Audacious with Chion Wolf

On past episodes of our Audacious Love series, we’ve talked with people who’ve been married for over 50 years, people who’ve fallen in love with synthetic companions, people who’ve fallen in love with objects, and today, you’ll meet four people who are married to spirits, ancestors, or gods. Listen to our past Audacious Love episodes: Married Over 50 Years: “Love Each Other Even When You Don’t” It’s not just a sex doll! What it’s like to be in a relationship with a synthetic partner Falling in love with objects: The experience of being an Objectum Sexual GUESTS:  Dr. Megan Rose: An initiated ceremonial magician, a Shakta Tantric practitioner, and the author of Spirit Marriage: Intimate Relationships with Otherworldly Beings. She serves as an ordained interfaith minister and psycho-spiritual counselor and is the executive director of the Entheosis Institute Caroline Kenner: A professional Witch and Tarotiste, a teacher of visionary healing methods, and a spiritual healer also known as the Washington Witchdoctor. Caroline is a founder of The Fool's Dog, a Tarot app publishing company.  She is married to multiple spirits Dr. Monica Mody: A transdisciplinary poet, writer, educator and spiritual practitioner whose border-crossing praxis lives at the intersections of earth-based wisdom, whole person philosophy, and embodied regenerative consciousness Orion Foxwood: A traditional witch, conjure-man, "Eco-Magical Activist", faery seer; author of The Faery Teachings, The Tree of Enchantment, Mountain Conjure and Southern Rootwork and The Flame in the Cauldron. He is the founder of the House of Brigh Faery Seership Institute, a co-founder of Conjure-Craft, and Witches in the Woods gatherings in California Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear a lot about the harm of social media. But what about the good? Meet two artists who started off on social media by showing their artwork… But once they revealed the hope and kindness and positivity in their hearts? The views, shares and likes piled up in ways they never expected. Hear how they both are grappling with the newfound pressure of inspiring hundreds of thousands of fans, and find out what Chion's favorite clips from their channels reveal about her. Listen to the first installment of this series, featuring Joel Cross, Scott Tatum, and Daníel Colón. GUESTS:  LaNia Roberts: Internationally renowned artist, speaker, and positive social media influencer Bruce W Brackett: Artist and the author of How to Breathe While Suffocating: A Story Of Overcoming Addiction, Recovering From Trauma, and Healing My Soul Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Family secrets are often kept to protect, but hiding the truth can sometimes cause more harm than good. When Michael Hainey’s father died, the explanation he was given never quite added up. Decades later, uncovering the real story changed his life, and inspired him to write a memoir. Melissa Daniels faced a different kind of revelation: the man she thought was her father wasn’t her biological dad. Her determination to uncover the truth became unstoppable. Hear their powerful stories of discovery, and what unfolded after the secrets came to light. Suggested episodes: Conception deception: The fight for transparency in the fertility industry Forgiveness: How we define it and how it defines us GUESTS:  Michael Hainey: A journalist and author of the memoir, After Visiting Friends: A Son’s Story". It details how he uncovered the circumstances surrounding his father’s death decades later Melissa Daniels: Her father passed away when she was seven. As a teenager, she learned that she was conceived by a donor and set out to connect with her biological father Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine waking up one morning and seeing every face around you as demonic - twisted, distorted, and unrecognizable. Are you hallucinating? Would you think people were possessed? Should you call 911? Now, what if it’s not demons you’re seeing, but constantly shifting facial features on everyone, including yourself? And what if this has been your reality since birth? Meet two people living with this rare and perplexing condition, prosopometamorphopsia (PMO), and a researcher dedicated to understanding it. Hear their stories and learn about a simple, surprising treatment for this mysterious disorder. Suggested episodes: Revealing Our Blind Spots About Blindness What it’s like to be able to smell illnesses What is foreign accent syndrome? After a stroke, one man’s southern drawl turned British GUESTS:  Brad Duchaine: Researcher at Dartmouth who studies face blindness and is a leading researcher on PMO Victor Sharrah: Clarkesville, Tennessee resident who discovered in 2020 that he has prosopometamorphopsia (AKA demon face syndrome or PMO). He found help on the Veronica Smith: PMO patient who sees facial features moving. They have been experiencing this since they were four years old, and the distortions appear mostly on themself rather than on other people Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine you’re 16 years old, living in Lahore, Pakistan, and preparing for the adventure of a lifetime: A high school exchange year in Rockville, Maryland. Just as you’re getting ready to leave, a public radio show in Connecticut asks to document your journey! This is the story of Salaar Muhammad - before, during, and after his transformative year in the United States. We explore how this experience changed his perspective, shaped his future, and touched the lives of those around him. Suggested episodes: Francesca Abroad: Following an American high school student’s year in Sarajevo GUESTS:  Salaar Muhammad: a student from Lahore, Pakistan, who spent the 2023/2024 academic year in Rockville, MD through the U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy Lugar YES program. He lived with a host family and went to a local high school Sarah Clapp: Sarah’s family hosted Salaar during his stay in the US Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember the joy of “Show and Tell” at school? Now why should only the kids have all the fun? Listeners to Audacious (and staff members of Connecticut Public!) gathered at Third Place by Half Full Brewery on March 13th, 2024, for an opportunity to share their story! Special thanks to PJ Kennedy of HeyStamford.com for sharing our event, and for keeping residents and visitors of Stamford in the loop! For a full transcript of this show, click here. This episode originally aired on March 22, 2024. GUESTS:  Elaine Braithwaite: Electric violinist and City Librarian of Bridgeport Faisal Saleh: Founder of Palestine Museum US in Woodbridge, CT Paul Bluestein: Husband of Lynda Shannon Bluestein, advocate for LyndasPhones.org Chion Wolf: Host of Audacious Jessica Severin de Martinez: Producer of Audacious Khaleel Rahman: Producer of Audacious Lucy Nalpathanchil: Vice President of Community Engagement at Connecticut Public  Jennifer Reilly and Stephanie Convey: Wethersfield residents who brought a brass sculpture Cjet Raymond: West Haven resident who brought a jar of cat whiskers Cynthia Bowser: Stamford resident who brought her mother's hat Kristen Cusato: Director of Communications for the Alzheimer's Association of Connecticut, and host of the podcast, Speaking of Alzheimer's Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know people who love Costco or Trader Joe’s. But what compels someone to devote their time and travel to visiting as many stores as possible, to wrap so much of their identity around these massive shopping chains? Meet three people whose lives brighten the moment they put their hands on a Trader Joe’s or Costco grocery cart. For a transcription of this episode, which originally aired on December 14, 2023, click here. GUESTS:  David and Susan Schwartz: Authors of The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z. They have traveled over 220,000 miles visiting over 250 Costco warehouses in 13 countries Natasha Fischer: Runs the social media account TraderJoesList, where she offers product reviews and recipes to over two million followers. She also sells spatulas Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brains are weird. Bodies are weird. People are weird! Brains, bodies, and people together in a psychological or medical setting? Man, it can get REAL weird. Ethical conundrums abound, like navigating boundaries, bias in treatment, managing power dynamics… And that's just the tip of the iceberg! So who's in charge of figuring out the ethics behind all of this? Meet the Chief of Ethics for the American Psychological Association, Lindsay Childress-Beatty. And hear stories from the hospital from Andy Kondrat. He's the one that doctors call when they or the patients they serve are experiencing ethical medical questions..Suggested episodes: Body Integrity Dysphoria: When being disabled is a desire I downloaded my soulmate: Stories of love and AI TOPS: A woman summits Everest, a man considers a body transplant, and world-record hat-wearing Faking it: Munchausen syndrome and the compulsion to be ill GUESTS:  Andy Kondrat: Ethics consultant and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. He's a member of the Bioethics Committee, and co-director of CSMC’s Responsible Conduct of Research training course Lindsay Childress-Beatty: Chief of Ethics for the American Psychological Association Khaleel Rahman, Jessica Severin de Martinez, Meg Fitzgerald, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, and Meg Dalton contributed to this show. Audacious with Chion Wolf is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Tune In, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Join the conversation on Facebook,Instagram, TikTok, and email.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes it’s like you and your pet are perfectly in sync, reading each other’s minds… and other times, you’re staring at them thinking, “Seriously? Why do you keep licking the couch?” But what if you could actually read your pet’s mind? Would you treat them differently… or would you just confirm that dogs think every meal is their last, and that cats really are secretly plotting world domination? Today, meet two people who make a living as animal communicators. They’ll share wild stories from their sessions, explain why they believe your pets keep hanging around even after they’re gone, and give you tips on how to connect more deeply with your own beloved companions. Suggested episodes: We The Dog Wings, pouches, and snouts: The world of uncommon emotional support animals When wild animals become family: Thumbelina the squirrel and Walnut the crane GUESTS:  Nikki Vasconez: Animal communicator, teacher, and former litigation attorney based in Florida Laura Stinchfield: Animal communicator known as “The Pet Psychic” based in New York. Author of Voices of the Animals and Stormy's Words of Wisdom: An enlightened dog’s profound insights on life Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incest is one of the most challenging topics to discuss, yet our guests are opening up about the truth behind their origin stories. Meet Steve Edsel, who always knew he was adopted. But when he set out to uncover the identities of his birth parents, he stumbled upon painful truths. Now, he and his wife work with an organization dedicated to supporting others with similar backgrounds. Then, hear from Jerri Harrell, whose discovery of her biological parents happened almost by accident. She shares how she transformed feelings of shame and rejection into a profound source of love and resilience. Resources: Genetic Genealogist CeCe Moore and The DNA Detectives GEDMatch.com  IncestAware Survivors of Incest Anonymous Time To Tell Suggested episodes: Think Before You Spit: The Pandora’s Box of DNA Testing Conception deception: The fight for transparency in the fertility industry GUESTS:  Steve Edsel: Found out that his father is his mother’s brother. He is joined by his wife, Michelle, who works with CeCe Moore to help inform people of their family history Jerri Harrell: Found out that the woman she thought was her sister was actually her mother, and the man who she thought was her step-grandfather is her father. She is currently working on a poetry chapbook titled Across the Bridge - Out of the Shadows and into the Light: The Journey to Healing Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all imagined holding a winning lottery ticket, but what happens next? Hear from a man known as The Lottery Lawyer, who shares the most common mistakes people make when trying to claim their winnings. Plus, a man who scored a $28 million Powerball jackpot at just 21 years old reveals what life was like after the win—the highs, the surprises, and some challenges you might not expect. Suggested episodes: Aftershocks: Life after getting struck by lightning  Welcome to the Punderdome! We're entering NYC's punniest pun competition The Guts & Glory Of Getting Into The Guinness Book Of World Records What it's like to win a Nobel Prize with Andrea Ghez and Martin Chalfie GUESTS:  Kurt Panouses: ‘The Lottery Lawyer & CPA’, specializing in helping lottery winners claim their prizes and manage their money Timothy Schultz: Winner of a $28 million Powerball jackpot in 1999. Filmmaker, and host of the podcast, “Lottery, Dreams and Fortune” Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s 2 a.m.; the phone rings. The caller ID says Stockholm, Sweden. The voice on the other end of the line says, “Congratulations! You’ve just been awarded a Nobel Prize!” What goes through your mind in a moment like that ? Meet two people who received that life-altering call. Discover not only the incredible doors it opened for them, but the unexpected challenges that came with such a prestigious honor. Suggested episodes: Laugh and then think: What it's like to win the Ig Nobel Prize What it’s like winning a little or a lot on The Price Is Right, Wheel Of Fortune, and Jeopardy! GUESTS:  Andrea Ghez: Along with Reinhard Genzel, she was awarded half of   the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics “for the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the center of our galaxy”. She is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and the Lauren B. Leichtman & Arthur E. Levine chair in Astrophysics, at the University of California, Los Angeles  Martin Chalfie: Along with Osamu Shimomura and Roger Tsien, he was awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and development of green fluorescent protein (GFP). He is a University Professor and former chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Columbia University. Prof. Chalfie is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a foreign member of the Royal Society Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oh my gourd, do we want you to meet a man who set a world record for riding his giant pumpkin down the Missouri River! And hold your breath as you hear from two women who won an underwater pumpkin carving contest! And since it’s officially decorative gourd season, meet the author of that McSweeney's essay whose enthusiastic profanity somehow brings us all together every single autumn. This episode originally aired on October 21, 2023. GUESTS:  Duane Hansen: Set a world record for traveling the longest distance in a pumpkin boat in August 2022. His pumpkin, Berta, was 846 pounds and together they sailed for 37.5 miles down the Missouri River. It took 12 hours Josephine Walker & Stephanie McClary: Mother/daughter duo who won the Underwater Pumpkin Carving contest at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in October of 2019. Their design was of moray eels embracing a heart Colin Nissan: Author of It's Decorative Gourd Season, Mother*@&!s, originally published in McSweeney’s in 2009 Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The moment we meet someone – especially for the first time – we're sizing them up. We notice perceived gender, race, and one of the big ones: age. But what happens when you look much older than you actually are? Cécile Gueye is one of only 500 people in the world known to have Cutis Laxa. That's a condition where her skin lacks elasticity. Although she's in her early 30s, she looks like she's in her 50s or 60s. She talks about how this has challenged her personal growth, and how she sometimes uses it to her advantage. And Michiel Vadeweert has Progeria, which is also known as Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome. It's a rare, fatal genetic condition of “rapid-aging” in children. According to the progeria research foundation, only 210 people in the world have been identified with the condition. Resources: The Progeria Research Foundation Cutis Laxa International Suggested episodes: (Almost) Everybody Hurts: An Exploration of Pain Total Recall: What It's Like To Remember Every Day Like It Was Yesterday Body Integrity Dysphoria: When being disabled is a desire GUESTS:  Michiel Vandeweert: A 26-year-old man from Belgium. He has progeria, a rare condition that causes accelerated aging Cécile Gueye: A 32-year-old woman who lives near Geneva, Switzerland. She has cutis laxa, a rare connective tissue disorder Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tired of seeing the same ol’ politicians in headlines week after week? Maybe you’re exhausted by the same ol’ talking points and posturing. In this episode, we introduce you to two candidates running for president in truly unconventional ways. First, there's Literally Anybody Else (or Mr. Else, if you prefer), formerly known as Dustin Ebey. He legally changed his name to make a statement with his campaign. Then, there's Paperboy Love Prince - a candidate on a mission to become the first openly queer, non-binary president of the United States. Their platform is built entirely around the power of love. Resources: https://www.isidewith.com/ - a website offering a 2024 Presidential Quiz as mentioned by Literally Anybody Else during the interview Suggested episodes: A coffee-fueled celebration of passion, purpose, and pursuing an impossible goal The One Where All The Guests Are Named Pat Smith A conversation with Humans of New York creator Brandon Stanton GUESTS:  Literally Anybody Else: Formerly known as Dustin Ebey, he legally changed his name to run for President of the United States Paperboy Love Prince: Previously ran for Congress and Mayor in New York, decided to run for President of the United States as the first openly queer, non-binary candidate whose policies are centered around love Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The entertainment industry includes all kinds of people, but let’s be honest: There is a Hollywood type. So where does that leave actors who don’t fit the mold? Actor Adam Pearson has neurofibromatosis, which causes tumors to grow on his face and upper body. His latest movie is called A Different Man and it’s centered around the power of his condition. Crystal Marshall has loved acting since she was a little kid. But when she developed cancer in her face at 18 years old, requiring multiple surgeries to rebuild her face, teeth, and upper jaw, that didn't stop her from applying to and graduating from the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art with a degree in Professional Acting. Hear how both of them have become powerful advocates for expanding representation of all kinds of faces in the entertainment industry. Resources: myFace - US-based non-profit support organization for people with craniofacial differences Changing Faces - UK-based charity advocating for individuals with a visible difference to the face, hands, or body Suggested episodes: Facing the world with visible facial differences Actors with facial differences discuss what it means to be seen The Story Of The First African American Face Transplant GUESTS:  Adam Pearson: actor, speaker, and disability rights campaigner. His latest film, A Different Man, was released on September 20, 2024. Besides his roles in movies, he made many documentaries, among them The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crimes and Freak Show. His TEDx talks have covered topics like fear and the stigma of disability Crystal Marshall: an actress and facial equality advocate who graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2024 Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you leave your family, friends, home, and job to move over a thousand miles away to take care of a pet squirrel? Meet two people who did just that for 8 year-old Thumbelina. Then, meet a birdkeeper at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute who was chosen by an endangered crane to be her life partner for almost 20 years. Suggested episodes: Wings, pouches, and snouts: The world of uncommon emotional support animals Birdwatching legend Peter Kaestner's journey to 10,000 birds Audacious kids: Stories of courage, conservation, and compassion GUESTS:  Christina and Michael Reyes: The human parents of Thumbelina, an eight-year-old squirrel who has more than two million followers on social media Chris Crowe: Birdkeeper at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s campus in Front Royal, Virginia, and caretaker of Walnut, an endangered white-naped crane from 2004 until her death in January 2024 Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some people help others overcome their urge to steal through research and understanding, while others draw from personal experience. Meet a Yale psychiatry professor specializing in impulse control disorders like kleptomania. We'll also hear from a therapist and a coach who were once addicted to stealing themselves and are now dedicated to helping others overcome this compulsion. Resources: If you're struggling with any mental health issues, you can always call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Their free, confidential helpline is open 24/7 in English and Spanish at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). CASA (Cleptomaniacs and Shoplifters Anonymous, LLC) - a self-help group founded by Terrence Shulman Suggested episodes: Anorexia is complex. Two people talk frankly about their decades-long journeys Full house: The line between collecting, clutter, and hoarding disorder Fighting for truth: The struggle to overcome pathological lying Faking it: Munchausen syndrome and the compulsion to be ill GUESTS:  Dr. Marc Potenza: Steven M. Southwick Professor of Psychiatry and Professor in the Child Study Center and of Neuroscience. His research has focused on the neurobiology and treatment of addictions and other disorders characterized by impaired impulse control Tabitha Farrar: Developed anorexia nervosa and kleptomania as a teenager. She is the author of many books, including, Rehabilitate, Rewire, Recover!: Anorexia recovery for the determined adult Terrence Shulman: Author, lawyer, licensed clinician, and founder of The Shulman Center for Compulsive Theft, Spending & Hoarding. He is the founder of the support group, Cleptomaniacs And Shoplifters Anonymous, and CEO of unsteal.org, a website that helps people send money back to stores they've stolen from  Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elite bodyguard and security expert Will Geddes talks about how his childhood prepared him for a 30-year career protecting some of the most high-profile clients in the world.  Will shares surprising stories from the field, and reflections on what it's like when your one job is to make sure your client gets in and out - unharmed. Plus, get practical tips for staying safe! Suggested episodes: Stolen cars and abandoned grocery carts: Taking matters into your own hands GUEST:  Will Geddes: A security specialist with over 30 years of experience, advising clients worldwide on various risk and threat-related matters. He leads the firm, International Corporate Securities. He is also a public speaker, media commentator on international security, and the author of the book, “Parent Alert: How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online“Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know how sometimes you look outside, see a bird, and think, “Oh, hey! A cardinal! A blue jay! A robin!“ Happens all the time. Now imagine what your life would be like if you traveled the world as part of a lifelong quest to become the first person to see 10,000 bird species. Get to know Peter Kaestner. He shares the surprising story of how he came excruciatingly close to missing that once-in-a-lifetime shot. And find out why he believes there are a million ways to be a birder. Resources: eBird online database of bird observations, a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology IOC World Bird List, an open-access resource maintained by the International Ornithological Committee Merlin bird ID app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a free global bird guide with photos, sounds, and maps Suggested episodes: Wings, pouches, and snouts: The world of uncommon emotional support animals We, The Dog GUEST:  Peter Kaestner: First person to catalog 10,000 bird species, discoverer of the Cundinamarca antpitta, is an ambassador for the American Bird Conservancy, and leads tours with Rockjumper Birding Adventures Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.