Written and narrated by Gabriel Berezin.

When you have young children, the well-meaning, unsolicited advice flows. "Enjoy the moment, be present!" “It goes by so fast, cherish everything,” but also “don’t worry so much!” It feels like trying to grab a river with your bare hands.

This short episode originated from a project I love called AudioFlux, they post open calls for audio submissions with specific prompts (1) focus on “firsts” (2) convey the idea of time passing without a ticking clock (3) keep the length to exactly three minutes.

At the time of recording this, our daughter Lulu had just turned one. Lulu’s mother Monty and I like to say “time is a feeling.” This collection of fugues is meant to convey that - how love and fear dilate and contract time.

They also asked submitters to show their handwritten work. I apologize in advance, but here it is.

CREDITS:

Lulu voiced by Louisa “Lulu” Montan-Berezin
Monty voiced by Monty Montan
Gabe voiced by Gabriel Berezin

Editing by Gabriel Berezin

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For anyone unsure if a recent memory was a dream or reality - come on down! YOU’re (kind of) the next contestant on…”WAS! I! DREAMING!?”

This episode is the crossover between Waking Life (Richard Linklater), The Game (David Fincher) and The Price is Right (Bob Barker) that absolutely no one asked for.

In a post-reality world maybe it’s a good idea to test our boundaries a bit more.

Odds are you won’t remember this show, but if you do - I sincerely hope you won’t remember whether it actually happened or not.

CREDITS:

Fugues is written and produced by Gabriel Berezin.

Original music composed by Grant Zubritsky.

Voiceover for Rod Roddie and Richard Linklater by Michael Giese

Script editing and audience voiceover by Monty Montan

Logo design by Justin Montan

Opening and closing music by Monuments (featuring Grant Zubritsky (bass), Robby Sinclair (drums) and Bryan Murray (saxophone), Gabriel Berezin (guitar))

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REFERENCES:

The Head Trip: Adventures on the Wheel of Consciousness

Waking Life

The Game

Almost at the same time, my family experienced a loss I feared my whole life and a new addition I’d fantasized about for decades. And I had a dream as it unfolded that was so clear I wrote down every detail after I woke up. Actually it was more like dream theater. And this theatrical production’s imagery and characters were scripted by grief, memory, and anticipation.

I’m pretty sure this little one-act was trying to tell me something, or at least Brian Cox was (obviously he was there). A new inner character appeared in this episode to decode what it was. He demystified dreams a bit, and shared how they work.

He also helped me understand why celebrities make cameos in dreams so much. And while many think we should leave the metaphors to the artists and songwriters, he explains why dreams prove otherwise.

Most oddly and importantly he shared the power of sneezing to cope with grief.

So, if you’re grieving the loss of someone - the end of a relationship, the end of a life - maybe this will be cathartic. Maybe it could temporarily fill in for the therapy you've been avoiding, or couldn’t afford.

(Just kidding, I am absolutely not saying that last part.)

CREDITS

Fugues is written and produced by Mr. Gabriel Berezin

Playing the role of Gabe, Inner Gabe, Food vendor, Inner Voice and Dr. Hans Bob Zimmerman is....... Mr. Gabriel Berezin

Playing the role of program announcer and script editor.......Ms. Monty Montan

Playing the role of Brian Cox is.......Mr. Tim Lappin

Playing the role of the "sneeze paradigm" sneezer.......Ms. Lulu Montan-Berezin

In the orchestra pit, playing original compositions........Mr. Grant Zubritsky

Artwork and logo design....... Mr. Justin Montan

Special thanks to Oliver Turner for extra voiceover and Dr. Robert Berezin for insights based on his book, “The Play of Consciousness in the Theater of the Brain”

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The age old question. Does empathy cure personal beef? Actually from a butcher’s perspective that’s no good. Curing actually preserves beef.

Nevermind, nevermind...

I had a psychedelic experience with a mosquito that reminded me of an aggressive driver. It may, or may not have, changed my life.

Do I have to anthropomorphize EVERYthing?

--

CREDITS:

Written, produced and performed by Gabriel Berezin.

Script editing and Lady Inner Mosqutio voiceover by Melissa "Monty" Montan.

Opening and closing music by Monuments (featuring Grant Zubritsky (bass), Robby Sinclair (drums) and Bryan Murray (saxophone), Gabriel Berezin (guitar))

Logo design by Justin Montan

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The research behind mosquito nocebo here.

The Reveal.

Find out how this Mediclub experience ends.

The Assholes push the outer limits of the ASS scale. (What geminis!)

They stumble on unexpected terrain, questioning the very nature of reality.

This is Part 3 of 3.

--

Credits:

Written and produced by Gabriel Berezin.

Original music by Santiago Arias-Rozo.

Opening and closing music by Monuments (featuring Grant Zubritsky (bass), Robby Sinclair (drums) and Bryan Murray (saxophone), Gabriel Berezin (guitar))

Script editing and voiceover by Melissa "Monty" Montan

Logo design by Justin Montan

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References:

• Does the Multiverse Exist?
• 4-7-8 Breathing Technique
• Study about why certain people are gullible
• English to Ned Flanders translator
• Jesse Isreal
• Mediclub
• The Big Quiet

In part 2 of Assholes, the immersive story of the Mediclub experience continues with three more fugues.

The Asshole co-hosts review the similarities between meditation, marijuana and the right hemisphere of your brain.

Then you'll see if 12-step programs fit or (don't fit) into the event.

Most importantly you'll find out what Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” has to do with the most under-appreciated part of your brain.

All culminating in a new and surprising ASS score.

See how deep these assholes go!

This is part 2 of 3.

--

Credits:

Written and produced by Gabriel Berezin

Original music by Santiago Arias-Rozo

Opening and closing music by Monuments (featuring Grant Zubritsky (bass), Robby Sinclair (drums) and Bryan Murray (saxophone), Gabriel Berezin (guitar))

Script editing by Melissa "Monty" Montan

Logo design by Justin Montan

Follow Fugues: Substack | X | Instagram | Threads | TikTok

References:

• Jill Bolte Taylor TED talk - “My Stroke of Insight”
• Weed and mindfulness, being present
• Carl Sagan on THC and brain hemispheres
• The history of 12 step programs
• Synchrony creates social bonds (Scientific American)
• Your (Tiny Dancer) Cerebellum
• More on cerebellum anatomy and function
• Private Dancer (Tina Turner)
• Tiny Dancer (Elton John)
• Audience choir from Jacob Collier