PODCAST · society
Smart Funny Tortured
by Paul Chamberlain
Conversations with creatives on when they broke down, broke through, and how they now peacefully(ish) coexist with their gifts.
Episodes
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Sam Senchal on The God Conjecture: Physics, Soul, and Why Your Life Matters
What if the universe isn’t a cold, dumb machine or a cosmic soap opera run by a temperamental sky-dad—but something deeper that both science and spirituality have been circling from opposite sides? In this conversation, Paul welcomes his friend Sam, the mind behind The God Conjecture: a framework...
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David Shapiro on AI, Time Sovereignty, and the Analog Future
AI futurist and author David Shapiro joins Paul to map the path between panic and progress. We dig into why he invests his “limited cognitive cycles” in building rather than despair, the liminal now he calls Vesperance (and why the fever will “break” in public debates), and how to use AI as a...
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SMART – Why Outsiders Are the New Geniuses
TOPICS COVERED: - Jeffrey Hinton and the rise of AI irrelevance - Pattern recognition, synthesis, and cognitive flexibility - Douglas Hofstadter, Steve Jobs, Joy Buolamwini, and Tony Stark as intelligence templates - Why generalists win in an era of disruption - The Human OS for nonlinear…
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FUNNY – Your Most Magnetic Human Advantage
TOPICS COVERED: - The neuroscience of joy, laughter, and orgasm - Flow states, emotional intelligence, and pleasure as defiance - Viktor Frankl, Albert Camus, and the absurdity of hope - Why funny people are cognitively elite - Reclaiming joy as your most magnetic edge MENTIONED THINKERS &…
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TORTURED – How Your Darkness Becomes Your Power
TOPICS COVERED: - Trauma, shame, and desire as fuel - The science of nervous system recalibration - Carl Jung’s shadow, Resmaa Menakem’s soul nerve - How shame stabilizes—then cages - Turning repressed energy into post-traumatic sovereignty MENTIONED THINKERS & SOURCES: - Carl Jung – Shadow...
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Red Wine in a Coffee Cup – The Birth of Smart Funny Tortured
Five years ago, Paul Chamberlain stood at a crossroads. Sobriety wasn’t just about quitting drinking—it was about confronting the deeper truths lurking beneath the surface. In this raw and deeply personal episode, Paul takes us back to the moment that changed everything: a red wine-stained coffee...
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Smart Funny Tortured: A Manifesto
I was given a challenge: write a manifesto—a call to arms for a new kind of renaissance. A world where wit, depth, and resilience aren’t just tolerated but exalted. A world where being Smart, Funny, and Tortured pays the toll and gets you across the bridge. And that challenge? It forced me to…
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The Impact of AI on Coaching and Therapy
In this thought-provoking episode, Paul sits down with Lumia Coaching Co-Founder and CEO, Noelle Cordeaux, to navigate the converging paths of human coaching and artificial intelligence. They discuss the impact of AI on coaching and therapy, diving deep into the implications of emerging...
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Zachary Stein on AI, Education, and the Metacrisis
Paul sits down with Dr. Zachary Stein to explore the future of education and the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. He advocates for dismantling traditional schools and replacing them with systems that prioritize human-to-human interaction. Dr. Stein warns against humanoid…
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Elissa Strauss on Care, Codependence, and Interdependence
Paul sits down with Elissa Strauss, a prominent journalist, essayist, and author. A leading voice in the conversation surrounding society, parenting, and caregiving for over 15 years. Her work has been featured in top-tier publications such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, Glamour, Elle, and...
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Curious Refuge: Caleb & Shelby Ward
Paul sits down with Caleb and Shelby Ward, Co-Founders of the World’s First Home for AI Storytellers, Curious Refuge. From western Texas to the mahogany boardrooms of Hollywood studios, Caleb and Shelby are at the center of the AI filmmaking revolution. Artists and educators first, this new...
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Timothy Morton: Eco-philosopher and Artist
Paul sits down with Professor Timothy Morton, an eco-philosopher, artist, and author of 25 books, translated 40 times into 18 languages. They explore the connection between philosophy, ecology, spirituality, fascism, and shame. Their discussion centers on the notion that acknowledging our…
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The SFT Podcasts of 2022 - the look back epsiode
Well, it's 2023 - we made it! As we gather receipts and do an audit on times past while looking forward; I wanted to gather bits and pieces of the past year's conversations in which my guests' brilliance took us places profound, hilarious and enlightening. What we talked about... Bisexuality and...
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Rankin Bass Christmas Specials - the SFT take
What is the Christmas season without thinly veiled trauma and dysfunction in the form of beloved animated family television specials? With the help of trauma research professor, Dr. MC McDonald, sex/love addiction coach, Sean Cardinalli and Life Coach, Carllie Jaxxen, we take an irreverent but...
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Rena Martine on Intimacy, Non-Monogamy and shame-free sex
Paul sits down with women's intimacy coach and former sex crimes prosecutor, Rena Martine to discuss ethical non-monogamy (ENM) and her mission to help women love their bodies, experience deep intimacy and have great sex, shame-free. Rena Martine is a fascinating and dynamic woman who, at first...
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The Marvel Traumatic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t powered by vibranium, sorcery or infinity stones...it's powered by trauma and grief. With the help of research professor, Dr. MC McDonald and the incomparably urbane satirist, George Hahn, we break down how the MCU has pulled off a superhuman feat in depicting...
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Kat Courtney on Ayahuasca, integration and the resistance to living an authentic life
Kat Courtney is a woman of exceptional power, perspective and wisdom. She is an 18 year veteran of Plant Medicines: Meaning she has been traditionally trained to administer the psychedelic medicinal brew Ayahuasca and the botanical cousin of Peyote, Huachuma or San Pedro cactus. She is an...
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Jeffrey Gurian on Comedy, Fate and Dentistry
Paul sits down with Jeffrey Gurian to talk about being one of the most beloved people in the world of comedy, self-limiting beliefs and picking the right outfit before the ambulance arrives. People often refer to him as a “Renaissance Man”, because he’s involved in so many things. But he’s really…
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Dr. Habib Sadeghi on Love and Medicine
Paul sits down with Dr. Habib Sadeghi to talk about love, medicine and what we can do to regain our health and happiness despite a broken medical system. It’s fair to say that one area of our life where we find ourselves tortured is when we have to navigate the traditional American medical system...
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John Kim AKA The Angry Therapist on finding Self, the power of Coaching and how motorcycles, CrossFit and donuts made it all better
Paul sits down with The Angry Therapist, John Kim, LMFT to talk about finding Self, the power of Coaching and how motorcycles, CrossFit and donuts made it all better. In a departure from the usual format, Paul sets up the interview by sharing his very personal connection to one of John’s books (I...
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Sarah Kendzior on authoritarianism, corruption and life's simple pleasures
Paul sits down with best-selling author and scholar, Sarah Kendzior to talk about staying vigilant while trying to enjoy life’s simple pleasures as authoritarianism and corruption continues to accelerate. Sarah Kendzior darkly refers to herself on Twitter as a non-fiction horror writer. That...
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Rylee Rabbit & Sex Work/Entrepreneurship
Paul sits down with Rylee Rabbit to talk about sex work, entrepreneurial hustle and finding things that are beautiful in people. Through sheer resourcefulness, fearlessness and grit she has grown her Rylee Rabbit brand into a budding enterprise with over a million followers across multiple...
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Tal Ben-Shahar & Happiness
Paul sits down with best-selling author and lecturer, Tal Ben-Shahar to discuss the science of happiness, how to become happier and how the pursuit of happiness is all wrong. Tal Ben-Shahar taught two of the largest classes in Harvard University’s history, "Positive Psychology" and "The…
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Zachary Zane & Bisexuality
Despite more and more people identifying as bisexual, stigmas remain, leaving many not feeling fully accepted by their communities. This includes your host. During my interview, Zachary Zane held a special space where I felt safe to finally come out and present my authentic self to the world. I...
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James Bond & George Hahn
James Bond is smart, funny, tortured: Paul and George Hahn explain why and also list their favorite and not-so-favorite franchise elements In honor of the long overdue release of No Time To Die--the 25th installment of the James Bond franchise--Paul sits down with fellow 007 megafan, George Hahn,...
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Jonathan Capehart
Paul sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Jonathan Capehart to talk about being black, gay, finding the gray, and the day when America was as close as it ever was to realizing its national ideals. Jonathan Capehart is anchor of “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart” on MSNBC. He is...
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Paul Williams
Paul sits down with Paul Williams to talk about never not being starstruck, three decades of sobriety and why his heart is the fullest it has ever been. Paul Williams is one of the most beloved and respected music creators in the world today. A lyricist and composer who has won an Oscar Award,...
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April Winchell
April Winchell has experienced about seven different lifetimes, each one funnier - and up until now - more tragic than the last. The one she lives now is her best life, and she has a hilariously biting perspective on how she got there. The daughter of a famous Dad, April found her own success as…
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Rob Paulsen on depression and the redemptive power of cancer and cartoons
Rob Paulsen is one of Hollywood’s busiest, most talented, and most passionate performers who specializes in the art of voice acting, a career that has earned him a Daytime Emmy, three Annie Awards, and a Peabody. He is the voice of Pinky from “Pinky and the Brain”, Yakko from “Animaniacs”…
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George Hahn on sobriety, tenacity and Cary Grant's suit
Paul sits down with the charming and ascendant George Hahn to talk about sobriety, tenacity and Cary Grant's suit. George was recently featured in the New York Times and given the designation of “Urban Raconteur.” Spot on considering how the satirist, humorist, sartorialist, minimalist…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Smart Funny Tortured have?
Smart Funny Tortured currently has 30 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Smart Funny Tortured about?
Conversations with creatives on when they broke down, broke through, and how they now peacefully(ish) coexist with their gifts.
How often does Smart Funny Tortured release new episodes?
Smart Funny Tortured has 30 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Smart Funny Tortured?
You can listen to Smart Funny Tortured on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Smart Funny Tortured?
Smart Funny Tortured is created and hosted by Paul Chamberlain.
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