Smart Funny Tortured

Paul Chamberlain

Conversations with creatives on when they broke down, broke through, and how they now peacefully(ish) coexist with their gifts.

  1. David Shapiro on AI, Time Sovereignty, and the Analog Future

    10/09/2025

    David Shapiro on AI, Time Sovereignty, and the Analog Future

    AI futurist and author David Shapiro joins Paul to map the path between panic and progress. We dig into why he invests his “limited cognitive cycles” in building rather than despair, the liminal now he calls Vesperance (and why the fever will “break” in public debates), and how to use AI as a learning partner in real health journeys—labs, history, differentials, and better doctor conversations. We challenge the attention economy, reframe wealth as time sovereignty, and explore why the future gets more analog—third spaces, neighbors, social skill rehab—right as robots become the next big shock to labor. We close on the only thing that really moves policy: incentives. You’ll learn: agency in a post-AGI world, how to brief your doctor with AI, why “neuro-spicy” processing is an edge, and where David is placing his chips next. He’s writing The Great Decoupling, building courses (with Julia McCoy), and consulting across business, academia, and policy—hubbed via his Linktree. Chapters Optimism as a calculationVesperance & litigating AI in publicHealth: AI as your learning partnerTime sovereignty > attention economyThe analog comeback (community & third spaces)Robots: the next labor resetIncentives set the guardrailsDavid Shapiro Linktree: https://linktr.ee/daveshap SMART FUNNY TORTURED🌐 Learn more: smartfunnytortured.com📱 Follow @SmartFunnyTortured on Instagram for more.🧠 Join the Samrt Funny Tortured community on Skool   Copyright © 2025 • Cerebral Itch Labs, LLC / Smart Funny Tortured • All Rights Reserved

    1h 5m
  2. FUNNY – Your Most Magnetic Human Advantage

    07/11/2025

    FUNNY – Your Most Magnetic Human Advantage

    TOPICS COVERED: - The neuroscience of joy, laughter, and orgasm - Flow states, emotional intelligence, and pleasure as defiance - Viktor Frankl, Albert Camus, and the absurdity of hope - Why funny people are cognitively elite - Reclaiming joy as your most magnetic edge   MENTIONED THINKERS & SOURCES: - Viktor Frankl – Man’s Search for Meaning - Albert Camus – The Myth of Sisyphus - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – Flow - Neuroscience of laughter, dopamine, oxytocin, and pleasure   START HERE: Take the free Smart Funny Tortured Self-Audit to rediscover your joy, flow, and inner light: https://www.smartfunnytortured.com   WATCH THE CINEMATIC EPISODE: Prefer visuals and storytelling? Watch the full video version on the Smart Funny Tortured YouTube channel:   TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 00:13 What If AI Can’t Touch This? 01:10 Defining “Funny” in the SFT Framework 02:41 Why Pleasure Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Signal 03:07 The Neuroscience of Joy, Flow, and Laughter 03:57 Joy as Defiance: Viktor Frankl and Survival 05:13 Flow State and the Dissolving Ego 06:11 The 3 Elements integrated 06:58 Camus, Absurdity, and Funny 07:58 Take the Self-Audit and Go Deeper   SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW: YouTube Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google – Search “Smart Funny Tortured” Your darkness is not the end of your story. Begin integration now at SmartFunnyTortured.com SMART FUNNY TORTURED🌐 Learn more: smartfunnytortured.com📱 Follow @SmartFunnyTortured on Instagram for more.🧠 Join the Samrt Funny Tortured community on Skool   Copyright © 2025 • Cerebral Itch Labs, LLC / Smart Funny Tortured • All Rights Reserved

    10 min
  3. TORTURED – How Your Darkness Becomes Your Power

    07/11/2025

    TORTURED – How Your Darkness Becomes Your Power

    TOPICS COVERED: - Trauma, shame, and desire as fuel - The science of nervous system recalibration - Carl Jung’s shadow, Resmaa Menakem’s soul nerve - How shame stabilizes—then cages - Turning repressed energy into post-traumatic sovereignty   MENTIONED THINKERS & SOURCES: - Carl Jung – Shadow integration - Resmaa Menakem – My Grandmother’s Hands - Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal - Bessel van der Kolk – The Body Keeps the Score   START HERE: Take the free Smart Funny Tortured Self-Audit to map your darker angels: WATCH THE CINEMATIC EPISODE: Prefer visuals and storytelling? Watch the full video version on the Smart Funny Tortured YouTube channel: TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction - What You’ve Been Hiding Might Be the Key 00:30 The Final Chapter of the SFT Trilogy 01:14 Redefining “Tortured”: Not Broken, But Heavy 02:23 Trauma as Adaptation, Not Damage 05:29 How Shame Becomes the Emergency Manager 06:05 The Nervous System’s Protective Rewrite 07:18 Desire as Sacred Direction 08:04 Listening to What You Crave 09:26 The Invitation: Take the Self-Audit SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW: YouTube Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google – Search “Smart Funny Tortured” Your darkness is not the end of your story. Begin integration now at SmartFunnyTortured.com SMART FUNNY TORTURED🌐 Learn more: smartfunnytortured.com📱 Follow @SmartFunnyTortured on Instagram for more.🧠 Join the Samrt Funny Tortured community on Skool   Copyright © 2025 • Cerebral Itch Labs, LLC / Smart Funny Tortured • All Rights Reserved

    12 min
  4. Red Wine in a Coffee Cup – The Birth of Smart Funny Tortured

    02/26/2025

    Red Wine in a Coffee Cup – The Birth of Smart Funny Tortured

    Five years ago, Paul Chamberlain stood at a crossroads. Sobriety wasn’t just about quitting drinking—it was about confronting the deeper truths lurking beneath the surface. In this raw and deeply personal episode, Paul takes us back to the moment that changed everything: a red wine-stained coffee cup, a painful reckoning, and a journey to reclaiming his true self. From a transformative coaching retreat in Santa Cruz to a life-altering conversation that gave birth to Smart Funny Tortured, this episode is an unfiltered look at what it means to break free from self-sabotage, embrace your contradictions, and rebuild yourself from the inside out. Listen in as Paul shares: ✅ The moment he knew he had to change—no matter how hard it would be. ✅ Why coaching (not therapy) gave him the clarity and structure he needed. ✅ The phone call exercise that made him see himself through the eyes of those who truly knew him. ✅ The unexpected three-word revelation that became a global movement. 0:01 - A Journey From Wine Addiction to Self-Discovery 2:39 - The Transformative Journey of Personal Development and Coaching 5:39 - Transforming a Brand Into a Movement for Change 7:11 - Empathy and Humor as Unique Forms of Intelligence 8:01 - Balancing Joy and Trauma for Personal Harmony 11:03 - Embracing Self-Awareness and Personal Growth Through Honest Reflection This isn’t just a story about personal transformation—it’s about why so many of us feel trapped by our own brilliance, humor, and pain and how we can finally step into who we were meant to be. SMART FUNNY TORTURED🌐 Learn more: smartfunnytortured.com📱 Follow @SmartFunnyTortured on Instagram for more.🧠 Join the Samrt Funny Tortured community on Skool   Copyright © 2025 • Cerebral Itch Labs, LLC / Smart Funny Tortured • All Rights Reserved

    12 min
  5. The Impact of AI on Coaching and Therapy

    05/31/2024

    The Impact of AI on Coaching and Therapy

    In this thought-provoking episode, Paul sits down with Lumia Coaching Co-Founder and CEO, Noelle Cordeaux, to navigate the converging paths of human coaching and artificial intelligence. They discuss the impact of AI on coaching and therapy, diving deep into the implications of emerging technologies for the coaching profession and the broader human experience. The conversation examines the influence of AI on our socialization, decision-making, and the potential for systemic disruption across various sectors, including healthcare and law. Paul and Noelle explore the opportunities and challenges that arise as AI becomes more integrated into these fields, emphasizing the importance of human connection, empathy, and critical thinking in coaching. They highlight the unique skills that coaches bring to the table, stressing that as AI advances, coaches must adapt and find ways to leverage technology while maintaining the core principles of coaching. This episode offers valuable insights for coaches navigating the changing landscape of their profession, providing guidance on how to balance the integration of AI with the irreplaceable value of human-centric approaches. As AI rapidly advances and begins to occupy a prominent role in coaching and therapy, with systems capable of providing empathy and real-time interactions, Paul and Noelle explore the opportunities and challenges that arise. They emphasize the importance of human connection, empathy, and critical thinking in coaching, highlighting the unique skills that coaches bring to the table. The dialogue balances the utility of AI in education and advisory capacities with the irreplaceable value of human connection, nuanced understanding, and the artistry intrinsic to professional coaching. Noelle contemplates the psychological implications of AI integration, stressing the importance of empathy, resilience, and prime worldview. Paul presents an AI-developed tool tailored for leadership coaching, sparking a conversation around the functionalities and limitations of artificial companionship. Both advocate for a balance between embracing AI advancements and fostering human connections critical for personal and societal growth. As the transition to AI-powered systems in professional sectors could lead to significant displacement, the episode underscores the need for resilience and systems thinking. Noelle and Paul offer valuable insights for coaches navigating the changing landscape of their profession, emphasizing the importance of adapting and leveraging technology while maintaining the core principles of coaching. They stress that the core human skills learned in coaching, like empathy and effective communication, are crucial for navigating the challenges presented by AI integration into daily life. CHAPTERS 0:05 Deciphering Emotions from a Selfie 1:17 Coaching Evolution and AI Integration 5:57 AI Integration's Impact on Professional Practices and Human Interaction 10:39 AI's Impact on High-Income Jobs and Future Unemployment 12:27 AI Disruption in Healthcare and Legal Professions 17:17 Embracing Liberal Arts and AI for Future Human Potential 20:22 AI's Emergence in Recursive Self-Improvement and Ethics 23:50 Optimism and Prime Worldview Amidst Societal Divisions 27:26 Innovating Leadership Coaching with AI Technology 33:24 Integrating Coaching and Feedback Loops in Organizations 36:05 Confronting Anxiety in Team Leadership and Feedback 40:24 The Inevitable Rise of AI in Education and Beyond 43:56 Understanding Love Through Neurobiology and Classroom Interactions 44:37 Coaching Skills as Tools for Connection in a Digital Age 52:53 Coaching in the Age of Technological Transformation   SMART FUNNY TORTURED🌐 Learn more: smartfunnytortured.com📱 Follow @SmartFunnyTortured on Instagram for more.🧠 Join the Samrt Funny Tortured community on Skool   Copyright © 2025 • Cerebral Itch Labs, LLC / Smart Funny Tortured • All Rights Reserved

    1 hr
  6. 05/21/2024

    Zachary Stein on AI, Education, and the Metacrisis

    Paul sits down with Dr. Zachary Stein to explore the future of education and the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. He advocates for dismantling traditional schools and replacing them with systems that prioritize human-to-human interaction. Dr. Stein warns against humanoid AI teachers, emphasizing their potential for deception and manipulation. Instead, he proposes AI systems that enhance and refine human relationships. Additionally, he discusses the impact of AI in sectors like military and finance, emphasizing the need for a universal grammar of value to guide AI development. The episode delves into the metacrisis and the urgent need for a paradigm shift in civilization. Dr. Zachary Stein is a Co-Founder of the Civilization Research Institute and the Center for World Philosophy and Religion. He was trained at the interface of philosophy, psychology, and education and now works in fields related to the mitigation of global catastrophic risk. He is a widely sought-after and award-winning speaker and a leading authority on the future of education and contemporary issues in human development. Zak is the author of dozens of published papers and two influential books. His first book, Social Justice and Educational Measurement, traces the history of standardized testing and its ethical implications. His most recent book, Education in a Time Between Worlds, grapples with the dangers posed by a profound learning and capacity deficit in a time of civilization-wide transformation. In this work, Zak argues that educational systems must be transformed beyond recognition if humanity is to survive the planetary crises currently underway, from climate change to geopolitical instability. Zak sees education, in a deeply philosophical sense, as fundamental to the sustainability of civilization, with implications for each component of the "metacrisis" - the complex, interrelated global challenges and existential threats facing humanity. In Zak's view, whoever drives the technology stack of education will shape the future of civilization itself. His mission is to empower younger generations with the capacity to comprehend and respond appropriately to the unique challenges of our time. Connect with Dr. Zachary Stein Website EPISODE CHAPTERS 0:01 - Envisioning an Educational Renaissance Through AI and Human Connection 2:18 - Technological Elites and the Redesign of Society 7:39 - BF Skinner's Influence on Societal Engineering to Prevent Existential Risks 9:22 - Manipulation Through Digital Reinforcement and Surveillance 11:58 - Technocracy's Struggle With Value and Control 13:45 - Confronting Nihilism and Meaning in Education 15:48 - Transforming American Education for Cold War Supremacy 18:35 - Decoding the Shift in American Education and Economy 21:59 - Debating AI's Role in Transforming Education 25:03 - AI Socialization Threatens Millennia-Old Human Connections 26:46 - The Ethical Dilemmas of Humanoid AI Development 32:43 - Debating the Nature of Value and the Good Life 34:12 - The Dual Use Dilemma of AI in Modern Technology 35:57 - AI's Impact on Military, Finance, and Pop Culture 39:09 - Educational Crisis and National Defense Perspectives 43:36 - Envisioning a Renaissance in Education Through AI and Community 48:57 - Revitalizing Education Through Community Engagement and Guild Structures 51:06 - Distinguishing Education from Propaganda and Coercion 55:19 - Coercion and Thought-Terminating Cliches in Social Media 1:00:26 - Confronting Propaganda with Educational Innovation 1:03:49 - Metacrisis Dynamics: Oscillating Between Chaos and Oppression 1:07:04 - Redefining Civilization Within Planetary Boundaries 1:10:37 - Rethinking Value Systems and Worldviews for Ecological Preservation SMART FUNNY TORTURED🌐 Learn more: smartfunnytortured.com📱 Follow @SmartFunnyTortured on Instagram for more.🧠 Join the Samrt Funny Tortured community on Skool   Copyright © 2025 • Cerebral Itch Labs, LLC / Smart Funny Tortured • All Rights Reserved

    1h 13m
4.9
out of 5
69 Ratings

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Conversations with creatives on when they broke down, broke through, and how they now peacefully(ish) coexist with their gifts.