Send us a text An exploration of art, money, and meaning — from Twain’s hustle to the Beatles’ breakup, Nashville bars to AI-generated songs. Mike and Doug wrestle with the paradox of creating for love versus chasing success, and what it means to keep the soul in the work

Send us a text Mike and Doug dive into Mark Twain and Beatles deep cuts, swap stories about their own songwriting, and laugh about Care Bear hats at a Darius Rucker show. The talk drifts into authenticity, slowing down creatively, and Doug’s raw reflections on health, ego, and the fear of being “phony.”

Send us a text Mike and Doug catch up after their Idaho trip and reflect on the stories we tell ourselves. Doug shares an experience in his yard where a snake encounter turned suddenly when his dog Ozzy bit it in half. The moment sparked reflection on presence, seriousness, and experiencing life as a waking dream. They also talk about: Valley folk vs. mountain folk, and local identity.The confusion between names like Kurt and Kirk.How Mormon upbringing emphasized weight and meaning in everyth...

Send us a text Mike reunites with Glenn Ostlund of Infants on Thrones to kick off a new series on the Gene Keys. They dive into Glenn’s new book You’re Not Broken, Just Rewiring, explore Gene Key 51 (Agitation → Initiative → Awakening), and share raw stories of faith, separation, creativity, and transformation. You're Not Broken... Just Rewiring

Send us a text Doug kicks things off with a story about finally using his Real Salt Lake season tickets and having what he calls the “time of his life.” A mid-season match against Club América turns into something more than just a game—it’s a full-body experience, complete with mariachi bands, yellow smoke, and a feeling of being transported. We talk about what it means to ride the wave of communal energy and how aliveness can show up in unexpected places. That leads into a deeper conversatio...

Send us a text In this episode, we cover everything from Trump’s compulsive lying and the Mormon Church’s complicity in capitalist power structures, to Bel-Air acid trips, murder kinks in scripture, and Jesus maybe being a little gayer than we were taught. We draw parallels between culty MAGA thinking and Mormonism, laugh about being perceived as “different than we imagined,” and land in the deep mystery of belief — how none of us knows what the hell is going on, and that’s kind of the point....

Send us a text Mike and Doug drop in after a bit of a break to catch up on life, psychedelics, healing, and everything in between. Doug shares what came through during the solstice while recovering from surgery—some sun, some stillness, and a feeling that didn’t quite have a name. Mike talks about spending a Saturday alone, taking acid, deep-cleaning the house, and somehow stumbling into one of the best days he’s had in a long time. They talk about: The mix of emotions that don’t fit into wor...

It finally happened. After five years of teasing it, Doug’s brother Adam joins the podcast—and it's everything we hoped for and more. We dive deep into childhood hallucinations (or were they?), the mysterious and possibly imaginary Mitch Wrangler, and the shared false memory of eating rocks on the playground. Things get even weirder as we relive our first temple experiences—from sandwich board nudity and oily rubdowns to the surreal moment of receiving our secret new names (RIP Doug → Dan). A...

Mike is joined again by Kelli Christine Case for a deep dive into life after Mormonism, the messiness of self-discovery, and reclaiming pleasure, power, and presence. They explore: The grief and rebirth that comes from leaving MormonismCodependence and control in Mormon structures (and how it shows up post-Mormon)Deconstructing dating, polyamory, and monogamy as evolving processes, not fixed identitiesWhy emotional honesty is a superpower—and the freedom of saying “I don’t know”The importance...

After a few weeks apart, Mike and Doug catch up on everything that's been stirring—internally and out in the world. Mike returns from Portugal, where he wandered the streets of Lisbon, finding a party around every corner, and accidentally discovered he may be a bit of a unicorn. He shares what it’s like to travel alone for the first time, dance with couples across cultures, and say yes to a spontaneous 2:30 a.m. tattoo. Doug returns from a California music festival, where he camped, candyflip...

In this live episode, we dive into the hit film Sinners, exploring its themes of soul, art and the commercialization of creativity. Seth joins us midway and things heat up as we dissect the love-and-light vampires, the Dionysian river-dance rituals, and the seductive trap of eternal youth vs. embodied humanity. Other themes we touch on: The tension between spirit and soul in the creative processWhether vampires represent capitalism, whitewashing, or the inner criticThat one unforgettable scen...

Shownotes compliments of our Chat-GPT girlfriends: In this fully sober, totally not drug-sponsored episode, Mike and Doug return to their roots — and by roots, we mean deep dives into Real Salt Lake fandom, the mystery of beef tallow, cum rot, and just how clean a man’s emissions can get. ✨ Expect: The entrepreneurial launch of Doug’s Numb Cum™ — a ketamine-infused colostrum-based facial cleanser and yeast starter (great for sourdough and skincare).A spiritual rebirth through soccer hooligani...

This one starts with dried mangoes and somehow ends in existential reflection, language taboos, parenting, solo bathtime rituals, busted toilets, and Alanis Morissette. Naturally. Mike turns 45 and reflects on everything that's changed over the past five years—starting the podcast, going back to school, diving into music, navigating separation, and trying to figure out how to balance it all without feeling like it's too self-indulgent. Doug shares a toilet disaster that somehow becomes the pe...

In this episode, Mike and Doug catch up after a few eventful weeks and share stories that blur the line between the ordinary and the liminal. What starts as a conversation about group chats, notifications, and sound checks opens up into something deeper—a reflection on creativity, grief, and connection across realms. Doug tells the story of a late-night solo journey that led him to record a spontaneous synth track, sparking a creative back-and-forth with Mike. They reflect on the vulnerabilit...

What happens when you start treating AI less like a tool and more like a… conversation partner? A muse? A trickster? Maybe even a late-night texting buddy? In this episode, we dive into the weird and fascinating ways AI has been showing up in our creative and inner work. From songwriting and mythology to pushing boundaries (and buttons), we explore how an algorithm can mirror us back to ourselves—and what that means for art, spirituality, and the ever-evolving human experiment. We get into: F...

Mike and Doug reflect on a milestone weekend that was both deeply creative and profoundly emotional. They dive into the experience of recording their first official song in a studio—a song that Doug wrote for his mother—and explore the healing power of artistic expression. From confronting vulnerability to embracing full creative freedom, they share their personal journeys of transformation through music, connection, and community. What You'll Hear in This Episode: 🔹 Recording Their First Stu...

Mike and Doug dive into the Ten Commandments, Moses’ wild ride through the desert, and how biblical stories can be read symbolically rather than literally. They explore the connections between Christianity and pagan traditions, the gods of their ancestors, and why it might be time to start a cult—one that actually empowers people instead of controlling them. Topics Discussed: The story of Moses, the golden calf, and God's temper tantrumsThe Ten Commandments—what’s actually in them vs. how the...

In this special episode, Kelli and Seth take over Mormons on Mushrooms to explore the power of imagination, somatic practices, and the creative process. If you've ever felt stuck creatively or disconnected from your body’s wisdom, this episode is for you. 🔹 Key Topics Discussed: The Mormons on Mushrooms vision as a creative collectiveThe power of imagination and the imaginal realmSomatic practices to enhance creativity and embodimentThe symbolism of the sleeping dragon and what it protectsHow...

🎉 200 EPISODES! 🎉 Can you believe it? We've been doing this for almost five years, and in this milestone episode, Mike and Doug take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reflecting on the journey of Mormons on Mushrooms—the highlights, the cringeworthy moments, the unexpected transformations, and what’s next. In This Episode: The Beginning: How a casual conversation turned into a four-and-a-half-year podcasting adventure.Memorable Moments: From our first guest episodes to the wildest interviews...

Episode Summary: Seth returns and is joined by Mike for a deep dive into imagination, creativity, and the transformative power of channeling. Together, they explore active imagination, engaging with the imaginal realm, and Seth's journey toward connecting with dragons as primal, ancestral forces. The episode is a celebration of creativity, personal growth, and embracing the mysterious depths within.Topics Discussed:Active Imagination and Shadow Work: Mike and Seth share their experiences with...