In this sixth episode, Robert and guest Justin "JD" Combs, a professor of religious studies and musician, discuss Abegg’s Rule of Eight. Though rooted in the chemistry of valency, they translate this mathematical need for stability into a philosophical meditation on tension, arguing that a perfectly stable person, like a perfectly stable atom, stops reacting and essentially disappears from a dynamic world. They examine the "deep and dark" realities of generational trauma and addiction recovery, sharing raw stories of growing up with fathers who struggled with heroin, alcohol, and methamphetamines, JD’s research into Paganism, Druidism, and nature-based spirituality as a response to a scientific Western mindset. They navigate the shifting resonance of music, from the technical mastery of Eddie Van Halen and Stevie Ray Vaughan to the visceral energy of a Rage Against the Machine pit, and explores concepts like Zen Buddhism, quantum entanglement, and the liberation theology of the Black and Latino church through the lens of personal grit and the struggle to remain "spiritually mature" in a world of uncertainty.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON CROSS THEORY, EMAIL crosstheorypod@gmail.com.

ALL ARE WELCOME. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU’RE SELLING.

In this special fifth episode, Robert and guest Kevan Nichols (who also goes by the names Ken Savage and KDOH The Dope Rapper) discuss Abegg’s rule, a chemistry theory regarding the fixed economy of personality, while sharing raw stories of identity, survival, and sobriety, Kevan’s life as a comedian, rapper, and father navigating the complexities of co-parenting. They examine the indoctrination of systemic poverty, the "deep and dark pit" of addiction recovery, and the shifting resonance of personal responsibility.

Kevan's podcast Let's Gettem Talkin' can be found on YOUTUBE, his music can be found on SPOTIFY, APPLE MUSIC, and AMAZON.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON CROSS THEORY, EMAIL crosstheorypod@gmail.com.

ALL ARE WELCOME. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU’RE SELLING.

In this fourth episode, Robert and guest Max (Maximilian de Rozieres Gentilhomme de Laveline) discuss the ABC Model of Psychology, a theory of behavior based on operant conditioning, while sharing insights on individuation and the internal "map" of human behavior, and Max’s life as a chemical engineer, material scientist, and next-generation lithium-ion battery builder. They examine the Jungian archetypes and the "veil" of schizophrenia, the stigmatized potential of nuclear energy, and the shifting resonance of energy from electromagnetic waves to the "energy vampirism" of narcissism.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON CROSS THEORY, EMAIL crosstheorypod@gmail.com

ALL ARE WELCOME. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU’RE SELLING.