The American Pulse E5: American Education

E5: American Education w Special Guest Jolie Lansdowne

 

E5 Introduction

Today’s topic is one of my favorites: the state of American education or lack thereof. Before we get to our interview, which is the 2nd half of our short interview with King Co Chairwoman Jolie Lansdowne, you will here us fade into that discussion as we already aired the first part of this in Episode #2.

 

I thought it was perfect to read a couple of quotes from one of my favorite writers in Education reform, the 2 x NYC Teacher of the Year and author, the legendary John Taylor Gatto. A teacher as beloved by his students as any you will ever see.

“I‘ve noticed a fascinating phenomenon in my thirty years of teaching: schools and schooling are increasingly irrelevant to the great enterprises of the planet. No one believes anymore that scientists are trained in science classes or politicians in civics classes or poets in English classes. The truth is that schools don’t really teach anything except how to obey orders. This is a great mystery to me because thousands of humane, caring people work in schools as teachers and aides and administrators, but the abstract logic of the institution overwhelms their individual contributions. Although teachers to care and do work very, very hard, the institution is psychopathic — it has no conscience. It rings a bell and the young man in the middle of writing a poem must close his notebook and move to a different cell where he must memorize that humans and monkeys derive from a common ancestor.” 

And this one: “Whatever an education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle the big challenges; it should allow you to find values which will be your roadmap through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important, how to live and how to die.”

I will be doing a deeper dive on Education and our future on this show in the near future. For now, let‘s go get our guest’s thoughts and insights on this important topic.

Jolie Lansdowne Bio

My guest today is Jolie Lansdowne. Jolie was elected and serves as the King County GOP Chairwoman. Jolie is a a wife and mother (who homeschooled kids for 20 years), a local business owner, and a woman who believes that engagement in local government is one of the most effective ways we can impact positive change for our next generation. Here is my interview with Jolie Lansdowne.

 

 

Basecamp for Men E267: The Homeschooling Bitcoiner

E267: The Homeschooling Bitcoiner w Special Guest Scott Lindberg

 

E267 Introduction

Today‘s guest has created something unique in both the homeschooling and Bitcoin space. A portfolio of games meant to be fun and act as a learning tool for Bitcoin, Austrian economics, and other important subject matter that seem to go down easier in a gaming format. Want to teach your kids (or parents for that matter) about how Bitcoin works? Fold it into an hour long well-designed, fun game for everyone to play. Brilliant.

I saved a great meme from JK Rowling, famed Harry Potter author and fellow lover of personal freedom. She said on Twitter,:

“I don’t understand bitcoin. Please explain it to me.”

In which Brady Swenson @CitizenbBitcoin simply replied:

“Voldemort= Central Banking; Harry = Bitcoin”

I love it Brady.

My guest today, along with his wife, sit at the vanguard of what I see as two extremely important EMERGING movements. The homeschooling trend and, of course, the sound money that we know and love as Bitcoin. Nothing in today’s episode should be taken as financial advice, it if for education and entertainment purposes only. Enjoy the interview.

Scott Lindberg Bio-

My guest today is Scott Lindberg. Scott is a freedom-loving entrepreneur, author, and game designer. He is a proponent of finding freedom by taking self-custody of education, money, and speech. Along with his wife Tali, Scott founded the company Free Market Kids. Here is my interview with Scott Lindberg.

The American Pulse E4: We are All Americans

E4: We are All Americans with Special Guest Roy Holman

 

E4 Introduction

Hello and welcome to the American Pulse. One of our aims on this show is to create inspiring, short-format content that you can listen to on the fly. Our take is that Americans are drawn to optimism and inspiration.

Right now, WE THE PEOPLE are energized. More and more of us are witnessing the truth of what our gov’t has been doing (or not doing) and seeing new possibilities that did not exist with the prior status quo. And when I say status quo, I mean until very recently that both parties have been entrenched, are you following me?

I believe we are close to a tipping point in this nation and in the world. Where more and more of us will realize just how corrupted our political structures have been, their allegiances to something or someone that does not have WE THE PEOPLE nor the Constitution of the United States Republic in mind.

But the tide has shifted, hasn’t it? And with the shifting tide, we need to shift with it. Do we still need the us vs them attitude? Are we still in an epic battle? Or has something changed and God is requiring something else right now from each and every one of us. I am presenting this to you as a question, not an answer. For I am in this monumental time in our country just the same as you. Looking for wisdom, doing our best to remain patient, forgiving others and asking for forgiveness.

Today’s guest is one of my best friends, Roy Holman. Enjoy the episode.

 

Basecamp for Men E266: Humility and the Hero’s Journey

E266: Humility and the Hero‘s Journey w Special Guest Beth Martens

 

E266 Introduction

Every once in in awhile, I come across a guest with similar interests as myself. I am not talking about sports or Bitcoin or the dismantling of the Deep State. All things I am deeply fascinated with.

No, the interests I am talking about is my long-term fascination and study of myth, archetypes, and the Hero’s Journey. These tools have taught me so much in such a short period of time, that is if you consider 20 or 25 years to be a short period of time. In may ways these things have made me who I am today.

When you work with archetypes and myth, something seems to awaken in your Soul. A remembrance perhaps. And a wisdom emerges. That my life belongs to something deeper and bigger than just myself and my little ego.

There is a very noticeable and powerful impact that living this way has on oneself and those around you. You no longer live this life with so much struggle and angst. Quite the contrary. There is a lightness emerges that comes with right-sizing the ego. The Divine Light (Christ, God, Goddess, however you conceive this Divinity) can shine through and speak through you. The seeker of the Grail becomes a resonance for others to also seek the Soul within.

The more you do this, the more you trust it. I have seen it a thousand times in both myself and those around me.

Something is emerging in humanity right now. We seem to be in the midst of reclaiming something that most people aren’t even aware that we had lost. It is the most fascinating time to be alive.

I am always grateful to speak to a fellow traveler. A woman who has done the work to understand both her own Hero’s Journey but also helps others make sense of their life chapters using this same powerful lenses and tools. Enjoy the interview!

Beth Martens Bio

My guest today is Beth Martens. Beth is a mystic and teacher, a musician, an author and a podcaster. She is also a woman with a deep knowledge of archetypes and the Hero’s Journey. Here is my interview w Beth Martens.

E266 Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed that interview as much as I did. I have the privilege of coming onto Beth’s podcast the King Hero’s Journey podcast. That is perfect for the two of us. I will share details as we get there. Thank you Basecampers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basecamp for Men E265: The Courage to Face Addiction

E265: The Courage to Face Addiction with Special Guest Sathiya Sam

 

E265 Introduction

Addiction, the Hero’s Journey, Shadow Work, and Men’s Groups. These are all topics, frames, and narrative tools that I have worked with personally and witnessed countless men skillfully navigate the challenges they face.

Shadow work is funny. Men have a tendency to want to project a confident, flawless, high status and achievement oriented persona to face the world. And so often, the shadow (which we define as all the things we hide, repress, and deny about ourselves) lurks and grows stronger with each passing year. The addiction that we can’t seem to get a handle on. The wound that keeps festering.

The Hero’s Journey is nothing if not a mythical context to grow courage in ourselves. And every addict (myself included) who has ever wrestled with this shadowy material knows a delightful truth. That addressing your addiction, whether that is alcohol, drugs, pornography, or technology, has positive ramifications for not just the individual, but the whole family lineage and, indeed, the whole human tribe.

We are courageous by nature Basecampers. Our addictions and Hero’s Journey are a way to really KNOW this in our hearts and in our Soul. The Hero’s Journey always leads to someplace unexpected and valuable. The former addict becomes a mentor, helping others. The restless young man with no mission or positive direction finds clarity and his path in life once the shadow is seen and worked with.

I have seen it a bunch and so has my guest today. A wonderful teacher and testament to looking at the dragon that nobody wants to look at. And then building a bridge for the next man and then the next.

I enjoyed this conversation more than just about any in recent memory. And you can tell that his work is right in alignment with our values here at Basecamp. Enjoy the interview.

Sathiya Sam Bio

My guest today is Sathiya Sam. Sathiya is a father, husband, coach, international speaker, and author. A former university researcher, then a pastor, and now the creator of Deep Clean and Liberated Man programs born out of Sathiya’s 15 year addiction recovery and the life he’s built since. Here is my interview with Sathiya Sam.

E265 Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed that interview as much as I did. What a great mission Sathiya is on and what a great offering for men. There are addiction programs out there but I don’t see one that offers so many of the tools that we preach here on this show.