Marc Maron’s Cats - 127

Random updates, general thoughts, and feedback.

This week Shawn is here to provide you with some much needed updates. He figured it was time to just check it on the situation and fill you in. General chit-chat is never a bad idea!

We start the episode with a mini tribute to Shawn's uncle Frank who recently passed away at the age of 84. You will get a brief background on Frank and the Vanderloo clan.

Shawn will then talk a bit about work. How is he coping with the recent changes? Does he enjoy his new route? All this and more!

Feedback! The feedback section is the largest part of this week's episode. You will find out about Marc Maron and his cats. Listeners were really affected by the clip we played of Marc talking about his cats on WTF episode 993.

The Ghosting episode also inspired a lot of people. We received feedback from Karen, Jarman and Richard. Shawn reads those comments and responds to them. And these comments lead to a discussion about podcasts in general, Jarman's podcast A Play On Nerds, and Shawn's former podcast, Sci-Fi Waffle.

This week's podcast promo: ESDCU

Jokes, Comedians, Laughter - 126

Laughter really is the best medicine. Jokes, comedians and laughter are on the agenda for this week's Soul Forge Podcast. Shawn and Tracy are telling jokes, and trying to make each other laugh. They are discussing some of their favourite comedians. Movies that they find funny are also mentioned.

Shawn's brother Robin has dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian. Or at the very least, going up on stage and giving it a try. If this actually happens, you can be sure we will have a recording on an upcoming episode!

On the topic of comedians and comedy, we talk a bit about comedy specials on Netflix. Some of the comedians we mention in this episode include: Trevor Noah, Jeff Dunham, Marc Maron, Amy Schumer, Arsenio Hall and Ricky Gervais. But there are more discussed.

Tell us about your favourite jokes or stand-up comedians. You can always email the show via soulforgepodcast@gmail.com

Jokes, comedians and laughter! Shawn's favourite comedian made him cry.

This week's podcast promo: Nerdlanta

Online Dating, Sex & Ghosting - 125

Ghosting! The Non-Hallowe'en Special!

Everyone is in love, falling out of love, or looking for love. Or maybe it's really just about the sex. Whatever you are looking for, perhaps you've tried your hand at online dating. There are many apps to help you do just that. Sex, love, marriage and heartache can be yours with a few quick swipes.

Our episode begins with a look at the world of online dating. Plenty of Fish is one of the most common sites. It is free and easy to use. Some people use Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, Elite Singles, but there are many others. We have a brief discussion about our own experiences.

Ghosting is not just for Hallowe'en anymore. You can ghost and be ghosted at any time. Most often, ghosting occurs as a result of online dating. It is much easier to dismiss and block someone if you don't know them in real life.

As part of our look into ghosting, we talk about conversation and rapport. We talk about the need for honesty and how this can be difficult for many people. Reading profiles of potential partners is an important part of getting to know someone's intentions. It is tough to meet people in real life.

This week's podcast promo: Earth Station One

In The Meme Time - 124

We love memes. Memes are how we communicate, and how we express what we are feeling. They often say things that we think but cannot put into words of our own. So, here we have In The Meme Time. It's kind of a play on words. And it's a freaking hilarious episode. I will be telling you what I think each meme means. Also, I will be using my own personal experience to make many of these memes relatable.

Be aware that while this episode is amazing and hilarious, there are some bad words in it. Also, near the end, I left in a blooper that I thought was super amusing. So, put your feet up and relax. In the meme time!

This week's podcast promos: Terminus Doctor Who, ESO Patreon

The Happiness Equation - 123

The happiness equation was born out of a feeling of being doomed to unhappiness. As if the universe would not allow joy to exist. The technical name is cherophobia or fear of happiness. It is an attitude towards happiness in which individuals may deliberately avoid experiences that invoke positive emotions or happiness.

There is the belief that when one becomes happy, a negative event will soon occur that will taint that happiness; as if punishing that individual for satisfaction. There are 4 reasons for this feeling. (1) a belief that happiness will cause bad things to happen; (2) that happiness will cause you to become a bad person; (3) that expressing happiness is somehow bad for you and others; and (4) that pursuing happiness is bad for you and others.

We’re designed to suffer in a sense. Natural selection also designed gratification to evaporate and designed us to keep pursuing it desperately after it evaporates. And to try to cling to it, even though that’s impossible.

Our reactions and emotions make us worry. Happiness is the consequence of taming the wild horse that is our mind.

The journey to happiness requires looking into the face of reality. Buddhism focuses on taming the mind and its various delusions, misunderstandings, and cravings. To attain equanimity — a deep sense of well-being and happiness — requires daily learning and practice.

Happiness is not just a dreamy state of mind. It creates measurable outcomes, as demonstrated by various studies:

Happy people have stronger immune systems and tend to live longer.
Happy people are more creative.
Happy people are more collaborative at work.
Happy people are more successful in their personal and professional lives.
Happy people do better in social relationships.
Happy people effectively bounce back from adversity.
Happy people are more accepting of themselves and others.

This week's podcast promo: PWR Spot Show

That Made My Day - 122

Talking about those things that make your day. The small, seemingly insignificant moments that add up to so much. Those things that make you say, "that really made my day!"

On this week's episode, Shawn is joined by Deidre. They laugh and carry on and discuss all the things that help us get through our days. Deidre has an amazing practice she calls Priming. She wakes up early, but stays in bed. She spends the time reliving moments of joy in her life. And she finds 3 moments of gratefulness. Picking goals and envisioning them as already done, and feeling the healing light and sending it out into the world are also parts of Priming.

The episode is made possible in part by the assistance of Rene and Heather. They have both been on episodes of Soul Forge before. Their moments 'that made my day' are included in the show.

We finish up by learning about the Hawaiian prayer Ho'oponopono which can help anyone let go of resentment.

This week's podcast promo: NerdBliss

Climate Change Crusader Girls - 121

Who are the climate crusader girls? They are not a superhero group, but they are super in their own ways. These are young girls who are doing everything in their power to try to save the world. Whether it be fighting for water rights, or preventing climate change, they all have strong voices. This episode is going to tell you a little bit about several of these climate crusader girls. For more information you will need to hop on Google and YouTube. There is a lot of information out there.

After a brief preamble about the latest happenings in my life, I talk a bit about my own thoughts on climate change and saving the world. I also read a Facebook Note that I wrote 11 years ago regarding my worries about oil and gas and the end of civlization. The episode continues on with a bit about some of the climate crusader girls and their lives and what they are passionate about. The episode concludes with the speech Greta Thunberg gave at the recent UN Climate Action Summit.

<em>The Climate Crusader Girls:</em>

Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish activist, has become one of the most visible faces of the climate activism movement. She’s had a particular gift for articulating the seriousness of the climate crisis. She's getting older generations to understand that young people will pay the price for their irresponsible decisions.

Autumn Peltier, a 13-year-old Anishinaabe girl from Wiikwemkoong First Nation in Canada, has been a vocal advocate for protecting water.

Mari Copeny, an 11-year-old from Flint, Michigan. She has been advocating tirelessly for the government to pay attention to the water crisis in her town since she was 8.

Artemisa Xakriabá, a 19-year-old from the Brazilian Amazon, spoke at the climate strike in New York City about the increasing destruction of the land in her part of the world, pointing out that the indigenous people are overwhelmingly affected by climate change.

There’s also Ridhima Pandey. She's an 11-year-old from India, who is among the group of 16 young people around the world (along with Thunberg) who filed a United Nations complaint against five of the world’s largest polluters.

This week's podcast promo: CasterQuest

This Version of Reality - 120

Are we living in the best possible version of reality? Did the decisions that we made when we were younger result in the older version of us being the most content? How can we ever know if we made the correct choices? Can we imagine what life we could be living right now if only we had made a different decision?

Obvioulsy there is no way to peer behind the curtain of reality. We cannot ever hope to know what the alternate reality version of us is doing right this minute. No way to know if that other us is living the life we wish we had. All we can do is speculate and wonder.

On this episode Shawn and Trish talk about the decisions that were made that resulted in the lives they are living now. 16 years ago, Shawn was faced with 3 choices: stay in Timmins, go back to North Bay, or head home to Sault Ste. Marie. Ultimately, he stayed in Timmins and fell in love with Trish and had a family for 9 years until he left. But what if he had moved back to the Soo, or if he had never left Trish. It's speculation time. Are we living in the best possible version of reality?

This episode covers life lessons and the decision to leave Trish. The inability to talk about and process emotions. Also, wanting to take charge of your destiny and be the hero of your own story. We also discuss matching your words to your actions and how this is not always easy to do. And we end the podcast by ruminating on the meaning of love. Are we living in the best possible version of reality?

This week's podcast promo: ThunderTalk

At The Crossroads - 119

My ex-fiance gives me some insight and advice while I stand here at the crossroads. Trish and I were together for 9 years. She has seen me go through quite the transformation over the years. There is probably no one who knows me better. On this week's episode, she tells me like it is. Trish has never been one to hold back on anything.

One of my issues is that I've always felt as if everyone else is better off than I am. This has lead to a certain amount of envy. And also a good amount of self-pity for poor life choices. Trish gives me a fresh perspective on this line of thinking.

We also talk about the feelings of misery and doubt that come when you are at the crossroads in life. We talk about me wanting to update my resume. If I do that, what is the next step? Where will I find a job that gives me the same benefits and advantages that I currently enjoy? I tend to abandon ship and just do anything I can to escape when I feel like I'm at the crossroads of life. I need to consider all my options instead of just closing my eyes and leaping.

And finally, Trish quotes my grandfather's words of wisdom. My Bumpa always said "Make plans, but don't plan the outcome." When you're at the crossroads, these words are important to remember.

This week's podcast promo: Double Edged Double Bill

Time For A Change - 118

Yup, it's time for a change. When things become stale, old or boring, we must look for a fresh perspective. We cannot continue to live by our old patterns. Like a snake that sheds its skin, we too must start over, begin again. This episode of the Soul Forge will take on the topic of change.

Your host Shawn is joined by his brother Robin, and together they discuss and examine the changes in their lives. Robin has recently changed everything about his life. He had a job, a car, and a house in Sault Ste. Marie. Due to certain circumstances he lost all of those things. He needed to make a change. He could have remained in his hometown, or he could start fresh. Start fresh is what he did. Moving in with his brother Shawn helped Robin financially and emotionally.

Shawn recently turned 43. The seasons are changing. The postal routes are also changing next week and Shawn is forced to change his shift. It is time for a change. Everything needs to change. Shawn would like to leave Timmins. He wants a new job, a new car, a new house. Winning the lottery is not an option, and yet something drastic needs to change in Shawn's life. Perhaps this is a continuation of his recent existential crisis. What changes will Shawn make? Will he stay stuck in familiar patterns? Only time will tell.

This week's podcast promo: The Nerdy Laser