Cosmic Clowns

Welcome to Cosmic Clowns, a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all. For this episode (sorry, no video this time around—we bow to you, Mercury Retrograde), we are exploring what it means to embrace experimentation over expertise, without completely abandoning being good at some stuff. We talk about the difference between being a guide or a leader, releasing control in the creative process, balancing structure and play. And we are definitely practising what we preach—this episode marks a shift in our process where we are choosing the topic somewhat on the fly (we do have a running list… and are also open to suggestions) and allowing ourselves to speak more freely and, hopefully, creatively. Join us in the experiment!
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Thank you for being here, we value your presence. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review so we know to keep making more!
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Time stamps:
03:28 The Role of Creativity in Our Work
07:23 Exploring the Guide vs. Leader Dynamic
14:26 Releasing Control in Creative Processes
18:24 The Journey of Artistic Exploration
24:19 Shifting from Productivity to Creativity
30:42 Navigating Vulnerability in Creativity
36:06 Balancing Structure and Experimentation
42:29 Creating New Structures for Growth
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Links & Credits
Jocelyn’s Substack: radiate
Sebene’s Substack: remind me to love
Podcast website: www.cosmicclowns.me
Theme music: “Wow” by Charm School

Welcome (back) to Cosmic Clowns, a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all. After a tiny hiatus, we kick off our second “season” with an episode all about the erotic (just in time for Valentine’s Day). In this episode, we explore the multifaceted nature of an erotic that includes all sensual experience within its definition. We center Audre Lorde's ovular essay, “Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic As Power” where she emphasizes the erotic as a source of empowerment, resistance, and (especially) joy–a key insight for these times.
Her/our take on the erotic includes sex, of course, but also recognizes how everyday moments can be infused with sensuality (even sticking our feet in a potted plant!). We discuss how personal challenges and societal pressures can impact our connection to pleasure and joy, as well as the crucial (and often dismissed) role of beauty as the erotic in everyday life attuning us to what feels right and good within and around us. As Adure said: “The erotic is the nurturer or nursemaid of all our deepest knowledge.”
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Thank you for being here, we value your presence. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review so we know to keep making more!
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Time stamps:
04:08 The Role of the Body in the Erotic
09:51 The Power of Sensual Awareness
25:09 The Impact of Capitalism on Well-Being
29:42 The Dismissal of the Feminine and the Erotic
31:48 Beauty as an Expression of the Erotic
34:54 The Sensuality of Everyday Activities
39:25 The Power of Words and Movement
45:22 The Flow of Love and Connection
48:14 Reframing Love Beyond Romantic Contexts
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Links & Credits
Audre Lorde reading her essay, “The Uses of the Erotic.”
adrienne marry brown on Hurry Slowly
Sense Writing
“The Tune of Things: Is consciousness God?”, Harper’s Magazine, December 2025
Kristin Wiig as Triangle Sally

Jocelyn’s Substack: radiate
Sebene’s Substack: remind me to love
Podcast website: www.cosmicclowns.me
Theme music: “Wow” by Charm School

Welcome to Cosmic Clowns, a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all. In this episode, we delve into the concept of the New Year, questioning the traditional January 1st start date and discussing the importance of aligning personal renewal with cycles of nature and spiritual systems. We explore the inward turn that winter invites and suggest that we all engage in various ways of starting anew—the new moon, the new season, the equinoxes, the solstices... This conversation also touches on the pressures of societal expectations during the holiday season and the need for each of us to experiment with rituals and practices that support our well being.
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Thank you for being here, we value your presence. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review so we know to keep making more!
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Time stamps:
00:00 KILN, Jocelyn's Creative Incubator
10:32 Reflections on the New Year and Natural Cycles
21:17 Reflecting on the Past Year
28:25 The Concept of Wintering
34:19 Navigating Holiday Pressures
40:04 Planning for the New Year
45:52 Embracing Experimentation in the New Year
52:56 Imagining New Narratives
55:35 Embracing Individuality and Idiosyncrasies
59:48 Reflecting on the Season and Future Plans
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Links & Credits
Jocelyn’s Substack: radiate
Sebene’s Substack: remind me to love
Podcast website: www.cosmicclowns.me
Theme music: “Wow” by Charm School

Welcome to Cosmic Clowns, a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all. In this episode, we share cultural experiences that moved us in 2025. We don’t need to tell you that this year has been RUFF. And, of course, we know every one of us also found moments of joy, inspiration and love in the midst of this mayhem. Today, we each offer three things—including art, film, a podcast, reporting, and live experiences—that helped us thrive in 2025. As Jocelyn mentions at the top of the episode, the etymology of the word culture means to care for the Earth. We hope our cultural sharing brings you some end of year care, connection, and comedy. Here are the links to a few of the things that moved us this year:
Jack Whitten: The Messenger at the MOMA
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
The Telepathy Tapes
Real Men Don’t Drink Matcha
John Beaulieu, Biosonics
The Sound of Music Sing-a-Long
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Thank you for being here, we value your presence. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review so we know to keep making more!
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Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction
06:00 Framing Our Year-End Reflections on Art and Culture
07:57 Jack Whitten at the MOMA
17:49 Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat documentary
25:51 Exploring The Telepathy Tapes podcast
33:25 “Real Men Don’t Drink Matcha” article
36:32 Crystals and sound with John Beaulieu
47:23 The Sound of Music Sing-a-long
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Links & Credits
Jocelyn’s Substack: radiate
Sebene’s Substack: remind me to love
Podcast website: www.cosmicclowns.me
Theme music: “Wow” by Charm School

Welcome to Cosmic Clowns, a podcast about exploring consciousness, surviving chaos, and finding the comedy in it all. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the provocative question: Do you want to be right, or do you want to be free? We discuss how asking this question can dramatically change your attitude when you’re experiencing conflict with others, what role our need for perfectionism, control, and/or certitude plays in the need to be “right,” and the power of letting go of clinging and competition in favor of deeper curiosity and connection. Join us as we explore all the ways we limit liberation when we need the present moment to be anything other than, well, the present moment.
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Thank you for being here, we value your presence. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review so we know to keep making more!
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Time stamps:
00:00 Being Right vs. Being Free
14:18 The Tyranny of Certitude
25:06 "Rightness" and Unsolicited Advice
28:24 Letting Go of Control and Embracing Uncertainty
34:08 Understanding Mana and the Comparing Mind
41:19 Relaxation as a Path to Freedom
46:33 Not Being in Contention with Reality
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Links & Resources mentioned:
Jocelyn’s Substack: radiate
Sebene’s Substack: remind me to love
Podcast website: www.cosmicclowns.me
Theme music: “Wow” by Charm School