I spoke to director, cinematographer, and my good friend Cécile Embleton (instagram) about her new film ⁠Mother Vera⁠, which is playing at the London Film Festival next month. This is a feature documentary about the life of a young orthodox nun from Belarus, I have seen it, and it is spectacular. Cécile and I discuss literature, her influences, and…

This is a cross-post from my friend David Valerio's new podcast, Discern Earth. In it, we speak about what nature is. Here's David's description: We discuss the etymology of nature and related terms, whether there is a hard distinction between man and nature, hypostatization and reification, the Christian roots of theories about the inherent value …

Delia and I walked along the ⁠Parkland Walk⁠ in London with Zoom f2 recorders and lapel mics. We cover a bit about ⁠Neither/Nor⁠, as well as existentialism versus essentialism. The biologists I couldn't think of at the end was ecologist Robert MacArthur; see ⁠r/K selection theory⁠. Listen to Delia's podcast, ⁠Growing Up with Delia Burgess⁠. Recorde…

In this episode I spoke to Dr. Noah Martin, Director of the College of Modern Anxiety. We discussed the relationship between phenomenology and existentialism, and the relationship between subjective and objective understanding in philosophy. We cover thinkers like Edmund Husserl, Donna Haraway, Sartre, and de Beauvoir. Clerestory by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bryan K…

I spoke to Kit Tempest-Walters about his new book: Plotinus on Eternity and Time, which includes a translation and commentary of Ennead III.7. We discuss the challenges of translating, philosophical perspectives on the self, consciousness, and mysticism. We also talked about some of my perspectives from the book I'm writing, ⁠Neither/Nor⁠, includin…

It's been nearly a year since our ⁠last episode⁠, in which Maggie Appleton and I discussed why we write. A year is a long time in AI; has it made much progress in how it writes? Possibly not, but it has made some progress in search. Discussed: Search engines Perplexity and Exa Excellent IFS therapy app Refract.space Philosophy Discord: The Speculat…

At the end of 2023, I asked seven people I knew to join me in a WhatsApp group experiment. Read more ⁠here⁠. We set up a schedule by which one of us, each Thursday, would record a (suggested) 5 minute question on a creative or existential quandary we were facing. The other seven members had committed to responding with a (suggested) 10 minute respo…

At the end of 2023, I asked seven people I knew to join me in a WhatsApp group experiment. Read more here. We set up a schedule by which one of us, each Thursday, would record a (suggested) 5 minute question on a creative or existential quandary we were facing. The other seven members had committed to responding with a (suggested) 10 minute respons…

Part 8 in a series of interviews on the book I'm working on, ⁠⁠Neither/Nor⁠⁠. In this episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isabela Granic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and I discuss: Julian Jaynes The Aphoristic style of Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Jaynes, and others The Axial Age and whether it changed human cognition ad experience Obviousnesses and ideology, from Althusser's "Ideology and Ideolog…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 26 November 2023, the wonderful Suvarchala (S02E15) comes back to ask me questions about how I relate to myself. Topics mentioned in the episode: The story of who I was 10 years ago and my first identity dissolution When I achieve my goals and I am not happy, what's next? The questions that drive me …

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 25 September 2023, the amazing Bryan Kam (S03:E03) comes back to ask me questions about how I relate to myself. Topics mentioned in the episode: How I relate to myself now, as opposed to a year ago The power of collective practices The shift from the mind to the body when it comes to the question "wh…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 27 April 2023, I have a conversation with Nathan Vanderpool, a father, a seeker, an artist. Someone who's striving to grow. who suffers. who gets petty. who feels overwhelmed. who relaxes. who opens. who connects. Topics mentioned in the episode: Embracing Despair: Finding Meaning in Difficult Emotio…

Part 7 in a series of interviews on the book I'm working on, ⁠Neither/Nor⁠. In this episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Isabela Granic⁠⁠⁠⁠ asks about three thinkers that have influenced my thinking: Julian Jaynes (1920–1997), Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910), and Zhuangzi (369–286 BC) sometimes written Zhuang Zhou or Chuang-tzǔ). Previous episodes: Part 6 of this series: Mental P…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 24 April 2023, I have a conversation with Richard, a consultant, Sandboxer, and improvisation-enthusiast. Topics mentioned in the episode: The Impact of Language on Perception Consistency of Social Interactions during COVID Lockdown Introspective Relationship with Oneself Influenced by Interactions w…

How do you balance your life’s purpose, your creative impulse, or your art, with the realities of life? Here are the final four responses I received. Thanks to Peter, Olga Yakimenko, Rainbow, and Kevin Bowers. Clerestory by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bryan Kam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Infrequent updates at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • All my work plus exclusive content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 23 April 2023, I have a conversation with Anne-Lorraine, who really likes to thoroughly enjoy food to the last corner of possible experience. And who is increasingly less shy to call herself a poet. She is also the creator of Touchcards, a wonderful game to explore touch. You can follow her on Twitte…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 17 April 2023, I have a conversation with Jessica, whose mission is to empower women as a purpose coach. You can find Jessica on Instagram. Topics mentioned in the episode: Embracing the Self as a Community of Parts The Healing Power of Writing One’s Life Story Transformative Journeys Through Writing…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 17 April 2023, I have a conversation with Dave, a minimalist nomad who has built a journaling business. You can find Dave on Instagram. Topics mentioned in the episode: vulnerability and following initial impulses learned behaviors, shame, and jealousy cravings and desires in life the connection betw…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on April 12, 2023, I have a conversation with Steven Emery. Steven is an intuitive artist and product manager. You can find Steven's website here, and you can follow him on X/Twitter. Topics mentioned in the episode: The self as a group of individuals Journaling for self-discovery Art as a reflection of…

In this episode of Relating to Self, I have a conversation with Will Curran. Will wears many hats and seems to have grown up with a healthy sense of self. How will that translate to how he relates to himself? You can find Will's website here. Topics mentioned in the episode: Embracing self-love and awareness The role of music as a personal sanctuar…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 8 April 2023, I have a conversation with Imma, a sommelier who is inviting people to live in conversations. You can connect with Imma through her linktree. Topics mentioned in the episode: Self as a Construct: Imma views the self as a construct defined through relationships with others and the enviro…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 17 January 2023, the wonderful Mary Bajorek (S03E05) comes back to ask me questions about how I relate to myself. Topics mentioned in the episode: How my understanding of Relating to Self keeps changing Relating to Self as being truly present to what is real in the moment Brutal honesty with the self…

Joachim's Musings In these short-form solo podcast episodes, I share some of my thoughts, experiences, and insights. This week, I speak about Story-based Desire vs. Erotic Aliveness and my experience at a temple night in Berlin. I will also answer your questions. If you have any, just email me at joachim@relatingtoself.com If you enjoyed this episo…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 3 Feb 2023, I have a conversation with Max Stossel. Max Stossel is an award-winning poet, filmmaker, and speaker, named by Forbes as one of the best storytellers of the year. You can find him on his website: https://www.wordsthatmove.com/ and you can follow him on X/Twitter. Topics mentioned in the e…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 6 December 2022, I have a conversation with Renee. Renee was a graphic designer and was burned out from that very high-status industry work. She then went into bodywork, spirituality, and coaching, and she became a polarity therapist. You can follow her on X/Twitter. Topics mentioned in the episode: …

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 6 March 2023, I have a conversation with Theo. Theo comes from a career in finance and has pivoted to exploring a path of self-healing and spirituality. You can follow him on twitter/X and read more on his website untanglingself.com Topics mentioned in the episode: Quitting a finance job to embark on…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 7 March 2023, I have a conversation with Victor. Victor is in a transitional phase, learning more and more to follow his internal pull. He is also really into building a community of conscious creators, and hosts vibecafe.xyz. You can follow him on Twitter/X. Topics mentioned in the episode: Self-dis…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 20 December 2022, I have a conversation with Andrew Rose. Andrew builds social structures, co-living places, a university, and cities. You can follow him on Twitter/X, and you can read his thoughts on Substack. Topics mentioned in the episode: Emotional resilience and the choice of feeling good Meta-…

In this episode of Relating to Self, recorded on 9 Dec 2022, I have a conversation with Priya Rose. Priya is a community organizer and co-founder of Fractal. She's also an active contributor to tpot, so you can follow her on X/Twitter. Topics mentioned in the episode: Self-talk and personal growth. Influence of parental criticism on internal dialog…

Principles of Neither/Nor: Every idea, concept, philosophy has a history The two opposed but complementary ways of knowing are intuition and reason Neither/Nor emphasizes dynamic movement across these two polarities and across all polarities, and opposes static positions Learning and perception involve experimentation, trial and error, variation an…

In this episode of Relating to Self, I have a conversation with Tasshin. Tasshin is a bodhisattva (one whose goal is awakening, in Buddhism) and an online pilgrim who strives to spread love, follow his curiosity, and empower others. You can follow him on X/Twitter. Topics mentioned in the episode: Spreading love and empowering others Significance o…

In this episode of Relating to Self, I have a conversation with Jessica Svenningson. Jessica is an art + tech innovator, digital transformation designer, creative business + market strategist, digital heritage researcher, public speaker + educator, entrepreneur, and killer storyteller. And many other things. You can follow her on Twitter/X. Topics …

In this episode of Relating to Self, I have a conversation with Mary Bajorek. Mary guides professionals through transition points in their careers towards feeling agentic, confident, and capable so that their work can become aligned with who they are and the impact they want to make in the world. You can follow her on Twitter/X. Topics mentioned in…

In this episode of Relating to Self, I have a conversation with Elena Lake Elena transitioned from a career in mathematics and physics to bodywork, massage therapy, and being a forest spirit. You can follow her on Twitter/X. Topics, resources, and useful links mentioned in the episode: The importance of self-trust and enjoying one's own company Gro…

In this episode of Relating to Self, I have a conversation with Bryan Kam. Bryan is a philosopher and writer, exploring the history of ideas, amongst other things. He has a podcast called Clerestory, works for the British Library, and is an InterIntellect Fellow. You can also follow him on Twitter/X. Topics, resources, and useful links mentioned in…

In this episode of Relating to Self, I have a conversation with Richard D. Bartlett. Richard helps people grow high-trust communities & decentralized organizations. He's a co-founder of tech co-op Loomio, community building network Microsolidarity, non-hierarchical management consultancy The Hum, and director of the social impact collective Enspira…

In this episode of Relating to Self, I have a conversation with Helena Roth. Helena Roth wrote the book Doing Gentle with an Edge and leads the project tankespjärn. You can read her thoughts on Twitter. Topics, resources, and useful links mentioned in the episode: what does Relating to Self mean to Helena? the sense of returning to Self healing by …

How do you balance your life’s purpose, your creative impulse, or your art, with the realities of life? Here are the next seven responses I've received. Thanks to Shannon, Luiz, Matt Sterett, and Yulia Babanova. I'm still taking submissions. Please upload your audio response here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bryankam.com/record⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Clerestory by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bryan Kam⁠⁠…

How do you balance your life’s purpose, your creative impulse, or your art, with the realities of life? Here are the next seven responses I've received. Thanks to ⁠Patricia⁠, ⁠Liv⁠, ⁠Ben⁠, ⁠Nastasia⁠ (⁠@Gryphire⁠), ⁠Michael⁠, ⁠Maggie⁠ (⁠@Mappletons⁠), and Gloria. I'm still taking submissions. Please upload your audio response here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://brya…

Part 6 in a series of interviews on the book I'm working on, Neither/Nor. In this episode, ⁠⁠⁠Isabela Granic⁠⁠⁠ asks about the Buddhist term "papança" and how it relates to anxiety and depression. Topics discussed: The meaning of papança or ⁠Conceptual proliferation⁠ Whether this proliferation is related to rumination, anxiety, and depression Histo…

In this episode I spoke with my dear friend ⁠Joachim Brackx⁠ in a series of voicenotes. We discuss beauty, quality, and aesthetic enjoyment. We recorded the voicenotes over about a month, March–April 2023. We would both love to hear what you think of this experiment! This is a follow-up to our original epistolary experiment, on Choice, Desire, and …

This is a bonus episode that is not really about Relating to Self. My friend Bryan Kam and I have been experimenting with a new podcast format. An epistolary of sorts, in which we send each other voice notes. In this episode, we explore beauty, quality, and esthetic enjoyment. Sit back and relax while listening to Bryan and me exploring our thought…

In this episode of Relating to Self, Mary Lemmer (S02E01) comes back to ask Joachim all the things she wants to know about how he relates to himself. Mary Lemmer brings joy to empowering people to improve themselves and the world around them. She believes that improvisation is a practice that can lead to a better relationship with yourself. Mary is…

How do you balance your life’s purpose, your creative impulse, or your art, with the realities of life? Here are the next five responses I've received. Thanks to Caleb, Delia, Samantha, Carolina, and Jacqueline. I'm still taking submissions. Please upload your audio response here: ⁠⁠⁠https://bryankam.com/record⁠⁠⁠. I will release episodes from resp…

In this episode of Relating to Self, Joachim speaks with Meg Pagani who when relating to self sits with her Council of 12. Meg is an entrepreneur, speaker, and impact strategist. She writes and teaches about power, leadership, and the Way of Nature You can find Meg and her work here: https://www.megpagani.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/margherita…

In this episode of Relating to Self, Joachim speaks with Ana Zarzosa for whom success in relating to self means getting comfortable with the crap too. Ana is a yoga teacher and a project manager for the biotech industry. You can find Ana and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/az.yoga https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-zarzosa/ Ana's YouTube Yoga…

How do you balance your life’s purpose, your creative impulse, or your art, with the realities of life? Here are the next four responses I've received. Thanks to Adam, Isabela, ⁠Gareth, and Catherine. I'm still taking submissions. Please upload your audio response here: ⁠⁠https://bryankam.com/record⁠⁠. I will release episodes from responses I recei…

How do you balance your life’s purpose, your creative impulse, or your art, with the realities of life? Here are the first seven responses I've received. Thanks to Nasos, Romeo, Jay, Khuyen (Kasper), Joachim, Nicole, and Nathan. I'm still taking submissions. Please upload your audio response here: ⁠https://bryankam.com/record⁠. I will release episo…

In this episode of Relating to Self, Joachim speaks with Asmaa who relates to herself by slowing down and creating a supportive community. Asmaa Guedira is a Moroccon-born, French-adopted, queer digital nomad who works as a catalyst, facilitator, consultant, artist, writer, and designer. You can find Asmaa and her work here: http://www.asmaaguedira…

How do you balance your life’s purpose, your creative impulse, or your art, with the realities of life? Please upload your audio response here: https://bryankam.com/record. I will release episodes from responses I receive, every time I receive 45 minutes. Clerestory by ⁠⁠Bryan Kam⁠⁠ • Infrequent updates at ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠ • All my work plus exclusive …