How do you learn to want the things you want to want?Jonathan says – “with attitude.” He says, approaching attitude intentionally will increase the likelihood that your attitude will be successful, and a successful attitude is one that gets y

Jonathan’s Universe

Sep 30th, 2015 29m 20s

Jonathan and the ‘Forward Thinking Novel’ gangIn this episode we hear Jonathan’s current (abridged) thoughts, questions and feelings about life, the universe, and everything (or something).To listen to a lot more of musical Jonny (aka Capta

Meaning of Life

Aug 25th, 2015 23m 28s

When Jonathan was about three, he once asked me “What’s going on, and what’s the meaning of it?” It has been a family question ever since.My poor children, when they agreed to be interviewed for Season 9, didn’t realize I’d be asking them to a

C42: Curling Up in a Ball in the Middle of the Floor

Mar 30th, 2012 35m 44s

So, “for the fun of saying words,” my son Jonathan told me a bit about his “past session of craziness,” his frustration with his own emotional detachment, and wanting to vomit away the nonsense.But, as you’ll hear, even when Jonathan is crazy

C41: We’re All Confused

Feb 15th, 2012 25m 7s

In the last Consciousness episode, Jonathan and I made a list of “our basic point of view in a nutshell,” and item number three was “Everyone is confused.”Today I expand on this idea. I hope it’s not too confusing.At the end of the episode y

C40: Basic Nutshell of Our Point of View (maybe)

Jan 7th, 2012 30m 43s

Just before recording this episode, Jonathan had listened to the Consciousness37 episode of WWA, in which my guest (Daniel Mackler) shared his basic point of view, an essay he wrote in list form. This had inspired Jonathan to want to make his

C39: Occupy Wall Street

Oct 18th, 2011 38m 40s

When my son Jonathan was about three years old, he asked me “What’s going on, and what’s the meaning of it?” I didn’t know then and I don’t know now, but in the ‘consciousness’ thread of this podcast I continue to wonder.That question came to

C38: Kara Helps Me Talk About Free Will (and other things)

Jul 29th, 2011 30m 48s

Today Kara and I explore my fear of confronting the topic of free will, of scaring away (or being attacked by) kitty cats, and the monsters of bardo. Also why I want to be a “mum” (= a monk + a nun).If you’re interested, here’s a sample of so

C37: Certainty and Urgency

Jul 6th, 2011 56m 24s

Today’s episode borders on daytime TV drama – if only Daniel and I had lamps to throw at each other!Just kidding. Sort of.Daniel first talks about stating things as fact, the challenges of giving the “answers” without “showing his work,” then

C36: Consciousness Intermission – The Game of Life

May 12th, 2011 21m 10s

In today’s little ditty of a show I expound upon the “game” analogy that popped into my head when pondering the meaning of life.When Season Six continues, these are some of the things I want to talk about with Daniel. In the meantime I though

C35: Parents and Cults

Apr 12th, 2011 30m 54s

I started off trying to find out more about the “gap” between Daniel and me, and we soon wandered off into other areas, talking about how parents can speed up their path to enlightenment, cults (what they are, how families can be cults, and how

Consciousness34: Daniel on Enlightenment

Apr 6th, 2011 31m 15s

According to Daniel (who got it from Alice Miller), enlightenment is a synonym for “connection with the true self,” and an enlightened person is someone who is strongly connected with true self, can see the truth and can speak it.Today Daniel

Consciousness33: Daniel on Self-Reflection and Honesty

Mar 30th, 2011 30m 13s

In this, the second “Season Six” interview with Daniel Mackler, we talk about some consciousness basics: self-reflection, empathy, healthy human development, telling the truth, therapy and self-therapy, true selves and false selves.This show (

Consciousness32: Daniel Asks Me Some Questions

Feb 23rd, 2011 31m 17s

In this episode I answer some questions about Bryn Athyn (the small religious town where I lived from 5th grade until marriage), and Daniel Mackler gives his assessment of whether or not Bryn Athyn qualifies as a cult.I’m not going to give awa

Consciousness31: Jonathan Asks Me Some Questions

Feb 14th, 2011 30m 17s

I liked the part when Jonathan talked about his usual reaction to emptiness:takin care a bizniss“OH NO!… MUST… FILL… WITH… CRAP!”We had a fun time exploring this reaction – and other things – in today’s interview.Another regular day in the

Consciousness30: Wade and Judy Ask Me Some Questions

Feb 5th, 2011 28m 25s

Kicking off Season 5 (the one in which listeners pose the questions), Wade and Judy asked me a variety of things, like:Why did you ask people to interview you?What did you do this morning?Do you think you have a life purpose, or did you make

Consciousness29: Finding Found

Jan 25th, 2011 36m 47s

Today we get to hear more about Kara’s journey of integrating the precious little baby part of herself called Found.Kara with her granddaughter Magia, a few hours oldLucky us.At the end of the show my adorable niece Anjuli Dawn sings to us h

Consciousness28: Lost Parts

Nov 11th, 2010 32m 7s

Kara Tennis is baaaack!As a special guest star on today’s show, Kara talks about one of her most primal inner parts she calls Found, and about her recent project that aims (among other things) to introduce Found to one hundred of Kara’s loved

Consciousness27: Ethics As a Path to Healing

Oct 20th, 2010 29m 51s

Cory Anderson is a friend of mine, and when he said he had some things he wanted to talk about on my podcast, I was totally into the idea. In this episode he shares some of his thoughts about and experiences with how his study of philosophy an

Consciousness26: Criminals and Retards

Oct 4th, 2010 33m 13s

Okay, okay settle DOWN everyone. Yes I know it seems very insensitive of me to use the word “retard.” My defense is 1) sometimes I’m kinda insensitive and 2) we are ALL fricken retards. Seriously! So let’s get over it, shall we?Today’s show

Consciousness25: Ethics 101

Sep 24th, 2010 31m 43s

If you’re someone who wonders “What does it mean to be a good person?” then this is the discussion for you. Personally, I don’t usually wonder that, but Greg is a hot young guy so I have to be nice to him and listen to what he says.j/k (sort

Consciousness24: Steven Schnarr, Life and Death

Sep 9th, 2010 31m 16s

“We are beautiful because we are mistaken, and we are forgiven before we begin.” – part of a poem by Steven, which he kinda thought was “bullshit” but also made him feel like he was awesome. (Personally, I side with “awesome.”)Steven Schnarr w

Consciousness23: People Are Precious

Aug 26th, 2010 29m 18s

As promised in today’s show, here’s the newly decorated cover of my journal:If you want to find out more about today’s featured singer-songwriter – the beloved Anders Hyatt – you could follow him on twitter.And even though they make me cry,

Consciousness22: Feelings 102

Aug 4th, 2010 26m 22s

A listener asked “Feelings don´t mean anything??? Anything? At all?”Okay, I admit it – I don’t know if feelings mean something or not. I just said that to git a rise outta ya.No really I said it because it seemed like a good place to start,

Consciousness21: Feelings 101

Jul 18th, 2010 31m 30s

Sometimes we give feelings too much credit – either we think they’re super important, or super troublesome. Typically, girls think they’re important, and boys think they’re trouble.I agree that they’re both – but actually, neither. Of course.