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The Meaning Code

The Meaning Code

161 episodes — Page 2 of 4

Ryan on Memory Consolidation, Destabilization, Reconsolidation and the True Meaning of Love

Listening to Ryan's journey through destabilization to coherence was a deeply meaningful experience for me, as I hope it will be for you. Try to set aside the time to listen to the whole thing as it all comes together in the end. We journey through the laying down of memories (the initial consolidation), the destabilizing journey, and the rapid reconsolidation that brings hope. His description of the eclipse is also NOT TO BE MISSED! The first two parts of his story are linked below: Part 1 of Ryan's story: https://youtu.be/QRQwrY2_dqs Part 2 of Ryan's story: https://youtu.be/WOsAm4B2Mfg

Apr 11, 20241h 36m

Andrea Hiott: Mind as Movement, Ecological Perception, Attention and Measurement

Andrea connected with Karen through Richard Watson. Andrea has degrees in Neuroscience and Philosophy, and a deep interest in Waymaking. Timestamps 00:00 Intro and Synchronicities 02:47 Andrea Hiott's Journey to Berlin and Utrecht 08:00 Connecting through YouTube 09:16 Mind as Movement and Ecological Perception 27:30 Perception and Artistic Representation 37:00 Discussion on Hegel, Ian McGilchrist, and Jonathan Pajot's work 44:56 Discussion on Attention, Meaning, and Consciousness 51:48 Exploring the Concept of Attention and Measurement 1:01:59 Exploring the Concept of Knowing 1:04:38 Discussion on the Concept of Measurement and Alignment

Apr 6, 20241h 46m

Kirk Durston: Genetic Algorithms and The Needle in a Haystack Problem of Proteins

Kirk Durston and his beautiful mind joins Karen for a wide ranging conversation the includes origin of life, quantum mechanics, truth and reality, art and science and bioinformatics, among other things. For those interested in Kirk's bona fides, here's a link to his story. Scroll down to see his educational background and scientific papers. https://www.kirkdurston.com/kirk Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:34 Exploring the Origin of Life and Information 05:30 Discussion on Wolfram's Theory and the Ruliad 10:25 Coherent Existence and Limitations 13:14 Discussion on Quantum Mechanics and the Nature of God's Knowledge 18:45 Discussion on the Implications of God in Scientific Research 33:04 Exploring the Connection Between Truth and Reality 43:38 Exploring Creativity and Constraints in Art and Science 46:31 Discussion on Engaging with Alex O'Connor and Addressing Challenges to Faith 51:51 Approaches to Understanding the Supernatural Foundation of Nature

Apr 2, 20241h 22m

Balazs Kegl: A Discussion of the Nature of Podcasting and This Little Corner of the Internet

Balazs Kegl, AI researcher and host of the podcast, I, Scientist, joins me for a wide ranging discussion of the purpose and the nature of podcasting, and the reason for the and the experience of participating in This Little Corner.

Mar 28, 20241h 30m

Moving Towards Meaning: Hope and Faith Find a Resting Place Together

William tells his story and he and Karen discuss the challenges with dating and moving toward marriage in a society that does not honor marriage and children. Challenges of finding relationships, dating, and marriage in modern society How to foster a sense of community and connection in the church for young adults. The importance of community, familial and intergenerational relationships in the church What about reaching out to other pastors and church leaders to discuss the possibility of creating intentional spaces for young people to connect and build relationships within the church community? Should the church consider organizing a co-ed event or gathering within the church community to facilitate connections between young adults? How can we create more intentional spaces for young people to connect and build relationships in the church? The impact of online platforms on relationship building What are the challenges and benefits of online platforms for meeting potential partners? What are the traditional and modern ways of meeting potential partners, and how have they evolved over time? Can we find ways to present abstract ideas and philosophical concepts in a way that is accessible and valuable to a wider audience, including women? How can we bring abstract ideas and philosophical concepts into practical, real-life applications for personal growth and relationship building? The need to practice precision and intentionality in language and communication, and encourage others to do the same to foster better relationships and understanding. The need for precision and intentionality in language and communication

Mar 25, 202456 min

Necessity of Redundancy and Flexibility due to Imperfection: Finite to Infinite

Timestamps: 00:00 Design and Redundancy in Genetic Information and the Bible 02:15 The Role of Meaning and Consciousness in Perception 11:30 Discussion on the Meaning of Words 15:00 Discussion on the Nature of Representation and Connection 21:58 The Limitations of Mental Models 29:47 Discussion on Flexibility, Free Will, and Love in Decision Making

Mar 21, 202438 min

The Interconnectedness of Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-being

Timestamps:01:00 Ryan discusses coherence therapy and the positive adaptations of psychological problems. Releasing body tension has led to emotional catharsis through the interconnectedness of specific postures with associated emotions and memories.11:00 Repressed emotions from college manifested as physical tension in his muscles, along with the process of acknowledging and releasing these emotions, leading to a positive shift in physical and emotional well-being.16:00 Computer Simulation Concept involving an amoeba-like entity with a neural network that processes sensory information and makes decisions based on memories.26:00 Understanding the Mind-Body Connection between cognitive and emotional states, allowing the transition between different moods more rapidly. Connecting this insight to Bruce Ecker's work on memory reconsolidation, highlighting the importance of alternating between different perspectives to link neural networks together, emphasizing the connection between physical posture, stress, tension, and memories, and how rewiring these connections can lead to a profound shift in one's emotional and cognitive states.Insights on Muscle Imbalance and Emotional ReleaseChildhood computer use led to muscle imbalances and emotional associations with different sides of his body. Work on both sides facilitates dialogue between the dominant and non-dominant sides.30:00 The Power of Submission and ReleaseAdopting a specific physical posture, akin to being on a cross, has helped Ryan release tension and confront emotional and spiritual issues. By fully submitting to the posture, he experiences forgiveness, cathartic releases of anger, and transformation, leading to a daily practice of bearing his cross to address his emotional and spiritual challenges.36:00 The Power of Submission and Letting GoAllegory of Moses and the Amalekites highlights the significance of the posture and submission in spiritual practice connecting the allegory to a physical exercise,  emphasizing the importance of emotional and spiritual understanding in addition to the physical aspect.40:00 Embodied Cognition and Therapeutic TechniquesThe concept of embodied cognition and its relationship to emotional experiences. Therapeutic techniques like EMDR and tapping can aid in processing trauma and adaptive responses. The conversation highlights the complexity of triggering emotional states and the role of the will in these processes.Embodied Cognition and Posture

Feb 21, 20241h 42m

Valentine Special! How does a man orient his life in order to be a good husband and father?

Matt and Allyn join Karen to talk about relationships, how to think about them, what's important, and how to be someone others want to relate to. They both emphasized the importance of real-life interactions and integrating these experiences into the dating and relationship process. At the beginning, each one introduces himself and we begin with the question of how to put online relationships in perspective.

Feb 13, 20241h 17m

Implicit and Explicit in Art and Narrative: LOTR, Space Trilogy and Dune

Brad joins Karen to talk about the implicit and explicit, how that ties into narratives, and the gift of knowledge that comes from love and results in communion.Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Discussion of Topics 04:17 Understanding Implicit and Explicit Knowing 06:51 I Cor 13 09:44 Love as the Endgame, Reflections on Love, Fitting, and Implicit Things 26:49 The Purpose of Knowledge and the connection between knowledge and love 28:59 Analysis of Fictional Narratives in Lord of the Rings, The Space Trilogy, and Dune 39:31 Discussion on the themes of various books, "That Hideous Strength," "Till We Have Faces," and "Lord of the Rings" 58:02 Life as a painting 1:08:50 Relationship between horse and rider 1:13:15 A Woman and Her Horse, learning to speak the horse's language 1:15:00 Brad's story about his Dad 1:18:30 Learning to train horses and learning to Dance with Life Link to the YouTube series on Til We Have Faces playlist of the entire book, dramatized https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqUNYJ_czWY&list=PL5lO5q9IlqxSk6wp_EI8CGOsBBldeXiTc

Jan 5, 20241h 37m

Out of Dawkins into Faith: From Existential Dread of New Atheism to Joy and Purpose in Jesus Christ

I talk with Ian about something he said on Twitter. "Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris were all my heroes growing up. Atheist household, so it wasnt rebellious, but we did think the Christian’s were going to destroy the world. Then two years ago I became one of those “world destroyers." Timestamps 00:00. Introduction and Background 10:20 Ian Clarke's Non-Religious Upbringing and New Atheism Movement 22:32. Ian Clarke's Journey with Atheism and Buddhism 38:00 Screaming on the inside 45:07 Coping with Existential Dread 48:51 Ian Clarke's Personal Life and Covid Experience 56:09 A Personal Testimony of Faith 59:45. Karen's Father's Conversion to Faith 1:06:27 Discussion on Ian's church experience and family's reaction 1:11:12 The Slavery of Self-Importance 1:16:00 Ian's life now and his new restaurant

Dec 29, 20231h 25m

Nietzsche's Hammer, Free Will, and Forgetfulness as an Active, Potentially Creative Force

Teacher of Philosophy specializing in Nietzsche, Aron van Os shares on topics such as Nietzsche, philosophy, religion, weakness and strength, opponent processing, reality, modernism and postmodernism, ancient traditions and modern science, free will and choice, and Nietzsche's paradoxical ideas on self-discovery, forgetfulness, and stability. Aron shared his personal journey, struggles with depression, doubts about his faith, and how he found solace in music and eventually pursued a liberal arts degree. He also discussed his interest in Nietzsche and his master's thesis: The Pious Anti-Christ: Nietzsche as a religious thinker. Aron clarified that Nietzsche's hammer is not about destruction, but rather a tool for examining the soundness of ideas and values. He warned against the dangers of conceptualizing powerful people as evil and oneself as good, and encouraged positive self-evaluation and being good in comparison to oneself and one's own potential. Karen and Aron also explored the complex societal issue of weakness and resentment, examining its roots in the power and oppression debate, and discussing potential solutions such as joining a diverse institution and treating others as human beings. Karen and Aron engaged in a thoughtful discussion about the different interpretations of reality and Christianity, with Aron highlighting the importance of reconciling opposites and valuing art as a way of seeing beyond the objective truth. They also discussed the differences between modernism and postmodernism, and the potential benefits of rethinking truth and finding connections in ancient traditions. Additionally, they explored the complications of free will and choice. Aron offers a fresh perspective on complex philosophical and societal issues highlights the potential benefits of reconciling opposites, valuing art, and finding connections in ancient traditions.

Dec 21, 20231h 35m

Ryan on the Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Spiritual Breakthrough

Can coherence therapy and memory reconsolidation contribute to personal healing and transformation? What role do spirituality and faith play in the healing process? Ryan joins me to tell his story. Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:20 Ryan's Story of Healing 09:38 Ryan's Journey to Healing and Self-Discovery 12:00 Coherence Therapy 25:32 Personal Transformation and Empowerment 29:38 Ryan's Transformation and Career Shift 40:55 Finding Purpose in Pain and Suffering 44:15 The Interweaving of Psychological and Spiritual Healing 55:50 Developing Heuristic Models for Understanding the Body 1:04:09 Integrating Mind and Body for Healing 1:12:50 Learning to Listen to Yourself and Paying Attention 1:24:16 Integration of Science, Religion, and Healing 1:28:43 The Interconnectedness of Systems and Healing Two books Ryan recommends: Ecker’s book Unlocking the Emotional Brain https://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Emotional-Brain-Eliminating-Reconsolidation/dp/0415897173 The book I referenced at the end (with info on how to do the inner child work) was in Attachment Disturbances in Adults. It’s a textbook, not very accessible, but very good material https://www.amazon.com/Attachment-Disturbances-Adults-Treatment-Comprehensive/dp/0393711528?nodl=1&dplnkId=835a6f9a-05a4-4bc0-8ac1-a9f40146aa79

Dec 19, 20231h 33m

Alastair Duckworth on The Golden Extremes and Polarity: A Path to Wholeness

Alastair Duckworth discusses his book-in-progress, The Golden Extremes, a play on Aristotle's Golden Mean and a fascinating look at how a deeper understanding of polarity may help to heal our fractured society. Links to ideas mentioned follow the timestamps. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Book Overview 07:22 The Paradoxical Nature of Design and Faith 22:39 The Relationship Between Courage and Virtue 25:48 The Importance of Polar Relationships in Marriage 30:14 The Transformative Power of Evil 35:46 The Relationship Between Truth, Goodness, and Beauty 41:06 The Relationship Between Fittedness, Goodness and Unity 46:18 The Importance of Every Part 53:46 The Importance of Implicit Elements in Building Community 1:00:36 The Challenge of Creating Meaningful Brands in Materialistic Companies 1:05:13 Life and Creativity as Polar Dynamics Rupert Sheldrake and Mae-Wan Ho on Everything is Life: Part 1: https://youtu.be/IwMWTD-nyck?si=ljcZv4Sfjqjxn2Zx Part 2: https://youtu.be/9Z5D8v4EYHQ?si=p0sj_lVhR5LAfm2A Stephen Talbott's book, free on-line Organisms and Their Evolution - Agency and Meaning in the Drama of Life https://bwo.life/bk/index.htm

Dec 14, 20231h 31m

Richard A. Watson's New Theory of Life and Mind as a Song

Prof. Richard A. Watson Institute for Life Sciences/ Department of Computer Science (Agents, Interaction and Complexity group), University of Southampton "Scientist, academic lecturer, author and…a human - doing their best to live a life well. Research expertise links evolutionary biology and computer science with a desire for personal and societal well-being, investigating big questions about life, learning, evolution, cognition and love." Timestamps follow these links to Richard's theory set forth in five episodes: Episode 1: https://youtu.be/zdmY6q2ZWm8?si=EH8J2mUnVPq26SB- Episode 2: https://youtu.be/8B9eMUvFQc0?si=_ES6UgQEUE8uVDmR Episode 3: https://youtu.be/krQoXA0pwV0?si=kI3xqJ0t_Z_P-65O Episode 4: https://youtu.be/B8RnbHWv6n8?si=ta34RkP29REncdtE Episode 5: https://youtu.be/rbYaM-RTpic?si=TrcApNydRI_6WW1f Timestamps00:00 Intro 00:20 Richard's background. 02:18. The algorithm of evolution by natural selection cannot explain the origin of life, the evolution of evolvability, and the transitions in individuality. 16:00 Dominance (serving the focal point) produces unity in art. 18:18 The physics of guitar strings, frequency, vibrations and the synchronized movement of the molecules. 23:00 The role of context and environment in shaping the dynamics of living systems. The role of tension and stress in living systems 31:00 Placebo and Healing 36:00 Exploring the idea of life as a song, discussing how stress and tension can lead to transformation and growth, and creativity in natural selection. 40:30 The Creative Engine of Evolution, The tension between optimizing and harmonizing within a structure of possibility space. 57:37 Viscoelastic Connections in Natural Induction Networks 1:00:00 The connection between learning and the adjustment of relationships in a system 1:10:15 The possibility of resonance and harmonic relationships in living systems suggests a top-down causation story and heritability of a dynamical process. 1:26:17 The shape and form of an organism resonates with the song that the genes were singing. 1:33:06 A calculus that links shape, form, geometry, computation, optimization, and learning using the language of songs and harmonies.

Dec 7, 20231h 37m

Romano Guardini's Warning: Don't Confuse Opposition with Contradiction

Peter Berkman and Karen Wong discuss the life and work of Romano Guardini, a 20th-century theologian. They explored Guardini's delineation of the difference between oppositions and contradictions, and the idea that some things, like truth and falsehood, cannot exist in the tension of opposites. They also discussed the philosophical and ethical implications of the contradiction between living and non-living things, and the need to understand and tame the technological advancements that surround us in order to preserve our humanity.The conversation then turned to the importance of context and attention in building things, and the intersection of attention in the works of various philosophers and thinkers. Wong and Berkman also delved into the concept of experiential DNA and how it affects our perception of the world, arguing that acknowledging our biases is crucial for scientific research.Peter's latest album with Anamanaguchi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqPETi21K8QThanks so much for having me, that was great

Nov 24, 20231h 39m

Whose Form Will You Take? The gods of this age, or the God of the Ages, with Pastor Phil EuBank of Menlo Church

Pastor Phil Eubank of Menlo Church in Silicon Valley tells his life story and how he looks at The Great Story. Along the way, we covered a range of topics, including his experience at Moody Bible Institute, and his appointment as lead pastor at Menlo Church. We also discussed deconstructing faith, understanding God, and the dangers of finding identity solely in labels. Phil shared his reading list and discussed the liturgical approach to Menlo's worship service and the significance of life groups in church communities. At the end, he reveals his current reading list and his thoughts on the impact of politics on the church and the dechurching of America. Books follow timestamps. Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:15 Phil EuBank's Life Story and Experience at Moody Bible Institute 08:53 Deconstructing Faith and Understanding God 13:55 Identity, Introspection, and the Great Story 17:20 Teaching and Understanding the Bible and Science 26:54 Phil EuBank's journey to Menlo Church 29:50 Adjusting to a New Environment 31:30 Recent Books Read by Phil EuBank 37:12 Exploring Liturgical Approaches to Worship Services 39:43 Explore God and Community Building 42:43 Importance of Life Groups in Church Communities 47:04 Navigating Politics and RealityThe Reappearing Church by Mark Sayers (pertinent quote from this book: "The renewal pattern is composed of four stages through which we progress: Holy Discontent, which leads into Preparation, which then sets us up for the posture of Contending, which then moves into the formation of Patterns that center our lives around God’s presence. A group of people gathered around this process then finds each other, forming a Remnant. The process looks like this, moving in a clockwise direction.” and “In the post-Christian vision, progress replaces God’s presence as the engine of history” Live No Lies by John Mark Comer Genesis Unbound by John Sailhammer How Not to Read the Bible by Dan Kimball The Air We Breath by Glen Scrivener The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt The Great De-Churching by Jim Davis, et al The 4 Views Series, including Creation, Evolution & Intelligent Design (Stephen Meyer, Ken Ham, and others)

Nov 17, 202353 min

Haris Update on the Monster Group Theory, plus Palindromic Morphogenesis

The meeting began with Haris Neophytou providing an update on his research and transition period, highlighting his focus on his own research and departure from EU funded projects. He discussed his progress on his monster group theory and an alternative method of calculating entropy, as well as his interest in cognitive science and interdisciplinary research. Karen and Haris discussed the importance of different domains of knowledge in offering perspectives on the whole, and the need for generalists in academia who can explore beyond their domain. They also delved into the world of interdisciplinary connections and unconventional cognition, discussing the work of Michael Levin and his ability to bring together people from different disciplines to have fascinating conversations. They also explored Richard Watson's idea of morpho space and its connection to palindromes and recollection, and how quasi experimentation can be used to study living systems through numerical analysis and simulations. Additionally, they touched on the history of science and the work of Galvani, and how his experiments with electricity and bioelectricity relate to the concept of galvanization in computer science. The group then discussed the concept of different types of knowing, including perspicacious, perfusive, and palindromic knowing, each with their own unique characteristics and examples. They explored the importance of these types of knowing in various contexts. They also delved into the concept of palindromic knowing and its connection to tradition and knowledge passed down through generations. The meeting concluded with a deep discussion about the nature of truth, beauty, and goodness, and how they relate to God's love. They explored the idea of running experiments in life to move towards the ultimate good, and how this can be seen as a personal journey towards becoming more like Christ. Haris shared a personal story about a wish he made at a church in Turkey, and how it relates to his theory of maximum unentanglement. They also touched on the concept of factorization in order to talk about different service spaces, and how this relates to quantum physics and communication.Turing's work on the chemical basis of morphogenesis: https://www.dna.caltech.edu/courses/cs191/paperscs191/turing.pdfDragon drone light show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G1KBu6H6BMYves Klein's art, the International Klein Blue https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/yves-klein-1418 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Klein_BlueA Critique of Integrated Information Theory (IIT) - Scott Aaronson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQa5cu7Ao9M&t=1sAnd the actual open letter, signed by 124 researchers https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/zsr78/

Nov 14, 20231h 34m

Removing the Veil of the Heart: Til We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis, with Lucas Van Os

Karen and Lucas discussed the book "Till We Have Faces" by CS Lewis. They analyzed the themes and symbolism in the book, including the transformative power of love, the nature of sacrifice and scapegoating, and the protagonist's journey of self-discovery. They also explored the impact of perspective on how we view others.The conversation then shifted to the impact of technology on human connection, since face-to-face interaction is valuable and essential for deep conversations and meaningful relationships. Lucas shared his passion for his podcast where he seeks wisdom by having conversations with interesting people, including his talkative family members. Karen offered to include links to his podcast and other relevant information in the description section. Lucas" YouTube channel, here talking with his brother Aron Van Os who was one of the speakers at the Breakwater Conference in Mannheim, Germany in October 2023.https://youtu.be/Nz6TK8L9CZE?si=nd8dczaPj10a_vm1

Nov 10, 20231h 27m

Creativity in Comedy

Allyn is an ad copywriter by day, and uses his creative side in comedy and sketch writing. Here, we discuss the aspects of creativity that supersede boundaries among artistic endeavors.

Nov 3, 20231h 19m

Don't Lose the Symbolic Message: A Journey into Creative Ambiguity in Music, Photography and Film

Jesse shared his creative journey, discussing his struggles with dyslexia and his love for music and film. Karen and Jesse delved into the complex topic of symbolism in art and music, discussing how it can create a narrative and resonate with audiences. They explored the balance between technical skill and symbolism, and the dangers of losing the symbolic message in pursuit of technical perfection and also touched on the idea that beauty can be hard to define and appreciate, and the importance of authenticity in art. Additionally, they discussed the Pre-Raphaelite movement and its deeply romantic and symbolic paintings, contrasting them with the formulaic plots of modern rom-coms. Jesse is concerned that people have become addicted to the certainty and predictability in music and stories, and how this has led to a trap of authenticity where people want to feel like they are having an authentic experience rather than embracing uncertainty. He suggested that artists and creators should try to find new ways to bring back ambiguity and develop new paths, rather than continually subverting expectations, delving into the personal and societal implications of coping with uncertainty and novelty. They explored how it affects engagement with art and entertainment, and how intentional desensitization can impact audiences. Going deeper, they talked about the concept of carrying burdens and the importance of recognizing one's limitations. They referenced the movie "The Mission" and Jesse's track "The Place of No Return" as examples of this idea. They also touched on the idea of meeting the transcendent at the limits of one's knowledge and the importance of acknowledging one's need. They talked about the idea that it is possible to idolize the call to adventure or the leap of faith and the danger of reducing the size of God by bringing the transcendent down to a level that can be grasped.

Oct 27, 20231h 24m

A Free for All with Scott on Context and Anomaly

Karen and Scott explored the concepts of context, anomaly, synthesis, dichotomies, and deep triads, delving into the complexities of each. They also discussed the principles of art and the impact of algorithms and social media on learning and life.

Oct 20, 20231h 19m

Matthew and the Spirit of Adoption

Matthew talks about his personal experience with adoption and how it has impacted his life, including the practical and spiritual aspects of adoption. They also discussed the concept of the spirit of adoption and touched on the topic of harmony and its relation to biology and the universe, all while exploring the deeper connections between art, science, and spirituality. Matthew shared his inspiring story of adopting four children in four years and how it has helped him embody high ideas and become a better person. He talked about his transformation from a Protestant, charismatic worldview to an Orthodox and symbolic worldview and how Jordan Peterson and Jonathan Pageau have been instrumental in his journey. He also discussed the challenges of adopting children who have experienced trauma and the importance of foster families in providing love and support. Matthew and Karen discussed the importance of commitment in pursuing the good and finding rest in God. They explored how committing to self-emptying can lead to creating a better reality, particularly in parenting.

Oct 16, 20231h 23m

Beauty Will Save the World: The Vision of Magnus Gautestad

Magnus shared his life story and explained the inspiration behind his vision for restoring beauty to our world. He believes that the Protestant evangelical tradition has neglected the potential of beauty and overemphasized reason. Magnus and Karen delved into the topic of beauty and creativity in art and spirituality, sharing personal anecdotes and insights. They discussed the struggle of artists to create beautiful art in a world that values edginess and darkness, and the negative impact of modern art galleries. They also touched on the need for a revival of classical values and the importance of balancing contrast and conflict in art. Finally, they emphasized the importance of learning from each other and using elements that create a sense of timelessness and above-the-world thinking in both art and spirituality. Magnus Gautestad discussed his personality trait of being a pilgrim and how it has influenced his life choices, including becoming an entrepreneur. He also talked about his tendency to dive wholeheartedly into new things and leave difficult situations, which has been a trait in his family. Gautestad shared his spiritual journey and how he found true peace of mind in a small International Baptist church in the south of Spain, which grounded him and took his spirituality to a new level. Magnus also discussed the importance of having a vision as an entrepreneur, and how he is trying to paint a couple of visions for people so they can move in that direction. Magnus is proposing a strategy to turn ugly, modernistic areas into beautiful places, starting with small art centers and eventually building bigger urban developments. He suggests that faith-driven entrepreneurs can come together to develop a synergy of businesses and the profit from that will help to pay for the real estate of the church, making it sustainable and easily paying for itself. This will allow the church to be planted in urban areas where it is needed the most. Gautestad believes that the project will work and can easily pay for itself, but in order to reduce risk, the plan is to start with small art centers. In the meantime, he hopes to explore the impact of beauty on environmental stewardship, moral character, and spiritual life through his show, Beauty and the Faith.https://www.youtube.com/@beautyandthefaith

Oct 6, 20231h 10m

Tectonic School: Michael Sartori's Concept of Living an Integrated Life and Building Quality People

Michael Sartori discusses his vision for encouraging careers in the trades, working with one's hands, building beauty and community.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Background08:31 Discussion on Carpentry and Aesthetics13:04. The Value of Repurposing and Connection to Objects20:39 Integrating Faith and Work in the Trades28:35 Applying Practical Knowledge to Bible Study32:10 The Importance of Essential Trades and Building Quality People43:46 Addressing the Trade Shortage and Lack of Male Involvement in Churches49:45 Creating a Ministry for Skillful Men in the Church1:01:34 Job Corps and its Training Program1:04:15 Importance of Practical People in Building New Institutions1:09:23 Discussion on Tectonic School and Michael Sartori's Youtube Channels

Sep 19, 20231h 14m

Dali on Art: Seeds and Sources, Nature and Creativity and the Vision that Always Outruns Your Skill

The relationship between nature and creativity, the cosmic consequences of not using your voice, and vision always outruns skill. Timestamps 00:00 Discussion on Art Quotes and Mistakes as Portals of Discovery 11:50 Art and Fear and the Importance of Imperfections in Art 19:00 The Significance of the Mustard Seed 28:30 Care only about The Small Fraction That Soars 36;00 The Importance of Artistic Expression 42:55 Overcoming Fear and Starting Small 50:00 Coping with Pressure and Finding Purpose (Perelandra) 55:10 The seed of my next work lies in the imperfections of my current work Books mentioned: Art and Fear by Orland and Bayles The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

Sep 9, 20231h 17m

Lucas on Wolfgang Part 3: Science and Myth

Lucas and Karen carry on with their discussion of Wolfgang Smith's work and its implications. Links for things we discussed follow the timestamps: Timestamps: 00:00 Intro to Part Three of the Wolfgang Smith Series 04:17 Science and Myth: The Limitations of Scientific Truth 32:00. Why we need a stable myth. The Relationship Between Science and Truth 40:00 Myth starts to work when you start to believe it The Subjectivity of Physics and the Humility of Scientists 42:00 Two thoughts: one on envy and one on free will 45:00 What is driving the contagion of mimetic? 49:30 Wolfgang does not make any accommodation to scientistic view The Power of Myth and Language Discussion on the intersection of religion and materialism 50:00 Discussion on Speed Listening and Progressive Overload 53:30 Critique of Carl Jung and his Influence Discussion on Speed Listening and Progressive Overload The Intersection of Science and Philosophy 1:01:40 Jung as the creator of his own false religion 1:14:50 The distrust young people have in institutions. Reflections on Leadership and Truth Discussion on Quantum Physics and Wolfgang Smith Previous episodes with Lucas regarding Wolfgang Smith: Episode 1: https://youtu.be/D9zkVqhrjM4 Episode 2: https://youtu.be/TU0PjZbavB4 Nima Arkani Hamed lecture, The Morality of Fundamental Physics: https://youtu.be/5aAMJNVmdoY Q-bism, Christopher Fuchs video on determinism and free will (@30:58) https://youtu.be/nSqDMtHoaT0 Gavin Ashenden discussion of Jung https://youtu.be/nSqDMtHoaT0 Four Views on Evolution, etc. (I have not read this) https://a.co/d/3noHB9h “Envy is the passion which causes evil… the first entrance of sin… envy banished us from Paradise, having become a serpent to oppose Eve. For envy, it is not its own misfortune, but another’s good fortune that is unfortunate.” St. Gregory of Nyssa

Sep 2, 20231h 30m

Matthew Segall: Music and Memory, the Song of Life, and Beauty according to Whitehead.

Matthew Segall joins The Meaning Code to discuss the intersection of music, memory, and the fundamental nature of life. They explore the communal nature of cellular life and how it relates to the collaborative effort of human development as well as the importance of intelligent sensitivity in decision-making and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Discussion of Music and Memory (Memory, habit, and pattern) 14:40 Discussion on Steven Talbott's book and the art of making choices 17:15 The Importance of Learning and Memory in Achieving Goals 24:50 The Challenge of Teleology in a Materialistic Understanding of the Universe 28:05 Reductionism and Materialism 33:00 The relationship between art and biology The Universe as a Work of Art 43:30 The Value of Pain and Suffering in Evolution and Learning 47:18 The Unity of the Whole and Its Parts 49:15 The Nesting Process, The interconnectedness of scientific disciplines and The Principle of Dominance in Art and Society The role of dominance in creating unity and harmony 1:05:00 The Unique Biological Characteristics of Humans and Our Relationship with Technology 1:08:00 Discussion on Whitehead's Adventure and Cosmology Course and AI Tutorial on Whitehead's Last Modes of Thought Books and Videos mentioned: Evolution and the Purposes of Life by Stephen Talbott: https://bwo.life/org/comm/ar/2017/purposes_31.htm A list of other publications of Stephen Talbott: https://bwo.life/pubs.htm The Master of Physical Life by E. L. Grant Watson (Foreword by Owen Barfield) A. N. Whitehead: Adventures of Ideas (Part 4 discussion of Beauty) Christopher Mastropietro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5hTzorhQys Chris Fields: https://www.youtube.com/live/TOZp_XNYijQ?si=5FWkX6GaXAcDtNTS

Aug 30, 20231h 12m

The Solution to the Quantum Enigma and the Binding Problem: Wolfgang Smith's Vertical Causation

In Episode 1 linked after the timestamps, Lucas Van Os gave an overview of Wolfgang Smith's life and his ideas. In episodes 2 and 3, we will explore several of Wolfgang's books. In this episode specifically, we are looking at The Quantum Enigma and Vertical Ascent (the idea of vertical causation). Links follow timestamps. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:00 Between Being and Non-Being 06:00 We are not separated from nature, Barfield, etc. What is the binding problem for visual perception? Key Question Why does our perception pick up wholeness when what we're looking at is made up of a bunch of parts? 8:16 The Binding Problem 9:07 Perception and memory 14:52 Vertical causation and its importance in understanding the quantum realm 31:22 How do cells know when to stop forming biological parts, such as fingers on a hand? 24:00 The concept of a higher existence and forms (archetypal blueprints) in biological organisms, using trees as an example. How do trees receive nutrients and water all the way up to the top of their branches? 34:09 How can the world be intelligible to us if it's all just particles? Knowledge 50:00 Michael Polanyi 51:00 Esther Meek 55:03 The role of the intermediary plane in visual perception and its connection to the corporeal and spiritual planes 1:02:08 What are the implications and consequences of science as a myth on society? Episode 1 of Lucas Van Os on Wolfgang Smith: The Solution to the Quantum Enigma https://youtu.be/D9zkVqhrjM4 Links from Lucas: My channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Lucasvoz Talk with my father (theologian): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xk4PwhL_tg&t=44s Talk with my brother (philosopher): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN6_ho6ocDY&t=3s Gitanjali (free pdf): https://www.spiritualbee.com/media/gitanjali-by-tagore.pdf Gitanjali (physical book): https://www.amazon.com/Gitanjali-Thrift-Editions-Rabindranath-Tagore/dp/0486414175 Links with Wolfgang Smith Wolfgang Smith and John Vervaeke Number I https://youtu.be/5G9gk49VhKM Wolfgang Smith and John Vervaeke Number 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lm3y_4a--0&t=4870s Wolfgang Smith and Jonathan Pageau https://youtu.be/WMZLHhjIsHk Part I w Curt Jaimungal https://youtu.be/9M_uFQNDlvI Part II w Curt Jaimungal https://youtu.be/vp18_L_y_30

Aug 29, 20231h 31m

Wolfgang Smith's Enduring Legacy: Part 1 with Lucas Van Os

Lucas Van Os discusses Wolfgang Smith's personal history and begins looking at his ideas and his reach. We look at how Wolfgang's thought intersects with the paradigm of subjective reality, objective reality, transjective reality, J J Gibson's ecological theory of perception and Stephen Wolfram's ideas concerning computational reducibility and irreducibility, as well as Wolfram's proof for the inequivalence of emes. Conversations: Wolfgang Smith and John Vervaeke Number I https://youtu.be/5G9gk49VhKM Wolfgang Smith and John Vervaeke Number 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lm3y_4a--0&t=4870s Wolfgang Smith and Jonathan Pageau https://youtu.be/WMZLHhjIsHk Part I w Curt Jaimungal https://youtu.be/9M_uFQNDlvI Part II w Curt Jaimungal https://youtu.be/vp18_L_y_30 We will continue this with two more episodes on Wolfgang Smith's books and his ideas.

Aug 25, 20231h 37m

Pulling Away and Coming Home: the Opposing Forces Embedded in the Concept of Tension (Gathering)

Scott Wallner is a former professional soccer player with a degree in physics and mathematics, extended study in neuroscience and perception, and a passion for philosophy and psychology. Here, we are discussing the concept of tension, both as a force in physics and as a reality in the world of relationships. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Scott's Background, Education and focus on soccer 06:45 Catastrophic knee injury and the end of soccer career 08:25 The importance of family 09:14 The first book that captured him, then his intellectual history and journey towards academia 12:00 Doing the Thoreau thing and Journey to Overcoming Adversity 20:00 The pulling force and restoring force of tension in real life. Surface tension as a restoring force. 25:00 Understanding Tension as a Force and a Discussion from Scriptures 35:00 Dry Land as Stability and Order. The dry land "appears".Exploring the 36:30 Scott's own orderings and icons 38:45 Your future calling you forward. Hope draws. 43:30 Perspectives on Memory 51:50 The Role of Patterns and Boundaries in Biological Processes 1:03:00 Building Community and the Importance of Hierarchy 1:19:45 Turn up your sound for the video clip on Music as Life Discussion on Friction, Tension, and Gravity

Aug 22, 20231h 31m

Dirt Poor Robins and Drewsicology on Music, Memory, Meaning and Metaphysics

Neil DeGraide (Dirt Poor Robins) and Drew Garret (Drewsicology) join The Meaning Code to discuss various aspects of music, sound and meaning. Link to the video about sound and sand: https://youtu.be/wvJAgrUBF4w Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Dirt Poor Robins' new album, and a music clip! 04:59 Is music the least idolatrous art form? 15:20 Philosophy of Music 19:47 Reflection and Symbolism in Music 30:07 The Development of Music in Different Cultures 37:34 The Nature of Music and its Relationship to Technology 43:52 The Importance of Music and its Connection to the Human Experience 52:05 The Metaphysics and Symbolism of Music 1:05:37 The Role of Sound and Music in Understanding God and the Universe 1:21:49 Discussion on Idolatry in Modern Worship Music 1:24:23 The Relationship Between Music, Memory, and Time 1:30:54 Music and Worship in the Church

Aug 15, 20231h 33m

Which Do You Want? Spiritual Corruption or the Baptism of the Imagination? C S Lewis's Space Trilogy

A thoughtful discussion about the main themes of C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy, including the idea that he was attempting to baptize the modern imagination and retrain the way we think. The consequences of the initial lie in the garden. The trilogy as a presentation of un-fallenness. An exploration of the portrayal of masculinity and femininity in the trilogy. The significance of attentive listening in relation to obedience, citing examples from the Bible. A caution against the dangers of selective hearing in religious language and structure. The complex interplay between worldview, perception, attention, and obedience in C.S. Lewis's works, drawing on examples from his books and other stories. Lewis's portrayal of corruption and spiritual realities in "That Hideous Strength," analyzing the characters and their actions as examples of the connection between political and spiritual corruption. The inspiration for the angels in the novel and how Lewis drew from Dionysius the Areopagite's "Celestial Hierarchy" and Greek mythology. Finally, Ted discussed the importance of daily obedience and faithfulness, emphasizing the need for gratitude and daily acts of obedience in saving the world. Mentions: J R R Tolkien George MacDonald's Phantastes Lewis's other books, The Great Divorce and The Chronicles of Narnia Michael Ward's book, Planet Narnia Maximus the Confessor

Aug 15, 20231h 28m

The Bottom-Up Approach not Sufficient to Solve the Many Body Problem: Condensed Matter Physicist

Jackson Pitts is a Condensed Matter Physicist and an Artist. He and Karen discuss the bottom up approach, the object, background, foreground, the move towards freedom and entropy, including its destructive and creative side. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and discussion of his involvement with the space station 05:00 Explaining Condensed Matter Physics and Crystal Structures 15:45 A description of the many body problem 18:45 Reductionism and Constructivism in Physics 22:25 Approaches to Painting 27:50 Discussion on the Anomalies of Painting 32:00 Developing a Style 37:00 Exploring the Relationship Between Figure and Background 43:15 What is worth calling an object? 52:20 A discussion of Jack’s doctoral dissertation 55:00 Exploring Emergent Phenomena and Entropy in Physics Discussion on Quantum Mechanics and Interpretations 56:00 Q-bism 1:05:00 The Implications of Determinism 1:17:00 Discussion on Wolfram's theory of fundamental physics and the uniqueness of Emes The video on qbism from which we watched a clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSqDMtHoaT0&t=1s The video on Q-bism and Christopher Fuchs: https://youtu.be/nSqDMtHoaT0 Wolfram's Working Session, starting around 1:20:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzM3jM7Dtds&t=4976s Sharon Glotzer's research on particles forming crystalline structures with entropy alone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et5KcmdCXRk&t=1346s For a quick summary of Wolfram's theory by Mark Jeffery, complete with easy to digest animations: https://lasttheory.com/channel/ Scroll down for a list of the videos from first to last If you’re interested in my art, and my process, here is a video with some explanation. Jack’s art: http://jacksonpitts.net/watercolors You can navigate from this page to his work in other media. https://youtu.be/f3mSQLDycgw My website: https://karenwongart.com

Aug 12, 20231h 28m

Coding, Art and Life: The Fractal Nature of Suffering and Beauty

Karen met Olena at the Chino Conference on the Quest for a Spiritual Home and here they talk about Olena's background and her participation in TLC.Timestamps00:00 Intro13:27 Karen and Olena discuss Jordan Peterson's teachings on the Bible and their impact on faith. 25:45 Discussion on structured vs unstructured thinking and the tension between masculine and feminine perspectives. 32:26 Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies 43:56 "The Tract Illustration" 45:51 Discussion on Matthew Pageau’s book, The Language of Creation 48:20 Software Engineering and Language as fundamental 58:45 The Limits of Knowledge and Determinism 1:01:52 Cultivating Humility and Empathy 1:10:28 The Healing Power of Beauty and Art

Aug 8, 20231h 12m

The Evil in Your Own Heart is the Evil that Will Destroy You

Karen met Allyn Engle at the Chino "Quest for a Spiritual Home" conference. He is a comedian and writer working in advertising in New York City. Timestamps: 00:00. Introduction and Setting the Stage 09:29 Allyn Engle's Childhood and College Experience 15:25 The "dream" and the decision to change his life 28:35 The Importance of Traditions and Community 39:25 The "dawning" of evil and the Supernatural Experience 44:00 Finding the Meta Goal 50:50 Humbling oneself to pursue higher principles Faith RX and Experiences with Church Communities 59:25 Importance of Community and Participation 1:09:00 This Little Corner isn't enough for full communion Humble yourself 1:15:30 Understanding true identity The Power of Writing and Creativity

Aug 4, 20231h 26m

Daniel Toma's Three Levels of Perfection with Ted Stiritz: Life as Liturgy

Ted Stiritz returns to discuss Reality, Knowledge, Hierarchy, Narrative in Daniel Toma, part 2. This is also a YouTube video and timestamps are at the link:https://youtu.be/31IV0iNjUK8

Aug 1, 20231h 35m

Sevilla, Quest for a Spiritual Home and A Quality Existence

I had the great opportunity to meet Sevilla of A Quality Existence during the Quest for a Spiritual Home conference in Chino Hills, California. Here, we get together and talk about what were for us, the highlights of the weekend.

Jul 22, 20231h 23m

Animating Principles, Narrative Arc and Elevating Stories with Kendelle Hoyer

Kendelle is an artist in the story department of an animation studio. We discuss her career, her work as a storyboard artist and the overlap of the principles of art and narrative in the making of compelling stories. Links discussed follow the time stamps. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 01:00 Kendelle's experience at the Chino Estuary conference 08:20 The Intersection of Storytelling and Internet Culture 16:00 This little corner of the internet 20:00 Paul VanderKlay causes the whole world to settle down 20:45 The Artistic Process and Limitations 24:15 The perspective of the grand story Discovering Justin Wells and his series on narrative and plot 29:30 Collaborative Filmmaking Process 35:00 The Process of Creating Animated Films 55:00 Everything has relationship The Importance of Story Structure and Relationship in Film and Art 1:01:00 How art shows up in science and science shows up in art. Discussion on Art and Synthesis of Disciplines If you're interested in more information about the Bastions of Beauty, make a comment and I'll get you the appropriate contact information.

Jul 18, 20231h 8m

Playing with Ideas until the Rules Become Apparent: The Relationship of Machines, Ideas and Emotions

Nolan joins again for another romp through the space of ideas. Hold on. It's a wild ride.

Jul 15, 20231h 32m

The Source, The Conductor and The Flow: The Coding of Stories for Perpetuity with Error Correction

Nolan Manteufel is an electrical engineer with interesting ideas about how the world works. Links mentioned by Nolan follow the notes. How did the ancients take what they could see so clearly and put it in a story so that the "coding" could be protected over time" Can we "over analyze" or "under analyze"? What is the "correct" amount of analysis? The proper "level" of analysis? The games we play can actually have the structure of generalized formulas. Every story we tell (or game we play) about a system seems to have a source potential, a conductor and a flow through the conductor because of the source. This is the story of electricity and magnetism, at least since Ohm. Another way to see the same story would be that Knowledge is a source, energy/matter/space/time is a conductor, and emotional state(s) equals flow. Another permutation might be that Ideas x real space + emotion space. The circular notion of identity. Force = Ability x Ambition (If my ambition to do something is zero, my force is zero no matter how much ability I might have to accomplish the task. Note from Nolan: "Hans Camenzind is the electrical engineer that i mentioned during our conversation. He's a recent historical character that i admire. He also wrote a book on religion, but i don't remember reading it. Much Ado About Almost Nothing, http://www.historyofelectronics.com/Much-Ado-About-Almost-Nothing.pdf Designing Analog Chips, http://www.designinganalogchips.com/ Another living hero of mine is Forrest Mims III. His books inspired my love of electronics. Also, he was 50% partner in the venture that created the opportunity that inspired Bill Gates to drop out of Harvard! The stories that can be told are crazy."

Jul 14, 20231h 23m

Computation is the Covenant Between Truth and Language

Glen and Karen discuss how language and computation are tied together, that multiple languages can be used to create a symphony of choices to express something logically and emotionally. Links follow timestamps. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:40 The halting problem, Joscha Bach on Godel’s incompleteness theorem, and the connection between language and computation. 04:24 “There is no deeper notion of truth than proof.” Joscha Bach Patterns 06:20 “There. Is a covenant between Truth and Language.” 15:33 Euclid’s fifth postulate is not decidable Decidability and the equivalence of the halting problem to other problems. Wolfram’s computational irreducibility Rule 110 in cellular automata. 22:30 The concept of computation relates to heuristic rule sets. Computation as a physical process that can be based on formal languages or logic, probabilities, or heuristic rule sets. Example: a recipe. 26:00 Computation is a sequence of choices guided by a set of rules. Undecidability. Computational Systems 39:26 Language, an alphabet of symbols, Russell's Paradox, Incompleteness Theorem, a project to reduce mathematics to a formal system, doomed to failure with Kurt Godel's Incompleteness Theorem. Russell and Whitehead left mathematics and became philosophers. Glen also explains the Barber Paradox, which is related to Russell's Paradox, and how it can be solved by adding new rules. 45:46 The concept of truth relates to language. Glen suggests that truth can be determined by stepping outside of the system and asking questions, Language is a key factor in our ability to ask questions and understand truth. Truth is not just a statement about math and formal systems, but also about people and their ability to ask questions. 56:25 The problem with a lock is that it needs an outside agent. Computation is a group phenomena. Can’t analyze a computational system in isolation. Exploring the Relationship Between Computation, Consciousness, and Agency Alignment of AI/LLM to humans1:07:09 Archetypes are a proof in a non-formal language, a story with a punch line. The Relationship Between Language, Computation, and Truth. Truth can be found in both formal and non-formal languages. The concept of alignment, and how large language models can be hacked by flooding the learning set with false statements. 1:16:50 A symphony of choices. Exploring the Possibility of Creating a Symphony of languages to express emotional joy. Could this be used to solve the alignment problem in Artificial Intelligence?Interact with Glen on Twitter, @wildiris Up and Atom on The Halting Problem: https://youtu.be/t37GQgUPa6k The three body problem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-body_problem#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20general%20closed,repeating%2C%20except%20in%20special%20cases Undecidability, Part I: https://youtu.be/nsZsd5qtbo4 Part 2: https://youtu.be/FK3kifY-geM Part 3: https://youtu.be/lLWnd6-vSGo Joscha Bach on TOE, start at 58:03: https://youtu.be/bhSlYfVtgww Michael Levin, Richard Watson, Mark Solms, 30:00 to 50:00 https://youtu.be/gjArtj5PIU8

Jul 10, 20231h 21m

Dr. Jim: Boundary Conditions Set the Edges of the Problem

Dr. Jim joins The Meaning code to talk about his life, the Chino conference, the intersection of history and the western tradition, and the importance of context. F=MA and E=MC^2 But it's NOT the same M. What is the purpose for running the experiment? The meanings of things.

Jul 10, 20231h 40m

Aim, Purpose and Maximizing True Freedom: Austrian Economics, Bitcoin and Biological Development

Lucas Van Os joins to tell us about the differences between Austrian Economics and Keynesianism, as well as a journey into the world of bitcoin, and how this all lines up with a life of personal responsibility and the freedom to do what's best. Videos and books mentioned: The Dao of Capital by Mark Spitznagel Human Action by Ludwig von Mises Metaphysics of Quality, Maps of Meaning and Austrian Economics: https://youtu.be/B-fviFKFsw4 Money and Reality: The Natural Order of Money w Ira and Brad https://youtu.be/Uwsz4q4Ufk4 Robert Breedlove and Mike Hill series on Metaphysics of Quality: https://youtu.be/pEgpNGfS6XM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuBqB1FCPCs&t=0s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwU1zilQagA&t=0s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqO3KIq9LYc&t=0s https://www.youtube.com/@drmichaellevin Levin, Watson, Fields: Harmonics and Resonance https://youtu.be/RkkqQF_ulYo Levin, Watson, Solms: https://youtu.be/pMTuWL2vDoY Levin, McGilchrist, Watson #4 https://youtu.be/nWgzWYt5c88 Levin, McGilchrist, Watson #3 https://youtu.be/jdrfx7Z5oo4 Levin, McGilchrist, Watson #2 https://youtu.be/fgnQBD0CjMo Levin, McGilchrist, Watson #1 https://youtu.be/ynHfrfpTH18

Jul 6, 20231h 32m

Seeking Power in all the Wrong Places: The Unpalatable Dilemma of Alcoholism

Chad the Alcoholic tells his story and we discuss his unexpected homecoming. The mask is to adhere to the "11th tradition" of Alcoholics Anonymous, to protect him from his own ego, and to protect AA from his ego.Paul Vander Klay speaks of Chad here: https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxIRyw_wg-PyZ3Biegxx6b69ZuvIABLJuW Chad's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefridaymorningnameless7623 The basic tenets of AA - Seek God and Help Others. If one helps another, sobriety is possible. Receive help, then give help. The dilemma: the choice between two undesirable options, alcoholic suffering? or seek spiritual help? Why do some choose life, and some don't? We feel powerless, looking for something to connect us to the world, to feel like a person. Addiction is a misdirected use of power, a spiritual malady, a separation between me and my fellows. Alcohol is one of the options to fill that hole, but leads to despair for alcoholics. Misery, deliverance, gratitude. The alcoholic sees a need for help (a recognition of misery) , seeks God (deliverance) and then helps others (out of gratitude).

Jul 4, 20231h 14m

Welcome to This Little Corner of the Internet: Justin Wells on Loss of Wisdom & Wizards of Culture.

Justin Wells, maker of documentaries, adjunct professor teaching documentaries, YouTuber analyzing story and narrative, daily winner of Twitter (@onejwells) Justin's Morning Coffee, 7 Basic Plots on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@justinsmorningcoffee Intro to This Little Corner with Justin Wells and Grim Griz https://youtu.be/ivl_SlzbeW8

Jul 2, 20231h 28m

John Vervaeke and Chad the Alcoholic: The Failure of Institutions and Unintended Consequences

Chad comes to John with a very specific question. Seeing the way institutions fail when they are lacking or when they have discarded their natural constraints. The dangers of transplantation, transference, loss of tradition, monetization, radical simplification or coercive ordering of complexity. What can we in This Little Corner do to prevent these dangers and to improve our ability to dance the ineffable freedom of jazz and the "snarky puppy": https://youtu.be/L_XJ_s5IsQc Earlier conversation with Chad's story, including the story behind the mask: https://youtu.be/4XdgA1PZO48

Jul 1, 20231h 5m

Biological Life is More Than It Seems: Aiming Upward from the Flat Ontology of Materiality

Ted Stiritz introduces the work of Daniel Toma, a new framework within which to understand developmental biology. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 4:05 The flat ontology of materiality 12:55 Introduction and Overview of Daniel Toma's Ideas 22:15 The tadpole wrong face "knows" how to develop into a proper frog face 24:00 Ted Stiritz discusses his background and interest in regenerative agriculture and earthworks. 29:07 Developmental biology is amazing 34:22 Material cause and formal cause The Impact of Human Ideas and Values on Landscape 49:50 The entire hierarchy of the living is about self giving 50:49 Discussion on Creation and Redemption in Art and Construction The Redemptive Process of Intelligence and the Nonlinear Development of Organisms The Influence of Environment on Development Daniel Toma's Hierarchy of Being and the Gift of Life The Importance of Understanding the Formal and Final Cause of Cells Discussion on Toma's idea of the relationship between common human experience and the scientific endeavor. 1:03:25 Dr. William Beaumont's Experiments on Digestion Toma's Arguments on Geometric Knowledge and Immortality of Intellect Discussion on the Whole Being Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

Jun 30, 20231h 23m

That Hideous Strength and The Abolition of Man

Kyle McNease, Nate Hile (A Grail Country) and Luke Thompson join Karen for a discussion of That Hideous Strength and The Abolition of Man, two books by C. S. Lewis that speak to our current moment. The lecture by C. S. Lewis that was mentioned regarding punishment or remediation: https://youtu.be/xP4_dVs_Ks4 timestamps 00:00 Intro and Directions for the conversation 08:35 The Cosmology of That Hideous Strength 16:00 The roadblocks that inculcate you into "the club" 23:50 Unity and Diversity 31:58 Virtue terrorism 38:10 What to do about it? 44:00 NICE's sorceress approach 51:30 Venus in her proper mode 1:00:50 Beckoning back to Babel, the power channeled through Merlin 1:15:00 C S Lewis' experiences from WWI and WWII incorporated 1:24:00 We're all cyborgs now anyway 1:30:55 What true knowledge really is 1:41:20 Siloed thinking

Jun 28, 20231h 53m

From Abandoned to Beloved: Finding Home Where You Least Expect It

Tayo, from the UK, had the opportunity to attend the Quest for a Spiritual Home conference in Chino last month. Finding a family in the community that makes up this corner of the internet, Tayo is especially thankful for Estuary groups and the commitment of friendship within the groups. See Timestamps below for topics covered. Timestamps 00:00 Intro and Tayo's life story 16:00 How Tayo found the corner 19:30 Finding a church 24:00 Talking about Estuary 33:45 Speaker's Corner 38:00 The experience of the Estuary at Chino, the "as if" feeling, the assumption of trust 45:00 John Vervaeke and his 4 P's of knowing 49:30 Another conception of Estuary. Its telos is friendship and the freedom to play. Is there an "out of bounds"? 52:00 Tayo's description of The Meaning Code channel as a place for scientists to "play" with ideas. 55:50 A discussion of a previous conversation with Justin Wells, art and narrative structure 1:02:05 The Meaning Code builds a bridge to bring new ideas into the corner 1:04:00 Getting corn plants to generate their own nitrogen 1:07:00 Tayo's illustration of John Vervaeke's emanation/emergence dance! 1:11:00 The autodidact space 1:13:00 N. T. Wright's role in Tayo's journey 1:27:30 Seeing demotion as an opportunity, the frame of gratitude and humility 1:31:45 God has got His reasons A link to the Justin Wells conversation that Tayo mentions enjoying so much: Documentaries with Justin Wells: Looking Down to Look Up: https://youtu.be/XqOhjRS072Y

Jun 25, 20231h 38m

Egyptology, Ayahuasca and Christianity: Staring Death in the Eye

Lucas Vos was introduced to Karen Wong's channel through his brother and was interested in her conversations with Wolfgang Smith and John Vervaeke. He was born in 2001 and grew up in a rural area in the Netherlands with a Protestant church-going family. Not interested in church, drinking and partying in high school drove him to ask how his parents still offered unconditional love. His own desire to better himself led him to the self-help section of Youtube, which eventually led him to Jordan Peterson. Links below timestamps: Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:15 Lucas details his journey from rebellion to faith, his interest in history, philosophy and Eastern and Christian worldviews. 12:25 Exploring the Impact of Self-Help and Psychedelic Experiences on Faith 12:35 Self-help as a gateway to Jordan Peterson 16:20 Psychedelics and Christianity 24:58 The asymptote 28:00 The impact of Participatory Practices, Ayahuasca and John Vervaeke 34:20 The power of having a grounded tradition instead of just a spiritual experience 39:00 The benefits of boundaries and commitment in relationships 50:18 The journey toward marriage 53:20 Egyptology - Joe Rogan and Graham Hancock, Immanuel Velikovsky, war in the heavens and a worldwide flood 1:01:47 The Relationship between Jesus, the Bible, and the Truth, the Way, and the Life. Truth found in Chinese characters and artifacts in other languages and cultures.1:07:00 Discussion of Monotheism and Polytheism in Ancient Egypt 1:12:26 Lucas asks Karen about how she became a Christian (conspiracy theories and fear v. Faith and peace) 1:26:10 Transforming through faith 1:28:06 Introducing Lucas’ new YouTube channel on meaning and metaphysics. If you have an idea for a title, drop it in the comments:-) Karen's talks with Paul VanderKlay, a good introduction to The Meaning Code channel. Art, Chaos, Information, Jesus is the Axis: https://youtu.be/HlMgGkwWUNY From Hippie Prepper to Christian Artist: https://youtu.be/ZC03aNsPHOQ Immanuel Velikovsky - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Velikovsky&crid=21KJX4MQQK5Z4&sprefix=velikovsky%2Caps%2C140&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Links from Lucas: His Ayahuasca experience: https://youtu.be/oGW8piXqFao Lucas' channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Lucasvoz The song we talked about, In the Valley, He Restoreth My Soul - various versions This one because the comments below the video are awesome: https://youtu.be/TunsbrLBxiA This one is fresh and young:-). https://youtu.be/WXJvNfoxskU Including this one because the lyrics and many wonderful verses are in the description section below the video: https://youtu.be/r_a014JObkI And for those who prefer a male voice: https://youtu.be/LL90MDww5Ew The vertical and horizontal discussed on The Meaning Code with Jeremy Firth: Jeremy on Structure and Flexibility, The Two Great Commandments: https://youtu.be/6IfWU3zQRjI

Jun 24, 20231h 31m