Mark Serene

That was a very interesting read, thank you! I have just started Elliot Hulse's Lean-Hybrid-Muscle training program last week, and so far I feel relaxed and focused throughout the day. Last week I also gave up drinking coffee after drinking about a pot or more a day for the last few years. I really enjoy Elliot Hulse's warm-ups and energy-boosters like shaking and vibrating because they have helped tremendously as caffeine-alternatives and I feel a little more confident about myself after doing them because they make you look and feel ridiculous.

Wow thanks for the replies. Its insane how huge the antidepressant industry is and how most of the research points to it being based on false premises. I think I remember Stef talking about how certain laws were lobbied for by psychiatrists and passed that somehow made it so that insurance companies were forced to cover these drugs. Does anyone have a link or know about the podcast I am talking about? Also, I found this documentary to be pretty interesting. I'm not a huge fan of the narrator from Ripley's Believe it or Not, though haha.

Thank you for the book recommendation and reply. It does seem to be very complex. I like the metaphor of genes being a light switch that the environment turns on and off. That is very interesting what you said, Pepin, about different ways of thinking being inherited. I appreciate the brain fuel!

Is it weird that I didn't get any notifications about these replies? I guess I need to check the my content section more often. I appreciate the welcomes! I checked out the Huntington Beach Meetup page and its been inactive for a couple of years now so I started a Facebook page instead. The whole Butcher Shop thing was mainly to get a job and keep it for a year. It will be a year this February and I'll be ready to move on. I've been working in Sales on my days off which is challenging, but its something that interests me. I am trying to keep up with Bitcoin, but I feel like there is so much to read about that its a bit overwhelming. And I am drumming now only once a week with a friend who plays guitar as a fun hobby. Thanks guys!

Thank you all for all of the replies! If anyone knows about another FDR christmas call this year, please let me know! That sounds like a lot of fun. I agree that these traditional dates of celebration are expected to be somehow magical on their own, and I really like the idea of spending long evenings with close friends on other days throughout the year. Tweety, I am also looking forward to how my true self will strengthen without my FOO and congratulations on having the bravery to say no to the family-holiday drug this year. I hope it turns out well for you. Spenc, on my birthday, I received text-messages from both of my parents and phone calls with long guilt-ridden voicemails from extended-family. Also, my grandfather showed up at my work with a birthday card for me after I had told him I didn't want to see any family. I expect much more of the same for Christmas, but its easy to not respond to phone calls or text messages. Peach, I wish I found FDR when I was 13!! haha. My dad also pulled the "ungrateful" card and that was fine. I just said "I am grateful for what you given me, but that doesn't changed how you punished me." It seems like a distraction from the real issues. Also, I don't see any harm in accepting cash. Its not like you ever signed a contract that says you are now obligated to spend time with him because you accepted his gift.

I am wondering if somebody would be kind enough to offer a definition of narcissism. I understand the grandiosity and self-obsession aspects, sort of, but I am having trouble defining it in a way that relates more to virtue, if that makes any sense. Thank you.

About a month ago, I de-FOO'd. It was an email I sent to my parents, saying basically that I feel sad, anxious, and angry around them and I need to take time away from the family in order to resolve my issues. This came after several conversations where I told them how I feel and the issues I have with the punishments I received as a child, which were replied to with every rationalization, justification, and attack in the book. My dad even called me a religious fanatic for kicking people out of my life who don't share my values. (I had recently dropped most of my friendships after similar conversations.) Anyways, I have just had a birthday pass and Thanksgiving, too, and soon it will be Christmas that I will be spending without my FOO for the first time. I am having a lot of mixed emotions, feelings of guilt, anger, and anxiety, but also joy. Thanksgiving was a wonderful day spent with my girlfriend and I felt thankful that she and I were free to be ourselves together. I didn't have a purpose for this post before writing, but I felt like putting it out there because maybe you have gone through your first de-FOO'd holiday season, or maybe this, too, is your first. In either case I think its a brave step to take whenever you get corrupt people out of your life.

Firstly, I like to draw, but I don't have any skills with adobe after effects or photoshop so I'm just putting this out there to help out in some way. Here are some ideas and a possible route for a script I see. Please let me know if this helps. I think a small cartoon version of Stef could be a staple in these presentations, which could silently act out the podcast. So, in Pt. 1, Stef begins by giving some of the definitions of philosophy that he found in a Google search. Here, Stef-toon could be on a computer or reading from pieces of paper showing different emotional reactions to each of the definitions. The first would be indifference, then pleasure, and revulsion. One of the definitions is the Greek derivation of philos (love) and sophia (wisdom). Stef-toon is wearing a toga and Socrates appears for Stef to give him a big hug and kiss on the cheek. And so it would go. Let me know if this idea seems workable or if there is a better way of scripting an animated video or maybe animations would be too complex and time consuming. If someone could possibly use this to make these animations I'd be glad to continue working on these. Andrew

I think this is a great idea. I don't know much about animation, but fortunately all of these shows have been converted to text here, which will make it easier to make a storyboard/script. What would be the most important things that need to be included in a storyboard?

I'm not very good about this stuff either, but I see it as manipulative. First off, beginning with "genuinely curious" is framing the rest of the question as such, and is otherwise unnecessary. Then the question itself is implicitly stating that OP likes throwing around accusations of manipulation without any proof or argument, which itself is "throwing around an accusation of manipulation". Its a self-detonating argument.

Great video. Changed my perspective on my own frustrations in a conversation when the other person starts to distance themselves.

What's up guys and gals! I'm looking to build a local community of philosophers in Orange County, CA. I started a new group on facebook so hopefully if you're close by you will check it out. I want to set up a meeting soon. Let me know if you're interested! https://www.facebook.com/fdroc

My weekends are Monday and Tuesday, but I understand why a Saturday or Sunday would be better for most people. I would love to do an evening meetup on a weekend coming up, if anyone is interested. I was thinking the weekend of Sept. 27-28. Sunday would be better than Saturday for me because I get off work at 6 instead of 7, but either one will work. Please let me know! I really enjoyed this last meetup with Pirooz and want to get my fix on another deep and stimulating conversation soon! http://www.meetup.com/Freedomain-Radio/Huntington-Beach-CA/

I know its short notice, but if anyone near HB wants to meet we'll be at Sweet Elle's Coffee shop at 7 pm. I hope to see you there! Thanks, Andrew

I just made this Meetup for Huntington Beach on 9/9/14. If anyone is interested let me know. I will be there regardless getting my caffeine fix, but I'd be really happy if I could talk about philosophy and self-knowledge to someone other than my cup of Joe. Although he is very black and white on most issues... OH! haha http://www.meetup.com/Freedomain-Radio/Huntington-Beach-CA/1203762/

My "weekends" are Mondays and Tuesdays, but I would still be happy going after I get off work at 7 pm.

I'm really interested to know more about the nature vs. nurture debate when it comes to personality and behavior. What do genes have to do with personality? Is there any evidence for a "chemical imbalance" theory when it comes to mental disorders like depression and pathological anxiety? Are the genetic and chemical imbalance theories just marketing schemes for psychiatric drugs and cop-outs for abusive parents? Can we change our personality? How?

This is just was I have been looking for! I am in Huntington Beach and would love to meet you all!

Hi Kyle. I have been listening to FDR for only about 6 months now and have found a great interest, also, in psychology and self-knowledge. It has helped particularly well in my relationship with my girlfriend. I am really interested in providing personal/relationship therapy to people, and so have been thinking about re-applying to college. I dropped out two and a half years into my undergrad with a lot of anxiety and frustration. I have been going to weekly therapy for a few months now and am eligible to have my drop-out semester waived for medical reasons. Do you have any knowledge you would be willing to pass on to me and to others looking to start a career in pyschotherapy? I appreciate you taking the time to read this. Thank you! Mark

Greetings FDR Board Members, My name is Andrew. I have been engaged in the FDR podcasts for the past 5 months. I feel very anxious about participating in the forums, and in a deeper sense, I am afraid of feeling vulnerable. I have been gaining self-knowledge and it has led to a much more fulfilling relationship with my beautiful girlfriend and my self. I was spanked by my father when I was young. I got into a very tense argument with my parents about this atrocity a couple of months ago, and have started seeing a therapist since. I currently am avoiding seeing my parents so that I can gain the self-confidence to engage in a productive argument, at least on my end. I am 22 years old and work full-time as a butcher. I went to college for two and a half years, and dropped out on impulse to pursue my joy from drumming. This was before FDR. Now, I struggle to make long term professional goals that are more rooted in reality and my desire to help people find happiness. I love philosophy and communicating with others. I hope to start my own business one day which accepts Bitcoin. I am sorry for the rambling. I really want to be a productive member of this community and to meet lots of rational people. Thank you for reading, Andrew