Cosmic Clowns

Jocelyn K. Glei and Sebene Selassie

a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all

Episodes

  1. Erotic Presence

    2 DAYS AGO

    Erotic Presence

    Welcome (back) to Cosmic Clowns, a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all. After a tiny hiatus, we kick off our second “season” with an episode all about the erotic (just in time for Valentine’s Day). In this episode, we explore the multifaceted nature of an erotic that includes all sensual experience within its definition. We center Audre Lorde's ovular essay, “Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic As Power” where she emphasizes the erotic as a source of empowerment, resistance, and (especially) joy–a key insight for these times. Her/our take on the erotic includes sex, of course, but also recognizes how everyday moments can be infused with sensuality (even sticking our feet in a potted plant!). We discuss how personal challenges and societal pressures can impact our connection to pleasure and joy, as well as the crucial (and often dismissed) role of beauty as the erotic in everyday life attuning us to what feels right and good within and around us. As Adure said: “The erotic is the nurturer or nursemaid of all our deepest knowledge.” -------------------------------------------- Thank you for being here, we value your presence. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review so we know to keep making more! -------------------------------------------- Time stamps: 04:08 The Role of the Body in the Erotic 09:51 The Power of Sensual Awareness 25:09 The Impact of Capitalism on Well-Being 29:42 The Dismissal of the Feminine and the Erotic 31:48 Beauty as an Expression of the Erotic 34:54 The Sensuality of Everyday Activities 39:25 The Power of Words and Movement 45:22 The Flow of Love and Connection 48:14 Reframing Love Beyond Romantic Contexts -------------------------------------------- Links & Credits Audre Lorde reading her essay, “The Uses of the Erotic.” adrienne marry brown on Hurry Slowly Sense Writing “The Tune of Things: Is consciousness God?”, Harper’s Magazine, December 2025 Kristin Wiig as Triangle Sally Jocelyn’s Substack: radiate Sebene’s Substack: remind me to love Podcast website: www.cosmicclowns.me Theme music: “Wow” by Charm School

    59 min
  2. New Year, New Woo

    2 JAN

    New Year, New Woo

    Welcome to Cosmic Clowns, a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all. In this episode, we delve into the concept of the New Year, questioning the traditional January 1st start date and discussing the importance of aligning personal renewal with cycles of nature and spiritual systems. We explore the inward turn that winter invites and suggest that we all engage in various ways of starting anew—the new moon, the new season, the equinoxes, the solstices... This conversation also touches on the pressures of societal expectations during the holiday season and the need for each of us to experiment with rituals and practices that support our well being. -------------------------------------------- Thank you for being here, we value your presence. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review so we know to keep making more! -------------------------------------------- Time stamps: 00:00 KILN, Jocelyn's Creative Incubator 10:32 Reflections on the New Year and Natural Cycles 21:17 Reflecting on the Past Year 28:25 The Concept of Wintering 34:19 Navigating Holiday Pressures 40:04 Planning for the New Year 45:52 Embracing Experimentation in the New Year 52:56 Imagining New Narratives 55:35 Embracing Individuality and Idiosyncrasies 59:48 Reflecting on the Season and Future Plans -------------------------------------------- Links & Credits Jocelyn’s Substack: radiate Sebene’s Substack: remind me to love Podcast website: www.cosmicclowns.me Theme music: “Wow” by Charm School

    1h 2m
  3. What Helped Us Thrive in 2025

    19/12/2025

    What Helped Us Thrive in 2025

    Welcome to Cosmic Clowns, a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all. In this episode, we share cultural experiences that moved us in 2025. We don’t need to tell you that this year has been RUFF. And, of course, we know every one of us also found moments of joy, inspiration and love in the midst of this mayhem. Today, we each offer three things—including art, film, a podcast, reporting, and live experiences—that helped us thrive in 2025. As Jocelyn mentions at the top of the episode, the etymology of the word culture means to care for the Earth. We hope our cultural sharing brings you some end of year care, connection, and comedy. Here are the links to a few of the things that moved us this year: Jack Whitten: The Messenger at the MOMASoundtrack to a Coup d’EtatThe Telepathy TapesReal Men Don’t Drink MatchaJohn Beaulieu, BiosonicsThe Sound of Music Sing-a-Long-------------------------------------------- Thank you for being here, we value your presence. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review so we know to keep making more! -------------------------------------------- Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction 06:00 Framing Our Year-End Reflections on Art and Culture 07:57 Jack Whitten at the MOMA 17:49 Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat documentary 25:51 Exploring The Telepathy Tapes podcast 33:25 “Real Men Don’t Drink Matcha” article 36:32 Crystals and sound with John Beaulieu 47:23 The Sound of Music Sing-a-long -------------------------------------------- Links & Credits Jocelyn’s Substack: radiate Sebene’s Substack: remind me to love Podcast website: www.cosmicclowns.me Theme music: “Wow” by Charm School

    1 hr
  4. Scared Into the Sacred

    07/11/2025

    Scared Into the Sacred

    Welcome to Cosmic Clowns, a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all. In this episode, we discuss the role of fear in spiritual development by looking at two words with one letter difference: scared and sacred (the “c” moves). We talk about how scarcity can drive anxiety and the ways new perspectives, caring community, and spiritual practices (practices, practices, practices!) can help transform the scaries into sacred presence. There’s a lot of fear in the world right now. There are also people who profit greatly from us being scared. Let’s follow that “c” into the conscious, the compassionate, the curious, and the cosmic. Also, did we mention spiritual practices? Join us as we delve into being scared into the sacred! -------------------------------------------- Thank you for being here, we value your presence. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review so we know to keep making more! -------------------------------------------- Timestamps: 00:00 Cultural Perspectives on Sacredness 13:26 Fear, Anxiety, and the Sacred 17:35 Energy Systems and Emotional Regulation 30:36 The Role of Fear in Creativity 37:11 Consciousness and Presence 46:18 Creating Sacred Boundaries 51:27 Finding Joy and Lightness -------------------------------------------- Jocelyn’s Substack radiate Sebene’s Substack remind me to love Podcast website: www.cosmicclowns.me Theme music: “Wow” by Charm School

    58 min
  5. Consciousness, Chaos, & Comedy

    24/10/2025

    Consciousness, Chaos, & Comedy

    Welcome to Cosmic Clowns, a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all. In this inaugural episode, we, your hosts Sebene Selassie and Jocelyn K. Glei, explore our intention for this show as an intersection of spirituality & humor. We discuss how we became creative collaborators, the power of the cosmic perspective, the role of clowning as a transformative practice, and how comedy can challenge oppression. If you too are upset by what’s happening in our world right now and are sick of the war–mongering, chaos–wreaking bozos-in-charge giving clowns a bad name, you will definitely dig this episode where we talk about laughter as medicine, vulnerability as creative power, and clowning as a tool for freedom. Join us as we celebrate the connection between laughter & liberation. -------------------------------------------- Thank you for being here, we value your attention. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review so we know to keep making more! -------------------------------------------- Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Cosmic Clowns 01:14 The Cosmic Perspective 09:14 Exploring Clowning and Comedy 26:48 The Role of Humor in Challenging Power 49:19 The Importance of Finding Lightness in Dark Times -------------------------------------------- Links & resources mentioned: Jocelyn’s Substack radiate Sebene’s Substack remind me to love Sebene’s post on clowning Trevor Noah’s clip on YouTube "[The clown is the] one who tries to alchemize the terror and sorrow of being human into something ridiculous and delightful." —Alex Tatarsky -------------------------------------------- Podcast website: www.cosmicclowns.me Theme music: “Wow” by Charm School

    1 hr

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a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all

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