Why I Talk About Purpose
About the Episode
In this second solo episode of the show, I explain why I speak and write so consistently about the idea of “purpose,” and give context that will set the stage for an upcoming episode of the podcast with Charles Eisenstein and Lauren Buckley, called “Purpose + Illness,” set to follow this episode—releasing on February 1, 2022.
Episode Details
What I Discuss
My search for “purpose” until now.
The portions of Charles’s work that helped me begin to make real connections between work, purpose, and health.
A reading of my essay, “A Sick Society + An Individual Burden,” which gives extra context to the connections I see between work and illness, and my upcoming conversation with Charles and Lauren.
Why you might be born to heal a divide between two worlds.
A reading of my essay, “Wisdom Teeth + Chronic Illness,” which tells the story of finding dental cavitations in my mouth, and much of what Charles, Lauren, and I discuss in the upcoming episode.
How doing work you don’t enjoy is a kind of “toxic load” on your body.
And, why we need to start saying “this isn’t normal.”
Sources Mentioned
My intro episode of the podcast, called “Why This Matters to Me,” which tells a longer story about my search for purpose.
Other episodes I mention here:
David Epstein (being a generalist, meandering careers, etc.)
Andreas Weber (individual vs. collective purpose, the concept of aliveness, and his book Matter & Desire)
Sacred Economics and The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible by Charles Eisenstein
Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice by Rupa Marya and Rajeev Charles Patel
Here’s the full text of my essay, “A Sick Society + An Individual Burden.”
The post from adrienne maree brown that includes a screenshot of the “meme” about being born in a time to slay dragons. It’s slide #7. I mention adrienne later in the episode, as well, especially her work around pleasure. You can just go read and see all of her stuff here.
Learn more about Charles’ “Living in the Gift” course.
Here’s the full text of my essay, “Wisdom Teeth + Chronic Illness.”
Chris Kresser’s Revolution Health Radio podcasts on the connections between airway/breathing issues and Alzheimer’s, how your dental health affects your whole body, and Terri Wahls, who healed herself from MS.
I think the quote I mention at the end that I attribute to Toni Cade Bambara is actually more closely attributable to adrienne maree brown, which is the question, “How do we make social justice the most pleasurable human experience?” Toni did speak about making the revolution irresistible, which I know inspired a lot of adrienne’s questions around social justice and pleasure.
Check out The Nap Ministry, which indeed is run by Tricia Hersey.
Here’s the quote from Resmaa Menakem on “trauma decontextualized” looking like culture, from his interview with Krista Tippett at OnBeing.
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Credits
Audio engineering by the team at Upfire Digital.
All of my music is provided by the in-house musicians at Slip.stream.
Episode Transcript
Coming soon, hopefully! Would you be willing to help? Email me at brandi@thisplusthat.com!
