14 episodes
Hell & Wellness Hell & Wellness
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- Health & Fitness
Snake oil or miracle cure? That’s the question hosts Matt Ruby and Rob Kramer tackle. Ruby, a comedian, and Kramer, a longtime meditator, yogi and guru chaser, dive deep into the world of meditation apps, juice cleanses, psychedelic therapy, and more. They give you their no-BS take on health and wellness trends and alternative therapies. Think of them as the Siskel & Ebert of wellness, helping you to separate the healthy hacks from the silly quacks. Along the way, you’ll get insights, laughs, and a much needed antidote to the self-important pretentiousness of Goop juicing Burners.
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Ep 13 // Stoicism
Stoicism may be a philosophy born of ancient times, but it’s recently made a comeback. Designed to make people more resilient, virtuous, and wise, it was once relied on by slaves to help them in dealing with the difficulty in their lives. Now, it’s frequently touted by tech titans and “thought leaders.” Matt and Rob dive into the implications of stoicism in the modern age.
/// Music by Ilithios + El Jezel /// Produced by Stereoactive Media
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Ep 12 // Shame as a Positive Force
Sometimes shame is used to bully, while other times it’s used to teach. Shame has even perhaps worked as a cohesive force on society. In this episode, Matt and Rob discuss the ins and outs of shame and whether it can actually be wielded as a positive force.
/// Music by Ilithios + El Jezel /// Produced by Stereoactive Media -
Ep 11 // Silent Meditation Retreats
Silent meditation retreats are an immersive way to go deeper into one’s meditation practice – and we mean really deep. In this episode, Rob discusses Vipassana retreats that involve ten days of not talking while Matt explains his experience at a three-day retreat guided by Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg. Is it worth going silent like this? What are the challenges? And just how does one do walking meditation? Tune in to learn all about turning down the volume in your head via Vipassana.
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Ep 10 // Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic tea from the Amazon has become a trendy, life-altering brew consumed by hipsters, Silicon Valley, and the yoga crowd. Many say it’s the most significant spiritual experience of their lives. Others claim it’s like “10 years of psychotherapy in one night.” But what is it? How do you take it? And how did drinking a South American psychoactive brew become just as popular as microdosing, CBD, and partying in Tulum? Matt and Rob go deep to discuss the benefits and misconceptions surrounding this traditional spiritual medicine. Buckle up.
/// Music by Ilithios + El Jezel /// Produced by Stereoactive Media -
Ep 9 // Conspiracy Theory Addiction
Conspiracy theories have gone mainstream. From old standards like Area 51 to relative newcomers like QAnon, people can’t get enough of conspiratorial thinking. Could it be that they’re actually addicted?
In this episode, Matt and Rob examine the concept of conspiracy theory addiction. Along the way, they get into the underlying conditions that may cause conspiracy theories to take root and grab hold of people's attention and, in extreme cases, impact their mental health.
“You 100% should NOT miss this episode!” -The Elders of Zion
/// Music by Ilithios + El Jezel /// Produced by Stereoactive Media -
Ep 8 // Michael Pollan & Headspace
Matt and Rob go for a deep dive into the work of author Michael Pollan and the impact he’s had on how America eats and views psychedelics. They focus on two of Pollan’s seminal books: ‘The Omnivore’s Dilemma’ and ‘How to Change Your Mind.’
They then debate each other on the efficacy and use of the Headspace guided meditation app. Is it a good way to onboard folks into meditation or does it represent everything that can go wrong when capitalism meets mindfulness?
00:00 - Intro + Disclaimer
01:59 - Michael Pollan
21:36 - Headspace
41:10 - Outro
/// Music by Ilithios + El Jezel /// Produced by Stereoactive Media