Finneran's Wake

Neema Naz is a comedian, an actor, and the creator of The Estupid Club and NeemaNazTV. 

This conversation–my first with a REAL, card-carrying comedian–was an absolute delight! 

Of course, if you’re among his quarter-million followers on Instagram, this will come as no surprise; Neema is not only an immensely talented actor, but a refreshingly candid person. 

In this episode, Neema and I discuss: 

His origin story; the role of his parents (who immigrated to Canada from Iran) in his life; beginning and sustaining a successful business with his brother; the advantages of standing astride two cultures; growing up in Toronto; growing out and cutting his hair; his comedic role models; his education and training as an actor; the benefits to his “brand”, and the detriments to his health, of being “bigger-boned”; the hostility of the age to comedy and free speech; censorship online; his impressions; the feeling of seeing his name on a marquee; his ambitious plans for the future; and MORE! 

Links to Neema’s Stuff: 

Website: https://www.neemanaz.com/
Check this link for tour dates! 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neemanaz/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NeemaNaz

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Links to my Stuff: 

Website: finneranswake.com

Instagram (where I post shorts and occasional shirtless videos): https://www.instagram.com/danielethanfinneran/

YouTube: @finneranswake

MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION, AND SLEEP AID CHANNEL: PNEUMA BY DANIEL FINNERAN

For those of you in need of mindfulness meditations, sleep stories, or just a nice, soothing voice, visit my sister project, Pneuma By Daniel Finneran (available on all podcast streaming services). 

Pneuma By Daniel Finneran: pneumameditations.com

YouTube: @pneumabydanielfinneran 

#comedy #conversation #talkshow #interview 

Edward Larson is a lawyer, historian, professor, and Pulitzer-Prize winning author. 

A distinguished professor at Pepperdine University, his most recent work, American Inheritance explores the tension between liberty and slavery in America’s founding era. 

In this episode, Professor Larson and I discuss: 

The importance of April 19th, the day on which the American Revolution formally began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord; The reasons why the American Revolutionary War was fought; If we’re deserving of our inheritance of freedom; The merits of the NYT’s 1619 Project; Did the colonists revolt in order to preserve the institution of slavery?; George Washington’s pear-shaped body; Benjamin Franklin’s swimming routine; The Boston Massacre; Crispus Attucks; John Adams; The use of Propaganda–from the Founding up through the modern day; The Constitution–should we like it? Dislike it? The Scopes Monkey Trial; Transgenderism, Climate Change, and abortion: The great Scientific-Moral debates of our age…

And MUCH more! 

Links to Professor Larson’s stuff: 

His latest: American Inheritance: Liberty and Slavery in the Birth of a Nation, 1765-1795: Larson, Edward J.: 9780393882209: Amazon.com: Books

His Pulitzer-Prize winning book about the Scopes Trial: Amazon.com: Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate over Science and Religion (Audible Audio Edition): Edward J. Larson, Brian Troxell, Hachette Audio: Audible Books & Originals

His excellent work on George Washington: Amazon.com: The Return of George Washington: 1783-1789: 9780062248671: Larson, Edward J.: Books

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Links to my Stuff: 

Website: finneranswake.com

Instagram (where I post shorts and occasional shirtless videos): https://www.instagram.com/danielethanfinneran/

YouTube: @finneranswake

MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION, AND SLEEP AID CHANNEL: PNEUMA BY DANIEL FINNERAN

For those of you in need of mindfulness meditations, sleep stories, or just a nice, soothing voice, visit my sister project, Pneuma By Daniel Finneran (available on all podcast streaming services). 

Pneuma By Daniel Finneran: pneumameditations.com

YouTube: @pneumabydanielfinneran 

In this inaugural episode of “Finn and Flood” (a segment focused on vitality, fitness, and wellbeing!), I sit down with my good pal, James Flood! 

Aside from being an all-around swell (*swole*) guy and a dear friend, James is one of the most knowledgeable trainers I know, with many years of experience in the gym upon which he never hesitates to draw.

In this episode, James pulls back the curtain to reveal a bit about his past; how he discovered wellness and fitness; who his inspirations are; his current approach to strength training; his diet. 

As always, my technological ineptitude is on display!--for which I apologize. This was our first attempt at recording, for which, in the future, we’ll set an earlier hour when there’s more light. 

Search “Finneran’s Wake” on any podcast streaming platform for the audio version of this episode.  

Check out shorts on my IG page: DanielEthanFinneran

Check out my sister channel, @pneumabydanielfinneran, whose podcast just surpassed 50k downloads! 

On that channel, I have a meditation for every occasion. 

With affection,

Daniel

Marty Gallagher is an author, powerlifter, trainer, and coach. 

Bearing nicknames such as the “Iron Monk”, the “Carefree Psychotic”, and the “Hibernian Hulk” (okay…I just made that last one up!) Marty is one of those rare specimens around whom legends are formed. 

A champion powerlifter before the age of twenty, Marty has spent the entirety of his career (spanning over five decades) improving his technique, refining his philosophy, teaching the fundamentals, and making everyone around him not only dramatically stronger, but significantly smarter. 

He is the author of The Purposeful Primitive (available for purchase on Amazon) as well as thousands of excellent articles on a variety of themes. 

In this episode, we discuss: 

How one becomes an “Iron Monk”; Willful disengagement from society, If we should all detach from our (debased) culture; The shortcomings of the “modern man”; Dostoyevsky and Russian literature; Memories of Arkansas and home-style cooking; His daily routine; Strength training only once per week; How to become stronger; Radical physical transformation; The four tenets of fitness; Mindfulness at the gym; The creative writing process; Training elite, “Tier 1” American soldiers, and MUCH more! 

Marty’s Stuff: 

You can purchase Marty’s book, “The Purposeful Primitive” through this link: 

https://www.amazon.com/Purposeful-Primitive-Primordial-Inevitable-Dramatic/dp/0938045717/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VPG05L5REHHZ&keywords=marty+gallagher&qid=1682648363&sprefix=marty+gall%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-1

You can visit his website Iron Company, on which he has a column entitled “Raw with Marty Gallagher”: 

https://www.ironcompany.com/blog/category/raw?page=2 

As you might’ve guessed, Marty abstains from all social media! (an abstention we might all do well to imitate)

With that said…

I shamelessly link to my stuff! 

Finneranswake.com

Instagram: DanielEthanFinneran (follow me here to see shorts of these long conversations)

Twitter: DanielEFinneran

Also…

Feeling stressed? Having difficulty sleeping? 

Check out my NEW mindfulness, wellness, meditation, & sleep aid channel, PNEUMA by Daniel Finneran: 

@pneumabydanielfinneran

Please–subscribe to Pneuma’s Youtube and Spotify channels: 

Pneumameditations.com

With your help, we can watch these projects grow! 

With affection,

Daniel

Noah Charney is an art historian, lecturer, author, and expert on art thievery. 

His latest book, The 12-Hour Art Expert, is the perfect entree for the layperson (like me!) who’s interested in learning more about art, but doesn’t quite know where to begin. It’s scholarly, but not abstruse; simple, but not condescending; thorough, but not tedious. 

Oh–and its pictures are absolutely stunning! 

Read this book, and you’ll be able to walk into any art museum with a breadth of knowledge and a newfound confidence with which to impress not only yourself, but your (less) cultured  friends! 

In this episode, Noah and I discuss: 

Whether or not our current age still values art; (if not), if we’ve become outright hostile to art; the role of Beauty in society; If we can arrive at freedom through beauty; The (three) Transcendentals: Truth, Beauty, and Goodness; Which of the three is most important; Do we have an innate understanding of great art, or do we need to be educated to grasp it; Slowing down to appreciate art in a society that prioritizes quick clips on Social Media; Mindfulness in art; Art and cinema; The Golden Age of art; Art thievery through history; The Mystic Lamb; The piece of art that overwhelmed Noah; 

And MUCH more!

Links to Noah’s Stuff: 

His latest: The 12-Hour Art Expert: Everything You Need to Know about Art in a Dozen Masterpieces: Charney, Noah: 9781538156599: Amazon.com: Books

His novel: Amazon.com: The Art Thief (Audible Audio Edition): Noah Charney, Simon Vance, Blackstone Audio, Inc.: Audible Books & Originals

Instagram: 

Links to my Stuff: 

Finneranswake.com

Instagram: DanielEFinneran (follow me here to see shorts)

Also…

Feeling stressed? Having difficulty sleeping? 

Check out my NEW mindfulness, wellness, meditation, & sleep aid channel, PNEUMA by Daniel Finneran: 

@pneumabydanielfinneran

Please–subscribe to Pneuma’s Youtube and Spotify channels: 

Pneumameditations.com

With your help, we can watch these projects grow! 

With affection,

Daniel

Evan Mandery is a professor, lawyer, (former standup comedian!) and the author of eight books. 

His latest work, Poison Ivy: How Elite Colleges Divide Us is available for purchase at all reputable (and even some disreputable) booksellers. I highly recommend you go out and pick up a copy of this important book.  

Evan is one of those rare polymathic types from whom you can learn just about anything. An expert on capital punishment, he can easily expound on law, fiction writing, comedy, mindfulness, running, higher education, poker, and politics. 

From this episode you’ll learn…

Evan’s definition of a UNIVERSITY, and whether or not it is, in its current state, still identifiable with that definition; the benefits of AFFIRMATIVE ACTION; how wasteful most college sports teams really are; why we should loathe lacrosse; the problem with LEGACY admissions; what’s going on with administrative bloat; what to do about CANCEL CULTURE on campus; if Donald Trump’s indictment is serious; if the ex-president will go to jail?; how to write a work of fiction; how to survive as a Classical Liberal in WOKE academia; how elite universities exacerbate INEQUALITY in America; if the Ivy League Brand has lost its appeal; if Stanford has permanently sullied its reputation…

And MUCH more! 

Evan’s Stuff: 

You can purchase Evan’s latest book, Poison Ivy here: 

https://www.amazon.com/Poison-Ivy-Elite-Colleges-Divide/dp/1620976951/ref=sr_1_1?crid=B7TFTWLZR9NR&keywords=evan+mandery&qid=1680575445&sprefix=evan+mandery%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-1. 

You can visit Evan at his website: 

http://evanmandery.com/

Or on Twitter at: 

@EvanMandery

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My Stuff: 

Visit my website at finneranswake.com. 

You can listen to the audio version of this episode on every podcast streaming service.

Visit my WELLNESS/MEDITATION project, Pneuma by Daniel Finneran: 

Pneumameditations.com 

Cheers! 

Eric Lager is an academic and entrepreneur who lives and teaches in South Carolina. 

A native of Illinois, Professor Lager obtained his Ph.D in antebellum American History from the University of Tennessee. He currently lectures at The Citadel–that famous Charleston military academy from which so many valiant rebels took their degrees! 

When outside the classroom, Professor Lager spends his time, well, outside! He is the founder and operator of a burgeoning little business, “Charleston History Walk, LLC”, to which you can find a link below. 

Combining a professional academic’s subject mastery, and a Chicagoan-turned-South Carolinian’s natural affability, Professor Lager offers a unique walking tour through one of America’s most important and beautiful cities. 

From this episode, you’ll learn…

Why, of all places, hostilities broke out at Fort Sumter; Who shot first: The North or the South?; The forgotten “Star of the West”; The lead-up to the Civil War; The “Lame Duck” presidency of James Buchanan; Whether or not Buchanan did enough to prevent war in the winter of 1861; The political battles in which America was engulfed during the first half of the 19th century: The Missouri Compromise, the Kansas Nebraska Act, Dred Scott, etc.; A brief history of South Carolina; Why South Carolina is so historically naughty!; Nullification and secession; John Calhoun, Preston Brooks, and much more! 

Professor Lager’s “Charleston History Walk” link: 

https://charlestonhistorywalk.com/

Next time you’re visiting Charleston, SC, be sure to register for one of his tours! 

Be sure to “like” this video, share it with a fellow history-lover, and subscribe to this channel, my most esteemed friend! 

Visit me at finneranswake.com where you can read my articles and send me a note at [email protected]

In need of relaxation? Looking to start a meditation practice? 

Check out my sister project, Pneuma by Daniel Finneran

My latest video is entitled, “How to Keep Calm in a Crazy World”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6RCvBM-ac0

Subscribe to it for more sleep stories, meditations, wellness, and mindfulness.

Cheers! 

Jason Stephenson is the founder and host of the wildly popular YouTube channel, “Jason Stephenson: Sleep Meditation Music” to which some 3 million people (and counting!) are subscribed. 

Since joining the platform in 2011, Jason’s videos on sleep, mindfulness, meditation, music, nature, life, and breathing have amassed over 700 million views–a number to which I’m honored to say I’ve contributed!

In this conversation, Jason and I discuss…

His tumultuous background and how it led him to a life devoted to wellness; quitting his job in order to pursue his true passion; the prodigious growth of his YouTube channel; becoming a full-time “content creator”; how he formulates ideas and approaches the writing process; his diet, consumption of caffeine, and daily/nightly regimen; the importance of community; the role of religion; his atheistic upbringing; his experience in a Buddhist temple and a Christian Church; life in Australia; the epidemic of anxiety and depression in the West; his advice to young YouTubers beginning their journey, and MUCH more! 

Links to Jason’s stuff: 

Website:
https://www.jasonstephenson.net/lp/sleep-meditation/free-sleep-meditation

Enter your email address and receive a mindfulness MP3! 

YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@jasonstephensonmeditation

Jason’s other YouTube channels: 
https://www.youtube.com/@jasonstephensonmeditation/channels

Links to my stuff: 

Finneranswake.com 

Listen to this and all episodes of Finneran’s Wake on your favorite podcast streaming service: 
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/74eUg83Q8zOgaRA5EBuzyl?si=871b6aa8082146af. 
Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finnerans-wake/id1560923796. 

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Visit my sister project at Pneumameditations.com

For Sleep Stories
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx_8UKeM6leybSC3ZgKsh9A

Or, check out the podcast for mindfulness exercises and calming talks: 
https://open.spotify.com/show/6b9DBhemWHvEy0wiiBHwYo?si=05b5fc8e12a84050

Please, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send me a message (to which, I assure you, I’ll promptly respond!) 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080972774597
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielethanfinneran/
Twitter: @DanielEFinneran

Email me at [email protected] 

#conversation #sleep #meditation #wellness 

My dad joins me to discuss Nikki Haley's announcement to run for President, John Fetterman's second admission to the hospital, and the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. 

On a bright, sunny February day, a couple of curious Montanans happened to look up and notice a peculiar flying object. 

At a slow, leisurely pace, what appeared to be a massive balloon was traversing their picturesque and boundless sky. 

Word started to get around that it might belong to a hostile actor. 

Only then did the Biden administration announce that, with a high level of confidence, this was no ordinary balloon, but a special SPY balloon deployed by the Chinese government. 

Did it proceed to intercept the balloon? To shoot it down? To seek redress from the CCP? To send our own balloon above the city of Wuhan in response?  

No. 

The balloon simply carried on its way, drifting with perfect nonchalance to the coast of South Carolina. 

Why did the CCP do this? 

And what exactly is our government doing? 

Please, if you have answers, comment below.