Audacious with Chion Wolf

Some rituals are spiritual. Some are silly. Some are inherited, and some are self-made. Casper ter Kuile, author of The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices, walks us through how we create all sorts of meaningful, grounding rituals. And you'll hear clips from past two years of Audacious guests who have shared the rituals that matter most to them, from morning journaling and bedtime affirmations to pre-show sign-slapping. Whether you've already got your rituals down pat, or are still developing your own special routine, this episode shows you how to honor the sacred in the everyday. Suggested episodes: Forgiveness: How we define it and how it defines us Life advice, one Audacious guest at a timeKitchen objects with a story. Listen at your own whiskWhy you so salty? The anger episodeChange Of Art: Stories About Tattoo CoverupsAwe yeah! Exploring the magic of mind-blowing moments GUESTS: Casper ter KuileThe Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices. Sacred Design LabHarry Potter and the Sacred TextAudacious guests who shared their personal rituals (in order of appearance)Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if it wasn’t spiders, heights, or flying… but grass, buttons, or your own reflection that made your hands clammy and your heart race? Meet Bettina, a romantic comedy author who avoids lawns at all costs; Marcos, who dreads reflections and shaves in the shower to escape the mirror; and Mark, who hasn’t worn a shirt with buttons since he was a kid. Connecticut psychologist Dr. David Tolin helps us understand how these fears develop, how they affect daily life, and why some people choose to confront their fears, while others simply adapt. Suggested episodes: Full house: The line between collecting, clutter, and hoarding disorderAre you very superstitious or just a little 'stitious'?Snakes in their mouths and venom in their veins: Why two snake pioneers do what they do GUESTS: Dr. David Tolin: Anxiety Disorders CenterBettina Hunt:MarcosMark CardiaSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet people whose lives were upended by fire - and transformed by resilience. From the recent Los Angeles fires, we hear from Casey Colvin, who searched for days to find his beloved dog, Oreo, and 10-year-old Grayson Roberts, who lost his home, his Braille materials, and his drum kits - but not his spirit. We also talk to RoseMarie Wallace, who reflects on how losing everything made her stronger, and Leslie Wharton, who shares what 13 years of rebuilding and reflection have taught her after losing her Colorado home to a wildfire. Resources: American Red Cross: Recovering After a Fire Suggested episodes: We, The DogAftershocks: Life after getting struck by lightningThe story of the first African-American face transplant GUESTS: RoseMarie WallaceCasey ColvinOreoTeeka Teekaemotional moment of Casey finding OreoGrayson and Terica RobertsLeslie WhartonPhoenix Rising: Stories of Remarkable Women Walking Through FireHome Fires Burning.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before a sitcom rolls tape, someone has to turn a roomful of strangers into a laughing, clapping, totally-on-board studio audience. That someone? A warm-up comedian. Meet Mark Sweet, who’s spent nearly 40 years getting audiences hyped for shows like Cheers, Roseanne, and The Big Bang Theory. And Joyelle Nicole Johnson shares how warming up the crowd for Patriot Act was a part of what led her to a huge stand-up career. It’s part comedy, part crowd control, part emotional thermostat, and it might just be the most invisible job in showbiz. Until now. Suggested episodes: Why the world needs comedians with disabilitiesThe meteoric rise of comedian Zarna GargActors Mary Elizabeth Kelly and Dean Edwards on the art of impressions GUESTS: Mark Sweet:The Big Bang Theory, Full House,Two and a Half MenGeorgie & Mandy's First MarriageLeanneJoyelle Nicole Johnson:Patriot ActThe Tonight Show, Late Night with Seth MeyersLove JoySupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UPDATE: This episode originally aired June 28, 2024. Since its airing, Chion Wolf and the Audacious team were awarded a Gracie Award in the Portrait/Biography category for this episode. "The Gracie Awards recognize exemplary programming created by women, for women and about women in all facets of media and entertainment. They also acknowledge the individuals who have made inspirational contributions to the industry." Growing up, Pidgeon Pagonis was told a lot about their medical history: They were born with cancerous ovaries, so the doctors removed them to save their life. Except that wasn't true. In reality, they were born intersex. And those were not cancerous ovaries, they were undescended testes. And that was just the beginning of many truths coming out. Hear their story of discovery, and how they played a massive role in getting the hospital where they were born to reverse their policies on how they treat intersex children. Resources: interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth Intersex resource list by Pidgeon Pagonis Statements on Intersex Care at Lurie Children’s Hospital Recommended episodes: Conception deception: The fight for transparency in the fertility industry Jeffrey Marsh Loves You Being a trans woman in the trucking industry GUEST: Pidgeon Pagonis: Intersex speaker, filmmaker, and consultant; Author of the memoir, Nobody Needs to Know Jessica Severin de Martinez, Khaleel Rahman, Meg Fitzgerald, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Meg Dalton, Catie Talarski, and Reinett Chefu contributed to this show. Audacious with Chion Wolf is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Tune In, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and email. Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you regret? Explore the human experience of looking back with Daniel H. Pink, author of The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. Poet David Whyte offers his take on regret, drawing from Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. We’ll also reconnect with “Tracy” from Maryland and Stormi Huhn (“Anna” from Iowa), four years after sharing their stories of parental regret. Plus, Audacious listeners reflect on their own regrets - big, small, serious, and silly. Suggested episodes: I Regret Becoming A ParentForgiveness: How we define it and how it defines usLook For The Helpers: The Anatomy Of A DeathChange Of Art: Stories About Tattoo CoverupsNothing goes as planned: A first-time offender’s prison story from arrest to release GUESTS: Daniel H. Pink:The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward Audacious listeners who contributed their regretsDavid Whyte: Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday WordsConsolations II “Tracy”:Stormi Huhn:Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget the typical meet-cute; this episode features individuals whose paths crossed in extraordinarily unique circumstances. Alex and Sue Tatham met each other on the globally televised dating show "Blind Date" in the UK, leading to a wedding watched by millions. Heather and Tony are Disney enthusiasts who found love across continents thanks to a dating site for fellow fans, MouseMingle.com And after three years of chatting online, Robbie Romu and Avichai Sofer finally met… Only to have their relationship immediately tested by the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war during their first in-person meeting. Suggested episodes: Audacious Love Playlist GUESTS: Alex & Sue TathamBlind DateHeather & Tony LashRobbie Romu & Avichai SoferSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Explore the extraordinary impact of horses on our lives. From the unique community of Pony Play and the athleticism of hobby-horsing to the therapeutic power of horses, and a neuroscientist's exploration of life after death, this episode dives deep into how horses shape our lives. Suggested episodes: We The DogWings, pouches, and snouts: The world of uncommon emotional support animalsAnimal psychics reveal what our pets really thinkSnakes in their mouths and venom in their veins: Why two snake pioneers do what they do GUESTS: Pony Tromper:Alisa Aarniomäki:Dr. David Eagleman:Sum: Forty Tales from the AfterlivesNicole Welch, Emily Eschner, and Tonka:Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center in BristolSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology is rapidly reshaping the world, but for people with disabilities, it’s doing something even more profound - it’s redefining what’s possible. Explore how cutting-edge assistive technologies are breaking barriers, restoring independence, and revolutionizing the way people navigate the world. Sam Seavey, creator of “The Blind Life” YouTube channel, shares how AI-powered tools are game-changers for people with vision impairments. And former stuntman Jonathan Goodwin introduces Kim-e, a self-balancing mobility robot redefining independence for wheelchair users. Suggested episodes: Revealing Our Blind Spots About BlindnessMasterChef winner Christine Ha and poet Edward Hirsch on turning blindness into brillianceHearing every color, feeling every earthquake: Life as a cyborgStunt performers David Holmes and Jonathan Goodwin on life after paralysis GUESTS: Sam SeaveyThe Blind LifeRay Ban Meta AI glassesBe My Eyes appWeWalk smart cane Jonathan Goodwin: a retired stunt performer, screenwriter, keynote speaker, and hypnotherapist. In 2021, he was paralyzed while rehearsing a stunt for America's Got Talent: Extreme. He has been exploring a new piece of assistive technology called Kim-e, a self-balancing personal mobility robot Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes your jaw drop? A celestial event? A powerful piece of music? In this episode, explore awe in its many forms, from a total solar eclipse to the psychology of wonder. Psychologist Dacher Keltner breaks down the science of awe, cellist Yumi Kendall shares how music transports us, and Audacious listeners share their most treasured moments of awe. GUESTS: Mara Suttmann-Lea, Joseph Dickerson, and Stefan Keller: Dacher Keltner: Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center. He hosts The Science of Happiness podcast, and he’s the author of many scientific articles and several books, including Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life Yumi Kendall: Assistant Principal Cellist at the Philadelphia Orchestra. She founded and co-hosts the Tacet No More podcast Awestruck Audacious listeners who sent in voice memos (in order of appearance) Jessica Severin de Martinez, Meg Fitzgerald, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, and Meg Dalton contributed to this show, with help from our interns, Kathy Wang and Angelica Gajewski. Audacious with Chion Wolf is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Tune In, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and email. Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine feeling an unbearable itch, convinced that tiny insects are crawling under your skin. But no doctor believes you. You try to prove it, collecting samples, documenting everything. But under a microscope? Nothing is there. That was Paula Cox’s experience with delusional infestation, a rare disorder where people are absolutely certain they’re infested with bugs, despite all evidence to the contrary. In this episode, Paula shares her harrowing experience, and experts - a leading entomologist and a psychiatrist-dermatologist - explain what’s really happening in the brain and how healing is possible. Suggested episodes: Body Integrity Dysphoria: When being disabled is a desireWhen every face you see is distorted: Living with PMO GUESTS: Dr. Gale RidgeThe Physician's Guide to Delusional InfestationPaula CoxDelusional parasitosis helpDr. John KooMorgellons Disease: High Yield Principles for Clinical PracticeSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s it like to live in the shadow of legends and still shine? Meet Marshall Charloff, a Prince tribute artist with a personal connection to the artist himself. And Rick Torres, an Elvis impersonator whose two decades as the King has brought him to some surprising places. From the joy and empowerment of embodying their heroes to navigating the challenges of the work, they discuss the artistry behind keeping music royalty alive. Suggested episodes: Actors Mary Elizabeth Kelly and Dean Edwards on the art of impressionsYou Should Talk: Voices At WorkWhat Happens When You Act Like You Belong GUESTS: Marshall CharloffThe Purple xPeRIeNCERick TorresSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2022, Just Stop Oil protestors threw tomato soup on a Van Gogh painting in London. The world collectively gasped, but some UK lawmakers responded by supporting fewer investments in new oil projects. On this episode, meet one of those soup-throwers, and hear from two other people who have been part of creative protests: a spokesperson from an anti-circumcision group that wears all white with giant, red splotches on the groin area; and a woman who organized a college campus protest featuring thousands of sex toys to rally against Texas gun laws. GUESTS: Anna Holland:Harry GuiremandJessica JinSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What drives someone to ski solo across Antarctica or leap off cliffs in a wingsuit? Meet Liv Arnesen, the first woman to ski alone and unsupported to the South Pole, and Ellen Brennan Frat, the ‘Fastest Flying Woman in the World.’ From battling -30°F winds to soaring at 100 mph, these women share their extraordinary journeys of courage, resilience, and pushing boundaries. Suggested episodes: Below the surface: The stories behind underwater world recordsWhat solitude does to you in the wilderness and in prisonExtreme ironing, cheese rolling, and shin kicking: The world of weird sports GUESTS: Ellen Brennan FratLiv ArnesenSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever had someone finish your sentence before you even opened your mouth? Now imagine they knew what you were going to say before you did. That’s what it’s like to experience Dr. Kruti Parekh in action. Through a mix of psychology, intuition, and age-old wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita and Vedic traditions, Dr. Parekh believes we all have the potential to tap into this power. No magic wands, no crystal balls, just a deeper connection to the intuition you already have. Ready to see what your mind is really capable of? Suggested episodes: Animal psychics reveal what our pets really thinkReincarnation, past life regressions, and you (whoever you are) GUEST: Dr. Kruti Parekh: YouTubeInstagramSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can you gain when you lose your vision? Christine Ha was in her early 20s when she began losing her sight. Instead of giving up on her dreams, she taught herself how to cook - so well, in fact, that she became the first and only person who is blind to win MasterChef. Now, she’s a celebrated chef and author who’s proving that great cooking is about taste, texture, and trust - not sight. And Edward Hirsch, a poet who began losing his sight later in life, discovered something unexpected - exhilaration. He says that blindness has made him more alive, more curious, and more connected to the world in ways he never expected. Resources: American Council of the BlindLighthouse Guild Suggested episodes: Revealing Our Blind Spots About Blindness GUESTS: Christine Ha:MasterChefEdward Hirsch: “I am Going Blind, and I Now Find It Strangely Exhilarating.”Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We just aired an episode about blindness featuring the poet Edward Hirsch, and chef, Christine Ha. If you're a fan of Gordon Ramsay's cooking competition show, MasterChef, then you know exactly who Christine Ha is. But if you don't, she's the first - and only - person with blindness to win it! Now you'll hear so much more of our conversation in our podcast feed, but there was this one little bonus section that we wanted to share with you. It features one-of-a-kind questions from Chion's friend, Ashley Cook. Check out our entire Audacious interview - plus a conversation with poet Edward Hirsch, who got a LOT of responses to his New York Times opinion piece, entitled, “I am Going Blind, and I Now Find It Strangely Exhilarating. You can hear it right next to this post your podcast app! Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It all began with a single Reddit post: A Connecticut man, overwhelmed and uncertain, sought advice about what to expect as a first-time, non-violent offender facing prison. He invited us to chronicle his life before, during, and after incarceration, pulling back the curtain on a world most of us only glimpse in movies or headlines. Discover how his expectations clashed with reality in ways he never anticipated, and how his experience offers an unflinching look into the unexpected truths of life. Suggested episodes: Why'd You Do It: I snuck my incarcerated boyfriend out of prison in a dog crateWhy’d You Do It?: I Committed Nine Armed RobberiesLove without the possibility of parole GUEST: Mike West: Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Delve into the extraordinary lives of two men whose worlds are centered on venomous snakes. Jackie Bibby, a record-setting daredevil, set multiple world records, including the astonishing feat of holding 13 live rattlesnakes in his mouth. And Tim Friede has spent nearly two decades intentionally subjecting himself to hundreds of bites from some of the planet's most lethal snakes, all in the pursuit of creating a universal antivenom. Suggested episodes: Scars To Prove It: Living Through Animal Attacks(Almost) Everybody Hurts: An Exploration of PainAnimal psychics reveal what our pets really think GUESTS: Jackie Bibby:Texas Snake ManThe Texas Snake Man: A Very Nice and Kind... GentlemanTim Friede:Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the past two years, at the end of every interview, I asked every guest to tell me their favorite piece of life advice. We took dozens of our favorite clips and brought them together in this very special episode. And we also hear from Connecticut Public employees! Email your favorite piece of advice: Audacious@ctpublic.org Suggested episode: Views from the end: David Meyers GUESTS (in order of appearance): First segment:Second segment:Third segment:Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.