Life is a Festival

Would you believe that carnivals are a crucial element of social movements? Indeed, today's guest, Professor Nick Powers, suggests that by emphasizing fun, sacrilege, and even the grotesque, we can safeguard social justice against dogmatism and self-righteousness, preventing its co-option. During our conversation, Nick and I reminisce about our early days as passionate, albeit somewhat overzealous, young activists. We share our mutual love of Burning Man, where he co-founded the People of Color Camp. Nick unpacks the concept of the "carnivalesque" and categorizes carnivals into three types: reactionary, status quo, and revolutionary. We propose a path forward, using festivals for social change, specifically for three types of individuals: the fervent young activist, the burnt-out revolutionary, and the complacent progressive. We discuss how diversity finally arrived at Burning Man and, lastly, why the white working class is the "prodigal son" of history. Dr. Nicholas Powers, PhD, is a novelist, poet, journalist, and professor based in New York. As a tenured Associate Professor of Literature at SUNY Old Westbury, his political writing has been featured in Truth Out, The Independent Catalyst, Raw Story, Business Insider, Lucid News, The Village Voice, and Vibe. His books include 'Theater of War,' 'The Ground Below Zero: 9/11 to Burning Man, New Orleans to Haiti, and Occupy Wall Street,' and 'Thirst.' It was an honor to visit Nick in his Brooklyn home for this engaging conversation—the first time on this show that we delve deeply into politics while ensuring that life remains a festival. Links Nicholas Powers The Ground Below Zero: 9/11 to Burning Man Carnivalesque - Wikipedia Burners Without Borders Rabelais and His World MANIFESTO OF SURREALISM Winnicot, Playing and Reality Klaus Theweleit’s Male Fantasies vol 1: Men and Women Asata Shakur For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is EnufSherman Alexie – Flight (Chapter 1) Timestamps :09 - How Nick and I were both insufferable young activists… and went to Burning Man :27 - Carnivalesque: Reactionary, Status Quo, and Revolutionary Carnivals :44 - The path forward for y the fiery young activist, the burnt out revolutionary, and the complacent progressive :54 - How diversity arrived at the Burn 1:04 - Resources to better understand the Revolutionary Carnival 1:14 - The white working class as the prodigal son of history

Today is National Fentanyl Awareness Day, and I believe this issue to be the most pressing concern facing our community of cognitive liberty. I use drugs and psychedelics to explore my consciousness, and many of the people I love do the same. The issue of fentanyl adulteration and the 100,000 deaths categorized as overdoses in 2020 indicate that this problem affects us all. I personally have friends who have died from fentanyl adulteration. In this episode, I am reposting a conversation I had with Mitchell Gomez, the director of DanceSafe. Our original podcast was longer, covering various topics before concluding with a discussion about fentanyl. I've shortened that episode, focusing entirely on what we can do about fentanyl: understanding why it appears in various drugs, the importance of testing all drugs, how to test them, why we should carry Narcan, and how to use it. Essentially, this is a comprehensive PSA about fentanyl. Mitchell serves as the Executive Director for DanceSafe, a Denver-based 501(c)(3) organization focused on health education and harm reduction. He also works as a Harm Reduction Consultant at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Mitchell has held positions on the CU Denver MURPAA (Master of Urban and Regional Planning Alumni Association) board, the Jefferson County Community Development Advisory Board, and the Denver Drug Strategy Commission Data Subcommittee. If you're someone like me who enjoys using drugs that are unfortunately subject to misguided prohibition, it's crucial for you to know this information. That's why I'm sharing it again today. LINKS Mitchell Gomez: http://www.mitchellgomez.com/ Dancesafe: https://dancesafe.org/ Fentanyl Test Strips – Pack Of 10: https://dancesafe.org/product/fentanyl-test-strips-pack-of-10-free-shipping/ Dancesafe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancesafe_/ Mitchell Gomez Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MitchellGomezAcamapichtli Prohibition-Driven Misrepresentation and How We Can Fix It Together: https://maps.org/news/bulletin/prohibition-driven-misrepresentation/ Finding Carcan: https://www.narcan.com/ NARCAN training video - Instructions for administration of NARCAN® Nasal Spray 4mg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGdUFMrCRh4 TIMESTAMPS :07 - What is “harm reduction” :11 - An “overdose” is actually a “prohibition created drug adulteration deaths” :16 - Why we’re seeing Fentanyl adulteration in non-opioid markets :30  - Use Fentanyl strips to test your whole bag :44 - How to get and use Narcan

People in conscious communities often pay lip service to shadow work, but what does it truly mean to embrace darkness—both the darkness of the world and within our own hearts? Snow Raven (Haar Suor), a member of the shamanic Sakha people from Arctic Siberia, knows darkness intimately, and it has inspired her transformative music from America's Got Talent to Burning Man. On the show, we discuss the Sakha Republic as one of the darkest places on Earth and explore how mental health challenges can be seen as an initiation into shamanism. We delve into the 12 levels of Arctic Shamanism and how Snow Raven was chosen to carry the sacred drum. We also touch upon the beauty of darkness through Eamon's personal vision of a raven. Snow Raven shares her iconic Reindeer Breath Arctic beatboxing and explains why she considers TikTok to be a platform for small rituals. Born in a small village in Sakha (Arctic Siberia), Snow Raven began learning the language of birds and animals at just three years old. Her voice, deeply rooted in traditional Sakha culture, is truly an instrument. As the originator of "Arctic Beatbox"—the reindeer breath—and the creator of "Neoshamanic Healing" ceremonies, Snow Raven brings a unique perspective to our conversation about meeting all parts of ourselves. Links SUOR - Snow Raven (@snowravenofficial) • Instagram SNOW RAVEN (@snowravenofficial) - TikTok SNOW RAVEN Youtube Article: Gifts of the Ancestors What Siberian Sakha Shamanism Offers to the West Snow Raven - "Web of Life" (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - YouTube Olox.life: Arctic Siberian music Timestamps :07 - The darkest inhabitable place on Earth :16 -  Mental health as initiation to shamanism   :25 - 12 levels of Arctic Shamanism :32 - How the shaman’s blessed Snow Raven’s music :41 - Eamon’s Raven story :45 - The unexpected sweetness of embracing darkness :55 - Reindeer Breath / Arctic Beat boxing 1:04 - TikTok as a platform for creating small rituals 

Victorien Mulliez, French DJ, flutist, and social impact entrepreneur, shares his secrets to cultivating joy including creativity, nature, and Vipassana meditation. He discusses his journey towards sobriety and the power of music in finding joy. The interview also explores the mixed feelings towards Vipassana practice and the desire for a more authentic spiritual experience

Stephen Jenkinson, a poetic cultural activist, discusses the limitations of personal growth, advocating for embracing impending catastrophes. He challenges the obsession with constant improvement and explores the balance between self-care and societal contribution. The conversation delves into the concepts of wholeness versus goodness, the importance of internal exploration, and the role of elder mentorship in navigating life's challenges.

Ian MacKenzie, filmmaker and host of the Mythic Masculine Podcast, discusses mythopoetic masculinity. Topics include the history of the Mythopoetic Men's Movement, the value of myth vs fact in exploring truth, and Ian's four year cycle of fasting in the wilderness.

Just over a month ago, the beloved Visionary Artist Android Jones lost his life's work and all his tools for creation in a fire on his property in Colorado. Today, Android returns to Life is a Festival to share his experience of loss, the profound opening of asking for help and his thoughts on AI art. On the program Android describes how he designed his studio as a runway to attract the muse. He discusses his experience of losing the barn and how he processed his grief with kickboxing and the support of a trusted therapist. He shares a traumatic experience when he was eleven years old that made it difficult for him to ask for help but how the love of his community after the fire has helped him to open up. We finish our conversation with the sense of loss that artists feel with the advent of AI art and how this new paradigm will raise the bar for authenticity. Andrew "Android" Jones is an American digital and multimedia artist whose work focuses on fantasy and psychedelic art. He is considered one of the leading figures in the visionary arts movement. Timestamps: :07 - Creating a runway for the muse :12 - Describing massive grief :23 - Andrew’s 11 year old trauma and fear of asking for help :35 - Vulnerability and the artist :46- What Android is doing now :58 - The grief of the artist in the face of AI art 1:08 - AI raises the bar for authenticity Links: Android Jones Official Online Store of Android Jones Android Jones (@android_jones) • Instagram Android Jones (@Android_Jones) · Twitter The Great Decoherence of Android Jones - Lucid News

In 2017 I attended Afrikburn, the Burning Man regional event which takes place a few hours north of Cape Town in the Tankwa Karoo. Afterwards, I wrote an article called “Afrikburn: The Unbearable Whiteness of Burning” with the wisdom and support of Co-founder and Creative Director Monique Shiess. Today on the show, I reconnect with Monique to discuss how things have change for Afrikaburn in the last five years. On the show Monique shares her experience growing up in South Africa and producing events with the radical Mother City Queer Project during the fall of Apartheid. We talk about the founding of AfrikaBurn and the ways it diverges from Burning Man in the US. We discuss the challenges to radical inclusivity in a country with a racial history like South Africa and how the organizers reworked that principle to better reflect the need for assertive action in their country. We discuss Afrikaburn’s new permanent location, land rights in Africa, and the event’s relationship to the indigenous San people. Throughout the conversation we explore what it means to party with a purpose, rather than simply throw and empty “jol.” Monique has worn many hats at Afrikaburn including Creative Director and Development Lead. She is currently on a well earned sabbatical. She studied Environmental Science at University of Cape Town, was a Ranger Umlani Bushcamp, and also a Coordinator at Mother City Queer Project before cofounding the South African Regional Burning Man Event in 2007. Afrikaburn is the 2nd largest official Burning Man event in the world. Links Monique Schiess (@moniqueschiess) • Instagram AfrikaBurn | Invent the World Anew AfrikaBurn - Facebook AfrikaBurn (@afrikaburn) • Instagram AfrikaBurn - Twitter AfrikaBurn: The Unbearable Whiteness of Burning Timestamps :09 - The new AfrikaBurn site is more feminine :13 - Mother City Queer Project and celebrating the end of Apartheid :21 - The “Jol” and how Monique started a burn in South Africa :27 - The difference between AfrikaBurn and Burning Man (the Gerlach Regional): San Clan, 11th Principle :40 - The unbearable whiteness of burning in Africa and attempts to change the demographics of AfrikaBurn :48 - Challenges to creating a more inclusive AfrikaBurn :53 - Amending the “Radical inclusivity” Principle for AfrikaBurn 1:02 - Partying with a Purpose 1:09 - Afrikaburn’s new location and land rights issues in South Africa 1:16 - Afrikaburn’s relationship to the San people, the indigenous people of South Africa

Why is a Buddhist meditation teacher trying to heal attachment styles? Aren’t Buddhists supposed to be all about non-attachment? Today's guest, George Haas, has been teaching meditation since 2000, and lately focuses primarily on preparing the path to enlightenment by resolving maladaptive responses to difficult childhood experiences. On the show we talk about different insecure attachment styles, including anxious-preoccupied, avoidant and disorganized. We talk about what an earned secure attachment actually is and how we can get there based on Dan Brown's work with the three pillars: mentalizing, secure attachment modeling, and the ideal parent figure protocol. We explore how to love someone with a challenging attachment style and the different specific tracks for insecure and disorganized attachment styles to earn secure attachment. And finally, we look at why our attachment strategies impact not only our romantic lives, but our entire experience of the world. George began teaching meditation in 2000. He founded Mettagroup in 2003 and became an empowered teacher through Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, where he taught from 2007 to 2016. Along with his daily Morning Meditation and full schedule of one-on-one students, he continues to teach weekly classes and intensives in Los Angeles, and offer day-long, weekend and extended retreats around the country. He is the host of the “I Love You, Keep Going” podcast. Links Mettagroup I Love You, Keep Going podcast Netherlands Retreat Insight Timer Attachment Repair Timestamps :06 - Why does a Buddhist meditation teacher focus on healing attachment styles :10 - Can your attachment style change? :19 - How to tap into compassion for people with different attachment styles from yours :23 - Organized vs Disorganized attachment styles :30 - How avoidant people shut down :36 - What is an earned secure attachment :41 - The ideal parent figure protocol :45 - Mentalizing and self-regulation :53 - How to love someone with a challenging attachment style 1:00 - The tracks for different insecure and disorganized attachments styles to earn a secure attachment 1:08 - Why our attachment strategies impact our entire experience of the world

If you've been listening to the podcast for a while, you may know that I have a mentor and spiritual guide named Benjamin, an extraordinarily generous man who seems to have inexhaustible time for me in guiding my path forward. For many years, Benjamin has been working on a process of dissolution of the constructed self. In this conversation, Ben and I talk about the nature of the self, from a neuroscience perspective to a mythopoetic perspective. We explore completing the construction of the ego before dissembling it. We talk about Dark Nights of the Soul and Spiritual Emergence. We discuss how to navigate praise, success, and pleasure when you are working on reducing the self. Ben offers some tangible ways to see through the self: awareness through vipassana meditation, reducing self-absorption through loving kindness and reducing to zero through a gratitude practice. We discuss mental health challenges and the medicine of service, and finally, I ask Ben: “Is your life a festival?” I'm not going to offer a biography of Benjamin because that would be counter to his very project but he is an extraordinarily generous and kind man who has influenced many, many people's lives and especially my own, and I am deeply honored to offer his wisdom for you today. Happy New Year. Links Life is a Festival #100: The Yang Container | Benjamin How Emotions Are Made | Lisa Feldman Barrett Sapiens - Yuval Noah Harari The Hero with a Thousand Faces : Campbell, Joseph Jules Evans – Medium Kegan's Stages of Adult Development The Stormy Search for the Self: A Guide to Personal Growth ... Life is a Festival #92: A Vaccine for Conspirituality | Erik Davis Life is a Festival #73: Trip Sitting America | The TeaFaerie  Timestamps :06 - Meditation as an anchor point to attune to your greater being :14 - What is the Self :17 - Nueroscientific view of the Self :22 - Mythopoetic view of the Self :30 - Completing the construction of the ego before disassembling it :35 - Dark Night of the soul and spiritual emergence :46- How to navigate praise and success and pleasure :56 - Tangible ways to see through the Self: Awareness of Self through vipassana meditation, reducing self-absorption through loving kindness meditation, reducing to zero through gratitude practice 1:00 - Mental health challenges, the Self, and the medicine of service 1:10 - Forcing functions for maintaining commitment to Self-dissolution 1:15 - Is Ben’s Life a Festival