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 Happy New Year Boys and Girls! Lucky 2013 to you, and welcome to Season 8. Whoot!
We’re bringing in the new year with an all-too-brief introduction to Season 8′s co-host, Natasha Clark – single mom of four, student, feminist, goofball, poet and author of the (currently dormant) blog Men Are Women Too.
I met Natasha during my year of bardo wandering, and later had the so-crazy-it-just-might-work idea of asking her to be my guest for a season of podcasts. Even though she’s super busy going to school, raising her kids, having an adorable GF and being facebook friends with Mr. Deity – lucky us – she still said yes.
Natasha was a Mormon and now she’s not, and she has the sexy sundress and residual shame to prove it.
Today she tells us a little (way too little) bit about leaving home at 15, becoming a Mormon at 16, getting married at 18 – and somewhere along the way discovering the sweaty annoyance of magical underwear, ahem I’m sorry, I mean, garments.
Also covers (with equally frustrating lack of detail) the phenomena of Mormon happiness, anti-depressants, and whether or not life is meant to be a struggle (like “I think a lot of the things Mormons say have to be hard, don’t have to be hard; and the things they say are easy are actually hard.”)
I know you will be left wanting for more, so try to be patient – but also feel free to nag us relentlessly on the WWA facebook wall with your questions, comments and friendly enthusiasm as well.
And don’t forget to check out Ryan Tennis’s new CD, Pack Light But Bring Everything. Woo!
Happy Thirteen,
Amy
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Freethought blogger and philosophy professor Dan Fincke talks with me today about all kinds of stuff, like…
 Dan How attending a very religious college helped him become an atheist (with help from Nietzsche); how his passion to further public discussion keeps him going; his thoughts about happiness and fulfilling human potential; the importance of building community that is based on common rational values, the process of “coming out” as an atheist; religious PTSD; struggle and growth; “A” week (soon!) and the Reason Rally (very very soon!)
(No wonder Dan was worried I wasn’t going to be able to edit this down to a half hour show….)
If you want the longer versions of any of these topics, you’re going to have to pay a visit to Dan’s blog Camels With Hammers, which he updates regularly – and with gusto, I must say.
Our closing musical treat comes to us from Australia – “Saved” by Shelley Segal is the hit single from her latest CD An Atheist Album. You can go buy her record and/or you can hear her perform at the aforementioned Reason Rally next week. So what are you waiting for? Tally ho!
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“Contentment is pretty damn lucky.”
-Kara Tennis
The beloved Kara is back with us today talking about her journey toward being disillusioned (“in the good sense”), being aligned with her true being, and being allowed to breathe even if she doesn’t change the world.
We got talking about her new website (sorry I’m not allowed to give you the link until it’s perfect) and the reassurance, support and company that she offers clients as a self-possession specialist. Good stuff, all real good stuff.
Kara briefly mentions that 1/3 of the income from her business goes directly to the Hunger Project and FeelGood, so I thought I would mention them here too, cause they are awesome and worthy organizations working to end hunger in really empowering and successful ways. Click now and donate today!!
The closing song is sung by Kara’s daughter Anna – ear candy, I tell you. Enjoy.
So now let’s all hang out and “not-belong” together.
xoAmy
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This episode (as well as the upcoming next three) are recordings of conversations that Jonathan and I had while I was on a quick mid-bardo trip back to Philly this month.
 my kids getting me at the airport Today you’ll hear us discuss how we are thinking and feeling about happiness, flow, our lives, our year, words and hallmark cards.
The show is brought to a close with Kirsti Gholson‘s “happysad poetry pop” tune, The Ice Is Melting.
Happy holidays and cozy dark nights,
Amy
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In today’s episode I chat with Kara about my birthday and my recent explorations in happiness, wellbeing, ethics, Sam Harris, good, evil, hitchhiking, and eating moldy food.
I also want everyone to watch this TED talk by Sam Harris, or check out his books or his blog so we can have fun pondering these things together.
Today’s musical endnote is the song “The Secret in the Garden” by Chris Grunwald, aka Griz.
Thanks for everything, y’all.
Amy
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Yes you heard me, Kara Tennis is back! Today she joins me “in the studio,” helping me to explore and express my “abnormalities,” talking about the word “fun,” explaining why people get triggered by me, and expounding a bit on the ways I do and don’t get hurt.
Just in case anyone wanted to know.
And if you’re in the mood to get jiggy wit it, Plume Giant gives us a sweet harmony to close out today’s show. I hope you enjoy it.
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In my final four (“Season Six”) interviews with Daniel Mackler, I’ve decided to let our conversations (and therefore, these podcasts) remain mostly unedited, and to surpass their usual length. So you’ve got a whole hour to listen to here!
Today we talk about all kinds of things, like: who is Daniel’s audience (and the brand new essay on his site); the difference between “teaching” and “sharing;” clues that Daniel gives and how to test his theories; the idea of “shoulds;” the purpose of life; and more debate (is that the right word?) about Amy’s methods vs Daniel’s.
To be continued, as always…
xoAmy
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While Daniel is off gallivanting around the world, back here in Philadelphia I continue to ponder. Today’s show is a brief update on my latest thoughts about happiness, being a happiness consultant, the “gap” I sometimes perceive between Daniel and me, and thoughts about starting a whole new podcast.
Never a dull moment!
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I chose the title for today’s episode with hopes that you would think it was funny. (Did you?)
What I’m trying to do in this and the next three shows (C35, S35, P35) is to pick at Daniel a little bit, in search for an explanation of why I feel such a gap between the way I am and the way Daniel is – even though I don’t quite disagree with a word he says.
So far, I haven’t gotten to it. But today’s show is my first stab, for what it’s worth.
We also touch on various topics along the way, including objective truth, black and white thinking, our similar and dissimilar goals, and being a ‘Denial Buster.’
Today Daniel said “Ultimately, the real objective answer comes from within… because we are all perfect deep inside, we all know the truth deep inside.” I’m going to be pondering that one for a good long while.
Another thing he said was “Just test it for yourself!”
And for that I’ll give him an Amen.
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In today’s show Daniel defines the True Self as: Who we really are as a person, the real honest core, the essence of what makes us human, the part of us that is perfect, beneath all the traumas (all the hurt, wounds, rage, anger, frustrations, dissociation, fake happiness, projections, fantasies), the part that is connected to truth and knows truth.
When asked, How does one find one’s true self? he said: Be as honest with yourself as you possibly can be.
Kinda really simple, and kinda really really really hard.
Daniel also lists several things you can do to connect with your true self (apparently the same thing as “self-therapy,” I realized today). If you want to see some of those ideas in black and white, here is an essay Daniel wrote on the subject.
I also recommend his little book on self-therapy (written with his best friend Fred, who I can testify is also a rare (and delightful) soul.) Even though it’s only 44 pages, I recommend taking a year to read it, because it’s not the reading that matters – it’s the actual doing that makes the difference.
So many people claim to know the secrets to being “happy, healthy and wise.” From where I’m sitting, it seems the only place you’ll ever really find those secrets are buried deep inside you.
So how ’bout go on in there, pull up a comfy chair with yourself, and stay awhile.
xoAmy
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