“Contemplation is when perception fills the mind.”
Introducing my new podcast, Eggzistential Breakfast. But first, a little history…
Like many people, I have enjoyed listening to podcasts for quite a while now. When I discovered podcasts around 2015, there were not many podcasts out there. But even then, I enjoyed the freedom and the variety of subjects and the types of conversations they offered. Around that time, my close friend Paul Lebel invited me to join a small creative group called the “Secret Society of Brandner Place.” This (not so secret) secret society was inspired by the salons of early modern revolutionary France. These salons were seen by contemporary writers of the period as a cultural hub for society. They became a center of intellectual conversation, as well as a debate stage for social issues. Our group was a creative “salon” intended to be more than just a social happy hour among friends. It was intended to be a non-judgemental but critical space to have inspired discussion with the sole purpose of fanning our creative fires. Out of this group, came sculptures, published books, music and all manners of inspired discussion. What emerged for me was a podcast called, “The Headset.”
I knew that I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas with the world, but I was not exactly sure what I wanted to share. So I experimented with “The Headset” a simple lifestyle podcast that centered around my love of cycling. The Headset was intended to be a creative and experiential learning practice using this exciting new medium of podcasting. Learning how to create, produce and edit a podcast was fun, frustrating at times but always inspiring. It was energizing to feel creative and learn a new skill along with my friends in the Society. Unfortunately, the Secret Society of Brandner Place eventually disbanded rather unceremoniously. And between all the demands of life, I was not able to be produce consistent episodes of the podcast. However, I am still very proud of those episodes because they represent at time when I stepped out of my comfort zone and learned and new set of skills and most importantly indulged my creative spirit.
Jump forward 5 years after the start of the Secret Society, and it is easy to see that the passage of time had seen me through many changes and challenges. The COVID pandemic began. We sold our home in Miami and then bought a new home in Tacoma. I was promoted to supervisor in my department. I got COVID. My father suddenly passed away. But my desire to create and to have inspired conversation was ever-present. Enter Eggzistential Breakfast.
The Eggzistential Breakfast podcast is a reference to an ongoing “conversation” between myself and my oldest friend Paul Lebel who I have known since the 3rd grade. Paul is an incredible artist in his own right. He is a film-maker, photographer, musician and craftsman. Completely self taught, he is in my eyes the embodiment of a true creative. In the spirit of the Secret Society, we manifested Eggzistential Breakfast as a space to have inspired and thought provoking discussion intended to inspire creative thought and action. “Eggz” as we like to call it, has become an integral part of my personal, professional and creative life. I and other fellow Eggz meet virtually every week to engage in inspired discussion. My hope is that the Eggzistential Breakfast podcast will allow me to share some of the inspired and thought provoking conversations I have with people that I resonate with.
So enjoy the first episode of Eggzistential Breakfast with my guest Ulrike Gruenberg. She is an artist, recovery and life coach. In this episode of Eggzistential Breakfast she shares how she connects with nature and the importance of the "Encounter" and how it informs her art and her work with her clients.
Learn more about Ulli at: www.gruenberginstitute.com