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