Abstract Essay

Daniel Lucas /Sal Cosenza

Abstract Essay is a podcast that explores the deeper layers of thought, creativity, and the human experience. Blending the reflective tone of personal essays with the conversational energy of an intimate dialogue, each episode takes listeners on a journey through ideas that challenge, inspire, and illuminate. From philosophy and art to culture and identity, the podcast invites guests who are thinkers, storytellers, and visionaries to share their insights in a free-flowing, thought-provoking format. Abstract Essay is not about quick takes—it's about meaningful exploration, where each conversation unfolds with intention, curiosity, and heart.

  1. 20 May

    Abstract Essay, now in its sixth season, features George Little as my guest a creative mind who designs, builds, and tinkers with ideas, projects, and innovations driven by curiosity, passion, and experimentation, sharing thought-provoking insights on

    George Little I design, build, and tinker. Always for fun, sometimes for money. I'm George, a designer, tech entrepreneur, and outdoor enthusiast! I have an equal love for tinkering with AI as I do hiking with my dogs. Here's a little backstory on who I am and what makes me tick... Originally from the Philly area, I studied architecture at Syracuse and thinking I was going to be a black turtleneck wearing new york architect, moved to Brooklyn to work for one of the big name firms. After a few years, I realized this wasn't for me. It dawned on me that the part of my job I liked the most I was doing the least of: graphic design & technology. I found I was much better at pitching building designs, marketing the company's brand, and tinkering with technology to improve our efficiencies and workflows. So I pivoted my career to "graphic design" which lead me to an AI company where I learned about startups, remote-work, SaaS marketing, and building a business that serves the tech community. Years later, I now run my own remote-only consultancy that aims to work with startups and venture-backed companies to build/improve their brands and websites. I spend my workdays balanced between client work, marketing my own business, and tinkering on projects I find interesting... like VetResumes.com, Archive51.art, Stacked.camp, to name a few. More recently I've been trying to slash my AI company subscriptions by building my own system on the back of a bunch of used mac minis. Outside of work, I'm a big nature lover. I've hiked, camped, kayaked, trailered, overlanded, and backpacked all over this country (and a splash of Canada). My wife and I recently moved our family to Oregon to purse a long-time dream of running a PNW flower farm (which i will, of course, find a reason to apply technology). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    23 min
  2. 11 May

    Abstract Essay, in its sixth season, features Mark Astor as my guest — an attorney dedicated to helping families navigate the complex intersection of legal challenges, mental health struggles, and addiction recovery. Through compassionate advocacy and

    Mark Astor Attorney Saving Families at the Intersection of Law, Mental Health & Addiction I didn’t set out to build a law firm. I set out to save families. Early in my career, I was a prosecutor inside the criminal justice system. I saw firsthand what happens when addiction and untreated mental illness collide with law enforcement: people don’t get better — they get processed, warehoused, and traumatized. Families are left powerless, confused, and grieving someone who is still alive. Years later, after leaving government service, I found myself sitting across from parents, spouses, and siblings who all said the same thing: “We don’t know what to do anymore.” Their loved one wasn’t asking for help. Treatment had failed. The system had failed. And “waiting” felt like a death sentence. So I co-founded a law firm with a singular mission: to give families lawful, compassionate tools to intervene when a loved one’s mind has been hijacked by addiction or severe mental illness. Since then, I’ve helped thousands of families navigate crises involving substance use, psychiatric instability, medical complexity, and resistance to care — using legal frameworks most people don’t even know exist. I’ve watched families move from chaos and despair to clarity and action. And I’ve seen lives saved not by handcuffs or hope alone, but by informed intervention. What makes my voice different is this: I live at the intersection of law, mental health, addiction, and family dynamics — and I’m not speaking in theory. I’m speaking from the trenches. On podcasts, I don’t offer platitudes. I explain: Why “waiting until they’re ready” can be deadly Why the system often reacts after irreversible harm Why families are not “controlling” — they are responding to cognitive impairment And why legal intervention, when done correctly, can be an act of love, not punishment Hosts book me because I bring clarity to uncomfortable conversations, challenge popular myths around addiction and recovery, and give audiences something rare: a framework for action when compassion alone isn’t enough. If your show tackles mental health, addiction, family trauma, personal growth, leadership, or hard truths — I won’t just fill time. I’ll give your audience something they’ll remember, wrestle with, and share. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    29 min

About

Abstract Essay is a podcast that explores the deeper layers of thought, creativity, and the human experience. Blending the reflective tone of personal essays with the conversational energy of an intimate dialogue, each episode takes listeners on a journey through ideas that challenge, inspire, and illuminate. From philosophy and art to culture and identity, the podcast invites guests who are thinkers, storytellers, and visionaries to share their insights in a free-flowing, thought-provoking format. Abstract Essay is not about quick takes—it's about meaningful exploration, where each conversation unfolds with intention, curiosity, and heart.

You Might Also Like