Reality Rules

Dave & Sarah: Are We In A Simulation?

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0700

Dave Testa & Sarah Sekoa discuss (BS about) the unknowability of the fundamental nature of reality. Recorded at Dave Testa's home recording studio on April 16, 2023, at the end of a 10 hour marathon of conversation.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Part 2: Let's Catch Our Breath - Addiction Recovery and Mental Health with Dave Testa

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0700

Part 2: Dave & Sarah discuss experiences of addiction, mental illness, recovery, and learning how to care for & ground ourselves and deal with the inevitable pains of life in sustainable ways.

Recorded at Dave Testa's home recording studio in Seattle, WA on April 16th, 2023.

Intro/Outro song: "Bug Bear" by Climber, used with permission. Listen to Climber music on Spotify: shorturl.at/ouxS2

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Part 1: Let's Catch Our Breath - Addiction Recovery & Mental Health with Dave Testa

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 22:00:00 -0700

Dave & Sarah discuss experiences of addiction, mental illness, recovery, and learning how to care for & ground ourselves and deal with the inevitable pains of life in sustainable ways.

Recorded at Dave Testa's home recording studio in Seattle, WA on April 16th, 2023.

Intro/Outro song: "River" by David Testa, used with permission. Single to be released soon. Listen to more music by David Testa at www.testamusic.com

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Chuck Swindoll - Son of a Preacher, Author of Elucidating Christianity

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 22:00:00 -0700

Chuck and Sarah discuss Chuck's book: Elucidating Christianity, A Heretic's Dissent: Triangulating Dysfunctional Religion (get the Kindle book on Amazon here: https://shorturl.at/knrA7, or listen to the audio version read by Chuck on his YouTube channel at the link below), and we share about our experiences of unraveling our Christian beliefs and what it's like on the other side of leaving the religion. Chuck grew up in a highly influential Christian family and ministry, and leaving his rolls at the church wasn't easy. He shares about what that was like and about his relationship with his beloved father, with whom he shares the same name, and who is a world renowned Christian pastor, teacher, and author.

Chuck's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@chuckswindoll7792

Audio Version of Elucidating Christianity: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4Qn_RpyTvVxvExk8fE2s9kSo15gH6ka

Intro/outro song: "Stop That Holy Dance" by Climber. Used with permission.
Listen to Climber music on Spotify: shorturl.at/ouxS2

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Leaving Christianity - David Testa's Experience

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:00:00 -0700

A conversation with former Christian worship band member, David Testa, as he shares insights about his journey into and out of Christianity. The conversation touches on problems with Christian concepts of hell and salvation, connections between Christianity and codependency, childhood trauma, narcissism, addiction, etc., surviving existential+identity crises, and current spiritual beliefs. We opened more cans of worms than we could fully digest, so keep an eye out for future episodes where we will be getting together again to dive deeper into some of these topics.

Recorded at David Testa's home recording studio in Seattle, WA, on March 19, 2023.

Intro/Outro song: "River" by David Testa, used with permission. Single to be released soon. Listen to more music by David Testa at www.testamusic.com

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Art Life & The Evolution of Self - w/filmmaker Antero Alli

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0700

A conversation with filmmaker, theater producer, author, astrologer, and musician, Antero Alli, on wisdom from his life as an artist. We discuss ideas around self-delusion, ego, shadow work, and the inner child, and how to live the artist's life by relinquishing our attachments to our egos, and vulnerably expressing from our deeply subjective experiences, in hopes that our creative works will cross over into universal experience and land with positive impact in the lives of those who relate and resonate.

Alli's film "Out of the Woods" will be screened at the Clinton Street Theater in Southeast Portland this Sunday, March 26th, 1pm matinee, as a benefit for the theater. Tickets: https://cstpdx.com/event/out-of-the-woods/

Intro/outro song: "I Don't Exist" by Climber, used with permission. Listen to Climber music on Spotify: shorturl.at/ouxS2

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Leaving Christianity - Marcus Lawrence's Experience - Live Zoom Recording

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 23:00:00 -0700

Marcus Lawrence, a former Christian worship leader, shares his story of going from being a full-blown Christian who worked for a church and for Christian organizations, to becoming an optimistic nihilist who still wants to believe there is something out there that cares - because music and love. We talk about the Enneagram, nihilism, agnosticism, mysticism, and love that's too big for religion's boxes, and how if there is an afterlife to believe in, everybody's in, or else no thank you.

Intro/outro song:
"Foxes" by Climber, used with permission.
Listen to Climber music on Spotify: shorturl.at/ouxS2

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Leaving Christianity - Thomas Schnaars' Experience, recorded live at Edgefield

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 19:00:00 -0800

(Recorded live at Edgefield McMenamins) Sarah interviews Thomas Schnaars about his experience of converting to Christianity in his early twenties, becoming a church leader and teacher, and then leaving the religion in his late thirties and stepping into a more expansive spiritual cosmology.

Contact Thomas for personalized in depth astrology readings: ts84@live.de

This episode explores:

- issues with Christian doctrines of hell, sin, separation from God, etc., as well as with some of the abuse inherent in Christian culture and values.

- the wisdom in pulling on threads of doubt and trusting in a higher power (if there is one) to help us follow truth (if there is truth), even and especially when it leads us away from the versions of reality with which we've been indoctrinated by religion.

- celebrating the good things about experiences in Christianity and Christian community, and taking the good things along when we leave.

- experiential love, felt Oneness, and felt eternal safety outside of religious doctrines+conditions.

- the importance of self-trust and intuitive knowing.

- enjoying the awe and wonder in the mystery of existing.

- et cetera...

Intro/outro song:

"The Simians Speak" by Climber, used with permission.

Listen to Climber music on Spotify: shorturl.at/ouxS2

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Divorce & Deconstructing Religion with Macie & Emily

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 14:00:00 -0800

Macie LaRae and Emily Jameson and I walked closely through a season of our transitions out of marriage and out of conservative Christianity. In this episode, we explore some of the core truths we've learned on our journeys.

Subjects-

For the women going through the painful transitions of ending marriages and leaving religions- there’s a light at the end of the tunnel… it gets better.

Every relationship is a teacher and alchemical container that serves our growth, and there is no such thing as failure.

We learn through experiencing things.

Trusting inner intuitive guidance that draws us toward connections.

Choosing ourselves over and over, even when facing projections of fear and judgment from others.

Re-membering the dismembered pieces of our psyches.

Permission to take up space.

Being authentic when it might mean family rejects us.

Holding space for the losses and grief that come with the growth.

New perspectives necessitate new interpretations of our personal histories- rewriting our lives.

Grieving the energy we spent working so hard for our whole lives to be good.

Feeling better on the other side of divorce.

When anxiety and the feeling of constriction increase, expansion is right around the corner.

When our theology was too small for the experiences of life we were having.

No longer participating in our own oppression.

Permission to try different churches.

Spiritual bypassing.

Sometimes church can be a bridge.

When institutions and ideologies become idols.

Much of Christianity is not of Christ.

Making up our own Gods and religions.

Either Way beliefs, when we can’t understand the Mystery.

It is so freeing to not have to be right.

Learning to listen to the language of our bodies.

--

Macie LaRae's boxing gym in Portland, OR: equipacademypdx.com, insta: @equipacademypdx

Emily Jameson trauma-aware transformational coaching - reconnecting women to their sacred and sexual sovereignty: emilyjamesoncoaching.com, insta: @theemilyjameson

Intro/outro song: "Bugbear" by Climber. Listen to Climber music on Spotify: shorturl.at/ouxS2
used with permission.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Exploring Bisexuality & Open Marriage - Part 3 of 3

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 16:00:00 -0800

Sarah and Yvette get candid about personal experiences in the realms of bisexuality and polyamory, aka ethical non-monogamy and open relationships in a three part series. This is part 3.

-Experiencing group sexual energy

-How Sarah wasn’t self-aware of and was in denial of her attraction to women when younger

-Profound sexual satisfaction and expansion in long term monogamy

-A dynamic Relationship Manifesto

-Yvette’s experience of a secret sexual affair

-Commitment to honesty, truth, integrity, and foundational friendship

-Trusting each other in relationships that we want to support each other’s total joy

-Dynamic evolving personal boundaries and commitments

-Telling or not telling family of origin about evolving sexual preferences and lifestyle

-Celebrating exploration, curiosity, and following desire ethically through having more of these conversations

-The risk and reality of losing friends due to conflicting beliefs and value judgments about sex and marriage

-Willingness to be rejected for authentic self-ownership and expression

-Easing into authentic expression with caution

-Giggles

Intro/outro song: "Stop That Holy Dance" by Climber. Listen to Climber music on Spotify: shorturl.at/ouxS2
used with permission.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Exploring Bisexuality & Open Marriage - Part 2 of 3

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 15:00:00 -0800

Sarah and Yvette get candid about personal experiences in the realms of bisexuality and polyamory, aka ethical non-monogamy and open relationships in a three part series. This is part 2.

-Yvette and her husband’s unique and evolving open marriage dynamics

-Caution in exploring and changing the relationship rules

-Sarah’s experience facing deeply rooted fears around sexual freedom, deconstructing from Christian fundamentalist purity culture upbringing, and an open relationship with a “wild man”

-So much establishing of trust through non-judgmental vulnerable exploration through conversation

-Polyamory as friendship that includes sharing in sexual and sensual pleasure in the same ways we share in other pleasures

-Making up the rules in each unique relationship

-Compersion - experiencing pleasure in imagining or witnessing the other person’s sexual pleasure with someone else

-Reflections on same sex and group sex exploration

-How sex keeps getting better and evolving and expanding into more, beyond what we had previously imagined

-Facing the fear of judgment about having these conversations publicly

-For Sarah, sexuality and spirituality are inextricably tied, and liberation in both areas has been intertwined

-Facing societal and cultural assumptions and judgments

Intro/outro song: "Stop That Holy Dance" by Climber. Listen to Climber music on Spotify: shorturl.at/ouxS2
used with permission.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Exploring Bisexuality & Open Marriage - Part 1 of 3

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0800

Sarah and Yvette get candid about personal experiences in the realms of bisexuality and polyamory, aka ethical non-monogamy and open relationships in a three part series. This is part 1.

-Sarah’s experiences of growing up in Christian fundamentalist purity culture

-Yvette’s experience of exploring her bisexuality and approaching her husband about opening marriage into ethical non-monogamy

-Sexuality as dynamic over time and across various circumstances

-Desire as a wise leader, even if you don’t necessarily know the logical reasons why you want something

-Yvette’s experience with internalized shame about same sex attraction

-Exploring hesitancy to come out to family and friends about both bisexuality and polyamory

-Facing others’ judgements about polyamory

-When family and friends are worried and can’t support or celebrate changes

-How ethical non-monogamy can both challenge and enhance marital intimacy

-Trusting ourselves when we’re happy and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks

Intro/outro song: "Stop That Holy Dance" by Climber. Listen to Climber music on Spotify: shorturl.at/ouxS2
used with permission.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

Synchronicities and Subjective Reality

Sun, 29 May 2022 15:00:00 -0700

-a personal synchronicity story: how my dead grandmother named my daughter Nina
-what do synchronicities mean?
-where do synchronicities come from?
-is the reality we perceive an interactive subjective feedback loop of our consciousness?
-my personal number language and belief that winks from the universe affirm that I’m on my best path
-but what if it’s all a scheme being operated by evil alien overlords who are harvesting our energy for their cosmic games?
-why it’s good to face the existential possibility that everything might be meaningless
-what I choose to risk believing
-is the universe benevolent, malevolent, or neutral? And so what?
-do interactive subjective realities coalesce into a collective reality?
-is there a bigger purpose? If so, what do you want it to be?
-why it’s good to know you could always be totally wrong about everything
-the meaning that motivates me

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317

How I Let Go of Christianity and Embraced the Mystery of Love

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 20:00:00 -0700

I share about some of the gradual shifts in thought, conversations with God, and poignant moments in the deconstruction of my former Christian faith, and about my current working theories on faith.

Why can't God "save" everyone?
Do we even need to be saved?
Is there such a thing as separation from God?
What matters more: accuracy of belief about God, or impact of belief?
What actually is faith?
Thoughts on truly unconditional love
My conversation with Jesus, whom I love, as I was letting go
How love matters more than accuracy
How God met me in the void of uncertainty

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Follow Sarah Sekoa on instagram @sarahs1317