Is Barbie Worth the Hype? Mattel's Illusion of Sustainability and the Importance of Spiritual Minimalism

The Right to Travel + The Beauty of Human Migration

In the 10th and final episode of NOMADIKATE's first season, we'll be talking about travel-more specifically, our human right to travel and the beauty of human migration. In this episode, I’ll be sharing what jump-started my travels and what they’ve taught me. We'll look back into our species' and human ancestors’ history of global migration as well as take a listen to some guest speakers as they recount their travel experiences. Finally, we’ll dive into the current relevance of human migration.  Website: nomadikate.com Instagram: nomadikate_podcast Sources: UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights “Hominid and Hominin–What’s the Difference?”: https://australian.museum/learn/science/human-evolution/hominid-and-hominin-whats-the-difference/#:~:text=The%20term%20%27hominid%27%20used%20to,of%20our%20human%20evolutionary%20tree. “Human Origins: 101”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehV-MmuvVMU “Homo Erectus: Our Ancient Ancestor”: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/homo-erectus-our-ancient-ancestor.html#:~:text=The%20extinct%20ancient%20human%20Homo,the%20first%20to%20cook%20food. “The First Migrations out of Africa”: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/homo-erectus-our-ancient-ancestor.html#:~:text=The%20extinct%20ancient%20human%20Homo,the%20first%20to%20cook%20food. “When We took over the World”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmboVmtqNJc "Migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants: What’s the difference?": https://www.rescue.org/article/migrants-asylum-seekers-refugees-and-immigrants-whats-difference "Refugee Data Finder" (UNHCR): https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/#:~:text=At%20the%20end%20of%202022,below%2018%20years%20of%20age.&text=Between%202018%20and%202022%2C%20an,born%20as%20refugees%20per%20year. "What are the Economic Benefit of Refugees?": https://www.lirs.org/news/what-are-the-economic-benefits-of-refugees-lirs/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Power of Thought

What if our thoughts could manifest our desired reality? Everyone's heard about the power of positive thinking, visualization, and manifestation throughout the years from the spiritual community, but many people are skeptical that our thoughts hold the power to alter our lives and attract people, opportunities, and things towards us. In this episode of NOMADIKATE, spirituality and science converge to explore how our thoughts quietly shape our reality. We're exploring the biology of thoughts, science-based visualization, the role of the placebo effect in religion, belief, and prayer, as well as brain-computer interfaces and Elon Musk's Neuralink. Website: https://www.nomadikate.com/ [https://www.nomadikate.com/] Instagram: nomadikate_podcast Sources: “What Actually Is a Thought? And How is Information Physical?”: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/finding-purpose/201902/what-actually-is-a-thought-and-how-is-information-physical#:~:text=They%20are%20representations%20of%20matter,information%20is%20physical%20and%20relational. “Neurons Help Explain How Our Brains Think”: https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/2019/03/18/ask-scientist-how-do-thoughts-work-our-brain/3153303002/  “The Impact of Studying Brain Plasticity”:  “The Impact of Studying Brain Plasticity”: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6400842/ "Synaptic Plasticity Hebb 1”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM3xUxkj-3o Dr. Joe Dispenza - “Neurons that Fire Together Wire Together”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9K6GDBnByk “Can You Strengthen Your Muscles By Alone?”: https://thehealthsciencesacademy.org/health-tips/strengthen-your-muscles-by-thought-alone/  “Science-Based Mental Training and Visualization for Improved Learning": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RYyQRQFgFk “Re-Entry Stress is Contagious. Here’s How to Protect Yourself”: https://hbr.org/2021/10/re-entry-stress-is-contagious-heres-how-to-protect-yourself#:~:text=Practice%20co%2Dregulation.&text=Co%2Dregulation%20happens%20when%20you,and%20take%20deep%20belly%20breaths. “Hunter-Gatherers and the Origins of Religion”: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12110-016-9260-0#:~:text=Results%20indicate%20that%20the%20oldest,by%20shamanism%20and%20ancestor%20worship. “What is the Placebo Effect”: https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/what-is-the-placebo-effect “The Science behind Prayer and the Placebo Effect”: https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/12/04/the-science-behind-prayer-and-the-placebo-effect/#:~:text=It%20sounds%20reasonable%20to%20conclude,some%20people%20in%20some%20circumstances.  “Brain-Computer Interfaces in Medicine”: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3497935/  “Neuralink & Technologies to Enhance Human Brains”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZGItIAUQmI ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

"Parched: The Water Crisis"

Water scarcity is becoming more and more of a problem due to overpopulation, climate change, greed, and bad management. So, today we’re investigating why the water crisis is happening, who it’s affecting the most, and what it means for humanity.  In this episode of NOMADIKATE, we're exploring how poverty and water access are interconnected, how women and girls bear the greatest burden in the quest for water, and how peace-particularly in Yemen, depends on sufficient water availability and distribution. We're also going to investigate how some greedy, large corporations and entities, such as Coca-Cola and the Imperial Irrigation District of Southern California, are hogging water from communities that are in desperate need of it. Then, we'll take a look at one promising, and one not-so-promising, innovation to help ease the crisis. Website: https://www.nomadikate.com/ [https://www.nomadikate.com/] Sources: “How far we go...": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6NAC48medQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6NAC48medQ] “How Much Water Is Wasted...”: https://delawarebusinesstimes.com/sponsored-content/bizinsights/bizinsights-budget-rooter-wasted-water/#:~:text=100%20years%20old.-,According%20to%20a%20report%20from%20NPR%2C%20nationwide%20we%27re%20losing,down%20the%20drain%22%20each%20year! [https://delawarebusinesstimes.com/sponsored-content/bizinsights/bizinsights-budget-rooter-wasted-water/#:~:text=100%20years%20old.-,According%20to%20a%20report%20from%20NPR%2C%20nationwide%20we%27re%20losing,down%20the%20drain%22%20each%20year!] “Low-income communities: ”: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/access-clean-water-inequality-financing/ [https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/access-clean-water-inequality-financing/] “Poorer People Pay More for Clean Water”: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/World-Water-Development-Report/#:~:text=People%20living%20in%20poverty%2C%20with,with%20better%20infrastructure%2C%20UNESCO%20reports. [https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/World-Water-Development-Report/#:~:text=People%20living%20in%20poverty%2C%20with,with%20better%20infrastructure%2C%20UNESCO%20reports.] “Water-At the Center of the Climate Crisis”: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/water#:~:text=Water%20supplies%20stored%20in%20glaciers,population%20currently%20live%20(IPCC). [https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/water#:~:text=Water%20supplies%20stored%20in%20glaciers,population%20currently%20live%20(IPCC).] “Water Stress:" https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/water-stress-global-problem-thats-getting-worse [https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/water-stress-global-problem-thats-getting-worse] “Who Owns Water”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9edWX7TTsLw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9edWX7TTsLw] “Why is Water Considered a Renewable Resource”: https://greentumble.com/why-is-water-considered-a-renewable-resource#:~:text=Water%20can%20stay%20in%20the,it%20also%20re%2Denters%20it. [https://greentumble.com/why-is-water-considered-a-renewable-resource#:~:text=Water%20can%20stay%20in%20the,it%20also%20re%2Denters%20it.] For additional sources, please contact me through https://www.nomadikate.com/ [https://www.nomadikate.com/]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Mentally Hacked: Dopamine Exploitation, Social Media, and Ikigai

In this episode, we’re exploring the science behind compulsive social media usage. In a world that’s dominated by technology and focused on providing short-term pleasure and entertainment, it’s important to understand how some software developers are intentionally using our ancient, biological reward pathways to keep us scrolling.  In the social media world, we’re a product to be sold, and unknowingly, we’re putting ourselves up for auction. Today, we’re diving into what dopamine is, how it works, and why we need it.  We’ll then take a look at social media and how some app developers use their understanding of reward prediction errors and variable reward schedules to manipulate our behavior.  Then, we’ll investigate ikigai–Japan’s beautiful philosophy to help foster long-term purpose and happiness.  Sources: “American Happiness Hits Record Low”: https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/02/politics/unhappiness-americans-gallup-analysis/index.html [https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/02/politics/unhappiness-americans-gallup-analysis/index.html] “Controlling Your Dopamine for Motivation…”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmOF0crdyRU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmOF0crdyRU] “Dopamine Reward Prediction Encoding”: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4826767/ [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4826767/] “Dopamine, Smartphones, and You”: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/ [https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/] “Jocko Podcast (333nd Episode): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ApNHAPJVU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ApNHAPJVU] “Moai”: https://www.bluezones.com/2018/08/moai-this-tradition-is-why-okinawan-people-live-longer-better/ [https://www.bluezones.com/2018/08/moai-this-tradition-is-why-okinawan-people-live-longer-better/] “The Philosophy of Ikigai”:  https://positivepsychology.com/ikigai/ [https://positivepsychology.com/ikigai/] The Social Dilemma. Directed by Jeff Orlowski, Exposure Labs, 2020. Netflix, netflix.com/title/81254224.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Is Barbie Worth the Hype? Mattel's Illusion of Sustainability and the Importance of Spiritual Minimalism

In this episode, I'm playing devil's advocate. Since the Barbie movie has been released, Barbie dolls are destined to make a comeback. While Mattel promises a sustainable future by aiming to achieve "100% recycled, recyclable, or bio-based plastic materials" in their products and packaging by 2030, what's the reality of this goal? Is it as really as good as it seems? Today, we'll break down plastics, or try to. We're going to take a brief look at Barbie's history, investigate how sustainable jargon can often mislead consumers, explore how some sustainability efforts and plastic alternatives can be over-hyped, and look into spiritual minimalism as one possible solution to the waste and pollution crisis. Sources: “Plastic Toys Have a Greater Impact on the Environment than We Thought” : https://www.greenmatters.com/p/environmental-impact-plastic-toys [https://www.greenmatters.com/p/environmental-impact-plastic-toys] “This Day in History”: https://www.kcra.com/article/barbie-doll-makes-debut-march-9-1959/43246566 [https://www.kcra.com/article/barbie-doll-makes-debut-march-9-1959/43246566] “The Barbie Doll’s Not-for-Kids Origins”: https://time.com/3731483/barbie-history/#:~:text=The%20precursor%20to%20the%20Barbie,end%20call%20girl%20named%20Lilli. [https://time.com/3731483/barbie-history/#:~:text=The%20precursor%20to%20the%20Barbie,end%20call%20girl%20named%20Lilli.] “Barbie Wants to Recycle Old Barbies”: https://www.ecowatch.com/mattel-barbie-dolls-recycling-2653133305.html [https://www.ecowatch.com/mattel-barbie-dolls-recycling-2653133305.html] “Plastic Recycling-a Failed Concept”: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plastic-recycling-failed-concept-us-greenpeace-study-5-percent-recycled-production-up/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plastic-recycling-failed-concept-us-greenpeace-study-5-percent-recycled-production-up/]  “In a Barbie World…”: https://theconversation.com/in-a-barbie-world-after-the-movie-frenzy-fades-how-do-we-avoid-tonnes-of-barbie-dolls-going-to-landfill-209601 [https://theconversation.com/in-a-barbie-world-after-the-movie-frenzy-fades-how-do-we-avoid-tonnes-of-barbie-dolls-going-to-landfill-209601] Mattel’s Official 2022 Annual Report: https://s201.q4cdn.com/696436908/files/doc_financials/2022/ar/Mattel-2022-Annual-Report-Web-Ready.pdf [https://s201.q4cdn.com/696436908/files/doc_financials/2022/ar/Mattel-2022-Annual-Report-Web-Ready.pdf]  “Cars, Planes, and Trains”: https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions-from-transport [https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions-from-transport] “Is Bioplastic the Better Plastic?” (Kiyo Dorrer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_eGOyAiNIQ&t=481s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_eGOyAiNIQ&t=481s] “How to Live More by Owning Less”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfrkZiVyBfQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfrkZiVyBfQ] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.