Loneliness and You

Axel is joined by Katerina Manoff, the founder & CEO of ENGin, a global nonprofit that has paired over 50,000 English learners and volunteers for online conversation practice and cultural exchange. Katerina and Axel discuss the importance of conversation in language learning, the power of truth, and the role of her project in giving a voice to Ukrainians.

Axel is joined by Cait West, a survivor of the Christian patriarchy movement. Cait and Axel discuss her book, Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy, homeschooling, creationism, the possibility of healing and constructing a coherent self.

Axel is joined by Jennifer Kent, a Senior Research Fellow in Urbanism at the University of Sydney. Jennifer and Axel discuss the role of public space in creating opportunities to retreat and interact, the importance of eye contact and incidental encounters, and why privacy matters in the planning of cities.

Axel is joined by Yazmin Novelo, a speaker of Yucatec Mayan who works as a language activist and language revitalization mentor with the Endangered Languages Project. Yazmin and Axel discuss the cosmogony and spirituality of Mayan culture, the perspective inherent in language and the link between language activism and the right of persons to be themselves.

Axel is joined by Pius Akumbu, the Director of Research in African Linguistics at the French National Center for Scientific Research as well as a language activist and mentor at the Endangered Languages Project. Pius and Axel discuss the role of pitch in word meaning in Bantu languages, the relation between language and thought, and the importance of keeping Bantu alive.

Axel is joined by language activist and researcher Alexandra Philbin. Alex and Axel discuss the sense of connection generated by a common language, the threats facing the Irish linguistic community, and how to party at an Irish rave!

Axel is joined by philosopher Kate Manne. Kate and Axel discuss fatness, its relation to social oppression, the historical roots of fatphobia and the experience of being in a larger body. Kate's book, ⁠Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia⁠, was published by Penguin Random House in 2024.

Axel is joined by author, speaker, and former CIA operative Michele Rigby Assad. Michele and Axel discuss loneliness while serving as an undercover intelligence officer before the digital age, the mental toll of constantly living under threat, and how she learned to keep herself safe by “getting off the X.” Learn more about Michele’s story and her work at https://michelerigbyassad.com/

Get in touch!

Email: [email protected]

Instagram/TikTok: @loneliness.pod

Axel is joined by exploration caver Rene Ohms. Rene and Axel discuss what it’s like to spend extended periods of time in total darkness, the trust that builds among caving teams working in the world’s remotest environments, and what it’s like to be the very first person to lay eyes on the beautiful and strange things hidden deep underground.

Get in touch!

Email: [email protected]

Instagram/TikTok: @loneliness.pod

Axel is joined by musician and social work student Dan Whitener. Dan and Axel discuss the peculiar loneliness of being on stage, the mental health issues facing working musicians, and the role music serves as a great connector of people. You can find more of Dan and his band, Gangstagrass, at gangstagrass.com and danwhitenermusic.com. 

Get in touch!

Email: [email protected]

Instagram/TikTok: @loneliness.pod