We Americans value our independence so much that we even dedicated a day in July to it.

Seriously, though, how independent are we, really? Are we - any of us, anywhere in the world - more independent or interdependent?

You know the answer. Independence is an illusion.

Relax. One advantage in taking stock of this is the realization that everything doesn't rest on your shoulders. Breathe a sigh of relief.

This said, how can we embrace this interdependent web of ours in a way that empowers us and makes the world a better place? You have questions, and as always, Dr. Teri has answers.

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[Photo credit: "Arthropoda (arthropods), by Unknown. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)]

Education: Self-Improvement
Religion & Spirituality
Business: Entrepreneurship

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/ParadiseReclaimed?fan_landing=true)

The global crisis triggered by COVID-19 has forced a lot of rethinking, not least concerning so-called "Essential Workers."

What work can rightfully be considered essential, and by what standards?

More important, why is is that so many workers deemed essential in this moment of crisis - grocery store clerks, delivery truck drivers, farm laborers, and meat packers, to take a small sample - are those earning the lowest wages, many with no employer-provided health insurance, and far too many unable even to take sick days.

Will these unsung heroes get new recognition in a post-COVID world?

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[Photo Credit: "DIY Face Masks," by Achmad Chadran.]

Education: Self-Improvement
Religion & Spirituality
Business: Entrepreneurship

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/ParadiseReclaimed?fan_landing=true)

The inaugural podcast, in which our hosts attempt to define the undefinable and brace listeners for what not to expect.

Welcome to Paradise Reclaimed. While we tried gamely to give form to this podcast-series lump of clay, shape is elusive when the scope of our musings is intentionally open-ended.

Who should listen? Folks who wonder about humanity and their role in it. People like Dr. Teri Baydar and me, who wrestle with the messy ideas that:

     (a) our creators put us here for a damned good reason, and
     (b) finding and living up to that reason is damned thorny, but worthy life pursuits.

Yup, life pursuits. As in all life long. It never ends. Nor do we want it to.

Clear as mud? That's kind of how life can be sometimes. But mud has its virtues

Production notes: We recorded this cast from our respective home studios via Zoom web conferencing at a time when our home state of Massachusetts was under Governor Charlie Baker's executive order to isolate and quarantine. (You're welcome, of course.) Oh, and also, you'll hear Dr. Teri refer to me as "Deeds," which is a lifelong nickname I had originally planned to use for this venture, before deciding to podcast as "Achmad," my legal name, instead. Long story. Maybe we'll get around to podcasting it.

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Spotify
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[Graphic credit: "Le Baiser, Magritte," by Ωméga. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)]

Education: Self-Improvement
Religion & Spirituality
Business: Entrepreneurship

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/ParadiseReclaimed?fan_landing=true)