In this episode of The Bottom Turtle Podcast, Dr. Ray reflects on the movie Zootopia and its message of transcendence and reconciliation.

As a movie, Zootopia is very competently made and it uses well understood themes to great affect. As an allegory for racism, Zootopia proposes the provocative idea of predators and prey living side by side as one in the sprawling metropolis known as Zootopia. As a symbol of transcendence beyond base instincts that would otherwise require the two to be separated by a barrier/border to protect the prey, Zootopia represents how societal and technological advances allows us to move beyond our less evolved selves.

The settings and themes of this movie are perfect for reflecting on our lived reality. Not just merely in terms of overcoming racism, but asking fundamental questions about societal norms, structures, and barriers. Like the movie suggests, do we have borders that are outdated or due to past prejudice, or are the borders we erect necessary to preserve the vulnerable from potential threats or predators? Any act of accepting an idea is a potential for letting something inside the border that is better left outside.

Given this setting Dr. Ray poses some provocative questions of his own. He asks what does true reconciliation between predator and prey look like? What is the cost to achieve such a thing and what can go wrong if the reconciliation is based on naive or shallow misunderstandings of the need of the border? This is what he accuses post-modern thought of by labeling it as failed Buddhism. Whether or not social movements to normalize homosexuality and transgenderism by placing it into children's content is truly due a sober analysis of unjust borders, or is there some justification for these borders? He uses the example of how one feels about the idea of recreating the Disney movie Aladdin but with the heterosexual romance replaced with a homosexual romance. Is that good? that's for the listener to decide. And finally, he reads his poem "The Ultimate Adult" which explores the nature of sin and how we must all pay for the cost of tearing down borders and reconciliation through carrying the sins of others.

So join me if you're interested in a surprisingly deep dive into Zootopia. Peace.

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In this episode of The Bottom Turtle Podcast, Dr. Ray speaks with Prashanthi Amarnath. Prashanthi is an information technology engineer and the author of "Embracing Paradox: Dive into a mystical advanture with the Tao Te Ching Through 81 enchanting micro lessons!". Prashanthi's approach to the Tao is practical and personal. It's not meant to be a scholarly exposition explaining the Tao. Instead, it's meant to put the reader in relationship with the aspect of the Tao that invites openness without the need for resolve tensions. In doing so, letting the reader know there is comfort in what's perceived as the negative traits of life as well as the positive.

We also speak about the paradox of evil. The relationship between paradox and faith. Paradox as a logical singularity. Paradox in relation to the feminine and masculine and more. So join us if you're interested in the nature of paradox and how embracing it is exactly what you need. And don't forget to check out Prashanthi's book. Link to purchase it on Amazon is given below.

Amazon Link to Purchase Embracing Paradox:

https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Paradox-mystical-adventure-enchanting/dp/B0FTS49BJD

If you enjoy the podcast, please support us by leaving a review, rating the podcast, and/or telling a friend.

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, and leave a review on our FaceBook page at: https://www.facebook.com/thebottomturtle/

If you have any questions or ideas you want discussed on the show, leave us an email at thebottomturtlepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode of The Bottom Turtle Podcast, theoretical physicist Dr. Shannon Ray explains the subtle difference between men and women. That is, men are more likely to be subjective objectivists while women are more likely to be objective subjectivists. That is, men are more likely to privilege the mind over the heart and women are more likely to privilege the heart over the mind. But the difference is nuanced. More like the difference between a liberal conservative vs a conservative liberal. Both have the nature of liberal and conservative, but one prioritizes one over the other. In this rant, Dr. Ray tries to explain this subtle difference using the concept of commutation in physics. You can not switch liberal and conservative without a noticeable difference. That is, it is not an identity operation. So join if you're interested in some subtle discussion on the difference between women and men.

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