Impostors Anonymous

Brandon embarks on another solo episode to reflect on what can be learned from the quintessential "starving artist", Vincent Van Gogh, as well as what lessons have typified another year of life in the books. Various other topics are explored including what it means to mature, being selective about those you spend the most time with, radical empathy, and many more.

Zez joins IA to discuss the state of comedy and creativity in an increasingly complicated world. In a more light-hearted conversation, a range of topics come to the forefront including:

- the importance of comedic context

- can something be both funny and offensive?

- the problem with preference falsification

- the ever-changing rules of engagement in comedy

- how the "counter-culture" has shifted politically

- dealing with subjectivity and judgment as a creator

- will time make bigots out of all of us?

- reflections on the blurring racial lines

- how "cancel culture" and freedom of speech continue to evolve

and many more!

Notable mentions:

A German museum that deglorifies racist/oppressive statues

For more from Zez, check out his great new podcast, What's on Your Feed?

Brandon embarks on a third solo episode to reflect on the passing of U.S. Independence Day and explore the role of bittersweet moments in our daily lives. These reflections lead to various lines of inquiry including:

- reevaluating pride of all forms

- what the US represents at this point in it's history

- why immigrants have a different relationship to their country

- why we reliably choose sweet despite the inevitability bitter

- what to do in the face of the infinite abyss of "sweetness"

- is reframing actually useful in the long term?

- does Zen Buddhism offer a true alternative?

and many more!

If you've found this project valuable, check out the primary extension of Impostors Anonymous at impostorsanonymous.substack.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter! There you'll find supplemental content and can even submit your own work to be shared, anonymously of course, with the AI community!

For more from IA check out our new pages on Instagram and Twitter @impostorsanon!

Alejandro joins the show to discuss some potentially troubling trends in the US political climate and what can be learned from a comparative look at other nations. This conversation is centered around political polarization, the unchecked expansion of politics into our daily lives, and changing attitudes towards wealth creation and socialism. Discussion of these trends leads to an inspection of a range of related topics including:

- the growing barriers to being "moderate"

- what has bred turmoil and instability in Venezuela

- the signs of an unhealthy and divisive political environment

- why socialism tends to inspire the youth

- growing extremism and political intolerance in Spain

- avoiding the idealization of European social programs and healthcare

- what makes the "Scandinavian model" work

- projecting the future of US politics, Biden-era and beyond

and many more!

If you've found this project valuable, check out the primary extension of Impostors Anonymous at impostorsanonymous.substack.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter! There you'll find supplemental content and can even submit your own work to be shared, anonymously of course, with the IA community.

For more from IA, check on our new Instragram and Twitter pages @impostorsanon!

Shawn joins IA to share some insights from the tipping point he reached in 2020 after years of overcompensating, self-doubt, and burning the candle at both ends. This leads to a deep dive on biohacking, reframing, and the pitfalls of chasing material success, as well as a discussion of various related topics including:

- why the external is never enough

- the correlation between entrepreneurship and loneliness

- how plant medicine enables reframing

- the dangers of binary thinking

- the pseudoscience of scientific fact/proof

- optimizing health without pathology and obsession

- why envy is fundamentally misguided

- the primacy of giving yourself grace

- the most useful bio-hacks you probably don't know about

and many more!

Notable mentions:

Independent analysis on supplements and nutrition - examine.com

Health & wellness resources (Instagram):

@thomasdelauer

@bpakfitness

@bengreenfieldfitness

@biocurious_kayla

@melanieavalon

@theketologist

Dihydroberberine supplement

More info on sleep tape

A brief intro to cold therapy

Mariana joins AI to discuss the unhappy marriage of impostors syndrome and creative work. Her insights about the universal struggle of self-doubt and being helplessly tied to the judgment of others leads to a conversation surrounding various topics including:

- importance of leaving space for randomness in life

- beautiful vs interesting

- why niches still matter

- the imbalance of empathy between the US and the rest of the world

- filtering through the noise of modern technology

- choosing comedy over tragedy

and many more!

If you've found this project valuable, check out the primary extension of Impostors Anonymous at impostorsanonymous.substack.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter! There you'll find supplemental content and can even submit your own work to be shared, anonymously of course, with the IA community.

For more from IA, check on our new Instagram and Twitter pages @impostorsanon!

Jesse joins the show to share his distinctive journey through success, insecurity, and transformation. Along the way, the power of plant medicine and service come into focus, as well as a range of other topics including:

- why there's never been a better time to be alive

- why the most profound lessons are often simple

- keeping the ego in its place

- overcoming the weight childhood trauma

- fear of abandonment and rejection

- impostor syndrome and overcompensating with hyperactivity

- avoiding survivor's guilt

- what to consider before exploring plant medicine

and many more!

If you're interested in finding a plant medicine retreat or just learning more about the topic in general, reach out to Jesse at [email protected].

If you've found this project valuable, check out the primary extension of Impostors Anonymous at impostorsanonymous.substack.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter! There you'll find supplemental content and can even submit your own work to be shared, anonymously of course, with the IA community.

For more from IA, check on our new Instagram and Twitter pages @impostorsanon!

Brandon revisits the solo format to examine the most common sources of meaning and purpose in life, as well as what might exist beyond these elements. For better or worse, it seems as though a sense of purpose is a necessary ingredient for a fulfilling life. That said, many who live less traditional lives are finding deep meaning more and more elusive. This episode attempts to traverse the landscape of purpose and offer a brief glimpse of what a new perspective might bring to it.

*We had some technical issues with the original audio upload for this episode, so we've updated the episode and resolved the problems. Thanks for your patience!

If you've found this project valuable, check out the primary extension of Impostors Anonymous at impostorsanonymous.substack.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter! There you'll find supplemental content and can even submit your own work to be shared, anonymously of course, with the IA community.

For more from IA, check on our new Instragram and Twitter pages @impostorsanon!

Rachel joins IA to share a unique illustration of how fluid identity can be. The conversation finds its footing on how language, culture, politics, and even geography, mold our perspectives and how we relate to ourselves and others alike. Along the way, a range of topics come to the surface including:

- reflections on spending the pandemic abroad

- cultural and political differences between Spain and the US

- striking a balance between progress and simplicity

- the primacy of recognizing trade-offs and relationships in all aspects of life

- the importance of zooming out and leaving space for levity

- how a comparative look at language reveals how easily things are lost in translation

- why some illusions can have value

and many more!

Notable Mentions:

Mark Manson's website, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck

A poem by Rainer Rilke - Go to the Limits of Your Longing

A brief explanation of the Charlie Chaplan quote about tragedy and comedy

Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut

The official website of author Jack Kerouac

An intro to Alan Watts, speaker and writer well-known for popularizing Eastern philosophy in the West.

Crash Course - World History

Cool Hand Luke, starring Paul Newman

Anna joins the show to share a distinctive perspective on a concept that deeply impacts all of our lives: time. This conversation steps off the beaten path to explore the insights gained from a life defined by free expression, deep curiosity, near-death experience, and an undeniable calling. Along the way, various topics are traversed including:

- how time and its scarcity force us to establish priorities

- why we "waste" time

- the limits of normalcy

- finding freedom through overcoming judgment

- the relativity of the length of life

- near-death experiences and the role a fear of death plays in our lives

- embracing the lows of life

- balancing the past, present, and future

- the various benefits of "cold therapy"

and much more!

If you've found this project valuable, check out the new extension of Impostors Anonymous at impostorsanonymous.substack.com where you can find additional content and even submit your own work to be shared, anonymously of course, with the IA community.

For more from IA, check out our new Instagram and Twitter pages at @impostorsanon!