THE BEGINNING IS NEAR: An immersive discussion on apocalypse and renewal Dean Arts Studio, Dublin 2, Thursday March 28th, 7pm – 9.30pm + Streaming Online €15-€35 (pay what you can afford, ticket includes a complimentary refreshment) + ONLINE STREAMING TICKETS
Feel like everything is collapsing and decaying? What would it feel like to consider everything is about to begin and flourish?
Join me and a host of AEWCH guests – Croatian philosopher and organizerSrećko Horvat, journalist and activist Una Mullally, and Mark O’Connell, for a unique opportunity to dissect and create new pathways amidst both global turmoil and solidarity-building!
War, and the nihilism of over-consumption, are in a fever-pitch struggle with visions of peace, contentment, and connection. In THE BEGINNING IS NEAR, our four speakers will explore the polar opposites of disaster and renewal, inviting the audience into the discussion to create a broader vision for Dublin, Ireland, and the world at large.
THE BEGINNING IS NEAR marks Srećko Horvat’s first speaking engagement in Ireland. His knowledge in philosophy, school-building, and political organizing, conjures a spirit of resonance, which reveals what feels like ‘the end’, across so many fronts, can also mark a real beginning.
TICKETS are available on a sliding scale: pay what you can at €15, €25, or €35. Space is limited, buy your tickets early! Complimentary beverages provided.
LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE to watch the event remotely for a flat fee of €15 (about $16.50 USD), and comes with limited-time access to a recording of the event. When you buy a livestream ticket, you will receive the link 12-24 hours ahead of the event via the email you supply at point of purchase.
All ticket holders will receive access to a recording of the event for a limited time.
Join us at the edge of death and birth, truth and love.
Friends, After a small podcasting break, AEWCH is back with a (sort of?) new ep, a crossover episode with a new and excellent podcast, THE BREAKUP THEORY, hosted by SHULI BRANSON. When Shuli and I spoke a few weeks ago about Palestine on their podcast, I was so in excited about where we went. I also wanted to link people up with The Breakup Theory. So I’m crossposting that episode here. I’ve never done this before (and probably never will again) – but this was a special occasion, an episode about politics and spirituality that encounters the challenges of our moment.
Shuli and I last spoke on AEWCH228, about how to see the world through the lens of anarchism. Obviously, a lot has happened in the world since then, and so the conditions and directions of the conversation are new here.
The episode starts by touching on a deep cut of my show, AEWCH 9 – which I later reposted as AEWCH 132: HOW TO BREAK UP WITH THE STATE. It’s an episode that iinspired some of Shuli’s thinking (and maybe the name of their podcast?). The primary question being: Why do we stay in relationships with states that obviously don’t have our interests in mind. Then it goes… well, lots of places.
Some questions that come up:
Should we be practicing good politics or anti-politics?
How are we baited by elections?
Is nonviolence effective?
What does a spiritual politics that doesn’t turn into theocracy look like?
Are a non-abstract politics possible?
How does the state trick us into discussing and envisioning things on its terms?
Why do we wait for tragedy to take action?
What are everyday practices of resilience?
How do limits in love relationships teach us about politics?
What do we do with the fact that people have different desires?
This was such an expansive conversation. I love talking with Shuli, and I hope you love listening!
AND: It receives no money from sponsors or advertisements, it is entirely listener supported. Does this podcast offer you inspiration? If so, do support the show on patreon. Give a one-time annual or monthly pledge to Patreon.com/connerhabib to connect to and give economic life to something you find value in. Thank you. Also, please do subscribe to the show, give it a 5 star rating and warm review on Apple Podcasts + buy my novel Hawk Mountain and give it 5 star rating and a positive review on Goodreads!
Friends, I love reading and I love buying books. I’ve come to learn that those are two separate pursuits, but both are highly mediated by forces that are unseen to most of us, even if we’re writers or avid readers.
How was the literary landscape in America formed?
Why are there so few big publishers not owned by multinational corporations?
How do those merges affect what we read and how genres are created?
Why do so many prize-winning novels suck?
I wanted to get a handle on all of this, so I invited Professor of English and scholar of books and publishing,DAN SINYKINonto the show!
Dan is the author of the excellent bookBig Fiction: How Conglomeration Changed the Publishing Industry and American Literature.You might think this bookis just a niche concern, but it’s a page-turner, filled not just with theories, but name-dropping, gossip, surprising turns of history, and determined individuals. It also an important book for writers to read.
I hope this episode gives you a better view of the infernal… or, okay, at least crazy Rube Golberg-esque inner workings of a favorite activity.
MORE ON DAN
Dan’s website is here. Dan is aso the author of American Literature and the Long Downturn: Neoliberal Apocalypse and many scholarly articles, including his essay on Danielle Steele (who features in Big Fiction in a big way). He’s also hard at work on a new book about close reading, which I am very excited for.
AND: It receives no money from sponsors or advertisements, it is entirely listener supported. Does this podcast offer you inspiration? If so, do support the show on patreon. Give a one-time annual or monthly pledge to Patreon.com/connerhabib to connect to and give economic life to something you find value in. Thank you. Also, please do subscribe to the show, give it a 5 star rating and warm review on Apple Podcasts + buy my novel Hawk Mountain and give it 5 star rating and a positive review on Goodreads!
Friends, Continuing on with my series about work, I wanted to consider not just writing but being a writer. In other words, what it takes and take from you to write; the work of being a writer. I wanted to do it with another working writer who writes in genre-defying and genre-defining modes, so I asked SARAH MARIA GRIFFINback onto the show. Sarah – who was last on the show back on AEWCH 93 – is the author of poetry, zines, memoir, and dark fantasy, including her masterful weird novel, Other Words for Smoke. She’s also a teacher and tarot reader. Now she had two upcoming horror novels (keep an eye out!) and understands the life of not just writing but being a writer and all that that requires: the mediating of forces dark and difficult, the frightening endurance, the tedious quotidian tasks, the managing of the expectations of readers. It’s not easy work, but it’s also the work that she – and I – love most. Why? Why do we want more of life in isolation on the ecotone of symbol and reality? This is a personal and weird episode, and I hope you love it. CH
AND: It receives no money from sponsors or advertisements, it is entirely listener supported. Does this podcast offer you inspiration? If so, do support the show on patreon. Give a one-time annual or monthly pledge to Patreon.com/connerhabib to connect to and give economic life to something you find value in. Thank you. Also, please do subscribe to the show, give it a 5 star rating and warm review on Apple Podcasts + buy my novel Hawk Mountain and give it 5 star rating and a positive review on Goodreads!
Friends, I’ve been thinking so much about work lately, and that’s shown up on episodes about podcasting and so-called “content creation.” But what about the work of a lifetime: spiritual work?
What IS spiritual work, anyway?
I know it’s not simply spiritual practice – that’s just one form spiritual work takes.
And I know it’s not just living life, in spite of the fact that when I say my spiritual work is important to me, people say things like “my spiritual work is being in nature,” or “my spiritual work is hanging out with my family.”
I obviously don’t want to condemn the experience of spiritual presence and love that arises from those sorts of life experiences. I just know that’s not exactly what is meant.
But how do I not make enemies out of distinctions when I say that those things are different, or when I say things like, “I want to do my spiritual work, but I’m working at my job all the time?”
The flipside? How do I not banish important distinction when I say, “everything is spiritual”?
On top of all of that, there’s the anti-work stance that is so urgently needed. How can we rightly do “spiritual work” when we need to end work al together?
I thought to consider this, I should talk with someone whose job is spirituality – or religion, in this case – Jonah Evans is a priest and lenker in the Christian Community – which religious renewal developed by and inspired by Rudolf Steiner.
He’s also been on the show once before, on AEWCH 220, when we talked about why anyone would engage with esoteric christianity. Together with Patrick Kennedy, he co-hosts one of my favorite podcasts, The Light In Every Thing. And he helps edit the series of Rudolf Steiner lectures offered by the Community, and offers workshops and conference around the world.
I hope you enjoy this deep discussion on a challenging topic!
MORE ON JONAH Jonah has a YouTube channel, Living with Christ, with lots of video lectures. Here’s an interview with Jonah about The Christian Community and his role. Jonah’s podcast with Patrick Kennedy has a patreon which offers early access to each episode and other benefits. And one of the best ways to understand some of what Jonah and that is to see if there’s a service near youand then attend one. Nothing will be expected of you, no one will try to get you “in” to the group. You’ll just encounter what all encounter: the baseline of the service is always the same; the Act of Consecration of Man. And then some talking afterward. Finally, here’s a recent interview with Jonah about Steiner vs Jung.
AND? It receivesnomoneyfromsponsorsoradvertisements,itisentirelylistenersupported.Doesthispodcastofferyouinspiration?Ifso,dosupporttheshowonpatreon.Giveaone–timeannualormonthlypledgetoPatreon.com/connerhabibtoconnecttoandgiveeconomiclifetosomethingyoufindvaluein.Thankyou.
Friends, Leftists and progressives more broadly are becoming increasingly aware of the lie of “loving what you do.” And we’re also becoming more aware of the ways corporations try to ameliorate real reflection and demands for higher wages via “perks” like organic cereal dispensers and “funny hat day” and other forms of glitzy dross.
But conversations about the above, as important as they are, can sometimes reduce fuller conversations tBut conversations about all the above, as important as they are, can sometimes reduce fuller conversations to a political/rights dimension, which don’t consider feeling, culture, the individual, or even economy. One of the sites of labor where this is evident is the “dream job.” That’s a category that includes YouTube “stars,” writers, podcasters, adult performers, and more.
My friend – regular AEWCH guest, the bestselling author and mortician and YouTube star of Ask A Mortician – Caitlin Doughty and I have been “making content” for over a decade.
We talk about how the landscape has changed, where it’s going, but mostly how this particular form of work is emblematic for the “dream job” that is at once elevated and belittled in our society, free and exhausting, life-giving and soul-killing.
My hope is that you’ll reflect on your own work and dreams as you listen. And that we’ll all talk more about how to make our artistic efforts more free and easier to engage with, while at the same time dissolving the “grind” of it.
Happy 250 episodes to this crazy, exhausting, fun, enlivening thing. Thanks for being along for the ride. XO CH
MORE ON CAITLIN Caitlin’s been on the show many times, including recently on AEWCH 213 talking about love and death, and AEWCH200 in conversation with me and paranormal research John E.L. Tenney. Here’s Caitlin’swebsite. And my favorite book of Caitlin’s is FromHeretoEternity:TravelingtheWorldtoFindtheGoodDeath.
AEWCH receives no money from sponsors or advertisements, it is entirely listener supported. Does this podcast offer you inspiration? If so, do support the show on patreon. Give a one-time annual or monthly pledge to Patreon.com/connerhabib to connect to and give economic life to something you find value in. Thank you.
Friends, The new year is often a time of hope and resolution, but this year, we’ve had to cross over the bridge of violence; and we’re still on that bridge. Is it possible to work on yourself and your goals while extreme violence is happening in the world? Is that ethical? And what role does peace play in all of this? Love to you with this solo episode as we enter 2024. CH
Friends, Will it be possible to fulfill our goals and live a good life in 2024 when it feels like there’s so much tension, confrontation, and challenge present today? The answer is yes.
There is a Good Path for all of us. It’s just ahead if you know how to look for it.
It will requiring a lot – mediating our own goals and our destinies; communicating between our lives and the life of the world; having courage, conviction, foresight, and cultivating our relationships to our own integrity. Not to mention having some enjoyment of our lives along the way, because otherwise what’s the point?
There’s a way for each and every one of us, it just means we all have to
FIND THE GOOD PATH AHEAD
Join me for a concentrated one-on-one two hour hour long meeting where we will find your path through 2024, one month at a time. And where there doesn’t seem like there’s a way ahead, we’ll build a bridge.
This meeting and reading will change your year.
It will help you see ahead, consider where you’re at now, and uncover what you might otherwise miss in your journey across 2024.
In our meeting we will:
LOOK HOLISTICALLY AT THE YEAR AHEAD & YOUR SPECIFIC CHALLENGES.
Consider your BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCK and your MOST EXCITING OBJECTIVES.
DEVELOP your goalsfor 2024 and beyond.
READ your tarot spread for the entire year; inlcuding one card per month, to map your goals and expectations to.
SEE INTO the role that DESTINY has played up till now on your path, and how to best work with it going forward.
UNCOVER the right path for you not just for your own goals but through any tumultuous times the world might offer.
Wherever the way seems impassable, BUILD BRIDGES.
Draw on the occultism of anthroposophy, tarot, philosophy, occult stories, self help technics, and our unfolding conversation to create a clear path to achieving your goals and developing habits.
GROW a sense of flexible stabilityand belonging in a world that keeps offering fundamental questions.
DECIDE how your life will proceed instead of allowing it to be an open wound and question
And CREATE STRATEGIES for the presences on the margins that want to pull you off your path.
NORMAL SIGN UP (AFTER CHRISTMAS UNTIL JAN 1 OR FULL CAPACITY): $454.00
SPACES ARE LIMITED: Remember,the 2023, 2022, 2021 workshops all sold out quickly; since this workshop is also a one-on-one focused communication between you and I, space is very limited.
There is also an option to get access to a FOLLOW-UP MEETING, please see below for details.
FAQ I signed up, now what?
You’ll receive an email with further information on December 29 or January 1 and/or 2. Please use the email address at the point of purchase that you’d like me to use to contact you. There will be multiple options for sign up times as well as any additional information you’ll need
Can I pay in installments? Or just boost my patreon pledge?
Yes, but it’s a little more. You can boost your pledge on patreon to a $100.00 payment until May 5, at which time you can revert it back. If you would like to choose this option, you will have to email boost your pledge BEFORE the portal closes and email me at againsteveryonewithconnerhabib at gmail to let me know.
Can I gift this to a friend?
Yes! You can buy the workshop as a gift without buying it for yourself – after you purchase access, just email me at againsteveryonewithconnerhabib at gmail to let me know the email address of the person you bought it for., and I’ll reach out with an email by December 31.
Is there a follow up session?
For the first time ever, I am officially offering a follow-up session for the workshop. The follow up is a 45 minutes meeting in March. We’ll look at how things are going so far with the meeting and reading, and talk about how to make sure you’re on the Path you’ve found and set your feet on. You can only sign up before the access portal collapses. The fee is $110 for patrons, $150 for everyone else. Please note that the follow up prices will not change after Christmas.
When do I have to sign up by?
The portal for this workshop and the follow-up collapses either when it reaches capacity or JANUARY 1, whichever comes first.
This podcast is my offer you new ideas or feelings of inspiration? Does it introduce you to new books and thinkers and art and possibilities? If so, do support the show. Let’s connect more to what brings us the good life in what appears to be absolute madness.
Please give a one-time annual or monthly pledge to Patreon.com/connerhabib to connect to and support the show.
Friends, I’m so happy to share this episode with you featuring my conversation with DANIEL HIGGS, best known as the front person of the Baltimore post-punk band Lungfish, but also known as a tattoo artist, a solo musician, a member of Fountainsun, the Pupils, and Skull Defects, and also as a painter of spiritual landscapes which often feature strange figures rendered in seized motion and vivd colors.
My first encounter with Daniel’s efforts came from listening to Lungfish, a band which I always find difficult to describe directly. That’s because Lungfish, like the rest of Daniel’s art and music offers something that is true and reveals itself on its own terms in collaboration with Daniel, the artist.
It’s far from pop music or even “punk” and closer to the work of artists like David Lynch, Emma Kunz, or the writing of Joy Williams.
So when I would try to tell friends about Lungfish when I was younger, I would say things like, “It’s a spiritual experience to go see them!” Of course that sounded canned.
So I’d shift and talk about the spectacle of the concert, say it was like seeing Walt Whitman in a band. Or I’d describe how the music was droning and loud and the singer’s voice was almost terrifying at times, and yet a real beauty somehow inhered in all of that.
The closest I came to describing a Lungfish show, though, was something like:
When you see them, you will fear that Daniel will levitate just a centimeter off the stage, and in that one centimeter, everything you know about the world will fall away. It wasn’t until finally speaking with Daniel, that I realized that this did happen – that in his music and art, a small space is made where a new world exists is rendered visible.
The way that Daniel describes some of this on the episode is that the concerts Invited people into intimacy – a quality of intimacy that will remind us that intimacy is ultimately what we’re always heading toward.
This conversation itself is intimate, we talk about friendship, about being able to perceive spiritual beings in a spiritual landscape, in the way a presence appears in the middle of a concert, and the way trust plays a paramount role in relationship and creating art.
Friends, this is the last full episode of 2023, but there will be a little surprise for you for the holidays soon. Please find the openness and the healing of creating peace.
Here are the words to “The Words” by Lungfish.
MORE ON DANIEL
Here’s Daniel’s website, which features a lot of his artwork.
Friends, Every day, it feels like world circumstances aren’t just hopeless, but impossible. Tactics for resistance don’t seem to work, new horrors appear, and the ability to access a calm and engaged life can even seem, at times, to be beyond us. How do we approach the impossibility of changing the world?
What we need is something that generates new directions and pathways, new visions and ideas, new strategies and tactics. And before we do that, we need to access the spiritual fact that these directions, visions, and strategies are available to us in the first place.
This won’t be the sort of work we’re used to, because we are pushing into the new. Working through the impossible is like walking through water when what’s needed is to walk on it.
But there is a moment when we find ourselves rising above the reflective line of surface and it will seem baffling to us that we hadn’t known all along how to do it.
We will have to locate, for instance, the promise located in our old tactics. We will have locate the usefulness in the absurd. We will have to find connections where before we saw oppositions, distinctions where once we saw enemies.
One of the best people I know to talk with about all of this is philosopher and political theorist, Michael Hardt. His latest book is The Subversive Seventies – a plain language, easy-to-read assessment of the innovation of creative and resistance movements in the 1970s.
If you hear that there’s a book on the 70s and think it’s just historical, that it won’t feel enlivening to read, or that it will feel like romanticization of another time, disregard that misleading thought. Teh Subversive Seventies is such a powerful and moving book that will restore your confidence in the ability of people to have new visions of the world and new ways of eroding obstructive power. It is, in fact, one of the most vital and vitalizing books I’ve read in a long time.
As Michael says, in many ways, the seventies were ahead of us. Why? Because the aspirations were huge. Not just resistance, but innovation. Not just stopping war, but generating togetherness. Not just replacing those in power, but generating completely new structures to live with. It certainly connects to the spiritual principle that to truly fight evil, it is not enough to directly battle with it. Rather, to fight evil, we must create good. From gay liberation, black liberation movements, and antinuclear movements in the US, to the Autonomia movement in Italy, the Sanrizuka struggle in Japan, and the Carnation Revolution in Portugal. It is a picture of a world in a liberation moment and project. The picture has all the details of differing tactics and huge ideas, as well as connections and inspirations.
Michael was last on the show on AEWCH 120 previous books with Antonio Negri are perhaps better known. They are themselves absolutely liberating. They are Empire, and its follow ups: Multitude: War and Democracy in the Age of Empire, which was followed by Commonwealth, and finally, Assembly.Few books about political theory come as close to a spiritual picture of revolutions, liberations, pictures of power, and pictures of how meaningful life can thrive in the midst of challenges.
On this episode we try to meet some of the challenges of today. Why do movements only really gain massive traction when they are seen to be responding to oppressive violence? Do protests work? What can we learn in their failures? Can we act in pivotal moments, or are we always too late by the time we see the problem?
This episode presents a conversation that tries to grapple. Failing, striving, succeeding, failing again. It echoes, in a sense what Michael points out again and again about movements. That movements create concepts – we’re not just acting, but we’re changing how we view the world as we act, and even how we can view the world.
I’m so happy to share this conversation with you, maybe it bring inspiration to think and feel and do differently.
Conner Habib 