We get so committed to what we see as progressivism that we forget the primary stance of what we’re fighting for – what’s the humanity of these people?

Sean’s Monologue: What is Misandry?

This episode brings us a conversation with Martin Henson, the executive director of the BMEN Foundation and one of the few voices talking about how identity framing within America creates misandry/racism that is specifically targets Black men, separating them from the larger Black community. Martin uses the examples of police violence, the prison industrial complex, and actions of the Trump administration to illustrate his point.

Martin shares his views on the Obama administration, both positive and negative, then shines more light on the myth that Black men in the U.S. are hyper-violent and hyper-sexual. Why has this misandry endured for so long? Martin tells us two definitions of male patriarchy and talks about the divestment of Black men and communities through policy.

Speaking from his position as an organizer, Martin provides context for Black Lives Matter and shares some criticisms of the movement. He tells us how the post-Obama rise of the conservative far-right actually began in 2008. What did white culture fear so much, and how did this affect the BLM message? Are people burdened with the trifecta of being Black, male, and poor even invited into the spaces that are meant to advocate for their survival? Martin talks about the fallacy of equating comfort with success, warning us that feeling comfortable in a space doesn’t necessarily mean that we are doing something well.

Why is anti-Black misandry one area where LGBTQ+ and other diverse communities share equality? Why might a far-right viewpoint become appealing to a Black man? Martin speaks to the responsibilities of being male and stresses the importance of Black men having a space to talk about this reality, so they can be better to themselves and better to the world around them. Listen to learn how and why women have become curators of Black male hardship. And what’s the persistent question that gets asked again and again each political season?

Martin tells us how the context of “respectability discourse” has shifted over the decades, then shares his views on why the Internet and social media has made it harder to exist. He talks about Candace Owens and George Floyd, how the alt-right is better than we are at making their message accessible, and how there seems to be a resurgence of each historical cause about every twenty years.

Martin and Sean discuss the cultural impact of accepted ideas about how Black men think and feel, and Martin asks why people don’t see Black men as legitimate authors of their own experience. He speaks to the challenges for Black boys in America, restorative justice, and whether Trump has caused a resurgence of racism or is simply allowing us to be what we’ve always been. Martin shares the danger he fears when traversing rural communities.

Why does Martin think we have “a hard twenty years ahead of us”? He and Sean talk about the current Democratic establishment, the impact of a third Trump term on political organizers, the importance of churches within our communities, and whether or not the Internet has caused as much harm for social movements as it has good.

Martin concludes by telling us about his non-profit, BMEN Foundation.

You can learn more and connect with Martin Henson at:

https://bmenfoundation.org/

https://x.com//@BMENFoundation

http://facebook.com/BMENfoundation/

https://www.instagram.com/BMENFoundation/#

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmen-foundation

What is the cost to the world when we live in a truth created by others?

Sean’s Monologue: Charlie Kirk and Domestic Terrorism

Today we have a conversation with Bobbi Barrington, an inspiring Australian woman who lived for 26 years in the wrong marriage, 40 years in the wrong career, and 59 years in the wrong body. Bobbi’s goal is to help motivate people to make the positive changes they need in their lives, but what does it take to change and where does change begin? Bobbi is here to guide us on the path to “telling a better story.”

Are our life stories true or have we been born into them and embodied them just because they are the stories thrust upon us? It all starts with awareness, so Bobbi begins by talking about self-awareness. She tells us about growing up in a hostile household and the strategies she developed to keep herself safe. Then she shares her journey of self-discovery – allowing her extroverted personality to shine through and giving herself permission to return to childhood and learn to play as an adult.

Over the course of this episode, Bobbi teaches us to shift our mindsets from “I can’t” to “I can.” Listen to hear her Michelangelo metaphor, to learn why discomfort is sometimes good, and how to use ChatGPT as a guide to self-discovery. Bobbi also tells us how a “fake” story about yourself can be turned into reality.

Bobbi talks about how culture shapes our gender identities. She tells us that many of the changes we make for ourselves transcend gender. After experiencing life from both sides, Bobbi has come up with two simple yet important pieces of advice to offer to men and to women.

Sean and Bobbi conclude by discussing the similarities and differences between Australia and the United States in terms of political problems. Bobbi tells us about her personal political views and how her beliefs have been influenced and changed thanks to her international travels. She leaves us with the question – “This belief…does it serve? Am I sure? Am I really sure?”

You can Live Your Truth with Bobbi at:

www.bobbibarrington.com

“We can only operate from what we know and what we have. And when we learn something new, we operate from that new place. Judging ourselves backward? Futile, right?”

Sean’s Monologue: The Impact of Social Construct

Today’s episode features the amazing Dr. Nava Israel, author of the award-winning book

CONEtrolled: How We've Lost our Freedom and How to Reclaim It. Nava begins by defining the idea of “core certainties”, a term she herself coined during the conception of her CONE theory. And, would you believe it, they are very much like dog shock collars! Listen to hear why Dr. Israel feels we are teetering on a worldwide tipping point.

Next, using religion as an example, Nava talks about how oppressive constructs can fizzle out, but then laments that humanity tends to build new constructs on the ashes of the old ones. Find out Nava’s hope for her book and learn how people often react in their lives after learning the concepts of CONE theory. Nava tells us about the structure of CONES, citing examples, and explains how a person can become their own CONE after internalizing a set of beliefs.

We learn what it’s like to discover your own neurodivergent thinking structure later in adulthood, as Nava tells us a little of her life story. Spending her early childhood in the Soviet Union, young Nava avoided indoctrination by simply not buying into the propaganda they fed her in school – as Nava puts it, “people with autism see beyond the bullshit.” Soon after, as an immigrant to Israel, she couldn’t comprehend the country’s strong national pride. As adult – now in Canada – Nava earned her PhD in epidemiology and began to understand more about the patterns she’d been noticing her whole life. Finally, the pieces fell into place and left her with a simple model to share with the world.

Sean talks about how Nava’s book has changed the way he sees himself and his own ideas, while Nava disputes the concepts of shame and guilt. She tells us about “social lynching” and “moral homelessness”, then she walks us through each layer that creates a CONE of core certainties. Listen to learn why marriage is a solution to a very persistent problem and how something that is inanimate – a system – can be self-conscious.

Sean asks Nava to tell the “Listerine story”, which leads to a discussion of manufactured needs & climate crisis (which is NOT manufactured). Then Nava explains how the illusion of choice creates dependency, using the example of modern medicine. She tells us how CONEs operate and reincarnate with two different types of CONE masters. During this topic, Nava speaks about communism with the authority of a person born in the Soviet Union. As horrible as many aspects of her childhood may have been, she can acknowledge the good features of communism, and she warns us how CONEs can cause harm by promoting a ‘burn it all down’ philosophy, rather than observing, learning, contemplating, and creating something better. Then Nava shares a wonderful story of collaborative and communal living in Sri Lanka.

What is the takeaway? How do we change our thinking to create the best solutions to our problems? Listen to find out!

You can learn more about Dr. Nava Israel and CONEtrolled: How We've Lost our Freedom and How to Reclaim It by visiting:

https://www.navainc.ca

https://www.facebook.com/nava.israel.92