Seeds to Bloom

Maria joins us to for a conversation on existentialism, taoism, and making your own meanings to life.

Jen joins us to talk about the dating app battleground and spiritual shopping.

Judith, Alfredo, and Paula join us to chat about emotional well-being and forming a relationship with the self.

We reflect on our time and the lessons we've learned at Stanford University and give the school a rating. We finish the episode by honoring Martin Luther King Jr., may we continue his fight (keep your eye on Georgia's voter suppression law!!!).

The ethnic studies queen, Mike's mom, guest-stars to drop her knowledge about Asian-American racism and what you can do to disrupt this manifestation of white supremacy. We talk about racist experiences, good and bad portrayals in media, and how to take a stand in this cause.

We talk about the tension between science and spirituality, and about how we deal with it as scientific and spiritual dudes.

References:
"Surviving Death" Netflix series: https://www.netflix.com/title/80998853
Bhagavad Gita (Hindu text): https://bhagavad-gita.org/
Autobiography of a Yogi (book): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobiography_of_a_Yogi
Blazing Splendor (memoir of Tibetan Buddhist teacher Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/377092.Blazing_Splendor
Brain Study on Meditating Monks: https://braintap.com/study-of-meditation-and-brain-waves-in-buddhist-monks-confounds-wisconsin-researchers/
Be The Refuge (book about Asian American Buddhism): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645635/be-the-refuge-by-chenxing-han/
Judas & the Black Messiah: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/judas_and_the_black_messiah

We talk about the biggest bogeyman of the 80's-90's: the war on drugs and policing.

References:
The War on Drugs is a Huge Failure (youtube vid): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJUXLqNHCaI
Dr. Carl Hart, Columbia Heroine Professor: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/06/meet-carl-hart-parent-columbia-professor-and-heroin-user
John Ehrlichman reveals true motivation for Nixon's War on Drugs: https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/23/politics/john-ehrlichman-richard-nixon-drug-war-blacks-hippie/index.html
Measure Y, Oakland community safety program: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/government/o/CityAdministration/d/MeasureY/index.htm
Oregon drugs legalization: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/election-drugs-oregon-new-jersey/
CAHOOTS, crisis response team: https://whitebirdclinic.org/what-is-cahoots/

Our first ever guest, Ricky, joins us for an enlightening conversation about illicit substances. Join us for a chat about the purpose of life, Ricky's free Yosemite mushrooms, drug exploration, and navigating the highs of life.

We talk about stories that influence what we choose to consume. We stan the vegetarian-aligned agenda, and speak about the karma involved in our cycles of consumption.

References:
"What the Health" (about health & political power of animal industry) Documentary on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80174177
"Game Changers" (about enhancing physical health and performance thru plant-based diets) Documentary on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81157840

We see dead people (sometimes lol). We share a touching ghost story, a couple spooky ones, Anthony's experience with a psychic, and the power of being vulnerable.

Here are some links about things we bring up:
Mike's ancestor Lim Lip Hong: https://news.stanford.edu/2019/03/28/stanford-students-ancestor-helped-build-central-pacific-railroad/
Netflix Series "Surviving Death": https://www.netflix.com/title/80998853
Tyler the Hollywood Medium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihkClqAZwcI
Duncan Trussell Family Hour Podcast mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/77dSTjMAEcWWZXWSBKDP7I?si=7uoq3GmVReiB3bECuUB9Hw
Thich Nhat Hanh "What is a Sangha?": https://www.lionsroar.com/the-practice-of-sangha/