In this episode I discuss the core issue of identity, from which it seems to me virtually all of our psychological suffering emerges.  While I do not believe it is possible to not identify as it appears to be a fundamental trait for certain organisms with sufficient awareness of the limits of their form and the limits of other forms around it, such as human beings, I do feel our awareness of the fact we identify and the pain it often causes us can help us step back from this identification, as can also be done with mindfulness meditation. In truth, the self, identity, agency, and free will are all illusions, however it is from this illusory basis that virtually our entire lives are structured. I discuss the insidiousness of identity politics and religion, which contrary to mindfulness, only exacerbate and encourage us to more strongly identify, not to see identity and all of its trappings for the illusion it is.