Soul Forge Podcast

Friends - 219

Friends! Who are they? What are they good for? How many friends do you have/need/want? This week's episode tackles the nature of friendship! And it all came about because of a meme I happened to come across. I shared the meme. It touched people's souls. They shared and commented on the meme. Turns out friendship is a delicate and complicated topic/feeling.

My friend Dan was especially moved by the topic. As he explored the idea of the meme, and saw that other people could also relate, he began to suspect that perhaps the statement is so general, it could apply to anyone. So, also in this episode, we talk about the Barnum effect!

Barnum Effect, also called Forer Effect, in psychology, the phenomenon that occurs when individuals believe that personality descriptions apply specifically to them (more so than to other people), despite the fact that the description is actually filled with information that applies to everyone. The effect means that people are gullible because they think the information is about them only when in fact the information is generic. The Barnum Effect came from the phrase often attributed (perhaps falsely) to showman P. T. Barnum that a “sucker” is born every minute. Psychics, horoscopes, magicians, palm readers, and crystal ball gazers make use of the Barnum Effect when they convince people that their description of them is highly special and unique and could never apply to anyone else.

So, sit back and relax. Shawn and Paul and Dan are about to regale you with an exciting topic. Friends. Friendship. If you have any thoughts on the topic we would love to hear from you. Email us at soulforgepodcast@gmail.com

This week's podcast promo: Flopcast, Dr Geek's Vaccine PSA

Bear Naked Controversy - 218

Bear naked controversy is episode 218 of the Soul Forge Podcast. Many subjects are touched on in this episode. It's a kind of mixed grab bag of topics. This episode also includes the first instance of the Rusted Robot Pop Culture News segment.

Last week I celebrated my 45th birthday. I suppose I should have been upset that the day wasn't all about me, but I wasn't. I actually took everything in stride. You will hear more details in the actual episode, but my birth day included work, flyer preparations, a funeral, a lousy dinner and an unexpected text message from my father.

Bear naked controversy does not include any actual nudity. However, the bear I saw on route while delivering mail was definitely now wearing clothes. The actual controversy stuff is all about the covid vaccine. I'm really tired of all the negativity and the anti-vaccine propaganda.

Also included in this episode, I share more details and news from my Etsy store. I'll be selling some things at a booth during Nerd Con in Sault Ste. Marie in October. This week marks the 55th anniversary of the premiere of the original Star Trek series in 1966. Also, the 4th Matrix movie is getting a trailer this week!

We wrap up the show by talking about school. September means back to school for the children. A couple of my friends (in their 40s) are also doing some school work. I'm not sure I could handle going back to school in my 40s. How about you?

This week's podcast promo: Earth Station Who, Dr Geek's Vaccine PSA

Wired and Tired - 217

Your host is both wired and tired on this week's episode of the Soul Forge Podcast. It's a fun, random episode filled with the usual irreverant humour you have come to expect!

Why are we wired and tired? Well, Shawn has been exhausted and irritable as of late. This has been going on for many months. He is often out of breath and has a short fuse. So, the doctor hooked him up with a sleep lab study. In this episode, you hear all about that experience. Just take a look at the cover art to see how it looks to be hooked up!

Because I posted the picture of me with all the wires on Facebook, some controversy erupted. You see, I didn't put any caption to give the photo context. My aunt freaked out. My dad (who I have not spoken to in nearly a year) called me a dumbass. It's quite a fun story!

Other random topics are touched on in this episode. I'm thinking of doing a Rusted Robot pop culture segment. I'm going to have an ax enthusiast on an upcoming episode. I also talk a bit about my Etsy shop. Yard sales and nerd conventions and sales and stuff too! And wait until you hear about the new podcast that me and the boys from our Cosmic Pizza Podcast are doing!

This week's podcast promo: Blurred Nerds, Dr. Geek's Vaccine promo

Fun From Childhood - 216

Fun from childhood is an episode about memory. This week we are remembering fun times we had as children. Everyone (I hope) has happy memories from when they were kids. Your experiences will obviously be different from mine. Listen, and see how many things we may have in common!

My mother is part of my 2 earliest memories. I recall sitting at the edge of the ditch and looking at tadpoles and then running home in the rain. Eating fried cheese out of a cast iron skillet is another cherished memory with my mother. Mom and I used to have so much fun.

And then there was the time I tried to kill my brother Curtis. I didn't. I actually ended up saving him. Saving him from the peril I put him in. Jealousy can make you do crazy things.

Camping is a great memory. Every summer we would go to Beals Lake. The adults would catch crawdads and I'd play with them in the morning before tossing them back into the lake. Swimming, hiking and treasure hunting were all part of the camping life.

Other fun things included going treasure hunting at the garbage dump. Hunting for beer bottles and beer cans on the roadside was another exciting adventure. I didn't realize back then that it was more about the money.

My grandfather would also take me to open AA meetings. I learned a lot about life from these meetings. Spending time with my grandfather was the best part. I learned about drinking coffee at these meetings. He also took me for walks in the park and the Soo Locks.

My dad took me and my brother on road trips. We went to Boblo Island, Cedar Point and Canada's Wonderland. These were great trips. So much fun.

Other fun times included selling stuff to the neighbourhood kids. Action figure shopping. Beer bottle cap collecting, Dinky car smashing and many other adventures.

This week's podcast promo: Earth Station One, Dr. Geek's Vax

A Positive Spin - 215

A positive spin on a negative situation is a good plan. Naturally, it is not always easy or possible to put a positive spin on something, but it's always worth a try. This week's episode is all about the positive spin. Join me on this podcasting adventure as we turn those frowns upside down!

To start with, Julie and I got our second Covid-19 vaccinations last week. We weren't going to get the vaccine shot at all. However, it seemed like the wisest course of action. So we did it! With vaccine passports coming soon, it might be wise for everyone to just get it over with. Obviously there is lots of controversy and dissenting opinions on this.

Also in this episode, I touch on my Etsy shop. Customer service is important. My etsy shop is all about customer service. We try to make the buying experience as positive as we can! Check out my shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/rustedrobottoys/

A positive spin is important for our mental health. Here are some of the topics I try to put in a positive light: fires and droughts in the west, and floods in the east. Fixing these issues could spur innovation, create more jobs, and boost the economy.

And then there's Afghanistan and Haiti. The situations in those countries are absolutely horrendous. And yet, I try to put the positivity on these topics. Definitely not an easy task, and yet, I try.

Things may seem bad, but they say that everything that happens is for the best possible reason. Is that true? There's no way to know.

This week's podcast promos: Earth Station Trek, Dr. Geek's Vaccination push, ESO Patreon

Support our work with Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/rustedsoul

 

It's About Time - 214

It's about time to have a Soul Forge episode about time! This time on the show we will be discussing various aspects of time. We are covering topics such as television shows, the passage of time during travel and a good deal more!

The episode starts with a brief introduction to time. I read the definition of time according to wikipedia. That definition is kinda crappy, so I added my patented personal touch on the topic. Naturally, this leads to me talking about Star Trek. And I talk about Seinfeld. The way time moves doesn't always seem to make sense. Your actual experience and the reality of time do not always meet up in a happy or convenient way.

Travel is done in miles or kilometres. And yet, we measure distance through time. Or, I do, at least. It takes so many hours to get to this place. And this place is that many hours from this other place. I know more about the hours it takes to get somewhere, than I do the actual unit of distance.

Other topics this week include a recent trip to Ottawa and how long that took us. Talking about the time between sales on my Etsy shop. Discussing climate change and how time is running out for humanity to do something about it. Lots more too!

This week's podcast promo: Double Edge Double Bill, Dr. Geek's Vaccine Push

Trees, Traumas and Anniversaries - 213

Trees, Traumas and Anniversaries is the 213th episode of the Soul Forge Podcast! On this week's episode we are celebrating 4 years of the Forge with an unconventional episode. This is pure stream of consciousness folks! I didn't take any notes, I didn't plan ahead. There were a few topics I wanted to touch on, but that's the extent of my prep for this week. Trees, Traumas and Anniversaries might very well be your new favourite episode.

I have always had a knack for remembering dates and anniversaries. Could be that I gained this skill from my mother who was famous for recalling obscure events. Perhaps my work as a mailman has something to do with it. Whatever the reason, I've always been pretty great at remembering useless information.

From my dad, or maybe my mom, I gained the collecting gene. My parents were big-time hoarders-collectors. So was my mom's brother actually. My dad once had all of his 40 acres filled with things and stuff. I'm not quite that bad, but it was starting to get overwhelming. That's why I'm in the process of downsizing my collection. That's why I bought a building in which to run a store. And, that's also why I am running my Etsy shop -- until the store opens it is a side hustle to earn extra income, as well as get rid of things.

Trees and plants can see? I just read an article where there is intense speculation that plants can see, communicate and feel pain. We can't ask plants if this is true, but the research is certainly pointing in this direction.

Other topics covered in this show are various traumas, forest fires in the north, and keeping on keeping on. You just gotta keep moving forward. Be like the Kool-Aid man and close your eyes. Break on through that wall of pain and survive. We wrap up the show by talking about Etsy customer service, the Cosmic Pizza Podcast and a few other things.

Shop my Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/rustedrobottoys/

Support me on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/rustedsoul

This week's podcast promos: Dragon Con Report, Cosmic Pizza, Dr. Geek

Trees, Traumas and Anniversaries - 213

Butt Shot Deluxe - 212

Black Widow is the official title. They should have called it Butt Shot Deluxe. Why Butt Shot Deluxe? If you have seen the film you will certainly understand, but I will explain in more detail during this episode.

Next week will be the 4 year anniversary of the Soul Forge. If you have any words, thoughts, comments, concerns, questions, or anything else you would like to say, now is the time. You can always email the show at soulforgepodcast@gmail.com

Yard sales and travel have opened up again. The world was on pause for the last 16 months, but we are almost all ready to get back into the swing of things. This last weekend Julie and I travelled to North Bay/Mattawa for a bit of a visit. We stayed with my friends Frank and Martha. I picked up almost half of the 2000 VHS tapes Frank found for me. We did a bit of yard sale shopping. Junk and antique stores were visited. Julie got to take a small tour of North Bay where I went to university. A great time was had by all.

Black Widow is now in theatres. Julie, her daughter, and I went to see the film. I'm more into the MCU than they are, but we all enjoyed ourselves. Butt Shot Deluxe should be the name of the movie because that's pretty much all the film-makers focused on. There's more to be said, but you need to listen to the episode to learn more. Also, the latest episode of Cosmic Pizza Podcast that we just recorded is all about alternate superheroes. Stay tuned to Cosmic for more information.

We wrap up the show by talking about the billionaire spacemen. Elon Musk. Richard Branson. Jeff Bezos. They're all super rich. They're all going to space or working towards space. What about solving climate change or the hunger crisis? Nah! Space is much cooler!

This week's podcast promo: The Con Guys, Dr Geeks Vax