Self-Discovery Through Grand Theft:

In this episode, Dom from Badwater discusses the concept of 'stealing' versus 'copying' in the pursuit of self-discovery, expanding on themes from his article, 'Self-Discovery Through Grand Theft.' Dom illustrates how copying often leads to adopting someone else's facade, while stealing involves selectively taking elements that resonate personally, enhancing self-awareness.

He provides practical examples, such as fashion choices and philosophical ideas, to underscore the importance of understanding one's core values. Dom also critiques rigid frameworks and promotes a dynamic approach to adopting others' ideas. He emphasizes the significance of originality, even if it involves selective borrowing, and concludes with reflections on personal growth and creativity.

00:00 Discussion: Self-Discovery Through Grand Theft

01:18 Clothing Example

04:14 Matrix Example

07:29 Identify Your Core Values

10:26 Everything Is a Tool

10:35 Systematizing

13:22 Most Copy, Some Steal, Few Create

15:43 Outro

Hi all! I was inspired to write a short story about a traveler discovering something greater about herself, and coming full circle in life. I’ll be sending out these types of audio stories every once in a while, so I hope you enjoy it!

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Duty, Ego, and the Cultural Challenges of Wildland Firefighting

Dom shares his observations on the confusion of duty among wildland firefighters. He discusses the sources of pride and respect in firefighting, the psychological and professional challenges of the off-season, and the impact of a lack of support from the federal government.

Dom reflects on his personal experiences in the field, noting a shift from initial optimism to cynicism among many firefighters. He emphasizes the difference between duty-driven and ego-driven performance and advocates for greater government support and policy changes to improve the well-being and development of firefighters.

00:00 Introduction

01:21 Title Sequence

03:24 Government Structures Against Firefighters

04:05 My History with Fire

08:40 Defining Duty

19:06 Recommended Policy Changes

The Growing Thoughts video and podcast series is fully under way. In this episode, I discuss the need for intention-setting and positive action while taking Lion’s Mane—and all other supplements in your life.

Some Housekeeping:

To support Badwater, consider using this link to purchase from our affiliate partner, North Spore. From liquid cultures to custom jar lids, they have provided me nearly all the tools I still use for growing mushrooms. They’re great quality, have super customer support (they’ve had a no-questions-asked policy whenever I have a random issue), and I think they are perfect for anyone getting into mushroom growing or who want to upgrade their DIY gear. All quality. This is the humidity tent that I use to grow my Lion’s Mane.

Thanks for reading Badwater! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Summary: Intention and Lion’s Mane

Hey all, I’m getting into a subject close to my heart: the role of intention, while taking a supplement like Lion’s Mane for your goals. I’ll explore how setting intention can transform your efforts instead of relying on active compounds in your body.

Positive Self-Talk: Telling yourself "I can do it" rather than "I can't break the 11 seconds" can be more impactful than you think. A positive mindset creates a snowball effect of positive results and expectations.

The Role of Practice: While mindset is essential, it's also about the work you put in. Even world-class athletes like Usain Bolt had to combine mindset with training to achieve greatness.

Placebo Effect Misunderstood: Recognize that belief in yourself can have an actual effect on performance, not just a placebo.

The Truth About Supplements: Supplements like creatine, protein, and indeed Lion's Mane aren't magic pills; they enhance what's already there.

Intention is the secret ingredient that supercharges the effects of Lion's Mane and other supplements. Setting clear goals transforms how they work for your body and mind.

Set Clear Intentions: Decide what you want to achieve before using supplements. This could be better focus and proofreading for a writing project or working a personal record. You can measure it, qualify it: Just be clear with it.

Align Actions with Values: Understand your personal values and how that’s truly what’s driving and motivating your work.

If you’re curious about trying Lion's Mane, here’s how to go about it:

Do Your Homework: Make sure there’s scientific backing for the supplements you choose. Understand it’s a helper, not the main solution.

Commitment and Consistency: Stick with it, committing to yourself and your goals, and you'll likely experience positive benefits.

Thanks for listening in! Whether it’s Lion’s Mane or another supplement, combining it with an intentional mindset and sustained effort can result in real accomplishment.

👉 Get our Original or Mental Mane Blends at Badwater!

In life, choices can lead to incredible experiences or leave us wondering “what if?” My journey has been filled with missed opportunities due to self-imposed limitations. Every missed chance reflects and leads to personal growth.

I often avoided stepping outside my comfort zone, unaware of its limits. In middle and high school, I avoided running but discovered my athleticism through walking and biking.

But a change in my perception of physical limitations ignited a greater love for outdoor activities, which I describe in the episode.

🎧 Tune in and explore how I reset my limitations around running and being active, and what that means for me as I come to more limitations in my life.

Thanks for reading Badwater! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Key Takeaways

I still experience missed opportunities due to fears of embarrassment and judgment. I’ve avoided pursuits like partner dancing due to self-doubt and fear of failure.

I understand that the ego resists change, which helps me overcome some social fears.

The ego creates a false sense of security by sticking to the familiar. Exploring new experiences requires confronting this resistance. I ask myself what I’m preserving by avoiding new opportunities and whether it truly needs this protection.

Missed opportunities define us or serve as catalysts for personal reinvention. By shifting our awareness on limitations and embracing a more flexible ego, we open ourselves to possibilities.

I hope you can reflect on your missed chances and find renewed growth and freedom.

The Growing Thoughts video and podcast series is fully under way. In this episode, I clarify the benefits of Lion’s Mane, as this topic was only in the background of last week’s Lion's Mane Research Is a Mess. Now, I wanted to be direct with what Lion’s Mane can do for the body.

Some Housekeeping:

To support Badwater, consider using this link to purchase from our affiliate partner, North Spore. From liquid cultures to custom jar lids, they have provided me nearly all the tools I still use for growing mushrooms. They’re great quality, have super customer support (they’ve had a no-questions-asked policy whenever I have a random issue), and I think they are perfect for anyone getting into mushroom growing or who want to upgrade their DIY gear. All quality. This is the humidity tent that I use to grow my Lion’s Mane.

Summary of Lion’s Mane’s Benefits

✅ Cognitive Benefits – May support memory, focus, and overall brain function.

✅ Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Support – Could help stimulate nerve cell growth and maintenance.

✅ Mood & Mental Health – Some studies suggest it may help reduce anxiety and depression.

✅ Immune & Gut Health – Beta-glucans in Lion’s Mane may boost immunity and improve gut microbiome balance.

Fruiting Body vs. Mycelium Extract – Fruiting body is great for memory and gut health, while mycelium may be better for long-term therapeutic benefits.

How to Take Lion’s Mane:

💊 Capsules – Convenient and pre-measured

🌿 Tinctures – Liquid extract for fast absorption

🥄 Powder – Mix into drinks or food

What to Expect & Dosage:

🔹 Recommended dosage: 500mg - 3000mg per day (start low and adjust)

🔹 Results vary—some people notice cognitive benefits in weeks, while others take months of consistent use.

Potential Side Effects & Precautions:

⚠️ Generally safe, but some may experience mild digestive discomfort or allergic reactions. Always check with your healthcare provider if taking medications.

👉 Get our Original or Mental Mane Blends at Badwater!

In this episode, we explore the trap of expectation—how it shapes our behaviors, fuels disappointment, and distorts reality. I share personal stories of how expectation caused frustration, lost friendships, and low self-worth. We’ll also discuss detachment as a way to break free from these cycles and live more present, intuitively, and open to experience.

🎧 Tune in and explore how letting go of expectation—detachment—can unlock a deeper, more intuitive way of living.’

Thanks for reading Badwater! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Key Takeaways

* Expectation often leads to disappointment, especially when reality doesn’t align with our imagined outcomes.

Why Do We Fall Into This Trap?

* Fear and self-judgment: Expectations stem from our perceptions of reality, which are rooted in how we see ourselves.

The Consequences of Living in Expectation

• We anticipate failure or disappointment, reinforcing our belief that life is against us, and we opt out of experiences because we think we already know how they’ll turn out.

How Do We Break Free?

• Detachment is the key—letting go of rigid expectations and embracing experiences as lessons rather than judgments of our worth. With detachment, we get to view emotions as a response to reality, rather than a reaction to preconceived fears.

Some Housekeeping:

To support Badwater, consider using this link to purchase from our affiliate partner, North Spore. From liquid cultures to custom jar lids, they have provided me nearly all the tools I still use for growing mushrooms. They’re great quality, have super customer support (they’ve had a no-questions-asked policy whenever I have a random issue), and I think they are perfect for anyone getting into mushroom growing or who want to upgrade their DIY gear. All quality. This is the humidity tent that I use to grow my Lion’s Mane.

A Summary of this Mess of Research

Hericenones (Fruiting Body) vs. Erinacines (Mycelium)

Hericenones are found in the fruiting body and believed to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF).

Research suggests hericenones do not cross the blood-brain barrier in vivo, making their cognitive benefits uncertain.

Erinacines, found in the mycelium, have been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and directly promote NGF synthesis.

Erinacines appear to have stronger therapeutic potential for neuroprotection and cognitive health than hericenones.

Scientific Uncertainty and Conflicting Findings

Studies confirm Lion’s Mane fruiting bodies do have cognitive benefits, but often fail to identify the exact compounds responsible.

Some research supports mycelium-based supplements due to erinacines, while others show fruition body extracts are beneficial, but not necessarily due to hericenones.

The lack of consistent compound isolation makes it difficult to determine the most effective form of supplementation.

Challenges in Research and Industry Controversy

Many studies misinterpret or oversimplify findings, leading to misinformation about which compounds are effective.

The industry is split between:

Whole biomass (mycelium + substrate) advocates (e.g., Paul Stamets)

Fruiting body extract proponents who argue for alcohol or hot water extraction.

More research is needed to isolate and confirm which compounds provide the greatest cognitive and neuroprotective effects.

Here’s a break from cultivating mushrooms. This is a new series where I contemplate and discuss our shadows and our gifts, and how we accept and embrace each side of ourselves to create a more resilient and fulfilling life for ourselves.

Thanks for reading Badwater! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Thank you to North Spore for allowing us to be an affiliate partner. You can purchase super easy to grow substrate bags of Lion’s Mane, Shiitake, Oyster mushrooms, so on. This was how I first learned mushroom growing. Don’t cut the top of the bag off like I did!

You’d think that if you’ve grown one mushroom, you’ve grown them all. I was very lucky starting out because I pretty much fell into some of the easier-to-grow mushrooms like oysters and Lion’s Mane. Companies like North Spore list these two as their top sellers, not just because people like the taste, texture, or health benefits, but because they are relatively contamination-resistant and flexible enough to grow in different environments.