In the first half, guest host Rich Berra (email) welcomed modern mystic and best-selling author Theresa Cheung, who shared her insights on the significance of dreams. Cheung revealed her fascination with dreams originated in childhood within a family of psychics, admitting that she's "always been a vivid dreamer."
When discussing the structure and purpose of dreams, Cheung explained, "They are mostly symbolic... your unconscious intuition has noticed things during the day that matter for your growth." She urged listeners not to dismiss dreams as meaningless or irrelevant but to reflect on them as valuable messages from the self. "They are a little bit like an inbuilt therapist," she explained. "If you have a recurring dream, it's like tough love... Your dreaming mind is trying to get a point across to you."
Addressing a common dream for many about a partner's infidelity, Cheung encouraged exploration rather than panic. "Most of the time, you are dreaming about your own mindset... Look at what you're cheating yourself out of," she explained. Cheung urged individuals to view dreams through a creative lens: "Think of it as a poem that needs to be interpreted personally... Dreams do not lie, but they do challenge you."
Cheung asserted that dream work should be more integral within the educational system. "Children should be taught to understand their dreams... it could dramatically decrease crime and depression," she claimed. She also encouraged listeners to embrace their own intuitive powers, saying, "You are a mystery... and that needs to be explored and discovered."
As Cheung says, "Dreams are telling you all those things for you to discover for yourself."
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In the second half, David Samuels, the editor of County Highway, explored the rise of conspiracy theories in contemporary society and their detrimental effect on public trust. He pointed to the rumors swirling around during the COVID-19 pandemic as a prime example, remarking, "COVID did more to destroy public trust in institutions than any other single event of my lifetime."
Samuels highlighted the stark decline in society's trust in the media, mentioning it has plummeted from over 50% to a mere 22%. He also insisted on having a critical mindset in today's information-saturated world, stating, "You got to kind of question everything in this day and age."
The conversation touched on the origin of the term "conspiracy theory." Samuels explained that its roots are found in the Warren Commission report following President Kennedy's assassination. According to him, "This country is founded on a conspiracy theory," noting that the American revolution was sparked by the perceived tyranny of King George III.
Samuels also elaborated on the human tendency to connect patterns, saying that "our brains are pattern finding machines." He claimed this innate desire to make connections can lead to both meaningful understanding and the spread of unfounded beliefs. Samuels pointed out that with the advent of the digital revolution, the accessibility for anyone to share their thoughts creates a fertile ground for conspiracy theories to flourish. "I wonder if I just told you I was going to start a conspiracy theory, how quickly would it catch fire over the internet?" he pondered.