Rick Brodner is a dear friend. Who along with his partner, Cindy, have been gracious and delightful hosts to my visits to Portland in recent months. Rick and I are part of the Powerful, Present, and Loving Circle - a group of friends. 

Rick is recently retired and is in the beatiful and courageous expression of being still, allowing each moment to emerge, and not jump or somehow lunge into retirement feeling like there is something to do, or somewhere to go or some bucket list that needs to be addressed. He brings calm, contemplative, perspective and consistently invites me to check my assumptions, particularly  about the patriarchy, privilege, and the importance of alternative perspective. It is a pleasure to invite you into one of the many conversations that we have about life, death, living, dying, and everything in between.

What I am taking away from this conversation with Rick

1. Meaningful friendship is a gift. To be able to explore, be seen, share honestly, be provoked, and feel cared for matters. 
2. There is nothing to solve, and getting beyond our desire to make everything a problem will open things up tremendously 
3. We have got to stop trying to solve problems, and instead sit in the magic of the present moment, even when it’s uncomfortable and allow what is to be what is. 
4. There is no where to get to
5. We are immersed in our patriarchal privilege and it’s unraveling
6. Our way of knowing isn’t the only way of knowing. Far far from it. And this is hard for us to acknowledge. 
7. I’m having a blast in the Beyond.

Thank you for listening. We’d love your questions, reflections, and contributions. Please do email at [email protected] 

Bayo Akomalafe podcast with Tami Simon

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sounds-true-insights-at-the-edge/id307934313?i=1000561877889

Get full access to The Beyond at morganrich.substack.com/subscribe