discuss perfectly hidden depression, the unhealthy coping strategies that can mask inner turmoil and sorrow, our own experiences with the syndrome and why we hid it, the stages to healing PHD, the difference between perfectionism and self-acceptance, the environmental messages we receive that foster PHD and why understanding th...

On episode 75 we welcome social psychologist and co-developer of Terror-Management Theory Sheldon Solomon to discuss his original research, which supported his hypothesis of death anxiety being at the core of most of our aggressive and selfish behaviors; how awareness of our mortality tends to make us more tribal and nationalistic; the backlash he and his colleagues received from academia when the...

On episode 74, we welcome hip-hop journalist Andrew Moffatt (Andy O4L) to discuss the Heart of an Outlaw Show; his experiences with interviewing some of his musical idols like Mutah "Napoleon" Beale, and other guests like Angie Thomas and Ajani Carr; the dark side of fame; the idealization of the illusory lives of celebrities on instagram; how Tupac's music influenced Andy's perspective; his life...

On episode 73, we welcome author and brand strategist Kate Harvie to discuss the psychological tools of overcoming trauma, focusing on her traumatic brain injury and the arduous journey back to health. Additionally, we focused on the importance of developing patience, gratitude, and recognition; how Kate coped with feeling helpless and learned to accept help; the importance of integrity and charac...

On episode 72, we welcome management consultant Ryan Stelzer to discuss toxic workplace environments, how they relate to depression and anxiety, the step by step process of creating more effective communication, the necessity of fostering psychological safety for innovation, how philosophy can be used practically to create better leaders and team members, how embracing your ability to be proactive...

On episode 71, we welcome journalist Derek Beres to talk about the structure and efficacy of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, the benefits and costs of being on psychotropic medication in the long-term, the importance of one's mindset and setting to a positive psychedelic experience, how psychedelics helped us become less critical and develop healthier frameworks of seeing others, how individua...

David is a psychiatrist, executive coach, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, author, and public philosopher living and working in Boston, Massachusetts.  On episode 70, we welcome Dr. David Brendel to discuss the significance of slowing down your thinking process to make better choices, how your mindset can prevent you from being an effective leader and why changing it can improve your managerial skil...

On episode 69 Alen and Leon talk about the new Netflix series The Playbook: A Coach's Rules for Life, exploring the elements of success, including believing in your decisions and sticking to them in difficult periods, developing empathy and compassion for others in order to foster team morale, viewing your work as something to be enjoyed instead of something forced, embracing pressure and stress a...

On episode 68, we welcome philosopher Ian Olasov to discuss his philosopher's booth and answering people's questions about god, meaning, and their own personal dilemmas; the problems with trademarking; the principles underlying both philosophical dialogues and psychotherapy; the Brooklyn Public Philosophy Series; how philosophical inquiry can be applied practically; the positive affect that philos...

On episode 67, we welcome back philosopher Samir Chopra to discuss the recent research on the mental health benefits of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, the history of psychedelic use, the potential harm, our personal psychedelic experiences, how empathy may be the mechanism behind their medicinal effects, ego-dissolution and its potential to distance one from their negative core beliefs, and h...

On episode 66, we welcome back Liz Dorval to discuss the Dunning-Kruger Effect; social and psychological strategies to mitigate its harm such as fostering the growth mindset, eliminating echo chambers, and teaching how to accept feedback; appealing to authority because of our general inability to be specialists in a multitude of areas; why self-diagnosing is often counter-productive; Jordan Peters...

On episode 65, we welcome philosopher Douglas Edwards to discuss the similarities between the philosophical quest for truth and the search for the behind-the-scenes information about professional wrestling, how story-lines get entangled with reality, how the Montreal Screwjob affected the pro-wrestling industry, character development and how wrestlers' identities often mimic our own hidden desires...

On episode 64, we welcome philosopher Helen De Cruz to discuss the politicization and polarization of scientific information, the necessity of cultivating awe for an open mind and scientific exploration, creating popular philosophy through fiction and non-fiction to reach a wider audience, new and potential technological innovations, and fostering awe through philosophy and science in film. Helen...