Nathan Edmondson is a writer and President of EDGE, an ambitious counter-poaching and conservation organization devoted to the innovative preservation of African wildlife. They bring new technologies and US special operations tactics and expertise to develop counter-poaching initiatives. He returns to the podcast to discuss the impact of the global pandemic on rhino poaching, what it will mean for the immediate future, and how you can help support their efforts to protect African wildlife. They cover the way poaching operates, the growing influence of poaching syndicates in Africa, the increasing sophistication of poachers’ gear and weapons, how they work with locals to deliver the support that is needed, what success looks like, and the legacy Nathan hopes to leave for his children. You can support EDGE here.
Full transcript available here: WiW81-NathanEdmondson-Transcript

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

Support the show

Sam Harris (author, philosopher, neuroscientist) has a fascinating conversation with Bridget about meditation, consciousness, mindfulness, and awareness. They discuss what brought Sam to meditation (drugs, initially), and the decade he spent traveling and diving into Eastern philosophy, mindfulness practices, and silent retreats, until ultimately he went back to college and eventually got a PhD in cognitive neuroscience. He and Bridget cover mediation and psychological resilience, being a hostage to your own thoughts, the search for a durable state of well being, the casualties of the spiritual path and the people who follow it, the illusion of self, and how close we are to being psychotic so much of the time.
Full transcript available here: WiW80-SamHarris-Transcript

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

Support the show

Jeren Montgomery recently completed an MA in clinical psychology and is working towards becoming a marriage and family therapist. He is also working on the “front lines” of the pandemic in a nautical-themed grocery store. He talks about the adjustments everyone had to make to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak and why he’s uncomfortable with people thanking him for “his service.” He and Bridget discuss his long journey towards psychology, overcoming addiction, becoming sober, and how often their brains try to lie to them and tell them they’re not really addicts. They cover the lack of men entering the field of psychology, some of his weirder experiences at a ultra-progressive school when getting his degree, the need for resilience, and how therapeutic coaching might help a whole generation of men who are struggling to find their voice. Check out Jeren’s website at justjeren.com
Full transcript available here: WiW79-JerenMontgomery-Transcript

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

Support the show

Story Hour with Bridget Phetasy is a segment where Bridget reminisces with cousin Maggie and tells stories explaining who she is and how she got here. Full transcript available here: WiW78-StoryHour5-Transcript
Because Bridget’s globe-trotting wanderings are too much to cover in just one Story Hour, here’s part 1 of her international travels. Covering the first time she ever left the country and why she had to spend the whole trip with Desitin all over her face, traveling through Canada in the trunk of a car as a teenager, almost getting stranded in Mexico, and how she wound up in Tokyo and Barcelona. Frankly, it’s a miracle she’s still alive and she credits an acutely developed “spidey sense” for narrowly avoiding several dangerous situations.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

Support the show

Dave Rubin joins Bridget for his second appearance on the podcast. They talk the long-term effects and changes brought about by social distancing, staying in touch with friends and family now more than ever, no longer looking at the world through a political party lens, how to support small businesses during the shut down, and wonder if the government can’t help people in a time like this, what’s the point of government. They share their small successes, like Dave’s new garden and Bridget’s perfect loaf of sourdough, discuss how irrelevant things like the NBA and celebrities have become, and offer show and movie recommendations. They also cover the future of the Democratic party, how government is all about solving another problem it created and discuss Dave’s new book Don’t Burn This Book.
Full transcript available here: WiW77-DaveRubin-Transcript

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

Support the show

Samantha Shahi (aka Sammy Flap-n-Folds to the Dumpster Fire crowd) finally, finally sits down with Bridget to discuss her journey from Texas to LA, being a marching band nerd, how she fell in love with producing, and the shocking secret reason she minored in Women’s Studies. They cover the litany of jobs Sam’s had since she moved here, what she’s learned along the way, where her true passion lies, and Bridget makes Sam tell the story that demonstrates how Type A she actually is. What do you do when your brain commits hate crimes against you? Did Bridget actually rescue Sam from a cult? Was Sam a sacrificial virgin thrown into a volcano in a past life? It’s all covered in this week’s episode.
Full transcript available here: WiW76-SamanthaShahi-Transcript

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

Support the show

Misty M (If They Have to Behave for You To Be Okay, You’re Screwed) and Bridget discuss the pros and cons of virtual 12 Step meetings in the time of quarantine. They cover why people in recovery might be uniquely qualified to handle the ongoing global crisis, avoiding using the pandemic as an excuse to relapse, trying to feel sane in insane times, and Misty’s optimistic prediction about when we will get back to normal. They talk about everything from practicing intimacy with yourself without running away, to dystopian YA novels, why reality is a simulation, their favorite conspiracy theories, and why neither one of them is looking forward to the flood of books and movies about the pandemic that will be showing up about a year from now.
Full transcript available here: WiW75-MistyM-Transcript

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

Support the show

Michael Shermer  (Skeptic Magazine, Science Salon Podcast, Scientific American) dropped by before quarantine went into effect to discuss skepticism, religion, debunking conspiracy theories, scientific attempts to achieve immortality, and why “I don’t know” are the three most powerful words you can utter. He and Bridget cover everything from why neither one of them would want to live forever, to why Heaven sounds really boring, how liberals used to be the defenders of free speech and when it all changed, pluralistic ignorance, censorship, hate speech, thought crimes, and why open debate is the only way to find out what’s actually true. Don’t miss Michael’s new book Giving the Devil His Due, available now!
Full transcript available here: WiW74-MichaelShermer-Transcript

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

Support the show

Paul Shirley (former NBA player, published author, and founder of Writers Blok) is back to discuss the human condition in this time of social distancing, quarantine, and uncertainty. He and Bridget talk about making deals with your brain, being disconnected from our purpose, how easy it is to forget that life is fragile in modern society, and having to face ourselves when all the things we have been chasing lead us nowhere. They share tips for discipline and productivity as professional authors, why having “oceans of time” is a problem, being of service, gutting it out when it comes to forming new habits, and why you must enjoy the process of writing itself if you ever hope to find success with it. Be sure to check out the Writer’s Blok digital platform to join in writer’s sprints and meet a community of authors who can help you meet your goals. Sorry, no check-in this week! Bridget and Maggie couldn’t get together in time.
Full transcript available here: WiW73-PaulShirley-Transcript

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

Support the show

Bridget and Cousin Maggie share their tips for working from home, and for dealing with the depression and anxiety that might be ratcheting up as we face the unknowns Covid-19 is bringing to our lives and society. They discuss why you should be choosy about the media you consume, how sharing your emotional load with friends can help and allow other people to be of service to you, finding the small silver linings and bright sides of this situation, and why you shouldn’t be like Jared Leto. Ever. The Walk-Ins Welcome format might change for a while as having guests on the podcast will be more difficult, but for now, enjoy this extended check-in.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

Support the show