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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 away the ending here, but I will just say that I’m feeling some serious discomfort about posting this show.  I will also say that I think it’s a very important show to post, so I’m postin’ it.

And now I’m going to go lie down and feel scared for a little while.  Luckily I know that uncomfortable feelings aren’t the end of the world.

Over and out.

Amy

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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 one up for yourself so you’d feel happy?
What kind of professional and personal boundaries do you have?

Wade and Judy are true explorers of all sorts of realms, and it was fun to play the new “20 Questions” game with them.  (PS and they’re REALLY  CUTE!)

Cayo Costa, FL

camping cousins

Thanks Chris Kasper for today’s tune Devil’s Gold.

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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 ones.

At the end of the episode, Ryan Tennis sings

Find your way home all alone, all alone.

The evening’s final light will show the way
with colors it won’t show you in the day.
And the softer light illuminates within
the faces and the places that you’ve been.

So find your way home, all alone, all alone.
Seeds you have sown have finally grown, finally grown.

And your dreams tonight will tell you where to go,
in which direction you will surely know.
To the deepest inner longing of your soul
where from your birth you felt that aching hole.

So find your way home, all alone, all alone.

…and then the listener is washed away in what sounds/feels to me like a waterfall of tears… which seems just about right.

Kara and Amy up on the rooooof

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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 is partly a further explanation of some things I said in my interview with Daniel Mackler last week, and partly just a regular ol’ Amy-blah about consciousness.  Or whatever.

I’m also joined by (son) Jonathan who took a break from being a mathematical genius to get some annoyance off his chest.  And also, to admit that he’s not that smart and is really a dick (see?! – an epidemic!)

(Spoiler warning: It turns out he thinks traumas make life “fun!”)

Once I’ve annoyed nearly everyone, I know my work for the day is complete.  I think I hear my pillow calling me.

xoAmy

PS

Here’s a shout out to Up The Chain for sharing their upbeat hit What We Were Before with us.  I figure, if we have to get along on this little crazy planet, we might as well be dancing while we do it!

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“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 was born into a religious family living in a religious community, but at 19 he chose a different path.  A few weeks ago his brother Jason killed himself, and again Steven’s world crumbled.  After the funeral Steve made the following speech:

“I just want to say one thing: none of us have any fucking idea what’s going on, and it really angers me that many of you pretend that you do.”

People… can I get a resounding AMEN?

Since I know some of you won’t feel that 30 minutes is enough, you can listen to my entire unedited interview with Steven here.

Steven’s request for music was “anything by Jonathan Childs” – a request I happily granted.

Peace ~ Amy

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