Shows
The B&P RealmCrossover From The Daily Bryan Podcast, Ep. 213: The Juicy Details of Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s SHADY Rise To Power (As Best As I Know Them)I’ve been getting some requests to explain why I hold Pete Buttigieg, current Secretary of the Department of Transportation, in such low regard considering how well-spoken and thoughtful he appears in his various media appearances promoting to the Harris campaign over the past few weeks. This episode is my rundown of the details of how Mayor Pete rose up the ladder of the Democratic Party by playing a key role in stopping the Bernie Sanders campaign for president in 2020. You don’t have to agree with all of my conclusions, of course, but you can’t say I don’t...2024-07-3133 min
The B&P Realm70: Nothin' New Under the Sun? We're All Right, and There's Nothing Left
This is quite the Mercury-in-the-final-degree of Pisces park bench rambler, folks, so good that, three hours after recording, I forgot all I said. I know it was about populism, the author Thomas Frank,questioning if it’s true that there’s nothing new under the sun, noticing echoes in history, and realizing that now that almost everyone has been labeled Right Wing, that soon we will be All Right and then, there will be nothing left! Wordplay, folks, hiding deeper truths. Enjoy!
Links
If you want to connect with me, leave...2024-03-1017 min
The B&P RealmDaily Bryan Experiment 11: 2023, It's Been, Umm, Real!What a year! Two major events in my life---a legal kerfuffle that put me in a Japanese jail for 45 days in spring, and the death of my father in the summer---plus four months in the furthest reaches of Beelzebub's buttcrack---otherwise known as summer in the hottest part of Japan---well, this year certainly didn't play all that nice with me. The good news is it's over but, even better, the past month I've found my enthusiasm, my energy and my Spirit, and I think I have my Calling for my elder years, too. I (kinda) talk about it in this, the...2023-12-3112 min
The B&P RealmDaily Bryan Experiment 10: “Leave The World Behind” vs “The Teacher and the Tree Man.”Having just come out of a Zoom call with my community on the Netflix movie, “Leave Then World Behind,” I got inspired to read the beginning of the novel the film is based upon, and there was an uncanny and clear difference in the two. Can you spot it? Let me know!2023-12-3007 min
The B&P RealmDaily Bryan Experiment 9: What Would Happen if We Trusted Each Other Again?The Five of Pentacles in the Tarot shows two beggars in the snow, walking with their heads down past a well l-lit church. The meaning is: Help is here, if you reach out for it, but you have to notice it first. This means we’ve got to trust each other. There’s plenty of evidence showing how people rally in times of trouble. It’s our Culture that convinces us we are not trustworthy. Why not break the chains of that Culture, and begin trusting again?2023-12-2912 min
The B&P RealmDaily Bryan Experiment 8: : On Intuition And How Tarot, MBTI and Astrology Understand itI drew the King of Wands today for my daily Tarot drawing where I ask “What should I focus on today?” So because the Wands is connected to Fire in the 4 Elements of Astrology and Fire is connected to Intuition (N) in the Meyers-Briggs (Personality) Type Indicator (MBTI) system, I decided to talk about intuition, and how, despite our cultural perspective of intuition being a “woman’s” (feminine) superpower, in these frameworks it is connected to the masculine. This episode is, in its own way, a follow-up to yesterday’s because the main teaching of it is, again, reinforcing the idea that we...2023-12-2825 min
The B&P RealmDaily Bryan Experiment 7: In General, We’re All UniqueThis one was delivered with the intention of not only accepting the uniqueness of ourselves and others, but appreciating and loving it. I had fun sort of talking myself into a corner and then playfully excavating myself, which you can see in the tongue-in-cheek title, “In General, We’re All Unique.” Last, I shared some of the things that make me unique, including my friendship with the five stuffed animals on the cover, so I invite you to share: What makes you unique?2023-12-2712 min
The B&P RealmDaily Bryan Exp. 6: Balancing Ourselves with Nature , ENFP Stuff and Why I’m Summery in WinterHow getting into Nature can balance us, on why being an ENFP means verbally brainstorming works really well, on being a winter baby and how that makes external winter like my summer, an imitation of astrologer Christopher Renstrom’s intro to his weekly podcast, a bit about a course I took with him, and advice to get out into Nature to maintain your heath–take it or leave it!2023-12-2610 min
The B&P RealmDB Experiment 5: Going Deep and WideDay 5 of the Daily Bryan Experiment explores the concept of going deep into the roots of a moment, using an example from my day with some of my creative writing about a fun experience I had with some pals on a Zoom call.
https://support.spotify.com/au/podcasters/article/sending-voice-messages/
Note: Using the "Podcasters (for Spotify)" App on my iPhone, I was unable to find a way to use the "ENTER" button to create a new paragraph. (Every time I did, it just closed it up as though I was done...2023-12-2511 min
The B&P RealmThe Daily Bryan Experiment, Day 4: My Multi Mind, Improv, Being Canceled in the Future for Our PastStill in quick talkin’ mode (blame Mercury Retrograde on my natal Mercury!), I share about the wild way my mind wanders, improvisation and how it plays a big role in my life and being canceled from the future for what we say now, even when we are the Future Ones doing the cancelling!2023-12-2412 min
The B&P RealmThe Daily Bryan Experiment, Day 3: On My Cover Art Selection Process, Trump, and Big Picture AsPhew, I think it took me longer to thumb-type that title than it did to record the episode, ha ha. Today I’ll share more about how I’m experimenting with this “audio journal” with regards to how I choose each episode’s cover art, before heading into a quick-talkin’ take on the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent decision to keep Trump’s name off of their Super Tuesday primary ballot, where I’ll sometimes put on my astrologer’s glasses to put things into a centuries-long Big Picture perspective (Jupiter-Saturn conjunction cycle and our current beginning of an Age of Air, and the US P...2023-12-2311 min
The B&P RealmDaily Bryan Experiment, Day 2: Teaching, Learning and My Relationship With ThemI’m a 24/7 teacher and learner, and I teach and learn via my relationships. This orientation may or may not work for you. No matter, I think it’s interesting and worth sharing.2023-12-2209 min
The B&P RealmExperiment: The Daily BryanI’m thinking about publishing a daily “audio journal” every day of 2024. This episode is both an intro to why and an experiment with actually doing it. The experiment will run for 10 more days as we finish 2023. I’ll then decide whether to go forward with this project. After my intro, you’ll hear ten minutes of a reflection on Time and my relationship to it. As a guy who always loved a good time travel take, a Terence McKenna talk about time and as a budding astrologer, if I do this 2024 audio journal, Daily Bryan, I’m certain this won’t be the...2023-12-2114 min
The B&P RealmEp. 43: P is for Perfecting the Process with Virgo (The Virgo Season Episode)And so here we are: the last of our 12 astrological signs in this series (because, yes, I started halfway through in Libra last fall).
And what a way to finish, with that sign of refinement and integration so we can step out into the great wide world and be of Service. That's right, Leo, move aside, it's Virgo's turn on the stage!
I pulled out all the stops for this final episode. This means you'll get: a correction from our favorite MP Officer, "Fuckin'" Neil Young, about a mistake I made on the Leo Season...2022-08-281h 45
The B&P RealmEp. 42: P is for Playfully Self-Actualizing with Leo (The Leo Season Episode)It's time for that lion in each of us to shine, to cool cat walk onto the stage and soak up the spotlight so that we can generously give our Spirit to the world, yes, folks it's Leo Season.
In this episode, the 11th of 12 in the series on the astrological signs of the Zodiac, we'll begin with our usual run-through of the archetype of Leo, interrupt the chat with tunes from some of our amazing sun sign Leo musicians, have a chat on the park bench about the need to embody this Leo archetype as our world...2022-07-261h 48
The B&P RealmEp. 41: B is for Bringing It All Home in Cancer Season (The Cancer Season Episode)Today's episode looks at the archetype of Cancer. As always, I'll do about a 20-minute dive into the archetype, referencing works from astrologers who I've been learning from while adding my own insights, and we'll play some tunes that embody the archetype of Cancer by musicians born during Cancer Season. In addition, today I'll give a behind-the-scenes look at how I choose the songs for this episode and take a brief trip down memory lane where I wax nostalgic about seeing one of our highlighted bands back when they were at the peak of their powers in the late 1990s...2022-06-251h 17
The B&P RealmEp. 40: P is for Feeling Groovy in Gemini Season (The Gemini Season Episode)In this episode, we'll cover the quirky, playful, communicative nature of the first Air sign of the Zodiac, Gemini. To aid us in this venture, we'll enjoy some music from Geminis Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Mike Gordon of Phish.
For the first time in this series (and we are on our 9th of 12 for those counting), I had to break up the discussion of the archetype because, well, it's the episode about Gemini and Gemini loves to hear itself talk. Still, I think there's some pretty interesting stuff in here, including information about some famous Geminis...2022-05-221h 11
The B&P RealmEp. 39: P is for Patiently Awaiting The Taurus Season Episode (The Taurus Season Episode)In a fashion befitting Fixed Earth, this Taurus Season episode covers a lot of ground and, if nothing, else is sure to get you up and shakin' your booty. Not only will we do the usual rundown of our monthly archetype, but we'll dig into the groovy soul and funk of Taureans Stevie Wonder and James Brown, while also lightening the mood with a bittersweet ballad of requited love brought on by a lack of perceived funds from my personal mid-spring house band, the Grateful Dead, with one of their excellent covers of the standard, "Peggy-O" from their phenomenal...2022-04-291h 27
The B&P RealmEp. 38: P is for Phire Starter Season (The Aries Season Episode)Yes, the topic is the archetype of Aries, the first sign in the Zodiac, and the purpose is not only to elaborate on this archetype, but to fire you up.
Thus, not only will you get my distillation into the archetype, you’ll get a personal pep talk about why we are all bad asses, music from two bands that fire me up, Jane’s Addiction and the Disco Biscuits, some media about the Information War that is being waged upon our species, and then to lighten things up, a fun, improvised chat at a park with–ahem–M...2022-03-251h 36
The B&P RealmEp 37 ... No ... It's Episode #100, Baby!: A Hodgepodge HumdingerI can't believe it! In just over two years, I've recorded and published 100 of these suckers. Hard for me to believe. Anyway, the idea behind this episode was I would use all of the methods I’ve used in the first 99 episodes to create the show and in the process, cover what seems to be the most common topic of this show: current events and personal growth from a Big Picture perspective with some improvisational comedy, music, poetry and astrology thrown in.
Thus, you’ll get: monologues a la my riverside ramblers of season 2; a return of my i...2022-03-191h 13
The B&P RealmEp 35.22: Stand Alone Reading of "A Love Story For These Treacherous Times"This is strictly the reading of my astrological short story, "A Love Story For These Treacherous Times." It's also included near the end of episode 35, "Pondering the Paradox of Pisces Season." In addition, you may read the story on my Medium blog here.
If you want to connect with me, find me at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bryan.winchell2/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBandPRealmPodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BandPRealmPod
Email: bandprealm@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bryanwinchell?fan_landing=true2022-02-2413 min
The B&P RealmEp 35 P is for Pondering the Paradox of Pisces Season (The Pisces Season Episode)This episode covers: the basics of the astrological sign Pisces, including keywords; why one of those keywords is paradox and how it expresses itself in Pisces, how Pisces relates to disillusionment yet how the other side of disillusionment is new understanding, Pisces and its connection to addictions of all types; why 2022 is a big year for Pisces energy but why you should be used to it by now; the way that conspiracy theories play a role in Pisces (and why I think those in power are just as guilty of crazy conspiracy theories that harm us as us peons...2022-02-241h 14
The B&P RealmEpisode 34, P is for Pfighting For Freedom With Neil Young and Two TruckersYes, he’s still finding ways to zap himself to our park bench here in Japan, probably to avoid the overcrowding of his ranch because of his virile chickens, but whatever the reason, The Godfather of Grunge and the Mistress of Soul, Canada’s own Neil Tortilla Young, is back and this time he’s for freedom, and he’s even writing a song about it!
Yup, you’ll get a brief preview of this outstanding number, which, well, you may recognize. After I briefly touch bases with our old pal, we decide to bust out my old Rolode...2022-02-141h 13
The B&P RealmEp 33.22 (BONUS): This Ain't Sugar Mountain, Is it? (Exclusive Interview with Neil Young)Long-time guest of the B&P Realm, the Godfather of Grunge Neil Young, has gotten himself into a kerfuffle with Spotify over what he labels vaccine misinformation being promoted by Joe Rogan. Fortunately, Neil was gracious enough to give us an exclusive interview where he discusses why he's so pro-vaccine and the answer is going to surprise you, it may delight you, or perhaps it will frighten you! Either way, it's another incredible interview with our old pal and we were happy to sit down with him to hash things out. Enjoy!
Media Links
"Neil Young...2022-01-2725 min
The B&P RealmEp 33: B is for Blasting Off with Aquarius! (The Aquarius Season Episode)Yes, this is the episode where we talk about all things Aquarius! Among the topics covered are: the basics of Aquarius; differentiating between the Air signs; why the Air of Aquarius is outer space “air”; the eccentricity of Aquarius; why Aquarians like forming groups; how Aquarian Truth can hurt; the Aquarian shadow side; how Aquarius represents technology and science and how the Internet is a harbinger of the Age of Aquarius; the actual natural season--mid-winter--of Aquarius; the difference between life cycles and kinds of communication of the Air signs of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius; where are our elders and why...2022-01-221h 02
The B&P RealmEp. 32: P is for Pontificating on the Past, the Present and the Future and A Few 2022 PredictionsThis episode consists of two separate riverside ramblers with a similar topic: Where have we been as a collective, where are we now and where are we going. The first clip starts with the present, life here in Japan during COVID-19, the moronic response to COVID before broadening out to a discussion of the author Daniel Pinchbeck and his question: did 2012 happen? I then speak about the many cycles of time, using astrology and secular understanding such as Strauss/Howe’s generational theory and how using both we could say that our current 80-year cycle has us in late wi...2022-01-121h 01
The B&P RealmEp 31.21, BONUS: B and P Are For Biking and Putting Nonsense Into Your Ears!Recorded as I road slowly north on a beautiful winter day here at the start of January 2022 in Japan, this one is just me yakking about all sorts of stuff. Now, there are some sounds of wind into the mic, but folks, it's a bonus episode, which means I don't spend all that much time in post-production!
Mostly, I just want to share this with you because I was in a jovial mode now that Jupiter has entered Pisces and left that asshole Saturn, which he's been stuck with for the past two years, behind in Aquarius.
Anyway, on this...2022-01-031h 04
The B&P RealmEp. 31: B is for Belatedly, It's Capricorn Season! (The Capricorn Season Episode)This episode briefly touches upon some of the meanings of Capricorn Season before joining three, umm, friends, on a park bench to ramble about how Capricorn Season relates to current events, listening to a reading of an upcoming blog post of mine titled "The Two Questions I'd Ask Bill Gates," and taking in a reading about the lack of integrity of the mainstream media coverage about Ivermectin from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s book and then we'll end it with a classic rock song by one of the legendary artists of the genre, a band which has two members w...2021-12-311h 23
The B&P RealmEp. 30: P is for Sagittarius Season, The Both/And Episode (The Sagittarius Season Episode)This episode is a playful, rambling exploration of Sagittarius season, this episode finds me doing a deep philosophical dive into both/and, the unity behind the duality.
A few details: I look at how astrology has two major schools and how we can use both lenses to understand our chart; I talk about how astrology has polarities, such as Sagittarius-Gemini; I digress into a riverside rambler of adventuring by living in all four quadrants of the Pacific Rim; I reflect upon my aborted cross-country trip to the US in 2020 and the book I was going to write...2021-11-271h 01
The B&P RealmEp. 29: P is for Scorpio Season and Parapolitics! (The Scorpio Season Episode)Whoa nelly, do we have a doozy of a show for you all this week as we dive into the many meanings of Scorpio season! As a fixed water sign, I suppose it makes sense that I went so deep to penetrate the mysterious wisdom of this transformative, often misunderstood sign of the zodiac.
The show begins with some prepared general thoughts on Scorpio, detours into a Scorpionic story from last fall that speaks to what I see as Scorpio’s key lesson, moves into some insights garnered from astrologers Rick Levine and Eugenia Krok while adding some of my ow...2021-10-281h 27
The B&P RealmEp. 28: B is for Dissecting My 2020s MantraToday's show is one where, on a bike path babbler, I dissect my 2020s mantra, which is, "I don’t know/we’ll see/adjust accordingly/everything is OK." I'll be telling you what this mantra means to me and why I think it can be useful for you as we navigate these stormy seas. Enjoy!
Media Links
Season 1, Episode 15 of this podcast, "B is For Becoming Comfortable with I Don't Know"
Today's Song: "California Nights" by Best Coast
If you want to connect with me, find me at:
Face...2021-10-061h 04
The B&P RealmEp 27: P is for Persephone's Descent Means Libra Season (The Libra Season Episode)This episode is the first of a series I plan to do where, at the start of an astrological month, I'll discuss the archetypal meaning of that month and share some other thoughts about it, while perhaps sprinkling in some info about the astrology of the upcoming month. Thus, this one is about Libra season, which holds a special place in my heart concerning my dive into astrology which I'll go into in the episode. In addition, I cover the story of Persephone and how it relates to Libra season, while playing the wonderful track, "Persephone" by singer-songwriter Sidney...2021-09-2734 min
The B&P RealmEp 26.21 (Bonus): College Rhymes With Knowledge, Not ArroganceA shortie, but a goodie where I challenge the "thinking" going on today among the so-called educated "elites" such as CNN's Don Lemon who are de-humanizing people and call them to raise their game by listening and empathizing with those they think are stupid (but who may actually have wisdom you've just shut yourself off from). Enjoy!
If you want to connect with me, find me at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bryan.winchell2/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBandPRealmPodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BandPRealmPod
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bryanwinchell?fan_l...2021-09-2014 min
The B&P RealmEp. 26: D is For Diving Deep Into the Meta-Narrative MatrixI'm going super deep on this one. You might wanna listen on 1.5 speed...but I was being very deliberate in my language because this is a very important topic, where I do my best to explain what I think the consciousness is that is behind the tomfuckery we have been seeing in our world for many decades now. Enjoy.
If you want to connect with me, find me at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bryan.winchell2/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBandPRealmPodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BandPRealmPod
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/b...2021-09-181h 05
The B&P RealmEp 25: B is for Bugger Off With Your Vaccine Mandate, BidenWhy the sound of crickets is more pleasant than the sound of cicadas; discussing the dichotomy between freedom and safety; the relevance of Plato’s allegory of the cave for our times; questioning some of the vaccine narratives; why my reasonably accurate 20-year track record of predicting where things are going, even when those predictions were unpopular, gives me confidence in holding unpopular opinions now; my impetus to turn inward during the Trump years and why I wish members of Team Blue had done so as well; why untrustworthy institutions and its shoddy leaders telling us to trust and ob...2021-09-121h 01
The B&P RealmBonus Ep. 24.21: Walking and Waxing Poetic (?) About the Woo-Woo (Aliens, Q Anon and Bad Singing)Recorded on a night walk with a flat tire, this episode is slightly different from the usual riverside ramblers because, well, it was recorded at night as opposed to the morning. Which means after a 15-minute opening bit about how I ignored my intuition regarding the flat tire (and how that might have been a good thing), I dive into some of the more fun things I like to think about, including: memories of bad singing in high school, the number 42, aliens and, yes, Q Anon (and why I think it may have been a plan to disarm revolution...2021-08-271h 07
The B&P RealmEpisode 24: Warring Worlds (On Rebel Wisdom’s Investigation of The Dark Horse Podcast, Ivermectin and Vaccine Safety)This episode is an hour-long riverside rambler where I speak to my participation in the Rebel Wisdom community and discuss a question I asked host David Fuller about how he was coming to his conclusion that Covid-19 vaccine side effects are (quote) “typically exceedingly rare.”
As you all know this is a huge topic that continues to dominate media coverage and I’ve spent a fair amount of time on it on this podcast. But I’m hoping this episode is the the last I’ll speak to it for a few months as I want to cover othe...2021-08-251h 11
The B&P RealmEpisode 23: B and P are for Balance, Play and Work and the Usual Quantum BabblingThis episode playfully rambles through: childhood recollections about the dog days of August, the unreliability of memories, the power of the mind, hanging out at a Japanese shrine and wondering if I’ll get struck down by lightning for it, the unspoken rules of Japanese culture and how we foreigners aren’t expected to follow them, the experience of unbalance in the work/play relationship and being grateful for having balance in that in 2021, becoming comfortable in discomfort, musical memories about the Smashing Pumpkins, and musical reflections on the start of the summer 2021 Phish tour, an impromptu comedy bit refe...2021-08-0953 min
The B&P RealmEp. 22: P is for Parenthetically Rapping About Intermittent Fasting, English Pronunciation and the Ivermectin ControversyRecorded on a typically hot Peak Summer day with a background of chirping cicadas here in central Japan. I spend about 25 minutes detailing my detox efforts, from intermittent fasting to better discerning what to feed into my head from the media, before a few brief asides about the travails of English pronunciation, some meta commentary on why my thoughts can get lost among the parenthetical weeds and then, to close things off, a dive into the recent controversy over Ivermectin that Bret Weinstein's Dark Horse podcast is at the center of and how the Rebel Wisdom channel is covering...2021-08-031h 07
The B&P RealmEp 21: A TRUE Quantum Rambler, If Ever There Was One!No show notes, suckers! Ha ha. Seriously, this is just a podcast where I catch you up on what's been going on with me for the past two months and the things I've been pondering. I had fun recording it, and think you'll have fun listening to it. Beyond that, you're just gonna have to jump into the deep end this time...if you dare! Enjoy the show!
If you want to connect with me, find me at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bryan.winchell2/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBandPRealmPodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.c...2021-07-2156 min
The B&P RealmEp.19 B is for the Boys (And Girls) Who Cried Wolf and The Lab Leak Hypothesis (And Why My 2020 Mantra Still Works)Topics include:
Clip 1. Aesop’s Fable of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf;” who the boy is in the lab leak hypothesis media story; a dictionary definition of hypothesis and theory; should we really trust fact-checkers and social media outlets to decide what the truth is?; why the Founders were so smart to make Freedom of the Press an essential right; why the argument that Facebook and other social media companies aren’t governments so they can’t censor doesn’t make sense for the times we live in: why such arguments are similar to right-wing arguments using the Founders per...2021-06-031h 02
The B&P RealmEp. 18: P is for Storytelling To Make Sense of Our Lives and Our WorldTopics include:
What's the best Japanese convenience store?; Japan convenience stores and fast food vs. US ones; Rebel Wisdom community new storytelling; the buoyancy of green Nature this time of year; why Taurus season is green; what is yhe basic Purpose of storytelling; Taurus season is room temperature season; an improvised Story about Humanity’s relationship to Nature; what two qualities must exist in philosophers for me to pay attention to; the binary nature of the Science Story; Integral Theory reflections on the narratives of the major worldviews of our culture; some advice for ENFPs and how it...2021-05-2448 min
The B&P RealmEp. 17: P is for Propaganda, The Pure Stuff (The CJ Hopkins Episode)This episode is focused has three segments but it's focused on the work of one man, American playwright, novelist and fellow ex-pat CJ Hopkins who is an erudite, outspoken critic of the New Normal totalitarianism and who is someone I am very excited to share with you.
The first segment is my reading of Matt Taibbi's piece "Meet The Censored: C.J. Hopkins, Critic of "The New Normal." In the piece, Taibbi introduces Hopkins to us and then conducts an interview.
The second clip is my reading of Hopkins’ most recent column on his blog, Co...2021-05-1657 min
The B&P RealmEp. 10: B is for Being Connected to Nature Keeps Me Connected to Humanity (And More Thoughts on Clubhouse)Topics covered: feeling into the comfort of the Earth’s gravity; sports on other planets; a fascinating, boring gravity-on-planetary-bodies website (see link); why I find it easy to fall asleep to people chatting; how our disconnection fuels things like Q Anon and our inability to understand it; my story relating to how connecting to Nature’s metaphors guides me and makes me a better human; Alan Watts’ reflection on how we humans are a part of Nature, not apart from it; Clubhouse reflections, including gatekeepers in media and into the Clubhouse; some of the dynamics of Clubhouse and watching it evo...2021-03-0841 min
The B&P RealmEp 9: B is For Back to the Future? No, Back to March 2020, A One-Year Reminiscence on the Coronavirus CrisisThis episode is a look back on the experiences I’ve had and the things I’ve learned since the Coronavirus Crisis began in Japan one year ago. I focus on the personal for much of it, but tie the collective into the picture in the latter half of the episode.
Among the topics covered are: becoming more in tune with the cycles of time; boundaries as a key theme of 2020; how Just Saying No can free those of us who like to say Yes; the loss of 2020; the freeing nature of the collaborative world we are movi...2021-03-0140 min
The B&P RealmEp 8: B is For Being Reborn and Being Silly (And An interview with a Rock God)Welcome to Episode 8, Being Reborn and Being Silly (And an Interview with a Rock God)
Hi folks. There are three clips to this episode: first, an opening rambler where I touch on a possible writing project, among other things; second, a soon-to-be-published blog post titled How Grieving Over Trees And Facing My Addiction Gave Me New Life: The challenging death and rebirth cycle was at the center of 2020 for many of us. Can we grow from it?---and last, a season 2 first—a dialogue. This one is with an absolute rock legend, the one and only Neil You...2021-02-2232 min
The B&P RealmEp 6 : B is For BereavementToday’s main topic today is grief. While it is a more emotional topic than some I’ve covered, I also think if you stick to the end, you’ll find there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. To tease that a bit, I’m finding that as I try to understand this period of massive transition, I keep coming back to my conclusion that the response to our challenges is to become more human and this means, as hard as it can be, to feel more deeply and to love more openly. And my hope is based o...2021-02-0938 min
The B&P RealmEp 3: B is For The Blending Reality of ConspiritualityIn this episode, I use a recent Rebel Wisdom video titled “The Q Anon Shaman and the Return of the Mythic” and my participation in a live Q and A with two of the guests in that video to dig into the topic of the rise of conspirituality in our culture.
To do this digging, I use a variety of tools, including an Integral Theory lens, and an overview of how the past twenty years of US media failures has fueled conspirituality. I also discuss why I think the notion that racism is driving things like QAnon is ov...2021-01-2542 min
The Teacher and the Tree ManBook 1, Chapters 17-20The final four chapters of Book 1. Will Lucas figure out a way to delay the decision and save the Tree Man?2020-08-2855 min
The B&P RealmEp. 43.21: Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell Book ReflectionsThis is a broad overview of some thoughts "Utopia Avenue," a novel by my favorite contemporary author, David Mitchell, which was just released in mid-July 2020. The episode covers some of the basics of the book and then goes into some personal reflections on a few of the themes of the novel, including my mental health issues and struggles with addiction as well as some pondering about the role past lives may play in creating the challenges in our current lives.
A note: If you are interested in hearing my novel, "The Teacher and the Tree Man," click...2020-08-0933 minThe Teacher and the Tree ManBook 1, Chapters 13-16These four chapters seem to revolve around issues relating to trust--who can we trust when it comes to events happening in our world?--and it seems this question is just as relevant today as it was for our characters in fall of 2001 when these four chapters take place.
Also, due to some missing words from the original chapters 13 and 14 that I released on the B&P Realm back in February, I re-recorded all of chapter 13 and then recorded just the messed-up parts of chapter 14, so you may notice some sound quality differences. I hope it doesn't take...2020-08-031h 06The Teacher and the Tree ManBook 1, Chapters 9-12 (Plus a Very Special Interview with a ROCK LEGEND!)Okay, these next four chapters you're going to meet one of my favorite characters of the story and you're going to see things take a turn which really kicks the rest of the novel into high gear, so rather than reading my yakking about it, get to it ... oh, but hey, hey, my, my brain forgot ... stick around after chapter 12 for my special interview with one of rock n roll's all-time greatest iconoclasts! The algorithms are gonna take note of this one! Enjoy!!2020-07-241h 11The Teacher and the Tree ManBook 1, Chapters 5-8Chapters 5-8 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man" see our protagonist, Paul Lucas, questioning his sanity as we learn more about the Tree Man and the world he lives in.2020-07-201h 11The Teacher and the Tree ManBook 1, Chapters 1-4The opening four chapters of the novel set the scene: A small western Washington town, where our protagonist, elementary school teacher Paul Lucas, lives with his wife and young daughter on the edge of an old-growth forest. Lucas is riding high in chapter one but heads out into the forest after work and a freak encounter completely changes his perspective. Will it be enough to derail him from his goal to be a respectable member of his community, a good husband and dad, and the kind of teacher who can win awards?
To support my work, please share...2020-07-1550 min
The B&P RealmBonus Ep. 42.21: P is for The Poems Of Imagined (and Real) Possibilities (Plus a Ramble at the End)Digging through my closet of papers two days ago, I found a poetry assignment I completed as 2018 became 2019, where I had to write a poem every night on the theme of Imagine the Possibilities. I had a lot of fun reading 'em out loud that day decided to read 'em all to you for the podcast. These are whimsical poems full of metaphysical pondering with a dollop or two of heartfelt questioning, questions about the way this crazy world works (or doesn't), and what my role is in this great big potpourri called Life ... electric word, Life and I'm...2020-07-0832 min
The B&P RealmBonus: Adventure Cast (Universal Human Rights! Music! Re-Examining Beliefs! Free Palestine!)Here is a sample episode of what I am dubbing an adventure cast, where basically I will go out on one of my bike rides and, depending on the experiences I have, the people I meet, the things I listen to, etc., I'll record some snippets and make a podcast out of it. Today's episode sees me riff off an excellent conversation between Michael Moore and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters from Moore's Rumble podcast recorded in the spring of 2020, and, well, talk about all sorts of things, such as: why we must support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; w...2020-06-271h 21
The B&P RealmEp 40.: B and P are for Bravo! This Podcast Has Come to an End! (Plus, Chs. 19, 20 of book 4 and the epilogue of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")That's right, folks. This is it! The last episode of this podcast! The purpose of the B&P Realm was to read my novel and to practice the art of podcasting. Well, this episode the novel, "The Teacher and the Tree Man," concludes. And by concludes, I mean not only the final two chapters and the epilogue but the acknowledgments and the About the Author page, too. Before that, in the intro, in light of current events in the U.S., I tell some tales about my run-ins with the police and authority figures, both good and bad, and...2020-06-051h 25
The B&P RealmEp.39: B and P are for Becoming the Police? (Plus Chs 17 and 18 of Book 4 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Yes, this episode is about the fuzz. Events over the past week in the United States after the murder of George Lloyd by a thug police officer and his three partners have compelled me to dive into many difficult, important conversations around the topic of how a society should police itself because the way it's being done in our world, whether out on the streets of America or Hong Kong, or on-line just ain't working. The episode starts with me reading an article from the Washington Post about just how the police forces across the United States have become...2020-06-011h 06
The B&P RealmEp. 38: B and P are for Beyond the Pale and Into the Great Unknown, the NDE episode (Plus Chs. 15 and 16 of book 4 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Today's episode is on one of my favorite topics: The Near-Death Experience (NDE). After an intro, I share an NDE from a friend, and then a clip from hypnotherapist Dolores Cannon about the Life Review. Then, you get a chapter from the book The Purpose of Life, As revealed by near-death experiences around the world, which talks about how we can live in the face of concerns about a future that appears bleak. Then, I set-up a poem written by a dear friend, titled "Heaven" before a musical break, where we hear Phish's "Beneath a Sea of Stars, Pt. 1,"...2020-05-291h 21
The B&P RealmEp. 37: B and P are For To Be Pissed Off Or Not To Be Pissed Off, That Is the Question (Plus Chs 13 and 14 of Book 4 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")So much trouble in the world, how can one not be pissed about it all? Such are the questions Silvanus Douglas ponders in chapters 13 and 14 of book 4 of "The Teacher of the Tree Man" at the end of this episode, and such are the questions I ponder in this episode. The first clip is some frustration from yours truly inspired by a rant by KMO at the end of a recent episode of the C-Realm Podcast where we both tell you why we should be angry at our heartless System. Then, we get to chill out with a short b...2020-05-251h 08
The B&P RealmEp.36: B (and V) and P are for Building a Vision for the Human Project Worth Fighting For (Plus Chs. 11 and 12 of book 4 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")How did I get here? How did we get here? And where the F am I going? Where are we going? These are the questions this episode of the podcast ponders as we take the metaphor that humanity is having a mid-life crisis and can either turn inward to develop further or make the mistake of continuing to project outwards. I read an essay I wrote and set it up with a clip from the late, great Alan Watts, as well as referencing an excellent article by Dutch economist and futurist Rutger Bregman. And last, chapters 11 and 12 from book 4...2020-05-2259 min
The B&P RealmEp.35: B and P are for Protesting the Bullshit of Russiagate (Plus Chs. 9 and 10 from Book 4 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")We're back with another episode focusing on bullshit because, well, we are talking about American politics here. In particular, Russiagate. This episode uses two pieces of media for its focus, both featuring the indomitable rabble-rousing journalist with a ton of integrity, Matt Taibbi. First, you will hear the voice of Aaron Mate, who is also an excellent journalist, as he appears on Taibbi and Katie Halper's wonderful Useful Idiots podcast, as they discuss one of the many aspects of Russiagate that is just so laughable. In this case, Russian troll farms and memes of Jesus consoling a boy about...2020-05-181h 16
The B&P RealmEp. 34: B and P are for The Bullshit of Picking a Side (Plus Book 4, Chapters 7 and 8 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Today’s episode is brought to you by me going outside. That’s right, this episode which focuses on environmentalism, the controversy over the Michael Moore-produced “Planet of the Humans”, and the need for our culture to move past its divisiveness, well, it was all recorded from the Great Outdoors. Not only do I touch on that movie, but I also reference an excellent episode of The C-Realm Podcast, whose name is what the B&P Realm was inspired by, as well as the book “Climate: A New Story” by Charles Eisenstein and a series of blog posts I wrote about...2020-05-1457 min
The B&P RealmEp. 33: B and P are for The Beautiful, Ugly Perfect Mess That is Humanity (Plus Chs. 5 and 6 of book 4 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")On today's episode, you'll hear a psychedelic-inspired essay where I ponder the deeper questions facing humanity today while at a Phish concert. Then, we lighten the mood with some comedy improv. That's right, it's "The Upside of Jeff Bezos." And last, as always, two more chapters from my 2015 novel, "The Teacher and the Tree Man."2020-05-111h 03
The B&P RealmEp. 32: B is for Battling the Phearful Crackdown On Information (Plus Book 4, Chs. 3 and 4 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")This episode focuses on the dangers of increasing censorship in the COVID-19 era, why I believe this is happening and what I think the solution is. We get clips from the Astrology Hub Podcast and the Useful Idiots Podcast where Matt Taibbi references a piece he wrote about a recent article in the Atlantic arguing that China actually has handled Internet freedom correctly and the West should learn from them. Oh, brother!
And to close out, as always, two chapters from "The Teacher and the Tree Man." Today, it's book 4, chapters 3 and 4. Enjoy!2020-05-071h 05
The B&P RealmEp 31.: B is for Being Human In a Time of Technological Upgrades (Plus Book 4, Chapters 1 and 2 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Today we ponder the importance of staying human when it seems we are becoming ever more disconnected from Nature and how some of us seem to like it that way. This episode was inspired by a talk on a recent favorite podcast, the Astrology Hub Podcast, and this particular episode but before you get to the main rap, I borrow from another episode from that excellent podcast to offer some very interesting etymology of the word "disaster" and how it ties into our disconnection from Nature as well as a reference to the book, "A Paradise Built in Hell."...2020-05-0355 min
The B&P RealmEp. 30: B is For Bereavement in the Coronavirus Era (Plus Book 3, Chs. 19 and 20 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Today's episode is on the topic of loss. We've all lost things during the past few months, I think. So I talk about the things I've lost and how I've dealt with that. After that, we get to hear a live version of the song "Friend" by Ghosts of the Forest, along with a reference to an interview that guitarist and songwriter Trey Anastasio did, and then a poem I will be publishing on my Medium blog about something I hope we can lose, which is our addiction to the game of Scapegoat Sweepstakes. And then, as always, two m...2020-05-011h 05
The B&P RealmEp. 29: B is for Breaking on Through Heaven’s Door on A Bicycle with Uranian Love (And Book 3, Chps 17 and 18 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")This is a jam-packed episode focusing on the Uranian themes of finding liberation through revolution, where I dive into a comparison between two classic Los Angeles rock bands, Guns N Roses and The Doors, and their revolutionary influence on the music industry and American culture and then a bike ride ramble where I argue that the revolution must be guided by love, not anger.
I cover everything from the astrology of Uranus, drug addiction, MBTI personality theory, Strauss-Howe Generational Theory, "Planet of the Humans," a new documentary produced by Michael Moore that's making waves, how to politely...2020-04-281h 20
The B&P RealmEp. 28: B and P are for Being Phree Means Ya Gotta Trust (Plus Book 3, Chps. 15 and 16 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")It's a fictional focused freakout about freedom on this week's episode! First, a short intro talking about how once, again, the chapters of this week's reading of "The Teacher and the Tree Man," (book 3, chapters 15 and 16), have tied into current events where people are questioning the nature of freedom as we navigate the stormy seas of the Coronavirus 19 crisis. But before that, a special treat: my short story, "The Belle Valley (Authoritarian) Fire Brigade," which is a dystopian satire set somewhere approximately in the future. And last, a song about freedom from the late, great George Michael as well...2020-04-231h 00
The B&P RealmEp. 27: B and P are for Breaking Through the Psychological Narratives We Are Told to Believe (Plus Book 3, Chs. 13 and 14 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")This episode is an attempt to help us all break the grip that the narratives we hear may have on our thinking as it regards the current social and political situation. First, I play this clip from the insightful Anomaly and riff about why folks like Bill Gates may not be the experts we should be paying attention to. Second, I offer some context from my personal life about why I am quick to question any time any government tells me they are acting for our safety and health. And last, I read this article from the New York...2020-04-201h 09
The B&P RealmEp 26.: B and P are for Being Perturbed by Confusion (and Book 3, Chs. 11 and 12 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")It's been a rather wild week in the collective and in my own mind, so this week's episode is another visit to mental health, and this time I use an excellent recent episode of This Jungian Life Podcast as my backbone to help me through. The focus is on some of the aspects of the dark side of this interruption to normal and how we may address them. Check that podcast out if these clips appeal to you, it's great! In addition, book 3, chapters 11 and 12 of my 2015 novel, "The Teacher and the Tree Man." Enjoy!2020-04-171h 11
The B&P RealmEp. 25: B is for Break Time and P is for Putting Life on Hold (Plus Book 3, Chs. 9 and 10 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Yup, folks, I didn't really realize it until several days away from quitting my 9-to-5 teaching gig, but man, I needed to allow myself to rest. That means, this is a really short podcast, with just one clip, and I've invited two old favorites of the show to help me out with it. The topic is "Let Yourself Rest," which I got from a Facebook post from a man named Jeff Foster. I read it and then share a post I put on my Facebook page, which, by the way, I invite you to join at Bryan Winchell or...2020-04-1342 min
The B&P RealmEp. 24: B is for Bye, Bye Bernie and Bashing Team Biden and P is for Politics, Pizza and Pontificating the State of the US (Plus Bk 3, Chs 7 and 8 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Sorry, folks, it had to be done eventually, a return to politics. U.S. presidential politics, in particular. But there's good news. Yes, this might be the last time this particular podcast ponders this topic. For my candidate, Bernie Sanders has dropped out and we've now got two candidates in Joe Biden and Donald Trump who seem woefully unprepared for the road ahead. So this episode finds me pontificating on why it is not only Biden, but the people around him, that make me lack any confidence in him, as I munch on some pizza next to a river...2020-04-101h 24
The B&P RealmEp. 23: B is for The Butterfly Effect of Consciousness (Personal Growth) (And Book 3, Chs 5 and 6 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")This episode simply flows, baby. It flows from the mouth of yours truly, as I pontificate on how the Internet has a Watery nature in that it connects all of our individual mind (streams) to the ocean that is the giant collective consciousness, and how this means we should take care not to pollute those waterways. Next, I tell two anecdotes about IRL interactions and how the ripple effect works in person, too and last a humorous warning about an army of Gum Monsters commanded by your beloved host if we all don't start shaping up and loving each...2020-04-061h 10The B&P RealmEp. 22: B is for Blasting the Internet with Love and P is for Pondering 2020's Theme of Integrity (And Book 3, Chs 3 and 4 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Two segments to this bad boy. The first is my adlibbing about how, in the late 1990s, I got an intuitive blast that the Internet could be used to share love or hate and how, by choosing love, my life has been deeply impacted and how, in the past few weeks due to the troubles of the coronavirus pandemic and the response to it, I've seen people using social media more to share love and that this seems one of the positive side effects of our situation. I also mention how a popular podcaster came to a similar conclusion...2020-04-031h 08
The B&P RealmEp. 21: P is for Phew, What Topsy Turvy Times (And Book 3, Chs. 1 and 2 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")The times they are a-changin' and I'm just tryin' to roll with the punches which means this episode is a bit less focused than the last two, but if there is a theme, it is people tryin' to adjust to the times. I read an essay by an Amazon worker that makes me shudder at just how tight-ass the Amazon bosses are about time and makes me feel guilty about using and enjoying Amazon's services. Then, I try to appeal to you, the listener, to spend a bit of your time pondering what you can do to change the w...2020-03-301h 00
The B&P RealmEp. 20: B and P are For Bravely Facing the Paradox of Life's Grand Adventure (And Book 2, Chs 19 and 20 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")This doozy of an episode marks the halfway point of season one, so I put a lot of effort into tying current events into the final two chapters of "The Teacher and Tree Man" of book 2. What does that mean? Well, this episode has us facing some weighty questions of Life and Death with my own answer to why I can gaze upon our current situation from a Big Picture perspective and how I have a journalist's perspective on being witness to the first rough draft of history and find it "fascinating," a clip from the Joe Rogan Experience...2020-03-281h 07
The B&P RealmEp. 19: B is For Breezy Tunes, A Playlist of Airy Songs (And Book 2, Chs. 17 and 18 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man") Today's episode is a departing flight for the podcast, as we take a pause to listen to some songs that can perhaps help us breath a little bit in these trying times. In addition, there's a commentary about how I think music can best be shared in the "WE" economy so that everyone--that is, artists and listeners and NOT lawyers or corporations--benefits. On top of that, a fresh edition of "The Downside of..." And last, two more chapters from "The Teacher and the Tree Man," as we approach the halfway point of this book. Enjoy!
Song Playlist: "Our S...2020-03-241h 11
The B&P RealmEp 18.21: BONUS P is for Podcasts, Soberish Style (A Slightly More Mellow Babbling Brook Edition)My 3 mantras for 2020 and my meandering story relating to the 3rd; Extrovert/introvert and MBTI; the geography of Japan and the Pacific Rim; weather and climate change (how I see it here in Japan); Charles Eisenstein, his book Climate: A New Story, war is over Bernie!; my insecurity about self-promotion; a few comments about Soberish posts (weed!, talking foxes, Riders on the Storm!); Jessa's post about her DL about re-writing roles to make Trump a good guy, my response, my dream about victim/abuser/rescuer dynamic ending; my dystopian satire short story about fire departments who set fires and then...2020-03-2340 min
The B&P RealmEp. 18: P is for Self Growth, An Explanation of How I Use the Wim Hof Method, My Gratitude Meditation and Some U.S. Political Comedy (And Chs. 15 and 16 of Book 2 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")It's about time I tell you how I keep my head on my shoulders, wear my heart on my sleeve and keep the monkeys off my back, so here it is, a full episode devoted to what I affectionately call my AM practice, which I do in the morning, of course. It starts with a description and demonstration of the Wim Hof breathing practice, goes into a short rap from the legend, Wim Hof, himself about why the method is more valuable than ever considering the global pandemic which I shall not name (Lord Voldemort told me to keep my...2020-03-201h 11The B&P RealmEp -18.21: COMEDY! P is for the Pacific Palisades Preventative Home for Handicapped Presidents and Presidential Wanna-Bes, 2028 Election EveJoin Crazy Blubbering Bernie, The Demented Donald, Dementia Joe Biden and Redneck Hunter Biden from an old person's home on election eve in 2028 as they argue over all that went, well, wrong ... that's tremendously wrong, The Donald tells me ... and all that could have gone better before dissecting the meaning of the Rupert, umm, Murdoch "Pina Colada" song. 2020-03-2007 minThe B&P RealmA Babbling Brook of an Episode for Soberish Podcast FriendsThis one is funny, profound and I am self-consciously full of myself and cultural references, including impressions of Lance Reddick, Bernie Sanders and, well, a brook babbles behind this Bryan's babbling and I love you all.2020-03-1831 minThe B&P RealmEp 17.21 BONUS: Joyfully Waiting On the Apocalypse While Dissecting the Dangers of SubjectivityRecorded from a deserted classroom in a Japanese junior high school at the End and Beginning of Time, I ramble through thoughts I've already forgotten but know I called Paul McCartney the most musically talented Beatle but also the biggest dick of the bunch, explained why Trekkies, Deadheads and Princess Briders can be so insufferable and offering fans of ANYTHING advice on how not to create Haters and waited on (but did I ever get it?) an eerie wind sound from the famous locale "karakaze" which I love and which led into a brief Japanese lesson where I explain the...2020-03-1837 min
The B&P RealmEp.17: P is for Penetrating Reality with Intuition, Dreams, Park Golf and Pinchbeck (and Book 2, Chapters 13 and 14 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")This episode dives deep and gets playful. That dive takes you into how my intuitive process works and how I can work with it and my dreams to give my life guidance and happiness, then a round of listening to me kick ass on the park golf course on a beautiful Friday the 13th afternoon and last some excerpts from the mind-blowing writer Daniel Pinchbeck and his groundbreaking e-book, "The Occult Control System: UFOs, aliens, other dimensions and future timelines." And then book 2, chapters 13 and 14 of my novel, "The Teacher and the Tree Man."2020-03-1554 min
The B&P RealmEp 16.21 BONUS: Emergency (Coronavirus Panic Wave Hits the USA)A message of love and slowing down from yours truly, who is two weeks down the Coronavirus Panic time stream and understands the feeling of anxiety and is still processing and pondering it, but feels there IS an end to this tunnel we are going through. I share some of my thoughts, my dog, Jelly, interrupts the podcast with her insistence on eating shit off the floor and I share (again) the Wim Hof breathing method, which you can find here, as well as a few other thoughts on how to move through this. 2020-03-1332 min
The B&P RealmEp.16: P is for Pondering The Nature of Time (and Book 2, Chs. 11 and 12 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Today's show is about one of my favorite topics, Time. The epsiode has two main segments, an essay from the book "The Ascent of Humanity," which you can find and read for free here, and an essay from my blog which I've yet to publish, tentatively titled "Why Natural Time Rules and Clock Time Sucks." And in the middle a special treat which you'll just have to listen to to discover what it is. Then last, chapters 11 and 12 of book 2 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man". Enjoy!2020-03-121h 05The B&P RealmEp. 15: B is for Becoming Comfortable With I Don’t Know (Everybody Gets a Little Crazy Sometimes and That’s OK) (Plus Ch. 9 and 10 from book 2 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Are you comfortable with saying "I don't know"? It can be a real challenge, I believe, especially when the world around us is throwing so many curveballs at us from so many angles. That's the topic I explore this week, as it relates to the outbreak of the Coronavirus and the way it has impacted my plans for March and April and is doing so to the world. We hear a few clips from the Corbett Report podcast and the Ram Dass Be Here Now podcast on this topic, as well. Plus, chapters 9 and 10 of book two of "The...2020-03-081h 03The B&P RealmEp. 14: B is for Darkest Before the Dawn Or Dark Night of the Soul? (And Book 2 Chs 7 and 8 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Well, I simply had to go over some post-Super Tuesday thoughts, so wrote an essay for my Medium blog and then read it here for you. In addition, there is some Bisco to brighten your mood and get you back in the fighting spirit and a clip from Michael Moore to help explain why the pundits don't understand the Bernie movement. And before book 2, chapters 7 and 8 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man," you hear me explain why I feel sometimes saying "I don't know" is the best we can do in such crazy times when asked about predictions...2020-03-0659 min
The B&P RealmEp. 13.1 BONUS: P is for Politics, the Plutocrats Strike Back Before Super Tuesday ... But Will It Be Enough?Yup, folks, this is a super focused episode because, hey, it's Super Tuesday eve or, umm, morning. I don't freakin' know, I live in Japan! Anyway, with Coronavirus striking down my classes for the month, well, I figured I ought to listen to some political podcasts, cut out some clips and offer some of my commentary on the big news leading into the biggest day of the primary season. We focus on Mayor Pete's decision to drop out and endorse Joe Biden because, well, because he's practice the politics of cynicism he once railed against! And then some other...2020-03-0328 min
The B&P RealmEp. 13: B is for Books, Biking on Berms, Bisco and Babbling (And Chs. 5 and 6 of book 2 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Another out and abouter, where you get to hear me go through a range of emotions, mostly fun ones, including hearing me cry for the first time on the podcast! Told you it was coming. Yes, with the closures of schools due to Coronavirus concerns abruptly ending my 15-year teaching career, it's been a rather emotional Leap Day weekend here in Japan. And speaking of leaping, this podcast leaps all over the place but you'll get info about a great book series by Adrian McKinity, and then a bunch of other stuff which I can't remember now except for t...2020-03-021h 20
The B&P Realmep 12.21: BONUS, P is for Pandemic Panic in Japan!!!FFS, the English-language Japanese media, at least the jerks at Japan Today, suck. But you'll hear four minutes of me on that particular topic and then a full, calmer, funnier 33 minutes of me adlibbing about the news that yesterday Japanese PM Shinzo Abe asked the public schools in Japan to close from next week until spring break and it seems most will comply, but ALL are panicking. And the theme of this episode is that "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." The panic is the problem, much more than the pandemic, IMHO. But you can...2020-02-2738 min
The B&P RealmEp. 12: B is for Bi Polar Gratitude, Bernie!, Being Late and Being On Beaches with Crows (And Chs. 3 and 4 from Book 2 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Yet another hodgepodge-a-roma for your listening pleasure. I was feeling groovy the days I recorded this one, so I discussed how I'm learning to be grateful for whatever this condition I have which some call bi-polar is, as it will help me grow and create meaningful art, how Linear (Clock) Time and Natural Time are different and how yakking on a riverside beach on a pleasant day with crows and small birds overhead is enjoyable. Plus, chapters 3 and 4 from book 2 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man," which upon re-listening to, I found very enjoyable and amusing in a...2020-02-271h 20
The B&P RealmEp. 11: B is for Biking and Beholding New Music and P is for Pontification on Politics, Park Golf, Pspring and Money, Health and Wim Hof (+Chs 1 and 2 from BOOK 2! of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Whoa nelly! We've made it to episode 11 and TBH, it's my favorite one yet. You get a lotta bang fer yer buck in this one: Discussion of new music I'm digging, a re-visit of Warren v Sanders after this week's Nevada debate where Warren shredded measly oligarch Michael Bloomberg, much to my delight, a rather odd interlude where a new character attempts to be both a play-by-play and a very, umm, colorful color commentary on our favorite sport of park golf, and a meandering ramble while I sat in the late winter/early pspring sun, where I talk about...2020-02-231h 09
The B&P RealmEp. 10: B and P are for Bi-Polar, Breaking the Prison of Time and Babbling About Politics (and Chs 19 and 20 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")This episode shares an inspiring moment from the Bernie Sanders campaign from my hometown and my thoughts on why #VoteBlueNoMatterWho is a disingenuous attempt to shut down Bernie supporters, a great rant by the fiery progressive podcaster Benjamin Dixon, and then a ramble-cast by bike (with a bit too much wind...sorry, edited a lot of it, did my best!) about my relationship with bi-polar disorder and my ponderings about how our economic system makes us prisoners to time, and whether we can break that. Last, the final two chapters of book 1 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man."2020-02-2058 minThe B&P RealmEp. 9: P and B are for Putting the Brakes On and The Privilege of Peeing (and Chs. 17 and 18 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Another hodgepodge of a messy episode, put together as I went through one of my down phases, so I shared a bit about that, including an assist from the Intuitive Astrology Podcast with Molly McCord, and then to liven things up, dived into the library to find some ramblings about privilege and a couple clips of me urinating. Seriously. You get to hear me pee. And fart. What more could you ask for? Oh, that's right, two more chapters of "The Teacher and the Tree Man," chapters 17 and 18 as we near the climax of book 1. Enjoy!2020-02-1757 minThe B&P RealmEp 8.: P is for Personal Growth Pallindrome (The Trickster>Integrity>The Trickster) and Chs. 15 and 16 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man"Perhaps a bit disjointed, perhaps brilliant, perhaps both, this episode covers a week of personal growth ponderings, where I look at the Jungian Archetype of the Trickster, reference a Medium blog post I wrote on the topic, share some pieces from a recent episode on The Trickster from a great podcast called This Jungian Life, make fun of the lack of integrity in the American political process and tell you why astrology is cool. Oh, and there's some Disco Biscuits stuff in there, too, including the first appearance of my Marc Brownstein voice! Last, chapters 15 and 16 from book 1 of...2020-02-141h 03The B&P RealmEp. 7.96: Announcement: Ep 8 DelayedEp 8 has been delayed a day or two. It's coming, just not today!2020-02-1301 minThe B&P RealmEp.7: P is for Postponed Meeting, Parks, Phailures of Democracy, nitPicking ALT Life in Japan and Phish (and Chs 13 and 14 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")I recorded most of this episode in a park waiting for a meeting and it covers a lot of ground--a 1980s pop music quiz, birthday shout-outs, why I don't jive with opera and classical music, the immorality (and not pragmatic) policy of drone strikes, parks, kids in parks, kids in parks who get up in your grill, the various inanities of life as an English teacher in Japan and, last but not least, my excitement about getting Phish tickets for this summer at the Gorge with my buddy, Dan. Oh, and a brief interlude about what the Democrats really...2020-02-091h 11The B&P RealmEp. 6: P is for Pete's a Loser In the Long Run (and Chs 11 and 12 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")Mayor Pete. Mayor Cheat. Wall Street Pete. No matter the moniker, how well do we really know this dude who none of us had heard about until less than a year ago? Answer: not very well. But, it doesn't matter. For the more you dig in, the more you realize he's smoke and mirrors. In addition, Bernie Sanders has a broad coalition of unwavering supporters; Pete doesn't. Like 2016's Republican primaries, when the media focused so closely on the events of the each day that it couldn't see the forest for the trees and thus proclaimed all sorts of...2020-02-061h 05The B&P Realm#2: B is for Bryan's Bio (And Chs. 3 and 4 of "The Teacher and the Tree Man")A bit more about me, why I'm doing this podcast, my plan to visit the States, my politics and why when I bike, I find stoplights so annoying. Plus, count how many times I say "basically"!. And then, enjoy chapters 3 and 4 of my novel, "The Teacher and the Tree Man," which begins at 25:05.2020-01-2850 min