ancientcultures

How do insects factor into our traditions of death -- and how do insects handle their own burials? Find out in this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind as Robert and Joe discuss ants, termites, Virgil, ancient civilizations, bees and more. (originally published 1/21/2021)

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You are living through exciting and strange times. There are so many technological advances with AI, space travel, NFTs, and a rapidly changing culture with social media, it’s near impossible to just turn ‘off’. Let’s admit it, FOMO is real and it keeps a lot of people connected when they’re not even sure why they’re connected. When was the last time you unplugged and took on a challenge you weren’t sure you’d complete? How long has it been since you’ve sat with yourself in total silence or allowed yourself to just be bored out of your mind? Author and journalist, Michael Easter, joins me today to discuss his journey and share the lessons and insights he’s gained from spending a month in the Arctic surviving. Hunting his own food, carrying heavy loads, and sitting with absolute boredom are just part of his story. As you listen to his story, it is my hope you will consider ways you step out of your comfort zone. There is something very freeing about being able to shake things up and break your routines and habits to improve the quality of your life in unconventional ways. This episode is about facing discomfort and finding new ways to challenge yourself for the better. Order Michael Easter’s new book, The Comfort Crisis - https://amzn.to/3ihebjB  SHOW NOTES: 0:00 | Introduction to Michael Easter 1:05 | The Comfort Crisis Explained 3:02 | Journey to the Arctic 5:03 | Recovering from Alcohol 7:40 | Outside the Comfort Zone 8:55 | Helicopter Parenting Losing Challenges 12:16 | Touching Controversial Topics 14:53 | Challenges Surviving the Arctic 20:11 | Problem Creep 28:05 | Need for Rite of Passage 35:12 | Metaphorical Lions for Passage 41:19 | Comfort Creep & Habits 44:22 | Breaking Routine to be Present 47:45 | Discomfort and Boredom 50:00 | Benefits of Boredom 57:12 | Daily Routine 1:02:11 | Rucking & Human Design 1:14:05 | Killing His 1st Caribou 1:17:16 | Life Cycle & Mortality 1:27:16 | “This Too Shall Pass” 1:30:31 | Want to Live Forever? 1:39:12 | Assigning Meaning to Life 1:42:20 | Rites of Passage Transformation 1:46:12 | Problem Creep Comparison 1:50:34 | Finding Gratitude  Check out our sponsors: Better Help: Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/impacttheory Butcher Box: Go to butcherbox.com/IMPACT Get 2 five-ounce lobster tails and 2 ten-ounce ribeye steaks all FREE in your first box. Upstart: UPSTART.com/IMPACT Magic Mind: Go to Magicmind.co and use promo code IMPACT to get 20% OFF. Ladder: Go to LadderLife.com/impacttheory Are You Ready for EXTRA Impact? If you’re ready to find true fulfillment, strengthen your focus, and ignite your true potential, the Impact Theory subscription was created just for you. Want to transform your health, sharpen your mindset, improve your relationship, or conquer the business world? This is your epicenter of greatness.  This is not for the faint of heart. This is for those who dare to learn obsessively, every day, day after day. Subscription Benefits: Unlock the gates to a treasure trove of wisdom from inspiring guests like Andrew Huberman, Mel Robbins, Hal Elrod, Matthew McConaughey, and many, many, more New episodes delivered ad-free Exclusive access to Tom’s AMAs, keynote speeches, and suggestions from his personal reading list You’ll also get access to an 5 additional podcasts with hundreds of archived Impact Theory episodes, meticulously curated into themed playlists covering health, mindset, business, relationships, and more: Legendary Mindset: Mindset & Self-Improvement Money Mindset: Business & Finance Relationship Theory: Relationships Health Theory: Mental & Physical Health Power Ups: Weekly Doses of Short Motivational Quotes  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PCvJaz Subscribe on all other platforms (Google Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Downcast, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Podcast Republic, Podkicker, and more) : https://impacttheorynetwork.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Stuff to Blow Your Mind episode “Quetzalcoatl: The Winged Serpent,” Robert and Joe discussed the feathered snake god of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica -- as well as the giant pterosaur named after it. In this episode, fossils and myth come together in a discussion of Adrienne Mayor’s geomythology take on the plumed serpent.  

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If your fictional diet contains significant quantities of horror or dark fantasy, then you've likely encountered the ghoul: a scavenging, grave-robbing race of unnatural beings with an insatiable hunger for the dead. As Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore in this episode, the roots of ghouldom sink back into pre-Islamic Arabic folklore -- as well into the distant evolutionary history of humanity itself. (Originally published October 29, 2015)

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Once more, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick turn to Karnie the Mailbot for listener reactions and commentaries on recent episodes. Strap in for discussion of dreams, submarines, ancient goddesses and more. 

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Once more, Stuff to Blow Your Mind powers up the mailbot and considers YOUR comments, stories, insights and questions on recent episodes. In this installment, Robert, Joe and Christian discuss Timothy Leary, bicameralism, twins and all sorts of monsters.

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