Becoming Creature

Vibecamp ended yesterday afternoon and in this episode I try to process my experience out loud. I wanted to get this out quickly, and I’m still feeling a bit emotional so my voice might be shaky in spots and to save time the episode isn’t perfectly edited.I know a lot of us attendees are working through our experience, and I know many of you who did not attend are curious of what it was like. I hope this episode serves those looking to make sense of how they feel right now.I love you,Critter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Hello Dears,Today I publish a rare solo episode.In this episode I share stories from my life and tell you a bit about how I became the creature I am now. I share some of my thoughts about my podcast and the current state of affairs.I hope you enjoy-Nick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Today I am joined by River Kenna the Somatic-Imaginal guide aka The Wilderless. River uses learning from Jungian Psychology, Esoteric Buddhism, and Body-Mind Integration to help people get out of their head and into their life. River’s Somatic Resonance course can be found here: In this interview, River tells us* The pitfalls of emphasizing certain meditation practices.* What are the Somatic, the Imaginal, and the Mythopoetic?* How can Somatic, the Imaginal, and the Mythopoetic change our lives?* How can we better interact with our dreams?* Basic exercises for body work, imaginal work, and dream work.* How synesthesia and aphantasia may affect imaginal work.* How to unbecome who we aren’t.* The systematic vs. spontaneous modes of being.* How healing may be an incoherent concept.* Perspectives on trauma.* Information on living a graceful nonlinear lifestyle.and much more!References mentioned in the show:River’s Stoa Talk ‘Mythopoetic Cognition is the Engine of Mind’River’s Course - Somatic ResonanceRiver’s PatreonRiver’s SubstackRiver’s WebsiteJames Hillman, Peaks and Vales, Senex and PuerDavid WhyteRob Burbea and Soulmaking DharmaReginald Ray, Somatic Descent This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Welcome backToday I am joined by Buddhi. She and her husband Hap recently lost their home in a wildfire. Please donate at their GoFundMe. As Buddhi explains in the show, the tragedy did not reach the amount of monetary damage required for assistance from the state of California, or from FEMA. Thank you to Mycelium Mage for creating the GoFundMe, and for everyone that has contributed so far.If you would like to donate crypto-anonymously, their ETH addresses are hapsavage.eth and bexnaj.eth.If you do not have the means, feel free to reach out to Buddhi and Hap to send them a book.Books they would love to receive include:* Taking Root to Fly, Irene Dowd * Matter & Desire, Andreas Weber * The Systems View of Life, Fritjof Capra and Pier Luigi Luisi * Yoga Anatomy, Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews * Anatomy Trains, Tom Myers * Small Arcs of Larger Circles, Nora Bateson * Netter’s Atlas of Human Embryology, Larry R. CochardOn this episode we discuss:* How the concept of the embryo extends to larger systems* How life happens at the edge of chaos, without a director* The brusque beauty of NYC society* Buddhi’s relationship husband TouchMoonflower* Spontaneity, improvisation, and play* Their homestead, the fire, and life afterward* How to breathe properly* Great yoga practices for people that sit at work* What we can do for joint health* Psychosomatic studies.* Burning Man, Vibecamp, and communityRegarding embodiment tools, Buddhi recommends OPTP Foam Rollers and Myofascial Release Balls. Thank you for listening, and thank you to Michael Curzi and Zachary Hundley for some extra questions.Until next time-Nick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

I am joined once again by Brooke Bowman. We spoke on episode 11 about drugs, homelessness, and maintaining a positive outlook. Today we discuss how Brooke leveraged that positivity into achieving her vision of a large meetup that exploded into a huge 400-person multiple-day partyfest known as Vibecamp. Click here to donate to Vibecamp.Brooke answers questions like:* What is Vibecamp?* How did Vibecamp start?* What happened at Vibecamp? What was the best part?* What’s the future of Vibecamp?* What were the biggest challenges in getting Vibecamp actualized?* How will Vibecamp mitigate the actions of bad actors?* What improvements can we hope for in the next vibecamp?* What is Brooke’s most insane worldview?* What does Brooke think of Roon and Curzi?* How can we support vibecamp?Vibecamp is an organization headed by Brooke that also includes:* Lithros* Embryosophy* Grin* ZerothAxiom* Georgejrjrjrjr* Hekatonsure* Orbnet* and you can follow Vibecamp itselfIf you want to support Brooke, you can donate to Brooke’s Patreon hereIf you’re interested in seeing more come from the Vibecamp team, donate to Vibecamp here, and there are more options to donate here.Cheers,Nick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

In this information-packed episode Malcolm Ocean and I dissect The Divided Brain. We discuss the interplay between communication, self-coercion, and the roles of the left and right hemispheres.Malcolm answers questions like:* What is at the core of good conversation?* Is pursuit of productivity fundamentally ego-driven?* Is anxiety and self-coercion useful, and if so how?* How do you think we can we best attend to what our experiences are telling us about how we should orient ourselves?* Should we understand the conscious mind as fundamentally passive?Some references mentioned in the show:‘The Master and His Emissary’ by Iain McGilchrist‘Thinking in Systems’ by Donella MeadowsThe Reaching Truth PodcastFactorio This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

🎧 Episode #24!I am joined by the Gen-Z programmer, shape rotator, shitpoaster, and memelord known as ‘Roon’. You can follow him @TSZZL on twitter dot com.Listen as we discuss the scarcity mindset, anonymous posting, wretched Economics, machine learning, bitcoin, billionaires, and much more.Roon answers questions like:* How has COVID-19 altered the trajectory of your life?* What is so dangerous about the study of Economics?* What’s the best shape you’ve ever rotated?* What’s your take on people that live with the scarcity mindset?* What’s the tension between what you want to do and what you end up doing?* What about this corner of twitter rubs you the wrong way?* How would you rank the titans of tech?* What do you think about experimenting with psychedelics?* Are people pathologically conflict avoidant, and if so, how?* To what do you attribute your outsized success?* & many moreWe hope you enjoy!-Nick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

🎧 Episode #23!🔥 On this inspiring episode, blogger, youtuber, and author of ‘Friendly Ambitious Nerd’ Visakanv discusses his ideas on how to leverage twitter’s accessibility, how to be a better friend, and how to play the right games.🤔 He answers questions like:* How should we think about accessibility and reach?* How can we put our work into gear?* What is the most profound way he’s changed his mind?* What's the deal with cults?* What is Visa working on in his next book titled 'Introspection'?* What do we need to avoid if we want to express the truest version of our selves?* What does a bad reply game look like, and how can we avoid it?* How can we interact with people we disagree with to reveal the gems worth finding?* What is the question everyone should be asking one another?* What does this corner of twitter need more of right now?Thank you for listening!😎 Nick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

WHOO BOY!In this episode I talk to @Maybegray, @Teddyraccovelt, & @Lithros about* Why @Myceliummage sucks* How to fight* How to tell your dad he's not your dad* When YOU should have kids* What teddy thinks about sex positivity* Waiting for marriage to have sexual intercourse!* Pornography* What is Enlightenment?* Teddy tries tarot* Enlightenment vs. psychedelics* Who does the law serve?* A bit about IncarcerationAnd much more! I hope you love this episodeYours truly,Nick, @becomingcritter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Eggprophet arrives and reveals the long-awaited story behind the name!We discuss being a hot girl, the dimensions of whimsy twitter, what’s up with the typos?, choosing happiness, epistemology, farming, morality, and much more.We hope you enjoy,NickPeople mentioned in this episode include @solar_trex, @eigenrobot, @cheascake, @@myceliummage, @bungoman, @amirism_, @nickcammarata, @leo_tenebrae, and @maximummungus and Gregory BatesonSources mentioned in this episode include:Seven Sermons to the DeadZen and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceThe Master and His EmissaryEthics and Second-Order CyberneticsAesthetics of ChangeMany Lives, Many MastersThe Nature of Personal RealityYour Body is your Subconscious MindSeeing like a StateFinite and Infinite Games This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Goddess of oblins @Goblinodds does a reversal on me, spending half the episode asking ME questions! We play 36 Questions to Love, talk about bedpanning toward enlightenment, do a series of movie reviews, discuss psychedelics, pychotherapy, ingroup sociology, Borderers, and how we are probably never going to be best friends (typical best friend behavior)Mentioned in this episode are @karmacustodian, @teddyraccovelt, @eigenrobot, @selentelechia, and of course, Camille PagliaWe hope you enjoyRelevant LinksComing Soon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

In my first-ever uncut, unedited, unaltered episode I pursue the present with Tasshin Fogleman. You can follow Tasshin on twitter @tasshinfogleman and read his writing on his website Tasshin.comThis is the first episode I’ve ever done with no notes or preparation. I challenged James Stuber to do a video that was more difficult for him than usual which he completed on his youtube channel. I loved seeing James tackle this, and decided to do the same in this most fitting of contexts. It was an interesting challenge, and it was deeply rewarding for me and, I hope, very entertaining for Tasshin.In this episode we cover:* The phenomenology of meditation* The practice of interviewing* What was it like to be at a monastic academy* How does Buddhism need to adapt to modern problems?* Why might Buddhists need a teacher? What’s wrong with solo practice?* How does someone find a mentor?* What can someone do to have a better relationship with the sexuality?* How should one think of sexual desire from a Buddhist perspective?* Does the ultimate success of Buddhism mean the annihilation of the human species?* Tasshin responds to @teddyraccovelt’s claim that suffering is required for a human, meaningful life* How does one approach the concept of productivity in a way that is more humane and less dehumanizing? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Scott ‘Lithros’ Hansen does a deep dive on family and fantasy, ethics and ethos, morality and moloch. He answers questions like:* What is a Lithros?* Is it horrible to start a family?* Is it good that parents are miserable?* What is the problem with law school?* Why should anyone learn about ethics?* Why is knowing things is arrogant?* How does ethics allow you to do immoral acts?* Why is justice bad?* Is it important to be evil?* What media is the cornerstone of your personal ethical framework?* Why is fiction is better than nonfiction if you want to understand morality and ethics?* What is Law, its purpose, and what is the role of force in law?* How does power work in society? How would should respond to it?* What was the result of the 17th amendment and what should we do about it?How might senility affect the political process?Scott is brilliant and attacks my questions with incredible force!Enjoy!-NickidoP.S. Make sure you listen to the end ;)Selected links from this episode:(coming soon) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Theodore ‘Teddy’ Raccovelt aka @TeddyRaccovelt, writer of The Bully Pulpit, joins me to shoot the shit while talking about every important topic there is.We discuss!* Satire* America’s demented Congress* The purpose of suffering* Why being High IQ is problematic* Why imperialism is good* How Jesus is the biggest loser* Why both rationalists and post-rationalists are mentally ill* What feminism gets wrong* Why people should have babies* Polyamory, Marxism, Capitalism, the Social Sciences, G.K. Chesterton, Jordan Peterson, :breathes: and, like, a LOT more.This is a thicc, thicc episode you do not want to miss.Much Love—The NickerinoP.S. Please send me feedback! I’d love to hear from you.Selected links from this episode:The Bully Pulpit BlogG. K. Chesterton‘That Hideous Strength’ by C.S. Lewis‘The Screwtape Letters’ by C.S. LewisThe Last Dance@ChaosPrime@Selentelechia This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

Johnny ‘@Generativist’ Nelson joins me on this wonderful episode. We do a deep dive into how beliefs and trust shape individuals and relationships, especially through the lens of social networks.Johnny builds virtual things to simulate concrete ones. You can find his writing on his website generativist.falsifiable.com. Johnny is a Computational Social Scientist working with Data Science. He has experience at the CATO Institute, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and spent some time at our favorite George Mason University. He’s a multiple-time founder, most recently of Practical Theta and Abreka. I was fascinated to learn so much about social interaction from Johnny. I ask him about things like:* How to we live a healthier life that includes online social networks?* What are Collision Spaces?* What can we do about echo chambers and polarization?* What’s wrong with the social sciences?* What is the role of trust and commitment in developing relationship depth?* How should we think about the scarcity of attention?We also discuss New York, Rationalism, Twitter, Facebook, the future of social networks, books, and much more!Happy Easter!NickSelected links from this episode:Johnny’s WebsiteMy episode with @Liminal_WarmthMy episode with @VisakanvMy episode with @Eigenrobot@Sonyasupposedly, @theAnnagat, @chaosprimeThe NoosphereA Short Stay in Hell by Steven PeckThe Dispossessed by Ursula Le GuinThe Origin of Wealth by Eric BeinhockerThe Red Queen by Matt RidleyUnflattening by Nick Sousanis This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

I am joined by the incredible @Visakanv, author of Friendly Ambitious Nerd, blogger, youtuber, infovore, and an absolutely prolific writer.This one is a MUST-listen. It was such a pleasure to see Visa’s gears turning as I threw wave after wave of questions at him. * How do you get an audience with a king?* How can being an outsider make you stronger?* How do we nourish long-term relationships?* What have Visa's spiritual or psychedelic experiences been like?* What is the biggest difficulty in Visa's life right now?* How can you create your own structure to produce what you love?* Why and how should we practice unlearning?We discuss Visa’s relationship with his wife, his relationship to music, thinking about thinking, and a TON of other topics.Tune in, you’re in for a treat.Later,NickLinks mentioned in this episodeVisa’s WebsiteVisa’s YoutubeFriendly Ambitious NerdThreadhelperRadiohead - OK ComputerTim Minchin - If I Didn’t Have YouLewis Thomas - The Lives of a Cell@Cantide1 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

This week listen to my interview with the wonderful @liminal_warmth!We talk about* Limm’s Podcast, Chaotic Thinking* How should we think about Magic?* Why isn’t Magic taken very seriously?* The dangers of pursuing both Enlightenment and Magic* Transitioning and Limm’s post-transition lived experience* Society’s lopsided approach to gender issues* Limm’s new desert base* UFOs and Aliens* What we should know about getting into writing* Video games, especially World of Warcraftand much moreWe hope you enjoy!—NickMentioned on this episode:Chaotic Thinking by Liminal WarmthLiminalWarmth.com by Liminal WarmthMastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha by Daniel IngramJEKsite.org@Cowtung@Darbradawn@strangestloop@MaybeGray This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

I am back with my interview with @eigenrobot. Eigen has his own podcast which you should definitely check out!We talk about * Eigen’s life growing up* How he met his wife* Some of his thoughts on parenting* How to decide who to follow on twitter* Bluechecks and journalism* The problem with the social sciences* Politicians* Anime* GMU* Nicholas Nassim Taleb* Midwesternism* and just about everything elseWe hope you enjoyMentioned this episodeBonfire of the VanitiesIndexicalityLes Misérables This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

This week I have the incredible @karmacustodian! He just oozes positivity, check it out!We discuss:* Running a business* Learning better* Improving how we approach health* Buddhism * Samsara* Cutting through spiritual materialism* Honesty and lying* Marie Kondoand much moreWe hope you enjoy!—Nick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com

After a week Hiatus I am back and looking fresh thanks to new art from past guest @forshaper! Listen to my interview with him here.This week I have the very bubbly @gptBrooke on the show. We discuss:* Commercial fishing in Alaska* Drug use* Domestic abuse* Homelessness* Recovery* Making new friends* And living life with gratitude and positivityand much moreWe hope you enjoy!—Nick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingcreature.substack.com