How Humans Work Podcast

In this snap, bonus episode, show host Jef Szi riffs on what he is calling, 'Alpha Masculinity,' as it emerges alongside Donald Trump election to a second presidential term. In his eclectic style, Jef begins the show sharing his experience on a beautiful November night in San Francisco and going to see Leif Vollebekk in concert with his wife. Contrasting that with the pre-show UFC experience, Jef leans into evolution, mating strategies, and ironies that are unfolding as the majority of American Voters embrace the "big man" attitude and style of Donald Trump. With curiosity, critique, and invitation, Jef invites us to dive into the instinctual draw toward a renewed Alpha Masculinity with nuance. Calling on the stories from his late friend, Brent MacKinnon during the turmoil of the Vietnam War as well as the gift of artistry Leif demonstrated in his show, Jef calls us forward into this conversation using all the sensibilities to illuminate the deep need to reconcile ourselves with this force and to find our way with the complexities it presents.

Episode Summary In episode 42, we take a deep dive into the realm of myth with insightful and heartfelt Chris Skidmore. As an astrologer, psychotherapist and host of the On the Souls Terms Podcast, Chris helps illuminate the meaning and embedded knowledge hidden inside the 1800 year old Roman novel: The Golden Ass. This text is where the first telling of The Marriage of Eros and Psyche is found. Together, Chris and your show host Jef Szi take an extended journey into these rich and poignant tales that are saturated with symbolism, archetypes, relatable folly, and knowledge that help us make sense of our own human condition. The show begins with Chris sharing about his recent trip to Greece and Italy—the actual landscape where these stories took place. From there we build a Jungian context in the spirit of Marie Louis Von Franz before a recounting of The Golden Ass, where the main character, Lucius, accidently ends up being turned into an ass. Caught is ass-form, Lucius experiences a great deal of folly and suffering. Moved by the elements in the story, Chris and Jef explore the meaning and medicine this overlooked tale offers as we seek to reconcile our own lives with the greater forces and events we experience. Next, they then turn their attention the Psyche and Eros story. Recounting the events of this monumental myth around love and soul, they drink deeply from the profound images and details found there. In particular, we come to see how this myth offers insights and teaching into the journey of love, of maturation, and our complex dynamics that come with individuation. With a superb attention to the heart along with beautiful renderings and teachings found in The Golden Ass and The Marriage of Eros and Psyche, Chris offers us perspective on our humanity while simultaneously fostering our connection to the artistic and soulful roots of the ancient Greco-Roman imagination. About Chris Skidmore: Chris Skidmore is a psychotherapist, astrologer, biodynamic cranial-sacral therapist who resides in Bali. He is also the host of On The Soul’s Terms Podcast. You can learn more about Chris work and check-out his podcast by going to his website.

Episode Summary In this next adventure into our Systems of Knowledge theme, the highly relatable and beautifully honest Erin Gilmore joins the podcast. This conversation explores how various teachings are points of refuge and healing as we make our way on the path adulting. Erin opens up about her journey with ADHD and the knowledges that have helped her. Specifically, how how the practice of yoga and movement became a foundation for making sense and meaning in her life. Along the way, we also learn how Meditation with Jeff Warren, Non-Violent Communication practices with Judith Hanson Lasater, and Trauma-Informed Yoga have been anchors for growth and self understanding in the process of becoming. Without pretense our proclamation, Erin offers unvarnished truth about her story and the encounter with life’s uncertainties and changes. From the listening skills that come with NVC or the ritual wisdom found in esoteric teachers, Erin shows us how embracing the knowledges has supported her self-acceptance and strengthened her anchor. About Erin: Erin Gilmore is a San Francisco-based yoga teacher with a unique modern style. She is also a student and teacher of Non-Violent Communication. Her experiences with Trauma-Informed yoga transformed her life and yoga practice. She lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and two children. Try Her Living Room Yoga ClassFollow Erin on Social

Episode Summary Alice Treves is seasoned psychotherapist with a background in Hakomi, CBT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. This is her second time joining the podcast. She and Jef Szi have been together for 27 years and have two daughters. In this episode we dive into The 9 Negative Thinking Habits, a CBT framework* Alice uses as part of her therapy practice to help both teens and adults. By breaking down each of the 9 Habits (Catastrophizing, Fortune Telling, Mind-Reading, Blaming, I Can’t, Zooming in on the Negative, All-or-Nothing, I Should/You Should, & It’s Not Fair) we peer under the hood of our mental habits. Alice shows us how "The Four C’s" -- catching, checking, getting curious, and changing habitual thinking with helpful thoughts, can improve our cognitive experience. Along the way, Alice and Jef lean on their marriage and shared intellectual interests to deepen the exploration of our mental capacities by considering how our thoughts are expressions of developmental needs, evolutionary adaptations, and a validation of the parts perspective found in Internal Family Systems Model. With equal measure of compassion and insight, Alice’s experience gives us a valuable sense that we don’t have to be run by our thought habits. Indeed, there are tools and perspectives that can help change. In the last portion of this conversation, Alice enrichens our sense of negative thinking patterns by tying them to the archetypes found in astrology. By making a connection between the hard lessons of life (which are attributed to the planet Saturn in astrology) and our encounters with thinking habits, she fosters a greater sense of the mind’s depths and how we can work with our human nature. About Alice: Alice Treves LCSW is a psychotherapist who works with adults, teens, and families, offering guidance and support for life’s many challenges. To learn more about her practice, you can visit her website. About The 9 Negative Thinking Habits: The negative thinking types are sourced from a workbook that helps teens (and adults) work with their negative thinking habits. The title is Conquer Negative Thinking for Teens, written by Mary Karapetian Alvord and Anne McGrath. We thank the authors for their work and insights.

Episode Summary: Dr. Scott Schmidt joins the podcast to share his knowledge about caring for those with serious illness and those who are in the dying process. As a medical doctor with an expansive background in Emergency Medicine, Hospice Care, and now as a leader in the Primary Palliative Care field, Scott invites us to consider how we go about the realities that surround end-of-life. Along the way, we get a solid sense of what kind of attitudes, questions, and conversations are needed from both sides of the medical encounter. But don’t be fooled, this episode has teachings for the healthy as much as for those with serious health challenges. In considering the inevitable fate of all bodies, Dr. Schmidt shows us how we can be more prepared and receptive to our individual impermanence at any point in our lives. Indeed, we come to see how forethought can help us be present and feel less overwhelmed in more trying times. Further on in the podcast, we learn how Scott’s encounters with live-saving measures and his natural inclination toward helping those facing illness and death pushed him forward to being a leader in the Primary Palliative Care approach. Towards the end of the show, we get a very real glimpse into the difficulty of modern medicine, with its messy and often morally distressing dilemmas. With depth and humility in the face of the unknowable, this conversation is a remarkable one for both the significances that occur in the latter stages of life, and also with the genuine soulfulness Dr. Schmidt brings to these moving encounters. As he says, navigating serious illness and the inevitability of death is no simple thing. About Dr. Scott Schmidt: Scott Schmidt is an Emergency Medicine doctor and cultural change leader who is charged with developing Primary Palliative Care competencies. About Primary Palliative Care: is a subspecialty of medicine, that seeks to plan and address serious illness situations with an orientation to minimize suffering while tending to the whole person. Considered an upstream evolution from Palliative Care, Primary Palliative Care seeks to support Palliative Care competencies in all providers and teams.

Episode Summary In The Work of Repairing Harm, the warm-hearted Jeffrey Weisberg joins the podcast for a rich and moving conversation about his experience with Peacebuilding and Restorative Justice practices. As the Executive Director and co-founder of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, Jeffrey shares his perspective and insight on the incredible value these practices have for relationships of all shapes and sizes. With equal amounts of energy, vision, and honesty, Jeffrey walks us through the key questions and approaches of what it takes to repair harm. Whether that is the challenges of refugees in Uganda trying to work through the pressures and hardships of living in a refugee camp, the impact fights on school campuses can have, or the longstanding mistrust between black and brown youth and police departments across America, Jeffrey provides a convincing portrait of how Restorative Justice and other Peacebuilding efforts are a profound resource for dealing with conflict. Specifically, he describes how four key questions and a good dose of thoughtful preparation and finesse, can create a space for repairing harm by discovering 1) What happened? 2) What was the impact? 3) How can we repair the harm? and 4) How can we ensure it doesn’t happen again? Later in the show, Jeffrey emphasizes the importance of multipartiality in his work. Multipartiality advocates for ensuring all voices are elevated in the Restorative Justice process and equity work in general. It is essential for trust-building across communities with different concerns and experiences, particularly in light of racial disparities still happening. With nuance and humility, we come to learn that, yes, the work of equity requires sincere effort and care from everyone involved. We also get a powerful glimpse into why truth-telling and deep listening are at the core of repairing human relationships as we discuss the Police Youth Dialogue Model. Police Youth Dialogues bring together Police officers and the black and brown youth in the communities they serve to listen to each other’s experiences. Jeffrey’s tales from these events prove to be a moving and inspiring example of how differences can be bridged through communication. Throughout Episode #38, we get real and vital pictures of how peacebuilding and restorative justice can transform relationships, support communities, and change the way we deal with transgressions and injuries. Ultimately they offer us a pathway to reconnection. It is an honor to hear tales from one so heartfully committed to doing The Work of Repairing Harm as our guest, Jeffrey Weisberg. About Jeffrey Weisberg: Jeffrey is the Executive Director and co-founder of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding. He has designed, developed, and implemented a wide range of programs and services in his local community of Gainesville, Florida, throughout the United States and in countries throughout the world. His work with youth includes police/youth dialogues, student/educator dialogues, peer mediation, juvenile diversion programs, social/emotional learning, restorative justice, youth empowerment, and coming-of-age programs. For the past 25 years, Jeffrey has served as a Florida Certified State Mediator and mediates cases involving juvenile offenders, family disputes, and conflicts within small businesses and organizations. In addition, he is using Restorative Practices to support the Department of Juvenile Justice, the court system, schools, prisons, and communities to bolster alternatives to the punitive model. He is a founding member of The Peace Alliance. He believes that by training and empowering both youth and adults to learn and practice vital communication skills, we not only create greater connections with others, but we can de-escalate conflict for safer and more productive outcomes.

Episode #37 Summary Senior Zen Dharma teacher, Fu Schroeder, sits down with Jef Szi for a heart-felt and mind-opening exploration of Zen Buddhism. As a System of Knowledge, Zen is one of the great wisdom lineages—handed down across centuries and into the lap of Fu in the 1970’s. This delightful conversation offers our community a nourishing encounter with a Zen elder—a holder of wisdom who can provide gems for facing life’s mysteries and hardships. With much kindness and a great deal of playful insight, Fu shares key elements of the Zen way and her path with it. She offers us gems for how we can face our mind, our suffering, and the vastness of being. She shows us how the path of Zen—quietude, or “just sitting,” gives us access to calm and negotiate change and the jaw-dropping truth of impermanence. In this show, we come to learn how Zen offers mental clarity and abiding presence for the human soul. Born out of Buddha's path and transmitted for generations, Fu walks us through the accuracy and the medicine of the Four Noble Truths. We find we are not the first to struggle with the nature of the mind or the reality of death. Episode #37 invites us into the teachings of the Zen path. In Fu, we find a kind, frank, and mirthful sojourner, who is not only a fantastic conversationalist but a teacher who is equally poetic and practical. Listen in to this one because it is not often in today’s world someone can steadfastly point us toward the vastness of reality—be it the experience of the Moon, the sound of the rain, or the courage to Leap into the Yellow River. About Fu: Furyu Nancy Schroeder, a resident of San Francisco Zen Center since the 1970s, became Abiding Abbess at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in March 2014 and stepped down from that role in March 2023. Fu has held most of the monastic positions at SF Zen Center and has been an active supporter of programs for children, people of color, the gay and lesbian community, and the interfaith community. In 2008 she was elected to the Marin Women's Hall of Fame, and in 2010 she was appointed to the Board of the Marin Community Foundation. In addition, she has previously co-led SF Zen Center's Contemplative Caregiver Course. She received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1999.

In Everything Under the Sun and Moon, show host Jef Szi continues his conversation with Tobin Mayell, as Tobin remembers the life of his late mother, Christine Waddell. Christine was a healer, teacher, mother, and grandmother who passed away suddenly in the Spring of 2023. In this fluid conversation between enduring friends, Tobin weaves the experiences with his mom and Christine’s own life—as such, we learn a great deal about Christine’s journey and the arc of Tobin’s relationship with his mother. Along the way we find that Christine was not only a life-long seeker, but also a highly respected wisdom-keeper, healer, and guide to her clients. By hearing stories about her early hopes for enlightenment, her discovery in her 30’s that her biological father was someone else, and her joyful penchant for gardening, we get powerful glimpses into core elements of Christine’s completed life. And like his relationship with his father, Tobin also found his need to individuate from his mom. In this case, it meant finding ways of taking space from a highly invested mothering style, prone to “polishing” Tobin’s sense of self through astrology and emmeshed encouragements. And yet, as with his father, we find the transmissions in life and death still take place. Not only did Christine’s search for belonging in her life help her and profoundly benefit her clients, we come to see how it bestowed on Tobin an emotional permission that carries on inside him today. Christine’s passion for astrology lives on in Tobin as well—ironically shedding light on how Tobin can now understand her deepest pains. Through this show—and the one before—we get an intimate portrait of how death, the journey of memorialization, and continuing the thread of life after our relatives pass are all riddled with unexpected teachings—as if the web of life has strands reaching through death’s mysterious gateway onto the other side. As always, you are invited to listen-in, because in these two episodes that dive into Tobin’s very personal journey of losing both his parents within months of one another, we get a real dose of how life and death collaborate in ways that are impossible to know beforehand.

In Bonus Episode #07, Tobin Mayell joins the show for the first of a two-part conversation honoring the lives of his late parents—Norm Mayell and Christine Waddell. Here, Tobin recounts for us the core elements in his relationship with Norm—open-heartedly offering glimpses into the arc of the their father-son story. From early, unrequited longings to adult acceptances and eventually to the transmissions found in Norm’s passing away from cancer in August of 2022, we come see that the father-son relationship has many moments over the course of time and just how much can live inside one parent-child relationship. We learn that Norm was a drummer in such bands as Sopwith Camel, Blue Cheer, and Norman Greenbaum, frequently taking him on the road while Tobin lived with his mother. We also learn that Norm later became a devout golfer, finding a spiritual magic in the game. Across his life we come to see that among other things, Norm lived with a kind-of private wisdom and natural magnetism that drew people towards him. Through this conversation with the How Humans Work show host, Jef Szi, Tobin helps us realize how death and life work hand-in-hand to give us unexpected teachings. Much was born for Tobin in his father’s dying process. Tobin’s own musical calling found new energy as the journey to memorialize his father placed Tobin—literally and figuratively—behind Norm’s drumkit. As Tobin finds himself playing Norm’s drums, singing his songs, and playing with Norm’s former bandmates is a symmetry that is as satisfying as it is moving. Equally profound is hearing the unguarded connection that accompanies the moment—how childhood hungers were able to come full circle in ways that only Tobin can express. Looking Into the Beyond offers a profound validation the web of life. It shows us something of the essence of Norm’s life as a man, a father, and musician, but it also shows us how the act of death is generative to those that live—releasing unfinished hurts and inspiring the energy of life to continue. As always, you are invited to listen-in, because in these two episodes that dive into Tobin’s very personal journey of losing both his parents within months of one another, we get a real dose of how life and death collaborate in ways that are impossible to know beforehand.

We kick off Season Four with the fun and forthright Dalanah Smith. Dalanah is an astrologer, stoic, palmist, biologist, and host of the Moon Matters Podcast. In this episode, she shares her take on one of the most ancient systems of knowledge around - Traditional Astrology, a.k.a. Hellenistic Astrology. Also joining the podcast is episode co-host, Tobin Mayell. Tobin is a dear friend and a student of astrology. In this conversation, Dalanah illuminates how the astrological system can help us understand the fabric of our fate. By looking at the planetary placements at the time of our birth, we have an interesting skeleton key to who we are and how our life progresses. In this wide-ranging show, Dalanah shares what called her to a path rich with astrology and myth, and how the astrological worldview, along with stoicism, has offered her a kind of cosmological guidance that is helpful to her and her clients. Along the way, Dalanah offers up a healthy buffet of astrological basics, including the seven planets, the 12 houses, the moon in different elements, and the lunar nodes with a very cool myth about Rahu and Ketu. Dalanah also reads a handful of placements in Jef’s Natal Chart, demonstrating the power of astrology to see into people’s innermost natures. In the face of life’s twists and turns, Dalanah teaches us how the knowledge of our astrological configurations can help us recognize and navigate various tensions in our lives, making astrology an ally for development and self-cultivation. If you are curious about Systems of Knowledge and how they can help make sense of our human nature, then an encounter with the astrological imagination is a legitimate place to begin. For in metaphor and thought, the body of ideas in the ancient ways of astrology have something very direct and intimate to say to all of us. About Dalanah Smith: Dalanah wears many hats, but the ones closest to her heart are Astrologer and practicing Stoic. Her formal education is in science, as she has a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology. During her time in school, she was focused on learning hard science. After a decade of being a scientist, she now uses those skills of critical analysis to assist her in navigating a more spiritual landscape. She often credits her days in the laboratory for allowing her to view the world with a non-biased lens and for her knack for pattern recognition. As a 3rd House Sun and ste llium, she has the Soul of an ethereal trickster. Using her innate gift of storytelling, she weaves the tale of personal mythology by analyzing her client’s unique celestial code.

In episode #35, legendary professor and author Robert M. Sapolsky joins the show for a fascinating conversation about his most recent book: Determined. At length we discuss what life looks like when we accept the premise of Determined: free will is a myth and rewarding and punishing behavior is an outdated approach to running a humane and just world. Along the way we get into strange and groovy notions like Emergent Complexity, Chaoticism (a.k.a. The Butterfly Effect), the prefrontal cortex, and my personal passion, stress. With abundant erudition and mirth, Dr. Sapolsky makes the case several time over that a separate self with a free will apart from the biologic matrix is simply untenable. Along the way, Robert walks us through the arguments which support Determinism, starting with our inability to perceive our intentions and then showing us how brain neurons, slime molds, and ants operate without a blueprint. Overall, we get a persuasive portrait of how and why the seamless web of biology and environment have an unseen hand in how we act and think. Best to get your thinking cap out and put it on, because this show puts all of our assumptions about how humans work on the surgical table. Whether they survive the rigor of a sage professor’s operations is the question we’re left with. I hope you enjoy this show as much as I did! About Robert M. Sapolsky: Dr. Sapolsky is the author of several works of nonfiction, including A Primate’s Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone, and Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers. His most recent book, Behave, was a New York Times bestseller and named a best book of the year by The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. He is the John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor of biology, neurology and neurosurgery at Stanford University and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant.” He and his wife live in San Francisco.

Episode Summary In episode #34, the esteemed author of Dopamine Nation, Dr. Anna Lembke, returns to the show for a fascinating conversation about stress, dopamine, and how the two intersect. With an equal measure of kindness and expertise, Dr. Lembke walks us through the contours of both addiction and stress. Along the way she reinforces the challenges we face living in a time, what she calls the Plenty Paradox. Throughout this remarkable conversation, Anna gives compelling reasons to value hardship, stress, and truth-telling, for each of them has a convincing way of bringing balance back into our lives. Whether you are young, old, or somewhere in the middle, you are heartily invited to listen, because we all need to hear the wisdom flowing from About Dr. Lembke: Dr. Lembke is a psychiatrist, professor, researcher, and the medical director of Stanford Addiction Medicine. Dr. Lembke is also the author of Dopamine Nation, a salient book that explores the neuroscience of addiction and the lessons we can learn from those who’ve been caught in its powerful spell.

Bonus Episode Summary In The Power to Survive, show host Jef Szi shares an essay that connects the adaptive function of the stress system to the realms of fitness and the presence of genes. As critical parts of our adaptive powers for survival, he shows us how stress, fitness, and genes actually are at work on a continuum of time. This short bonus pod offers a spell-binding vision of the deep web at work in our bodies, illuminating how important stress, fitness, and genes all are for our current challenges. Perhaps most importantly, The Power to Survive offers a profound welcome to our shared humanity, beyond any trait differences, that can move and inspire us to live more fully the ancient story we have already been cast into.

Episode Summary In Episode #33, Dameian Hartfield joins the podcast for a deeply honest conversation, recounting some of the major moments in his life. In many respects, this podcast is a continuation of an ongoing conversation we have had as friends for nearly two decades, where Dameian speaks his truth and in doing so acts as an ambassador for the greater good, sharing the realities of what comes with growing up in an at-risk community like the Nickerson Gardens Housing Projects in the Watts neighborhood. Beginning the show with his reasons for a slow-cook approach to doing this podcast and then his experiences doing gang-intervention work and some of the key dilemmas and pressures that went with it, we get a feel for the values and lessons Dameian has earned in his life. For example, he describes how political agendas and lack of trust between different organizations in a community add more pressure to one’s that are already struggling. We also see how he positioned himself in relation to those politics. Following that, we begin to hear about the challenges that come with life after being in a gang. The uphill battle of re-establishing a positive reputation along with carrying the war-like events of street battles without a reconciliation process to move forward in the way military veterans have is a hard edge to have in one's reality. Sharing with us some details of his journey, like being shot at the age of fifteen and having to deal with conflict zones like ‘Hamburger Hill,’ we come to learn why the trauma of being a young, misdirected, urban warrior would need healing places like the one where we first met — at a men’s retreat held by the Mosaic Multicultural Foundation deep in the redwoods of Mendocino, California. It was there Dameian and I have formed a relationship that has transcended our native neighborhoods and social upbringings. Next, Dameian takes us into the powerful decisions and transformations that took place for for him as he spent a decade in prison, repaying his debt to society. We hear how he learned to become a communicator, leaving behind his older strategies of simply acting in ways that he thought were needed. Dameian made key decisions to use his prison sentence for his own personal development, even knowing he had a very real possibility of never making it out. In this part of the podcast, we get some profound contours of Dameian’s path through this important period of change and soul searching. Further on we learn about how, when he was on the run for a case against him, his relationship with his mother kept him from getting into deeper trouble, perhaps even getting killed. Dameian also walks us through how his Mom imparted to him the realities of the financial struggles they had, and pulled along his questions and challenges into a place of greater understanding and participation in the struggle. Even in his darkest moments of despair, his Mom was able to help him see beyond his hopelessness. In these stories we get a powerful picture of his mom’s capacity to guide in the face of adversity, and the important impact that had. In total, this powerful, authentic episode takes us underneath the illegality of gang life in an at risk community, providing us with a sincere portrait of the human lives in and around those situations. And just when we think we are wrapping up, Dameian takes us a step further into his life experiences. He closes out our conversation with an incredibly moving and undeniable accurate portrait of what the challenges of being a black man in the American story is like. ***** Dameian Hartfield primarily grew up in Nickerson Gardens housing projects in Los Angeles, California. He also spent part of his youth in Pomona, CA. Currently, Dameian spends his time growing his company, 1 Tamu Essentials, with his wife Dana, and spending time with his kids and grandkids. Mr. Hartfield

Episode Summary There are few better equipped to take us into the fascinating world of the gut microbiome than University of Colorado professor Dr. Christopher A. Lowry. In addition to his rich understanding of humans ancient and critical relationship with the bacterial world, Dr. Lowry has a thorough understanding of the complex interactions of our biology as it relates to stress. In this episode Professor Lowry helps us envision the amazing workings of our invisible interiors. From the role of stress hormones and neuronal connections in the Enteric Nervous System that tie the gut and brain together, to the intricacies of our immune system balance and the essential role our microbiomes play with inflammation, he expertly guides us. This captivating dive into our inner-workings with stress and our microbiomes shows us again that our environmental exposures matter to us at obvious and hidden levels. Stress is a double-edged sword in the microscopic world too. This becomes superbly clear in discussing the Hygiene Hypothesis, currently reframed as the Old Friends Hypothesis. It is also well illustrated in what is know as The Farm Effect. If you love health, the body or you are simply interested in environmental balance, this show will be right up your alley. With Dr. Lowry’s studied understanding we get a powerful glimpse into our vital interdependence we have on the bacterial world and its astounding connection to our stress systems. Dr. Christopher Lowry is an Associate Professor of Integrative Physiology at CU Boulder where he leads a neuroendocrinology lab focused on the neural mechanisms underlying emotional behavior and the stress-induced control of physiology and emotional behavior. With an extensive academic background in zoological studies, neuroscience, neuroendocrinology and stress, Dr. Lowry has authored and co-authored hundreds of papers advancing our understanding the web on intricacies at work in human biology.

In episode #31, Templates for Change, Darcy Ottey from Youth Passageways joins the show for an extended conversation about her love for Rites of Passage (RoP) work as well as her recent book on the subject: Rites and Responsibilities: A Guide to Growing Up. With an extensive and deeply personal connection to Rites of Passage practices, Darcy helps us to see how these original cultural technologies offer us templates for negotiating the phases of our lives. In ROP practices, she says, we find the blueprints for helping us to honor the cycles of change with what Darcy calls transition literacy. We explore the value transition literacy offered her during the COVID-19 lockdown, as well as other stressful periods of change. Along the way we can see how the frames and language of RoP, including Arnold van Gennep’s three-phase of separation, transition and return, support us in learning to be with change more effectively. In thinking about the function of Rites of Passage in young peoples lives, Darcy not only shares poignant stories about the value of letting the dependencies of childhood die away as a necessary part of development, but she also strongly implores young people to call for their own rites as a birthright for authentic belonging and self-discovery. With care and honesty, Darcy shows us why a culturally respectful approach to contemporary Rites of Passage is essential. Creating genuine belonging and re-empowered communities without furthering repetitions of ongoing harms of domination-based societies requires such respect. Moreover, we come to see how RoP work itself is a profound way to heal old wounds and violations that got us to a place where meaningful and wise rites have been stolen or scrubbed away. Finally, Darcy shares hard-earned guidance on the tricky terrain of drugs and sex as part of the coming of age journey. She gives us a sense of how we might consider these issues as young people or for the young people in our lives. Templates for Change offers a fresh voice to old ways, and as we listen to Darcy share her experiences and considered knowledge, we are reminded how we can all benefit by embracing the technology Rites of Passages, especially in times of stress.

Episode Summary In this special episode of the How Humans Work Podcast, Juliet and Kelly Starrett from the The Ready State join the show to share all about their newest book: Built To Move! With clear vision and simple practices, they provide a persuasive invitation to rethink our approach to a healthy life. Throughout the show they offer a powerful transmission about why it is most important that we move not just actively, but dynamically as well. If you’re not ready to give up on your body and want to live an active and fulfilling life, then this is the show for you! Along the way we take a stroll down memory lane and Juliet and Kelly open-up about their formative 70’s childhood adventures from Bavaria, Germany to Boulder, Colorado. After these telling tales in their personal movement stories, we then end up waterside on rafting trip, going down the Grand Canyon with family and friends. It is here we get a compelling portrait of why being a mover is vital to a fully engaged life. In all of their tales and anecdotes we come to see why being active throughout our lives in ways beyond prescribed exercise matters. It turns out that our basic lifestyle behaviors that keep us moving are essential to not just a longer life, but having a durable one as well. There are few better positioned than The Starrett’s to guide us through the pitfalls and traps of the snazzy fads in Health and Fitness. Having worked with elite professional athletes all over the world and been exposed to the best tech options out there, the road they have chosen is not one of gimmicks. Instead, their path is one that supports ancestral health needs which are critical to our wellbeing. Expanding and practicing movement choice, as they suggest, can shift the arc of our lives is ways that make sense over time. In a season dedicated to stress, Juliet and Kelly tell us the why and show us the how getting realigned with what our bodies need to be balanced and functional is a viable way forward. With their teachings we can modulate our harder stresses while stressing our bodies in the ways that benefit us. About: Juliet Starrett is an entrepreneur, attorney, author and podcaster. She is the former co-founder and CEO of San Francisco CrossFit, one of the first 50 CrossFit affiliates. She is the co-author Built to Move with her husband Kelly and of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Deskbound. She’s also the co-host of The Ready State Podcast. Before turning her attention to The Ready State and San Francisco CrossFit fulltime, Juliet was a professional whitewater paddler, winning three World Championships and five National Titles. She also had successful career as an attorney, practicing complex commercial litigation at Reed Smith for nearly eight years. Kelly Starrett DPT: Kelly Starrett is coach, physical therapist, author, speaker, and co-founder of The Ready State. Kelly’s clients include professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. He also works with Olympic gold-medalists, Tour de France cyclists, world and national record holding Olympic Lifting and Power athletes, Crossfit Games medalists, ballet dancers, military personnel, and competitive age-division athletes. Kelly is the author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers Becoming A Supple Leopard and Ready to Run. He is also co-author of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller Deskbound and Built to Move.

Episode Summary Chase Jackson is a jazz vibraphonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, and producer. He also just happens to be the beloved musical backbone for the How Humans Work Podcast. In Episode #29, Chase drops in for a lengthy exploration of how music and stress intersect. Fully saturated in the world of sound creation, we learn from this young master that sound, music and musicianship have much to teach. Indeed, they run parallel to other arts, sports and life endeavors when it comes to stress. In LESSONS IN TENSION we don’t just come see the connection between sound, math, culture and feelings, we also come to see through Chase’s eyes how the musical modes of artistry relate to our lived experience. Whether that is with his electronic, nu-disco, funk band Wake the Wild, running a Jazz ensemble, or jamming on the vibraphones, we get a strong sense of how Chase’s musical path has given him abundant life lessons for him. We hear how music is not only a way to get ideas across but a way to deepen into the flowing sonic conversation and as importantly, to be alive in the moment. Chase also offers us a deeper perspective on the nature of sound in human life. Wisely pointing out that our vocabulary of sounds and the reference points there in are richer and more complicated than they have ever been in human history. Our age is period of tremendous elaboration on this primal sense, and Chase Jackson is right up there when it comes to dedicating one’s life to the world of sound. Beyond the realms of music making, we come to find how the unique path of being a jazz vibraphonist called for a broader life strategy to better position himself. The adaptive moves there and elsewhere in Chase’s journey are a remarkable example of how the inner-spirit can use stressful situations to propel one’s life forward with meaning and ingenuity. Chase also generously reflects on a substantial moment in the life of his band, as well as the experience he and I shared in the Stepping Stones Coming of Age program. Episode #29 with Chase helps us to connect the dots to stress’ vital contribution to not just the world of sound, but to the sound of the world.

Episode Summary Dossie Easton is a co-author of The Ethical Slut and four other books on sex, BDSM and relationships. As a pioneer in the world of polyamory she renders fascinating and mirthful accounts of her hard-earned wisdom on navigating the dynamics of non-traditional relationships, particularly with the ethics of “sluthood.” Dossie is also a psychotherapist in private practice and an accomplished poet. Episode #28 of the How Humans Work Podcast w/Jef Szi jumps right in, as Dossie spontaneously recounts a key psychedelic experience from 1969. Her visions in this pivotal “trip” made clear that the path forward in life would be at least a five-year commitment to exploring her sexuality in a non-monogamous way. As an Ethical Slut for more than 50 years since, Dossie has a wealth of experience and wisdom to share. We had a wide-ranging conversation across nearly two hours, delving into an array of lessons and issues which are connected to non-monogamy and polyamory. Specifically we talk about: the role of feminism in sexual liberation - the “discovery” of the clitoris in 1973 - ethical tales in “one night stands” - the community benefits that come with a village of lovers - the importance of language in talking about sex - the the self discovery found in sex and relationships - how to work with sexual jealousy - the ethical responsibilities that come with difference in sexual experience - aspects of navigating polyamory - dealing with transgressors effectively - why sexual freedom requires an absence of sexism - active and receptive roles in sexual relationships unbound by gender and much more. This show is definitely one of most interesting and joyful conversations to date on the podcast. Dossie’s deep sincerity and amazing capacity to talk about matters of sex with courage and knowledge was an afternoon to be remembered. I hope you find it as thought provoking and meaningful as I did. Enjoy the show and let me know what you think.

Episode Summary The vital and lucid Dr. Kelly Starrett from The Ready State (TRS) joins the How Humans Work Podcast for a rich and captivating conversation about Stress, Fitness, & Society. In this wide-ranging episode, we get a strong feel for Kelly’s learned perspectives on a host of matters like movement, behavior change, human nature, misguided approaches to fitness, the promise of performance sport and more. With an extensive background coaching elite athletes and armed service members, Kelly breaks down why the most basic dimensions of human life (breathing, walking, fermented foods, community, etc.) ought to warrant the bulk of our attention and interest when it comes to health. With humor and energy, Kelly shows us in numerous ways how ancestral health behaviors are actually the spine for a life with durability, fitness and vitality over the outright shiny and heroic displays of elite fitness achievements. Along the way Kelly opens-up about his 13-day long episode of hiccups and how it was connected to an overload of pandemic stresses. He also shares how his forthcoming book, Built To Move, (co-authored with TRS cofounder Juliet Starrett) reflects a greater emphasis on everyday ancestral health behaviors. This nutrient packed episode also talks about pain, mobilization and so much more. Buckle your seat-belts for this one, because with relentless anecdotes and expert precision, Dr. Starrett makes a powerful case about where we should set our sights when it comes to matters of How Humans Work- matters like Stress, Fitness and Society. About Kelly Starrett DPT: Kelly Starrett is coach, physical therapist, author, and speaker. Along with his wife Juliet, Kelly is co-founder of The Ready State. Kelly’s clients include professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. He also works with Olympic gold-medalists, Tour de France cyclists, world and national record holding Olympic Lifting and Power athletes, Crossfit Games medalists, ballet dancers, military personnel, and competitive age-division athletes. Kelly is the author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers Becoming A Supple Leopard and Ready to Run. He is also co-author (with Juliet) of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller Deskbound and forthcoming book (April 2023) Built to Move. On top of co-founding The Ready State, Kelly and Juliet also started San Francisco CrossFit and StandUpKids together. Founded in 2005, San Francisco CrossFit was the 21st CrossFit affiliate in the world. And StandUpKids is a non-profit dedicated to combating kids’ sedentary lifestyles by bringing standing/moving desks to low-income public schools. To date, StandUpKids has converted 95,000 kids from sitting to standing.