This podcast episode features an interview with Daniel Mate, co-author of New York Times Bestseller -- The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture. Daniel is a composer, lyricist, and accomplished playwright known for his work in musical theater. Daniel is also the creator of the Mental Chiropractic method. Daniel discusses h…

Check out this thought-provoking podcast discussing personality assessments and self-perception. Join Mordecai, JD Stettin, and Joey Hirsh as they share their experiences with various personality assessments, like Kolbe and Enneagram, and explore why idealize certain personality types. Dive into the conversation on self-acceptance, individuality, a…

In this podcast, Mordecai Rosenberg, Simon Brief, and JD Stettin discuss the transformative power of grief and pain, the importance of staying present in the moment, and the concept of gratitude. Brief shares his experience with meditation, and they also share anecdotes and memories of their father-in-law. Join them as they discuss topics of spirit…

In this podcast episode, JD and Mordecai are joined by guest, Emily Shaughnessy. Emily was raised in an evangelical Presbyterian family. Her education was individualized as she was homeschooled until high school. Her parents instilled in her the importance of giving back to others. Although Emily moved away from a traditional religious structure, h…

JD's younger brother Jesse is a guest on the show and shares about his experience from a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat, where the focus was on building sensory awareness of physical sensations in the body. The retreat can be physically and mentally challenging, but can lead to feelings of gratitude, realization, and accomplishment. Jesse pers…

SUMMARY: On this episode, JD and Mordecai welcome special guest, Dr. Joseph Hirsch as they discuss his experience in the Orthodox community. The conversation touches on themes of self-acceptance, identity, and the relationship between religion and personal beliefs.By Mordecai Rosenberg, JD Stettin, Joseph Hirsch

SUMMARY: Morty and JD explore lessons 16 & 17. It's understandable to want to constantly seek out new experiences and learning opportunities, but it's important to also make time for rest and reflection. TIME STAMPS: 00:01 Here we are, again. Still perplexed. I am at least. How are you doing today? 04:18 Lesson 16 and 17, which are about neutral th…

SUMMARY: In this episode, JD and Mordecai continue their discussion on things we think we see and we really don't. They discuss how we are improving every day and how our brain processes stories based on our past. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - The meaninglessness of meaninglessness 0:50 - What’s it like when you wake up and you’re on vacation in your dream? 1…

By Mordecai Rosenberg & JD Stettin

SUMMARY: Mordecai and JD explore week #2 of A Course in Miracles and discuss the reasons why we often think we are upset. TIMESTAMPS: 0:04 - You can’t lose what you never had 3:19 - Why do we do anything? Why do we feel good? 6:07 - Start with the premise that whatever you’re thinking is not the real thought and see how that unfolds 10:55 - Sometim…

SUMMARY: On this episode, Mordecai and JD begin their journey through A Course in Miracles and discuss why you should not believe everything you see. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - How would you describe A Course In Miracles? 8:06 - What does “nothing means anything” mean? 12:38 - When you’re in problem solving mode, everything is a way to help or get in our w…

SUMMARY: In this episode, guest Traverse Fournier joins JD and Mordecai as they discuss goals, loss and grief, and moving forward in life with a positive impact. TIMESTAMPS: 2:09 - When did you first start thinking that there was something else to this? 8:29 - What happens when you hit your stride and then realize you’re not going to be happy forev…

JD and Mordecai discuss being vulnerable, connecting and sharing with others. Timestamps: 0:00 - How much do you feel like this is a period of clarity? 5:01 - We are meant to spend a lot of our time in connection with others. 14:03 - Why we listen to podcasts. 19:56 - Letting go via connection and sharing. 28:01 - Taking an inventory of mental patt…

Mordecai and JD discuss the depths of relationships, the give and take, and effect of our emotions on those we are in relationship with. Timestamps: 0:51 - Positive Inward Feelings and How It Affects Others 8:19 - Giving vs Wanting 15:22 - Taking the Long Way 18:49 - We Create the Relationship by How We Hold the Other Person 21:50 - Seeing Your Val…

Timestamps:By Mordecai Rosenberg & JD Stettin

Throughout all of their discussions regarding their own emotions, JD and Mordecai turn the tables a bit and examine their emotions toward others. Timestamps: 0:08-02:10 Emotions/Feelings Toward Others 02:10-5:15 Desire to Elicit Reaction Through Emotions 05:15-09:08 Guilt: A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy? 09:20-14:16 Fear and Jealousy 14:17- 15:56 Progr…

In this shorter yet jam-packed episode, Mordecai and JD speculate on the mind and the body and how that contributes with letting go. Books/Writers Referenced: Bill Bryson - The Body: A Guide for Occupants Michael A. Singer - The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself David R. Hawkins - Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender (Not sure if this is…

JD and Mordecai have reached the top of the mountain, they are committing to peace, analyzing their emotions, simply breathing, and enjoying the chaos of the human experience. Timestamps 1:15 - What is Peace? 12:24 - Managing Your Internal Experience With External Anger 15:11 - Everyone Has Experienced Some Sort of Peace 22:47 - Call to Action - Ju…

In this perplexing episode, Mordecai and JD examine their journey from the perplexed to really noticing what they find perplexing, how to let go, and how to love themselves. Timestamps: 0:01 - 06:36 Perplexed 06:36 - 10:27 The Antidote 10:27 -15:05 Pursuit/Spirituality 15:05 - 18:11 Movement 18:11 - 25:48 Letting Go & Love 25:48 - 28:19 Breath & He…

Mordecai and JD speak with the fascinating Sara Yoheved Rigler. We learn about her spiritual journey from conservative Judaism to living in an ashram and being introduced to the life of the soul. She explains how the Hindu goddess of death brough her back to the Jewish God, and how she is currently fulfilling her purpose in life. You can find Sara …

JD and Mordecai run through how we accept and maybe struggle to accept the many emotions we struggle with. Timestamps: 0:02-07:32 Acceptance 07:32- 12:55 Acceptance & Courage 12:55-19:15 Acceptance & Judgment 19:15-25:39 Acceptance & Discipline 25:39-29:27 Acceptance & Desire 29:27-35:03 Acceptance & Anger 35:03 -42:07 Acceptance & Human Nature 42:…

Mordecai and JD discuss the many facets of courage, procrastination, and delegation. Timestamps: 0:00 - 4:01 Courage is I Can 4:02 - 8:08 The Inverse of Courage 8:09 - 14:13 Resumes, Eulogies, and Rescuing Bugs 14:27 - 28:11 Acting on Courage 28:13 - 34:30 The Other Side of the Coin 34:31 - 52:09 Procrastination and the Pandora's Box 52:17 - 57:07 …

JD and Mordecai continue their discussion on pride, focusing on the ego, identity, and unique ability. Timestamps: 0:21 - Pride, It's Everywhere 2:45 - Unique Ability 11:54 - Being Attached to Opinions 16:33 - This is the Right Way 18:47 - The "I" In Everything 22:08 - Very Small Way to See Yourself 25:04 - $500 Flip Flops 31:17 - The Need to Ident…

There are many aspects to pride, how it develops, how it affects and impacts our behaviors and beliefs. JD and Mordecai examine the effects of pride on their own lives and perspectives. Timestamps: 0:45-2:19 How Pride Develops 02:19-7:20 Pride and The Ego 7:20-12:21 Pride and Praising 12:21-17:47 Humility 17:47- 27:17 Perspective 27:17- 32:09 Pride…

What's more relatable than being angry? JD and Mordecai discuss the causes, the issues, the motives behind anger and their own experiences in processing and learning through that anger. Timestamps: 1:02 - Growing up Angry 3:16 - What Causes Anger? 13:42 - Anger About Anger 19:32 - When Is Anger Wrong? 23:37 - Anger Doesn't Need Fixing 29:24 - Injus…

Are desire and choices intrinsically interlinked? How does what we want drive our behavior? JD and Mordecai discuss desire, happiness, and choices in this episode. Books/Writers Referenced: Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks Wanting What You Want by Dan Sullivan Timestamps: 0:41 What is Desire? 5:29 Desire Drives…

Perhaps their self-proclaimed most qualified emotion, Mordecai and JD discuss the ramifications of growing up with guilt, its ties to fear, love, and anger, and how it relates to God and faith. Writers Referenced: Alan Watts Cheryl Strayed David Hawkins Timestamps: 0:09-03:45 Experiencing Guilt and Different Emotions 03:49- 12:06 Is Guilt Tied To F…

JD and Mordecai have a fascinating discussion about the dark side of spirituality, the battle of good and evil in our minds and in our actions. Books/Writers: Modern Man in Search of a Soul by Carl Jung "Please Call Me By My True Names" by Thich Nhat Hanh "Insights at the Edge" - a podcast hosted by Damien Echols The Moral Bucket List by David Broo…

Books/Writers Referenced: Ram Dass Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender by David Hawkins Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Alan Singer Timestamps: 0:24 - 3:28: What is Fear? 3:29 - 8:46: Is Fear Future Oriented? 8:47 - 13:19: What Are We Actually Feeling? 13:20 - 17:57: Giving Up The Fear 17:58 - 21:09: Desire for Control 21:1…

JD and Mordecai discuss the perplexing depths of grief, how we are affected by loss, and how accepting that loss as reality is a major step in resolving grief. Books/Writers Referenced: David Hawkins "Untethered Soul" by Michael Singer (Podcast) Gangaji Byron Katie "Midnight Gospel" (Netflix) Timestamps: 02:23-10:34 Feeling Grief 15:50- 26:36 Fear …

Mordecai and JD dig into why we react the way we do when things don't go as planned. References: Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman Shawn Stevenson David Hawkins Byron Katie Batman Begins Timestamps: 01:51-03:12 When Things Don't Go as Planned 06:11-06:51 Beating Yourself …

Books/Writers Referenced: Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender by David Hawkins Byron Katie Michael Singer's "Sounds True" Podcast Timestamps: 00:36 - 13:40 Blame and Apathy 15:06 - 18:52 Blaming Others 21:41- 24:16 Blame and Guilt 25:30 - 33:52 Good and Bad of Blame 34:57 - 38:04 Where Do We Learn Blame? 41:34 - 47:07 Accountability 50:16- 55:25 G…

JD and Mordecai continue on their path of perplexity, examining how apathy is "buying into our smallness." Books/Writers Referenced: Alan Watts Marcus Aurelius David Hawkins Timestamps: 00:42 - 19:04 What is Apathy? 19:04 - 30:07 Scale of Emotions 30:07- 32:04 Ladder of Emotions 32:04 - 37:59 Apathy and Depression 37:59 - 43:13 Spiritual and Philos…

JD and Mordecai examine the depths of our emotions, the way in which we perceive and react to them, as well as how reframing these emotions can help us let go of the past. Books/Writers Referenced: The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley Timestamps: 00:43 - Is Stress Really a Negative Emotion? 9:50 - Dealing with Emotions in the Order of Which The…

Mordecai and JD discuss the perplexing relationship between God, religion, and spirituality. Books Referenced: How to be a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery The Patterning Instinct by Jeremy Lans Timestamps: 2:27: What does it mean to be spiritual? 15:04: Do you need to believe in God to be spiritual? 21:49: What is religion? 34:33: Is one spiritualit…

Mordecai and JD specifically discuss guilt in this discussion on how we process, recognize, and control our emotions. Books Referenced: Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender by David Hawkins The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron Talmud Bible Writers/Thinkers Referenced: Byron Katie Buddha Jesus Alan Watts Timestamps: 00:00 - 02:37 Mood Meter App: Checki…

JD and Mordecai dive deeper into the realm of emotion, moods, and climbing out of that negative emotion rabbit hole. Books Referenced: Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender by David Hawkins Healing Backpain by John Sarno The Headless Way by Richard Lang Writers/Thinkers Referenced: Alan Watts Aristotle Carl Jung Ram Dass Timestamps: 00:00 - 05:56 Th…

JD and Mordecai discuss the Letting Go method, intellectualism, awareness, and the pressure of time. Books Referenced: Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender by David Hawkins How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett The Mood Meter by Lisa Feldman Barrett Writers/Thinkers Referenced: Alan Watson Ram Dass Anthony de Mello Richard Schwartz Byron Ka…

JD Stettin and Mordecai Rosenberg record a conversation around the theme of Letting Go. Books Referenced: Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender by David Hawkins Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman The Silva Mind Control Method by J…