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Room 9

Room 9

Written by: Sean Cuddihy
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 Room 9 Podcast: Where Beliefs Go to Be Challenged Welcome to Room 9— a show that refuses to play it safe, tiptoe around sacred cows, or let anyone (host included) off the hook when it comes to their beliefs. If you’re tired of echo chambers, allergic to dogma (whether it’s religious, political, or scientific), and hungry for conversations that actually interrogate the roots of what we think we know, then you’ve just found your new favorite listen. It's not just another podcast where ideas politely brush past each other. Here, we take a sledgehammer to the foundations—left, right, center, and every shade in between. The goal isn’t to shock for the sake of it, but to create a space where honest, uncomfortable, and sometimes downright confrontational dialogue is the norm. If you’re looking for a show that will challenge your assumptions, force you to confront the tough questions, and maybe even make you squirm a little, you’re in the right place. A Borderline Anti-Theistic Edge Let’s be clear: we’re not here to coddle religious sensibilities. In fact, this podcast leans unapologetically toward an anti-theistic perspective—not merely skeptical of supernatural claims, but openly critical of the ways religious thinking can distort our understanding of reality, morality, and each other. But unlike the shallow, meme-driven atheism that’s content to mock from the sidelines, Room 9 goes deeper. We break down the actual arguments, dissect the psychology of belief, and expose the subtle ways faith traditions shape our collective consciousness. The show doesn’t just poke holes in religious thinking; it asks why so many of us are drawn to myth, ritual, and transcendence in the first place. And it doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff—the contradictions, the atrocities, the parts of sacred texts that most apologists would rather you ignore. If you’re ready to wrestle with the Bible’s “worst bits,” question the moral legacy of Christianity, or just see what happens when faith is subjected to relentless scrutiny, you’ll feel right at home here. Data, Science, and the Relentless Grind of Truth-Seeking At the core of Room 9 is a commitment to the scientific method—not as a collection of facts, but as a way of thinking. Every episode is grounded in skepticism, logical analysis, and a refusal to accept comforting narratives just because they’re popular or emotionally satisfying. Science here isn’t a set of dogmas; it’s a process: observe, hypothesize, test, critique, and—crucially—be willing to change your mind when the evidence demands it. We champion healthy skepticism, but not cynicism. The show’s attitude is that real intellectual integrity means exposing every idea (especially your own) to the risk of disconfirmation. It’s about the grind of peer review, the pain of admitting you were wrong, and the discipline of never letting your beliefs calcify into dogma. If you want to see what it looks like to defend the integrity of the scientific process—warts and all—while refusing to worship authority or tradition, Room 9 is your laboratory. Guests Who Disagree, Conversations That Matter Room 9 isn’t just a solo rant. Expect a steady rotation of guests, many of whom are “more spiritual for lack of a better term.” The goal is not to stack the deck with like-minded atheists or skeptics, but to bring on people who genuinely see the world differently—pastors, mystics, Jungians, theists, and seekers of every stripe. The trick is to find guests you can argue with fiercely, but still be “completely cool with it” once the microphones are off. Debate is encouraged, disagreement is inevitable, and civility is non-negotiable. These aren’t softball interviews; they’re real confrontations—sometimes heated, always honest. You’ll hear local pastors’ sermons dissected and debated, spiritual experiences put under the microscope, and cherished beliefs (from all sides) subjected to the same relentless cross-examination. Series That Dig Deeper Room 9 isn’t afraid to get specific. One recurring series will feature the host listening to local pastors’ sermons and picking them apart, line by line—testing their claims against logic, evidence, and ethical scrutiny. Another might dive into the world of spiritual but not religious thinkers, exploring why myth and ritual still have such a hold on the modern mind, even in an age dominated by science and data. But the approach is always the same: no cherry-picking, no hiding from the hard passages, and no letting anyone (least of all the host) off the hook. Whether it’s the “worst bits” of the Bible, the latest pop-psychology trend, or the comforting fictions we tell ourselves on the left and right, Room 9 is here to ask: “Is this actually true, or just another poetic framework that makes life feel more coherent?” A Host Who Challenges Himself Room 9 isn’t just about challenging others; it’s about...Copyright 2018 Room 9 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Philosophy Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • S4E2 - Ryan Horwath

    S4E2 - Ryan Horwath
    Jan 23 2023

    Ryan Horwath is the founder and CEO of Pacific Cloud Seafood. Pacific Cloud Seafood is a values-based seafood company delivering sustainably caught seafood to people who believe in eating with the ecosystem. In this episode Sean and Ryan chat about over-fishing the oceans, corruption in the industry, and the way to get the best fish from your local market.
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    43 mins
  • S4E1: Brian Costello

    S4E1: Brian Costello
    Sep 5 2022

    Brian is a therapist, a carpenter, and a soon to be dad. This conversation touches on overworked therapist, psychedelics, recovery, and much more.

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • EPSD.#105 - Parenting - W/Michael Nieves

    EPSD.#105 - Parenting - W/Michael Nieves
    Oct 12 2021

    Michael Nieves is a Storyteller, Culture Builder, Conversation Starter, a Pastor, and much more. Sean and Mike talk parenting, do we protect or teach, and the responsibility that comes along with raising a child who will one day no longer be a child. Also, be sure to connect with Michael on his LinkedIn page.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
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