Closure Optional

In this episode I discuss my recent experiences as a virgin of online dating in the 21st century, and what it showed me about the nature of being a “self”. How do you sell your “self” to dudes on the internet when no one really knows what a “self” is… I give some valuable tips on making a Tinder profile from my extensive week-long experience, and then self-destruct in a metaphysical quagmire about the illusion of “self”. Show Notes:I discuss a concept called “Ship of Theseus” or the “Theseus Paradox”For interesting reading, Sam Harris' book on “self” – “Waking Up”Non-regeneration of the Cerebral CortexNeuroplasticity – The Brain that Changes Itself, Dr. Norman DoigePlease subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever you like to hear your podcasts and help this thing grow. If you’re on an Android device, I’ve found that Podcast Addict works the best. Thank you for listening, as always.This podcast is made possible by&nbs

Hey it's Christmas time and everyone's insane in attempt to relax over the holiday break, so I thought it would be fun to do some experimental podcasts at the end of the year… Stuart comes to my house and gives me a hypnotherapy session for this one, and you can join in if you want to! If you do, however, want to do the session with us, just make sure you're laying down somewhere and preferably not driving a giant machine.Stuart was on this podcast in Episode 22 if you'd like to hear how he helps people become the best in the world at what they do. And if you'd like to find out more about what he does, his website is here, Elite Minsdet Institute.Stuart WalterStuart speaking for EMIStuart on StageStuartPlease subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever you like to hear your podcasts and help this thing grow. If you’re on an Android device, I’ve found that Podcast Addict works the best. Thank you for listening, as always.This podcast is made possible by Burleigh

Steve is a Australian Military Veteran who cured his debilitating PTSD through the exploration of altered states of consciousness; states induced by martial Arts, meditation, and yes, psychedelic compounds. He is one of the founders of PRISM, a non-profit organisation that works to develop and integrate psychedelic research back into mainstream science and medicine in Australia. Steve is a change consultant and researcher currently specialising in the future of human consciousness, and this is a great conversation about adapting to change, both on a personal level and at a global scale. We discuss climate change, the evolution of human awareness, and the importance of set, setting, and education in exploring altered states of consciousness. To see more of what Steve does, please check out his website here.show notes:The lecture I'm talking about is here: https://www.eman8.net/elev8-live-switzerland-2018/PRISM – Psychedelic Research in Science and MedicineMAPS – Multidisciplinary Association for Ps

Kris is a writer, photographer, and philosopher, and one of my best friends though we've actually never met each other in real life. I met him in a writers group on Duncan Trussell's podcast forum, and we've spent 5 years talking to each other through the internet…This is a wonderful conversation about how I recently experienced a mental earthquake when I released an offensive podcast and then regretted it completely, and then recognised my shame and admitted it publicly, and all the neurotic bullshit that goes along with that. The podcast we are discussing is the one directly preceding this one, Episode 34, about a social masturbation circle.We discuss the merits and pain of humiliation, shame and self-assessment, and how to really learn from things that make you feel like a worm. To find out more about Kris, his website is https://www.kristopherdrummond.com/  and you can find him on Instagram here, and Facebook Here Please subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher,&

*UPDATED* – Holy shit you guys this was a monster – I was sick of telling the story about the time I masturbated in the woods with a bunch of strangers, but I managed to get it out of me finally in an entertaining and hopefully enriching way for you, and I've added some educational tidbits too because I felt cheap and gross* just talking about sex stuff without also giving you something neat to think about. I discuss the neurochemistry of connection, how our brains develop the ability to manage those chemicals, and how we can actively change the structure of our brain by hugging people and cumming on their faces. Probably not so much that last thing. Thank you, as always for listening!*Note – the main reason I felt (and still feel) cheap and gross about the podcast is that I've realised in hindsight, and after talking to Victoria about it, I've come across very cynical, sarcastic, and judgemental, despite repeatedly saying that I wasn't trying to be a cunt, I still was… Victoria is com

We were very lucky to squeeze into the very busy shooting schedule for Craig Wilson, Daniel Raffaele, and Peter Cross as they continue their massive journey across Australia filming a new documentary called ‘High As Mike'. The film follows Mike, a cancer patient with a brain tumour that will eventually leave him blind, as he rides his bicycle around Australia in search of answers about whether or not Medical Cannabis will save his sight. They travel from Tamworth, all the way up to Brisbane and back down again, talking to neuroscientists, Medical Cannabis patients, politicians, lawyers, police and doctors in order to understand if Cannabis works, how to gain access to it legally, and why so many people are still using the black market.This is a great conversation about the current state of Medical cannabis in Australia; it's not your usual stoners talking shit about weed, this is a group of men who never thought they'd need Cannabis for anything, and who now are convinced that if they were diagnosed wit

Jay and Matt are musicians from the band (group?), Arroyo – I don't know the difference between a band and a group, but these guys are fucking rad. This is a great conversation about music, art, the vulnerability of being someone with something to say, how commercialised art can be a disgusting mis-representation of it's original meaning, and how most of the media we're fed is pure bullshit.SHOW NOTES:This is the video I'm talking about at the very start, their first single, “Please Just Let Me Know” This is their second single “Hold”Check out their Facebook page and Instagram for Tour dates in a city near you  Please subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever you like to hear your podcasts and help this thing grow. If you’re on an Android device, I’ve found that Podcast Addict works the best. Thank you for listening, as always.This podcast is made possible by Burleigh Heads and Broadbeach Physiotherapy, Heart Start Fitness Muay Thai and YOU, the listener

Oooweeee this guy is a fantastic bag of bones, muscles and brains (but mostly brains); Jordi helps elite fighters cut weight for MMA and other combat sports in order to safely and effectively achieve their fight weight, which can be a loss of up to 20% of their total body weight!! This is a great conversation about how he helps the best of the best get their body into supreme condition before a fight; we talk about his recent trip to the US to work with the UFC, and his work with our friend, the new WBC World Champion, Ben Johnston, as well as some neat little insights into the psychology of food and addiction.If you'd like to see more of Jordi and what he gets up to, his facebook page is here, and his instagram is here.  Please subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever you like to hear your podcasts and help this thing grow. If you’re on an Android device, I’ve found that Podcast Addict works the best. Thank you for listening, as always.This podcast is made p

Aidan is an Irish Comedian living in Bangkok who used to be an Investment Banker but he quickly realised that God was going to punish him for being evil so he became a comedian and with a short detour into Buddhist Christianity while writing a comedy show about Jesus versus Buddha. This is a great conversation about the nature of existence, how to avoid feeling like a fraud, how to run away from a fight and how Jesus was probably a terrorist.Check out Aidan's website for tour dates, videos, and everything else he does at http://www.aidankillian.com/ or find him on Facebook here References: In the podcast we talk about the book “The Artist's Way” and “Zealot“.  Please subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever you like to hear your podcasts and help this thing grow. If you’re on an Android device, I’ve found that Podcast Addict works the best. Thank you for listening, as always.This podcast is made possible by Burleigh Heads and Broadbeach Physiotherapy, Heart S

Adrian is a wellness coach who uses somatic and cognitive therapy to help men resolve issues with anxiety, stress, anger and shame. He is also involved with Polyamory, which means his girlfriends have other boyfriends who have other girlfriends (and maybe boyfriends too). During the course of the podcast we discuss how he helps men get back inside their body to resolve their issues, what Shadow Tantra Retreats are all about, and the very real and raw implications of having an “Open Relationship” – it's not all jizz and orgies guys, sometimes, it fucking hurts.To see more of what Adrian does, his website is https://erosmethod.com/ or the Eros Method on Instagram and Facebook. Please subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever you like to hear your podcasts and help this cute little thing grow. If you’re on an Android device, I’ve found that Podcast Addict works the best. Thank you for listening, as always.This podcast is made possible by Burleigh Heads and Broad

This episode is just me on my lonesome talking about the origins of the War on Drugs and a little bit o new research into the root causes of addiction. This whole podcast is informed and mostly based on the book, Chasing the Scream, by Johann Hari, who will be a guest on Closure Optional next month to discuss the ideas in this book, and his new book about the causes of Depression and Anxiety, Lost Connections.Here are the links to everything that I reference in the podcast, please do send me any questions, ideas, references to cool shit about this stuff because I love it.Thanks for listening as alwaysJohann Hari's Ted Talk –The House I Live in – Documentary:The New Jim Crow – Book about the racial history of the War on Drugs by Michelle AlexanderDr. Carl Hart – Neuroscientist and Drug Reform ActivistDr. Gabor Mate – Addiction SpecialistLink to MCUA Petition for Cannabis Decriminalisation in Australia: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?i

Abraham Garfield is a Sports Psychologist, a Rapper, and a World-Class Ultimate Frisbee Player – he runs Summit Sports Psychology which aims to improve your wellbeing, leadership and performance abilities through holistic Psychology. He also runs the Athlete Recovery Academy which helps athletes get back to their peak mental state after an injury or traumatic event that is impacting their ability to do their best. This is a great conversation about the mind: how to strengthen your resilience to traumatic events, why 10 day Silent Meditation Retreats are like picking a fight with a UFC fighter because you've done a boxfit class at 9 Rounds and think you're a legend, and the potential uses of psychedelic substances in psychotherapy.Please check out his website here: http://summitperformancepsych.com/His Facebook is here: https://www.facebook.com/summitperformancepsychThe Athlete Recovery Academy is here: http://summitperformancepsych.com/injury-recovery/Send him an email or call him to book a session here

Kurt has been a guest before, he's a musician and philosopher, and a very good friend of mine; this is a great conversation about love and relationships, experiencing bullshit artists and trying to be less of an asshole when dealing with them, and even a little exploration of how Crypto Currencies are the new Wild-West. If you want to hear some of Kurt's music, check out his band Not Ok, and also his Soundcloud where he's got some other projects on the go. He also created the theme music for this very podcast Thank you for listening as always!  Please subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever you like to hear your podcasts and help this cute little thing grow. If you’re on an Android device, I’ve found that Podcast Addict works the best. Thank you for listening, as always.This podcast is made possible by Burleigh Heads and Broadbeach Physiotherapy and Heart Start Fitness Muay Thai.Closure optional Theme is created by Kurt Chatfield. His podcast is here: https

Victoria is a Sexologist, which basically means she specialises in helping people have sex and masturbate better in order to become more connected to their own human potential! If that seems like giant leap then you've never eaten a weed cookie and masturbated in the bath for an hour then written the best chapter of your life in your silly book that you keep saying that you're writing but you haven't looked at for months. This is a brilliant conversation about how to get past your own shame and bullshit and learn to love yourself again. We also delve into the idea of Open Relating, because she's just written a book on it, but stay tuned for part 2 in November to hear more about that.You can find out more about Victoria at her website here, or her Facebook page, or her Instagram.If you'd like to get yourself a copy of her e-book on open relating, or enrol in a Self Pleasure Circle yourself, all the details are on her website.And lastly, at the end of the episode she recommends taking 30 minutes out for yoursel

What are you, the thing that's reading this? Are you the thing thinking about what you are, or are you the things that you think you are? Are you your mind, your body, or your memories? What if those things change, are you still you?! If that seems like a mindfuck, it is, but your mind needs lovin too and it's about time you gave it some action.Cameron Reilly is a philosopher and author of the book, The Three Illusions, where he demonstrates the idea that Free Will, your SELF, and Time are all illusions. He believes that by understanding the nature of these illusions, you can rid your life of fear, guilt, anxiety and anger, and become a much better version of your (un) self.Cameron also runs the first ever Australian Podcast Network and a bunch of podcasts therein, as well as producing a new documentary about the historical Jesus which is sure to be fun for everyone.If you'd like a free copy of his book, please send him an email at cameronreilly@gmail.com and he'll send you the ebook for free.SHOW NOTES:Free

Kaitlin makes art out of Math – now wait, I know that seems boring, but when you realise that everything in our known universe can be drilled down into a simple mathematical pattern, you realise that she's actually more like God, creating things out of nothing and that's not boring at all. This is a great conversation about art, about fractals and what they are, and what it's like to be a human being. Please subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever you like to hear your podcasts and help this thing grow. If you’re on an Android device, I’ve found that Podcast Addict works the best. Thank you for listening, as always.This podcast is made possible by Burleigh Heads and Broadbeach Physiotherapy Heart Start Muay Thai and Unsafe ArtClosure optional Theme is created by Kurt Chatfield. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you are a Martial Artist, or an Artist, or a Creative Person, or in Business, or a Human Being – this conversation is for you. Stuart is a Clinical Hypnotherapist at Elite Minsdet Institute, specialising in Sports and Business Performance and this is a great conversation about how the brain develops mechanisms over time which impede our ability to reach our potential. We discuss the brain, Martial arts and Hypnosis, and Stuart imparts some valuable tips on getting your brain in order, and he even gives me a little therapy.If you want a copy of his book, The Dear Diary Process, please either send me an email at lorna@lornabremner.com or Stuart at Stuart@elitemindsetinstitute.com.au and we'll send you the e-book for free.Please subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever you like to hear your podcasts and help this thing grow. If you’re on an Android device, I’ve found that Podcast Addict works the best. Thank you for listening, as always.This podcast is made possi

“John” Wayne Parr is a 10 x World Champion Muay Thai Fighter and, with his wife Angie, the owner of Boonchu Gym on the Gold Coast. There are very few people in the world who have accomplished as much as Wayne has in his sport and yet he is one of the humblest and nicest people I've met. Not only because of his fighting but also because of who he is, John Wayne Parr is considered legendary in Thailand, which is a HUGE accomplishment for anyone, but especially, for a Westerner. He will go down in history as of one of the best in the world, but he's not done yet! He's currently signed with Bellator Kickboxing, and you can find him training or teaching every day at his gym, or at Boonchu Restaurant in Broadbeach where everything started.If you want to see any of the places he talks about in this podcast, check out his documentary, Blessed With Venom – he goes back to Thailand and it's really incredible to see how much he loves and respects the country, the people, and their national sport.Please subscribe t

Kayvan is not what you'd expect – as is the case with most good things – he's putting his 13 fun (and thriving) businesses on hold this year to run for Mayor of Denver because he thinks we need to seriously re-think the way we do politics. He owns Sexy Pizza, a well-loved Denver Pizzaria, runs Sexpot Comedy which is a multi-platform media company producing Podcasts, Stand-up Comedy, Videos, and most recently, Super Troopers 2. In addition to all that, he's also got a network of Cannabis Dispensaries and a consulting firm called Denver Relief Consulting. Needless to say, he's an incredibly interesting and smart guy, and this is a great conversation about Politics, Social justice, Weed, perseverance and taking risks.Please subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever you like to hear your podcasts and help this thing grow. If you’re on an Android device, I’ve found that Podcast Addict works the best. Thank you for listening, as always.This podcast is made possibl

Because, why not! My parents are Conceptual Artists, living and working out of Denver, Colorado. They've been in love with each other and making art (and periodically arguing about both of those things) for over 40 years, and this is a great conversation about Art and how to find meaning inside your craft, inside a family, and inside yourself.  If you'd like to see what they do, please visit http://steuartbremner.com or http://unsafeart.com/.Also, if you happen to find yourself in any of these cities, go to one of these art galleries and TAKE the book my parents left in the Gift Shop!! Thank you as always for listening Edinburgh: National Galleries of ScotlandParis: Pompidou CenterLondon: Tate BritainLondon: Royal Academy of ArtShow Notes:20:10 – The Book Drop Project43:00 – Clyfford Still44:00 – Mark Rothko1:09:00 – Moving Rock Field Sculpture, Steuart Bremner1:14:00 – Kirkland Museum Please subscribe to Closure Optional here: itunes, Stitcher, Android, Email, or wherever y