🍎 Imperial Twilight by Stephen Platt (is the Best Twilight Book )🍎

🍎 Imperial Twilight by Stephen Platt (is the Best Twilight Book )🍎

If you like vampires, Imperial Twilight is for you because it's all about compulsive blood suckers!: 19th century opiųm smugglers and 21st century tech billionaires. P.S. This is my website: https://www.leahrenee.co/ and this is the author of Imperial Twilight (the book I review in episode 21) Stephen R. Platt: https://www.stephenrplatt.com/ This episode is not just about old timey trade relations between Britain and China, it's about addiction. What we can learn about China's handling of the dangerous opiųm epidemic admidst our modern day attention fracking crisis? Is there hope for the human race when it comes to reclaiming our attention which is being harvested at a rate that would make the East India Company blush. This episode is full on with anecdotes, personal stories, excerpts, animated GIFS, and of course: unnecessary references to Mormonism. How could I not get in on the Mormon + Twilight game that Stephanie Meyer started? You'll have to wait for the monkey anecdote, just like I did. It was over 400 pages deep in the book when Platt dropped the most delightful glitter bomb of an aside, as the book was wrapping up. Only those who stay until they've eaten their dinner get desert. For the purposes of indexing and clarity, here's what episode 21 of the Leah Renee Podcast covers: - Is social media the opiųm of our day? - Cal Newport's five cognitive fitness tips, I promised to share where you can learn the five things from Episode 16 here: https://youtu.be/yKZPaA1b-XA?si=KuuxnOSWfyo-jJ_Y&t=223 - The Switch Cost Effect (including references to Johann Hari and Gloria Mark's research at UC Irvine) - Lin Zexu's famous letter to Queen Victoria and the physical, social, and economic harm of the opiųm trade to China - British dependence on Chinese goods, and China's indifference to their "toys" - The sobering social media statistic that matches up with heavy opiųm users, that I ran by a teenager to find the numbers may just be right - New social media bans rolling out in Australia and UK -  Center for Humane Technology www.humantech.com a fantastic site run by digital ethicists and the creators of The Social Dilemma - Current bills and legislation to protect children from the harms of the modern digital world:   Kids Off Social Media Act, COPPA 2.0, KIDS Act - I also complain about how everyone's handwriting sucks, and I don't remember phone numbers or basic math any more. - The ChatGPT study MIT published about cognitive debt and why using ChatGPT makes you dumber Linkage: Website: https://www.leahrenee.co/ YouTube: / @leahreneecomedian Substack: https://substack.com/@leahreneecomedian Reddit: / leahreneecomedian Facebook: / leahreneecomedian IG: / leahreneecomedian LinkedIn: / leahcreative Thanks for listening! See more of Leah's stuff at leahrenee.co ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

👨‍🦲Would You Rather Lose All Your Hair or Your Ego? Jon Paul Crimi Did Both👨‍🦲

I met JP a couple of months ago and he offered me free admission to his online breathwork class. Slightly skeptical but always down to woo woo, I went and cried like a frickin baby. I can't say enough good things about my experience, even though it reminded me of the time my ovary exploded. Episode 20 is a delightful reminder about how what seems like a devastation (being diagnosed with Aaopecia) can be just the nudge you needed to change course. This episode we talk about: JP's background in acting/screenwriting background Losing all his hair to alopecia, and pivoting from the screen to writing comedy The lightheartedness of JP's classes, despite the heavy material Leah's Mormon background and scrupulosity (religious OCD), and why a tiered heaven is like wanting a 5.0 GPA Leah's discovery how breathwork strips back layers of vanish she didn't know was there JP's first breathwork experience with crappy music and people talking about spirit animals His epiphany to bring an "East Coast edge," science, good music, and a trainer's push to breathwork JP's online breathwork pre-COVID set him years ahead of his luddite peers The insights you can get from stepping back, like realizing you actually want kids Letting go of dreams and getting really good at the thing you were born to do How breathwork beats ayahuasca for it's cost, convenience, and no need to puke The CO2 science behind why hard core athletes get tetany more often than chill people do Super sciency drops like: transient hypofrontality (shutting down the critical part of your brain) Tips on how to fit breathwork into busy schedules Conspiracy-theory siloing and how algorithms will lead grandpa down a Greater Idaho rabbit hole The agony of "picking a lane," self-trust, and avoiding social media's harms 🙏🙏🙏Thanks for clicking on the description! You're freeing me from spending my time growing on social media, to putting my time into this podcast♥️ You can find JP here: https://breathewithjp.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoo2rpt8qhu_-U1jj76BVDA https://www.facebook.com/breathewithjp/ https://www.instagram.com/jonpaulcrimi/ Leah's Links: Website: https://www.leahrenee.co/ YouTube: / @leahreneecomedian Substack: https://substack.com/@leahreneecomedian Reddit: / leahreneecomedian Facebook: / leahreneecomedian IG: / leahreneecomedian LinkedIn: / leahcreative Thanks for listening! See more of Leah's stuff at leahrenee.co ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

🪱 Opening a Can of Worms Leah Renee Podcast Episode 19 🪱

🪱 Let's open a can of worms...and like it! Oh yeah, here is my website before I forget: https://www.leahrenee.co/ This episode is so much fun! We learn about everything from the myth about cutting worms in half to the origins and practice of laughter yoga. Cathy Nesbitt is an environmentalist, professional laugher, and worm extraordinaire. She talks about America's trashiest state (thanks to Canada) and how she teamed up with her husband to grow an unconventional business: worm composting! Get to know this lovely vermicomposter in episode 19. We talk about how - Worms are the canary of the soil - Why Red Wigglers are the GOAT of composting worms and how they transformed a desolate patch of land in India - Cathy's worm stand up show and big idea for worm dating apps - Why all the worm hate (maybe for the fact that they'll eat us when we die?) - If men or women like worms better? - The science behind laughter (oxygen, oxytocin, and how your body doesn't know the difference) - How you can trick your body into thinking everything is great - A life hack on how diffuse tension when you want to rage - To start a laughter club Cathy's Links: Buy worms here: https://www.cathyscomposters.com/ Sign up for Laughter Yoga: https://cathysclub.com/ Cathy's Sprouts! https://www.cathyssprouters.com/ 🙏🙏🙏Thanks for clicking on the description! It's like hearing my dad say he's proud of me. Links to take our relationship to the next level: Website: https://www.leahrenee.co/ YouTube: / @leahreneecomedian Substack: https://substack.com/@leahreneecomedian Reddit: / leahreneecomedian Facebook: / leahreneecomedian IG: / leahreneecomedian LinkedIn: / leahcreative Thanks for listening! See more of Leah's stuff at leahrenee.co ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

🦷 🫠 Wisdom Tooth Guy Will Change Your Life 🥹🫶

The shortest podcast I've ever made. (PS: I added more stuff to my site: https://www.leahrenee.co/ ) If for no other reason, listen to this to hear wisdom tooth guy who forgot his entire family, but somehow remembered Batman. 😆 I finished A Mind at Home With Itself, which is basically 300+ pages of Batman guy (he's a metal version of Byron Katie). I also talk about Julia Cameron's idea of "artist dates" from the book, The Artists Way. On such an occasion this week, I picked up a very fun slang dictionary:  Partridge's Concise Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. An absolute gem of a book. In this episode we learn phrases like: * "How you diddling?" * "to the muttons" (which I'll need to confirm with comedian  @rayolearycomedy  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCjNiWfFOMy0K9Ukzo5RAwrA] ) * being "mushed up" and * if I'm a clap trap or not. I've been reading a lot more because of Cal Newport's five suggestions to improve cognitive fitness, including "landlining" which has been very impactful. [I talk all about Cal's list in Episode 16 here: https://youtu.be/yKZPaA1b-XA ] 🙏🙏🙏Thanks for showing interest in this episode! It helps the algo know I'm at least moderately interesting. Links to take our relationship to the next level: Website: https://www.leahrenee.co/ YouTube: / @leahreneecomedian Substack: https://substack.com/@leahreneecomedian Reddit: / leahreneecomedian Facebook: / leahreneecomedian IG: / leahreneecomedian LinkedIn: / leahcreative Thanks for listening! See more of Leah's stuff at leahrenee.co ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

👹🔥My Interview With a Horseback Riding Martyr From Hell🐎 👹

I enjoyed a lovely change of pace interviewing Kris Keppeler. I'm not sure how much you like people talking over the top of each other, but whenever I get the chance to share an anecdote about failed Mormon communism, I can't help but join in. Also, Kris has an incredible laugh which she generously bestows (which is like catnip for me). This episode includes anecdotes about her time as a dressage and eventing athlete, how she imagined herself as an anteater to get into a role and the importance of how stories change who we are. I don't need to tell you that because if you are a podcast person, you probably already know how stories transform us. To help this episode's accuracy in search engines, Episode 17 is about: * Seattle-based Kris Keppeler's work as a voice actor narrator who specializes in non-fiction * One of her most interesting jobs reading a series of books on Wicca (and how it's actually way more chill than you thought) * Not all Wiccans are witches or speak Latin, but they do love Gaeilge and Samhain.  * Betsy Ross, the famous...upholsterer? * Placing second in a competition using her "sexy voice" * The most boring part of The Sound of Music is actually pretty good in isolation * I learn Kris sadly does not share my affection for The Onion, but does love satire * I fan girl about David Sedaris, yet again * I ask Kris what her King Midas wish is (and her wish is surprisingly achievable, no genie needed!) * The importance of Anne Frank, A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea, and connecting the dots * Why I have Jim Jeffries envy (and his flawless bit about g*n control) * Learning from the past needs to include a distinction between communism, socialism, downright evil dictators * Tales from her equestrian days in eventing (a new term I learned, it's basically a horse triathlon) * Why I'm still in love with Colin Firth . . . . . Kris' Links! . . . . . Her website: https://kriskeppeler.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KrisKeppelerNarrates Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrisKKeppeler Kris on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2958821/ Substack: https://kriskeppeler.substack.com/ . . . . . Leah's Links! . . . . . Website: https://www.leahrenee.co/ [https://www.leahrenee.co/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahreneecomedian [https://www.youtube.com/@leahreneecomedian] Substack: https://substack.com/@leahreneecomedian [https://substack.com/@leahreneecomedian] Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/LeahReneeComedian/ [https://www.reddit.com/r/LeahReneeComedian/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahreneecomedian [https://www.facebook.com/leahreneecomedian] IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahreneecomedian/ [https://www.instagram.com/leahreneecomedian/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahcreative/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahcreative/?skipRedirect=true] Thanks for listening! See more of Leah's stuff at leahrenee.co ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.