Psyche

In this episode, I speak with Angi Lewis. Angi is a professional photographer serving the Houston Market since 2013. These are Angi's words from her website:  Photography has always been my passion. I am a member of PPA (Professional Photographers of America) and serve as an Ambassador with both Partnership Lake Houston  and In The Pink of Health, a non-profit organization for cancer awareness. Giving back to my community is incredibly important to me. Life is both precious and short… another reason why photographs are so important. My work has received multiple awards for The Portrait Masters.  I have also been published in several Houston magazines including: The Crown, Voyage Houston, The Houston Chronicle and am proudly recognized as Houston’s Premiere Portrait Photographer. I have photographed politicians, doctors, artists, entrepreneurs, parents and children. But my real passion is simply capturing the true essence of anyone who steps in front of my camera. In this conversation, we discuss why every professional man should get branding photos. We talk about the difference between headshots and a branding shoot, fashion tips for men going into a branding shoot and much much more.  If you'd like to connect with Angi please check out her website: https://angilewis.com

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Joel Vos. Dr. Vos is a psychologist, philosopher, researcher, lecturer, existential therapist, author, speaker, artist and chair of IMEC International Meaning Events & Communities. In this conversation, we discuss his book The Economics of Meaning In Life: Capitalist Life Syndrome to Meaning-Oriented Economy. We discuss the current mental health crisis caused by our sick society. We also explore the capitalist life syndrome, functionalism, the difference between self-help and self-care and the importance of a meaning-oriented life. Although Dr. Vos' research has not explicitly addressed masculinity, we talk about some of the implications of his research for modern conceptions of masculinity.  If you'd like to connect with Dr. Vos check out his website: https://joelvos.com To buy the book we discuss: https://www.amazon.com/Economics-Meaning-Life-Capitalist-Meaning-Oriented/dp/1939686571

In this episode, I talk with Barry Taylor. Barry is a theologian-philosopher, musician, artist, academic and writer who has spent more than thirty years challenging traditional notions of religion and church and creating alternative communities built on the idea that life is uncertain, the future is unwritten and that none of us has the answer. Barry's work collapses the boundaries between the sacred and the profane, blurs the lines between theism and atheism and raises new questions about life, death and everything in between. Barry also writes books, makes music with his friends, produces daily art works and spends a lot of time in coffee shops reading. Born in the U.K. he recently returned to London after living in Los Angeles for many years. This is a conversation about his latest book “Sex, God, and Rock N’ Roll: Catastrophies, Epiphanies, and Sacred Anarchies.” The book is a theological memoir about life. It is organized around Freud’s four palliatives; art, sexual love, intoxicants and religion, from his book Civilization and its Discontents, as a way of dividing up the essays- these sections focus on the biological, aesthetic, experiential and spiritual aspects of life. Barry has lived an interesting life, from a sound technician for AC/DC to a professor at a marketing school and beyond. Barry and I are both bricoleurs, piecing together a philosophical life out of a multitude of sources. ukbloke.com  https://www.amazon.com/Sex-God-Rock-Roll-Catastrophes/dp/1506409067

In this episode, I speak with Tierra Ortiz-Rodriguez on Ecotherapy, Ecopoetry & Mindfulness in Nature. I love learning about new approaches to therapy! Tierra works with diverse populations of clients and communities to actualize ambitious health and wellness goals. Her approach is compassionate, collaborative, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. She integrates nature, mindfulness, and expressive arts into therapy.  If you'd like to connect with her you can check out her website: https://www.pathwaystomindbodysoul.com

In this episode, I speak with J.F. Martel. J.F. is a writer on art, culture, religion, and philosophy. We discuss James Hillman's book "A Terrible Love of War." His essays have appeared in online journals such as Canadian Notes & Queries, Reality Sandwich, The Finch, and Metapsychosis, as well as in print anthologies from Penguin-Tarcher, North Atlantic Books, and Intellect Books. He is the author of Reclaiming Art in the Age of Artifice, published in 2015 by Evolver Editions. Ediciones Atalanta released a Spanish translation of the work in 2017. His long-form essay, “Reality is Analog: Philosophizing with Stranger Things,” is available in e-book format from Untimely Books. http://www.reclaimingart.com With Prof. Phil Ford of Indiana University Bloomington, J.F. co-hosts the Weird Studies podcast, a series of conversations on the intersections of philosophy, the arts, and the weird. https://www.weirdstudies.com

I’m really excited about having my friend Dr. Allen Novian back on the podcast.  Allen is a brilliant psychotherapist and a beautiful human being. In this episode, we discuss toxic masculinity and how it contributes to depression and other physical and psychological struggles. After exploring the nature of toxic masculinity, we discuss how to cultivate a healthy masculinity centered around physical health, love and meaning. We dig into many topics including the importance of sleep, psychoneuroimmunology, nutrition, and the work of Viktor Frankl and Dan Siegel.  For more information about Allen check out his website: https://www.integrativecounselingandneurofeedbacksolutions.com. You can find our previous conversation about male shame and the journey to self-compassion here: https://www.quiqueautrey.com/podcast/episode/3e751aa7/men-in-couples-therapy-from-shame-to-self-compassion

In this episode, I have a conversation with Rayshawn Ledet, head therapist at Mental in Mind and Licensed Clinical social worker in the state of New Jersey. Ray and I talk about the reasons every man should try therapy. We have a discussion about what therapy is and what therapy is not.  If you want to connect with Ray, please visit his website: https://mentalinmind.com. To schedule a free 15 minute consultation call: 609-285-8717.

The Magician represents the man who has attained harmony and equilibrium between the spontaneity of the unconscious (in the sense given to it by C.G. Jung) and the deliberate action of the conscious (in the sense of the “I” or ego consciousness). His state of consciousness is the synthesis of the conscious and the unconscious -of creative spontaneity and deliberately executed activity. It is the state of consciousness that the psychological school of C.G. Jung calls “individuation”, or “synthesis of the conscious and unconscious elements in the personality, or synthesis of the self”. This synthesis renders possible concentration without effort, which are the practical and theoretical aspects of all fruitfulness in both practical and intellectual realms. -Valentin Tomberg  In this episode, I am joined again by Patrick McGrath-Muñiz. Patrick is a professional artist from Puerto Rico. His work has been featured in museums across the country. I speak to Patrick about the symbolism of the Magician card in the Tarot. This is the second installment of our series exploring the first twenty-two cards or the Major Arcana of the Tarot. https://www.patrickmcgrath-art.com/

During times of upheaval and uncertainty, I find that my psyche turns to religious symbolism in search for some transcendent referent to tether my tumultuous emotions. My soul is looking for what philosopher and mathematician Alfred North Whitehead called an immanence of infinitude in the finite. In this episode, I speak with Christian Washington. We have a conversation about our significance as human beings and our calling to engage in significant activities in the world. We explore a lot of territory in this episode, from race and contemplative spirituality to the crisis of mass shootings in our country.  Pastor Christian is the co-founder, visionary and executive leader of Upper Room Heights. His calling is to unite, inspire and equip culturally diverse people to make a significant impact on their family, community, and world. Prior to the Upper Room he spent over 14 years in strategic management consulting to governments, for-profit corporations, and faith-based organizations. Christian studied theology and ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary and communications at the University of California, San Diego.  If you're interested in learning more about Christian, you can check out his website at realcoaching.org.  You can listen to his conversation with Rob Bell here: https://robbell.podbean.com/e/she-always-whispered-white-people/

Nature-deficit disorder is the idea that human beings, especially children, are spending less time outdoors than they have in the past, and the belief that this change results in a wide range of behavioral problems. In this episode, I interview August Vandiver. August is the Outdoor Recreation Programmer for the City of Pearland. I love how August describes himself:  "I have a passion for nature that I share by engaging others through interactive and hands-on interpretation. By using informal education, I create a learning experience that connects students, families, and communities with their local environments in an outdoor setting. It is my ambition, through this type of learning, to help others form a relationship with nature that will garner a deeper curiosity and a greater understanding of stewardship and conservation for our natural environment." Previous and current experiences include positions at Armand Bayou Nature Center, the Houston Zoo, Inc., Sea Camp at Texas A&M Galveston, and The Woods Project. In this episode, we talk about the nature-deficit disorder and practical ways you can encourage your child to explore and participate in nature.  https://www.parks.pearlandtx.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/141/1964