BB pal Erik Davis, author of such terrific books as
Techgnosis and
Visionary State, has a new weekly online radio show. Expanding Mind, about the "culture of consciousness," including drugs, neuroscience, mythology, and spirituality, streams live every Thursday at 11am PT. This week's guest is ethnobotanist Dennis McKenna, brother of psychedelic visionary ethnobotanist Terence McKenna. Past shows are archived at the Progressive Radio Network site. (Also, for those in Seattle, Erik is lecturing next Thursday evening about Aleister Crowley and the movies at the
Northwest Film Forum!) Here's the description of Expanding Mind:
This weekly hour-long radio show hosted by author and San Francisco native Erik Davis explores the many dimensions of mind and consciousness. From meditation to parapsychology, from the effects of art and technology on our souls to the abiding mysteries of religion and spirituality, the show’s discussions are designed to expand our understanding and experience of ourselves while casting a critical and often humorous eye on the twists and turns that consciousness takes as it tries to make sense of itself and the world. Each episode will begin with a sparkling stream-of-consciousness riff by Davis, followed by a back-and-forth with his charming co-host Maja D’Aoust—a hip and sassy esoteric teacher based in Los Angeles. These will be followed with an interview with a scholar, writer, or practitioner, a “spirit song” of the day (a selection from Davis’ vast collection of religious and spiritual music), and finally a no-doubt lively back-and-forth with callers.
Erik Davis's Expanding Mind radio show
the latest
latest episodes
Erik Davis is awesome. What a creative writer. I still read my old copies of "Great God Pan" The zine that he co-published in the 90's about California culture. If you can find copies of it, it is worth reading.
Is this filled with pseudo-science or is it relatively decent? I've always wanted to find a good series that deals with consciousness and drugs that was at least moderately skeptical and intelligent. Of course talking about consciousness tends to attract the flakes which is a shame.
I had an awesome time hanging out with Erik in London, at the Equinox Festival.
I'm with Gilbum. I haven't listened to Erik's show, but I'd love to listen to a radio show/podcast that dealt with these subjects with a degree of skepticism and rigor, while still being open-minded and respectful of the complexities of belief.
I'll definitely check this out. Go Erik!
Techgnosis rules...one of the very few books that explores the whole emerging mythical/pagan/collective unconscious implications of technology and society.
I listened to the 3rd episode as about half of the second. So far so good. The guests seem quite smart and rational, and Erik himself seems pretty capable. Everyone once in a while he'll drop some vague idea like "limitless consciousness" or "energy"... but I'm being generous and assuming that he has some real definition for this stuff and it's not just the typical pseudo-science woo words.
As for his co-host though, she is terribly out of place. It's like listening to a good conversation with a group of friends who are all experts in some area talking about their subject, but one of the group has their girlfriend with them who wants to join in. However she really has no idea what everyone is talking about. She'll pop in with some wishy-washy, uninteresting statement or analogy that completely falls flat.
And why does a girl who's obviously american through and through call herself maja? And what's an esoteric librarian? It's almost cringe worthy listening when she pipes up.
I'll continue listening though. I'm interested in hearing the interview about iowaska.
Hi There,
Maja D'Aoust here, Erik's co-host.
Just wanted to address mister anonymous above,
I am known as an "esoteric librarian" because I am the librarian over at Manly P. Hall's Philosophical Research Society here in Los Angeles.
As far as me being American, I am in fact Canadian.
Maja is my given name, and D'Aoust my last name is French Canadian.
It means "Of the August" as it is old French and they have since replaced the S with a circumflex.
Sorry you don't care for my comments, but if nothing else perhaps I have just expanded your French vocabulary? Although who knows! You might have already known that.
Hearts
Maja