Episode 79 (RFB 21.0128): Republican Cynicism, and the Little Guy Disrupts the Stock Market

With their vote on Tuesday challenging the constitutionality of Trump's impeachment trial, 45 Senate Republicans made it clear that they were going to vote to acquit Trump no matter what. Was it really just two days ago that I put out a podcast episode expressing hope for a better political future for this country? Meanwhile, in less soul-crushing news, a bunch of exuberant investors/gamblers on a Subreddit have together sent the price of GameStop's stock soaring, with the delicious side-effect of bringing a couple of giant hedge funds to their knees.

Episode 78: Inauguration Day and Beyond

Enter our episode, child, for herein lie reflections on the recent ceremony that installed in our great nation a new, and perhaps even decent, leader; on the myriad feelings engendered by said ceremony and its implicit symbolism; and on the ways each of us, walking the path, can use this moment as a foundation for further growth. Onward! Let's start here!

Episode 76: COVID, PTSD, and Starting to Heal

Benjamin's reflexive response to a passage in a book he was reading led him to acknowledge the depth of trauma that he (and, by extension, probably pretty much everyone) has internalized around COVID. This recognition led him to ask, "Is it too soon to begin the process of healing?"

(This version with the intro restored!)

Episode 75: The Story of This Episode’s Creation Is Also Its Theme

In which the theme of how certain changes in our lives demand us to take on a new identity, and for a story illustrative of this theme I chose the recording of the episode itself. Very meta.

Episode 74: Responding to January 6th

Jerry and Benjamin discuss the events of January 6th and their broader implications in society. We identify the crisis we're facing as primarily spiritual rather than political and talk about how to meet this crisis.

The New York Times article that Benjamin mentions in the introduction can be found at https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/us/politics/republican-party-trump.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

Episode 73 (RFB 21.0107): January 6th, 2021

On January 6th, 2021, the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, incited a mob of his followers to storm the US Capitol building, and in doing so justified the existence of Radio Free Benjamin. I hope you're ready, LSH Family, because our time is now. It's time to change the world

Episode 72: Welcoming In the New Age

Great job, LSH family, we made it: 2021. Happy New Year.

It's the first episode of 2021, and we're off to a flying start. The major theme of this episode is how to thrive in this time of challenge, but we weave our way through areas as diverse as politics, skiing, relationships, practice, and home workouts. We're really proud of this episode. We hope you enjoy it.

Episode 71: The Winter Solstice and the Great Conjunction

The winter solstice is always a special day. It is the energetic new year, and its energy requests of us a period of reflection and repose. This year's solstice is especially interesting because a Great Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn occurs on the solstice as well. In this episode, Jerry and Benjamin discuss the energy of the solstice, how we might best meet that energy, and talk about the energetic implications of the Great Conjunction.

Episode 70: Radio Free Benjamin, Revisited

Back in September, on the autumnal equinox, I released an episode in which I reflected on the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and what her death might mean for the country. I promised more episodes in that vein, but haven't delivered--until now. In this episode, I take a look back at my thoughts and predictions from that episode and compare them to what has happened in the months since.