This is my second interview with the writer Charles Hugh Smith.For a deep dive into Charle’s past, bio, writing etc I recommend you take a listen to the October 2023 interview with Charles Hugh Smith.For those familiar with his writing on self reliance, agency, ownership, authenticity and autonomy I hope you find this interview fruitful.We explore Charles's recent perspectives on various topics: from the contrasting merits of cultivating 30 friendships versus building 30 bunkers, his advice on _going grey_. We delve into his astute analysis of the potential doom loops facing cities and perhaps the broader Western world, navigating censorship within a narrative-controlled environment, the dynamics of small, close-knit vs large open societies, his motivation for also writing fiction, and his ultimate message of uncovering authenticity in life.Thanks for being here.Time Stamps01:15: On a 30 person network vs a 30 room bunker15:14: On The Doom Loop of Cities22:15 On Global Capital / Mobility / Civic Engagement28:48 On Migration / “Voting with your feet”31:50 Self Sufficiency vs Self Reliance36:52 On Going Grey40:25 On Being Anonymous / Surveillance Economy49:09 On Being Shadow Banned55:53 Post Truth65:12 Tight and Loose Cultures Spectrum73:53 On Writing Fiction80:52 Finding Authenticity in LifeWeblinks:Twitter/X: @chsm1thWeb: OfTwoMinds.comSubstack:Music Intro Sample: Accurst by Acediast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leafbox.substack.com

Dr Elmar JungDr. Elmar Jung, a distinguished figure in the realm of holistic and biological dentistry. Dr. Jung, who is not only the founder of Dr. Elmar Jung Dental Clinic but also a naturopath, author, podcaster, and an international speaker, has dedicated nearly 35 years to advocating for an integrative holistic approach in dental practice since graduating from dental school.We delve into the critical role of oral health as an integral component of overall wellness. Dr. Jung shares his cal unique perspective on holistic dentistry, including his critiques of traditional practices like amalgam fillings, root canals, orthodontics and more. The interview also goes into a discussion on views on fluoride use, the significance of dental and patient education, and the evolving dynamic between patients and healthcare providers.Furthermore, Dr. Jung emphasizes the importance of diet, lifestyle, emotions, and breathing in maintaining not just oral health, but also its influence on our general health.The interview concludes with a discussion on the future of holistic dentistry, particularly how patient education and self-awareness are pivotal in empowering individuals to take charge of their health.Time Stamps00:54 Growing Up in Germany, Dental Training04:31 Dental Education in West and East Germany and Lessons for Today06:39 Questioning Professors/Authority10:11 Holistic Dentistry vs. Traditional Dentistry13:05 On Oral Health Being Separated from Overall Health17:04 The Meridian Tooth Chart19:55 Discussion on Root Canals29:48 Discussion on Amalgam, Composite, and Other Fillings, Removal Issues39:35 His Relationship with Traditional Dentists42:35 Discussion on Patient-Doctor Relationships47:48 Discussion on Fluoride53:40 Discussion on Regulatory Capture/Industry Interests55:11 Conventional Orthodontists vs. Holistic Orthodontist Practices57:24 Breastfeeding and Oral Development01:04:50 Salivary Diagnostics/Oral Biome01:09:10 Oral Health Post-Covid/Pandemic Effects01:13:45 Remineralizing Teeth/Importance of Diet01:14:19 Breathing and Oral Health01:17:00 Diet/Lifestyle Recommendations01:19:17 Future of Holistic Dentistry01:27:51 The Role of Emotions in Oral Health01:32:00 How to Download Dr Jung’s Book / Closing StatementsMore information: @ Dr-Elmar-Jung.comTwitter: @elmarjungMusic Sample from 'Symmetry' | Denovali Records by Ricardo Donoso This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leafbox.substack.com

Dr. Janet Hoskins is a professor of Anthropology and Religion at the University of Southern California. She has conducted extensive field research in Indonesia, Vietnam, and California. Dr. Hoskins holds an MA and PhD in anthropology from Harvard University, and a BA in anthropology from Pomona College.Her current research interests include the emerging field of Transpacific Studies, post-colonial studies, transnational religions, visual anthropology and ethnography, material culture, theories of time and history, gender, exchange, and ritual.We discuss her long career in anthropology, her fieldwork, her thoughts on anthropological pessimism vs. optimism, globalization vs. hybridization, the role of photography in visual anthropology, the anthropology of tourism, and ultimately what people can take away from the study of anthropology and more.Time Stamps:3:00 - Anthropological Optimism vs. Pessimism 7:32 - Biography8:38 - Field Work in Sumba / Romantic Ideals in Anthropology10:32 - Field Work like Returning to Childhood16:32 - What we can learn from Anthropology19:47 - Time Keeping Across Cultures23:23 - On Cultural Relativism 29:34 - On Ethnography / Visual Anthropology40:55 - On Hybridization vs Globalization 43:47 - How cultural anthropology affected her parenting50:04 - On the indigenous and the non-indigenous52:55 - On Cao Daoism - Discovering this new religion in Southern California1:01:00 - On Phoenix Boxes / Spirit Writing in Cao Dao / Religious Plurality 1:12:23 - On Being an American 1:14:45 - Connecting with Dr Janet Hoskins1:16:09 - PhD Students of Note 1:17:09 - Take Away LessonsMore informationDr. Janet Hoskins @ USCHeadshot Credit: Janet Chauvet caveOther photos: Dr Janet HoskinsMusic Sample:MARAPU - WELCOME TO SUMBA Author: Feryanto Pekabanda (Yanto Marapu) & Arnaud MarianiComposition: Marapu BandHeadshot Credit: Janet Chauvet caveOther photos: Dr Janet HoskinsDr Hoskins in Sumba, Indonesia (1980)Sumba Meat Distribution (1980)Janet Syl Mis Tay Ninh (2005) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leafbox.substack.com

is an imaginative writer from Oakland, California known for his intriguing work of speculative philosophy published on Substack as The Spouter.Viewed through a Marxist lens, The Spouter presents an unconventional narrative on petroleum's role in shaping contemporary history.Our discussion spans a range of captivating topics. We examine the historical significance of petroleum and Jed's efforts to ignite a revolutionary approach to climate discourse. We navigate through the complex interplay between humanity and fossil fuels—oil, coal, and gas—analyzing them from various viewpoints: religious, materialistic, Marxist, speculative, and literary. This multifaceted exploration aims to challenge and transform the conventional narrative surrounding climate change.We also wander into the realms of hyperstition and cybernetics, reflecting on the impact of analog technology, typewriters, and the role of speculative philosophy. We touch upon literary masterpieces like Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow" and Reza Negarestani's "Cyclonopedia," among other intriguing subjects.Jed encourages a spirit of open-minded inquiry. He argues that while you may not align with all his ideas, they serve as a catalyst for sparking new questions and fostering a more nuanced, complex perspective on history and current affairs.Get “Noided” as The Spouter argues…Intro Music Sample from Acediast / “Malformed Canticle of Despondent Langour”, Tristidigezh Records 2022. Time Stamps1:57 - Typewriters and analog technology 4:33 - Finding Inspiration in Cyclonopedia for the project The Spouter6:19 - Schizophrenia Reading and Cybernetics Role of Speculative Philosophy 11:41 - The Concept of Sentient Oil 15:30 - Capitalism and Other Hyperobjects 19:30 - Hyperstition 20:07 - The Global Warming Discourse23:47- Cybernetics, environmentalism and control/fragmentation of reality 34:04 - Communism as hyperobject40:24 - Sentient oil seen thru religious analysis - discussion on the Jinn50:24 - Discussion on return to religion in society 55:10 - How to regain humanism60:21 - Paranoid sensibility / Parapolitical sensibility - Getting “noided”61:55 - Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon 65:35 - On possession by the hyperobject68:14- Jed's book and where to find his writing 70:05 - Material Analysis in Understanding HistoryFurther Reading / Notes from (The Spouter)Cited and RecommendedCyclonopedia: Complicity with Anonymous Materials. Reza Negarestani, Re:Press 2008.Knot of the Soul: Madness, Psychosis, Islam. Stefania Pandolfo, University of Chicago Press, 2018.- Re: JinnThirst for Annihilation: George Bataille and Virulent Nihilism. Nick Land, Routledge, 1992.- Nick Land did coin the term “Hyperstition”, though probably not in this book. This one is probably the most relevant to our conversation.Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia Volume 1. Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. Try to get the translation from University of Minnesota Press, 1983. (I haven’t read the Penguin translation.)A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia Volume 2. Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. Minnesota, 1983Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World. Timothy Morton, University of Minnesota Press, 2013.The Ecological Thought. Timothy Morton, Harvard University Press, 2012.- This was what I was reading when the phrase/slogan “Modernity is the process of oil getting into everything” arose – the text might not say exactly that, but this is where it is from, and I consider it foundational to my work.Ecology and Socialism: Solutions to Capitalist Ecological Crisis. Chris Williams, Haymarket Books, 2010- Recommended. Much easier to parse than John Bellamy Foster’s ecological socialism.The Closing Circle: Nature, Man & Technology. Barry Commoner, Random House 1971.- An example of good/less compromised ecological writing of the type suppressed by the suspect texts listed below.Cited and Argued WithThe Progress of This Storm: Nature and Society in a Warming World. Andreas Malm, Verso, 2020.Donella Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jorgen Randers, William W. Behrens III. Universe Books, 1971.Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth. James Lovelock. Oxford University Press, 1979.The Ages of Gaia: A Biography of Earth. James Lovelock. Norton, 1988.Books You Should Prioritize ReadingThe Jakarta Method: Washington’s Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program That Shaped Our World. Vincent Bevins, PublicAffairs 2020.- Highly recommended gateway drug to noided history.Gravity’s Rainbow. Thomas Pynchon, 1973.- I have to convince people to read it, since it’s a hard book; believe me when I tell you the effort will pay off. Lots of these “big” books like Ulysses and Moby Dick, maybe the effort isn’t worth it for some people. Gravity’s Rainbow is worth it for everyone. I know that people are busy and attention spans are short. But anyone who doesn’t read it really is missing out on something revelatory and very compelling.Zionism in the Age of Dictators. Lenni Brenner, 1983.- Available online at Marxists.org- Worth reading for anyone who doesn’t understand how the settler colonial project of Israel came to be, because it points out something that people don’t want to talk about. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leafbox.substack.com

Writing under the pseudonym, ARX-Han and using a voice modulator for this interview, this writer and novelist joins me to explore his debut work “Incel.” "Incel" by ARX-Han is a darkly satirical and unsettling portrayal of a sexually frustrated American man's internal journey. The novel offers an unfiltered glimpse into his increasingly radical, obsessive, and destructive mindset. Praised for its technical prowess, linguistic versatility, and sharp cultural critique, it presents a timely and insightful examination of a disaffected segment of society. A stirring exploration of masculinity, rage, nihilism, and the nuances of evolutionary biology, Han's work is a bold commentary on the complex matrix of contemporary young male psychology. We explore in detail his creative approach to philosophical fiction, the constraints of modern publishing, and discuss his journey to authentically capture the raw and unfiltered facets of the contemporary experience. The interview sheds light on how the digital age, notably the impact of the internet and social media, has significantly shaped the contemporary cultural evolution to a point of civilization decay. We also discuss AI, psychological operations, memetic defense and a slew of other interesting topics. Han links his fascination with flawed characters and the poignant exploration of human suffering. ARX-Han ultimately lands on lessons in universality and we reach in this interview over laughs to a positive nexus on the human condition, love, and a rejection of nihilistic reductionism.Time Stamps2:43 The use of pen name ARX-Han and pseudonymity9:17 Biographical Points 12:25 On MFA Culture / Working with a Development Editor15:49 ARX-Han mindset writing “Incel”19:49 Anon, Young Men and disenchantment in scientific reductionism 24:19 Death of God31:19 What is an incel?36:31 Sources of Civilization Decay39:25 “Mansophere” and discussion on mimetic transmission45:05 Memetic Defense49:00 Tension in Writing52:38 Purity Tests and The Aesthetic Overton Window1:04:00 “Wordcels,” AI, Writing, Finding meaning in Creative Pursuits1:09:17 Pan-psychism / Spirituality / Things Getting Weird 1:18:00 Role of Aesthetics / Marketing / Manga Cover vs V2 Cover1:24:00 Publishing Gate Keepers / Morality linearly descended from Protestantism1:26:15 “Bro, just buy my book” - Humor and Hope - “Just Do it”Note: AI Generated Transcript - Apologies for errors.Follow Arx-Han:DecentralizedFiction.comTwitter.com/Arx_han This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leafbox.substack.com

While strolling along the Hudson River in New York City, Jason Trucco joins me to discuss his career in filmmaking, directing, art, design, and playwriting. In this insightful interview, Trucco opens up about his multifaceted career jumping between the avant garden and the commercial, including directing music videos for icons like Billy Idol, Macy Gray, Devo, and Queens of the Stone Age. Throughout his career he has used new technology in narrative story telling Trucco delves into the integration of AI and immersive technologies in his craft.We delve deep into his ongoing projects, examining the pivotal role of collaboration, and discussing the crucial elements of passion, creativity, and the inspirational role of walking in his artistic pursuits.Trucco discusses his creative approach, how he navigates his relationship with his inner critic, and explores the financial challenges of being an artist.Emphasizing the importance of play, curiosity, and following one's interests in the creative process this interview is insightful for those interested in creative entrepreneurship and the lessons that be applied to other sectors.Time Stamps* 03:40 - Jason’s Bio / Introduction* 06:09 - Making Music Videos* 10:14 - The Role of Technology in Narrative Story Telling* 11:12 - Theatre as Retraction from Technology?* 14:01 - Co-Directing Hi-Fi, Wi-Fi Sci-Fi* 19:01 - Technology and Formulaic / Regurgitation Storytelling* 20:58 - How Jason Approaches a Project* 23:40 - The Role of Guilty Pleasures* 24:58 - Where ideas come from…* 27:00 - The Importance of Collaboration* 30:10 - On walking and its importance* 32:19 - Six Sex Scenes in Spain / One Act Plays* 34:10 - The Role of The Inner Critic* 39:19 - Financial Challenges* 46:04 - Fear and “We only have these problems while we're alive”* 55:03 - Responsibility in Art Making / Discussion on Casting Narrative “Spells”* 57:49 - Making “Poetry” / Reverberating Experience with OthersIntro Music FeaturesCalifornia Stars Words by Woody GuthrieMusic by Jay Bennett & Jeff TweedyPerformed by Paula & Jason Band - On their cassette, New York Apartment TapesFull Transcript @ Leafbox.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leafbox.substack.com

Today I had the pleasure to speaking one of Australia's leading experts in tobacco control, Dr. Colin Mendelsohn. With over three decades of dedicated service in smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction, Dr. Mendelsohn's expertise is both rare and invaluable. In our discussion, we delve into the complex world of public health, examining the often unnoticed echo chambers, the intricate web of incentives that shape government policies, and the impact of societal and governmental biases on public health decisions.This episode is more than just a talk on tobacco control; it's a lens to try to understand the authoritative landscape of Australian and public health in general, exploring alternative approaches and addressing solutions on a global scale.Our conversation culminates in a crucial discussion about the importance of being open to evidence in public health, particularly in tobacco and smoking control. Dr. Mendelsohn, with his focus on harm reduction, provides a unique perspective on this issue, advocating for the use of safer nicotine products like vaping and smokeless tobacco for those who struggle to quit smoking.Whether you're a non-smoker intrigued by the complexities of public health or a smoker seeking safer alternatives, this episode promises to challenge some of your understanding of nicotine, tobacco and solutions in public health.Disclaimer: No Tobacco Company / Product Conflict of InterestNeither Dr. Colin Mendelsohn nor I have any affiliations with tobacco control products or companies. Our discussion was conducted independently, without any commercial interests or influence from tobacco companies. The purpose of this discourse was solely to explore and debate potential public health issues, free from any commercial bias or conflicts.Time Stamps03:14: Biographical And Career Overview06:14: Australian Tobacco Situational Overview11:00 Discussion on “demonization” of Tobacco Users/Smokers14:47 Uses cases for nicotine , understanding users 18:07: Ideological Issues + Biases in Australian Public Health22:23: Discussion on Australian Authoritarian / “Nanny State” Public Health 25:25 Nicotine Prescriptions + Taxes Effects / Black Market Forces 32:32 Harm Reduction Model for Nicotine / Tobacco Control36:08 Discussion on Vaping / Flavor Additives / Children’s Issues41:06 China / Smoking vs Vaping in China / India44:09 Smoking Cessation Tools48:08 Marijuna Vaping vs Smoking50:27: Discussion on Conflicts of Interests54:56 Maintaining Openness to Evidence / Avoiding ideological silos01:00:47 Discussion on Polarization / Disinformation / Information01:06:00: Closing Remarks: Importance of quitting smoking and exploring safer alternatives.More Information:Dr Mendelsohn’s “Farewell Retirement Letter” Referenced in ConversationX / Twitter: @ColinMendelsohnMore Info @ https://colinmendelsohn.com.au/Founding Chairman, Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association charityBook: Stop Smoking Start VapingTranscription (AI Generated Transcript - please excuse any mistakes in transcription!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leafbox.substack.com

Today I had the pleasure of connecting with fellow surfer and ocean lover Thomas Farber. Thomas Farber is a master in capturing the essence of life’s intimate moments, condensing the most profound into beautiful profound vignettes.Awarded Guggenheim and, three times, National Endowment fellowships for fiction and creative nonfiction, Thomas Farber has been a Fulbright Scholar, recipient of the Dorothea Lange-Paul Taylor Prize, and Rockefeller Foundation scholar at Bellagio.An Author of over 20 books of fiction and creative non fiction and has just published two new collections, Acting my Age and Penultimates.Awarded Guggenheim and, three times, National Endowment fellowships for fiction and creative nonfiction, Thomas Farber has been a Fulbright Scholar, recipient of the Dorothea Lange-Paul Taylor Prize, and Rockefeller Foundation scholar at Bellagio.Thomas Farber's other recent books include Here and Gone, The End of My Wits, Brief Nudity and The Beholder. Former Visiting Distinguished Writer at the University of Hawai'i, he teaches at the University of California, Berkeley.We connect today about his latest meditations on life, death, writing, the sea, women, Diamond Head and much more. All with humor, humility, gravitas, and wisdom, I’m grateful for his enduring lessons.Time Stamps(2:27) Wearing Black, Theatre Playing the “writer”(4:06) Publishing Acting by Age with Manoa Journal(9:33) Growing Older/ Acceptance / Being a Child of the 60s(11:06) On Spirituality(15:57 ) The Banayan Tree / Hāmākuapoko Ruins Maui(17:57) First Trips to Hawaii 1971(21:56) Collaboration with Wayne Levin(27:40) On Sailboats / The Book Of Love(30:18) On Minimalism, Scuba Gear, Surfboards(32:04) Epigrams(37:55) The 96 Year Old ‘Carrot’(39:32) On his novel The Beholder, writing about physical love(42:27) Doom Scrolling(44:44) Advice to young writers(46:32) Making Amends; New Projects(52:00) Jean Cocteau and the importance of readersMore Info @ https://thomasfarber.org/Excerpt: Ruins 1999 By Thomas FarberHeadshot Credit: Ugo CorteBook Cover Photos: Wayne Levin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leafbox.substack.com

Josh Mitteldorf, is a science writer, researcher in biology of aging, and poet, with a rebellious spirit and persistent curiosity. His interests span all the biggest topics in current affairs, as well as eternal questions of the human condition. Who is behind the pandemic and other assaults on humanity? Why do ETs look like us? Can the future reach back in time to cause the past? Are there transformative technologies, available to a select few that have been withheld from the public?Dr Mitteldorf earned a Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Pennsylvania. He has written a popular book and an academic book on the biology of aging. His websites include Aging Matters Blog, Experimental Frontiers, the Daily Inspiration, and Unauthorized Science. His forthcoming book includes a sonnet and graphic for each of the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching.Dr Mitteldorf lives in Philadelphia, where he teaches a weekly yoga class and plays in chamber music groups and a community orchestra. His two daughters were adopted from China in the 1980s, breaking diplomatic ground for a wave of Chinese-American adoptions in the following decades.The interview delves into both his biographical and psychological past, unveiling the complex and multifaceted life of Dr. Mitteldorf. He seamlessly blends science, spirituality, and a profound sense of social responsibility in his pursuit to enhance the human experience.The episode concludes with a poem reflecting his belief in the interconnectedness of all beings. Listen for the threads that tie together the spiritual, scientific, and activist pursuits of this extraordinary individual. Photo Credit: Josh MitteldorfTime Stamps(01:40) Intro (04:16) Connecting the Threads of Josh’s Work - Buying Freedom(07:31) Graduate Studies Berkeley, Life in Taiwan and Return to the US(13:38) Caloric Restriction and Interest in Evolution Biology(20:28) Predator / Prey Model and Evolutionary Basis for Death(23:35) Thoughts on Anti-Aging Communities and Options(26:42) Transhumanist Movement / Materialist World Views/ Post Materialist Physics / Consciousness (32:49) Spiritual Awakening / from Secular Jew to Quaker to Yoga(37:55) Political Awakening / Work on Election Integrity 2004 / 9-11(44:15) Confidence and Group Dynamics(49:16) Eye Of the Storm / Collective Unconscious(52:02) UAP / UFO Phenomenon / Unauthorized Science (1:01:44) Poem: Intersubjective Bootstrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leafbox.substack.com

Craig Steely, an American architect based both in Hawaii and California shares his philosophy on life and design. Craig's work stands out for its seamless integration of modern design with natural environments, creating spaces that are as stunning as they are sustainable. From his iconic Lavaflow homes in Hawaii to his urban homes in San Francisco, Craig's approach to architecture challenges conventional boundaries and invites us to reimagine our relationship with form, shape and our surroundings. I had the pleasure of speaking in detail with Craig on the importance of respecting the land and the environment in his projects, the influence of his experiences in Hawaii and California, the importance of maintaining a small, focused team in his practice, and the value of being able to work on a variety of scales and types of projects. Steely also shares his thoughts on the current state of architecture education, and the importance of critical thinking and a deep understanding of the land and environment in architectural practice.As an architecture enthusiast and developer the conversation is refreshing and invigorating for those interested in thoughtful design and approach to building. Topic Time Stamps* (3:31) On being an outsider in Hawaii and California* (5:04) The D-Fin House / Relationship to clients* (7:41) Approach to land and geography* (11:23) Escaping design echo chambers / democratic design* (14:22) Getting lost in the power of form and shape* (18:22) On building the same house over and over * (21:22) On surfing and its influence* (24:07) Architecture and parenting * (27:07) On scale of architecture practice* (31:28) On the value of architecture education as creative problem discipline* (37:28) On architecture in Hawaii* (40:00) Relationship to the large scale / thoughts on urban planning* (47:20) On compromise in design* (48:14) On letting going of fears* (52:00) On the value of feral projects* (54:14) Conversation Pits and architecture tools* (57:34) On the future and new projects in MexicoLearn more about his practice @ Craig Steely Architecture Photos: Darren Bradley / Craig Steely Architecture This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leafbox.substack.com