Notes on Awakening · a weekly letter from Will & Karen of The Skeptic Metaphysicians
Hey friends,
Thank you for being a member. We’ve been working really hard to make this and everything we do of true value to you, and we really appreciate your support. We haven’t mentioned that in a while and that’s a fail on our part. We couldn’t do this without you and we really appreciate you!
Inside this week: a new episode, a gift from a friend of the show, astounding changes over at New Reality TV, and one small favor.
🎙️ New this week
Remembering Who You’ve Always Been (Or Wake the F*uck Up!)
with Joseph Bongiovi, author of Wake The F*ck Up!*, certified life coach and meditation instructor, and founder of Spiritual WarriorsWhy this matters: How do you find your way back to who you really are after a lifetime of being shaped by everyone else? If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on autopilot, reacting to old stories you never chose, this conversation is for you. Joseph Bongiovi’s answer is that you don’t have to build anything new. You have to remember.
The protections that stop working. The walls we built at 10 years old to keep ourselves safe don’t serve us at 25, but most of us never let them go. Waking up, Joseph says, isn’t an undoing. It’s recognizing them.
The 90-second breath. When emotion hits, breathe for 90 seconds, then change the way you’re looking at what just happened. Joseph says he could have written that on a single page and called it his book.
Happiness as a decision. Every morning, before his feet hit the floor, Joseph says thank you. His reasoning is that happiness isn’t something you buy or something anyone can hand you.
Our skeptic’s take: We asked whether the “true self” is just one more story we tell ourselves, and Joseph said “absolutely” without blinking, which we didn’t expect, and we’re still chewing on whether “perfect at birth” is a finding or a belief.
The story behind the episode
Every shelf in the self-help world is selling you a better version of yourself. New routine, new mindset, new you. Joseph Bongiovi thinks that’s the wrong assignment.
The question we set out to explore
If we spend our whole lives being shaped by family, culture, and fear, how do we find our way back to who we were before all of that? Joseph’s answer reframed the whole question. Waking up, he told us, isn’t an undoing. It’s a recognition.
What Joseph shared
Joseph got sober at 21 and spent decades in the music business chasing the things that are supposed to equal happiness: relationships, money, fame, recognition. None of it delivered. He walked us through what he calls his “annihilation moments,” including the pandemic, which he calls the best thing that ever happened to him because it hit the restart button on a life he felt stuck inside.
“Happiness is a decision. It’s not something you go buy. It’s not something that somebody can give you. It’s a decision.”
He also made a case that waking up is harder now than it has ever been, because the noise has never been louder. And he gave us a practice so simple he says he could have written it on one page and called it his book (see “Try this” below).
Where we landed
The moment I keep replaying is the skeptic’s question. I asked whether the “true self” is just one more story we tell ourselves. Joseph didn’t flinch. He said yes, absolutely, and offered a line I’ve been repeating since: “I may not be who I’m supposed to be... but at least I’m not what I used to be.”
That told me something. He isn’t selling a hidden, perfect self you have to excavate. He’s describing a direction of travel. Then he asked whether we believe people are perfect when they’re born. We said yes, and he said, “Then you just answered your own question.”
Where I’d still push: “perfect at birth” is a belief, not a finding, and Joseph himself said he wasn’t sure what the studies show. But as a lens for the work, it’s a generous one. It turns self-improvement into something closer to homecoming.
Try this
Joseph’s practice: the next time you feel yourself reacting emotionally, breathe for 90 seconds. Then change the way you’re looking at what just happened. That’s it. His reasoning is that it isn’t what happens to us that hurts us, it’s how we perceive it. Try it once this week and hit reply to tell us how it went.
Questions? Hit reply. We read everything, and your questions may end up on Ask the Skeptic Metaphysicians. Please keep the episode details to yourself until release day. You’re getting this first, and we’d like the surprise to stay intact for everyone else.
With gratitude,
Will & Karen
The Skeptic Metaphysicians · New Reality TV
🎁 A gift from a friend of the show
Krys Ra El, from our episode “How Your Attention Shapes the Reality You Experience”, is offering TSM listeners An Exclusive 30-Minute Private Etheric Inquiry with Krys Ra El for an exclusive price of $54.
This is an opportunity for you to explore an unexplained experience, synchronicity, dream, unusual encounter, or question about consciousness and the nature of reality in a private, one-on-one setting.
Together, you’ll explore these experiences through the lens of Ether Physics, identifying meaningful patterns, relationships, and possibilities that may offer a deeper understanding.
Create a free Skool account and join Elyrion Gatherings at no cost. Once inside, you’ll find a pinned welcome message guiding them to the Classroom, where you can unlock your private session for $54.
After purchasing, you’ll receive instructions for scheduling your session directly with Krys.
TSM earns nothing from this offer, we just love sharing it.
📣 Heads up
New Reality TV Has Undergone Radical Changes!
If it’s been a while since you visited New Reality TV, you’ll hardly recognize the place. Our team has been busy, and we’d love for you to see it.
Here’s what’s new
New Reality Radio. A 24/7 audio-only channel of conscious spoken-word programming. Hit Listen Live at newrealitytv.com/radio and let it play while you work, drive, or make dinner.
Soundpaths. Pick a topic you’re curious about and a Soundpath plays its episodes one after another, so you can follow a thread from start to finish without choosing what’s next (OR you can choose…we want to make it flexible).
Find it at newrealitytv.com/soundpaths.
A fresh look and easier browsing. We’ve updated our logo and redesigned the All Shows page, with “New episode” badges so you can see at a glance what just dropped.
New shows and weekly episodes. The Returned and IAMday have new episodes every week. And new shows that we know you’ll love are coming!
A free account gets you in, and you can watch on Roku, Fire TV, iOS, and Android as well as the web.
Come explore at newrealitytv.com and tell us what you think. Just hit reply. We read everything, and we’re building this with you in mind.
⭐ One small favor
If TSM has given you something to think about, a quick rating or review helps other curious skeptics find the show. It takes about 30 seconds, and it genuinely makes our week.
Until next week, stay curious and stay open.
With gratitude,
Will & Karen
The Skeptic Metaphysicians
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