Soul Searching Audacious Podcasts

There are fewer crimes in society that trigger greater public outrage than the sexual exploitation of children. For some, it conjures up memories of horrific television documentaries showing how children are sexually trafficked for commercial gain; for others, it brings back childhood events of shameful sexual conduct with much older persons. Race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic standing does not prevent the sexual exploitation of children – it happens across the human social spectrum. The effects of sexual abuse linger into the person’s adult life giving birth to many physical and psychological troubles. We examine this phenomenon a bit closer so that we don’t lose our empathy, sticking our heads into the sand and pretending that this isn’t really a big deal, saying, “It only happens in some parts of Asia, South America and Africa, so why worry.”

It’s that time of the year again! With tiny traces of remorse lingering for having wildly indulged over the Festive Season and a hint of embarrassment at your lack of restraint, having done things you normally wouldn’t want to have done, have you already decided on your New Year’s resolutions? Shell-shocked from your year-end break, you slowly emerge from this festive haze as part of your brain slowly begins to thaw from its dormant holiday hibernation. As sensibility reawakens, you start to think rationally again, and in the sober light of the New Year, with the next twelve months stretched out in front of you like a blank sheet of writing paper, you repentantly and understandably hack together a handful of ground-rules to utilise this moment of motivation to your betterment and to the advantage of others around you. This is how we conceive a plethora of New Year’s resolutions. But it is well-known that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I have some solid advice to share in this episode to help you manage your resolutions. I suspect that you would like to succeed, so let me tell you how.

All who celebrate Christmas, do so on the 25th December each year. This date marks Jesus’ birth in a manger somewhere in Bethlehem. It was a major event, prophesied and expected for a long time and it had a profound effect on the way the modern world unfolded. For one, Jesus birth gave rise to the Julian and Gregorian calendars, the primary system of global timekeeping today. But the big question is: Was Jesus really born on 25th December in the years spanning 1 BC to 1 AD? In this show, we investigate Biblical texts, historical records and astronomical events to find out if we can get a better handle on the actual date of Jesus’ birth.

The epic 1956 movie, the Ten Commandments, directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter and Charlton Heston in the leading role of Moses depicts the Israelite’s Exodus out of Egypt. En route to the Promised Land, Moses climbs Mount Sinai where God gives him the 10 Commandments. These sacred tablets were placed inside the Arc of the Covenant, carried all the way to Jerusalem and kept in the Holy of Holies in the Temple there. Critics of the Old Testament poke fun at the implausibility of the 10 Commandments and they question their relevance in a modern world. In this episode, I try to help you to decide. Who’s right and who’s wrong? Do the 10 Commandments have any relevance in your life? Should they?

11 Khayelitsha men burst into the home of 22-year old, Noluvo Swelindawo, dragged her away, murdered her and left her body alongside the highway. The alleged motive: homophobia. Of 2,130 LGBTI South Africans surveyed, 41% responded that they knew of someone who was murdered due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. African leaders have, in various statements, implied that homosexuality was never part of African culture and is yet another Eurocentric idiosyncrasy foist upon African people. As a result, some of these leaders completely reject international Gay Rights proposals. Without proper legislative support, LGBTI people are subjected to ‘corrective rape’, marginalisation and many other hate crimes, including, as in the case of 22-year old, Noluvo Swelindawo, murder. We’ve seen how intolerant the world is to anyone who doesn’t match up to societies norms and standards. We are also witnessing a resurgence of conservatism, as proven by the American population’s vote for Donald Trump and Britain’s desire to leave the European Union. Does this mark the beginning of the end for interpersonal tolerance? In this episode, we discuss what can be done personally to become that change we wish to see in the world.

We investigate an observation made by Bluma Zeigarnik after she carefully watched how Viennese waiters were incredibly adept at remembering orders but how they quickly they forgot them once the patron had left the coffee shop. Her colleague, Maria Ovsiankina further noted that incomplete actions create a gentle motivation that spurs a person to get the job done. The conclusions these women published help us explain why we feel the way we do, sometimes motivated and enthusiastic and at other times, gloomy, worried and anxious over apparently nothing. Their astute theories give us opportunity to create some ingenious tricks to help improve memory, productivity and aid us in get things done quicker.

A daughter has a drugtaking problem and has been clean for a while but her mom is stricken with fear and won’t give her the freedom her daughter seeks. Mother mollycoddles the young woman by micro-managing her daughter’s life. This podcast lets you peek into the method I used to help Mom to establish trust again. It’s a demonstration of therapeutic metaphor. Be warned, this podcast contains an hypnotic induction so don’t listen to it if you are driving, operating heavy machinery or if you are engaged in any activity that requires your full attention. It is just fine to listen to it while you relax in your chair or while lying down on your bed.

In recent shows (episodes 14 and 15), we looked into various ideas and notions around truth. In this episode, we investigate what motivates people to lie. With a lot of our attention focused on lies within relationships, we find out if there are any benefits to making a commitment to truth. Do you know the history and implication of the phrase, “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God”? Do you believe that punishment for telling lies deters or encourages people to lie? Learn why and how people tell lies and acquire some personal basic skills to help you recognise deception cues that expose people who are lying to us.

In episode 13, we took a tongue-in-cheek look at some of the very literal ways in which people interpret the Bible. Philosophy and Law say that it is your personal right to have any belief system and to act it out as if it were true, given that the enactment does not impinge on the rights of others. However, last week’s show ended without resolving a particular issue: is there an absolute truth, one fundamental original intention embedded in holy scriptures, like the Bible? If so, how do we find it and how will we know whether it is true or not? There are so many conflicting, unprovable interpretations of holy texts each competing for the greatest following, like corporations that strive to increase market share. Given all the different kinds of beliefs, how do we test which one is factual and which are mistaken? Today we turn to the principles of quantum mechanics to try to prove that every belief there is or ever has been, is true.

With so many religions and sects claiming sole mandate to truth through their interpretation of scripture, what is true and what isn’t and how do we tell the difference? Would it even matter? For any interpretation of Scripture to be true, it needs to be part of a coherent system of truths. Anyone is free to propose any idea but it could not be accepted as being the absolute truth unless its proven to be true. Beliefs and propositions are very different. A belief exists only in the mind and people are inclined to act on beliefs as if the thing were true. You are free to act out your beliefs, provided it doesn’t cause harm to others. Proving the Bible to be true is a very subjectively flawed endeavour. These texts are written in many different literary styles. Not all of them are factual. This episode explores whether the Bible is meant to be interpreted literally or figuratively.