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A Simple Life with Michael Jefferies

A Simple Life with Michael Jefferies

By Michael Jefferies

On this podcast we attempt to let go of all the subtext and social barriers that hold us back. It isn’t about being right or wrong. We’re just trying to keep it real. We're also very grateful for cover art by rickybiddle.com
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Currently playing episode

#5b Jason Goodin's take on Noah and the Flood

A Simple Life with Michael JefferiesSep 04, 2019

00:00
57:51
#19b My Mental Healthcare Journey: From Distrust to Advocacy

#19b My Mental Healthcare Journey: From Distrust to Advocacy

2020 was a huge year of change in my life. Not only did I begin a 12 step program of recovery from drugs and alcohol, but I took a mental healthcare journey that I talk about in this episode. And then, towards the end of the year my then-wife filed for divorce. This on top of moving back in with my parents and a global pandemic lockdown.

Mar 21, 202417:44
#24b Two Friends and a Microphone with Daniel Bedich
Mar 02, 202301:29:40
#24a The Birth of the Podcast with Daniel Bedich

#24a The Birth of the Podcast with Daniel Bedich

My good friend Daniel Bedich and I talk about the birth of the podcast in this episode, and how pivotal his encouragement was for me to move past talk and into action.

Feb 01, 202310:10
#23 Hope Reger on the killing of her son
Jan 03, 202301:33:26
#22 Finding Spirituality in Improv with Michael Greenberg
Jun 24, 202243:10
#21 Living on the Streets of Las Vegas with Tiffani Patlán
Feb 25, 202202:23:04
#20b Behind the Scenes before the Interview

#20b Behind the Scenes before the Interview

This mini episode of the podcast gives listeners a little behind the scenes look by sharing a pre-interview conversation between Michael and his guest.

Nov 12, 202106:55
#20a Martin Bunzl on Moral Philosophy
Oct 09, 202101:53:12
#19a Life as an Addict and Alcoholic
Aug 01, 202152:54
#18b Divorce, Abandonment, and God with Kristance Buelow

#18b Divorce, Abandonment, and God with Kristance Buelow

This is the second of a two-part interview with Kristance Buelow. During this portion of the interview, Kristance shares the story of losing her mother on her last day of high school; and how feeling abandoned by her church changed her opinion of God, and herself.

Jun 18, 202157:12
#18a Kristance Buelow on Her Body
May 07, 202148:01
#17 Mike Iamele on Facing Death and Finding Himself
Mar 11, 202101:34:22
#16 Vivian on becoming the Wounded Healer

#16 Vivian on becoming the Wounded Healer

In this episode, I interview a Facebook friend who in real life was an acquaintance from twenty years ago. Vivian shares her journey from a childhood where she didn’t feel seen or heard to a divorce that left her nearly homeless, right up to her current reality of finding real healing.

Jan 11, 202101:36:27
#14b A Lesson from Lady Land with Catharine Clarenbach
Oct 02, 202013:34
#15 To Do is to Know
Sep 18, 202016:52
#14a Being a Spiritual Teacher with Catharine Clarenbach

#14a Being a Spiritual Teacher with Catharine Clarenbach

In this episode, I interview a Wiccan Unitarian Universalist minister who offers one-on-one and small-group spiritual guidance via her website, TheWayOfTheRiver.com. During the conversation, we discuss a number of topics that relate to religion and spirituality. Such as her thoughts on how our understanding of God’s gender can, in extreme cases, be very damaging to us as humans.

Resources:
Rev Catharine Clarenbach’s website - TheWayOfTheRiver.com
Xero Shoes - XeroShoes.com

Aug 31, 202001:20:51
#13 How a Sleep Test Changed my Life

#13 How a Sleep Test Changed my Life

In this episode, I get vulnerable about being selfish and hard-headed towards my wife, the value of health insurance to my family, and how a CPAP machine is probably adding years to my lifespan.

Jul 27, 202029:11
#12 Martin on War and Emotional Stability

#12 Martin on War and Emotional Stability

Podcast Sponsor: Dyper (Check them out! They are awesome!!)
In this episode, I interview a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy who’s been one of my very best friends since we were twelve. We start with memories, like fishing for bluegill and the time we almost sunk my sailboat because we forgot to put the plug in the hull. We end with him laying it all out there including helicopter crashes, his divorce, mental health issues sustained in two warzones, and his gratitude for spiritual and emotional stability.
Resources:
4-H - The program for K12 kids we talk about at the beginning
Jun 14, 202001:34:56
#11 Growing up in a Cult with Navy and Khaki

#11 Growing up in a Cult with Navy and Khaki

Podcast Sponsor: Dyper (Check them out! They are awesome!!)

In this episode, I interview two of my oldest friends about our experiences growing up in the Advanced Training Institute, an ultra-conservative cult of homeschoolers. The conversation centers on what they saw and felt in their late teens, how this part of their upbringing informs their understanding of the world now, as well as the baggage they have brought to adult relationships with parents, partners and kids.

Resources:

RecoveringGrace.org - The website Khaki mentioned in the episode.

This is Spinal Tap - If you know why I’m linking this, you pass the test.

May 15, 202002:02:14
#10 Searching for Fatherhood
Apr 03, 202015:18
#9 Becoming a Gym Guy
Mar 18, 202028:40
#8 Linking Climate Change to Religious Mythology
Dec 21, 201901:15:38
#7 Sebastian Fryer on Expatriation and Adventure

#7 Sebastian Fryer on Expatriation and Adventure

In this interview, Sebastian details his adventure as an English teacher living in South Korea. He shares what the experience taught him, after growing up in Southwest Michigan as the son of an immigrant, and concludes with themes that apply to all of us equally in our need to find adventure and fulfillment.

Nov 17, 201901:55:54
#6 How The Serenity Prayer Has Helped me Refocus my Energy

#6 How The Serenity Prayer Has Helped me Refocus my Energy

Sponsors: Lems Shoes and Dyper Subscription Diapers (Check them out! They are awesome!!)

Description:
In this episode, I open up about how The Serenity Prayer has brought goodness and truth into my life.

Resources:
More info about The Serenity Prayer

The Courage to be Disliked by Fumitake Koga, the book I mentioned in the closer

Oct 11, 201925:10
#5b Jason Goodin's take on Noah and the Flood

#5b Jason Goodin's take on Noah and the Flood

Podcast Sponsor: Lems Shoes and Dyper Subscription Diapers (Check them out! They are both awesome!!)
In this 2nd part of my interview with Jason Goodin, Jason lays out the interpretation and meaning he has found in the ancient story of Noah and the Flood, rather than the more traditional, mainstream, christianized version, he had as a boy. If you skip past the first part of the episode, 5a, just realize you aren't getting the contextual background and experiences of Jason's life that have contributed to his opinions and views.
Resources:
The Prophet, a book quoted by Jason in the episode
Sep 04, 201957:51
#5a Shedding Childhood Beliefs with Jason Goodin

#5a Shedding Childhood Beliefs with Jason Goodin

Podcast Sponsor: Lems Shoes and Dyper Subscription Diapers (Check them out! They are both awesome!!) 

In this interview, Jason shares how letting go of ideas he believes were learned by growing up in a midwestern-republican version of christianity may have saved him from suicide. Instead of losing his reason to live, he now feels that he has found out what living was really all about.

Resources:

Aug 30, 201901:15:30
#4 How the Whole30 Diet Changed My Life

#4 How the Whole30 Diet Changed My Life

Podcast Sponsor: Lems Shoes (Check them out! They are awesome!!)

In this episode, I talk about how spending thirty days super focused on what I put in my mouth has changed my life forever.

Resources:

Aug 21, 201931:48
#3 Steena Marie on Polyamory, Being a Badass, and What Growing Up is Like

#3 Steena Marie on Polyamory, Being a Badass, and What Growing Up is Like

Podcast Sponsor: Lems Shoes (Check them out! They are awesome!!)

In this episode, I interview Steena Marie, a Kalamazoo author and business owner who's also a good friend. Steena opens up on topics like her spirituality, and her experiences in a polyamorous marriage relationship, among other things. I like Steena and I think you will too.

Resources:


Aug 19, 201901:43:51
#2 The Eternity of Now

#2 The Eternity of Now

Podcast Sponsor: Lems Shoes (check them out! They are awesome!!)

In this episode, I talk about how important it has been for me to let go of my guilt and shame from the past, let go of my fear and anxiety about the future, and focus on enjoying my now.

Resources:
I mention different resources in the episode that I've linked below:

Aug 02, 201909:45
#1 How to Buy a Quality, Cheap Car

#1 How to Buy a Quality, Cheap Car

Podcast Sponsor: Lems Shoes (check them out! They are awesome!!)

In this episode, I share principles and tips I've honed over the past fifteen years that will help you buy a dependable car, even on a small budget. You'll hear my approach to negotiation & haggling, why you actually want vehicles with more than 100,000 miles, some surprising benefits to owning really old cars, and more.

The resources I mentioned in the episode include
Edmunds.com Appraisal Tool and Chupp Independent Insurance Agency

Jul 30, 201947:32