Chiwi Journal

You once asked me: Are you still searching for home?

In this episode, I try to answer you.

It’s not a guidebook to Lisbon.

It’s a voice memo from a night tram.

A letter from a café table.

A footnote scrawled under a fado song.

If you’ve ever felt like an outsider, or longed for a place that doesn’t quite exist — maybe, like me, you’ll find something in this city that gently holds your questions, without rushing to answer them.

In this episode, we welcome Alyssa Phelps, an artist and former professional in international trade research and taxation. Currently based at the Network School, Alyssa shares her passion for women's health, sustainable fashion, and creative arts, including her journey into tufted art and silversmithing.

Topics Covered:

1. Women's Health and Period Products:

- Alyssa's personal journey into investigating the safety of period products.

- Key findings on harmful substances in period products, including PFAS, dioxins, and heavy metals.

- Discussion on the lack of mandatory safety tests in the industry.

- Suggestions for safer product choices and the importance of consumer education.

2. The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion:

- How fast fashion contributes to environmental harm through overproduction and poor-quality materials.

- Alyssa's thoughts on the addictive nature of platforms like Shein and their negative impact on personal and environmental health.

3. The Value of Secondhand Clothing:

- Benefits of thrifting: uniqueness, quality, and environmental sustainability.

- Overcoming stereotypes around hygiene and secondhand shopping.

- Tips for finding secondhand treasures and repurposing vintage items creatively.

4. Creative Pursuits and Sustainability in Art:

- Alyssa's process for creating a tufted snake vase, inspired by Vietnamese artist Shishi San.

- The role of art in sustainability and self-expression.

5. Fashion Evolution and Personal Style:

- How to develop personal style using tools like Pinterest and mood boards.

- The importance of quality over quantity in curating a wardrobe.

6. The Broader Impact of Sustainability:

- Insights into the need for a systemic change in both fashion and women's health industries.

- The role of informed consumers and creative thinkers in shaping a more sustainable future.

Resources Mentioned:

Alyssa will soon be sharing content on sustainable style, thrifting tips, and identifying quality garments. Stay tuned for her website link, which will be added to this page as it becomes available.

In this conversation, Björn Öeste discusses the Darksun.is project, an AI agent designed to explore esoteric knowledge and connect disparate ideas. The project includes a meme coin and aims to enrich the marketplace of ideas by uncovering suppressed knowledge.

Björn Öeste shared the significance of the #binary meme, the role of the AI agent Holmes, and the importance of community engagement through gamification content. He also touches on decentralized archaeology and the collaborative nature of the project, highlighting the team's dynamics and future plans.

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:

INTRO

My guests today are Mili and Neter, my classmates from the Network School. In this episode, we reflect on our experiences so far, dive into some exciting ideas from our lectures and discussions, and share our personal journeys in crypto and beyond. Whether you're curious about the Network School or the future of decentralised living, this episode has something for you.

WE DISCUSSED:

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:

Intro

My guests today are Berkeley Wanner and Sterlin Lujan. In this episode, we discussed their journeys into cryptocurrency, the influence of Balaji's ideas, and their experiences within the Network School.

Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Network School and Guests

02:50 Philosophical Foundations of Cryptocurrency

06:39 Experiences with Balaji's Ideas

10:07 Application Process for Network School

13:49 Daily Life and Structure at Network School

34:47 Expectations and Future of Network School

39:57 Advice for Future Network Schoolers

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My guest today is Jack Connor, a linguist, programmer, and author who speaks more than seven languages and has built various AI language technologies. In 2023, Jack launched a project to preserve endangered languages, believing that losing a language means losing an entire culture. Outside of his work, Jack is also a semi-professional skateboarder and has lived in ten countries.

TIMELINE

00:57 Introduction to Language Preservation and LLMs

03:23 The Importance of Navajo Language and Its History

05:58 The Arctic World Archive and Language Storage

08:28 Cultural Significance of Language Preservation

11:15 AI's Role in Language Preservation and Revitalization

13:43 Challenges in Preserving Living Languages

16:32 Traditional vs. Modern Methods of Language Preservation

21:16 Preserving Languages Through Technology

22:22 Working with Native Speakers for Accuracy

23:46 The Importance of Quality Assurance in AI

25:14 The Risks of Machine-Generated Content

25:49 Language Diversity and Dialects

27:42 The Complexity of Language Classification

29:28 Cultural Exchange and Language Learning

30:53 Skateboarding and Language Preservation

33:50 Self-Motivation in Learning Languages

36:01 Experiencing Culture Through Language

37:57 Global Trends in Language Extinction

41:13 Cultural Connections Through Language

42:42 Preserving Endangered Languages

48:52 The Role of Fellowships in Language Projects

53:45 Language Learning and Cultural Immersion

56:01 Linguistic Determinism in Sci-Fi

58:57 Future of Language Preservation and AI's Expanding Role

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My guest today is MJDorian, the host of one of my favourite shows Creative Codex. He is also an artist and composer.

In today’s episode, we talked about…

Resources Highlighted in This Episode

In May this year, in Manchester, I witnessed an aurora reminiscent of angels descending to earth. Later, I came across trending news on X about a blue meteor appearing in Portugal. Coupled with constantly seeing fractal geometries in purple, gold, and green during breathwork sessions, and Buddhist mandala patterns, I've been in a dreamlike state, prompting me to ask myself deeply: What exactly is our universe up to?

During a recent breathwork session, I suddenly saw my Huachuma (San Pedro) guide playing the flute in the valley, calling me back into the embrace of one of Peru's most sacred plants. So, I immediately booked a train ticket and headed to The Lighthouse Retreat to seek guidance and find clarity.

The past four days in the remote mountains of Portugal felt like I've lived millions of years, experiencing the joys and sorrows of everything... I wanted to record my thoughts and feelings, but I realised the limitations of written words. So, I'll leave these scattered notes here, in the hope that if you happen to stumble upon this piece, you can personally experience this natural gift and interpret the messages that Huachuma communicates through your own bodily sensations.

Books/links mentioned in this episode:

The written article of this piece can be found on Chiwi Journal Substack

Based on the advice of an online mentor who suggests exploring influential books called 'earthquake books'—those that can significantly shake and impact our perspectives—one such powerful book is the profound works of Carl Jung.

As I explore Jung's works, certain sections of his books have left a lasting mark on how I perceive things, resonating deeply with my journey. So I recorded this episode to share my learnings.

Books/articles mentioned in this episode:

“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”

- Carl Jung

My guest today is Liv Wang, a renowned Premier League journalist with a massive following of millions. I've been a follower of Liv's work for quite some time now, admiring her unique content creation and interviewing style with Premier League footballers.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Liv in person during my visit to Manchester. Needless to say, it was an enlightening experience. So get ready for an insightful conversation about her journey, experiences, and perspectives in the world of football journalism.

In today’s episode, we talked about…

Links mentioned in this episode