The Ten Crutches Podcast

What prevents us from being present in our lives? What ideas, concepts, tools can we use as ”crutches” to help us walk more deeply in each moment?

This is my attempt to help people with being human. I try to avoid the issues people fight about, the surface conflicts, like who has the right opinion about this or that. Instead, I ask: what are the conditions that make it difficult for all of us to be human? How can we address them?

Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download my free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present. 

What are the ten crutches?

  • There is no such thing as “the past.”
  • There is no such thing as “the future.”
  • All “things” (and “events”) are the same.
  • All “things” (and “events”) are different.
  • You will never find “it” outside of you.
  • You will never find “it” inside of you.
  • You are one with everything evil.
  • You are one with everything good.
  • You will never really know.
  • Your senses are the gates to the present moment.

New episode drops every Monday at noon.

Episodes

May 11, 2026

29 min

What is boredom? Why would anyone wish to avoid it? If dopamine hits keep us scrolling for hours, then what? If the crunchy chips taste so good we can’t stop eating them, what do we do for nutrition?
We need boredom the way we need air, healthy food, movement and good sleep. We need downtime in our lives to form stories and memories and simply think about things. Boredom opens doors we forget are right in front of us.
Fair warning! You may find this episode boring. I talk very slowly at times; I also leave several long pauses. I strongly suggest you listen to this episode as it was recorded and not speed it up. You can genuinely use the episode to explore boredom. (Or help you go to sleep.)
Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download the free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present.
Show notes are here.

May 4, 2026

35 min

An exploration of where our attention usually goes and what might help it land more deeply in the present moment.
Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download the free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present.
Show notes are here.

Apr 27, 2026

46 min

In episodes 21 and 22, I spoke about rituals. I promised back then to talk about intuition. So here we are.
What is intuition?
What will help you cultivate your intuition?
Part 1 (of this two-part series) gives my answer to these two questions.
Can I build a ritual to help deepen my intuition?
Yes! Part 2 has specific instructions for creating a ritual that will help cultivate intuition. My intention is to help someone who has never created a ritual before to do so. (In other words, if you have created ritual before, you may find these instructions overly simplistic. Thankfully, you have the power of “fast forward” at your fingertips!)
Time Stamps for Instructions:
# 1: Pick time and place (6:59)
# 2: How long will the ritual be? (8:55)
# 3: Write down the times of the intro, the middle and the exit of the ritual (11:13)
# 4: Plan the Intro (15:25)
4A: Four suggestions for the intro (21:23)
# 5: Plan the middle of the ritual (29:21)
# 6: Plan for the exit (37:38)
6A: Four suggestions for the exit (38:40)
Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download the free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present.
Show notes are here.

Apr 20, 2026

29 min

In episodes 21 and 22, I spoke about rituals. I promised back then to talk about intuition. So here we are.
What is intuition?
What will help you cultivate your intuition?
Part 1 (of this two-part series) gives my answer to these two questions.
Can I build a ritual to help deepen my intuition?
Yes! Part 2 has specific instructions for creating a ritual that will help cultivate intuition. My intention is to help someone who has never created a ritual before to do so. (In other words, if you have created ritual before, you may find these instructions overly simplistic. Thankfully, you have the power of “fast forward” at your fingertips!)
Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download the free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present.
Show notes are here.
 

Apr 13, 2026

1hr 5 min

First, I decided to explore Universal Human Dignity.
Second, I was surprised my research led me to consider BDSM's relationship to dignity.
Third, I made this episode, my longest so far. It takes me over an hour to make sense of the whole thing.
Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download the free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present.
Show notes are here.

Apr 6, 2026

31 min

A riff off the Occupy Wall Street phrase “We are the 99%.”
Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download the free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present.
Show notes are here.

Mar 30, 2026

37 min

Ugi is a text written by Eihei Dogen in the 13th century. The translation of “Ugi” is “time-being.” It’s a dense and very difficult text, but can be very rewarding for those who stick with it. You can see one translation here and another here.
I don’t try to explain any particular part of Ugi. This podcast is my attempt to help people prepare to read Ugi themselves. I take you on a journey of sorts and hope, by the end, you will be able to knock on Ugi’s door. If Ugi invites you in for a cup of tea, please say yes.
Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download the free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present.
Show notes are here.

Mar 23, 2026

47 min

Why is love absent from our politics? Why do power moves always seem to decide everything? I wanted to find a story that gives me hope love can actually become a part of how we humans decide things together.
Chakras were my entry ticket for the story.
“[Love is] the will to extend oneself for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.”  bell hooks
“To love somebody is not just a strong feeling; it is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise.” Erich Fromm
Time Stamps
Overview of chakras (6:38)
1ST chakra (12:05)
2ND chakra (15:09)
3RD chakra (18:07)
4TH chakra, the first look (22:28)
7TH chakra (26:40)
6TH chakra (32:01)
5TH chakra (38:41)
4TH chakra, with respect (40:42)
Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download the free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present.
Show notes are here.

Mar 16, 2026

13 min

First description: A story about walking a dog and picking up poop.
Second description: A splashy dive into righteous anger and how I worked with it.
Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download the free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present.
Show notes are here.

Mar 9, 2026

16 min

This is for anyone who feels they spend too much time on their phone.
Or for anyone who meditates and is concerned they spend too much time thinking.
Visit the podcast website at tencrutches.link to download the free ebook Ten Crutches For Walking In The Present.
Show notes are here.

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20241125