
Meredith for Real: the curious introvert
Each episode explores a taboo question or cultural blind spot with an expert who is themselves, a paradox -Like the atheist doctor who studied near death experiences for 50 years (ep 224)Or the deeply religious man studied by NASA who sees UFOs regularly (ep 261).The mission is to inspire the kind of curiosity that looks for & celebrates nuance, because we all deserve a more curious future.So tune in each week (new episodes every Monday) to question things like American individualism (ep 260), trigger warnings (ep 208) & circumcision (ep 178).Still not sure where to start?Other listeners loved ep 230 - Can a sexless marriage survive? and ep 237 - Black man who attends KKK rallies: race & friendship
Latest episodes

Dec 2, 2024 • 45min
Ep. 268 Science & the Psychic: the Utility of a Sixth Sense
Stephen Ng Qui Sang is a mechanical engineer who worked for the Ford Motor company & was looking for a way to be more efficient. This was the unlikely launching point down a path that led him to become the interim Executive Dir. Of the Monroe institute, a non-profit mostly famously known for partnering with the US Government to train soldiers for remote viewing. He’s now the president of Tech Assisted Consciousness Exploration. In this episode he helps weave together the pragmatic and esoteric as we explore practical applications to develop a sixth sense.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 152: PSYCHIC MARINES?Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-ng-qui-sang-5b11619/ |www.exploringconsciousness.ca | https://x.com/NgQuiSangHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Nov 25, 2024 • 41min
Ep. 267 Grieving During the Holidays: Sneaky Symptoms & Finding Joy [REMASTERED]
Dr. Alexys Hillman is a medical doctor specializing in grief advocacy. In this episode, we explore how to make room for grief in moments of joy, what unresolved grief looks like in physical symptoms & how to move through less recognized sources of grief like estrangement & loss of opportunity.This episode originally aired December 12, 2022If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 88: DEPRESSION OR SADNESS? HOW TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCEGuest: https://doctorondemand.com/what-we-treat/grief-loss/ | https://internationalgriefinstitute.com/programs/ | https://www.empathicpractice.us/ | Brene Brown, I Thought it Was Just Me https://a.co/d/by0ALeg | Brene Brown, Rising Strong https://a.co/d/d2jpFFAHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Nov 18, 2024 • 48min
Ep. 266 | What’s the REAL Reason Housing is So Expensive?
Dr. Bryan Caplan is an Economics Professor at George Mason University and a New York Times Bestselling author who often questions social norms. He’s the author of Build, Baby, Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation & in this episode, we discuss reasonable vs unreasonable approaches to risk, manufactured scarcity, environmental impact & gentrification.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 227: IS BEING ORDINARY NOBLE?Guest: Blog https://www.betonit.ai/ | https://x.com/bryan_caplan | https://www.linkedin.com/company/cato-institute/ | https://www.instagram.com/catoinstitute/ | http://www.bcaplan.com/ | Book https://a.co/d/1vtF7e2Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Nov 11, 2024 • 35min
Ep. 265 | How Do You Know If You’re an Alcoholic? [REMASTERED]
Gill Tietz is a former pharmaceutical biochemist who uses science to approach the subject of sobriety in her podcast, Sober Powered. In this episode, she explains the difference between a pastime & a problem, why WHY we drink matters & if it’s possible to be a heavy drinker, but not be an alcoholic. So whether you are wanting to better understand your newly sober friends, are sober curious yourself or approaching your own rock bottom, this episode is shame-free zone & the meaningful entertainment you’ve come to expect.This episode originally aired September 19, 2022.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 198: EARLY SOBRIETY: HOW DO YOU KEEP FRIENDS? Guest: https://www.instagram.com/sober.powered/|https://www.soberpowered.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/sober.powered Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Nov 4, 2024 • 50min
Ep. 264 | Cryonics: Frozen Heads & Ending the Organ Waiting List Dilemma
James Arrowood is the CEO & President of Alcor Life Extension Foundation, a non-profit that has been advocating for, researching, and performing cryonics to bodies & brains since 1972. Cryonics is the practice of preserving life by pausing the dying process using subfreezing temperatures in hopes of restoring good health with medical tech in the future.In this episode, we discuss the ways cryonics is already being used, how the money works, what motivates someone to become cryonically preserved, the mourning process, fish proteins & rabbit kidneys.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 81: ROBO DOG REPORTING FOR DUTY? THIS IS REAL LIFEGuest: https://www.facebook.com/alcor.life.extension.foundation | https://www.alcor.org/ | https://x.com/AlcorCryonics | https://www.instagram.com/alcorcryonics/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/alcor-life-extension-foundation/ Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Oct 28, 2024 • 52min
Ep. 263 | Is Your Favorite Porn Site Trafficking Kids?
In 2014, Laila Mickelwait’s victim advocacy work lead her to take a closer look at the porn industry’s ties to sex trafficking & in 2020, her advocacy work led her to Pornhub, which at that time, was the 5th most visited website in the world & an unchecked cesspool of egregious child porn. Through her public awareness efforts & collaboration from some unlikely sources, Pornhub has since deleted 91% of its website content, & is facing criminal charges by the US federal government for intentionally profiting from sex trafficking.In this episode, you’ll hear why VISA, MC, Discover & PayPal have withdrawn their business from the site, accounts of real victims, why she is working towards site removal vs improved regulation, how we know if this is bad content slipping through the cracks or complicit participation & what progress has been made. If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 216: LEGAL CHILD MARRIAGE IN THE US? CEREAL BOX ESCAPE [REMASTERED] Guest: https://traffickinghubpetition.com/ | https://takedownbook.com/ | https://justicedefensefund.org/ | https://lailamickelwait.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/lailamickelwait/ | https://www.facebook.com/lailamickelwait| https://x.com/LailaMickelwaitHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Oct 21, 2024 • 43min
Ep. 262 | Evolutionary Mismatch: Outpacing our Genetics?
Dr Jenny Powers got her PhD in immunology from the University of Colorado & recently co-authored the book “On the Origin of Being: Understanding the Science of Evolution to Enhance Your Quality of Life.”Today we’re talking about Evolutionary mismatch, the idea that although our environment is quickly upgrading, our biology is still best suited for the hunter gatherer world. We cover how to out smart your prehistoric software in the areas of nature, food, sleep & work.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 162: WHY AM I NOT HAPPY? ANCIENT BRAINS & MODERN EMOTIONS Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-powers-terry-b8a5a658/ | https://www.facebook.com/ontheoriginofbeing | www.ontheoriginofbeing.com | https://www.instagram.com/ontheoriginofbeingHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Oct 14, 2024 • 53min
Ep. 261 | Are Aliens Angels? Faith & Phenomenon with Chris Bledsoe [REMASTERED]
Chris Bledsoe is considered the most credible experiencer in the world of phenomenon, someone whose experiences have been studied by NASA, the CIA, academics & the defense intelligence agency. He is set apart from many other experiencers in that he is a deeply religious man who continues to experience rejection & judgement from his spiritual community for sharing his message.But what others have labeled separate from God, he believes is connected and today he’s going to share his insight of faith & phenomenon as we ask the question, “Are aliens & angels the same thing?” This episode originally aired October 2, 2023.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 148 with Dr. Diana Walsh Pasulka: ARE TECHNOLOGY, RELIGION & UFOs CONNECTED?Guest: https://ufoofgod.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/christopherlentzbledsoe/ |https://twitter.com/ufoofgod | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bledsoe-6334b24/Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Oct 7, 2024 • 47min
Ep. 260 | Is American Individualism Overrated? Cowboys & the Prison of Privacy
James F Richardson is a cultural anthropologist who has studied American society for twenty years. He’s also the author of Our Worst Strength: American Individualism and Its Hidden Discontents. In this episode, we cover the impact of boundless optimism, options & the playground of autonomy. He speaks to the impact our individualism has on our work, mental health, friendships & romantic relationships.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 235: EPISTOCRACY: SHOULD WE BE PROTECTED FROM UNINFORMED VOTERS?Guest: https://jamesrichardson.substack.com/ | https://a.co/d/3cmICjEHost: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/

Sep 30, 2024 • 46min
Ep. 259 | BTS Wildlife Documentary Filmmaking: Effort, Ethics & Impact
Louis Labrom is an experienced cameraman and camera technician who has worked on everyone’s favorite nature documentaries done by the BBC, Netflix, NatGeo, Disney & Discovery to name a few. In this episode, you’ll hear him share behind the scenes of the greatest shots filming elephants, eagles, & snakes, the role of trained animals, how AI is changing the tools of the trade & the ethical tightrope of getting people to care & impacting animal behavior.If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 254: DO WE *NEED* SHARKS?Guest: https://www.louislabrom.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/louislabrom/ | https://x.com/LouisLabrom | https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/earthsounds/umc.cmc.2blf5y8e9e818bpdp3xuar408 | https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-labrom-90764426/Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/ | https://www.ensec.net/