We’re back, baby. Season 2 launching here with some timely and timeless mental perspectives from David Foster Wallace. Nothing short of how to survive modern human life with some explorations of the effort required to consciously guide your attention to break your first person perspective.

“The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day." DFW, 2005

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If you would like to support my content which is free to access, you can donate here at Buy Me a Coffee

Find me at sheddingskin.substack.com

Twitter/X @nick_gilpin_

Threads @nickgilpin

BlueSky @nickgilpin.bsky.social.

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Links and References

This is Water Youtube Link here

Bonus episode of Confessions of an Itchoholic!

I know you’ve been sitting around waiting for more, more, more! Do you remember Tim Shaw from the Demtel ads? “But wait there’s more”. I manage to include that clip, and more movie references galore, in this episode.

You’ll have to listen to it as I’m not posting the words here, they were kind of all over the place, so audio only.

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Enjoy, and thanks for listening to episode 11 (out of 10!)

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If you would like to support my work which is free to access, you can donate here at Buy Me a Coffee

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Find me at sheddingskin.substack.com

Twitter/X @nick_gilpin_

Threads @nickgilpin

BlueSky @nickgilpin.bsky.social

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Links and References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiATDMHU7gc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nG7aix-VO4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCmYN6TLd8A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6-i-VOTpb0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4flyOiDt6s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddt6RJqyJ8I

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/e4f2944a-dc25-463d-9cb2-9d3bc9f4c6e4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub747pprmJ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2oaQ3Qv7pQ

This is a serial podcast episode in 10 parts that you can listen to with these links:

Apple Podcasts here, Spotify here, Youtube Podcasts here

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Shedding Skin - Confessions of an Itchoholic

Episode 10 (of 10) - Acceptance

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In this episode - Hope! Healing! The meaning of life! (maybe...)

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Shedding Skin - Confessions of an Itchoholic is my memoir of growing up with a body that was not east to inhabit. It will be released an episode each week for a few months. Citing neuroscientists, philosophers and modern-day poets (rockstars) and exploring the 90s popular culture that shaped me (its music, movies and video games), Shedding Skin is a rollicking, humorous ride of self-analysis about the confusion and alienation of growing up with chronic health battles, the disorientating effects of coping mechanisms (like alcohol and drug dependencies), and my eventual flailing attempts to understand how to live a deep life whilst struggling with new parenthood. It is recommended that it is listened to in order like an audiobook.

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Subheadings:

1 Answers

2 Covid Calamities

3 Chronic Again

4 Ill Health and Suffering

5 Scar Tissue

6 War

7 Gratitude

8 Don’t Wish Your Body Away

9 Veneer One Last Time

10 Altered States and Spirituality

11 Parenting One Last Time

12 Co-dependency

13 Self Honestly and Shedding

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Thanks for listening to episode 10 / 10.

If you would like to support my work which is free to access, you can donate here at Buy Me a Coffee

Find me at sheddingskin.substack.com and on Twitter/X @nick_gilpin_

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Hi all. Mini essay here sharing some content I’ve been listening to on the tech industry, billionaires, Elon’s trolling, the US election, Silicon Valley’s lurch to the right of politics and autocratic leaders and how they sway to music in front of their followers. Lovely!

Plus, this one simple trick to get $4 grand out of the US government if you’re Jeff Bezos….

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Links to content in this episode:

Search Engine Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/why-is-it-so-hard-to-tax-billionaires-part-1/id1614253637?i=1000673551508

Elon Musk $1 Million Fuckery

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/elon-musk-promises-award-1-mln-each-day-signer-his-petition-2024-10-20/

The Bulwark Podcast – Tim Miller

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bulwark-podcast/id1447684472

Tech Won’t Save Us

https://techwontsave.us/

Better Offline – Ed Zitron

https://www.betteroffline.com/

Gary Marcus

https://twitter.com/GaryMarcus

https://garymarcus.substack.com/

Eric Schmidt’s Risky Bet

https://garymarcus.substack.com/p/eric-schmidts-risky-bet-on-ai-and

Autocracy, Inc - Anne Applebaum

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/autocracy-inc-9780241627891

Autocracy in America Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/autocracy-in-america/id1763234285

Balaji Tech Fascism

https://www.thenation.com/podcast/society/twsu-052324-tech-zionism/

https://newrepublic.com/article/180487/balaji-srinivasan-network-state-plutocrat

Conspirituality Podcast – Matthew Remski - Trump  Temple Playlist

https://www.conspirituality.net/episodes/brief-trump-temple-playlist

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If you would like to support my content which is free to access, you can donate here at Buy Me a Coffee

Find me here:

Apple Podcasts here, Spotify here, Youtube Podcasts here

And sheddingskin.substack.com and on Twitter/X @nick_gilpin_

Shedding Skin - Confessions of an Itchoholic

Episode 9 (of 10) - Growing Up (Whilst Parenting)

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In this episode - 2nd last ep of my episodic pod memoir mashup.

Mescaline. Psychedelics. Revelations. Mental patterns. Addiction. Parenting. Reparenting. Embodiment. Spa shitting. It's all there 🌵🚸💩

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Subheadings:

* Psychedelics

* Shedding

* Revelations

* Booze Again

* 'Alternate' Therapies

* Parenting and re-parenting

* Powerlessness and Control

* Shit in Your Own Spa

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Thanks for listening.

If you would like to support my work which is free to access, you can donate here at Buy Me a Coffee

Find me at sheddingskin.substack.com and on Twitter/X @nick_gilpin_

Mini pod episode on addiction, dopamine, alcohol and the nervous system freedom to be found in abstinence

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This podcast episode can be found on the following platforms:

Apple Podcasts here, Spotify here, Youtube Podcasts here

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Thanks for listening.

If you would like to support my work which is free to access, you can donate here at Buy Me a Coffee

Find me at sheddingskin.substack.com and on Twitter/X @nick_gilpin_

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Links

Original ‘Addiction’ post can be read here with references and links at the bottom:

In this episode Nick interviews Cate Gilpin, and she talks about her experience with OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. From her disrupted formative years, to the revelation and diagnosis in her 40s, to treatments and the impact this disorder has had on her life, Cate’s incredible ability to articulate her experience, to bravely share her journey of mental health, and the immense gratitude she has found for her life since better understanding OCD is inspiring. Also, but less importantly, Cate happens to be married to Nick (the host of this podcast!)

This episode explores mental health challenges, obsessive thoughts and suicidalty, so if anything here brings up mental health difficulties for you please seek help or contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue, links below

Links:

Link 1 Imperfects Podcast with actor Rick Davies

Link 2 Imperfects Podcast with Penny Moodie 2020

Link 3 Book - The Joy Thief by Penny Moodie

Link 4 Swinburne University Research on OCD

Link 5 University of NSW OCD Paper

Link 6 Qld Brain Institute - UQ, OCD Facts

Link 7 Lifeline - 24 Hour crisis support

Link 8 Beyond Blue - Mental Health Support

Link 9 Australian Mental Health Treatment Plan Information from Healthline

Topics covered:

Introduction (elder Millennials drinking coffee)

Early experiences of obsessive thoughts

Time travel to Cate's OCD revelation as an adult

The Joy Thief - Penny Moodie's book on OCD

Example of Cate’s OCD

Anxiety versus ego dystonic thoughts

Compulsions (actions) versus obsessions (thoughts) and ‘Pure O’

‘Control’ during covid

Reassurance as a compulsion

Mental illness versus mental ill health

Generational understanding of mental health

Cultural conditioning around masculinity

Parenting and reparenting

CBT and ERP therapy

“What other people think of you”

Frame breaking events

Gratitude

Advice for people with OCD

Cate meets Penny

Bravery and honesty

Shedding Skin Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts here, Spotify here, Youtube Podcasts here

If you would like to support my content which is free to access and has no advertising, you can donate here at Buy Me a Coffee

Find me at sheddingskin.substack.com or Twitter/X @nick_gilpin_ or Threads @nickgilpin

Thanks for listening. Leave a comment or reach out if you have anything to share, I’d love to hear from you ❤️ Nick

Shedding Skin - Confessions of an Itchoholic

Episode 8 (out of 10) - Collapse and Rebirth

Subheadings:

* Firstborn

* Big Babies

* Electricity

* Cars

* Sleep

* CMV

* Surgery

* Proper Addiction

* Dark Night of the Soul

In this episode - This episode tells the story of the calamitous disasters that befall me (and nearly kill me) as I become a new dad.

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Shedding Skin - Confessions of an Itchoholic is my memoir of growing up with a body that was not east to inhabit. It will be released an episode each week for a few months. Citing neuroscientists, philosophers and modern-day poets (rockstars) and exploring the 90s popular culture that shaped me (its music, movies and video games), Shedding Skin is a rollicking, humorous ride of self-analysis about the confusion and alienation of growing up with chronic health battles, the disorientating effects of coping mechanisms (like alcohol and drug dependencies), and my eventual flailing attempts to understand how to live a deep life whilst struggling with new parenthood.

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Shedding Skin was long listed for the Richell Prize for emerging writers in 2023

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Thanks for listening to episode 8 / 10

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If you would like to support my work which is free to access, you can donate here at Buy Me a Coffee

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Find me at sheddingskin.substack.com and on Twitter/X @nick_gilpin_

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Vids, Links and References

https://sheddingskin.substack.com/p/s1-ep08-links

Shedding Skin - Confessions of an Itchoholic

Episode 7 (out of 10) - Suppression

Subheadings:

* Pred

* Prednisone Roller Coaster

* Suppression

* Service Station

* Allergy Boy Attempts ‘Sensitive Man’hood

* Death and Grief

* Travel

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In this episode - I white-knuckle steroid use to become a new person. I'm still trading short term gain for long term pain. I go out into the world and realise many others are struggling to exist. Grief explodes my life. I travel Australia and the world to escape it. It follows me into hurricane Sandy in NYC.

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Shedding Skin - Confessions of an Itchoholic is my memoir of growing up with a body that was not east to inhabit. It will be released an episode each week for a few months. Citing neuroscientists, philosophers and modern-day poets (rockstars) and exploring the 90s popular culture that shaped me (its music, movies and video games), Shedding Skin is a rollicking, humorous ride of self-analysis about the confusion and alienation of growing up with chronic health battles, the disorientating effects of coping mechanisms (like alcohol and drug dependencies), and my eventual flailing attempts to understand how to live a deep life whilst struggling with new parenthood.

.

Shedding Skin was long listed for the Richell Prize for emerging writers in 2023

.

Thanks for listening to episode 7 / 10

.

If you would like to support my work which is free to access, you can donate here at Buy Me a Coffee

.

Find me at sheddingskin.substack.com and on Twitter/X @nick_gilpin_

..

Vids, Links and References

https://sheddingskin.substack.com/p/s1-ep07-links

Shedding Skin - Confessions of an Itchoholic

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Episode 6 (out of 10) - Abyss

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In this episode - I’m 18 now, and enter the big wide world. It’s a disaster. I crash my car. My friend nearly dies in front of me. I am betrayed. I enter a prolonged period of intense paranoia. I see an old school friend on the nightly news, he’s having trouble too. I can’t breathe. I find a medicine, that changes everything.

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Subheadings w durations

* Reality (5.19)

* Young Adult (4.44)

* Brains (3.12)

* The Veneer Cracks (15.53)

* Lack of Wisdom (6.11)

* Steroids (1.29)

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Shedding Skin - Confessions of an Itchoholic is my memoir of growing up with a body that was not east to inhabit. It will be released an episode each week for a few months. Citing neuroscientists, philosophers and modern-day poets (rockstars) and exploring the 90s popular culture that shaped me (its music, movies and video games), Shedding Skin is a rollicking, humorous ride of self-analysis about the confusion and alienation of growing up with chronic health battles, the disorientating effects of coping mechanisms (like alcohol and drug dependencies), and my eventual flailing attempts to understand how to live a deep life whilst struggling with new parenthood.

.

Shedding Skin was long listed for the Richell Prize for emerging writers in 2023

.

If you would like to support my work which is free to access, you can donate at Buy Me a Coffee

Find me at sheddingskin.substack.com and on Twitter/X @nick_gilpin_

.

Vids, Links and References

Click below for the page of all the links, clips and references for this episode:

https://sheddingskin.substack.com/p/s1-ep06-links