In this engaging episode, we peel back the layers of Sonia Catinean—a spirited adventurer and dedicated change-maker. A NYU Abu Dhabi alumna and fervent social justice advocate, Sonia takes us down the winding paths of her life journey. She unpacks her philosophy, globe-trotting adventures, and steadfast commitment to impactful work through projects and organisations like NA' AMAL. Fuelled by a belief in social research and public policy, she's on a relentless quest to use her privilege for the greater good.

As a digital nomad, Sonia vividly recounts her diverse experiences. Living by the principles of courage, flexibility, and spontaneity, she regales us with tales of exploration, unexpected encounters, and the life lessons that followed. Throughout, Sonia emphasises the importance of serendipity, the ripple effect of small impactful actions, and the never-ending pursuit of joy and authenticity—even when it bucks conventional wisdom.

Don't miss the full episode for an authentic and insightful conversation.

Segment 1: Conversations from a Graveyard
- Jeremy Nathan discusses the importance of friendships and how they impact our legacy.
- Exploring the idea that friends hold a collective memory of us.
- Shared experiences and trust within long-lasting friendships like those between our host and his 40-year friends Nate and Rich.

Segment 2: Identity & Personal Growth
- Challenging the notion of identity: Are we who we think we are or who people perceive us to be?
- The host and Jeremy delve into the complexities of roles and masks in life.
- Parenting: The fine balance between authority and assertiveness in raising decent humans.

Segment 3: The Two Jeremys
- Jeremy discusses the different versions of himself over time.
- The quest for connection between his youthful idealism and his current, more realistic self.
- Facing the constraints and freedoms that come with middle age.

Segment 4: Living in the Present
- Jeremy tackles the human fallacy of thinking we have limitless time.
- The emphasis on seizing the present moment.
- The value of living according to one's own beliefs and values.

Segment 5: The Power of Music
- How music enhances our lives and well-being.
- The concept of a life soundtrack: 200 songs that evoke various emotions and life chapters.
- Personal anecdotes: The song "For Your Eyes Only" and memories of Camp Jack Pine in northern Wisconsin.

Segment 6: Navigating Transitions in Life
- Recalling early life experiences, including a stint at Camp Jack Pine and the army.
- Resilience through adversity, symbolized by songs like "Don't Need a Gun" by Billy Idol and "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake.
- The freedom and folly of youth, exemplified by short-lived relationships and the song "Take It Back" by Pink Floyd.

Segment 7: The Camaraderie of Army Life
- The friendship with a second lieutenant and the memories encapsulated in songs.
- The song "Stuck in the Middle with You" as a representation of time spent in a Bosnian unit.
- The quest for harmony in life, drawing inspiration from the timeless chemistry of rock bands like Led Zeppelin.

Final Thoughts:
In wrapping up this episode, we underscore the profound impact of friendships, the complexity of our evolving identities, and the transformative power of music in our lives.

Music and Book Recommendations:
- Create your life soundtrack and share it with us on social media using the hashtag #MyLifeSoundtrack.

Key Songs Referenced:

• "For Your Eyes Only" by Sheena Easton
• "Don't Need a Gun" by Billy Idol
• "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake
• "Take It Back" by Pink Floyd
• "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind
• Songs by Led Zeppelin

Thank you for joining us on this journey! Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Join Clay and Mike as they delve into the intriguing journey of self-discovery, identity, and personal growth. Tune in for enlightening discussions, riveting personal anecdotes, and invaluable insights into what defines us as individuals.

Segments and Highlights:

 Exploring Identity with Clay & Mike
- Clay, a philosopher, and Mike, a multi-faceted individual, explore the intricate fabric of identity.
 
The Roles We Play
- Mike unpacks his various life roles—son, brother, husband—and highlights his relationship with Jade and Connor.

Clay’s Transformation
- Clay reflects on his evolution from a career-centered mindset to understanding the value of family and personal relevance.

Defining Ourselves Through Work
- Clay discusses society's inclination to define individuals by their profession.
 
The Importance of Relevance
- Clay shares an epiphany from his time in Spain, underlining the significance of personal relevance over societal tags.

Unraveling One’s True Self
- A transformative experience on El Camino de Santiago leads Clay to an enlightening realization about identity.

The Man in the Mirror
- Mike's business analogy about good profit vs. bad profit as they relate to life satisfaction.
- Mike emphasizes the importance of being the best version of oneself.

Beyond Body and Mind: Spirituality and Identity
- Mike's take on the concept of God and the universe, enriched by his childhood musings on the nature of trees.

Conscious Living: Book Insights & Life Experiences
- Discussing "The Conscious Robot" book and the programming of belief systems.
- Philip’s money worries: A cautionary tale from Mike's younger brother.

Family Values & Keeping Up Appearances
- FOMO and the pursuit of materialism vs. the significance of authentic happiness.

Legacies and Mobile Lifestyles
- Clay's ideal personal legacy and the concept of the “rail line” mobile office.

Generosity and Community Building
- Insights into how giving back is an integral part of one’s legacy, exemplified by the story of Ricky Jase.

The Power of Online Archiving
- The role of blogs and podcasts in preserving personal stories and legacies.

Final Thoughts:
- The importance of self-discovery and personal growth in crafting an authentic, fulfilling life.

Don't miss out on this rich conversation filled with anecdotes, revelations, and essential life lessons. Listen now!

In this episode, host Clay Lowe sits down with executive coach, motivational speaker, and endurance athlete Mike Pagan. Mike shares his insights on productivity, mental wealth, and sports, drawing on his 20 years of coaching experience.

• The two discuss the impact of the pandemic on the working world, particularly the increased feelings of isolation and loneliness. They explore how this can negatively affect mental health and well-being, especially for those working remotely.
• Mike talks about his philosophy on mental wealth and how individuals can build and maintain it. He emphasizes the importance of embracing our strengths and connecting with others to tap into our wisdom.
• Clay and Mike share stories from their 15-year friendship, including their adventures and challenges together. They discuss their favorite man caves and reflect on their experiences with extreme sports, injuries, and heavyweight training.
• Mike shares his experiences working with athletes transitioning from elite sports to everyday life. He emphasizes the importance of redefining oneself and finding a supportive network to navigate this significant transition.
• The two dive into the challenges faced by military personnel transitioning to civilian life, highlighting the importance of support networks for those struggling with isolation and loneliness.
• Clay and Mike discuss the impact of the hybrid working world on millennials and Gen Zs, especially those unintentionally isolated in their parents' spare bedrooms. They underscore the importance of meaningful conversations and interactions in fostering professional growth and learning.
• The two explore the concept of isolation as self-inflicted or imposed and how it can be both beneficial and detrimental to personal growth. They discuss the importance of support networks, therapeutic retreats, and embracing solitude for clarity and self-awareness.
• Mike explains the concept of mental wealth, emphasizing the need for a fit-for-purpose supportive network to prevent negative spirals and promote mental health. They discuss how to assess and build a supportive network based on one's needs.
• The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of self-care and seeking professional help to build a proactive mental wealth team. Mike shares his experiences with various sporting environments and the concept of seasonality, highlighting the importance of understanding our own perspectives and experiences.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out Mike's book, Mental Wealth, and visit our website for more insightful conversations and resources on navigating the challenges of isolation and building mental wealth.

[Note: This is a summary of the content discussed in the podcast episode. For the full experience and details, please listen to the episode.]

🎙️ Clay's Fresh Start: Clay shares why he decided to reboot the Wisdom Experience Podcast and make philosophy accessible again by hosting dialogues in open spaces.

🎧 Spotlight on Zoe Greenhalf: Discover the voice behind the Mischief Movement podcast. What inspired Zoe to enter the podcasting world?

😜 Mischief Uncovered: Clay and Zoe talk about the essence of "mischief"—the joy of playfulness, the thrill of disrupting the norm, and doing it all with a positive flair.

🌱 Zoe's Journey: From the challenges of motherhood to feelings of isolation, learn how these experiences pushed Zoe to birth her podcast and embrace personal growth.

🎭 Conform or Stand Out: A deep dive into the dynamics of societal conformity. When should one blend in, and when is it time to proudly stand out? The duo explores the power of seeking out a supportive tribe.

🎲 Roll of the Dice: Clay introduces a quirky concept: use dice to introduce a dash of spontaneity in daily choices. Ready to break free from the mundane?

🎉 Zoe's Mischief Mantra: Want more mischief in your life? Zoe’s got you covered. Find passion in your joys, immerse in the company of uplifting people, and don't forget to explore "The Power of Fun".

🌀 Post-Podcast Adventure: Stay tuned! Clay and Zoe are about to roll a dice and let fate decide their next move. Where will the day lead them?

Join the conversation and add a sprinkle of mischief to your day!

The core belief? Everyone, irrespective of their background or journey, has at least one golden nugget of wisdom to share. These candid conversations aim not just to uncover these unique insights but also to enrich the minds of listeners and foster an environment of mutual growth. 

In a world bursting with noise, this podcast aspires to stand out as a beacon of light, championing the power of conversation to change lives and make the world a better place. 

So tune in, share your own pearls of wisdom, and become a part of this expansive conversation. Because, as the saying goes, the more we share, the more we have.

On this week’s show, Naomi and Clay talk about the different types of ruts people might find themselves in like relationship ruts, work ruts, creative ruts, and general overall life ruts. They also share tips and techniques for how you might get yourself out of a rut if you find yourself in one.

You can support the show by buying us a cup of coffee.

• Once in a Lifetime
• Groundhog Day
• Psychological Strategies to Get Unstuck
• What to do if you get stuck in a rut - Video
• How to get out of a mental rut - Video
• The Modern Alchemist: A Guide to Personal Transformation - Richard and Ioan Miller
• The Craft of the Modern Warrior - Robert L. Spencer
• Prometheus Rising - Robert Anton Wilson
• No Ordinary Moments - Dan Millman
• The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness - DR Richard Moss
• Conscious Robots - Paul Kwatz
• 
  

*full disclosure, some of the links above are Amazon Affiliate links. This is another way you can help support the show. You don’t even have to buy the item we’re linking to. We get a small commission on anything you purchase at no extra cost to you. It’s an easy way to help fund the show.

Questions that we cover include:

Who are you really? 

How does what you do and “how you be” reflect on who you are?

Am I my body?

Am I what I’m thinking?

Who is YHVH?

I am.

I am that I am. Circular breathing helps calm the mind.

Links:

“Self-University: the price of tuition is your desire to learn. Your degree is a better life” by Charles D. Hayes

Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race by Renni Eddo-Lodge

ITV Planet Child - You Tube link (c. 10 mins)

Japan’s independent Kids - You Tube link (c. 9 mins)

We discuss the view that the personal development world (including NLP - Neuro-Linguistic Programming)  we have the ability to create our reality through our sub-conscious mind.

What do we mean by reality? 

Naomi expands on what she believes, that we can create our own reality within a reality that is outside our control.

Clay discusses that we are all individuals and our experiences and knowledge contribute to our individual perspective.

Both of us believe that language has a huge impact on our programming and language is like a virus. How Trump never really says anything, but he positions things in such a way that triggers you to an emotional response as you create a story from his non-story. 

Clay shares about how masters of the creative arts (writers, poets, painters) have been considered so powerful that, at times, they have been “removed from society” to prevent individuals from developing their own minds as a result of their work. Jack Keruoac, William S. Burroughs and Allan Ginsberg and Kathy Acker are all novelists using language to set you free from construct, from society, to set you free from language itself and to offer you the opportunity to become free - a free thinker.

We discuss questions such as “Can you ever really  know someone else’s reality?,” “Are we giving up our power and abdicating our responsibility by accepting the status quo?” and “ Do people know that they can have personal power and choose not to embrace that?”

Together we explore how much we’ve created our own reality and how much is created around us, or imposed on us - consciously or unconsciously.

Links

 "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

"On the road" by Jack Keruoac

“Naked Lunch” by William S. Burroughs

The Essential Allan Ginsberg

“Blood & Guts in High School” by Kathy Acker

“The Power Sub-conscious Mind” by Joseph Murphy

“Promethius Rising” by Robert Anton Williams

"The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead” by Timothy Leary et al.

“Self-University” by Charles D. Hayes

"The Wheels of Time: the Shamans of Ancient Mexico" by Carlos Castenada

Can we perceive life as a series of re-births and deaths? 

How should we live our lives? What’s the benefit of living according to the Samurai Code “live as if you’re already dead?”

Why could it be valuable to start each day with the mindset “Today is a good day to die.”

We discuss a valuable meaning for death and several different ways to use the perception of death as a way of consciously living. We uncover a massive assumption when you delay doing something that may be just the motivation you’ve been waiting for, and Clay shares why he’s “mainly” an existentialist. 

“The greatest wealth is contentment, the greatest happiness is freedom from opinion and the greatest peace is from the abandonment of desires.”

Resources:
Darkness Visible by Simon Buxton
“Initiation” by Elizabeth Haich
How to be Idle by Tom Hodgkinson

Clay shares about the three stages of development for you as a listener to a conversational podcast, and the part that questions can play in your own learning and development.

At 11 minutes we delve deeper into philosophy and why it doesn’t have to be academic; if you’re a lover of wisdom and enjoy thinking through general and fundamental questions about life, perhaps developing critical thinking skills and, at 12 mins 40 secs Clay shares what philosophy is not and why Socrates - the OG philosopher - met with an untimely demise.

Naomi shares her view of religion and spirituality, and what she believes life is for, and Clay shares that ultimately he is an existentialist who believes that life is meaningless - listen in to find out his positive perspective on this!

This is another of our wide-ranging episodes and we compare and contrast philosophy, religion, and spirituality; highlight some sub-categories, and why the politics of universities meant that philosophy developed in a way that excluded many people, and yet it touches everyday life.  

We hope you enjoy this episode - please like, share, and subscribe!

WHERE TO FIND US

The Wisdom Experience Podcast – applied inner wisdom is our website where you can find each podcast episode and our blogs. When we offer related Personal Development Journey’s, talks, and workshops we will promote these here, too.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewisdomexperiencepodcast This is the group for you to join in The Wisdom Experience Podcast conversation. Request to join and you can contribute, ask questions, share your thoughts on the podcast, or just join us for the connection!

Links:

The Last Samurai DVD

What’s it all about by Julian Baggini

The Nature of Human Values by Milton Rokeach

Understanding Human Values - individual and societal by Milton Rokeach

The Path of Life: Benedictine Spirituality for Monks and Lay People by Cyprian Smith

How does the Shadow Self fit in with self-development?

How does it connect with the Dark Divine Feminine and Masculine and why might it be beneficial to embrace it?

We share an overview of Jung’s Archetypes and what shadow work is, and why it’s essential to personal growth to have a direct confrontation with your shadow self if you really want to understand yourself and make changes.

Links to what we mention in this episode: 

The Dark Side of the Light Chasers” by Debbie Ford 

Dancing in the Flames” by Marion Woodward

9.25 “Divinity is about understanding and embracing who we really are; and then embracing that and living that every day.” (Naomi)

13:20 Clay asserts that women have forgotten the power that they have and shares a story from Herodotus, The Histories, that shows the power of women: Candaules, a Greek King, insists that his second-in-command, Gyges, secretly sees his wife, the queen, naked so that he can admire her beauty. The Queen reveals her power and intelligence when she summons Gyges to her.

Femininity, masculinity, sexuality, gender - we begin to explore definitions and Ayurvedic representation. We discuss how all aspects can reflect the whole. Empathy, gentleness, humility are posed as traits of being a woman; but we discuss that they are simply human qualities.

25:04 “To deny our own impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human.” from The Matrix film.

We agree that the Dark Divine Feminine to us is a way of embracing our masculine traits. Ultimately it’s all about balance and using appropriate characteristics in the appropriate manner at the appropriate time. We are all about embracing the whole of ourselves.

Links:
The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford

Jade Thomas Jewellery

Herodotus the Historian

We both share some of our personal stories and how they've shaped who we are today. For example, Clay very much self-identifies as a Lone Wolf pathfinder and storyteller, while Naomi shares her strong identification with the Mother archetype. We both share how we are using the lessons we've learned, from Sam Keen and Anne Valley-Fox in their book, Your Mythic Journey: Finding Meaning in Your Life Through Writing and Storytelling, to re-shape our current narrative and evolve who are to who we want to be.

Join us on this mythic journey and be sure to share with us your own personal mythology and how it shapes your life.

For further discussion please join us in our Facebook Group.

To support the show you can use our Amazon Affiliate links to do your shopping online. It costs you nothing and we get a small commission on any purchases you make which we use to help fund the show.
 

Subscribe and share is another way to support us. You can also support the show by subscribing to the podcast and sharing it on your social channels.

With thanks to you,

Naomi and Clay

The Matrix and Star Wars are a great way of seeing how The Hero’s Journey has been used as a plot plan! Clay shares the set up of The Matrix and how it fits into The Hero’s Journey. Naomi shares how she perceived The Matrix watching it now with this understanding. Both share personal stories that are very clear calls to adventure: Naomi shares the experience of having an extremely premature baby and Clay talks about having 3 days to get to the UK for training for a brand new job.

Naomi talks about identity and the question of what you have to bring back from your journey and sees how she got lost in the identity of being a mother and as a carer.  This podcast, The Wisdom Experience, is born out of that, of not staying in transformation stage; but of bringing something back into the real world that’s of value, that she hopes is interesting and offering something that people feel enriched with, or even take action on to make changes in their life. 

Clay concludes by offering you a challenge! 

• Are you answering the call or refusing the call?
• Are you stuck in the ordinary world? 
• Who are the Guardians at the Gate for you? What is stopping you from going on the journey properly? 

Links:

The Matrix DVD

Star Wars DVD

The Hero with 1000 faces by Joseph Campbell

The Power of Myths Joseph Campbell

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

For further discussion please join us in our Facebook Group.

To support the show you can use our Amazon Affiliate links to do your shopping online. It costs you nothing and we get a small commission on any purchases you make which we use to help fund the show. 

Subscribe and share is another way to support us. You can also support the show by subscribing to the podcast and sharing it on your social channels.

With thanks to you,

Naomi and Clay

• Myths, stories, and archetypes and how they overlap.
• The everyday myths we tell ourselves that affect our behavior and the decisions we make? 
• How beliefs become hardwired into children through stories. 
• Tribal masks/personas/symbols that humans believe in through the collective unconscious.
• When we begin to understand that we are one being made up of different aspects we can consciously use these differences to give ourselves the power or qualities we want at any given time.
• Both Clay and Naomi suggest ways that you can start to use this information within Personal Development.

Resources:

The Hero with a Thousand Faces - Joseph Campbell
Mythic Journey for Writers - Chris Volger

Active Imagination
The Conscious Robot - Paul Kwatz

Waking Up: Overcoming the Obstacles to Human Consciousness - Charles Tart

My side of the Mountain - Jean Craighead George

Re-Visioning Psychology - James Hillman
Your Mythic Journey - Sam Keen and Anne Valley-Fox

For further discussion join us in our Facebook Group.

One of the ways you can help support the show is by using our Amazon Affiliate links to do your shopping online. It costs you nothing and we get a small commission on any purchases you make which we use to help fund the show.

You can also support the show by subscribing to the podcast and sharing it on your social channels.

Thanks and Blessings to you,
Naomi and Clay

On the other side, you have those who push for a reduced emphasis on work and more emphasis on the things they believe are more important like family, friends, and more leisure time to pursue that which feeds the soul.

And somewhere in between, there’s a balance. Or is there?

Show Notes

1. The E-Myth by  Michael E. Gerber
2. Why lack of sleep is bad for your health
3. Sleep
4. Lack of sleep blights education
5. Me and God we be mates.
6. Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph
7. The meaning of life
8. What will work life balance look like after the pandemic
9. Little Soul and the Sun by Neale Donald Walsch 
10. Arete
11. Does life have a purpose