PODCAST EPISODES

Part Two - It's Time For Ideas Not Ideology.
​This might be Mark's best ThoughtCast so far. You decide! In Part Two, in a search for ideas and not ideology, Mark makes a Hail Mary attempt to find some suggestions on how we might navigate our way out of this "nice mess we've gotten ourselves into". He calls a Brit. Clive. They know all about revolutions! As Sun Tzu said "There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare." It's time to stop the fighting and start rebuilding the 'United' in The United States of America.

It's Time For Ideas NOT Ideology!
This might be Mark's best ThoughtCast so far. You decide! Just as we thought we could look forward to a new year, the insanity went ballistic. In Part One Mark looks at the tragic actions of the last week through multiple lenses. Nobody comes out smelling of roses, least of all the body politic. Mark finds some more odorous than others. In Part Deux, in a search for ideas and not ideology, Mark makes a Hail Mary attempt to find some suggestions on how we might navigate our way out of this "nice mess we've gotten ourselves into". He calls a Brit. Clive. They know all about revolutions! As Sun Tzu said "There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare." It's time to stop the fighting and start rebuilding the 'United' in The United States of America.

In Search of Sanity presents a new ThoughtCast that brings two protagonists with opposing views together in search of sanity and common ground. The first episode looks at the claims that the American people were cheated because the US Presidential election was tainted by wide scale material election fraud. Sanity prevailed in that two reasonable people were able to agree to disagree while still reaching a consensus on the best way forward.
PS. This episode was recorded on January 5th and released online just as news was breaking from DC of violent protests and an illegal occupation of The Capitol Building. This forced the suspension of The Constitutional process to validate the results of The Presidential Election. While it is unclear if the violence was carried out by supporters of President Trump or by mischief making agent provocateurs, I contacted my guest to get his response to the scenes being flashed around the world. While he stated that he "abhorred violence", he called my suggestion that the protests were damaging the reputation of the USA "bullshit"! I received a similar response when I suggested that The President had a duty to intervene directly, rather than just tweet. Alas it seems our 'Ceasefire' only lasted a day! None the less I think that conclusion makes the first Ceasefire episode even more engaging and relevant. It just goes to show what a challenge we all face as we try to defuse the toxic and inflammatory state of our politics, and what happens when we let political dogma and ideology trump (no pun intended) ideas and reasonable discussions. 

Cold Water Can Be Invigorating....Or A Soaking.
Mark starts the new year by throwing cold water over lots of subjects, including himself. Sometimes its invigorating, and sometimes he gives his subjects a good soaking. Warning us all against being victims of the hysterical response of Main Stream Media, Mark reminds us that our democracy is not in danger and that nothing is new in our world. Including the fact that both parties have a history of trying to influence the electoral college and invalidate votes. He also gives a soaking to the latest efforts to control the virus.

Wishful Thinking or More Insanity?
​Mark wraps up an 'insane' year by discussing the latest news locally and nationally, including SLO City's decision to award a 10% pay raise to its highest paid employees in the middle of the biggest local recession in modern history, at the same time as raising taxes. He calls Clive to get an update on what is happening across the pond with the emergence of a new 'UK mutant virus'. Together they look forward to 2021 and commit to evangelising the principle of independent thinking and being reasonable! Wishful thinking or more insanity?

Hatred Corrodes The Container It Is Carried In.
​Whether it's elections, journalism & media bias, free speech or free will, Mark ponders why it is that everything we hold dear seems to be under attack and why it is trust has collapsed in our institutions and in our communities. If the 'way Its working isn't working', what do we need to change to get things back onto an even keel?

Do As I Say, Not As I Do!
Mark looks at the hypocrisy of our State and National political leaders. While we the common folk are locked down, Governor Newsome and other members of the political elite ignore the very rules they insist we follow. Plus Mark looks at Trump's final acts as he looks to keep his followers 'Enraged & Engaged'. ​

Marks' Voted. Now What Will The Future Bring?
After being deluged like the rest of us by waterfalls of campaign material, Mark has ticked his boxes and sent in his ballot. In this ThoughtCast he looks forward to what the next 4 years might look like; nationally, across The State and locally on The Central Coast. Will we be laughing or crying? Probably a bit of both.

A 'Reasonable' Conversation - Part Deux!
The second part of Mark's recent conversation with his In Search of Sanity Partner - Clive Pinder. Mark praises Diane Feinstein. Clive lives up to his 'equal opportunity offender' billing as they tackle the question of why people move to The Central Coast from LA & SFO because they love the community spirit and neighborly values born of 'Pioneer Principles'; then immediately look to challenge those principles and change them. Plus Mark asks Clive for his POTUS prediction.

What A 'Reasonable' Conversation Sounds Like - Part 1.
Mark is joined by Clive, his Co-Founder of In Search of Sanity to have a reasonable conversation about topics of the day. Trying to understand why you can fly in a plane but not go to church? If putting your mask on between bites will really help reduce infection rates? Plus Mark challenges Clive on his opinions on their local newspaper - The San Luis Obispo Tribune, and it's apparent editorial bias. Something here for everyone, and while you may not agree you may end up thinking a little differently.