Almost Awakened

Brittney Hartley & Bill Reel

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The Almost Awakened Podcast is about conversations around being human. Topics include Human Development, Human Behavior, Human Connection and Intimacy, Shadow Work and all the tools and resources available to help us on that journey!!!

Healing Starts Here: Understanding the Nervous System & Trauma

Ep. 184 | Almost Awakened In this episode we explore how nervous system dysregulation affects your health, relationships, emotions, and identity—and how understanding this system can radically change the way you live and heal. Welcome to the reboot of the Almost Awakened Podcast—where big awakenings meet real-life healing. Bill Reel is joined by his new co-host, trauma coach Teresa Hobbs, and they are kicking things off with a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood—and most powerful—keys

Apr 1, • 1:21:28

Catching Up With Britt Hartley [Almost Awakened 183]

Britt Hartley returns to engage Bill on several questions that will create a fantastic awakened conversation and to reconnect on where being almost awakened has led them.

Dec 14, 2024 • 1:31:27

Creating A Fulfilling Romantic Relationship [Almost Awakened 182]

In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill shares his two month dive into relationship research. From John & Julie Gottman to Jordan Peterson RESOURCES:https://youtu.be/mS3bfCt0K88?si=qi-wdEVuZVHDJ0_phttps://youtu.be/E5swtIjpxxA?si=jpBWf28DfDMZbjtbhttps://youtu.be/PQo8hFqfe9A?si=46f4K_7rRlvVfgXihttps://youtu.be/Qv70RMUFlu0?si=lqBYi7z256AW7ME9https://youtu.be/Xvb-v83qJ8U?si=iPCFr8BISXxG2z9Hhttps://youtu.be/knVfc_B0W6E?si=CUvMcGhvT6lOSw6Zhttps://youtu.be/gh5VhaicC6g?si=6FBHmmD0xl_k63vKhttps://youtu

Jul 9, 2024 • 40:02

The Gender Dysphoria & Transgender Debate: A Foundation Conversation [Almost Awakened: 181]

Join Bill Reel and Jon Streeter in a thought-provoking conversation that delves deep into the complexities of the Gender Dysphoria & Transgender Debate. In this YouTube video, these two articulate voices engage in a nuanced exploration that transcends the surface-level discourse often seen in mainstream media. At the heart of their discussion lies a fundamental clash between two philosophical frameworks: Modern Scientific Rational Empiricism and Postmodern Relativism, which includes Gender Theo

May 2, 2024 • 3:10:41

Britt Hartley: No Nonsense Spirituality [Almost Awakened: 180]

In “No Nonsense Spirituality,” author, philosopher, and friend Britt Hartley offers a groundbreaking exploration that marries the rigor of rational inquiry with the depths of human spirituality. Best of all? No faith in the unbelievable is required. Drawing from the wellsprings of science, philosophy, religion, and psychology, this illuminating work charts a course for those who seek a meaningful life without dogma or woo. Hartley draws on her work as an atheist spiritual director to provide pr

Apr 30, 2024 • 1:38:25

Dan McClellan: Discerning Between Data and Dogma [Almost Awakened: 179]

Join hosts Bill Reel & Britt Hartley on this thought-provoking episode of Almost Awakened as they engage in a profound conversation with Dr. Dan McClellan. With a rich background in Ancient Near Eastern studies and a doctorate in the cognitive science of religion, Dr. McClellan brings a unique perspective to the table. In this interview, delve into the intricacies of Mormon doctrine, particularly examining James E. Talmage’s role in codifying beliefs about the Godhead and exploring how this app

Dec 5, 2023 • 1:21:49

Natasha Helfer & Post Religious Sexuality [Almost Awakened: 178]

In this thought-provoking episode, host Bill Reel engages in a candid and enlightening conversation with the incredible Natasha Helfer—a Mental Health & Sex Therapist. Join us as we dive deep into the realms of vulnerability, authenticity, and a topic bubbling to the surface for many: Post Religious Sexuality. Natasha brings her expertise to the table, unraveling the layers of the human experience after leaving religious frameworks. From navigating the complexities of relationships to rediscov

Nov 29, 2023 • 2:07:50

Awakened Perspectives – Manda [Almost Awakened: 177]

“Awakened Perspectives” is a transformative podcast series that invites listeners on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. In each episode, your host Bill Reel sits down with a remarkable individual who embodies a wealth of grounded life experiences and wisdom. These guests have traversed diverse paths, accumulating a treasure trove of insights and practical tools for navigating life’s complexities. Today’s Guest is Utah Family Law Lawyer Manda Beers. RESOURCES: If you need Le

Nov 21, 2023 • 1:27:56

Awakened Perspectives – Michael Foley [Almost Awakened: 175]

“Awakened Perspectives” is a transformative podcast series that invites listeners on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. In each episode, your host Bill Reel sits down with a remarkable individual who embodies a wealth of grounded life experiences and wisdom. These guests have traversed diverse paths, accumulating a treasure trove of insights and practical tools for navigating life’s complexities. Today’s Guest is Radio Personality and friend Michael Foley. RESOURCES: https:

Oct 31, 2023 • 1:34:20

Awakened Perspectives – Ammon Arave: AA: 174

“Awakened Perspectives” is a transformative podcast series that invites listeners on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. In each episode, your host Bill Reel sits down with a remarkable individual who embodies a wealth of grounded life experiences and wisdom. These guests have traversed diverse paths, accumulating a treasure trove of insights and practical tools for navigating life’s complexities. Through intimate conversations, “Awakened Perspectives” offers a rare opportun

Oct 24, 2023 • 1:44:52

Awakened Perspectives – Phil McLemore: AA: 173

“Awakened Perspectives” is a transformative podcast series that invites listeners on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. In each episode, your host Bill Reel sits down with a remarkable individual who embodies a wealth of grounded life experiences and wisdom. These guests have traversed diverse paths, accumulating a treasure trove of insights and practical tools for navigating life’s complexities. Through intimate conversations, “Awakened Perspectives” offers a rare opportun

Oct 17, 2023 • 1:56:24

Awakened Perspectives – Miles Hunsaker: AA: 172

This is the second in series of Conversations where I sit down with people to delve into the deeper conversations of humanity. People I know and respect and sense they have wisdom and experience that will benefit us all. Today that is life coach Miles Hunsaker . Miles was a gay man who grew up in a homophobic religion and tried so hard to be the human others commanded him to be. But in the end he chose to be himself and that just so happened to be one of the kindest coolest human beings on the

Oct 10, 2023 • 1:45:42

Awakened Perspectives – The Fresh King Benjamin: AA: 171

Today begins a new chapter in the Almost Awakened Podcast. A series of Conversations where I sit down with people to delve into the deeper conversations of humanity. People I know and respect and sense they have wisdom and experience that will benefit us all. Today that is Comedian and Friend, The Fresh King Benjamin. Ben Brown grew up in fundamentalist polygamy Mormonism and knows a thing or two about trauma, about calling out bullshit, and about reconstructing a healthy vibrant life. I think

Oct 5, 2023 • 2:06:15

Looking Back & Looking Forward: AA: 170

Britt and Bill sit down to look back at the work they have done and to discuss the future of Britt, of Bill, and of the Podcast.

Sep 28, 2023 • 1:37:33

The Future Of The Almost Awakened Podcast: AA: 169

The Almost Awakened Podcast has some news to share and we wanted to tell our audience that news and how it will affect the show. And we have a short discussion on Trauma

Sep 19, 2023 • 44:28

Baring it All With The Naked Pastor: Almost Awakened: 168

In this enlightening episode, we delve deep into the life and philosophy of the Naked Pastor, a remarkable figure whose journey from the pulpit to the canvas has captivated hearts worldwide. Known for his candid approach to faith and art, the Naked Pastor offers a raw and authentic perspective on spirituality. Join us as we uncover the roots of his unique artistic expression and how it intertwines with his spiritual beliefs. From his early struggles with conventional religious norms to his brea

Sep 13, 2023 • 1:11:03

Christ, Krishna, & the Buddha – A Mystical Approach W/ Bob Peck: AA: 167

Christ, Krishna, and the Buddha with Bob Peck, Mystic Author Almost Awakened: 167 “Christ, Krishna, and the Buddha” is a exploration of the lives and teachings of three iconic spiritual figures who have left an indelible mark on the world. We sit down with mystic author Bob Peck delving into each of these spiritual figures investigating their timeless wisdom, remarkable stories, and enduring legacies of Jesus Christ, Lord Krishna, and Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha. Bob Peck is a festi

Sep 5, 2023 • 1:33:52

Barbie & the Heroine’s Journey: Almost Awakened: 166

Barbie & the Heroines Journey Bill and Britt outline the heroines journey and how it differs from the hero’s journey. RESOURCES: https://heroinejourneys.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/victoria-schmid.jpgWeird Barbie – https://creations.mattel.com/products/weird-barbie-barbie-the-movie-hyb84https://heroinejourneys.com/heroines-journey/https://maureenmurdock.com/articles/articles-the-heroines-journey/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroine’s_journeyhttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/22/books/maria-tatar-

Aug 29, 2023 • 1:15:35

Vulnerability With The Other: Almost Awakened: 165

Brene Brown has said that, “practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives.” She defines spirituality in terms of connection to others and to a power greater than ourselves. For some, they call a greater power God. For others, they call it nature, or fishing. Whatever name we use for our greater power, there is one skill that is essential to connecting deeply to it and to other people in our lives, and that is vulnerability. Join us as we have a convers

Aug 22, 2023 • 1:41:14

Celtic Spirituality: Almost Awakened: 164

Celtic Spirituality is not a church. It was never formed into a unified institution. So what is it? And how can learning about it help people dispossessed of their early religious formation continue to explore their spirituality? How does this tradition of “Insular Christianity” originating in the British Isles survive without a formal religious structure? This and more is what we hope to discover in a conversation with Father Scott Jenkins. Scott holds a Master of Divinity and is a trained pas

Aug 15, 2023 • 1:35:40

Mysticism & Esoterica: Almost Awakened: 163

Delve into the intricate relationship between mysticism, religion, societal control, and progress in this thought-provoking podcast episode. Explore how mysticism, the pursuit of direct spiritual experience, weaves through diverse religious traditions, fostering inner transformation and unity with the divine. Uncover the “wounded healer” archetype, where personal suffering becomes a wellspring of wisdom, guiding others on their spiritual journeys. Discover the common themes linking esoteric pra

Aug 8, 2023 • 1:35:25

Values, Perspectives, & Taking The Tie: AA: 162

In this podcast, we present six beautifully crafted parables, each designed to illuminate the significance of values and perspectives in resolving conflicts. Through these timeless tales, we celebrate the art of taking a tie – whether through compromise, agreeing to disagree, or fostering room for understanding. Join us on this insightful voyage as we reflect on the significance of values and perspectives in resolving conflicts, and how taking a tie can lead to profound understanding and unity.

Aug 7, 2023 • 39:08

Controversial Conversations: Almost Awakened: 161

In this thought-provoking episode of The Almost Awakened Podcast, we courageously delve into the heart of some of the most contentious and divisive topics of our time. Guided by a commitment to open-mindedness, empathy, and enlightenment, we embark on a journey to explore the complexities of highly controversial conversation topic such as euthanasia, security vs. privacy, individualism vs. tribalism, self-reliance, and systemic issues such as racism. In this episode, we challenge each other and

Jul 26, 2023 • 1:36:27

Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Unveiling the Layers of the Self: AA: 160

Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Unveiling the Layers of the Self: AA: 160 In this follow-up episode, we delve back into the Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, a groundbreaking modality that seeks to understand and heal the multiple facets of our inner selves. Jana ( and Bill are rejoined by Cory Reese (a professional therapist who utilizes IFS) together with experienced IFS practitioner Katrina Appiah, explore the core concepts of IFS, such as parts, self, and the role of the therapist. Lis

Jul 20, 2023 • 1:51:23

An Introduction To Integral theory: AA: 159

In this Episode of Almost Awakened we take a look at Integral theory also known as Spiral Dynamics, a cognivitive development model made famous by Ken Wilber. We take a look a Introductory Look at this the through the lens of its facets of stages, states, lines of development, Types, and Quadrants RESOURCES: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2164956120952733 https://spiraldynamicsintegral.nl/en/about-sdi/integral-theory/ https://integraleuropeanconference.com/integral-theory/ https:

Jul 11, 2023 • 1:27:39

Clinical Perspective On Spirituality & Psychedelics: AA: 158

Today on the Almost Awakened Podcast Bill sits down with Licensed Professional Counselor and Author Sarah Westbrook to discuss the intersection of Psychedelics & Spirituality within therapy. RESOURCES: daisygirlcommunications.com https://unpackingmormonism.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingcrazy/ Sarah’s Email – daisygirlcommunications@gmail.com

Jul 8, 2023 • 2:07:53

How to Stop People Pleasing with Sara Fisk: AA: 157

While being kind and thoughtful others are traits that are correlated with thriving relationships, when they dominate to the detriment of our own needs, wants, and feelings, relationships can suffer. Bill and Jana will be joined by seasoned coach, Sara Fisk, host of The Ex-Good Girl podcast, to explore how people pleasing shows up and how it damages connection to others and also to ourselves and what we can do about it. This and more on this week’s episode of Almost Awakened – https://almostawa

Jul 5, 2023 • 1:12:11

Internal Family systems – Therapy Talking To Your Parts: Almost Awakened: 156

One of the big modalities currently in therapeutic practices is “Internal Family Systems” or “IFS” and the idea that the core you can learn to communicate with the parts that protect you and the parts of that have been exiled due to shame and fear.  IFS is showing itself to be a deeply productive way to do inner work and today Bill is joined by LCSW Cory Reese and they set the ground work for what IFS is and how it works.  The plan is to follow-up with another episode that models IFS conversati

Jun 27, 2023 • 1:29:07

What Can We Say About the Nature Of Reality – Part 2: AA: 155

Bill Reel and Gabe go for round 2 of looking at the nature of reality. They look at various models of seeing the world, check in on Modern Science such as Quantum Physics, and share insights from their own learning and experience to investigate if the world we all believe we are seeing is in fact reality.

Jun 20, 2023 • 1:56:19

What Can We Say About the Nature Of Reality: Almost Awakened: 154

Bill Reel and Gabe take a long look at the nature of reality.  They look at various models of seeing the world, check in on Modern Science such as Quantum Physics, and share insights from their own learning and experience to investigate if the world we all believe we are seeing is in fact reality. A Little more Mormonism than normal but the conversation is definitely Almost Awakened !

Jun 5, 2023 • 2:37:14

7 Kinds of Atheism & 7 New Religions: AA: 153

What are the 7 variations of atheism and the 7 new religions on the rise. Based on two books – The Seven Types of Atheism by John Gray and Strange Rites: New Religions in a Godless World by Tara Burton

May 31, 2023 • 1:41:18

Almost Awakened: 152: Transhumanism – A New Religion?

Hartley and Reel sit down with Lincoln Cannon to discuss Transhumanism and to evaluate if it could, in fact, become a new religion. RESOURCES: https://lincoln.metacannon.net/

May 25, 2023 • 1:49:26

Nihilism, Anti-Natalism, and the Dark Arts w/ Matt Hershberger: Almost Awakened: 151

today we talk with TikTok sensation Matt Hershberger, whose interests lie in Nihilism, Anti-Natalism, and the Dark Arts. resources:https://betterstrangers.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@betterstrangersbooks

May 9, 2023 • 1:27:40

Top 10 Changes That Lead To Better Human Societies: Almost Awakened: 150

Hundreds of thousands of years, maybe millions, and this is the furthest we have come in creating a healthy world of Humans. War, genocide, starvation, homelessness, Poor or non-existent healthcare, abuse, & trauma. Today we lay out and discuss 10 Changes that would elevate our human race to a healthier state of peace, health, and inner wellbeing.The New Ten Commandments – https://chat.openai.com/  Respect the dignity and worth of every human being. Practice empathy and compassion towards othe

May 3, 2023 • 1:13:45

How To Recognize Cult Mind Control: Almost Awakened: 149

We sit down with Jonathon Streeter, founder of the Blog and Youtube Channel “Thoughts On Things And Stuff” to discuss the manipulative tactics of High Demand Religions and how to spot them immediately. RESOURCES:https://thoughtsonthingsandstuff.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVTCFh3uDMH0GZlwl1JOoHQhttps://www.facebook.com/ThoughtsOnThingsAndStuff/

Apr 26, 2023 • 2:08:21

Almost Awakened: 148: Sexual Abuse In The Zen Buddhist Community

In This Week’s episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, Hartley and Reel peek behind the curtain of Zen Buddhism to discuss the rampant sexual misconduct happening there. We are so used to hearing about sexual abuse with Catholicism or Mormonism or the Jehovah’s Witnesses but while sort of unexpected, Buddhist circles are also deeply affected by these atrocious acts. We sit down with TikTok’r @LifeAfterZen to discuss this sensitive issue and to learn how we can better be aware of and address the

Apr 18, 2023 • 1:52:46

Almost Awakened: 147: Maslow’s Unpublished Work – Self Transcendence

Abraham Maslow’s pyramidal “Hierarchy of Needs” model is a highly-influential way of organizing human needs from the most “basic” to the most advanced. Maslow’s argument […]

Apr 11, 2023 • 1:26:19

Almost Awakened: 146: A Magical Conversation With An Atheist Witch

Hartley and Reel sit down TikTok Sensation Jordan The Grey Witch, an Atheist Witch to discuss what it even means in 2023 to be a witch and how being a witch plays out. https://www.tiktok.com/@jordanthegreywitch

Apr 4, 2023 • 1:24:54

Almost Awakened: 145: Lisa Miller: Spirituality and Awakeness

Today we sit down with Dr. Lisa Miller author of “The Awakened Brain” and “The Spiritual Child”. The discussion centers around spirituality and awakeness and what the science and research says about both. How can we humans be our best healthiest selves? How can we thrive while also progressing as a species to achieve our potential? Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and a professor in the clinical psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia

Mar 28, 2023 • 1:52:15

Almost Awakened: 144: Revisiting the Four Agreements For The Very First Time

Hartley and Reel take on a conversation around the book “The Four Agreements” by Miguel Ruiz. Reel has read the book 4 times but Hartley is tackling the content for the very first time. This will be the backdrop of this incredible conversation. “The Four Agreements” is a self-help book written by Don Miguel Ruiz. It offers a code of conduct based on ancient Toltec wisdom that can help transform one’s life by breaking free from self-limiting beliefs and behaviors.The book’s insights can be summa

Mar 21, 2023 • 2:09:54

Almost Awakened: 143: Religion – 10 Reasons to Leave & 10 Reasons To Stay

Brian McLaren has proposed 10 reasons to stay inside Religion and 10 reasons to leave Religion. Hartley and Reel dive into this list and share their thoughts and contemplate how much weight these reasons might have and what these reasons bring up within them.

Mar 17, 2023 • 2:07:20

Almost Awakened 142: Gen Z Spirituality Program – Modern Options For Teens

Britt runs solo this week exploring a course for Teens she has created. The conversation will delve into what that course looks like and who it is designed for and will share several facets of Gen Z Spirituality.

Mar 13, 2023 • 54:41

Almost Awakened: 141: How Consciousness Feels About Trauma

Bill will be flying solo today (Britt had step away from this week’s episode due to an unexpected event). and discussing a couple of thoughts he had this week and to discuss the mass exodus out of Christianity.

Feb 28, 2023 • 1:02:45

Almost Awakened: 140: The 5 Big Personality Traits

The 5 Big Personality Traits are openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Everyone of us at any given moment fall somewhere on a spectrum within each of these traits. These traits affect our mood, our energy, our behavior, our ability to connect with others, how we disagree, and how we perceive our outer and inner world. Reel and Hartley not only explain each trait and how such affects our perception and behavior but also give a ton of examples and insights int

Feb 21, 2023 • 1:47:59

Almost Awakened: 139: Beyond God and Religion

Hartley and Reel sit down with “Faith Transition Coach” Kyle Bishop to discuss the process of deconstruction and what lies beyond God and Religion? RESOURCES:https://www.beyondgodandreligion.com/

Feb 14, 2023 • 1:37:42

Almost Awakened: 138: Thoughts on The Psychology Of Stutz

Hartley and Reel welcome back Jana Spangler as their guest to discuss the Netflix Program “Stutz”. Stutz features Jonah Hill’s conversation with his friend and therapist, Phil Stutz as they try to present Phil’s unique, visual model of therapy To come to the conversation prepared, please take the opportunity to watch Stutz on Netflix. RESOURCES:https://www.netflix.com/title/81387962https://www.thetoolsbook.com/tools/insecurity

Feb 7, 2023 • 1:34:19

Almost Awakened: 137: “Isms” – What Isms Make Sense to You?

An ISM is defined as “a distinctive doctrine, cause, or theory”. And in this week’s episode we explore just that. Everything from Theism to Nihilism to Absurdism and everything in between. What Ism’s do you ascribe to and how useful are the labels known as Isms. Isms –  Is there a God? Theism, Deism, Atheism, Agnosticism Theism – Belief in a supreme being, especially a belief in one supreme entity as a creator of the universe intervening intentionally and having a personal relationship with hum

Jan 31, 2023 • 2:08:34

Almost Awakened: 136: The Magic of The Mushroom

In this week’s episode, Bill sits down with Mushroom Medicine Minister, Gabi, and we discuss mushrooms as a tool. We will touch on the ancient traditions in which Mushrooms have been used. We will discuss the how this tool is used generally and discuss several specific Mushroom species. We will hit on Gabi’s work as a Mushroom Medicine Minister and what that entails.Sam Harris has said – “I have two daughters who will one day take drugs. Of course, I will do everything in my power to see that t

Jan 24, 2023 • 1:36:33

Almost Awakened: 135: Do We have Free Will with David Lawrence

Hartley and Reel sit down with Author David Lawrence to explore Free Will. Do we have Free Will? Are we the one’s in control of our choices? David seeks to offer a counterpoint to Sam Harris’ argument that there is in fact no Free Will and this conversation is one you won’t want to miss!RESOURCES:https://smile.amazon.com/Are-We-Really-Biochemical-Robots/dp/B09WHPYX3Y/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TComkS60UU8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCGtkDzELAIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCofmZlC72

Jan 17, 2023 • 1:50:38

Almost Awakened: 134: Conscious Stories With Andrew Newman

Hartley & Reel sit down with renowned children’s author Andrew Newman to discuss his series “Conscious Stories” Each book seeks to help children grasp the practice of meditation, helping them begin to comprehend complex emotions, exercises to regulating one’s feelings, and helping them develop tools on the way to healthy adulthood. RESOURCES: Andrews Author Profile on Amazon (Amazon Smile) – https://smile.amazon.com/stores/Andrew-Newman/author/B00L5OEAI8?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegr

Jan 10, 2023 • 1:39:34

Almost Awakened: 133: Faith After Doubt Part 3

Hartley and Reel once again invite Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller on to dive deep into the idea of Doubt. This is the Third and Final part using Brian McLaren’s book “Faith After Doubt” as the framing for this conversation. And along the way they hope to address how to move away from right belief in to encompassing Love and how to hold people as they are while make a big box for other’s humanity to fit in. RESOURCES: Resources for building wonder, resilience, and compassion at home https://

Jan 3, 2023 • 1:54:51

Almost Awakened: 132: Sound Therapy with Jess Foutz

Today Bill sits down with his good friend and past guest Jess Foutz to discuss her work in Sound Therapy. Sound therapy is the practice of using beautiful sounding instruments to help you be both present and to go deep within yourself to process things in your past or present life. Jess gives us the example of multiple instruments that she owns and plays and around these instruments we engage in a deep conversation around music and sound. RESOURCES: Grow With Soul Website – https://www.growwith

Dec 26, 2022 • 1:26:37

Almost Awakened: 131: Jesus As A Wisdom Teacher – Christmas Special

Hartley and Reel decide to celebrate the Christmas Season by diving into their favorite stories that surround Christ. In spite of not holding a literal view of the Christ figure of the New Testament they still find a way to draw out modern spirituality through the stories attributed to the Christ figure!

Dec 20, 2022 • 1:46:29

Almost Awakened: 130: Spiritual Atheism with Nick Jankel

Spiritual Atheist is a ground-breaking ‘philosophical memoir’ that draws on the author’s knowledge of cutting-edge neuroscience, physics, and psychology; his insights into wisdom traditions like Taoism, Kabbalah, Advaita Vedanta, Buddhism, Zen, and Sufism; and twenty years experience leading hundreds of major organizations, and tens of thousands of individuals, to transform themselves. Unable to find lasting happiness with religion, reason, pills, therapy, partying, wealth, success, or entrepre

Dec 13, 2022 • 1:48:58

Almost Awakened: 129: Faith After Doubt Part 2

Britt & Bill once again invite Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller on to dive deep into the idea of Doubt. This is the second of three parts using Brian McLaren’s book “Faith After Doubt” as the framing for this conversation. And along the way they hope to address the following. Doubt as Descent Doubt as Dissent Doubt as Love Doubt as a Human Problem Faith, Beliefs, and Revolutionary LoveRESOURCES:Part 1 – https://youtu.be/3iFBEtHQZqIJon Paulien Stages of Faith – http://www.thebattleofarmaged

Dec 6, 2022 • 1:54:00

Almost Awakened: 128: Human Biases

Most of us believe inside our mind that we are being objective, fair, and reasonable. And at the same time we sort of grasp we are not and that our mind leans towards beliefs, conclusions, and taking sides on various issues. Today we discuss biases and how they affect us and how we can best avoid them which in turn helps us be more present in reality. RESOURCES: Brian McLaren on biases – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-how-to-see-with-brian-mclaren/id1532685433 wiki List of cogni

Nov 29, 2022 • 1:40:26

Almost Awakened 127: Chiron and the Wounded Healer

A dive into Greek Mythology and archetype for this episode. Chiron was the wisest of all centaurs, who can teach a lot about our wounds. It is in our wounds that we are healed.

Nov 16, 2022 • 28:59

Almost Awakened: 126: Thomas Jay Oord – Open & Relational Theology – A Modern View Of God

Hartley and Reel sit down with Theologian and Philosopher Thomas Jay Oord to discuss Theology. Namely how Religion helps us connect with our inner and outer world. How humans are social creature who crave connection and whose minds seeks meaning constantly. Oord, Hartley, and Reel facilitate a conversation where we look into the Idea of GOD and if can can create a framing for God that allows us to dismiss the unhealthy facets of belief and religion. And if we take out all the unhealthy, if the

Nov 8, 2022 • 1:42:36

Almost Awakened: 125: Faith After Doubt Part 1

Britt & Bill once again invite Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller on to dive deep into the idea of Doubt. Using Brian McLaren’s book “Faith After Doubt” as the framing for this conversation. And along the way they hope to address the following.* Doubt as Loss – How did you experience doubt as a loss?* Doubt as Loneliness – How did doubt bring loneliness?* Doubt as Crisis  -How did doubt bring crisis?* Doubt as Doorway – What did doubt open up for you?* Doubt as Growth – What growth did you experi

Nov 1, 2022 • 1:28:46

Almost Awakened: 124: Navigating Difficult Conversations

On this weeks episode Bill and Britt discuss How to have “Difficult Conversations”. When a Hard Disagreement occurs, often our Egos get in the way of having hard conversations where both sides feel heard and understood. Often even small conversations with nothing at stake can have us misunderstanding each other. So today Bill & Britt share their insights into how to navigate difficult conversations. Resources For Hard Conversations:https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/difficult-conversations/http

Oct 25, 2022 • 1:58:16

Almost Awakened: 123: The B.I.T.E. Model – How Mind Control Works

Often when we hear “Brainwashing” or “Mind Control” it feels weird or a little science fiction to us. In reality, mind control refers to a specific set of methods and everyday normal appearing techniques that influence how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Our minds can easily be influenced… simply notice the billions spent in advertising. So in today’s episode Britt & Bill discuss Steven Hassan’s work with the B.I.T.E. Model which is the manipulation of (B)ehavior, (I)nformation, (T)hought,and

Oct 18, 2022 • 1:17:02

Almost Awakened: 122: Privilege & Broken Systems – And The Invitation to Wake Up

Bill runs solo today and decides to talk about Privilege. How privilege permits a person or group of people to redistribute negatively felt experiences or trauma and allowing others or imposing others take that additional trauma or negative experience on. He then talks about who were the system makers. Why did we choose them to be our voice? To make our systems? To create our rules? Bill points out that even when someone comes along such as Jesus to help us deconstruct the system and hold syste

Oct 8, 2022 • 57:35

Join Our Team & Help Us Support Those Navigating Changes in Belief

Please consider donating today. Visit https://mormondiscussions.org/ or https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/ and Click the Donate Button and select your favorite podcast or donate to the entity generally by selecting “Mormon Discussion Inc.” Please help us help the next wave of folks who will need support OTHER WAYS TO SUPORT US Donorbox – Simply visit https://donorbox.org/umbrella-entity and simply fill out the on screen formYoutube – You can donate through our Youtube Channel by visiting http

Oct 4, 2022 • 7:50

Almost Awakened: 121: Dangerous Ideas

Britt and Bill explore the concept of “Dangerous Ideas”. Ideas that have the potential to turn our world upside down or to cause disruption to current systems, the outside world, or chaos to the inner mind.QUESTIONS DISCUSSED Sending signals into space to contact extraterrestrial life Is not having a concept of Free Will dangerousBelieving jesus will return and set everything straightLove your enemy Having a worldwide basic living income Capitalism for prisons Humans came into the world rather

Oct 4, 2022 • 2:18:09

Almost Awakened: 120: Who is Gen Z

This Week Britt & Bill take a look as various data including the Pew Research Data and try to extrapolate some of the shifts away and beyond from past generations, that Generation Z is making. How are they different from their parents and Grandparents and how healthy or unhealthy might these shifts be. And where do they fall in their trust and loyalty to religious systems and systems generally.SLIDE SHOW SLIDE 1 Who is Gen Z  Generation X is anyone born from 1965 to 1980. Baby boomers are anyon

Sep 20, 2022 • 1:53:56

Almost Awakened: 119: Contemplation Tree

The Tree of Contemplative Practices illustrates some of the many contemplative practices used in education and secular organizations. In this Episode Britt & Bill walk us through this graphic discussing its meaning and usefulness. On the Tree of Contemplative Practices, the roots symbolize the two intentions that are the foundation of all contemplative practices: cultivating awareness and developing a stronger connection to God, the Divine, or inner wisdom. The roots of the tree encompass and t

Sep 13, 2022 • 1:32:08

Almost Awakened: 118: Attachment Styles

Bill and Britt Discuss the four Attachment styles. What are the Attachment Styles. What leads to someone displaying said style. What is healthy and unhealthy about each. And what can be done if anything to move towards a secure attachment style. RESOURCES:https://www.attachmentproject.com/blog/four-attachment-styles/#:~:text=There%20are%20four%20adult%20attachment,Secure Anxious Attachment: Causes & Symptoms Avoidant Attachment Style: Causes & Symptoms Disorganized Attachment: Causes & Sym

Sep 6, 2022 • 1:25:06

Almost Awakened: 117: Jared Anderson – What is Religious Humanism

Religious Humanism seeks to heal the world through religion done better. It uses the cultural technology of religion to foster individual and collective thriving, and aims this uniquely motivating force at the urgent problems that confront us today. We sit down with Humanist Chaplain Jared Anderson to discuss Religious Humanism is and how its approach plays out in the world. RESOURCES: Jared’s 4 Meditation Points as a mystic – Integrity, Expedience, Life, Elegance 6 words to live by: Compassion

Aug 30, 2022 • 1:52:47

Almost Awakened: 116: Spiritual Bypassing

Britt & Bill tackle Spiritual Bypassing on todays episode. Spiritual bypassing describes a tendency to use spiritual explanations to avoid complex psychological issues. Rather than working through hard emotions or confronting unresolved issues, people would simply dismiss them with spiritual explanations. RESOURCES: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-spiritual-bypassing-5081640#:~:text=Spiritual%20bypassing%20is%20a%20way,Avoiding%20feelings%20of%20anger https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blo

Aug 24, 2022 • 1:59:12

Almost Awakened: 115: Morality and Ethics Post Religion Pt 2

We pick up from last week’s episode and continue the conversation here in Part 2. Where does morality come from and how best might we humans nudge to a more effective way to create and perpetuate a healthier morality. RESOURCES:Sam Harris – TED Talk “Science can answer moral questions” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj9oB4zpHwwSam Harris — The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU0FeV3wj44How Morality Has the Objectivity that Matters—Witho

Aug 19, 2022 • 1:27:10

Almost Awakened: 114: Good Without God – Redefining Morality Post Deconstruction

In this Episode Britt and Bill tackle a question that often comes up. If you leave religion how will you know right from wrong and how will you maintain a healthy morality rather than a laissez-faire attitude where anything goes?RESOURCES:Sam Harris – TED Talk “Science can answer moral questions” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj9oB4zpHww Sam Harris — The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU0FeV3wj44 How Morality Has the Objectivity that

Aug 12, 2022 • 1:35:16

Almost Awakened: 113: Deconstructing Religion

We sit down with Mike Bahr who deconstructed his religious system later in life. We discuss what all is involved in deconstruction. The letting go of beliefs, the re-evaluating the existence of God, and the loss of community. But we also talk about how for most this feels like growth and involves feeling happier and more content with life.

Jul 31, 2022 • 1:26:11

Almost Awakened: 112: The Invention & Evolution Of The Word Of God

Britt and Bill pick up off last week’s conversation where they discussed the benefits of a religious narrative and religious community when one is faced with tragedy and trauma and attempt in this conversation to help us understand how we got there. How did God come to be? Which Gods had more holding power? What functions did these adaptations have for helping groups of humans collaborate and perpetuate?RESOURCES: Hidden Brain Podcast – Creating God – https://www.npr.org/2018/07/16/628792048/cr

Jul 22, 2022 • 1:31:40

Almost Awakened: 111: Religion & Post-Religion In Times Of Trauma

Britt comes back to update us on her life and to expound with Bill on the idea of how Religion helps us to deal with trauma. And How one receives such support outside a religious paradigm. They hope to help you see value in the mechanisms religions bring to the table and to help us all figure out how to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Bad things are going to happen to each of us and if we are going to create a better world we need to consider how these systems were built in order to

Jul 15, 2022 • 1:27:11

Almost Awakened: 110: An Introduction to Conscious Altering Tools

The world is finally coming around to see the value in psychedelic drugs. These drugs are offering new and incredible ways to help people navigate the outside world and their own inner world and are giving people a way to treat PTSD and depression with huge success. On today’s episode Bill and Fin go into depth about a handful of these tools to discuss what they are, how they are used, and what to avoid or consider, and how to have the best chance at a good experience. They take on Cannabis, Ma

Jul 6, 2022 • 2:07:31

Almost Awakened: 109: Cannabis and Contemplation

Bill flies solo today and talks about several insights he has had over the last week along with discussing a bit of his relationship with cannabis and mentions a few other drugs.   He discusses the good that comes from Cannabis and how such conscious altering tools create a space for a healthier ego and a deeper awareness of how we humans are handling tension inside us.   And Bill shares some insights that came from his altered consciousness. Also with Britt having stepped back for the foreseea

Jun 29, 2022 • 35:00

Almost Awakened: 108: Spirituality in Trauma and Britt’s Farewell

Britt shares an update on her family situation and thoughts about spirituality in trauma after religion.To help Britt, her daughter and their family please consider the following options1.) You can donate to the Almost Awakened Podcast and where Britt receives a significant majority of the funds collected. https://almostawakened.org/donate-to-almost-awakened-podcast/ (Tax Deductable) 2.) You can send money directly to Britt through her Venmo @brittsterhartley (NOT Tax Deductable) 3.) You help

Jun 18, 2022 • 30:31

Almost Awakened: 107: Separating Spirituality From Woo

Britt and Bill take a look at spiritual practices on the edges of society. Tarot, Necromancy, Divination, Crystals, Clairvoyance, Reiki, and many others. What is real and what isn’t and how can we know. And if some or even all of these practices contain no real supernatural processes, can they still be useful?

Jun 7, 2022 • 1:54:20

Almost Awakened: 106: Friendship & Social Etiquette

Bill & Britt dive into some wisdom around friendship and what it takes to be in relationship with others. We discuss little intricacies that we have learned over the years that will contribute to healthy relationships and community

May 31, 2022 • 1:38:02

Almost Awakened: 105: Switchpoint -Addressing Homelessness

Bill sits down with Carol Hollowell, founder and Executive Director of SwitchPoint. Switchpoint is a non-profit whose goal is to tackle homelessness and poverty throughout the state of Utah. They are doing this in dynamic ways that hitting the issue head on. Today we sit down and talk about the problem of homelessness in the state of Utah and cover what Switchpoint is doing to make a difference. RESOURCES: Switchpoint WebsiteHomelessness in UtahFacets of Switchpoint ShelterLow income housin

May 25, 2022 • 1:17:56

Almost Awakened: 104: Shame and Pain in Social Interactions

Today Bill flies solo and discusses the mechanisms and process by which two parties in a shared social space relieve each other of the pain or trauma and the shame or guilt when one party disrupts another. Once we grasp how this process works and what is going on underneath, we are much more likely to show up in a way that allows for real accountability, safe space for processing, and an easier time releasing the discomfort or trauma RESOURCES:https://www.nature.com/articles/srep10639https://ww

May 23, 2022 • 46:21

Almost Awakened: 103: Kimber Dutton “Just Be Your Bad Self”

Bill and Britt sit down with Kimber Dutton, host of the podcast “Just Be Your Bad Self” to explore a conversation around being the bad ass person you are without the limitations the world places on you and even the limitations you place on your self. The topics we hope to center the conversation on are – Authenticity – Letting Go Of Perfection – Moving On From Patriarchy – Self Love and AcceptanceResources:https://www.justbeyourbadself.com/

May 17, 2022 • 1:30:39

Almost Awakened: 102: Psychedelics As Conscious Altering Tools

Britt and Bill tackle the topic of Drugs or better yet Psychedelics, as “Conscious Altering Tools”. What is their usefulness, thoughts on safety, ideas around the experiences they provide, the therapeutic benefits being shown in studies, and a conversation around why these substances were labeled as bad when we are now finding they have the ability to do so much good. I have two daughters who will one day take drugs. Of course, I will do everything in my power to see that they choose their drug

May 10, 2022 • 1:20:28

Almost Awakened: 101: The Enneagram with Jessa Bangerter

Bill & Britt sit down with Jessa Bangerter to go over the Enneagram. The Enneagram is a model of the human psyche which is principally understood and taught as a typology of nine interconnected personality types. Understanding these types and where you are and where those in relationship with you are can be helpful to creating empathy and understanding for their humanityENNEAGRAM TESTS :https://globalleadershipfoundation.com/rheti/test.htmlhttps://www.truity.com/af/doyle.evan_2710315https://www

May 3, 2022 • 1:56:27

Almost Awakened: Guest Episode: Bill Reel is interviewed on Saints and Sufis with David Peck

David Peck, host of the podcast “Of Saints and Sufis” sits down with Bill Reel to explore the juxtaposition of Religion & Spirituality. They dive into what it means for Bill to describe himself as an atheist and a mystic and they then explore where Religion seems to miss the mark defining the undefinable while offering what Spirituality does in order to point the person to their own inner workings and own mystical experiences  and their own interpretation of those experiences.

Apr 28, 2022 • 1:16:35

Almost Awakened: 100: Spiritual Education for Non-Religious Families with Jon Ogden

The number one question heard by us from those who after having committed to stepping away from their religious system is “How am I going to raise healthy, wise, responsible children post religious deconstruction?” The answer to that is now easy…. UPLIFT.  Britt and Bill sit down with Jon Ogden, one of the creators of “Uplift”, a program designed to give your kids an inner compass utilizing resources designed to create weekly spiritual experiences that build wonder, resilience, and compassion

Apr 26, 2022 • 1:36:07

Almost Awakened: 099: Jonah, the Whale, and Existential Fears

Britt does a deep dive into soul work through the story of Jonah and the Whale. She discusses the four existential fears, the places humans avoid most of all. Dive into the story and into your own fears to see what peace comes on the other side.

Apr 19, 2022 • 39:58

Almost Awakened: 098: Noah Rasheta & Secular Buddhism

Britt and Bill sit down with author and the host of the “Secular Buddhism” Podcast, Noah Rasheta, and discuss second half of life principles and how secular Buddhism can be utilized to lean into growth and compassionate living. RESOURCES:No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C31XJGP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0Secular Buddhism: Eastern Thought for Western Minds – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7Y7953/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1The 5-Minute Mindful

Apr 12, 2022 • 1:15:09

Guest Episode: Bill Reel interviewed about “Free Will”

Bill Reel was interviewed on the podcast “Rameumptom Ruminations” and below is a synopsis of the episodeIs there space for agency to exist in our causal and determined world? After listening to a recent Mormonism live episode where Bill and RFM discussed Agency with their guest Carah, Scott invited Bill onto the show to discuss the subject in further detail. This episode is a primer on the debate over the existence of a free will. In it, they cover determinism, compatibilism, and libertarianism

Apr 11, 2022 • 1:04:57

Almost Awakened: 097: Sex Therapy 101 with Cami Hurst

Britt and Bill sit down with Cami Hurst, host of the podcast “Sex Therapy 101” and discuss common issues within intimacy and relationships. Her podcast can be found at https://camihurst.com/sex-therapy-101-podcast. Cami’s Bio: As a personal counselor I operate from a place of compassionate curiosity. I will help you visualize and own what you are wanting in life, explore blocks keeping you from attaining it, and walk with you towards realizing your personal power and internal authority. As a co

Apr 5, 2022 • 1:13:43

Almost Awakened: 096: Religion For Atheists

Today we dive into Alain De Botton’s Ted Talk Atheism 2.0. While in the original conversation we included the entire talk of Botton’s, his sections are condensed in this audio to the most important parts. The jist of the episode is that while we may discard religion as made up bunk, we will do ourselves a disservice if we don’t recognize Religion as a vehicle to transfer skills, tool, and technology that has been instrumental in perpetuating the human species and that we ought to at least consi

Mar 29, 2022 • 1:42:10

Almost Awakened: 095: The Four Agreements

Bill’s wife Amanda fills in for Britt today and Bill and Amanda dive into a conversation about Miguel Ruiz’s book, the Four Agreements.Agreement 1: Be Impeccable With Your WordAgreement 2: Don’t Take Anything PersonallyAgreement 3: Don’t Make AssumptionsAgreement 4: Always Do Your Best And we wrap up talking about his book the Fifth Agreement which is Agreement 5: Be skeptical, but learn to listen

Mar 22, 2022 • 57:55

Almost Awakened: 094: Teri Hales – Emancipate Your Mind

Bill and Britt sit down with Teri Hales, a certified religious transition and trauma recovery coach, and the host of the Emancipate Your Mind Podcast to discuss multiple components of the deconstruction process and to talk about the skills and tools that one can lean into to create a healthier better second half of life. https://emancipateyourmind.org/

Mar 15, 2022 • 1:33:35

Almost Awakened: 093: Of Saints And Sufis with David Peck

Brittney and Bill sit down with David Peck Ph.D (Sufi al-Hajj Daud) to discuss sufism and its wisdom & value to the awakening soul. Sufism is among the most ancient spiritual traditions in the world. Sufism traces its origins back thousands for years through a golden chain of individually guided meditation and mystical practice. The modern stream of the Sufi tradition, called Universal Sufism, is growing globally, especially in the West. Universal Sufism invites all souls––from any faith tradit

Mar 8, 2022 • 1:41:44

Almost Awakened: 092: Glimpsing the Soul with Philip McLemore

In the Yoga tradition, there is a state of consciousness called, Atma Darshan, which simply means, “Glimpsing the Soul”. In todays episode we sit down with Philip McLemore as he shares preparatory “direct awareness” practices that have helped individuals “Glimpse their Soul”, which either motivated them to establish a practice or gain a vision of what the practice is intended to help them realize. The idea is to help the individual’s “taste” or “touch” his/her inner being or essential nature, i

Mar 2, 2022 • 2:14:40

Almost Awakened: 091: The Hero’s Journey & Sacred Story Elements

Britt and Bill dive into the Hero’s Journey. The discuss the various elements and the ways in which those elements connect with the human world in reality. RESOURCES: ted.com/talks/matthew_winkler_what_makes_a_hero?language=en https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/458496650/the-heros-journey

Feb 22, 2022 • 1:48:59

Almost Awakened: 090: Alexandr Solzhenitzen – Climbing out of the Dark Night of the Soul

Britt flies solo today doing deep dive into nihilism, when deconstruction goes too far, and how to rebuild from the ashes.

Feb 15, 2022 • 33:13

Almost Awakened: 089: Consent

Britt and Bill take a deep dive into the topic of Consent. What is consent, How does it operate in our society in formal ways such as Medical consent or consent within research. What about Consent within the topics of Marriage, raising a family, and yes even Sex? Britt & Bill help the audience to sense that Consent when understood affects so much of how we show up for others such as our kids and grandkids and even on Karaoke night ! RESOURCES:https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side

Feb 9, 2022 • 1:20:55

Almost Awakened: 088: Bart Campolo – Humanize Me Part 2

Britt and Bill sit down with American humanist speaker and co-author of the book “Why I Left, Why I Britt and Bill sit down with American humanist speaker and co-author of the book “Why I Left, Why I Stayed: Conversations on Christianity Between an Evangelical Father and His Humanist Son” and discuss Deconstruction, Reconstruction and the future of Religion and humanity.  Part one focused on the deconstruction of religion while part 2 delves into reconstruction from a humanist perspective. RESO

Feb 2, 2022 • 1:30:20

Almost Awakened: 087: Bart Campolo – Humanize Me – Part 1

Britt and Bill sit down with American humanist speaker and co-author of the book “Why I Left, Why I Stayed: Conversations on Christianity Between an Evangelical Father and His Humanist Son” and discuss Deconstruction, Reconstruction and the future of Religion and humanity RESOURCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Campolo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Campolo https://ehrmanblog.org/my-interview-with-erstwhile-evanvgelist-now-secular-humanist-bart-campolo/ Are You Humanist?

Jan 26, 2022 • 1:17:13

Almost Awakened: 086: A No-Nonsense Approach to Spirituality

Today the Almost Awakened Podcast is revamped and goes through an upgrade and we share with all of you the improvements and the redesign.

Jan 18, 2022 • 1:06:09

Almost Awakened: 085: Three Conversations

Today we delve into three stories of experiences that I was present for where something occurred and I was given by the universe an opportunity to respond. I will be bragging a bit but with the hope that you can each learn something that equips you to respond better in the world. Visit us at https://almostawakened.org/ Our reddit page https://www.reddit.com/r/AlmostAwakened/

Jan 8, 2022 • 32:34

Almost Awakened: 084: Jared Anderson – Consciousness, Transformation, and Men’s Work

This was an episode to another Podcast hosted by Bill Reel but there was so much in this episode that would pertain to the Almost Awakened audience that it has been published here as well. Bill Reel sits down with Jared Anderson to discuss the inner work of Transformation. Along the way they hit on ideas of Consciousness, Tools that alter consciousness, human development, spiral dynamics, Men’s work, and leaving unhealthy systems. They cover a lot of ground and the conversation is insightful. I

Jan 4, 2022 • 1:26:52

Almost Awakened: 083: Buddhism For Beginners Part 12 – The Buddha’s Last Teachings

Bill Sits down with Brittney Hartley, Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 12 and the final session of Jack Kornfield’s series in an effort to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and its contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” In Episode 12 We wrap up our series discussing “The Buddha’s Last Teachings” and how you

Oct 18, 2021 • 57:11

Almost Awakened: 082: Buddhism For Beginners Part 11: The Ten Perfections of the Heart

Bill Sits down with Brittney Hartley, Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 11 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and its contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” In Episode 11 We discuss “The Ten Perfections of the Heart” and how these positive attributes seem to show up naturally when w

Oct 4, 2021 • 59:47

Almost Awakened: 081: Buddhism For Beginners Part 10: The Four Elements

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 10 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and its contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” The goal of this series is to help you to be a more authentic & healthier version of yourself. In part 10 we discuss the Four Elements Earth Fir

Sep 27, 2021 • 0:00

Almost Awakened: 080: Buddhism For Beginners Part 9: The Four Abodes

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 9 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and its contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” The goal of this series is to help you to be a more authentic & healthier version of yourself. In part 9 we discuss the Four Abodes. loving-kindn

Aug 30, 2021 • 1:05:35

Almost Awakened: 079: Buddhism For Beginners Part 8: Buddhist Psychology

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler, Britt Hartley, and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 8 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” The goal of this series is to help you to be a more authentic & healthier version of yourself. In part 8 we discuss Buddhist

Aug 16, 2021 • 51:38

Almost Awakened: 078: Buddhism For Beginners Part 7 – The Basic Characteristics of Life

Bill Sits down with Brittney Hartley and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 7 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” The goal of this series is to help you to be a more authentic & healthier version of yourself. In part 7 we discuss the Basic Characterist

Jul 26, 2021 • 40:12

Almost Awakened: 077: Buddhism For Beginners Part 6 – The Law of Karma

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler, and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 6 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” The goal of this series is to help you to be a more authentic & healthier version of yourself. In part 6 we discuss the Law of Karma and how Us be

Jul 19, 2021 • 41:40

Almost Awakened: 076: Buddhism For Beginners Part 5 – Five Hindrances of Awakening

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler, and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 5 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” The goal of this series is to help you to be a more authentic & healthier version of yourself. In part 5 we discuss the Five Hindrances of A

Jul 6, 2021 • 56:26

Almost Awakened: 075: Buddhism For Beginners Part 4 – Four Fundamentals of Mindfulness

Bill Sits down with Brittney Hartley, Jana Spangler, and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 4 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” The goal of this series is to help you to be a more authentic & healthier version of yourself. In part 4 we discuss the fo

Jun 27, 2021 • 1:11:54

Almost Awakened: 074: Buddhism For Beginners Part 3

Bill Sits down with Brittney Hartley and Anthony Miller and they tackle part 3 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” The goal of this series is to help you to be a more authentic & healthier version of yourself. In part 3 we discuss the 7 Factors of Awake

Jun 7, 2021 • 56:31

Almost Awakened: 073: Amanda & Bill & The Inner Work of True Love

Bill sits down with his wife Amanda and they discuss “TRUE LOVE” or rather the hard work one will do to wrestle with their own ego in an attempt to make safe space for their partner to be their authentic self. And that True Love allows others to be their real self

May 30, 2021 • 1:00:54

Almost Awakened: 072: Buddhism For Beginners Part 2

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler and Anthony Miller as they present part 2 in a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature.  We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” The goal of this series is to help you to be a more authentic & healthier version of yourself.In part 2 we discuss the 4 Noble Truths which involv

May 26, 2021 • 1:04:58

Almost Awakened: 071: Buddhism For Beginners Part 1

Bill Sits down with Jana Spangler, Brittney Hartley, and Anthony Miller and they embark on a series that seeks to help the Almost Awakened Audience sense the great resources and tools to a life well lived by exposing you to Buddhism and it contemplative nature. We are using as a backdrop the 12 part presentation by Jack Kornfield titled “Buddhism for Beginners” The goal of this series is to help you to be a more authentic & healthier version of yourself. In part 1 we discuss the Eight Fol

May 19, 2021 • 1:19:24

Almost Awakened: 070: How We Experience Conflict And Taking The Tie

Today Bill brings some Buddhism in and discusses the cause of suffering or grasping at how we want the world to be rather than sit with how it is. He explains why argument and conflict start and how they spiral and how good humans can learn to sit with the disturbances early in those conflicts and alter the path those humans are on. Once you understand that the conflict is inside of you and not outside, you are prepared to act differently, leading to avoiding most of the conflict that arises

Apr 26, 2021 • 31:48

Almost Awakened: 069: Brittney Hartley & Bill Reel – A Deep Conversation

This conversation is held that involves the following 5 questions as well as other interesting places we take the conversation along the way.1. What is more dangerous for the future of humanity, nihilism or dogmatism? What are the dangers of each? 2. What are the most important aspects of developing a spiritual life out of nothing? 3. How do you involve young children in a spiritual life outside of religion? 4. How do we transfer over spiritual institutions to a secular world (chaplains, church

Mar 7, 2021 • 1:59:32

Almost Awakened: 068: Gamestop, GME Stock, WallStreetBets, and The Squeeze

The excitement surrounding the GME Gamestop Stock story for the last week has been palpable. So In today’s Episode of Almost Awakened I explain as simply as I can what the hell is going on with GME Gamestop stock. How did this train get going? What has potentially pumped the stock up, what potentially made it crash down, and what caused it to level off and where are we at today. And as we watch in upcoming days, what will happen to GME and the stocks such as AMC, BB, NOK right behind it? I

Jan 29, 2021 • 26:12

Almost Awakened: 067: Veronica Funess -Sex, Shame, and Negotiation

Today with sit down with Veronica Funess, Intimacy Coach in Training and we discuss sexual shame that exists within society. We discuss how healthy negotiation of sexuality can look. We discuss kinks, fantasies, and how to incorporate your most vulnerable and healthy self into a healthy relationship with your partner.Veronica is a Graduate in Gender & Women’s studies with minors in Business Administration and Communication. She is passionate about helping others improve their relationships

Jan 26, 2021 • 57:47

Almost Awakened: 066: Phil McLemore & Bill Reel – What Is The Life Well Lived

My friend Phil McLemore comes back on the podcast and this time to debate the question of “What is the life well lived”? We talk about societies and individuals and how freedom versus control makes or inhibits space to be a growing responsible healthy adult who is happy with their life and producing a positive wake through how they move through life. We touch on drugs and sex due to the strong sentiments felt about this two topics and their polarizing nature to set the stage for this deep c

Jan 23, 2021 • 1:38:48

Almost Awakened: 065: Every Moment is Precious – Take on Me

A couple of moments this past week helped Bill connect the dots of some emotional wisdom that had been on his mind recently. IT has to do with how arrogant we are on the first half of life and and how at some point a light bulb goes on and we begin to sense how fragile life is and how fast time is moving and how we treat the present as if it is the past refusing to be present.

Jan 11, 2021 • 25:50

Almost Awakened: 064: Jonathan Westover and the Alchemy of Leadership

I sit down with my friend, Professor, Podcaster, and Author Jon Westover and we discuss his new book, “The Alchemy of Truly Remarkable Leadership: Ordinary, Everyday Actions That Produce Extraordinary Results”. We talk about what makes a good leader. What toxic leadership looks like. How good leaders foster principles like trust, diversity, inclusivity, and belonging. and Most importantly, I think, how good leaders create an environment for people around them to achieve and succeed. Jon

Jan 10, 2021 • 1:03:25

Almost Awakened: 063: Are We Not all Seeking Acceptance?

Bill talks today about how each of us is quirky, how each of us is seeking validation and acceptance. How we each are weird and have strange thoughts and yet each of us is fighting to reveal our true selves

Dec 15, 2020 • 20:40

Almost Awakened: 062: Moms and Thanksgiving

Holidays tend to bring up things within us and for Bill and his wife Amanda, this Thanksgiving was one of those. From Amanda’s emotional awareness of her daughter moving out of state to take the next step in their own lives, To Bill dealing with the one year anniversary of the loss of his mom, to sensing that life moves one and life doesn’t stop. Today is about how we all deal with life’s constant change.

Nov 30, 2020 • 11:24

Almost Awakened: 061: Vaccines, Anti-Vaxers, And Covid19

Phizer just announced and two more companies right behind them announced they have arrived at a vaccine for Covid19. These Vaccines are showing a 95% effectiveness. And yet…. somehow 50% of the population has been turned off of seeing such as a positive. 50% of our population is skeptical about receiving these vaccines. Today on the Almost Awakened Podcast we talk about why people are scared of vaccines, why we perceive a link between vaccines and negative outcomes including Autism, and what Sc

Nov 20, 2020 • 28:03

Almost Awakened: 060: Schizophrenia And How Hard Life Can Be

Today Bill discusses Mental Illness and specifically Schizophrenia. Bill uses as the back drop his uncle, who was the first case of mental illness he had ever encountered, a close person who Bill was responsible to help who had some showing of such disturbances, and a recent movie, “Words on Bathroom Walls”, he watched that deeply and honestly displayed the difficulties of Schizophrenia and mental disorder and challenges. Bill ends the discussion asking us all to sit with the challenge of su

Nov 16, 2020 • 22:58

Almost Awakened: 059: Bill Reel & Glenn Ostlund – The Path to Surrender Part 3

Glenn and Bill tackle an audio series created by Michael Singer, author of the untethered soul, and use it as a springboard for their own Almost Awakened conversation. This is part 3 and the final part in this multipart series and the conversation in this part covers the actual process one needs to implement to deal with your internal disturbances, that are based on your lifetime of experiences, when they arise. The formula is to RELAX and RELEASE. That when a sensation begins within you beca

Oct 19, 2020 • 1:14:06

Almost Awakened: 058: Bill Reel & Glenn Ostlund – The Path to Surrender Part 2

Glenn and Bill tackle an audio series created by Michael Singer, author of the untethered soul, and use it as a springboard for their own Almost Awakened conversation. This is part 2 in a multipart series and the conversation in this part covers ideas such as the baggage we carry with us due to the good and bad experiences that have filled our life. How that baggage or “charges” are preventing us from living present and being at peace. That we are not our thoughts and we are not our feelings

Oct 12, 2020 • 1:56:30

Almost Awakened: 057: Ego VS Another’s Authentic Self.

Do you believe everyone gets to show up in the world as their authentic self so long as they don’t cause malicious harm or interfere with another’s authentic self? Yes you say? What if it is your spouse? Your Kid? Your parent? huh… now you you are not so sure. Why? It comes back to Ego and your disrupted insides needing the outside world to give you what you think you need to be okay and to get the optimal experience. Are you ready to wrestle with your ego to make space for the people y

Oct 8, 2020 • 22:31

Almost Awakened: 056: Good Kisser and Bowling

Today Bill monologues about human development and some of the human behaviors he notices in others. How we move back and forth between doing good by others and shitting on them. How we manipulate in order to calm our own disruptions. How we struggle to let others be them. And how when we tell stories about others we often do the universe an injustice. Closing song was “Hallucinogenics” by Matt MaesonGood Kisser on netflixLetting others be themselves 1Letting others be themselves 2compersio

Oct 6, 2020 • 32:15

Almost Awakened: 055: Bill Reel & Glenn Ostlund – The Path to Surrender Part 1

Glenn and Bill tackle an audio series created by Michael Singer, author of the untethered soul, and use it as a springboard for their own Almost Awakened conversation. This is part 1 in a multipart series and the conversation in this part covers ideas such as you are not your body, thoughts, or experiences but instead is just the observer behind your senses. That this moment does not belong to you. The marvelous process of how the universe started and how the earth formed and how all life fl

Oct 2, 2020 • 1:33:29

Almost Awakened: 054: Glenn Ostlund – Bathing With God

Today I sit down with my friend Glenn Ostlund author of the book “Bathing with God“. Glenn and I both were deep believers in a specific religion. Then we both grew disenchanted with said religion. We deconstructed that religion and deconstructed other systems seemingly walked away from God and religion…. only to, unknown from each other, be on our own re-engaging the big questions and seeking learning from the best books and wisdom voices. This search led us both to awakening and to revisi

Sep 17, 2020 • 2:11:56

Almost Awakened: 053: Phil McLemore – Wisdom Conversation

Bill and Phil McLemore sit down and have a conversation around wisdom teachings such as meditation, awareness, being present, ego, the Yoga of Christ, mind chatter, myth, evolution, free will, and death. What an amazing conversation Phil helps us create. RESOURCES:https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/146-30-45.pdfhttps://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-kriya-yoga/yoga-and-christ-ukiYPp7E9zG/https://www.thymindoman.com/the-next-chapter-of-thymindoman-com-living-in-the-gift/https://www.faceboo

Sep 5, 2020 • 1:52:14

Almost Awakened: 052: Alan Watts – The Illusion of Money, Time, And Ego

Today Bill dissects a 10 minute audio clip of Alan Watts. The video can be watched HERE and it is recommended you watch the video first before listening to the commentary. The truths being shared here are crucial to the awakened life. Learning to quiet your mind chatter. Learning to see the constructs of your life as something other than reality. Learning to be present rather than lost in past and future. And lastly learning that EGO isn’t really an eternal part of you. youtube.com/watc

Sep 3, 2020 • 39:19

Almost Awakened: 051: Tribal Trauma

Today Bill dives into tribalism. Why do we humans choose to be in tribes? What are the benefits and drawbacks of tribalism? What makes us humans unique and what facets of tribalism have we humans taken advantage of and at what expense? Where did tribalism come from? Can we cling to the benefits while minimizing and eliminating the drawbacks? All this and more is the jumping off point for today’s conversation, a conversation meant to simply get us started. RESOURCES:https://kevindelaplant

Sep 2, 2020 • 28:10

Almost Awakened: 050: Life in Prison

Today I sit down with a friend who spent roughly a year in prison. What is prison life like? How does an Almost Awakened person perceive and negotiate their time and thoughts and behavior and what observations are made about the system and people around them?RESOURCES:https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/gabrielsanchez/sara-bennett-looking-inside-women-prison-incarceration https://www.themarshallproject.org/2018/07/12/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-prisoner

Aug 29, 2020 • 1:51:35

Almost Awakened: 049: Accepting Your Humanity

Today on the Almost Awakened Podcast we talk about how we judge ourselves and judge others and our behaviors as good or bad. But there is a challenge to step back and to see others in their humanity. To comprehend the trauma that is handed down to each one of us and to sit with what that says about us humans collectively and individually. To recognize the kinds of behaviors we humans show up with and to see that no matter how healthy and responsible or how harmful and traumatic we show up is

Aug 24, 2020 • 47:57

Almost Awakened: 048: Narratives, Story, Tangents, and Cost

Today Bill talks about 4 observations about human behavior1.) That we need to be protectors of others Stories rather than one who hijacks the narratives of others. 2.) That we need to work on being present and not getting lost in the mind chatter that can overwhelm us and prevent us from showing up for others.3.) That we need to learn that when in an argument we move from tangent to tangent such is likely a deflection mechanism that want to shift accountability.4.) Understanding Sunken Cost vs

Aug 15, 2020 • 27:55

Almost Awakened: 047: Showing Up And The Pain That It Causes

Today we talk about the move from fitting in to showing up as your authentic self. We often show up in the world the way the world needs us to which has us withholding important parts of ourselves that feel unacceptable. We pretend to be things we are not. And yet as the awakening process occurs we feel pulled to show up as our authentic selves. Today we talk about the pain that such causes and how there is an inherent tension and hurt when authenticity shows up.

Aug 13, 2020 • 25:24

Almost Awakened: 046: Abortion and Critical Thinking

Today I examine the issue of abortion. Not to decide the right or wrong of the issue but as a way to see into how we can think critically about a conversation where we are passionate and often not thinking as rationally. Abortion is a topic that often has us arguing from emotional passion and which runs so close to our sacred beliefs that we often struggle to think rationally and logically about the issue. Today I go over the pros and cons of pro-life and pro-choice and try to help us see ho

Aug 3, 2020 • 35:56

Almost Awakened: 045: Adam & Eve And Conscious Altering Tools

In this episode we piggy back on last weeks episode on myth and help the Almost Awakened listener deconstruct one of our judeo/ christian myths… namely the Adam & Eve story around the Fall. We talk about what Adam and Eve could represent and more importantly what the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil could imply and point us to. RESOURCES:https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/stoned-ape-returnhttps://ne

Jul 29, 2020 • 25:52

Almost Awakened: 044: Myth Is All Around Us

Today we dip our toes into MYTH and how pervasive it is in our cultural and social structures. Any time we label or tell a story about the way things are and what they mean we are likely in the sphere of myth. Money, relationships, nationality and patriotism, family history, who people are…. all myth. Some myths are just inside our head and others are collectively agreed upon by entire societies. Myths are one of the crucial ways we make meaning. But once we enter the “Almost Awakened” spa

Jul 23, 2020 • 24:23

Almost Awakened: 043: Mirror, Validate, and Have Empathy

Today we dive into how to handle conflict differently. The conversation centers around what is needed to help people get out of lizard brain and to help another to feel heard creating the space needed to keep a conflict from devolving. The conversation helps us understand how fear affected us hundreds of thousands of years ago and how we evolved to create new mechanisms of fear when we created language, gossip, and myth. The conversation helps us see that if we really want a different result

Jul 20, 2020 • 25:19

Almost Awakened: 042: George Floyd & Systemic Racism

Mekael and Bill utilize this episode to discuss the this George Floyd moment. His death, the protests and riots, the systemic racism in this country, the police abuse, and most importantly the ethnocentricity and tribalism that all these abuses and inequalities are rooted in.RESOURCES:https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/fall-2018/what-is-white-privilege-reallyhttps://www.cpt.org/files/Undoing%20Racism%20-%20Understanding%20White%20Privilege%20-%20Kendall.pdfhttps://nationalseedproject.org/Key-S

Jun 13, 2020 • 1:08:47

Almost Awakened: 041: The Cannabis Industry with Brad Poulos

We sit down with Brad Poulos and discuss Cannabis AKA Marijuana. We discuss Cannabis generally and get into what issues are on the forefront of the Cannabis Industry.RESOURCES:https://bradpoulos.com/https://ca.linkedin.com/in/bradpouloshttps://www.axsource.com/welcome-brad-poulos-our-cannabis-expert/https://ocannabiz.com/archives/speakers/bradley-poulos

May 30, 2020 • 1:06:02

Almost Awakened: 040: How a Pawn Shop Works

Mekael Interviews Bill today about his career as a pawnbroker. How does a Pawn Shop Work? How do you know if something is stolen? What are the coolest things that have come through the shop? What skills are helpful to be a good pawnbroker? All this and more on today episode on the Almost Awakened Podcast.

May 30, 2020 • 55:11

Almost Awakened: 039: Janet Bennion – Polyamory

Bill sits down with Janet Bennion, Professor of Anthropology at Lyndon State College. Prof. Bennion specializes in gender dynamics in Mormon fundamentalist communities which practice polygamy and slo in polyamory more generally. Bennion is one of the world’s leading ethnographers of North American plural marriage. She has raised the question of decriminalization of plural marriage in a variety of radio and television forums and several international scholar venues at Brandeis University and the

May 16, 2020 • 42:23

Almost Awakened: 038: Five Wives Vodka

Mekael and Bill sit down with Steve Conlin from Five Wives Vodka to discuss the The History of their company and the challenges that their company has faced in getting their product out and how the alcohol industry generally is developing. As a side tangent we also touch on the history of the Barrison Sisters. We discuss the religious and religious deconstruction influence on their brand and how those who partake of alcohol can work with Vodka generally and what seperates good quality vodka fr

Apr 25, 2020 • 1:05:24

Almost Awakened: 037: Street Epistemology With Anthony Magnabosco

Today Mekael and Bill sit down with Anthony Magnabosco who has pioneered the recorded demonstrations of Street Epistemology. Street Epistemology is a conversational tool that helps people reflect on the quality of their reasons and the reliability of their methods used to derive one’s confidence level in their deeply-held beliefs.Anthony shares how this works, what his motives are, how he deconstructed his own faith, and his personal thoughts on how various systems encourage continued belief e

Apr 20, 2020 • 1:08:03

Almost Awakened: 036: Ryan Poulsen – Emergency First Responder – Awake in Life’s Most Tragic Moments

Mekael and Bill sit down with their good friend Ryan to discuss his career as a Fireman and Paramedic. They talk about what it takes to handle life’s most harrowing moments. How to process tragedy. What is death to one who encounters death often. What First Responders to emergency situations do to process the horrific moments. And more.

Apr 11, 2020 • 54:44

Almost Awakened: 035: Historical Pandemics

Mekael and Bill in lieu of the Covid19 Pandemic decide to do a brief historical dive into major pandemics in human history.RESOURCES:https://www.mphonline.org/worst-pandemics-in-history/https://www.livescience.com/worst-epidemics-and-pandemics-in-history.htmlhttps://www.history.com/news/pandemics-end-plague-cholera-black-death-smallpoxhttps://www.visualcapitalist.com/history-of-pandemics-deadliest/https://www.healthline.com/health/worst-disease-outbreaks-history#1https://www.health.com/conditio

Apr 11, 2020 • 49:45

Almost Awakened: 034: Energy Healing With Holly Hope

We sit down today with Holly Hope and discuss her energy healing practice. We discuss the skepticism around this practice, how drums are made and used in healing practices, the use of energy crystals, and the real life scucess stories Holly has been part of. You can find Holly at http://thebeautyofperspective.com/

Mar 31, 2020 • 57:26

Almost Awakened: 033: Rob Barnes and Astrology

Mekael and Bill sit down with Astrologer Rob Barnes to discuss Astrology. Is it legit. What is Astrology. And how can it be helpful. RESOURCES: https://www.astrologybyrob.com/ https://astro.cafeastrology.com/natal.php

Mar 21, 2020 • 1:10:36

Almost Awakened: 032: Chris Finnegan – Music as a tool to Awaken

Mekael and Bill sit down with local DJ and Music lover Chris Finnegan to discuss how Music has power to awaken us. How it soothes the ego by helping us through the lyrics live in our past and future and with the music it brings us to present. We discuss reggae music in particular and also discuss the deconstruction of systems.Artists:Dirty HeadsRebelutionIya TerraNahkoTubby LoveStick FigureLittle StrangerIration

Mar 21, 2020 • 1:01:27

Almost Awakened: 031: LSD, Hash House, Sex Ed, and Assisted Masturbation

Today Mekael and Bill discuss their recent visit to the Hashhouse, Bill’s unrelated Food Poisoning, the recent news on huge doses of LSD and how to raise children in a divorced mixed faith arrangement. Lastly Bill and Mekael wrestle with a father who masturbates his mentally and physically disabled adult child. http://whyimasturbatemyson.blogspot.com/2016/05/why-i-masturbate-my-profoundly-disabled.html https://www.sciencealert.com/a-woman-accidentally-took-550-times-the-normal-dosage-of-lsd-c

Mar 7, 2020 • 1:03:11

Almost Awakened: 030: EMDR with LaDawn – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Today Mekael and Bill sit down with EMDR Therapist LaDawn and discuss Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.  Discussing how this therapeutic approach deals with trauma and help patients to heal and repair. LaDawn Dewitt What is EMDRHow Does EMDR Work?EMDR Taking a Closer Look

Feb 29, 2020 • 1:12:00

Almost Awakened: 029: Scott Jeffrey – A Conversation Around Shadow Work

Scott Jeffrey is an author and is the founder of CEOsage, a transformational leadership agency and resource for self-actualizing individuals. Scott is a voice of wisdom in several fields and one of those is Shadow Work. You can read Scott’s guide on Shadow work HERE. In today’s conversation we hear Scott’s wisdom around why we hide and why we create unhealthy mechanisms to protect ourself. What it means to start waking up and want to face one’s shadows. What to do when one is confronted w

Feb 18, 2020 • 1:01:06

Almost Awakened: 028: Jared Clavin – My First Year With Alcohol

Jared Clavin belonged to a religious system where alcohol was forbidden. Then Jared discovered his system didn’t have all the answers. As he begin questioning his faith he in turn had to question all the things his faith told him were good and were bad including alcohol. Once Jared stepped away from the faith of his Childhood he was now free to experiment for the first time with alcohol and to as an adult navigate and figure out this scary thing. We talk today about Jared’s written blog pos

Feb 8, 2020 • 1:13:01

Almost Awakened: 027: Body Image and Body Shame

Mekael and Bill discuss Body Image today. How different Genders perceive their bodies, what things we humans feel shame over, and How we can be healthier in how we treat others and ourselves. RESOURCES:Body Image: Not Just About Your Body: Jessi Kneeland: TEDBattling Our Bodies: Understanding and Overcoming Negative Body ImagesUncomfortable in our skin: the body-image reportIt’s Not Just Girls. Boys Struggle With Body Image, TooDefining the new male idealWomen’s Ideal Body Types Throughout H

Feb 1, 2020 • 52:13

Almost Awakened: 026: Sex, Shadows, Kinks & Fetishes

Mekael and Bill discuss three things today. First they review some of their thoughts from last weeks conversation with River about ethical non-monogamy. Second Bill discusses some recent Shadow work including a sound bite from the hit TV show Criminal Minds. Lastly Bill and Mekael discuss Kinks and Fetishes including Bills discovery and sharing of how own kink. RESOURCES: MindHunter TV Show Criminal Minds TV Show 101 KINKY THINGS – AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF KINKS AND FETISHES Dacryphilia (Cry

Jan 25, 2020 • 41:58

Almost Awakened: 025: Non-Monogamy and Non-Normative Sexuality with River

Mekael and Bill sit down with River who chooses along with her primary partner to live in the space of Non-Monogamy.  Today we talk about what that looks like in terms of how someone approaches this lifestyle.  How someone begins conversations about this part of themselves.  How someone initiates conversations around the pro and cons of monogamy and the pros and cons of non-monogamy. RESOURCES: Three Steps to Opening Your Marriage: A New Permissive Monogamy – https://www.huffpost.com/entry/

Jan 23, 2020 • 1:27:47

Almost Awakened: 024: Wendi Jensen: Get Curious & The Healing Arts

Mekael and Bill sit down with Wendi Jensen, author, speaker, life coach, and trainer in the field of human potential and religious recovery. Wendi shares with us her love and knowledge of the Healing Arts.  We discuss Emotional Fluency, Spiral Dynamics, The Enneagram & Personality Types, and Tapping as a therapy approach.  We touch on vulnerability, curiosity, honest and open approaches, willingness to hurt or upset others, and lots more. RESOURCES: http://wendijensen.com/ The Healing Questio

Jan 11, 2020 • 57:22

Almost Awakened: 023: Jennifer Saunders – Go Be Great!

Mekael and Bill sit down with Personal Adventure Guide, Jennifer Saunders. Jennifer shares with us her passion for life and her love of adventure and love of humanity. Jennifer has given a TED Talk, developed her own Adventure Coach Program, hosts her own podcast. We discuss awakening, accepting and appreciating diversity, leaving and deconstructing systems, and seeing life as an adventure. RESOURCES: TheJenniferSaunders.comJennifer’s EmailJennifer Saunders TED TalkLiving Courageously Expos

Jan 4, 2020 • 53:57

Almost Awakened: 022: Ego and Rational Thinking with Spencer Wright

Today Bill and Mekael sit down with Author Spencer Wright regarding his book “How to think”. The discussion revolves around how we humans can be more rational with the beliefs we hold. We discuss at length the feasibility of completely shedding Ego and yet the merits of shedding some portions of ego in order to have the critical thinking skills necessary to shed false absurd beliefs when those beliefs make benefit us emotionally and are central to our identity.Resources:“How To Think” by: Spe

Dec 30, 2019 • 1:22:20

Almost Awakened: 021: Sex At Dawn and Babies Saved

Today Mekael and Bill talk about what has gone on over the last month.  The passing of a loved one, what they and their lovers are reading, the saving of a baby and essentially just catching the listeners up after a month of chaos.  They also spend a few minutes to talk about entering the drinking culture as a 40 year old adult. Resources:Sex At Dawn Bill Rescuing a baby and it making National News Don’t for get to check out our sponsor RED ROCA COFFEE and type in the code AWAKE for a discount

Dec 21, 2019 • 37:39

Almost Awakened: 020: Mom and The Dying

Today Bill records an episode on his own giving Mekael a break. Bill had been in Ohio for two weeks sitting by the bedside of his mother who was in the final stage of her battle with Cancer. Today’s episode revolves around Bill’s confronting the death of his mom along with dealing with how we in this country handle the dying, Euthanasia, and if we are doing the best things to relieve suffering.

Nov 30, 2019 • 42:49

Almost Awakened: 019: Negotiating Sex Responsibly !!

Today Bill and Mekael tackle SEX, namely Negotiating Sexuality within a relationship responsibly. Within ethical and legal constraints, we all have the right to push for what we want from our partner (and to suffer the consequences for pushing too hard). Similarly, we also have the right to deny our partner’s requests (and to suffer the consequences for shutting them down). But we need to remember that nothing in a relationship happens in a vacuum—it is influenced by what came before, as well

Nov 10, 2019 • 1:01:49

Almost Awakened: 018: Being Yourself versus Compromising Yourself

Today we just riff discussing some shadow work we faced this week. Bill’s was his wife’s mechanism of feeling like she took something away from someone and then trying to force the person she feels she hurt into righting the ship for her and then punishing them when they don’t help her right her perceived wrong. For Mekael it was her interaction with a friend who challenged her to stop compromising herself to please others. The conversation traverses across things that should be helpful for

Nov 5, 2019 • 47:23

Almost Awakened: 017: Ben Brown – Our Brain and the Stories We Tell

Today we sit down with Ben Brown. He tells us about how he grew up in a high demand fundamentalist religious sect, his deconstruction of that as he left it and moved into another unhealthy world view but one that was more liberal in degree only. How his curiosity and deconstruction of multiple systems gave him the tools and skills to begin diving deep into why we humans do what we do and how once we become aware of it, we now have the ability to disrupt them and change our personal stories a

Oct 26, 2019 • 58:11

Almost Awakened: 016: Specific Signs of Awakening

Today we discuss a handful of signs that one is in the awakening process. Discussing the reduction of mind chatter, the sense of timelessness and being present, intimate human connection, and a increase in Empathy and compassion. We also hit on Mekael’s HOTT New Swimsuit (Shown Below). RESOURCES:10 Ways to Tame Your Monkey Mind and Stop Mental Chatter5 Tricks That Will Calm Your Mind And Quiet Mental Chatter12 IDEAS FOR BEING MORE PRESENT IN YOUR LIFE Simple Ways to Be More Present in Our Ev

Oct 19, 2019 • 49:46

Almost Awakened: 015: Parties, Stories, Strangers, and Shadows

Today we discuss the stories that are in our head. All the mind chatter and the real damage it can do. We also spend some time on the book “Talking to Strangers” by: Malcolm Gladwell. We hit on my mom’s visit and cognitive glitch and a couple of fun parties where Human behavior was in full view. Don’t for get to check out our sponsor RED ROCA COFFEE and type in the code AWAKE for a discount on your order. Our logo Concept was created by Kelsey Jones Subscribe on Itunes, Stitcher, and other t

Oct 12, 2019 • 56:46

Almost Awakened: 014: Overcoming our Bigotry and Prejudice

Today we take on the topic of overcoming our Bigotry and Prejudice. We all grow up with stories handed to us about others. Often those stories not only fall short of capturing their actual stories and experience. When we tell another’s story inaccurately we often cause harm and trauma. When we carry these false beliefs about others unknowingly or even intentionally, this is often falls into the arena of bigotry and prejudice. Today we talk about the stories we grew up with and how the two

Oct 7, 2019 • 1:03:36

Almost Awakened: 013: What is Shadow Work

Today we take on the complex topic of Shadow Work. What is Shadow Work? How does one begin to lean into working with one’s Shadow side? What does Shadow work look like? Beneath the social mask we wear every day, we have a hidden shadow side: an impulsive, wounded, sad, or isolated part that we generally try to ignore.  The Shadow can be a source of emotional richness and vitality, and acknowledging it can be a pathway to healing and an authentic life. psychotherapist Steve Wolf Shadow

Sep 30, 2019 • 1:09:26

Almost Awakened: 012: Pride Week, Drag Queens, And Homophobia

Today we discuss Pride Week in our local community. We discuss the recent local controversy where significant push back in our community over the numerous Pride Flags being put up to bring awareness to the cause and celebrating the week. We then talk about Pride week itself including the the “Dragalicious” Drag Queen show we […]

Sep 21, 2019 • 0:01

Almost Awakened: 012: Pride Week, Drag Queens, And Homophobia

Today we discuss Pride Week in our local community. We discuss the recent local controversy where significant push back in our community over the numerous Pride Flags being put up to bring awareness to the cause and celebrating the week. We then talk about Pride week itself including the the “Dragalicious” Drag Queen show we attended last night. This takes us to discussing Bill’s own Homophobia and Mekael’s effort to be a safer space for others who do humanity differently. We discuss Bil

Sep 21, 2019 • 57:51

Almost Awakened: 011: Tim Birt – Healthy Communication

You know those times there is conflict between you and your lover. One of you behaved in a way that annoyed or hurt the other and one of you lashes out in telling the other to knock off their behavior. Before you know it one of you is is being ultra defensive and the other is on the attack trying to fix their partner. and 1 hour later one of you is on the couch and one or both of you are deeply hurt and even crying. Well today is the day we try to start a new pattern. Today we sit down wit

Sep 7, 2019 • 1:21:27

Almost Awakened: 010: Cory Reese – Running and Life

Today we tackle our first interview with Author and runner Cory Reese. We talk about running and how it ties into life and being present. Please email us your questions and comments at AlmostAwakened AT Gmail DOT Com and visit us at AlmostAwakened.org Find us on Itunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and other great third party Podcast apps. Also please check out our partner Red Roca Coffee, and if you place an order use the code AWAKE to get a 10% discount and and on orders of $30 or more you g

Aug 31, 2019 • 1:01:15

Almost Awakened: 009: Fear

Today we talk about FEAR. Is Fear healthy? How do we cope with fear? What are some interesting things about fear such as does fear have a smell? Please email us your questions and comments at AlmostAwakened AT Gmail DOT Com and visit us at AlmostAwakened.orgFind us on Itunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and other great third party Podcast apps. Also please check out our partner Red Roca Coffee, and if you place an order use the code AWAKE to get a 10% discount and and on orders of $30

Aug 24, 2019 • 1:02:32

Almost Awakened: 008: Swearing, Cussing, and Foul Mouths

Today we talk about Swearing and Cursing. Is Swearing a sign of an ignorant mind? Does it make someone sound ignorant? Is cursing good for you? Why are some words untouchable and become deeply taboo and way more than other swear words? What is your favorite Swear Word? Are humans the only species that swears?   Please email us your questions and comments at AlmostAwakened AT Gmail DOT Com and visit us at AlmostAwakened.orgFind us on Itunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and other great thi

Aug 18, 2019 • 1:09:50

Almost Awakened: 007: The Purpose of Life

Today we talk about The Purpose of Life. Is there one Universal Purpose? Does being good matter? Is there First half of life purpose and second half of life purpose.   Please email us your questions and comments at AlmostAwakened AT Gmail DOT Com and visit us at AlmostAwakened.orgFind us on Itunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and other great third party Podcast apps. Also please check out our partner Red Roca Coffee, and if you place an order use the code AWAKE to get a 10% discount and and

Aug 10, 2019 • 49:58

Almost Awakened: 006: Death and Dying

Today we talk about Dying and Death. What do we believe about Death and Dying. Thoughts on coping with such.  What happens at death? How to support someone who has lost a loved one?  How to arrive at peace over your own future death?  Please email us your questions and comments at AlmostAwakened AT Gmail DOT Com and visit us at AlmostAwakened.orgFind us on Itunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and other great third party Podcast apps. Also please check out our partner Red Roca Coffee, and if you p

Aug 3, 2019 • 1:04:28

Almost Awakened: 005: Human Connection & Intimacy

Today we talk about Human Connection. What does human connection look like? What levels of intimacy is appropriate with various types of relationships? How do vulnerability and authenticity come into play? And what can we do to extend ourselves in healthy ways into deeper connection with both starbngers and people we love? Please email us your questions and comments at AlmostAwakened AT Gmail DOT Com and visit us at AlmostAwakened.org Find us on Itunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and oth

Jul 27, 2019 • 1:01:37

Almost Awakened: 004: The Top Five Catalysts for Awakening

Today we tackle the Top 5 Catalysts for Awakening. Those would be Meditation, Reading or deep profound learning, Travel, Psychedelic Substances, and Existential Crises. We also throw in a surprise 6th towards the end. We hope you enjoy. Please email us your questions and comments at AlmostAwakened AT Gmail DOT Com and visit us at AlmostAwakened.orgFind us on Itunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and other great third party Podcast apps. Also please check out our partner Red Roca Coffee, and i

Jul 20, 2019 • 53:36

Almost Awakened: 003: Vulnerability

In Episode 3 we tackle vulnerability. What is vulnerability, when is the risk worth being vulnerable, what do safe space look like, how to lean into it, and so much more. We talk about vulnerability with your sacred stories, with your sexuality, and with who you are at your core. We hope you enjoy. Please email us your questions and comments at AlmostAwakened AT Gmail DOT Com and visit us at AlmostAwakened.org Find us on Itunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and other great third party podcast

Jul 13, 2019 • 47:49

Almost Awakened: 002: Myth, Gossip, And Intimacy – The Work of Sapiens

Part two of the “Almost Awakened Podcast” We dive into parts of the book Sapiens written by Yuval Noah Harari. Specifically speaking about how humans evolved to move from tribes whose cohesive mechanism was Intimate Connection to sightly larger groups based on Gossip and eventually onto Myth. We discuss how other great apes use Grooming in place of Gossip and myth and how an Almost Awakened community seeks to get back to Intimacy, Authenticity, and Vulnerability as the binding force. Mekael and

Jul 6, 2019 • 43:34

Almost Awakened: 001: What Is Almost Awakened

What is the “Almost Awakened Podcast” you ask? Well imagine an intelligent beautiful lesbian and a equally intelligent but nerdy heterosexual male who have become best friends as they have leaned into vulnerability & authenticity with each other and their community. They have spent a ton of time diving into human development, human behavior, having deconstructed unhealthy systems and communities and what they have learned from that. As they have built with others, a vibrant healthy community

Jun 29, 2019 • 46:45