The Mediocre Observer (Podcast)

Author, and host of the Dismantling Doctrine podcast Clint Heacock returns to the pod to talk about how effectively the Project 2025 playbook is working, why it's terrifying, and how authoritarianism fits into it. We discuss the origins of our national motto "In God We Trust," adding "under God" to the pledge of allegiance, and the war Christian Nationalists are waging on civil liberty. ⁠ NOT SO S...

Our returning champion, former Federal Prosecutor for the district of Oregon, Amanda Marshall stops by to talk to us about the Comey indictment, national guard troops in her home town, due process, weaponization of the DOJ, mass resignation of career DOJ attorneys, selective prosecution, and why prosecutorial discretion matters. ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Friend of the Pod, Chief Warrant Officer Jon Molik, All-Source Intelligence Analyst for the Army National Guard, former All-Source Intelligence Technician for the National Guard, former Counterdrug Criminal Analyst for the DEA, former Director of Intelligence and Security for the National Guard, former Organized Crime Investigator for the New York State Attorney General’s Organized Crime division,...

Our friend, Melissa Chureau, former state prosecutor, purpose and mindset coach, mindfulness teacher, practicing lawyer,  and the host of The Fully Mindful podcast brings her 25 years of personal mindfulness practice, her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law, and her a B.A. in English Literature from U.C. Berkeley to explain that we aren't great at breathing. *She's not wrong* We talk about sta...

Friend of the pod, Alyssa Ann Beall, co-founder of the People Too Alliance, and out trans woman, talks about her experience coming to her age of awareness, transitioning, and some of the barriers and hate she's encountered.   PEOPLE TOO ALIANCE TRANSGENDER RESOURCES ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER RANTS AND RAMBLINGS ⁠

Author, and host of the Dismantling Doctrine podcast Clint Heacock returns to the pod to talk about his book "Not So Shiny Not So Happy People, How Bill Gothard, Church, and Family Taught Me Christianity Doesn't Work." Clint talks about turning away from a lifetime of studying and sharing the gospel in favor of an atheistic ideology. After earning a PhD in theology, becoming an elder...

Former US Attorney, Amanda Marshall returns to the pod to try and make sense of the presidential immunity ruling handed down by the US Supreme Court. She tells a great story about Kamala Harris going to the mat to protect the people she serves. And, she walks us through what led to the reversal of Oregon's drug decriminalization efforts (Measure 110). US SUPREME COURT DECISION (Presidential Im...

Elyse Maloni, leader in AI Operations at PanasonicWELL, stops by the pod to lament the end of human creativity! We discuss likely job disruptions and displacements caused by AI but soothe ourselves, remembering that militarized superintelligence will be the death of us all, anyhow! THE NEURON  (newsletter) THE IMPACT OF THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION ON THE BRAIN & BEHVIOR  (NIH article) HOW GENERATIV...

Intelligence Officer, Former Narcotics Investigator, and Host of the podcast Headlines and History, Jon Molik taps into our Zoom call to share some historical context on the Israeli Palestinian conflict. After reciting my Google search history, he puts us at ease about government surveillance of US Citizens and explains the FISA warrant process. We discuss Putin and the differences in dealing with...

Lewis and Clark College grad (History major) turned Baltimore Maryland City Planner turned US Department of Energy Sustainability Expert, and former high school student Steve Bruno stops by the pod for an illuminating discussion of all things energy policy. We walk through our divided political climate, disinformation, advances in sustainable energy, and we're left slightly more optimistic abo...

Former Pastor and church Elder Clint Heacock stops by the pod to talk about how his lifelong pursuit, study, and practice of his faith ultimately led him to abandon it. We talk about the damage religion is doing to our planet and the people on it. He shoots a couple holes in Noah's ark and explains why I probably shouldn't own Hebrew slaves (even if the bible tells me I can). Clint holds a...

America is OPEN FOR BUSINESS (no gays, no blacks, no Jews)! I am joined by Attorney Amanda Bruss who offers her insights and concerns about the US Supreme Court's decision allowing a Colorado web designer to refuse services to gay couples. We discuss the the 303 Creative Case, the trajectory of the court, and the role religion plays in politics. CONTACT AMANDA BRUSS ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE O...

In this bite-sized pod, we examine how texting might contribute to the devolution of communication in America. We discuss why Americans are demanding reductive communications. We try to decide what the best emoji is to convey, "I'm terrified to have an actual conversation." Chat and text can be useful but are their overuse driving us apart? ⁠⁠⁠⁠CONTACT THE MEDIOCRE OBSERVER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠...

I am joined by a member of "the lifestyle" to talk about ethical non-monogamy. We explore the risks and rewards of opening up your relationship. We talk about cucking, sucking, and f**king. We talk insecurity, jealousy, and the pleasure to be found in watching your partner pleasure (or get pleasured by) someone else.  OPENING UP: A GUIDE TO CREATING AND SUSTAINING OPEN RELATIONSHIPS BY T...

I am joined by Dr. Andrea Liner (the Breakup Doc), Clinical Psychologist, to talk about what's wrong with America's brain! We spitball on critical thinking among our electorate and how it manifests in dating and relationships. We talk about the dumbing down of America, the role of religion in critical thinking, and common errors in thinking and how to avoid them. BREAKUP, DATING, AND RELAT...

I am joined by Jenn Culbert, my insightful, funny, thoughtful friend, to talk about dating in America in the digital age. We talk about being catfished, how awful texting is, people that don't know how calendars work, and misleading profiles. We discuss the fire hose of humanity that is online dating - how the inability of so many to think critically plays into imagined concerns about giving o...

I am joined once again by Amanda Marshall, former Oregon Department of Justice Prosecutor, Obama appointed US Attorney for the District of Oregon, currently in private practice offering criminal defense and civil litigation services. We talk about the push for police abolition and the validity of the movement, the violent nature of policing, and the violence it perpetrates and perpetuates. THE BOO...

I am joined today by Amanda Marshall, former Oregon Department of Justice Prosecutor, Obama appointed US Attorney for the District of Oregon, and currently in private practice offering criminal defense and civil litigation services. We talk about the origins of America's fake and failed war on drugs. We riff on mass incarceration. We talk about the efficacy of treating drug addiction with handcuff...

I am joined today by Claire Doré, Author, Writer, Entrepreneur, and Coach. She talks with us about her upcoming book about her own sexual liberation and what she's learned and observed in the process. We talk about kinks, boundaries, communication, finding your voice, asking for what you want, learning your body, and enjoying the tremendous pleasure found in shaking loose the restrictions we a...

I am joined today by Ashley Carlotta, Founder, Owner, and Health Coach at Better Health by Accountability. Ashley talks about body image issues and how we develop them. We talk about the culture shift towards celebrating people for being comfortable with bodies they shouldn't be comfortable with. I try to get attention for running a half marathon. We address many of the factors contributing to Ame...

I am joined today by Ricki Silber. Ricki is a bonafide thru-hiker who's completed the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada as well as other epic trails. She moved from New Jersey to Israel when she was 18 where she lived for 10 years. She is a spiritual coach specializing in helping people align their lives with their environments (or align their environment with their lives). She incorporate...

Death Doula Erin Merelli stops by the pod to share her insights on dying - people grappling with lifelong beliefs, talking to the dead, America's culture of death aversion, and how to speak to someone who is terminal. Please click the link below to get more information about death doulas from Erin Merelli's organization. And you can always contact The Mediocre Observer with questions or input. We...

I am joined today by Melissa Chureau. Melissa is a former prosecutor, a mother, a woman, a voter, host of the podcast The Fully Mindful. We talk about life, getting and staying grounded, the current state and trajectory of the Supreme Court as it removes abortion rights protections and rolls back Miranda protections. Please click the links below to get involved. And you can always contact The Medi...