Thoughts of a TechnoWizard

My grandfather passed away. I reflect on that moment. The Body: https://youtu.be/EtVca4XV4_U?si=LTpZo97XSh5fD6q1

What kind of music do you listen to? What art do you consume? How does it align with the type of world you want to live in? I share my own frustrations and ideas on how people can/should seek out art (and other things) more consciously. I argue that it is actually important whether you listen to someone like Drake or Kendrick if you give a shit about culture and building better worlds. Even beyond that, if you listen to just what is popular vs all the other amazing but lesser known art out there, then your worldview will almost certainly be limited. I think the things we consume, and the things we create, and the things we share, are all important facets of the world we are living and building.

Kendrick gives us a great example of the type of energy we need to utilize to take down corrupt systems. In this episode I discuss how we can use his crusade against Drake as a playbook for how we can tackle capitalism, patriarchy, hierarchy, and all these other terrible systems too. #notlikeus

Today I share some frustrations, ideas, and inspirations regarding the need for an overarching process for creating better futures...

Today I delve back into hip-hop to talk about the various problems plaguing the culture and where they came from. I then share some ideas on how we can fix them.

I'm just needing out about a game I finally started playing. I share some lore and lessons about the game.

I end up going on a long rant about the history and evolution of hip-hop and why diss tracks are a part of the culture, but also why/how the glorification of violence and misogyny became baked into the 'culture' even when it shouldn't be. I go on to dissect my distaste for Drake, my dislike for J Cole, and why I feel like Kendrick is indeed a GOAT! Come at me! 😁

I go on a long diatribe/exposition about the start of civilization and the research I've been talking about in my Afrofuturism 101 course.

Today, I share some updates on what I've been up to this month; from traveling in the mountains, to doing errands, to teaching my first class, to gaming and more.

I share some lessons I've learned from playing Mind Over Magic, and share other reflections and life updates.

Today I reflect on the past couple of years of podcasting/audio journaling. I also end up talking about the importance of ideas and the ideation process.

Today I have to give a heartfelt apology to all the folks I may have unravelled or otherwise had way too intense discussions with. After/during a recent discussion that did not go super well, I realized, or rather crystalized, something about myself: I like to pull at threads! And I will often do so relentlessly until something comes apart.. or proves resilient enough to stand. Though I greatly value this trait about myself as a major driver of my curiosity, it can be very tough for other people. I don't want people to be too scared of talking with me, or to think that I'm just trying to be antagonistic towards them. Though curiosity and a thirst for understanding is important, it does not bode well to put people in a defensive or floundering state in the process. So I am very sorry to all those I may have troubled in my thread pulling. I'll endeavor to be more tactful going forward.

It's been two months!! Sure I've been sick, and had some family events, and it's been the holidays, and I've been working, and it's been cold... But honestly a Huge amount of my time has been spent reading The Wandering Inn... One of the best stories I've read in my entire life. Today I share just a bit about why this story has captured my attention and imagination so much!!

Today I just vent and grouse for a while about all the frustrations I've been having, big and small... Then I get into a bit of some ideas on what we can be doing instead.

I'm back! And today I share thoughts about recent current events that you probably know about but I won't say here so as not to get immediately censored. Maybe it doesn't matter since this is a small lil podcast, but whatever helps.

I went to Vegas! In the first 30min, I share some thoughts while walking the strip. Then I recount my experience with a guest star while back in Atlanta! I share my thoughts about everything from the hotels I visited, the Sphere, and the conference.

I start this episode with some apologies and critiques for some comments I made previously. I try to show the difference between venting and constructive criticism and so on. I then share some ideas I had from listening to a podcast about Self and Identity, which you can find here https://player.fm/1BZaBKZ then I stumble through some ideas I had around the importance of structure and couching the new in the familiar when it comes to envisioning better worlds.

Today I just walk and talk, sharing my week, my experience playing with (off brand) lego bricks, and what I've been watching. I then share an idea for a solarpunk story that I had and more!!

Today I delve deeper into the various magic systems that were foundational to my idea of magic, and especially my unquenchable thirst to create a more magical world. I talk about how magical religion is, contrast between monotheistic and polytheistic ones, compare with various fantasy tropes found in books like Harry Potter and various urban fantasy and vampire books... then I also talk about how science and technology differs from magic, but also how it is still quite similar. Finally I end, as I often tend to do, with a sort of call to action, to imagine a world where our technology feels more magical in a more real sense... empowering us to channel the magic within us out into the world...

Today I share the story of how dissecting my beliefs around religion at an early age taught me a lot about magic and belief; seeing why it's important to believe in something bigger, but also to have a systematic approach to life.