Gnome Talk

Brett Larsen
  • 5.0 (10)
  • SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The Church of Gnome; Gnome Talk Podcast! 🎙️🌿 Join us every week as we dive into thought-provoking concepts, exploring the mysteries of the universe, and our unique place within it. This isn't just any podcast – it's a journey through fascinating ideas that challenge our understanding and inspire our souls. Gnome Blessings! 🌟🦉 Brett Larsen Gnomean Elder & Host

  1. 2D AGO

    In a World Obsessed With Hustle.. Dudeism Brings the Calm

    Dudeism Explained | The Church of the Latter-Day Dude, Beliefs, History & Meaning Dudeism, also known as the Church of the Latter-Day Dude, is a modern religion and philosophy inspired by The Big Lebowski and the character Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski. But Dudeism is more than a joke religion — it presents a modern interpretation of Taoism, Zen philosophy, and the practice of “taking it easy” in a high-stress world. In this episode of Gnome Talk, we explore the full history of Dudeism, from its founding in 2005 to its growth as a global spiritual movement. We discuss the beliefs of Dudeism, its philosophy of “abiding,” ordination, religious identity, and why so many people resonate with its relaxed approach to life. In this episode: What Dudeism is and how it started Who founded the Church of the Latter-Day Dude The philosophy behind Dudeism How Dudeism connects to Taoism and Zen Why “abide” is more than a movie quote Dudeism ordination and why people become Dudeist priests Why Dudeism continues to resonate in modern culture Why many Church of Gnome members also identify as Dudeists Dudeism offers an alternative to rigid, dogmatic religion by emphasizing calm, simplicity, humor, and non-reactivity. In a culture built around stress, outrage, and comparison, Dudeism presents “taking it easy” as a practical spiritual practice. This episode also explores how Dudeism and the Church of Gnome overlap in spirit — both welcoming curiosity, autonomy, and community without enforcing belief systems. 🎧 Listen to Gnome Talk Podcast on all major platforms 📺 Watch on YouTube 🌱 Learn more at https://www.churchofgnome.org Spirituality doesn’t always have to be serious. Sometimes it just needs to help you relax.

    18 min
  2. Ever Root for Someone to Fail? Why Sharing Light Makes Us Stronger (Gnomean Proverb 1)

    6D AGO

    Ever Root for Someone to Fail? Why Sharing Light Makes Us Stronger (Gnomean Proverb 1)

    Ever Root for Someone to Fail? Why Sharing Light Makes Us Stronger | Gnome Talk Episode 41Have you ever rooted for someone else to fail? Have you ever felt jealousy, comparison, resentment, or guilt around success? In this episode of Gnome Talk, we explore scarcity mindset, jealousy, comparison, and why humans compete for attention, love, and success, even when we don’t want to. This episode is a deep dive into Gnomean Proverb 1, also known as The Lantern Proverb, which teaches that: “The light of one lantern does not diminish another; it only makes the path brighter.”This video discusses:Why people root for others to failScarcity mindset vs abundance mindsetJealousy, comparison, and competitionWhy success feels threateningWhy we feel guilty celebrating our own winsEmotional scarcity and social comparisonCommunity vs competitionThe psychology of resentmentHow shared success creates stronger communitiesGnomean Proverb 1 explainedThe meaning of the Lantern ProverbThe philosophy behind the Church of Gnome The Church of Gnome is a spiritual community built around the Gnomean Principles, symbolic wisdom, and non-dogmatic exploration. It welcomes people of all beliefs without enforcing doctrine or belief systems. In this episode, Brett Larsen explains how sharing light, celebrating others, and allowing ourselves to shine without guilt creates healthier relationships, stronger communities, and personal peace. This episode is not about toxic positivity. It is about recognizing subconscious competition and choosing connection instead. About Gnome TalkGnome Talk is a podcast about spirituality, psychology, symbolism, community, and personal growth, blending the profound and the absurd. 🎧 Listen to Gnome Talk on all major podcast platforms 📺 Watch on YouTube 🌱 Join the Church of Gnome and get ordained for free at https://www.churchofgnome.org

    20 min
  3. Pastafarianism Explained: The Joke Religion That Changed Religious Freedom

    FEB 8

    Pastafarianism Explained: The Joke Religion That Changed Religious Freedom

    Pastafarianism Explained | The Flying Spaghetti Monster, Colanders & Religious Freedom Pastafarianism, also known as the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, began as a satirical response to the teaching of Intelligent Design in public schools — and became one of the most influential modern movements in discussions of religious freedom, equal treatment, and satire as social critique. In this episode of Gnome Talk, we explore the full history of Pastafarianism, from its 2005 origin as an open letter to the Kansas State Board of Education, to its global impact today — including colander headwear being approved for driver’s license photos in multiple countries and U.S. states. This is not an episode mocking belief. It’s an episode explaining why the joke mattered. In this episode, we cover: What Pastafarianism is and why it was created The origin of the Flying Spaghetti Monster How satire exposed religious double standards Why pirates, pasta, and absurd specificity were intentional The legal and cultural significance of colander headwear cases How Pastafarianism challenged how governments define “real” religion Why humor can be a serious tool for protecting religious freedom Why many Pastafarians also resonate with the Church of Gnome Pastafarianism demonstrated that religious freedom must apply evenly, even when beliefs are unconventional or humorous. The movement forced governments and institutions to confront whether they protect freedom itself — or only beliefs that look familiar. This episode also reflects on how those cultural shifts helped widen the space for newer, non-dogmatic spiritual communities like the Church of Gnome, without claiming equivalence or hierarchy between them. 🎧 Listen to Gnome Talk on all major podcast platforms 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube 🌱 Learn more about the Church of Gnome at https://www.churchofgnome.org Religious freedom isn’t tested by what’s familiar. It’s tested by what isn’t.

    33 min
  4. The Many Hells of Buddhism

    JAN 18

    The Many Hells of Buddhism

    When most people hear the word hell, they imagine one place, one judgment, and one eternal punishment. Buddhism tells a very different story. In this episode of Gnome Talk, we explore the many hells of Buddhism, not as threats or divine punishments, but as states of suffering shaped by cause and effect. In Buddhist thought, hells are not eternal, not ruled by a god, and not places you are sentenced to forever. They are conditions that arise when certain patterns of anger, obsession, cruelty, despair, or confusion take hold. This is not a dark episode for shock value. It’s a compassionate one. We look at how Buddhist hells function as maps of suffering, created long before modern psychology existed, to help people understand why pain repeats and how it can eventually loosen its grip. We explore hot and cold hells, not as literal geography, but as symbolic and experiential descriptions of inner states many of us recognize immediately. In this episode, we talk about: What “hell” actually means in Buddhism Why Buddhist hells are not eternal or judgment-based How karma functions as momentum rather than punishment Hells as inner psychological and emotional states Why impermanence is central to compassion and change How awareness interrupts suffering before it deepens Why humans across cultures keep creating hell cosmologies This conversation is reflective, grounded, and intentionally non-dogmatic. You don’t need to believe in Buddhist cosmology to recognize what these teachings are pointing toward. They speak to experiences many of us have already lived through, moments when suffering felt endless, and moments when awareness created a way out. Maybe hell isn’t something to fear. Maybe it’s something to understand. 🎧 Whether you approach this topic spiritually, symbolically, philosophically, or with healthy skepticism, you’re welcome here.

    27 min

  5. JAN 11

    Why the Book of Enoch Was Banned: Nephilim, Fallen Angels & Forbidden Knowledge

    Why was the Book of Enoch banned from the Bible? Dive into the forbidden stories of the Nephilim giants, fallen Watchers, and ancient knowledge that challenged institutions, and why it still feels profoundly relevant today. In this episode of Gnome Talk, we explore the mysterious Book of Enoch without dogma or fear, just open curiosity. From Enoch's encounters with otherworldly beings to the Watchers' descent, the origins of the Nephilim, and warnings about knowledge arriving too early, we unpack why this ancient text was set aside... and why it's resurfacing now in our age of rapid technology and unanswered questions. Whether you're into ancient mysteries, forbidden books, fallen angels, or layered realities, this mini-documentary breaks it down thoughtfully.

    33 min

  6. JAN 4

    Animism: Was It the First Religion?

    Before temples. Before scriptures. Before gods with names, faces, and rules. How did humans understand the world they were standing in? In this episode of Gnome Talk, we explore animism and ask a simple but far-reaching question: Was animism the first religion, or something even older than religion itself? This conversation steps back into deep human history, before organized belief systems took shape, and explores how early humans may have related to the world as alive, responsive, and relational. We talk about animism not as superstition or doctrine, but as a posture toward life. A way of paying attention. A way of behaving in relationship with land, animals, seasons, and place. This is not an episode about proving animism is “true,” nor about replacing one belief system with another. It’s an exploration of patterns, instincts, and ways of seeing that may have existed long before religion needed structure, hierarchy, or control. In this episode, we explore: What animism actually is (and what it’s often misunderstood to be)How spirituality may have existed before religion had institutions or doctrineWhether animism functioned more as relationship than beliefWhy animism resisted being centralized or scaledHow animistic ways of seeing never really disappearedWhy animism still shows up in modern life, even among people who don’t consider themselves spiritualHow these ideas naturally align with gnome folklore and Gnomean values This episode is reflective, curious, and intentionally open-ended. It’s meant to begin the year by asking older questions again, without pressure to arrive at firm conclusions. Maybe the oldest spiritual act wasn’t worship. Maybe it wasn’t belief. Maybe it was listening.

    24 min

  7. 12/28/2025

    The Church of Gnome’s 2025 Year in Review

    A Year-End Reflection, Gratitude, and Looking Ahead This is the final episode of Gnome Talk for the year, and it’s a different kind of conversation. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of the Church of Gnome and walk through what this year actually looked like. Not just the growth and milestones, but the reality of building something meaningful while balancing responsibility, family, work, stress, and care. We talk about the quiet early months, the moment everything suddenly took off, the pressure that followed, and the lessons that came with growth arriving faster than infrastructure. I share honestly about the highs and the lows, the joy and the anxiety, and what it’s been like to steward a community that has grown into something far bigger than an idea on the internet. This episode also reflects on: The rapid growth of the Church of Gnome and what that responsibility really meansThe joy of seeing weddings officiated by Gnomean ministers around the worldMeeting members in person and witnessing the community come to life beyond screensThe challenges of moderation, emails, and care at scaleReal-world charitable impact and why moving slowly and intentionally mattersChoosing sustainability over speedEmbracing both the profound and the absurd without losing integrity This year has felt like the moment when the roots truly took hold. And this episode is a living record of that season. A pause before turning the page. Whether you’re a long-time member, newly ordained, or just discovering the Church of Gnome, my hope is that this reflection helps you look at your own year with a little more compassion, patience, and perspective. Thank you for being part of this strange, sincere, growing community. 🌱 Gnome Blessings.

    1h 9m

  8. 12/21/2025

    The Gnomean Winter Solstice: Tending What Cannot Yet Be Seen

    The Winter Solstice arrives quietly. The longest night. The stillest moment. The point where darkness stops growing and the direction of the year begins to change. In this special Gnome Talk episode, we explore the Winter Solstice through a Gnomean lens—not as a rush toward light, but as a season of unseen work. Across ancient Pagan, Druidic, and Northern European traditions, humans honored this night not because it was dramatic, but because it was true. Fires were kept low. Evergreens were brought indoors. Seeds were counted and protected. Quiet guardians were remembered. This episode weaves together: The ancient meaning of the Winter Solstice and why humans always noticed itGnome and Tomte folklore as symbols of stewardship, guardianship, and unseen laborThe deeper purpose of solstice rituals like vigils, offerings, seeds, soil, fire, and evergreensHow winter mirrors the seasons of our own lives when nothing looks like it’s growing, yet everything is being preparedWhy endurance, rest, and tending foundations are not failures—but wisdom Whether you are deeply spiritual, quietly secular, or somewhere in between, this episode is an invitation to slow down, notice the turning, and trust the work beneath the surface. The solstice does not ask us to rush toward hope. It asks us to tend the roots. 🌲 Gnome Blessings, and Happy Winter Solstice.

    22 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Church of Gnome; Gnome Talk Podcast! 🎙️🌿 Join us every week as we dive into thought-provoking concepts, exploring the mysteries of the universe, and our unique place within it. This isn't just any podcast – it's a journey through fascinating ideas that challenge our understanding and inspire our souls. Gnome Blessings! 🌟🦉 Brett Larsen Gnomean Elder & Host

Information

  • Creator
    Brett Larsen
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Brett Larsen
  • Show Website
    Gnome Talk