Becoming Creature

Goddess of oblins @Goblinodds does a reversal on me, spending half the episode asking ME questions! We play 36 Questions to Love, talk about bedpanning toward enlightenment, do a series of movie reviews, discuss psychedelics, pychotherapy, ingroup sociology, Borderers, and how we are probably never going to be best friends (typical best friend behavior)Mentioned in this episode are @karmacustodian, @teddyraccovelt, @eigenrobot, @selentelechia, and of course, Camille PagliaWe hope you enjoyRelevant LinksComing Soon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

In my first-ever uncut, unedited, unaltered episode I pursue the present with Tasshin Fogleman. You can follow Tasshin on twitter @tasshinfogleman and read his writing on his website Tasshin.comThis is the first episode I’ve ever done with no notes or preparation. I challenged James Stuber to do a video that was more difficult for him than usual which he completed on his youtube channel. I loved seeing James tackle this, and decided to do the same in this most fitting of contexts. It was an interesting challenge, and it was deeply rewarding for me and, I hope, very entertaining for Tasshin.In this episode we cover:* The phenomenology of meditation* The practice of interviewing* What was it like to be at a monastic academy* How does Buddhism need to adapt to modern problems?* Why might Buddhists need a teacher? What’s wrong with solo practice?* How does someone find a mentor?* What can someone do to have a better relationship with the sexuality?* How should one think of sexual desire from a Buddhist perspective?* Does the ultimate success of Buddhism mean the annihilation of the human species?* Tasshin responds to @teddyraccovelt’s claim that suffering is required for a human, meaningful life* How does one approach the concept of productivity in a way that is more humane and less dehumanizing? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Scott ‘Lithros’ Hansen does a deep dive on family and fantasy, ethics and ethos, morality and moloch. He answers questions like:* What is a Lithros?* Is it horrible to start a family?* Is it good that parents are miserable?* What is the problem with law school?* Why should anyone learn about ethics?* Why is knowing things is arrogant?* How does ethics allow you to do immoral acts?* Why is justice bad?* Is it important to be evil?* What media is the cornerstone of your personal ethical framework?* Why is fiction is better than nonfiction if you want to understand morality and ethics?* What is Law, its purpose, and what is the role of force in law?* How does power work in society? How would should respond to it?* What was the result of the 17th amendment and what should we do about it?How might senility affect the political process?Scott is brilliant and attacks my questions with incredible force!Enjoy!-NickidoP.S. Make sure you listen to the end ;)Selected links from this episode:(coming soon) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Theodore ‘Teddy’ Raccovelt aka @TeddyRaccovelt, writer of The Bully Pulpit, joins me to shoot the shit while talking about every important topic there is.We discuss!* Satire* America’s demented Congress* The purpose of suffering* Why being High IQ is problematic* Why imperialism is good* How Jesus is the biggest loser* Why both rationalists and post-rationalists are mentally ill* What feminism gets wrong* Why people should have babies* Polyamory, Marxism, Capitalism, the Social Sciences, G.K. Chesterton, Jordan Peterson, :breathes: and, like, a LOT more.This is a thicc, thicc episode you do not want to miss.Much Love—The NickerinoP.S. Please send me feedback! I’d love to hear from you.Selected links from this episode:The Bully Pulpit BlogG. K. Chesterton‘That Hideous Strength’ by C.S. Lewis‘The Screwtape Letters’ by C.S. LewisThe Last Dance@ChaosPrime@Selentelechia This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Johnny ‘@Generativist’ Nelson joins me on this wonderful episode. We do a deep dive into how beliefs and trust shape individuals and relationships, especially through the lens of social networks.Johnny builds virtual things to simulate concrete ones. You can find his writing on his website generativist.falsifiable.com. Johnny is a Computational Social Scientist working with Data Science. He has experience at the CATO Institute, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and spent some time at our favorite George Mason University. He’s a multiple-time founder, most recently of Practical Theta and Abreka. I was fascinated to learn so much about social interaction from Johnny. I ask him about things like:* How to we live a healthier life that includes online social networks?* What are Collision Spaces?* What can we do about echo chambers and polarization?* What’s wrong with the social sciences?* What is the role of trust and commitment in developing relationship depth?* How should we think about the scarcity of attention?We also discuss New York, Rationalism, Twitter, Facebook, the future of social networks, books, and much more!Happy Easter!NickSelected links from this episode:Johnny’s WebsiteMy episode with @Liminal_WarmthMy episode with @VisakanvMy episode with @Eigenrobot@Sonyasupposedly, @theAnnagat, @chaosprimeThe NoosphereA Short Stay in Hell by Steven PeckThe Dispossessed by Ursula Le GuinThe Origin of Wealth by Eric BeinhockerThe Red Queen by Matt RidleyUnflattening by Nick Sousanis This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Visakan Virasami, a prolific writer and author of *Friendly Ambitious Nerd*, dives into fascinating discussions about language, relationships, and creativity. He reflects on the journey of sustaining long-term relationships and the importance of commitment without codependency. Visakan also shares insights on unlearning through playful mimicry, the role of psychedelics in peak experiences, and how being an outsider fuels creativity. With engaging anecdotes, he emphasizes the power of language as a transformative tool and encourages listeners to give themselves the gift of self-respect.

This week listen to my interview with the wonderful @liminal_warmth!We talk about* Limm’s Podcast, Chaotic Thinking* How should we think about Magic?* Why isn’t Magic taken very seriously?* The dangers of pursuing both Enlightenment and Magic* Transitioning and Limm’s post-transition lived experience* Society’s lopsided approach to gender issues* Limm’s new desert base* UFOs and Aliens* What we should know about getting into writing* Video games, especially World of Warcraftand much moreWe hope you enjoy!—NickMentioned on this episode:Chaotic Thinking by Liminal WarmthLiminalWarmth.com by Liminal WarmthMastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha by Daniel IngramJEKsite.org@Cowtung@Darbradawn@strangestloop@MaybeGray This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

I am back with my interview with @eigenrobot. Eigen has his own podcast which you should definitely check out!We talk about * Eigen’s life growing up* How he met his wife* Some of his thoughts on parenting* How to decide who to follow on twitter* Bluechecks and journalism* The problem with the social sciences* Politicians* Anime* GMU* Nicholas Nassim Taleb* Midwesternism* and just about everything elseWe hope you enjoyMentioned this episodeBonfire of the VanitiesIndexicalityLes Misérables This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

This week I have the incredible @karmacustodian! He just oozes positivity, check it out!We discuss:* Running a business* Learning better* Improving how we approach health* Buddhism * Samsara* Cutting through spiritual materialism* Honesty and lying* Marie Kondoand much moreWe hope you enjoy!—Nick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

After a week Hiatus I am back and looking fresh thanks to new art from past guest @forshaper! Listen to my interview with him here.This week I have the very bubbly @gptBrooke on the show. We discuss:* Commercial fishing in Alaska* Drug use* Domestic abuse* Homelessness* Recovery* Making new friends* And living life with gratitude and positivityand much moreWe hope you enjoy!—Nick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com