Seize the Moment Podcast

On episode 113, we welcome philosopher Constantine Sandis to discuss the new book ‘Philosophy Illustrated’, Ludwig Wittgenstein’s beetle in the box thought experiment, whether we can experience another’s pain specifically and understand their experiences broadly, why Wittgenstein was skeptical of the skeptic argument that we can’t, Wittgenstein’s belief that philosophical problems were essentially problems in the clarity of language as opposed to objective issues, the neuroscientific research on pain, Wittgenstein’s obsession with self-improvement and how he utilized confession to foster his own growth, and the pessimism he felt about his relationships. Constantine Sandis is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Hertfordshire, founding director of Lex Academic, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, UK. His work centers around philosophical questions relating to moral psychology, action, explanation, and interpersonal understanding. Constantine Sandis is the co-editor, along with Gary Browning, of the book, “Dylan at 80: It used to go like that, and now it goes like this” and is one of contributing authors prominently featured in Helen De Cruz’s new book, “Philosophy Illustrated: Forty-two Thought Experiments To Broaden Your Mind.” | Constantine Sandis | ► Website | https://www.constantinesandis.com ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/csandis ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/csandis ► Philosophy Illustrated Book | https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Illustrated-Helen-Cruz/dp/0190080531 Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast  ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast #ConstantineSandis #PhilosophyIllustrated #Wittgenstein #Philosophy #ThoughtExperiment #ThoughtExperiments #SeizeTheMoment #SeizeTheMomentPodcast #STMPodcast  

On episode 112, we welcome back philosopher Bryan Van Norden to discuss the new book ‘Philosophy Illustrated’, the philosophy of Mengzi and the sprout of benevolence, the argument that human nature is fundamentally good, how it can become corrupted, egoistic drives and their relationship to depression, the significance of community for cultivating a sense of meaning, emotions and why they’re the foundations of all vice and virtue, if some are born evil and Tony Soprano’s moral decay, and the purpose and benefits of thought experiments. Bryan W. Van Norden is James Monroe Taylor Chair in Philosophy at Vassar College (USA), and Chair Professor in Philosophy in the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University (China). Bryan W. Van Norden is a translator of Chinese philosophical texts and scholar of Chinese and comparative philosophy. He’s an expert on Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Van Norden has published ten books and is featured as one of the authors in the book we are discussing today, Philosophy Illustrated: 42 Thought Experiments to Broaden Your Mind. | Bryan Van Norden | ► Website | http://www.bryanvannorden.com ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/BryanVanNorden ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/BryanWVanNorden ► Philosophy Illustrated Book | https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Illustrated-Helen-Cruz/dp/0190080531 Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast  ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

On episode 111, we welcome back philosopher Helen De Cruz to discuss the significance of illustrating thought experiments, using them to illicit and explore our intuitive beliefs, the extended mind hypothesis and whether our cell phones are part of us, the nature of dreams, if created identical, lookalikes would be us, whether humans only behave ethically for selfish reasons, The Matrix and why some people prefer living in simulations, Paris Hilton’s virtual reality club and her preference for it over performing in real venues, what Plato’s Cave teaches us about true happiness, and what people would gain from more engagement with thought experiments. Helen De Cruz is a professor of philosophy and Danforth Chair of Philosophy at Saint Louis University who specializes in philosophy of religion, experimental philosophy, and philosophy of cognitive science. Her latest book, which she edited and illustrated, is called Philosophy Illustrated: 42 Thought Experiments to Broaden Your Mind. Thought experiments are tools philosophers and scientists use to investigate how things are, without actually having to go out and experiment in the real world. This book presents forty-two philosophical thought experiments. Each thought experiment is illustrated by De Cruz (who is an illustrator as well as a philosopher), and is summarized in one or two paragraphs, which is followed by a brief exploration of its significance. Each thought experiment also includes a longer (approximately 2-page) reflection, written by a philosopher who is a specialist in the field. De Cruz's unique illustrations serve as visual and accessible starting points for classroom discussions in Intro to Philosophy courses. | Helen De Cruz | ► Website | http://helendecruz.net ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/Helenreflects ► Philosophy Illustrated Book | https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Illustrated-Helen-Cruz/dp/0190080531 Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast  ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

On episode 110, Alen and Leon discuss dealing with covid in 2021; the behind the scenes of podcasting - the struggles they both have with anxiety the night before and day of a show, finding ways to remain motivated, and with producing the show; the ways in which their guests have inspired them, especially Mike Walrond and Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who faced death on numerous occasions and continue to lead exemplary lives; and how podcasting provides them with a sense of purpose, fueling them forward as a result. Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast  ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcas #SeizeTheMomentPodcast #Thanksgiving #Gratitude

On episode 109, we welcome back Dr. David Brendel to discuss his new book ‘Think, Talk, Create’; active inquiry deficit disorder and its effects on the health of relationships; how open-ended questions can help save the lives of psychiatric patients; active inquiry as a compassionate way to change harmful behaviors; how red tape and administrative work make it difficult for mental health clinicians to treat their patients; the financial downside of the quantitative mindset and why companies that solely focus on profit tend to lose customers in the long-term; behavioral economics and why most of us make emotional financial decisions; the importance of creating bonds between customers and business owners; and why moving the New York Islanders to Brooklyn was a bad business decision. Dr. David Brendel (MD PhD) co-founded Strategy of Mind as a psychiatrist, certified executive coach, leadership specialist, and philosophical counselor based in Boston. He has vast experience as an executive coach and leadership trainer across a wide diversity of corporate settings. He is an expert in applying cognitive psychology and leadership techniques in executive coaching and corporate training programs.David writes about his approach in frequent articles for the Harvard Business Review, Huffington Post, and other publications. His newest book, coauthored with Ryan Stelzer, is called Think Talk Create: Building Workplaces Fit For Humans. Dr. David Brendel | ► Website | https://www.davidbrendel.com ► Twitter 1 |  https://twitter.com/DrDavidBrendel ► Twitter 2 |  https://twitter.com/StrategyMindLLC ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/davidhowardbrendel  ► Facebook 1 | https://www.facebook.com/DavidBrendelMD ► Facebook 2 | https://www.facebook.com/strategyofmind ► LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategy-of-mind ► Think Talk Create: Building Workplaces Fit for Humans | strategyofmind.com/think-talk-create-book Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast  ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment  

On this special bonus episode, Leon chats with wrestling legend Jeff Jarrett about the development of his wrestling character, from Double J to the King of the Mountain; NWO 2000 and working with Bret Hart, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Scott Steiner; winning the WCW heavyweight championship for the first time; and whether Jeff was actually a member of the four horsemen. Jeff Jarrett is a former four time WCW heavyweight champion and six time NWA heavyweight champion. He co-hosts the My World with Jeff Jarrett Podcast w/ Conrad Thompson, available wherever podcasts are found! | Jeff Jarrett | ► Website | http://realjeffjarrett.com/ ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/RealJeffJarrett ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/realjeffjarrett ► My World with Jeff Jarrett Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFciR4fFWh_V6aS_2qHLFiA | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast 

On episode 107, Leon speaks with Dr. Rachel Zoffness about the medical history of pain management; how the opioid crises is fueled by a purely biological understanding of pain; the emotional, social, and biological components of pain; the neurological anatomy of pain; the unhealthy thoughts and actions associated with pain and how changing them helps us modulate it; why therapists often fear treating chronic pain; the negative correlation of opioid use, wherein opioids cause us to become more sensitized to pain as we become desensitized to them; why thoughts and emotions are physical and should be discussed in relation to our bodies; and the critical components of CBT for chronic pain. Dr. Rachel Zoffness is a Health and Pain Psychologist, international speaker, author, and thought-leader in pain medicine. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCSF School of Medicine, lecturer at Stanford, pain education faculty at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, and a 2021 Mayday Fellow. Dr. Zoffness was trained at Brown, Columbia, NYU, UCSD, and Mt. Sinai Hospital. | Dr. Rachel Zoffness | ► Website | https://www.zoffness.com/ ► Twitter |  https://twitter.com/DrZoffness ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/therealdoczoff ► The Pain Management Workbook: https://amzn.to/3my4L5C Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast  ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

On episode 107, we welcome philosopher Tom Morris to discuss why people naturally fear change despite it being an inextricable part of the human condition, why building confidence and creating habits are better remedies than resistance and isolation, OCD and lack of confidence being at its core, the importance of mentorship, the use of reframing to foster empowerment in seemingly daunting scenarios, why stoicism is a starting point to forming a more nuanced philosophy, practicing philosophy rather than getting stuck in ideas, how having abstract goals cannot lead to specific results, and the importance of having a clear vision for them. Tom Morris is a former Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame and founder of the Morris Institute for Human Values. Tom is one of the world's top public philosophers and pioneering business thinkers. He's the author of over 30 groundbreaking books and is a legendary speaker whose electrifying talks reengage people around their deepest values and reignite their passion for work and life. As of Summer 2021, he is also offering consulting and advising services to a few executive clients. His newest book, on business and life, is called Plato’s Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change Into Something Great.  Tom Morris | ► Website | https://www.tomvmorris.com ► Twitter |  https://twitter.com/TomVMorris ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/tom.morris.562329 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/tomvmorris ► LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-morris-0955474 ► Plato’s Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change Into Something Great | https://www.tomvmorris.com/books Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast  ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

On episode 106, we welcome  back management consultant Ryan Stelzer to discuss the importance of the active inquiry process known as ‘Think, Talk, Create’; the perils of solely focusing on data and profit, or ‘the quantitative mindset’; the New York Islanders and why moving to Brooklyn was a bad decision; creating psychological safety and long-term perspectives of profit; the exponential increase of CEO compensation over the past three decades; incentivizing CEOs to become more focused on their employees and the communities their companies serve; Marx’s concept of ‘alienation’ and how people become disconnected from their work; reconceptualizing stakeholders more broadly and including customers and employees; and the myth that all corporations are evil. Ryan Stelzer is a management consultant, executive coach, entrepreneur and author who co-founded Strategy of Mind, alongside David Brendel, MD. Ph. D.,  to build high-performing, human teams. Ryan served at The White House as a Presidential Management Fellow during the Obama Administration, where his team was responsible for improving and sustaining high levels of performance across federal agencies. His new book, co-authored with Dr. David Brendel, is called Think Talk Create: Building Workplaces Fit for Humans. Ryan Stelzer | ► Website | https://www.strategyofmind.com/ ► Twitter 1 |  https://twitter.com/ryanjstelzer ► Twitter 2 |  https://twitter.com/StrategyMindLLC ► Facebook 1 | https://www.facebook.com/ryanstelzer.author ► Facebook 2 | https://www.facebook.com/strategyofmind/ ► Instagram 1 | https://www.instagram.com/ryanjstelzer   ► LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategy-of-mind/ ► Think Talk Create: Building Workplaces Fit for Humans | https://www.strategyofmind.com/think-talk-create-book Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast  ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment

On episode 105, we welcome back Licensed Professional Counselor Emily-Kircher Morris to discuss teaching twice exceptional (2e) children, the neurodiversity movement and its contribution to helping us accept the neurological differences in one another, Alen’s early struggles with anxiety and how they affected his schoolwork, how specific disabilities (such as Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, and Depressive Disorders) caused teachers and caregivers to overlook children’s exceptional cognitive abilities, Bill de Blasio’s decision to end gifted and talented programs in NYC public schools, why equality of opportunity is better for our communities than equality of outcome, the ways in which gifted programs can be improved and expanded to include more Black and Latino students, clinical counseling for 2e children and adults, and why pretending that some children aren’t intellectually gifted can harm all of them. Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education. She specializes in working with gifted/high-potential and 2e students, including those with ADD/ADHD, Asperger's/High-Functioning Autism, and anxiety. Emily frequently works with clients on emotional intensity, underachievement, depression, perfectionism, social skills, and bullying. She is the founder/president of the Gifted Support Network, a local nonprofit and host of the Neurodiversity Podcast which can be found on www.neurodiversitypodcast.com. Her newest book is called Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today’s Classroom. Emily Kircher-Morris | ► Website 1 | http://www.emilykirchermorris.com/ ► Website 2 | https://neurodiversitypodcast.com/ ► Twitter 1 | https://twitter.com/EmilyKM_LPC ► Twitter 2 | https://twitter.com/NeurodiversePod ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/EmilyKircherMorrisLPC ► Instagram 1 | https://www.instagram.com/emilykm_lpc ► Instagram 2 | https://www.instagram.com/theneurodiversitypodcast ► Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today’s Classroom | amzn.to/30U0qOe Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast  ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment