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Chris Kew

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Mystery on the RocksMystery on the RocksEpisode 190: The Fate of the Flower DoctorThis week's episode is the story of Charles Budd Robinson - a botanist from Canada who went missing while on an expedition to an Indonesian island in December 1913 never to be seen again...So what happened? Does the answer lie in Kew Gardens? And would he have survived if he'd packed his phrase book?______An exclusive extended, ad-free version of this episode with 10 minutes of bonus extra chat can be found over at our Patreon!Extended episodes drop over there usually 3 days early and with zero ads so if...2025-05-1543 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 145: What if Nature Made the Rules?You're probably not old enough to remember, but a commercial in the 70s reminds me of this episode. In the commercial, a woman who represented Earth informed the viewer, "'It's not nice to fool Mother Nature."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDkiq5jD5HcI don't know if this ad made an impression on me, but my adult self agrees with it.I don't think we consult Mother Nature often enough. It might be my Evolutionary Ecology background showing, but I tend to think of things in terms o...2023-10-0524 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 143: The Thing Capitalism Gets WrongLately, I’ve been wondering about capitalism and competition. As I have mentioned in other episodes (links below), competition only occurs when resources are limited. Also, capitalism requires competition to protect consumers from monopolies. While I argue in older episodes that this protective feature often doesn’t work, the fact remains that capitalism requires competition.That competition is a requirement of capitalism is critical BECAUSE competition only occurs when resources are limited. When there are plenty of resources, there is no reason to compete. Evolution works the same way. Organisms will opt to avoid competition at al...2023-09-2125 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 140: Personal Growth as a Model for SocietyMuch of our lives seem haphazard and disorganized. Sometimes doing our best simply means being able to get out of bed and go through the motions. As we gain awareness we learn how to better navigate life's obstacles. We learn to see the obstacles as the way. It is possible - I am living proof.As my journey - specifically the work I am doing here on my podcast - evolves I go back and forth between thinking I have no idea what's going on and an integrated theme.Does that sound familiar? Sometimes everything...2023-08-3120 minAARTAARTS1E15: Carol WoodinThis week's guest is Botanical Artist, teacher and exhibition organizer, Carol Woodin. Carol was born in 1956 in Salamanca, Upstate New York inside the Allegany Indian Reservation, one of two governed by the Seneca Nation of New York. Her father James was a construction worker and her mother June, a library clerk who also enjoyed oil painting and playing the piano. Carol is the middle of six children with four brothers and one sister. Her childhood was one of making her own fun outdoors and with sketchbook in hand she pursued an early interest for art. At first this would be...2023-07-0850 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 128: Less is More, and all Jobs SuckIf you listened to (or watched) KEW Episode 15 about the Rat Race, you’ll know my feelings on jobs. And consumerism. And keeping up with the Joneses.I think most human problems stem from our relationship with money. And possessions. And ownership. Many smart people will say that this mess all started when the first (fat, white, male) humans decided they could own land. Prior to that, it never occurred to indigenous peoples that a human could claim ownership over anything except themselves. I’m not trying to paint a picture of our ancest...2023-06-0832 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 125: Codependency as an AddictionDivorce taught me that I had been very codependent in my first marriage. Many would argue that my ex-wife was narcissistic. As KEW readers and listeners know, I don't like either of those words but I think they describe some very human attributes.Some people are very confident and others are not so much. The extreme ends of this continuum result in things like narcissism and codependency. I have a whole episode about this dynamic:https://chrisburcher.com/2021/01/01/kew-episode-36-narcissism-codependency/But what those very human traits or characteristics really represent is a...2023-05-1829 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 123: Nature Knows BestFor the past twenty-some Episodes, I have been trying to figure out how to formulate my current question of interest.Generally, I am trying to make the case that Nature provides a wealth of information. Further, I am pleading with humankind to CONSULT nature when making decisions. Especially decisions that affect our species' or planets' health.I have used evolution and natural selection (with DNA being the mechanism) as filters, of sorts, that approve or disprove of various biological elements.If something persists in nature through time, we can draw a safe conclusion...2023-05-0426 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 117: Let's Talk About Sex Part 1Sex.We're obsessed with it. And for good reason. Sexual reproduction is the mechanism that perpetuates life. We can't live forever, but we can become essentially immortal by passing on our genes to the next generation.Humans, and other life forms, don't live forever. But one can argue that our DNA does. And it's not all sex, but it's more fun to talk about sex. We used to get along great without sex. All organisms reproduced asexually at first. No boys. No girls. No gender at all. Just a bunch of clones. ...2023-03-2321 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 114: Pro-socialism, Community, and LoveI continue to be inspired by the interviews on The Great Simplification Podcast, by the host Nate Havens, and by his guests. It is rewarding to find support for ideas I thought were my own. So many thoughts have been swirling around in my head, and this podcast/blog/video channel is my attempt to integrate them. It is happening. Slowly, but surely. And the process has been expedited lately.The Acid Test idea; that nature and her patterns can inform the big questions about humans and our purpose, is not new. I am truly inspired by...2023-03-0220 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 113: Suffering and TechnologyAre you a technologist? Do you think tech is going to solve all of our human problems? Do you see science, health advances, nuclear tech or some other human invention as being our salvation?Maybe you don't even see problems around us. I find it hard to believe that everyone, in some way, doesn't wonder where we are headed. As any follower on KEW will know by now, I think we need to take a few steps backward toward our 'older' and more indigenous nature. I like science and technology, but I think we've gotten a...2023-02-2323 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 112: The Shoulders of GiantsI recently came upon a podcast by a fella named Nate Hagens. The podcast, and Nate's piece de resistance is called The Great Simplification and his ideas center around the future of humans on Earth. The idea behind The Great Simplification is that humans will soon run out of energy to power or current levels of consumption and have to drastically simplify our lives to compensate for that loss.Nate also talks about the concept of Energy Blindness, which is the idea that most humans don't account for the energetic requirements of our lifestyle. This ranges from...2023-02-1631 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 110: The Acid Test. The Nature of EnoughLike Competition, the concept of Enough is something I think about a lot. How much is enough?I think about it often in the context of an annual income. How much money does it take to be happy? Or satisfied. Or not upset. Or make ends meet plus a have a little fun. How much money do we really need?And then I think about how some people, maybe not many, but some, make WAY more than enough. And, of course, how many people make far less.But the concept...2023-02-0226 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 109: Nature Cooperates to Reduce Competition. The DNA Acid TestI really dislike Competition. And it is a touchy subject. In an article I published on Medium, I received several hateful comments defending the importance of competition in business and sports. In KEW Episode 95 I discuss Rugged Individualism vs. Unified Connection to make the point that competition focuses on isolation rather than community. I talk about this topic a lot.And it is important for me to revisit this in the spirit of the Acid Tests, because Competition is a Natural process. Competition DOES exist in nature and it is critically important. In this episode I share...2023-01-2626 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 105 The Flow-Based Neo Pseudo-Scientific Method Approach (Flow-Based Inquiry)The KEW Acid Tests ask how Nature can inform the big questions humans ask. "Why are we here?", "Who am I?", and "What is our purpose" have puzzled humans for years - perhaps millennia. In the past 4,000 years or so, we have employed philosophy, religion, and science as mechanisms to ask and answer these big questions. While we certainly have learned a lot, the questions are too big to have definitive answers. I don't think they're the kind of questions that require answers. The joy is in the asking. It's not the destination, it's the journey.My...2022-12-2924 minAthletics Life StoriesAthletics Life StoriesChris ThompsonChris Thompson is one of the most popular runners on the British distance running scene. A prodigiously talented young athlete, he began earning British under 20 vests from the age of 16. He won silver at the European Cross Country Championships and beat a certain Mo Farah to win 5000m gold at the European under 23 Championships. Injury dogged his progress, but he went on to win European silver as a senior behind Mo Farah and represent Team GB at London 2012. His Olympic days looked over as his 40th year loomed and he became a parent with athlete wife Jemma Simpson. But...2022-12-261h 39The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 104: The Acid Tests - The Problem and the QuestionsOne of the greatest mistakes made in science, by amateurs and professionals alike, is not knowing what the question is.What is the question!!!????Say you are studying the effectiveness of a vaccine against some pathogen. What is the question? Too many times we get wrapped up in the specifics. The details. The minutia. We forget WHY we are doing this in the first place. In this case, I would say the question is, does this vaccine help reduce the problems associated with said pathogen?Maybe you're interested in climate change. So you gather a bunch...2022-12-2226 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 103: Human Pros and Cons. We're not as evolved as you think.As we conduct the great KEW acid tests I have to establish a baseline. In this episode I want to touch on a few elements of the 'human personality' and our 'global value system' that I think we can improve on. I think humans are great, but there are a few key items I want to mention:One of the big issues is that we think linearly. We tend to look at things as either improving or getting worse - over time. For something to be 'good' or 'successful', it has to 'get better' through time. If...2022-12-1515 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 101: Welcome Back! A New Direction for KEWIt's been six months. Though I wasn't sure what would happen with KEW, I knew I would be back. After 100 Episodes and over 30 interviews, I am inspired to work on new material here on Knowledge + Experience = Wisdom. I'm ready to get back on track releasing new Episodes weekly in podcast and YouTube video formats.Follow here, at Knowledge + Experience = Wisdom on your favorite podcast host, or on the YouTube channel (links to this episode below). In the last six months I have been working on another project with my buddy Paul Gadola. You ca...2022-11-1321 minBounce Back and ThriveBounce Back and ThriveEpisode 55 - Victimisation To Shame Transformation𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆- 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲❓🎙 In this week’s podcast interview, experience a very moving story of an innocent boy who encounters years of abuse at the hands of a brutal father and a dramatic mother. Encounter how he candidly speaks about the victimisation he experienced over and over - before he finally picked up the courage to stand up against his father. The fear of opening up to others led him to act out irrationally, hurting others and constantly exploding with anger. Despite the abuse - none of his siblings spoke about it or uttered the word ‘abuse’. Chris spends years blaming himself and feeling guilty and taking him 40 years to finally pick up the courage to confront his demons.💡Witness how he tr...2022-06-1643 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW EpilogueIn the most recent Episodes I shared the capstone of my work thus far on Knowledge + Experience = Wisdom. Episodes 99 and 100 represent the culmination of the preceding 98 Episodes and 30+ interviews. The Uniqueness Imperative and the Evolution Paradox emerged, organically, from two years of podcasting and blogging on KEW and I appreciate your help elucidating those ideas. For the past couple of weeks, (May - June, 2022) I decided to write a book to further develop these two ideas. But I realized the ideas were still bigger than that. If you have been here awhile, or listened to a few E...2022-06-1019 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 99: The Uniqueness ImperativeI kind of can't believe the title of Episode 99, but this is the culmination of the previous KEW Episodes and Interviews. Hopefully this body of work, thus far, has given me a bit of credibility. Coupled with my PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and over a decade in multiple modalities of therapy, counseling, and coaching, I think I have some room to 'weigh in' on some of the big questions.One of the emergent themes from the Are vs Should Problem investigation, which includes a 50-Episode arc and interviews with 13 unique individuals (links to all here...2022-05-2726 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 98: The Normal CurveAre you familiar with the 'bell curve'? It's also called a 'normal curve', or a Gaussian distribution because it describes what statisticians call a 'normal distribution'. Here's the wikipedia definition:a probability distribution that is symmetric about the mean, showing that data near the mean are more frequent in occurrence than data far from the meanAnd here's a video link if you want a more detailed explanation. Essentially, this picture is a visual image of how 'typical' things sort of fall out in the world. Like size of la...2022-05-2020 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 96: Type II ErrorYou know you do it. You think you are right about something, only to find out you were incredibly, undeniably, 180 degrees wrong.It happens. To all of us. To all of us humans, anyway.We all think we're right. If we didn't, we wouldn't have conviction. We'd be open. We'd be undecided.Once we have made a decision, well, that decision is correct, correct? I mean, right?But not always.Many of us are plagued by self-doubt. And this might be a healthy thing in this context. We should...2022-05-0625 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorNo Free Lunch. KEW Episode 89: Trade-offsDo you ever think about trade-offs in your life? Something as simple as choosing to have the Doritos knowing they are bad for your body? Or driving over the speed limit knowing you could get a ticket. Or blowing your money on daily lattes knowing one day you may regret not saving more.Trade-offs are a natural part of existence. I learned about them in an ecological or evolutionary sense. Natural selection favors some characteristics in some environments, but not other. Darwin's finches beak size changed to reduce competition, but smaller beaks could no longer eat larger...2022-03-1822 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW The Are vs Should Problem Interview Series: Pat Schulte and BumfuzzleAnalog nomads . . . . . When I decided to focus on the Are vs Should Problem, or the struggle between the person you ARE and the person you feel like you SHOULD BE, I was thinking mostly about the SHOULD part. To me, the issue isn't so much about figuring out who we ARE, it's more about telling the SHOULDs to be quiet. And figuring out how to do that. The AREs are things we want to be, know we are, and find comfort in. The SHOULDs tend to be things we don't necessarily want to do...2022-02-241h 06The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 84: Mindfulness and MindsetHave you heard people say that you can't control what happens to you, but you CAN control how you react to what happens to you?It's so true, but it isn't easy.We all want some degree of control in our lives. Or wish for it. Long for it.But control is an illusion. I'm not saying life is 100% chaotic and unpredictable, but being attached to controlling things really only wears you out.I have learned that if I let go of (a little bit of) control my life i...2022-02-1126 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW The Are vs Should Interview Series: Emmanuelle ChasseHave you ever met someone who seems to be doing exactly what they were meant to be doing? I have. And this week I'm sharing our conversation as part of the Are vs Should Problem discussion. Emmanuelle Chasse is a helper. Like many we've interviewed on KEW, she helps people through her writing, podcasting, and coaching. You can find out all about how she can help you here: https://rapidtransformation.ca. Reach out and she can help you make a rapid transformation.It was great to get Emma's insight about being the people we Are a...2022-01-2748 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW The Are vs Should Interview Series: Gretchen WinterkornIf you are interested in therapy and coaching. Either for yourself, someone you love, or just because you think it's cool. Gretchen Winterkorn is a wonderful person for you to meet, and you can check out her short video below.I am very lucky to see some cool people doing these KEW interviews, and I really enjoyed listening TO and talking WITH Gretchen. Relevant to the Are vs Should Problem, Gretchen and her family just simplified their lives in a huge way, moving from NYC to a flower farm in upstate NY. Pretty major life s...2022-01-061h 02The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 78: Assumptions and Core PrinciplesAre you an analytical person? Do you think science is a good way of answering questions? Do you also believe there are things science CAN'T answer?Do you struggle from a mix of pragmatic and spiritual beliefs? Do you consider yourself to be pretty smart?Do you have a strong distrust for the status quo? Have you ever felt like a non-conformist, whether by choice or just because?If you answered any of those questions I think you'll enjoy this episode and KEW in general.My goal is to share a...2021-12-3131 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW The Are vs Should Interview Series: Neil BjorklundI am extremely excited for you to meet Neil Bjorklund in this week's Are vs Should Interview Series. Unlike most KEW interviews, I knew Neil prior to having him on KEW. But probably not as well as he knows me, as he is my coach.I have worked with Neil for a little over a year, doing somatic healing work using the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. Neil has all sorts of other training in healing past trauma, improving one's life, and personal growth, but we focus primarily on IFS.I 'discovered' Neil through a...2021-12-301h 10The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 77: Who is KEW for?As you know, we have been exploring the Are vs Should Problem; the struggle between the people we are and the people we feel like we should be. Since Episode 50, but really since about Episode 42, and ARGUABLY since Episode 1 I have been developing the ideas and concepts that load into the Are vs Should modality.I hope you have found some value in these Episodes.And I hope you will journey with me toward the next Phase of this model developmentIn the next Episode or two, I will go through the pivot...2021-12-2429 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 56: DomesticationDon Miguel Ruiz, author of many books including 'The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)' uses the term "Domestication" to describe the process by which humans are taught how to live. I have been fascinated by this process, whatever you wish to call it, for as long as I can remember. In fact, I still wonder, often out loud, why no one ever asked whether or not I was agreeing to this social contract. See, we are born into a world that teaches us many things before we even know what's happening...2021-07-3027 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 55: The Bully and the DNA: Part 2In this second part of the Bully vs your DNA miniseries I describe the DNA part. I will make the argument here, which is a fundamental element of my future work on the Are vs Should Problem, that it is our birthright to express our DNA as fully as possible. I hope you enjoy.For many years I have heard things like, 'Follow your passion!' or, 'if you do what you love you'll never work a day in your life!'. And while I want to love these sentiments, I can't get passed...2021-07-2324 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 54: The Bully and your DNA: Part 1Last week I introduced a few examples of the Are vs. Should problem. One of the most obvious examples comes up when we think about our careers. When we're young people ask us what we want to be when we grow up. As adults, many of us wonder what became of those childhood dreams when we find ourselves doing jobs we don't like. And I'll argue it's because we listen more to our Shoulds than to our Ares.And this isn't to say that Shoulds are all bad, because I think their intent is honorable. Our shoulds...2021-07-1626 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 53: Are vs. Should ExamplesAs we move forward trying to discern the gist of the Are vs. Should Problem, I want to describe both the general dilemma and share a few specific examples. Generally speaking, you know you are in the Are vs. Should Problem when you experience discomfort, cognitive dissonance, anxiety, fear, anger, and other uncomfortable emotions. Of course, there could be many causes for these states of mind and it's ALWAYS hard to identify the cause. It's like when my kids get sick I always want to know where and when they picked up the virus or bacteria. We are all...2021-07-0926 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 52: "Hard" and "Soft" RealitiesAs we pursue the "Are vs. Should Problem" and examine our personal inventory, I want to describe two main ways we can understand ourselves and the realities we live in.First, there is the measurable world. The 'Hard' world where science reigns supreme. Things are measurable, quantifiable, and therefore fit into the well oiled scientific machinery. Problems stemming from economics, medicine, and food supply are easily boiled down into testable hypotheses and theories used to derive definitive results. Other people have described hard problems as being those containing subjects comprised of matter (as opposed to ideas, for...2021-07-0223 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 51: Personal InventoryOn our journey to define the ARE vs SHOULD problem (Episode 50), we must first define the 'existing conditions'. Like many scientific endeavors (and I'm NOT saying this is a scientific endeavor, rather, that I will take a scientific APPROACH), the Are vs Should investigation needs to know where it's coming from to understand where it's going.And, really, the personal inventory is just that - it defines where we are at the beginning of our adventure. Doesn't every good movie do the same thing? Isn't this really just a classic 'set the scene' device we use to...2021-06-2521 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 50: The Are vs. Should ProblemThis episode is a milestone for several reasons. One, it's the 50th episode and, for a weekly podcast that means it has been about a year, which is also a not insignificant milestone. For a one-man-band hobby podcaster, that's a pretty good run. When I started KEW I wasn't sure where I was going or what I was trying to accomplish over the long term.And, really, I began asking myself that question around Episode 41 when I announced the 'state of the podcast', which was mostly about changing up a few mechanical aspects like social media and...2021-06-1825 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Curiosity Interview Series 10: Chris BurcherThis is the final episode in the Knowledge + Experience = Wisdom Curiosity series. I really didn't know what I was getting myself into, whether I'd be a good interviewer, or whether people I did, or didn't know, would have anything interesting to say about Curiosity. Well, I learned a TON about myself and about curiosity, and I hope that these interviews stimulate Curiosity in others.I only knew one of the interviewees personally, and I we had really just met. And I knew little, if anything about the other eight. These interviews represent two people meeting, for the...2021-06-1120 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 49: Who Are You?I mean, really, who are you? No, I mean, really, who are you? Who Am I? Do we know? Do we care?I, for one, think it is important, even CRITICAL to know who I am, and presumably, for you to know who you are. I'm sure there are people out there who disagree with me, but I really can't get my head into that space nor do I think those folks are coming here to read my blog. But I am very interested in knowing about people who neve...2021-06-0423 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Curiosity Interview Series 9: Marcas HemmilaMarcas Hemmila has lived a pretty full life. He was a leader in the military. He trained for the Mr. Universe competition series. He is/was a computer programmer in the fast paced IT world. And now, he aims to help us discover and ignite our lives.The thing that struck me about Marcas was his authenticity. It's like I tell him in the video, he has a cool combination of vulnerability and 'I think this guy could kick my ass'. Something about that combo makes me trust him.Marcas also has an incredible internet...2021-05-281h 23The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 48: UnlearningAs I move toward Episode 50 and what I hope to be a major shift in what I'm working toward with KEW, I realize how important Unlearning is. How do we KNOW if we REALLY know what we THINK we know?Well, we don't. But we can think about it. And unlearning comes in to play as a necessary 'next step' for those of us who have ever asked this kind of question. Or questions like:Who am I?What's all this about?What's the meaning of life?Is there life a...2021-05-2124 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Curiosity Interview Series 8: Bernhard KutzlerIt is my pleasure to introduce you to Bernhard Kutzler (www.bernhardkutzler/en/). After a lifelong career in mathematics, Bernhard went off the grid in a very huge way. He spent nearly 3.5 years in total isolation: away from his phone, tv, people, and all interactions. He forced himself to face his mind in an effort to ask the 'big questions' about being human.Who am I? Why are we here? What is consciousness? Why do I do the things I do?Everyone reading this has wrestled with one or all of these questions, or similar...2021-05-142h 01The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 47: Changing Behaviors Changes BeliefsBeliefs are things we see as truisms in our lives and regulate the decisions we make. In Episode 9 I talked about Old Beliefs. These are beliefs we learned as kids that protected us in some way, but no longer serve their purpose in our adult lives. The problem is, the old beliefs have been habituated and we continue to implement them. Many of us become aware of our old or limiting beliefs in adulthood. Things like anxiety, imposter syndrome, feeling not good enough, addictions, relationships - all these things are, at least in part, learned when we...2021-05-0727 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Curiosity Interview Series 7: Dan TassoneFor the seventh installment of the KEW Curiosity Interview series I had the pleasure of talking with Dan Tassone. Dan was introduced to me by our mutual buddy, Brian, who basically told me 'this is one of the most curious cats I know. You HAVE to interview him'. Well, Brian knows me pretty well because Dan was awesome and we hit it off quickly.Dan went to school for a long time (as we do, sometimes) to be a pharmacist, but he didn't become a retail prescription filler. He ended up taking a haphazard journey through some...2021-04-301h 12Pony Tales PodcastPony Tales Podcast#33 Chris Kew, FORCEEloquent, intentional, brief. Chris shares cool stories, takes on real estate, and a story of self-growth that had us shook. Listen in!2021-04-251h 14The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 46: ValuesIn just about any kind of self help endeavor you will be asked to identify your values. While this sounds pretty easy, the process is far from simple. Turns out we like a lot of stuff. We 'value' many things. The trick is determining your top 3-5 values that truly drive you to live your life. Over the course of ten years of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or talk therapy, I read and heard a lot about values, but it wasn't until I put some real effort in that I discovered the, well, VALUE, of my values.2021-04-2324 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Curiosity Interview Series 6: Dan FaillDoing these interviews has been so much fun, and meeting new people (especially during the pandemic) is very nourishing. Getting to meet Dan Faill was no exception. Dan is exuberant, funny, has a lot of wisdom to share, and isn't afraid to be real about it. For years Dan's directed Greek programs for colleges and you can tell he has a direct connection with young people (and he's still pretty young himself). Serendipitously, Dan was invited to speak to a large audience and something clicked. He quickly switched over to inspirational and motivational speaking full time. And h...2021-04-161h 16The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 45: Career vs. FamilyIn Episode 32: Work/Life Balance I shared my thoughts about how to find time to meet all the various needs we have. In this episode I want to focus specifically on balancing time spent working toward our careers with time spent with our families. And for those of you without spouses or kids, your family can be your parents, siblings, friends, coworkers or any other people you value and spend time with.The main career/family issue I see in nearly all of the Americans I know is the stress associated with spending too much time 'working...2021-04-0925 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Curiosity Interview Series 5: Dana HumphreyI hope you are enjoying this interview series as much as I am. Dana reached out to me because talking about curiosity sounded interesting to her. And she has some new and interesting points to make about the importance of curiosity in our lives. It's so much fun to listen to other peoples thoughts about how being curious is important to them. We are all unique, and even a simple topic like curiosity can be very diverse.Danas' specialty is helping people realize their self worth and to learn better self love practices. She offers several coaching...2021-04-021h 02The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 44: Unnatural SelectionI am currently working on a larger project that will connect my background in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with personal growth, psychology, and finding more joy and fulfillment in our lives. In Episode 43 I introduce some evolutionary evidence that every individual human is born to discover their uniqueness (despite how 'woo woo' that sounds), and how NOT doing so goes against evolutionary theory.The main argument I am making in this episode is that humans have imposed a few other unnatural selection forces upon ourselves. If you watched Episode 43, you will know that the main force I...2021-03-2622 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Curiosity Interview Series 4: David McRaney of You Are Not So SmartDavid McRaney is the host of the podcast "You Are Not So Smart", the author of a book by the same name, a follow up book called "You Are Now Less Dumb", and is writing his next book about how humans change their minds. His website https://youarenotsosmart.com is so FULL of content that it would be something you'd want to take to a desert island because you'd have a lifetime's worth of entertainment to make you curious.With a background in both journalism and psychology, David THOROUGHLY researches his topics and then interviews the experts...2021-03-191h 31The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 43: Diversity and UniquenessAs y'all may know, I have always felt a little different. Like an outsider. People in the 80s may have called me a 'nonconformist'. But as an adult I have learned that many people feel this way, at least some of the time. And, like I say in Episode 20: We all feel different (But we're all the same), we all suffer from the imposter syndrome or feeling like we're out of place. It's universal.Part of this, I think, is because we are 'supposed' to be different. The entire purpose of our DNA is to enable each...2021-03-1220 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Curiosity Interview Series 3: DJ DoranI met DJ Doran when he reached out to interview me about my podcast. We hit it off rather quickly, and of course I had to have him on to discuss Curiosity.In fact, the whole Curiosity interview series was inspired by DJ!See, DJ told me my podcast made him curious, and he's a very curious guy as you'll see. And I realized that I am driven, in large part, by curiosity. It's in my daily life, it's in my music, and it's in KEW. But I had never thought about it, and certainly...2021-03-051h 13The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 42: SafetyRecently I discovered, or I guess RE-discovered, my 13 year old self around the time I moved from Georgia to Ohio. I figured this was an important time in my life and have always wondered how it might have affected me. By exploring my feelings and thoughts, from my heart instead of my mind, I remembered my bedroom and what it represented.I realized that I had created this spot, at least partly, in response to some experiences with the outside world. See, I was bullied quite a bit as a kid. And I'm not looking for sympathy...2021-02-2621 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Curiosity Interview Series 2: Mandy NapierMandy Napier resides in Australia where she shares her thirteen years of experience as the 'mindset alchemist', a high performance mindset and executive coach (and via zoom, obviously). She has represented Australia in the international Iron Man competition in Hawaii. After being forced to give up her sport, she focused on getting herself unstuck. She now shares how she did it directly with clients, via several books including, "Creating Healthy Life Habits", and in myriad articles and videos. You can find all of that and more on her website Mindset for Success.I learned about Mandy when...2021-02-1947 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 41: State of the PodcastJust checking in this week with some observations about KEW. It's been almost a year and over 40 episodes. I've learned a lot and am doing my best to deliver the highest quality content.If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2021-02-1217 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 40: Get Out of Your Head!We, as humans, are comprised of three key components; Head, Heart, and Gut that interact to make up a whole person. When these parts are out of synch, we experience cognitive dissonance - the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change. A simpler explanation is just to say we are 'out of whack'.Though I understand this concept intellectually, it is only recently that I have learned to connect with my Heart and Gut. I have turned a corner in my therapy and coaching. I am learning...2021-02-0522 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Curiosity One: Paul Gadola interviewOne of my greatest character flaws is being resistant to people. When I meet new people I often assume they won't like the 'real me' and this often prevents me from developing deep relationships. Sometimes this is protective, because some people might ridicule you or react negatively to who you really are. But the worst result from this type of approach is not giving people a chance. I'm not sure I did that with Paul, but when we first met I didn't see the potential friendship because I was in my protective bubble - and that's on me.2021-01-2950 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 39: The Growth FallacyWith respect to economics, people often say that you have to grow to stay in business. I heard this a lot when I tried to run my business at a static level of production (i.e., no growth). I found that we actually HAD MORE MONEY left over when we controlled expenses and held production at the level of demand. I discovered that we spent so much money on growth that we were more profitable when we didn't have those line items. Imagine that!So it bugs me when people adhere to that mantra: Grow or Die...2021-01-2250 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 38: Faith and TrustBecause I grew up without religion, I always thought faith was something you only had for religion things. Later I came to understand faith is something we have when we don't have enough information. Or we don't know the outcome, but we desire a certain outcome. Faith is believing.When I was becoming a scientist, I realized that faith even had a place in that world. Because science rarely proves anything, the people must decide whether scientific evidence means anything or not. We have to believe the evidence. We have to have faith that the evidence means...2021-01-1548 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 37: Currency of LifeOne of the things I think bout most often is how we have to have a job to earn money to buy the time we want to live our lives. It's like the life we're born with is secretly conditional upon participating in this loop.I'm not angry about it anymore, but I used to be. This forced agreement seemed unfair. Not that I didn't want to work, I just felt violated having my life be conditional upon participation in someone else's system.So after I calmed down, I started thinking about how we measure...2021-01-0847 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 36 Narcissism & CodependencyAfter my divorce I did some serious soul searching (and therapy) to figure out what happened. I accepted that both parties played a part in the divorce and wanted to understand what happened. Multiple lines of evidence support that my ex-wife became narcissistic and I became codependent. Now, I'm not saying 'she is narcissistic' or 'I am codependent', but our relationship brought out these personality traits and made them pretty severe. I think many people are affected by narcissistic and/or codependent tendencies, and the combination of the two in a relationship can be detrimental to both parties. 2021-01-0152 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 35: Beyond ScienceBefore I 'retired' to stay home with my kids I was an academic research scientist. I taught classes, advised students, and led a research lab. I was pretty successful. The only reason I share that is to say I feel like I've earned the right to explain what science is, and what it ISN'T. In Episode 1 I shared a bit about what science is, and now I want to talk about what it is not.Science is very good at asking questions about things we can measure, but it isn't very good at addressing the unmeasurable things...2020-12-2545 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 34: SelfWHO are you? WHAT are you? WHY are you? On some metaphysical level we are awareness. We occupy a body on earth that abides by the laws of physics and biology, but what goes on when we think?When I meditate, or even when I'm just making decisions in my day-to-day life, I FEEL like 'I' (whatever 'I' am) comes from a spot in my head that encompasses my brain and my eyes. That's where I picture 'me' to be. But what is this? Some have called it the 'seat of consciousness' and I...2020-12-1856 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 33: SoulDo we have a soul? If so, what is it? Is it God? Is it Awareness?Though I learned a lot recording this episode, I still don't have a definition. But I think that's because the Soul is beyond human comprehension. We simply don't have the sensory hardware nor the vocabulary to describe it. The Soul is beyond this Earth or these bodies.But I find it SUPER fun to think about.Making this episode took me on an hour long journey through my understanding of life and awareness. I used my Knowledge...2020-12-1154 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 32: Work/Life BalanceHave you ever felt like a slave to the 40 hour workweek? I know I never signed up for that, but I learned early on that to do the fun stuff I want to do I have to work for money to do it. Sure, I've had some hippie friends who tried a different tactic, and I even tried to pretend I could live on very little if I just didn't spend much. But, yeah, then I got married and had kids and, well, you know the story. Work is a 4-letter word for many of us, but the j-o-b...2020-12-0456 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 31: ParentingAs a parent this topic is always on my mind. Am I a good parent? What should I be doing with my kids? Are my kids alright? Parenting can kind of dominate your identify if you let it. Especially for primary caregivers. And if you're not a parent, you had parents. Or guardians who influenced you as a kid. So most of us had some sort of parental influence and might even be playing the influencer role currently or in the future.I used to tell new parents that whatever you do is right. Now, that might...2020-11-2751 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 30: QualityI became sort of obsessed with the idea of quality after reading Robert Pirsig's 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance'. Not that it matters but at one time this was the best selling philosophy book in the world. Which is kind of weird because it's really just a story about a guy who goes 'crazy' trying to define what quality is.I'm not trying to drive myself or anyone else crazy, but I think the concept of quality deserves a bit more attention. Mostly because many people confuse quality with 'opinion'. Think about it. W...2020-11-2054 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 29: GratitudeGratitude is touted as being able to improve an array of human problems. Anger, depression, anxiety, dieting, and other stressful issues have decreased in people who practice  out being grateful with some regularity. Psychologists, neurologists, and therapists suggest being grateful as part of any self-improvement plan. But what is it about 'feeling thankful' that produces calm, peace, and satisfaction where before there was anxiety, anger, and suffering? I'm sure I don't know, but this week I talk about gratitude and my experience with very brief gratitude practice.  In short, I think practicing gratitude, at the very least, shows us ho...2020-11-1345 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 28: DoubtDoubt is tricky. A little bit is a good things. Too many of us think we're right all the time - and that simply can't be true. A little bit of doubt is healthy and says, 'hey, i may be wrong here'. Admitting you may be wrong, and doubting your ability to 'know the truth' is healthy. However, doubt can become a lifestyle. Take it from me. I used to fancy myself as a 'Cartesian thinker' or one who 'thinks, therefore, I am'. I told myself that I 'doubted things until I couldn't prove them untrue'. Just t...2020-11-0650 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 27: The NEW American DreamMany of us bought into the dream of the previous generation; our parents, family, teachers, and other adults in our young lives. We were taught to follow the linear path of good grades -> good college -> good job -> good retirement -> successful life. Then we hit some point in or 30s, 40s, maybe 50s where we question what the hell we got ourselves into.That was a great idea for the post WW2 generation who lived through truly sucky times. And many of those folks followed that dream, got a fat pension, retired at 55, and...2020-10-3050 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 26: Habits - Why are they so hard to change?Seriously.  WTF? Habits are really hard to change. Trying to exercise? Eat better? Cleaning up your potty mouth? It ain't easy. And the crazy thing is, as hard as habits are to change it seems like picking up bad habits is easy.Changing habits is hard stuff. And I’m not just talking about physical addictions or bad habits. Besides just habitual behavior we also have emotional and intellectual habits that could use some modification.I overthink to the point of anxiety – I’d like to change that habit!I have an addiction to nico...2020-10-2346 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 25: I Suck At . . .I suck at a bunch of things. This video is about how we can have very high ranking values (e.g., be a good spouse, parent, sibling, child) that we often don't live up to. I just wanted to share some of my important values that I struggle to meet. I think we all beat ourselves up too much and often fail to recognize our achievements, and just wanted to call that out. I also get a little tired of people talking about how easy personal growth is and how they have achieved so highly. I think s...2020-10-1652 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 24: ReligionI grew up in a house without Religion. My parents never went to church and my only experiences with church or religion was attending weddings and funerals. As I grew older I sought a spiritual connection, maybe because I didn't have religion in my life - I don't know.I found spirituality in philosophy and ecology. I also grew to appreciate native spirituality from cultures that pre-date christianity. In short, I've pieced together my 'religion' or 'spirituality' essentially on my own. Here I share my journey and where I am currently with respect to...2020-10-0954 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 23: Who's Right?Would you rather be right, or happy?It's a good question. It also subtly implies that if you're right, you aren't necessarily happy. I know when I push to 'win' an argument, or to 'be right', I usually feel a little guilty. Certainly not victorious or celebratory. Being right usually means having to tell someone they're wrong.I guess some things have pretty clear right and wrong. 2 + 2 = 4. But one could argue that, for fun and through a discourse, that math is made up by humans and blah, blah. But we can probably agree that some...2020-10-0251 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 22: TimeTime is our most valuable resource. It's very limiting as we only get maybe 70 or 80 years. And the tragedy is . . . we think it's infinite. Personally, I didn't appreciate time until I was in my mid 40s when I started needing reading glasses. Now I think about it every day.So how do we get more time? We budget better.We think we have no time. But the truth is (and this hurts, I know) that we do. Myself, I am not very good about managing my time. I know WHAT to do, but I can't...2020-09-2546 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 21: We All Feel Different (But We're All the Same)I hear a lot, from my therapist, other researchers, and articles, that many of us complain that we feel 'different' or 'other' in the context of our immediate communities of friends and families. Here I argue that, doesn't feeling different unite us somehow? Also, that being different is the secret to success for the human race - diversity is the key to evolution! How do we re-contextualize this pervasive feeling to be a superpower rather than a weakness? How do we use this 'suffering' for the greater good? Here I share a few ideas and suggest that we need...2020-09-1845 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 20: EnoughWhen asked how much is enough, John D. Rockefeller famously replied, "Just a little more". We've all thought this about some things. Whether it's losing 'enough' weight, making 'enough' money, being loved 'enough' we all (mistakenly) believe that if we get 'enough' of 'whatever', we'll be 'happy'. And since a lot of us either want many things, or aren't sure which things we want the most, we tend to maximize 'enough toward everything'. So we end up chasing many 'enoughs' and, even if we get them, we (amazingly) aren't happy.Here I discuss the Law of Diminishing...2020-09-1150 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 19: AddictionMost of us have some kind of addiction. Whether it's something as benign as Diet Coke, or as life threatening as heroin, we can relate to the pull of being addicted to something. Much of what we talk about addiction is related to the biological or physiological nature. Here I discuss the more psychological aspects of my own addiction to nicotine, talk about childhood loveys and security blankets, and venture toward the concept of Buddhist suffering.If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-09-0436 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 18: Dream BiggerIt's important for us to provide the next generation with effective tools. Recently I heard someone say (I'm paraphrasing) that people in small towns are only allowed to dream as big as their community. I have thought a lot about successive generations and whether we are making great leaps or small steps toward a collective future. Here I follow this lead to some pretty significant (for me, at least) realizations about where we are today as a society (at least in the USA where I live).If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-08-2851 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 17: S.U.C.K. in the U.S.A.I know, the title may be a little harsh. And don't tell me to move. I don't really think the USA sucks in its' entirety. But there are elements of my home country that seem to be changing. But, of course, I'm also changing. It's hard to tease apart what factors may be at work. Is it me? It's not me, it's you. What's going on as I age and my country matures?Here I pose a few questions about how the USA began and where we ended up today. I wonder, couldn't where we are now...2020-08-1451 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 16: Who Tells Your Story?Eliza Schuyler finally tells her husband's story in Lin Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton". But we'll never really know Hamilton's story, because he isn't around to tell it. And, really, did he even know his story? Do you know yours?Here I argue that it is an important goal of human life to understand who we are and why we do things. To 'know thyself' by the time we die. No one else can know us as well as ourselves, and any 'history' or 'her story' told about us is necessarily inaccurate as it is filtered by someone else's...2020-08-0755 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 15: Rat RacerThe great Lily Tomlin is credited with saying, "Even if you win the Rat Race, you're still a rat". This phrase has been with me since I saw her on the Carol Burnett show in the 70s. I was young, but I got it. For some reason I've always rejected the idealized model of human 'progress' where you get good grades, get into a good college, get a good job and BOOM! you're happy. I don't know why I'm so objectionable, but I am.And as an adult I see a lot of people who have 'successfully...2020-07-3136 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 14: What can we learn from COVID?Yeah, COVID sucks, but what if there is something to be learned that can add some positivity to our lives? I believe there is a lot to be learned about our values, our systems (eg, governments), our schools, businesses, and habits. Moreover, we always complain that 'nothing can be changed because it's too hard', like turning a battleship, these systems don't get changed because they're too big. But what if COVID is really an opportunity to change things from the ground up? We are already altering our schooling, our businesses are pivoting, and we are in drastic need of...2020-07-2444 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 13: SlaveryI realize this topic can be extremely sensitive and controversial. I do not intend to stoke any existing debates about specific or general types of slavery, servitude, or bully labor practices. But I do think about forced labor (not sure what to call it, really) over the past 10,000 years in human society. Here I share my observations about many examples of forced labor, why they are flat out WRONG, and how what we can do as individuals to find a better system. I apologize if I offend anyone who has been victimized by inhuman servitude.If you...2020-07-1740 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 12: FearIf you break it down and push to the source I think you'll find that fear rules a lot of what we do (and don't) do. Fear drives our decisions and causes our anxiety and depression. Sometimes fear is useful, of course, but many of our problems are caused by fear. I argue these fears can be lumped into two main categories; safety and love. We are afraid of being unloved and of being unsafe. Give this a listen and see if you can correct or augment my thinking.If you are enjoying this content, please tell...2020-07-1049 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 11: Analysis ParalysisHow terrible is analysis paralysis? Incredibly, I'd say. And it's likely you suffer from it, too - at least sometimes. Not being able to make a decision can be maddening. Here I suggest a few tips and tricks to change your mindset about decision-making. Not to say that I'm an expert, but as someone who suffers from daily analysis paralysis I HAD to come up with some strategies to improve my life. Essentially, I steal some techniques from my philosophy and science training to recast decision making to reduce the pressure we put on ourselves to choose the BEST...2020-07-0353 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 10: ConnectednessWe ARE ALL connected. Whether you believe it or not. Today more than ever it is critical we move toward understanding that 'fact'. Here I present multiple lines of evidence explaining why I believe all things are connected including a story about me talking to a cuttlefish.If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-06-2652 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 9: Old BeliefsOld Beliefs are things that we learned as kids that helped us get through a hard time. Bullying, loss of a loved one, a broken heart. But as we get older these strategies can break down and not have the effect of making us feel better. Maybe you were bullied and learned how to make people laugh, but found yourself ultimately becoming a people pleaser and developed anxiety about trying so hard. Maybe you learned to get what you want by being a bully yourself. We change as we grow and things that used to help can b...2020-06-191h 00The Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 8: Goals, Accolades, and the Meaning of Life?Getting a job, having someone say yes to a date or marriage proposal, winning a trophy, making good grades, buying a new car - these accolades feel good. Some of life's best endeavors don't provide 'prizes' - like parenting, personal growth, or even dieting. Why are we so motivated to receive praise, win awards, or get paid when many of those things are fleeting. How can we learn to 'esteem ourselves' and feel good about our accomplishments without being told by others we are 'good people'? I discuss how our obsession with money distracts us from honing the skills...2020-06-1250 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 7: MalenessHere's my take on what it means to be male. I believe in a 'new masculinity' and really dig how some dudes are breaking the mold. I discuss my attitudes toward equality, my time as a stay-at-home-dad, and my outlook on traditional relationships from my point of view.If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-06-0553 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 6: CompetitionThey say it regulates the market and keeps monopolies from taking advantage of consumers. They say it builds winners. They say it's fun. Here I introduce several definitions of competition and suggest it doesn't always do what *they say* it does. Is competition necessary? Is winning the most important thing? I say competition does more damage than good and should be reconsidered as an effective business mantra.If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-05-2948 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 5: Marketing and SolicitationMarketing, Solicitation, and Persuasion. One of my pet peeves is aggressive marketing and consumers being 'tricked' or psychologically coerced into spending their money. I realize this is also the responsibility of the consumer to be informed and make good decisions, but I feel like companies take advantage of and exploit human weakness to sell products and make money. This isn't how it's supposed to work. . . . is it?????If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-05-2248 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 4: Quiet vs. DistractionWhy is it so hard for us to sit quietly with our thoughts? We constantly seek distraction and to 'stay busy'. Research suggests that meditation and mindfulness might be the most important things we can do for ourselves to improve our lives and reduce anxiety, yet it is extremely difficult for most of us. Share your thoughts!If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-05-1529 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 3: Gaming the SystemYou know what this is. Some people 'bend' or outright break the rules and work through loopholes to gain advantages over the rule followers. What is right? Are rules meant to be broken? For example, social distancing - what does essential even mean? Can we all define rules differently and obey or break whichever ones we want?If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-05-0849 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 2: Individuals and CommunityWhat is our personal responsibility to our community? To ourselves? If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-05-0136 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorKEW Episode 1: Facts, truth, and 'proof'.How do we know if we really know what we think we know? I discuss the differences in facts, opinions, ideas, thoughts, and suggest that we rarely 'prove' anything. There exists some fundamental 'truths' but we are only capable of understanding PART of our world.If you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-04-2436 minThe Neurodivergent ProfessorThe Neurodivergent ProfessorIntroduction to KEWIf you are enjoying this content, please tell your friends.2020-04-0803 min