What is the purpose of your vacations? Beyond the tired rhetoric of getting away, what do you hope to achieve? A momentary break from the monotonous chaos of the rodent race? A sniff from the goblet of inspiration in a land unknown? Your next jaunt could carry you to the ends of perception and boundaries or feed the sleeping griot set to appear at the next local soiree. The question remains, will it be a tale of debauchery propagated on the backs of the unseen, or a self-reflective glance into the lands in the back of your mind. What do you see on the way to Samana? Samana on The Left Column. Speaker: SepTo

"In order for us to live the life we live, other people have to die". There is no form of ethical consumption in our world today. As we strive to find balance between meaning, folly and morality, we all fall into the same hypocritical eventuality. There is no way to point the finger in one direction without pointing away from the other. And when wrong exists in all directions, what is the value of illuminating its isolated presence in any one space? When we consume film, music and art, are the creator's shortcomings one with said art? Does an artists conflicting views or ethics bleed through their art into the consumer? Or is art its own entity within itself, to be judged and consumed without a thought of the human who created it? The separation of art and artist, hypocritical thinking and media morality, as discussed on The Left Column. Speaker: Arch Valenz Music: Khan SoulO

There is a quote attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius that is often quoted. "We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” Simple and elegant in its construction but there’s an inherent lie in its premise. For many, there is an immediate comprehension of just how fleeting life is. For them, life isn’t compartmentalized by milestones and encouraged by future accomplishments, but instead walled by the realization they will likely not make it to the next year. This life is one more analogous to the psalmic walk through the valley of the shadow of death. There is an advantage in its perspective, however. For those, not too enchanted by their future and not too haunted by their past, can create true magic in their present. Anxiety and The Present on The Left Column. Speaker: SepTo Music: SepTo, Khan SoulO & Michael Shand

“Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book III, relates that Echo offended the goddess Hera by keeping her in conversation.” That description always seemed so poignant. Echo’s endless chatter prevented Hera from seeing the truth. The first echo chamber was a self-confirming prattle so appealing it was impossible challenge or interrupt. Today, confirmation bias is even easier to become enraptured with. The introduction of new evidence should be an exciting endeavor. It furthers the pursuit of truth. However, many refuse to try to actively prove themselves wrong. How often do you actively, search out counter arguments to challenge your tenets? If the answer isn’t forthcoming, you may have Echo in your ear. Diversity of Thought on The Left Column. Speaker: SepTo Music: Khan SoulO

If you could reach back along the lines of your family tree, what would you ask your ancestors? Would you ask for the energy of forgotten knowledge to blossom or heed the warnings of time as to affect the future? What if those words shook you to the core? Revelations so deeply rooted in scarred tissue the only sane choice would be to cut yourself off from the rotting trunk and begin a new. Crackheads with millionaire parents. The Rotting Branch of a Family Tree on the Left Column. Speaker: SepTo Music: Khan SoulO

COVID-19 and the pandemic has severely impacted our world both in the literal sense and in one more metaphysical. Literally, our world stopped, our rules changed and priorities realigned as we adapted to a new normalcy. Unfortunately, the literal and tangible effects of the virus has not been our only negative impact. Today, we deal with more complex negatives, ranging in a theoretical and social sphere, as we politicize health and survival. Vaccines have become a sore point for us socially (and not just the due to the stab in the arm), as we divide ourselves and fight with an angst we have only seen for religion or politics. Misinformation, judgmental anger and the big "V", as discussed on The Left Column. Speaker: Sean "Bluu" Watson Music: SepTo & Khan SoulO

There’s a battle we all fight but few quantify adequately. The self-perceived and the externally experienced. This idea of objective character and subjective identity are rarely miscible. Many believe themselves sponsors of truth and substance while the world views them as overbearing, immovable maybe even dictatorial. The idealistic mantra of being yourself clashes sharply when intersected by the “real” world”. As a parent, eyeing the triple beam balance of the soul is a calling. What is that perfect convergence of who your child is, what you want them to be and what the universe needs them to achieve? Lebron James' biggest mistake was naming his son Lebron James Jr. Space Jam: A New Legacy is a close second. The birth of Abdul Sami on The Left Column. Speaker: SepTo Music: Khan SoulO

For some, having a child is an opportunity to right the wrongs of their life. A chance to instill the lessons learned too late; earlier. With the hopes of guiding a new soul to a land never reached but promised. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Toxic “Religiousity” aside, the guiding principle is that you have a responsibility to guide this being. However, that balance between Nurture and Nature is more important than ever. Your “clone” may just bring those same fears, traumas, and apprehensions into another lifetime. A generational tragedy. Besides, Mini-me was a bit of a dick. Parenting with Restraint on The Left Column. Speaker: SepTo Music: SepTo & Khan SoulO

The two greatest illusions our species has created are Luck & Time. The idea that the seemingly random but sequential progression of the cosmos can be affected by the four-leaf clover in your pocket. Or, that the relatively short orbit of our planet around our star is somehow a marker that is worthy of being the measure of a human. However, no two factors can more greatly mold a soul; it’s influence and its effects on the universe. Evolution happens over a lifetime. Luck & Time on The Left Column. Speaker: SepTo Music: Khan SoulO

For those of us of a certain hue, a trip outside of familiar boundaries can be challenging. What some consider a fun adventure out of town others consider a venture into the unknown. Stopping to use the washroom in a place not often frequented by melanated faces must be preceded by a quick scan for iconography that may suggest we may not be welcome. Do we avoid those stone-faced glances that lock on incredulously; silently shouting “What are YOU doing here?”. Or proudly meet the gaze and kindly give an unreciprocated nod? The rituals of the Damned. Seatbelts and headlights on, hats off. The Lesson of Less than on the Left Column. Speaker: SepTo Music: Khan SoulO