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Join me and my creative partner Ana for a chat and some laughs..  we share personal stories of immigration, identity formation, and cultural exchange. We discuss our experiences with creative writing, personal growth, and loss, highlighting the importance of empathy and mutual understanding. Siobhan and Ana also share our experiences with managing epilepsy, emphasizing the unique challenges of navigating a condition that is different for everyone. Through our conversations, we emphasized the value of seeking proper medical attention, open communication, and mutual support in fostering meaningful connections with others.

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Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.

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Summary/Time Stamps 

• Boston upbringing and punk scene with artist Dave Sweeney. 0:06
  • Dave Sweeney discusses his experience in the Boston punk scene and his art with host Siobhan.
  • Dave met Siobhan through mutual friends at a bar on the island.
  • Unknown Speaker grew up in Cohasset, Massachusetts, a blue-blooded town with summer cottages for wealthy captains of industry.
  • Speaker started gravitating towards Boston's South End, discovering live music at Sunday matinees in the Fort Point Channel area.
• Punk music scene in Boston in the 80s. 5:06
  • Unknown speaker describes how they got into punk rock music in Boston in the late 70s/early 80s, mentioning shows they attended and meeting other fans.
  • Unknown speaker recounts a memorable encounter with a police officer who was hostile towards them and their friends at an IHOP restaurant.
  • Unknown speaker reflects on their experience in Boston's punk scene in the 1980s, mentioning the hate towards goth and punk kids and how it was fueled by the Satanic Panic of the time.
  • The speaker notes that despite the negative attitudes towards them, most punks were normal and were using their appearance and behavior as a way to act out their frustrations.
• Race, class, and identity in Boston. 10:09
  • Siobhan grew up in Bromley Heath, a former housing project in Jamaica Plain, Boston, and now some of her childhood homes are worth millions of dollars.
  • Siobhan's father took her on a drive through South Boston and she didn't recognize half the buildings due to new construction and gentrification.
  • Siobhan shares her experience growing up in Boston and how she perceived the city's reputation for racism (30 words)
  • Unknown speaker reflects on their childhood in Boston and the racial dynamics in their neighborhood, including the Metco program and interactions with white suburban kids (30 words)
• Private school experiences and musical career. 14:49
  • Siobhan attended private schools in Boston, including St. Teresa's in West Roxbury and an all-girls private school in Newton.
  • Unknown speaker attended Fessenden School in Newton, a private school known for its strict environment and emphasis on discipline.
  • Unknown Speaker discusses their experience as a skinhead in the 1990s, mentioning their time in a ska band and their move to Minneapolis.
  • Unknown Speaker clarifies that being a skinhead has nothing to do with race, and is instead a style based on music and old punk and reggae culture.
• Skinhead culture and its evolution. 20:05
  • Siobhan and others reject the idea that skinheads are only working-class white British kids trying to emulate Jamaican style, noting that many were disaffected and felt economically disenfranchised.
  • The fashion resurged in the mid-1970s with the punk explosion, attracting easy fodder for white nationalist groups, leading to a more militarized look and scaring people.
  • Unknown Speaker reflects on their past association with Nazi skinheads, emphasizing the importance of anti-racism and the limitations of the skinhead subculture.
  • The speaker highlights the diversity of individuals within the skinhead scene, including lawyers, doctors, and engineers, while emphasizing the shared values of camaraderie and music.
• Marriage, moving to Los Angeles, and small-town life.&

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Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.

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This week Rory Shields join us for episode 2 of An Evening with Rory.  

Rory is never short of something to say, and this can be a safe place for him to get it off his chest. The last time we spoke, there was a little bit of a theme that was focused on how Rory got here and his experience From a young age he would read a lot of Sunday newspapers for content and was a sponge for information. He would watch carefully overseas politics. He has always been interested in the political structure, how it works and how it affects people. On these special edition of podcasts Rory and I will talk about his thoughts and opinions about current affairs and random thoughts. 

Summary/Time Stamps 

• The legend of the tree guy. 0:11
• The importance of listening to the numbers. 2:32
• A safe place to get your thoughts on politics. 4:41
• A universal social charge. 10:08
• California is a basket case in many respects. 15:13
• The geopolitical knock-on effects of a Trump presidency. 17:53
• Rudy Giuliani and Trump. 22:54
• Finding the right news sources. 28:20
• Polarization of the political landscape. 30:37
• Colombia is an amazing country. 33:30
• The cult leader is a cult leader. 39:34
• Trans bathrooms and accessibility. 42:58
• The submarine that exploded. 45:26
• Having a digital camera. 51:41
• How can we fix the political system? 56:15
• A cutthroat political environment. 1:01:30
• Is democracy really democracy? 1:04:55
• A note of optimism. 1:08:03
• Greyhound Racing and gambling. 1:14:48
• A wild story about a dog track. 1:18:17

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Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.

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Host of Ducking Realitea talks about why there have been a lack of episodes and what's to come. 

Summary

• What's up to the decking reality world? 0:19
• We are not alone when we go through hard things. 1:27
• Finding our joy and asking for help. 2:57
  • Join us in the duck reality world every Tuesday when new episodes drop and look for the social media and Patreon to follow.

Support the show

Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.

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This week I sit down with a Raymond Moore, musician and world traveler to talk about what it was like to move to Norway and raise a family. Our conversations covers the uncomfortable subject of racism and the difference between racisms in Norway compared to racism in the US. Raymond has continued to smile and spread love instead of hate. I hope this conversation helps inspire others to get to know themselves more and maybe look at the world a little different. A little more like Raymond. 

Check back for links to Raymond's music which will be dropping soon. 

Support the show

Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.

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Amos and I talk trees and he breaks down how we can help save our environment and ourselves by planting trees. 

https://www.100ktrees4humanity.com/

Summary/Time Stamps: 

• How did you get involved in trees? 0:00
  • Welcome to the duckling reality world.
  • Amos is passionate about trees.
  • Sugar maple in columbus, ohio.
  • The story of the first seedling.
• The story of the tornado tree. 3:08
  • The story of the tornado tree.
  • Trees have always been part of her life.
  • The hurricane in Puerto Rico.
  • Climate change is the single largest driver of capitalism.
• What is climate change like? 9:15
  • The number one killer in climate is urban heat.
  • The global strike for climate in 2019.
  • Climate change and climate anxiety.
  • Putting a tree in everyone's hand.
  • Dopamine and oxytocin have a motivational and healing effect.
  • One tree at a time, at scale.
• Rinse and repeat. 15:46
  • There is no planet B until 2032.
  • 100k trees for humanity, a neurobiological theory of change.
  • Cool phenomenon of volunteers getting halfway through a hole.
  • Dopamine effect.
  • Nothing is ever simple.
  • One tree at a time, one person, one tree.
• How many trees per person per day? 21:20
  • Scientists give us till 2030 to plant 1 trillion trees.
  • Trees per person per day.
  • The 80/20 rule in operation and why it happens.
  • West oakland and Fremont.
  • Climate emergency declaration in the city of alameda.
  • One new tree per capita resident.
• We have to center nature first. 27:28
  • We have to center nature first.
  • How standing rock got its name.
• Planting 100,000 trees per urban community. 29:32
  • Planting 100,000 trees per urban community.
  • Planting trees per 75,000 people.
  • 1200 trees a month, 1190 trees a week.
  • How many trees per hour.
• Why are you chasing philosophy when you already have the answer? 34:37
  • Government is not throwing money at climate change.
  • Climate anxiety is still on the rise.
  • Planting a tree is the most important thing to do now.
  • Trees provide ecosystem services.
  • Evapo transpiration and microclimates in the bay area.
  • The microclimate in the Bay area.
• Trees can lower temperatures by absorbing heat. 41:16
  • 400 gallons of water a day from ground water.
  • Latent heat and climate change.
  • Trees can lower urban heat temperatures 60 to 90 degrees.
  • Trees reduce air pollution.
• What do trees do for our health? 45:49
  • Trees are the most treat communities.
  • The wealthiest zip codes have better health indicators.
  • The ashland area has the highest teenage maternal mortality rate in the bay area.
  • Maternal mortality.
• This is an emergency for public health a

Support the show

Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.

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Dr. Alandi and I talk energy, vibrations and finding your truth.

Make an appointment or check her out online: https://www.chiropracticlifeforce.com
 and follow her on social media @dr.alandistec

Summary/Time Stamps: 

• Intro to the episode. 0:01
  • Welcome back to the pod.
  • Dr alain de stek is a chiropractor.
  • Eric Rubin and his own curiosities.
  • Christopher hareesh wallace, nissimharmon and nikhara.
• Quantum physics and energy. 5:11
  • Belief in energy and quantum physics.
  • Quantum physics and quantum medicine.
  • Energy is the foundation of reality.
  • Quantum physics gives us the window to conceptualize energy.
• What Is a sound plate? 8:23
  • Visualizing the sound plate in yoga.
  • The sri yantra, the visual pattern of all reality.
  • Different spiritual practices, including yoga and chanting.
  • The first macroscopic level of the body.
  • Tone is the language of the body.
  • Mantra science and how it relates to tone.
• How can we quantify higher and lower vibration? 14:09
  • The study on water and its crystallization patterns.
  • How to quantify higher and lower vibration.
  • Getting stronger in mind gets stronger in body.
  • Biology is a feedback mechanism for the universe.
• Death is the ultimate point of a loss. 20:25
  • Seeing a dead body for the first time.
  • Death is removed from our life.
  • Death is the ultimate point of a loss.
  • Biohacking and the alternative approach to life.
• Finding the balance between health and quality of life. 24:30
  • Finding the balance of health and joy.
  • Pablo Picasso, learn the rules.
  • The black and white rule.
  • Finding the balance between daily practices and personal life.
• How to tune into your energy system. 28:39
  • Tune into the constructive force nature of a thing.
  • Checking in on nourishing and energy-rich.
  • Formal practices that have become staples in her life.
  • Crossfit and movement practices.
• The body needs more feedback. 32:41
  • Stagnation is an indicator that the body needs more feedback.
  • The importance of a daily ritual.
  • The one pranic revolution of the body.
  • The 24-minute meditation practice.
• Open meditation and meditation practice. 36:56
  • Open meditation and crossfit in the morning.
  • Crossfit as many rounds as possible.
  • Pour into yourself first and then give out.
  • Practice what you preach.
  • The joy is in the consciousness.
  • It takes one to know one.
• How to help people understand why they should be curious. 44:33
  • Why 24 minutes is a good way to help people understand.
  • The importance of being present.
  • How curiosity has helped change her whole life.
  • The invitation to get

Support the show

Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.

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This week my friend Mel and I have some champagne and talk about life growing up in a religious school, owning a restaurant and being in the booze business. 

Summary/Time Stamps: 

• Getting used to the self-promotion stuff. 0:11
  • Getting used to self-promotion and putting yourself out there.
  • Melanie's first podcast, her favorite podcast.
• My favorite podcast. 2:19
  • My favorite murder podcast and trash podcast.
  • Bad first dates, bad dates.
• Alameda’s unique culture and culture. 4:47
  • Growing up in alameda and growing up in a christian bubble.
  • Alameda pride is strong.
  • Going to catholic school, no dances or formal events.
  • Getting in trouble for rolling up her skirt.
• Not all public schools are created equal. 9:54
  • Not all public schools are great.
  • Going to alameda high and college.
• Where did you go to school in Stockton? 12:47
  • Going to school in stockton, pacific pacific
  • Religion and education in the state.
  • The generational gap between right wing and bible thumpers.
  • Religion is weird, religion is weird.
• Some of these people are just as crazy now as they were when I first met them. 17:53
  • Some people are still crazy now.
  • The abortion debate and birth control.
• Why did you go to college? 20:29
  • Why he went to college and what he learned.
  • Starting his own company.
  • Bartending at zs and mcgraths.
  • Moved to kelly's bar in alameda,aii.
• How American Oak got its start. 25:33
  • Moving from Barcelona to american oak.
  • How American oak got its first name.
  • How martin got into the alcohol industry.
  • The evolution of forbidden island.
• Have you ever been to Tiki Bar? 30:34
  • American oak during pandemic time.
  • American oak in December 2012, reopening after fire.
• Do you have suspicions on who started the fire? 33:28
  • Suspicions on who started the fire.
  • The worst of it was a bookcase fire.
  • Trying to make molotov cocktails with restaurant linens.
  • Hired a GM for a while.
• What is the shelf life of a restaurant and how long does it have? 38:43
  • Restaurants shelf life is 10 years.
  • Working for Young's forced deeper product knowledge.
  • Favorite spirit company, spirit bomb.
  • Favorite spirits company, st george.
• The tasting room at Young’s. 42:42
  • Tasting room at st george distillery.
  • Working for a distiller.
  • The importance of having a good manager.
  • Looking for a job in young's market.
• What’s the difference between working for a larger company and a smaller company?

Support the show

Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.

Send us Fan Mail

This week I sit down with Raul and talk about myself. It isn’t the direction I thought the episode would go but it was the direction it needed. We recorded this just days after losing someone very close to me. I found him and had to explain to his family that he’s no longer with us, so we talk about grief and tragedy and a little bit more about my story and where I come from. So enjoy this raw vulnerable and slightly angry episode and get to know me a little better. 

Summary/Time Stamps: 

• Introduction to this week's episode. 0:04
  • Welcome to this week's episode of jacking reality.
  • Loss of john wilkie.
• What happens when you lose someone you care about and people want to make it about them. 2:01
  • The speculation and speculation surrounding the death of her husband.
  • People who make it about them.
  • Being sensitive and supportive to those who are suffering.
  • The one thing she'll never understand.
  • Taking a moment to say to that person what they need.
  • Grief is hard and hard.
• My life is marked with tragedy. 9:06
  • Tragedy is what marks all of her timestamps.
  • Tragic events in her life.
  • The impact of the death of her mother.
  • The fallout from her mother's death.
• How he coped with his grandfather’s death as a kid. 12:26
  • Uncle bob was not well.
  • Grandfather died on Thanksgiving morning.
  • Being part of a family with four sisters.
  • Being the weird kid in the closet.
  • Being curious about how people fit in.
  • How she dealt with her grandfather passing.
• What it was like to be 12 to be told “you can’t know this”. 18:59
  • Being told no and being told no.
  • How anna reacted to her aunt's death.
  • The gift of life being too short.
  • The first funeral he attended.
• What else do you not know about your family? 22:53
  • Tragedy and tragedy in the family.
  • The story of how uncle joe showed up in Jamaica.
  • Uncle joe's last name was never discussed.
  • Grieving the loss of his grandfather.
• How to deal with the loss. 28:00
  • Holding on to the what is.
  • Keeping him at arm's length.
  • Waves of grief are at times untenable.
  • The tools she has developed to deal with grief.
• The skills he’s learned from losing so many family members. 32:58
  • Losing three siblings in less than a year.
  • Best friend's dad died in high school.
• The blessing of having a big family. 35:21
  • The blessing of having a huge family.
  • How 40 years of loss has changed her perspective.
  • The gift of being a people pleaser.
  • The loss of her ex-husband.
• When you know you’re the shit right now. 40:32
  • Fear of letting her light shine.
  • Finding her joy and finding her passion.
• Do you have to be the center of attention to have your light shin

Support the show

Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.

Send us Fan Mail

This week I’m on location! Home Connie and Michael and birthplace of The Menagerie. We talk about how and why they started The Menagerie and Connie shares just how close we were to loosing her. Lucky for all of us her badassery and the love of a good man has kept her healthy and thriving! This is a short one and both will be back for longer more in-depth convo about all things peculiar and odd. Enjoy and hope to see many of you at World Goth day this Saturday May 6 in Vallejo !!!

Summary/Time Stamps: 

• Welcome to the Menagerie. 0:09
  • Ginger shots with a wind chaser.
  • The start of the menagerie.
• Is it still fun getting 40 events a year? 2:35
  • Growing from california to all over the state.
  • The menagerie is always evolving.
  • Legacy events are fun because people plan on going.
  • World golf day is a marketing partnership.
• Gothic subculture is an untapped market. 8:35
  • The gothic subculture is an untapped market.
  • The community is growing and growing.
  • Working with local producers to promote and put on shows.
  • Pop-ups outside of the area this year.
  • Getting out of alameda and finding a bigger venue.
  • First event in san francisco this year.
• What’s coming up at the San Francisco Mint. 15:16
  • San francisco mint and terror vault event details.
  • How to choose one thing to be good at.
  • Finding mentors and meeting people in the strangest places.
  • Becoming one of the top artists.
• The first two markets were highly curated. The third market had to be postponed twice before it was ready. 21:30
  • Security to market. First two markets were highly curated.
  • Covid hit first three markets.
  • Getting back to curating the market in 2022.
  • The menagerie makes her so good.
• What she used to do for World Golf Championship. 26:13
  • Doing everything for the last four years.
  • Being an accountant for 30 years.
  • Aortic dissection is a widowmaker.
  • 90% of people with an aortic emergency do not survive.
• How the menagerie changed her life. 30:34
  • The grieving process of being diagnosed with agoraphobia.
  • The fear of leaving the house.
  • Five years of the menagerie has changed her life.
  • Working for yourself is challenging.
• How did you know what was going on? 35:13
  • How she knew she was having a heart attack.
  • How she got to alameda hospital.
  • Aortic dissection at Stanford and UCSF.
  • Aorta dissection and aortic surgery.
• The only way to tell if someone’s having an aneurysm, rupture or dissection is through imaging. 41:19
  • Depeche mode and Alan Thicke died from dissection.
  • The importance of regular scans.
  • Double barrel dissection of the aorta.
  • Exercises and blood pressure.
• The only other option is to wallow. 46:34
  • Connie feels bad fo

Support the show

Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.