Friend of the pod, poet and rapper Micah Bournes is back at it with another powerful protest album. On it, he challenges us to consider seeking the freedom of even those who've committed crimes against humanity. This is a challenging but timely conversation, given our recent discussions of parts of the Tao Te Ching that encourage us to draw former enemies into the virtuous community (this of course, for Micah is inspired by Jesus' teachings on reconciliation, repentence and restoration).

Lao Tzu explains how to cook a small fish and govern a great nation. A discussion of how the Tao Te Ching has been seen differently over the ages, due to different emphases throughout the commentary traditions. Regardless of whether one assumes that the ghosts of our ancestors and the demons of our human nature are literal or figurative (or somewhere in between) this chapter teaches warns against authoritarianism and aggressive governments.

Toward the end, there's a discussion of the ways in which Ancient Chinese shamanism might have conceived of spirits and demons.

Drawing from Tao Te Ching 59, we critique the idea that cultures have a fixed life span. Surveying the longevity of various societies from the Indigenous Australians to the end of Imperial China in the twentieth century, we suggest that Lao Tzu was right that a deeply rooted, maternal, nurturing society that is adaptable

Drawing from the second half of Tao Te Ching 58, Jeff and Stacie discuss their plan for surviving the economic challenges ahead. If you are serious about considering living a different lifestyle, in terms of your domicile, feel free to reach out and we will be glad to share what we've learned about living nonconfentionally. In the mean time, peace upon peace.

Jeff and Stacie share what’s been going on in their lives since their last episode. Then they launch into part one of a discussion of TTC 58 and it’s relevance these days. Sorry we’ve been out of touch friends. We hope to stay in conversation as we all help each other make sense of a rapidly changing world. Withthe crumbling of old its good to compare notes and promote ways in which we can keep our wits about us and our humanness vibrant.

How might working with the gig economy factor into the pursuit of happiness and freedom? What are the similarities and differences between the Aristotelian tradition on happiness and that of Lao Tzu?

Singer and songwriter Jenna joins us to discuss finding one's voice and addressing life traumas with the healing medicine of music. We share her newly released single "Trigger" which is now available online.

The warrior archetype and why peace loving people might need to be ready to be more engaged on behalf of vulnerable groups in our precarious times. Part one is a general discussion of the theme and what the Tao Te Ching teaches about engagement with an enemy. Part two surveys some current events that arguably require a warrior's perspective.

Stacie leads us through three chapters from the Tao Te Ching that discuss the mysterious mother. What does this archetype and symbol say about our perspectives on femininity, society and the sacred? How does this differ from traditional American evangelical views of women and feminine characteristics of the divine? Is there a difference between being a source and being a creator? How can we let children and the things we cultivate grow spontaneously rather than through our constant control?

A reflection on the power of receptivity as illustrated by the valley, which is an important symbol throughout the Tao Te Ching and philosophical Taoism. This is also an episode about the power of yin, and the concept of the mother goddess.