Leafbox Podcast

Talking with HSURAE, artist, educator, bio-researcher on embodied questions, the art of making glass phantom limbs, mirror box therapy as speculative philosophy, and why the body is already a site of perpetual augmentation. On weaving high heels out of softened bone, gut microbiome colonialism, intergenerational sequencing with her grandmother, karaoke as mistranslation engines, and the limits of empathy as pedagogical virtue. On scar tissue as kintsugi, feces as a portal to human agency, and fibroblasts growing on glass not as object but as time-bound collaborator. Exploring tongue-based sight devices, bone extracts spun into jewelry, human ears grown on arms, and why all bodies are partially disabled, already entangled in the flows of medical devices, nationhood, and post-human speculation. On the ecological horrors of processing ultra-purified water, the irreducibility of artificial intelligence as an aesthetic quality, prayer rituals for semiconductor droughts, and what it means to make “Taiwanese art” in the age of AI. Also: on collecting rocks, deep time, and the slow, sacred practice of stitching of identity and memory into human hair.On SpectrumsThis dichotomy between abled bodies and disabled bodies is not necessary or a helpful differentiation - all of our bodies are essentially disabled or disability is something that all of us would have to come to terms with earlier or later. I see it really as a flow instead of distinct categorizationsOn Art for Generating QuestionsI studied occupational therapy and I worked as a therapist… but during that time I would visit art museums by myself. And in those visits I found that there was a sort of opening or space within art that seemed to be like inviting curiosity, inviting questions, and experimentation that I, I had not encountered in my previous studies… But there were moments during my education to study to be a therapist where I found myself asking questions that were unanswerable or coming up to the limits of empirical reasoning... I wasn't trying to look for answers, really. I was looking for a space where I could ask more questions… On Ultra Pure Water TSMC alone accounts for 38% of the country's daily water usage.And it's not even enough. They still like purchase water from construction sites, for example, because the creation of AI chips requires like thousands of washing with what's called ultra pure water. So it's like water that is a thousand times pure than tap water.On the SpiritualI collect rocks wherever I go, and I wouldn't say I worship the rocks, but that seems to be the closest spiritual practice in my life.Visit hsurae.com/ for more information. Postscript from Rae:Regarding the Phantom Limb Series: It came together with the help of many: TAs, classmates, faculty at RISD. In glassblowing, especially with large or experimental forms, it’s almost never a solo effort. There's an improvised choreography in the hot shop, and I leaned heavily on that. At the time, I didn’t always know how to properly credit that kind of fluid, mutual support. But over the years, I’ve become more intentional about acknowledging those contributions.That ethos continues in my current work. Two of my ongoing projects are being developed under a loose, evolving collective called Lythologies. It’s not a fixed group, but rather a dispersed, flexible way of holding collaboration, one that shifts and grows with each project.Also, I wanted to highlight two upcoming exhibitions:* Stories Written by the Sky, NTMoFA, Taiwan (10/25–12/14) (* Human Machine, EWERK Luckenwalde, Germany (9/20–12/14)Selections and images of some of Hsurae’s pieces discussed during interviewAll photos credit: hsurae.com/ Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe

Talking in-depth with writer, linguist, and anon AMRX Mark II, a dissident voice from the Pacific on escaping the cults of ideology, the yearning for identity in a "no place" like Hawaii, and what it means to walk away from ideological affiliations. Political beliefs as personal alibi, the sickness of escapism, the craving for heroes, identity formation and linguistics, cultural alienation and mimicry. Objectivism and disillusionment, the false theatre of Hawaiian sovereignty movements, the psy-op of Mauna Kea, the flattening hybridization of Pidgin, and Hawaii as a laboratory of empire. We talk about Substack as a space for intellectual deprogramming/engineering, the ritual of purging belief systems, and the existential loneliness that drives the search for meaning. Code-switching, mirror languages, sovereignty as theatre, linguistic education, the bridging importance of Sanskrit, to finally becoming your own guru—no cope, no hero, no group—emphasizing self-improvement and personal responsibility.ExcerptsHawaiian Local Identity Here is where cultures seem to come to die. I see everyone around me losing their heritage. Like all the kids I grew up with they're all children of immigrants and they did not identify with their parents' languages or cultures at all. In many cases they couldn't speak their parents' language and they, were trying, they were like me.They were trying to find some alternative identity and so we were all alienated. And I think that's quite common here, but people just don't talk about it.On Hawaiian Pigeon Pidgin is a very complicated thing in Hawaii because people have this strange relationship with it. People use it as a marker of local identity, but it's also something that they're ashamed of…As a thought experiment for decades now, I've thinking about how pidgin can become like this new fusion identity in Hawaii. And one idea I had for a stack was writing about how the Hawaiian sovereignty movement here totally rejects pidginOn Mauna Kea as Psy-op I think purpose of the psy-op was to distract from the military operations going on near Mauna KeaOn The Role of Social Dynamics in Political AffiliationsOne of the major reasons I got sucked into all of this was just social, really. That's the sad thing. I am an extreme introvert, and I find it very difficult to talk to people. The thing about all these different cults is that if you believe that everyone, you deal with, is on the same page as you, then socialization becomes very easy. Affiliations as Surrogate Identity I've noticed that a lot of Objectivists are in the same, are in a similar position to me. There's like these Objectivists who come from non-white backgrounds and they want to be some sort of weird and some sort of new thing.Ayn Rand herself and her own inner circle, they were all Jewish, but they were, they wanted to be something other than Jewish. They were trying to run away from it. And I was like them. I see that in hindsight now. I didn't wanna be Japanese. I wanted to be like this weird like new, what I've called new objectivist man, that was, not Japanese, not Asian, not anything. So all these ident, all these cult identities were attempts to run away from who I was and I just regarded so as just so cringe now, not that I embrace who I am, I still have identity issues, but I don't think signing up for a group and is really the answer anymore. But it, it was just so easy.So I poured all my energy into learning Japanese and I went to university in Japan. And that was just a complete disaster. Because I realized I really did not fit in there. The language is not the problem. I could do the classes I could do the tests, I could write the papers.That was not the issue. I, it made me realize how superficial my idea of Japanese identity was just because I could speak, read and write Japanese didn't mean I really belonged there. And I realized, yeah, this is just not for me anymore. And then I started doubling down on the Objectivist stuff, because as I just mentioned, objectivism is like a, is like for non main, like people of color…like this weird surrogate identity.AMRX Mark II Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe

In conversation with Buddhist nun, scholar, and activist Ven. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, tracing her remarkable arc from surfing in 1950s Malibu to ordination under the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. On hitchhiking through Southeast Asia, surf contests in 1960s Japan, Zen and copying the Heart Sutra. On women’s traditions within Buddhist orders, surfing as meditation. On Vipassana, near fatal snake bites, to living with 348 percepts. On navigating the importance of ethics, on consciousness, a critique of secular mindfulness commodification. The importance of debate within Buddhism. On being kind, on Dharamsala, on grief and death, on supernormal powers, advice for finding a teacher, on comparative philosophy, on the current discourse revolving the struggle for Tibet. On the Holiness the Dalai Lama, on perseverance, on the listening to birds, on the current moment. On insight, on death, on the importance of ultimately living for others.Excerpts On SurfingI found surfing quite spiritual because, you're alone out in the ocean. It's quiet. You get a totally different perspective on life because you're not one of the little ants running around. You've got a sort of meta view of human society, which is, quite instructive.On Peace and LoveI'm still trying to figure that out. Especially in the current climate. How do you account for that? It seemed to me that peace and love were the answer and that everyone. If everyone were full of peace and love, then we would have a happy world. And so why? And then, of course, Buddhism was very helpful because it pointed out that it's our self cherishing, it's our obsession with our ourself that messes everything up. People are struggling, clawing and scraping to get their own advantage. And of course, that interferes with all their relationships and destroys their personal happiness. And very few people really figure it out.On FreedomAnd when one of the monks cut my hair, it was the most freeing experience of my life. I saw my hair drop into my lap and I thought, whoa, free at last.On the Dangers of Mindfulness without EthicsYou can kill someone very mindfully. You can rob a bank very mindfully. If you don't have any ethical foundations for your mindfulness practice, it can go all wrong.On ActionBelief is cheap. You can say anything you want and even some of the greatest religious leaders have had doubts apparently, including up to and including Mother Teresa. But how do we live our lives? That's the important thing. How do we try to create happiness for ourselves and others?How do we avoid harming ourselves and others? These are the questions that Buddhism takes up.On Supernormal Powers and Ethical ConductSuper normal powers are no surprise if we train our minds well. Our minds are capable of so much more than we credit them for.These are not the aim of Buddhist practice, but they are, there are many records legends and also texts that document attainments. The descriptions of supernormal powers occur in the very earliest strata.On RealityWe take things to exist as they appear, but we all know that's false.It's an illusion, this desk, it looks so solid. One match it's history, right? It's toast. So the Buddhists are very good at questioning the question, things like appearance and reality.On AwarenessConsciousness is a string of conscious moments, from the moment of conception, it's only one moment back to the last moment of our previous lifetime. If we meditate we can track it back. Every moment is precious. Listen to the birds - remember that human life is impermanent. That our time on this precious planet is limited. That every moment is precious and we should do, try to make the most not waste even a moment. We can gain insight, awakening in this present moment. Time Stamps00:00 Introduction to Consciousness and Meditation01:10 A Personal Journey into Buddhism02:39 Early Encounters with Zen and Surfing07:20 Exploring Buddhism in Asia25:16 The Path to Ordination31:38 Finding Teachers and the Tibetan Tradition34:59 Advice on Choosing a Teacher37:19 The Importance of Choosing the Right Teacher38:41 Navigating Political and Cultural Challenges39:45 The Ongoing Struggle for Tibetan Freedom41:52 Balancing Political and Spiritual Perseverance44:20 Western vs. Eastern Buddhism48:59 Gender Disparities and Feminism in Buddhism56:06 The Role of Mindfulness and The Importance of Ethical Foundations01:00:31 Belief Systems and the Concept of God in Buddhism01:04:33 Supporting Buddhist Nonprofits and Education01:07:23 Supernormal Powers and Ethical Conduct01:12:18 Final Reflections and AdviceAbout Ven. Karma Lekshe TsomoKarma Lekshe Tsomo is a Buddhist nun, scholar, and activist. She has been a professor at the University of San Diego (USD) since 2000, teaching topics like Buddhism, World Religions, and Dying, Death, and Social Justice. She co-founded the Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women (Sakyadhiata means daughters of Buddha) and is the founding director of the Jamyang Foundation, which supports the education of women and girls in areas of the Himalayas, Bangladesh, and elsewhere. After studying at Dharamasala for 15 years, Dr. Tsomo completed her postgraduate work at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, obtaining a PhD in Comparative Philosophy in 2000. She has published in topics including women in Buddhism, death and dying, Buddhist philosophy, and Buddhist ethics.LinksJamyang FoundationSakyadhitaPhoto Credit: Sakyadhita International Association Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe

Talking with poet, editor, and literary trickster anon Jasper Ceylon on the art of aesthetic sabotage and poetics in the age of algorithm. From anonymous pen names to deliberate hoaxes published to destabilize the contemporary poetry scene, Jasper dissects the decay of literary standards, using his surreal, very funny and on point fake poetry journal Echolalia, as a critical manifesto serving as both scalpel and mirror. A self-described poetry fan first and foremost, Jasper satirizes the very world he inhabits, exposing identity-first editorial gatekeeping and the global flattening of taste. We talk about the ghost networks of the contemporary (poetry) world, the process in his rebellion; building a complete parallel poetic narrative world to dupe the editors. Instagram poetry and grievance studies, Jasper doesn’t pull punches but neither is he cynical. A romantic dissident who wants to save humanity from an algorithm-dominated life of flattening dullness and mediocrity. We go deep on the state of publishing, the cult of identity, AI’s role in human (poetic) deadness, on the the fun polarizing Edward De Vere theory of Shakespearean authorship, the disappearance of true literary dissent, and the neoliberal endgame of cultural homeostasis. On men and marginalization, the phobia of criticism in artistic spaces, and the tragedy of becoming cosmopolitan in the most banal sense. On the poetics of evil, on Vanessa Place, the battle between light and dark, the oversupply of menstruation poems and apocalypse. On breaking free of guardrails on the true task of poetry: not to comply, but to break the spell.On Mission And I am conversely just trying to…help people live well, see through some of this programming, make more informed choices, not create infrastructure that isolates people and demoralizes them under the guise of uplifting others. I'm trying to, if anything, onboard people to poetry, but to just get them to think very critically about the practices we currently have in place at this point in time right now.On Being A Poet But.. you just have to understand that as a poet you're gonna fly under the radar for a long while, potentially maybe your whole life. And if you're not cool with that, then become an Instagram poet. But if you wanna do something meaningful and you want to, actually take a serious go at this. You gotta be ready for a lot of disappointment upfront and potentially for the rest of your life.On Poetics of Evil / Vanessa PlaceTo promote evil as the great sort of aesthetic agenda - I would promote the exact opposite… I don’t think crucifying people and institutions…under the guise of demonstrating strength is what we're trying to do here, because what is strength, quote unquote in artistic endeavor.Save it for the f*****g battlefield…I think it gets so messy when you take that on as your primary aim, as a creative you're really just a soldier in disguise. And those types can sometimes conceal it very well, but I think they're doing a gross injustice to their fellow man On The Polarizing Debate surrounding Edward De Vere as Shakespeare The De Vere stuff, because no one will listen to me talk about this anytime I try to talk about this in person, to anyone.They give me that same look like they're just mortified. That I would suggest a country bumpkin couldn't write the the most immortal works in our language. But you even post this stuff on 4Chan's lit. board and all that, and they would just melt down over this idea.  What seems more realistic? A highly educated, noted poet of nobility with tons of money and connections to the most famous and let's say, accomplished academics in the London circles like Francis Bacon and stuff like that. It's either that guy doing this or a country bumpkin who can't even sign his own name.Jasper’s Post Script Additional Notes and LinksMy scorn for Vanessa Place is limitless. But for those interested in the essay discussed in the interview, and the theories that drive some of the very worst figures in poetry and culture-manipulation, consult the following: https://www.academia.edu/2778740/Radically_Evil_Poetics. And maybe treat yourself to one of Place's wretched Yoko Ono-esque conceptual art performance pieces while you're at it.But for a more entertaining diversion re: Shakespeare, avail yourself to some of Alexander Waugh's YouTube content on Edward de Vere (there's a lot of it).For a short-hand summary of the de Vere case, see: https://shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org/top-reasons-why-edward-de-vere-17th-earl-of-oxford-was-shakespeare/. And for a supremely autistic (schizophrenic, maybe?) look at some of the finer details underlying the conspiracy, you might watch something like the following video: Henrie IX: Shakespeare, Edward de Vere, and Henry WriothesleyIn some ways, the potential "easter eggs" of this theory and de Vere's hidden lines in the sonnets and such inspired the ones I hid within Echolalia Review that are waiting to be discovered. Lastly, I cited John Donne at one point as being involved in the Rosicrucian collaborative aspect of the theory (along with Bacon and Marlowe), but I meant John Dee.Pick up a copy of: Echolaliapere ube pressJasper Ceylon SubstackJasper Ceyon BiographyEqual parts “Ezra Pound if he were a Discord user” and 21st-century Ern Malley, Jasper Ceylon takes inspiration from the titans of English-language poetry, as well as its great satirists and provocateurs. As a poet, he’s been published extensively in magazines worldwide under his own name and many pen names, including “Adele Nwankwo,” “B. H. Fein,” and “Dirt Hogg Sauvage Respectfully.” He’s the author of Pere Ube’s literary cherry bomb/megaton nuke, "Echolalia Review: An Anti-Poetry Collection," but he’s also been traditionally published as a novelist and critic. Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe

Talking in-depth with author, publisher, and academic Udith Dematagoda, on his intellectual journey from post-punk bands to postwar literary writers, from international development contracts to pursing a PhD on Nabokov, from Scottish council estates to the specter of Marxist ghosts. A romantic, Udith shares his biography, the crossroads of class, diasporic experience, being driven not by ideology, but by aesthetic integrity. The son of a Sri Lankan political exile in Scotland, code-switching between posh-accented academia and the swear-punctuated slang of the personal, discovering reading as a lifeline from juvenile delinquency. On Agonist, his novel of post-internet disintegration, the imagination flooded by the digital hose. On the aesthetics of fascism, the dialectic between technology and masculinity, and the enduring value of Conrad. On the flattening tendencies of ideology and longing for transcendence. From literary engineering to integrity, on Neruda to Nabokov’s politics. On cosmopolitism, hybridization, from Vienna to Tokyo and back to novel publishin. On transgression and techno-pessimism, the diabolic nature of AI….ExcerptsOn Artistic IntegrityI'm an extremely romantic and impractical person, right? Artistic integrity is probably the most important thing to me, I think, because, my, as I said, my ambitions are just very like, artistic, right?On Techo-Pessimism They just come from the depths of hell. The true face of this horrid, diabolical kind of thing….I'm a complete technological pessimist.I would describe myself as a sort of Luddite in the original sense, in the sense of I insist like the, just because one is you're able to do something. There's no sense. I think a lot of people. techno optimists are really motivated by hatred and raison du monde of human nature of creativity, of, everything that's human, right? And then this is a secret kind of motivation, but one that's really apparent to me…I think it's because the people that are driving these things really have a sort of fundamental  raison du monde towards something which they feel alienated by for whatever reason…On Agonist I was very frustrated about being on the internet and taking away from what I had to do.Artistically, intellectually, et cetera, wasting time on the internet…  And then I just decided I'm gonna write everything I see that's annoys me into this notebook. And I just filled that notebook up over a year. [Agnoist] is a fever dream of the internet, which tries to confront how people try to communicate and just are not able to, and what underlies this thing, this kind of collective text that we're all offering, whether we like it or not. And how diabolical it is.On Masculinity, Fascism, and Technology So this is the book I've been working on for six years now on masculinity, fascism, and technology. The general thesis of the book is that fascism is equally an aesthetic philosophy as it is in ideology. It's why it describes an ideological aesthetic.On International Development And this isn't a controversial position to say that, international development is just rear guard colonialism, that's all it is. It's just soft power for rear, for the type of colonialism, which no longer requires colonial administrators with boots on the ground.It just requires technical assistance and expertise and con consultants, et cetera. USAID in particular, when I worked within that world was absolutely known to be not even thinly disguised kind of front for the securities state, the projects that they funded, et cetera. That's not that was common knowledge. USAID was just front basically for the American State Department and also the CIA and NSA, et cetera.On Readership I'm happy that there's people that read my work and they enjoy it, and that's fine. I don't really need to have the validation of what, whatever it is. I don't know, like the sort of journalistic class or like the academic class or what, whatever it is, I don't really care.I'm not really that bothered by that. Honestly I would like that people read my work and that's fine, I think but attaining ambitions for me is setting it to accomplish something that I think is interesting artistically in getting as close to that as possible…AgonistHyperidean PressUdith Dematagoda Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe

Talking with novelist ARX-Han on the optimistic outcome, the counterbalance to techno-feudalism, the shifting Overton window, on deep (racial? / psychosexual?) anxieties of Western elites over China’s technological rise, transhumanist cults, the internet as a pathologization engine, the problem of male agency in a world trending toward simulation, the accelerating breakdown of ideological coherence, the future of literary fiction in an era of digital feudalism, the aesthetics of niche subcultures, on panpsychism for story building models, the seduction of AI worship, Grand Theft Auto as contemporary American reality. On paranoia, the next phase of cult formation, social engineering, why the next big cultural divide won’t be left vs. right but human vs. post-human, and why it’s enough to just be read by a small group of considered minds in a literary salon scattered across the digital ether… + more.ExcerptsOn American Social Engineering“So I think the broad thing to understand is that my view is that Americans are the most propagandized population in the world, but the sophistication of that propaganda is so high that they have the inverse view, right?”On Convergence“And so I think that the structures of our consent manufacturing apparatus are much more sophisticated, distributed decentralized coded in a sort of implicit procedural logic and institutional logic that is takes quite a bit of time to disentangle and see clearly. And one thing that's very fascinating to me is just the convergence between effective altruists and Silicon Valley defense tech bros.Because they basically converged on the same foreign policy, which is just essentially American hegemony, right? And I just think it's very ironic that you know, I have this line in my head that you know, maybe it turns out that effective altruism was really just about killing Chinese people, right?”On Literary Opportunity:“ I've written about this before in terms of how liberalism has acted as a sort of identity shredder for Asian Americans, but the irony is, I think, because this is such an important historical moment in the geopolitical contest between East and West, but I think there's an opportunity to write fiction about it and literary fiction about it that's very interesting that taps into the vein of this present moment”On Masculinity“The solutions essentially require, probably technological reversal over and above anything else. I'm increasingly of mind that the ennui of the modern male is downstream of technological civilization itself.”On the Optimistic Countervailing Force:“The funniest optimistic outcome to me, the most hilarious outcome would be that various Chinese tech companies produce vast quantities of open source, AI and, robotics platforms that are then diffused throughout the world at scale.And, that acts as a countervailing force that prevents us from entering full blown techno feudalism and concentration of power”On America“America just is like a Grand Theft Auto sketch… Especially California, right? Like California is just like a GTA comedy routine where the most like crazy s**t just happens with consistent frequency, you read about something like, ‘Oh my God’, that's a feature, not a bug of California… I think the strength of America as a system - Is this ability to do memetic recombination…”On New Axis of Conflict “I think the new axis of conflict will be pro and anti transhumanism slash AI worship and stuff like that. So I feel that a major transection of values is inbound. Something novel. And that, that kind of cuts across this conventional left right distinction in strange and discomforting ways.”On Literary Privilege“ And I think we shouldn't, I think writers, we shouldn't be so so damn greedy, and we should just say that’s, that's enough. Like this is already a privilege, you know? Like it's already it's a privilege to be read by a small number of considered readers, and to be taken seriously, and to engage in dialogue with others.”MoreARX-Han @ www.DecentralizedFiction.com2024 Interview with ARX-Han on his novel Incel https://www.leafbox.com/interview-arx-han/ Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe

Kevin Dolan AKA Bennett's Phylactery joins me to discuss the drive for sovereignty as a generational project, building parallel institutions with the EXIT group, doxxing and digital resilience, the perils of modernity, the limits of incentives in shaping human behavior, the existential crisis of demographic collapse, the Natal Conference, the social cost of depopulation, Korea’s demographic time bomb, fertility as a lagging KPI, IQ Shredders, the absurdity of treating people like meat robots, cultural survival in an era of decline, the challenge of scaling without losing coherence, the delicate nature of reproduction, pandas and human mating habits, the intersection of tech and tradition in reversing demographic decline, and more.ExcerptsOn wanting sovereignty“And we realized that what we were really , what we were really about, the reason that we were insisting on, running our mouths on the internet and refusing to do these things. The thing that was behind that was that we want to have grandkids, that we want to instill our values into our kids to have sovereignty over our families. Because we saw the acid of modernity just eating anything that was not, anything that was not protected that had no defenses... “ On the Risks of Depopulation“ And what that cashes out to is that basically the Koreans, there's gonna be four great grandchildren for every hundred Koreans. It's that's essentially the extinction of a coherent Korean culture.”“ It's not it's not like population growth in reverse where it's oh, the economy slows down a little bit or it gets a little bit harder. It's it's like the thing flips upside down. It, it stops working fundamentally.”On Pandas, Human Fertility, Meat Robots and Incentives “I think that is very instructive in terms of the comparison that I've drawn. is to like, the pandas. If the pandas are not having sex, and you say I know what we'll do, we'll hook them up to electrodes and every time they fail to mate, we're gonna zap them with these electrodes, or we're gonna dump some if they, if he tries to go mount the female we'll dump some kibble on him.”And it's that kind of crude incentive system just really fails to understand the dynamics of why people do things and we are not meat robots that can be incentivized that way. And we in particular sex and reproduction is like this. It's very delicate and very open process. It's this thing where you have to get loose, get pre rational, get a little crazy and a little drunk. And to, to get people to do that for some money or like for these really pecuniary pedestrian reasons I think just completely misunderstands human nature.”On KPIs Do we know if EXIT is doing what it should be doing? Is it fertility? Is it kids? I think it's grandkids because grandkids, and that's a terrible KPI, right, because you don't know, it's not in your hands, right? It's in your kid's hands, but yeah you don't know if what you did worked until 20 years later.”LinksExitNatal Conference Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe

Talking with repeat guest, author and local Hawaii resident Charles Hugh Smith on the importance of living in the real world, insights from the scientific process, experimentation for incremental change, building your own utility, self reliance, behavioral modification, questioning the mythology of progress, anti-progress, technology worship, the value of something, economic externalities, Aina, AI and AI Gods, Digital Ice Nice, social change, social engineering, collective value systems, and strategies for staying sane in a digital world… Excerpts“ ​Try to live in the real world as much as possible because then you're more likely to avoid the derangement. And again, a back to basics is my approach. Question everything that you're doing your behaviors. Are they benefiting you or not? And if they're not benefiting you, then how can you modify them? Incremental is the way to go. To use the Daoist phrase: The journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step. Everything we do to improve our lives is incremental. It's possible to revolutionize your life. And if that opportunity exists and for sure, go for it. But for most of us, incremental is how we change.Accepting that we can change a lot by our behaviors, what we think of as priorities and incentives. That's how we change. We don't necessarily need a new life, per se. We just need to change our behaviors and what we value.”“ And I think the problem is not technology per se. It's our worship. In other words we're like blindly obedient to it. And in other words to the idea in the mythology of progress.” “ Because there are limits and to claim there that you have limitless power is to set yourself up for the fall…. it's actually a psychological failing as well. You don't have to believe in karma or religion. If you aspire or claim godlike powers, then you're setting yourself up for self destruction just psychologically because it's disconnected from reality”“ I tend to see things more as organic - that these systems are complicated.There's a lot of dynamics. We're not really in a position to control as much as we think is, my view and that, it's better to let people make their own decisions. And if it's if it stops working for them, then they're gonna open their mind and be willing to try something else.”Follow Charles Hugh Smith @ oftwominds.comOn Twitter @@chsm1thOn Substack @ charleshughsmith.substack.com/Timestamps02:18 Exploring Solar Energy: Projects and ExperimentsCharles shares his experiences with solar energy projects, discussing the economic challenges of solar power at small scales and importance of self-reliance, focusing on reducing dependence on fragile global supply chains.10:04 Behavioral Changes for Energy EfficiencyCharles details his efforts of behavioral changes rather than technology. 23:56 The Value of ExperimentationHe emphasizes the importance of experimentation as a tool for understanding and adapting to change, whether in personal resilience, self-employment, or daily consumption29:13 Questioning the Mythology of ProgressCharles challenges the conventional view that technological advancements and economic growth always equal progress. He argues that progress can sometimes be anti-progress when it degrades quality of life or damages the planet.33:36 Objective Analysis of Progress and Anti-ProgressTo break free from blind faith in progress, Charles advocates for an objective assessment of technological and economic developments, considering both benefits and negative consequences rather than uncritically accepting advancements.36:14 Technology Worship and Its ConsequencesTechnology is often worshiped as an unstoppable force, arguing that society needs to question its trajectory rather than passively accepting every technological development as progress.43:35 AI and the Mythology of ProgressCharles discusses how AI fits into the broader mythology of progress, highlighting the misplaced belief that AI advancements are inherently beneficial. He critiques the economic incentives driving AI development and the illusion of intelligence in machine learning models.47:28 The Limits of AI and Human IntelligenceHe examines the limitations of AI, particularly its inability to truly understand or possess human-like intelligence. He also critiques the misconception that intelligence is purely rational, emphasizing the role of emotions in human cognition.50:27 A New Mythology for the 21st CenturyCharles proposes that humanity needs a new guiding mythology that acknowledges limits rather than blindly embracing technological expansion. He suggests shifting status away from excessive consumption and toward sustainable, meaningful contributions to society.01:03:21 Social Change and the Role of TechnologyHe explores how social change happens organically with contrasts of top-down efforts to engineer social change.01:08:42 Staying Sane in a Digital WorldIn closing, Charles advises treating the digital world cautiously—like plutonium—while prioritizing real-world experiences and behavioral changes. He stresses the importance of small, incremental steps toward resilience and personal well-being. Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe

Talking with British historian and folklorist Dr. Simon Young on the enduring presence of supernatural experiences in human life, with a focus on his folk lore project, the Fairy Census—a vast collection of contemporary fairy encounter accounts. We explore the shifting nature of fairy lore across time, the interplay between cultural perception and the supernatural, and the deeper psychological and sociological dimensions of these experiences.Young shares insights from his research, addressing theories of altered states, memory, and the collective unconscious while tackling criticisms of his work and methods. He discusses the history and revival of the Fairy Investigation Society, its eccentric origins in the early 20th century, and its modern role in documenting encounters that defy conventional understanding.The conversation extends to the broader role of folklore in human consciousness, the evolution of belief systems, and its relevance to human society.From fairies to the mechanisms of belief, from historical patterns to personal narratives, Dr Young provides a fascinating lens to understand myth and reality, exploring why stories of the otherworld persist—and what they reveal about us.Dr. Young is a Cambridge-educated historian based at the International Studies Institute in Florence.Excerpts:“In terms of human evolution, there seems to be a certain number of people who have very frequent supernatural experiences. Suppose that somewhere deep inside me, I have a conviction that the supernatural matters, that it's not an embarrassing part of Paleolithic society that sometimes somehow made it through to the present. It is something that to some extent to have healthy lives…What I mean by that is that supernatural experiences, I think, are just part of human programming and increasingly in a rational age, we've started to edit this out leave it to one side. It's become an embarrassment on many levels. I think the experience that people have has a real importance in their lives, and I think it also has real importance in our species…Individuals and society more generally have to be able to absorb and particularly in an age when religion is being rejected and ridiculed these more personal versions of spirituality I think become incredibly important…And I think it's useful to look and ask ourselves, well, what is this really for? What does it do?Timestamps* 02:23 - Exploring Fairy Lore and the Fairy CensusDr. Young describes his background in medieval history and his transition into folklore studies, particularly his fascination with fairy lore and the creation of the Fairy Census.* 04:32 - Transition from Medieval History to FolkloreHe explains how a serious illness in his 30s led him to reevaluate his academic focus, eventually leading him to folklore and supernatural studies.* 05:48 - Understanding Fairies Through TimeDr. Young discusses how the concept of fairies has evolved over centuries, influenced by cultural shifts, religious ideas, and artistic depictions.* 13:37 - Contemporary Views on FairiesDr. Young highlights modern perceptions of fairies, including the influence of Theosophy, Disney, and neo-pagan traditions in shaping current beliefs.* 20:57 - The Influence of Walter Evans WentzHe introduces Evans Wentz, an American folklorist who documented fairy encounters across Celtic regions but controversially attempted to prove their existence.* 30:23 - The Role of Supernatural Experiences in Human EvolutionDr. Young theorizes that supernatural experiences may have been an essential part of early human societies, with a small percentage of the population naturally predisposed to such encounters.* 35:36 - The Fairy Census: Goals and MethodologyHe explains the structure and purpose of the Fairy Census, aiming to collect 2,000 detailed accounts to analyze patterns in supernatural experiences.* 40:08 - Challenges and Criticisms of the Fairy CensusDr. Young acknowledges the self-selecting nature of his survey participants and discusses how this affects the objectivity and scientific validity of his data.* 48:01 - Memorable Accounts from the Fairy CensusHe shares standout stories from the Census, including a man who repeatedly submits his childhood fairy encounter, demonstrating how deeply these experiences remain ingrained in memory.* 55:42 - The Role of Supernatural Experiences in Modern LifeDr. Young reflects on the growing rejection of institutional religion and how personal supernatural encounters might fulfill a psychological or spiritual need in contemporary society.* 01:02:48 - Boggarts and Other Folkloric ResearchHe delves into his research on Boggarts, a distinct type of supernatural entity in northern English folklore, separate from traditional fairies.* 01:04:25 - Final Thoughts and Future DirectionDr. Young expresses his belief that supernatural experiences are a meaningful part of human culture and invites listeners to contribute their own encounters to the Fairy Census.LinksDr Simon Academia Site / Fairy Census SubmissionBoggart and Banshee PodcastBooksNote: Illustration above from Oberon, Titania and Puck with Fairies Dancing circa 1786 William Blake 1757-1827 Presented by Alfred A. de Pass in memory of his wife Ethel 1910 Source Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe

I had the pleasure of speaking with George Lee, creator of Chez Jorge and author of A Gong's Table, to uncover the profound connection between food, culture, and identity. His book, a stunning collaboration with photographer Laurent Hsai, takes readers on a heartfelt journey through Taiwanese cuisine, deeply influenced by his grandfather, Buddhist traditions, and his experiences navigating life across cultures.At the heart of the book lies a tribute to George's grandfather, whose round wooden table symbolized the warmth and unity of family gatherings during his childhood. Together, we delve into George’s reflections on family, the evolution of their culinary traditions after his grandfather's passing, and the rich tapestry of Taiwan's gastronomy. From Buddhist vegetarian practices to the creative impulses that shaped his storytelling, George brings a deeply personal and insightful perspective to the table.George’s book is a beautiful love letter to Taiwan and a quietly uncompromising work of personal and national exploration, guiding readers through Taiwan’s vibrant food culture with a rhythm as steady and intimate as footsteps. The conversation expands on this in a personal way with interesting tangents.Topics Discussed* The comfort and nostalgia of home-cooked meals.* The origins of "Chez Jorge" as a reflection of cultural and personal exploration.* How his grandfather, Ah Gong, inspired his culinary philosophy.* The impact of learning vegetarian cooking from Buddhist nuns.* Fusing modern influences with traditional Taiwanese practices.* His creative collaboration with photographer Laurent to tell Taiwan's story.* Future projects blending food, craftsmanship, and culture.* Tradition, innovation, and the transcendent power of food as a connection to home and heritage.Excerpts from Interview“The book was exactly like a learning process. I didn't have a clear idea of what I was gonna write until it was written.”“ Looking at new things with old eyes and to feel the changes”“ I think it's always like that when you're too comfortable with your own surroundings, there's not that much to write about anymore.”“It's sort of the feeling I wanted to capture with my cooking was just, like a sort of home cooking that is comforting that brings you home.”For more information: A Gong's Table Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe