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The Gadfly Talks

The Gadfly Talks

Written by: Crystal Marie
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Welcome to The Gadfly Talks, one woman’s answer to a world of soundbites and clapbacks. It’s inspired by Socratic dialogue, which involves cooperative, open-ended exploration rather than defensive one-upmanship or intellectual dominance.


This type of dialogue is portrayed in Plato’s Symposium by the temple priestess and mystic, Diotima of Mantinea, as she guides Socrates to insight about the nature of love (or eros, for my fellow Greek nerds).


The goal of Socratic dialogue is to temporarily suspend our beliefs, to allow space to explore ideas relationally and arrive at deep, collective insight — together. Refreshing, right? Think of it as making love to an idea rather than, well, the alternative.


This dialectical approach goes beyond black-and-white, zero-sum thinking to embrace complexity, paradox, and mystery. It helps us resolve ideological tension and factionalism not with concrete answers, but cooperative inquiry and the ability to sit with the unknown.


It asserts that wisdom begins with humility — not credentials— and culminates in wonder. Though some of the people I interview will be considered experts in their fields, I don't present them as sole purveyors of truth. Instead, I invite a variety perspectives to paint a kaleidoscopic picture of each topic we'll cover, one that's textured, nuanced. and even contradictory at times.


How can this approach shift our perspective on the prevailing narratives of our time? What might happen if we ask more questions instead of defending assertions? All I know is, I’m eager to find out.


I don’t offer medical advice or treatment, and this podcast shouldn’t replace it. But I do believe that healing happens in community. Maybe, just maybe, these talks can be a part of your healing, too.


Welcome to the podcast. The examined life starts here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conscious Creative, LLC Hygiene & Healthy Living Philosophy Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences Spirituality
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  • Trailer

    Trailer
    Dec 8 2025

    In 4th century Athens, a man was put to death for “corrupting the youth.” What made Socrates so dangerous wasn’t radical sermons or manifestos. It was something much simpler: he asked questions.


    He almost never offered his own answers. Instead, he asked the kind of childlike questions that seem innocent at first, then slowly unravel what we think is obvious. The more people tried to defend their beliefs, the more those beliefs slipped through their fingers—until frustration, even rage, bubbled up where certainty used to be.


    Socrates wasn’t just threatening people’s status or power. He was threatening their sense of who they were — how they made meaning, justified their choices, and kept their deepest fears at bay. Because when we really start asking questions, we’re pushed into a liminal space: the place of not‑knowing. And as a species, we’re not very comfortable there.


    That space can feel like a void. But a void can also be a womb — the birthplace of all possibility. A teacher of mine once said, “I don’t know is God’s true name.” That’s the spirit of this show.


    This is The Gadfly Talks, a podcast where we practice that dangerous but innocent curiosity together. Each episode, we set aside easy answers and ask the questions we’re not supposed to ask — about mental health, meaning, power, and what it really means to be human.


    By stripping away what we think we know, we move closer to what Taoism calls “the uncarved block”: a state of deconditioning, vulnerability, and authenticity. Maybe, like children wondering at the obvious, we can rediscover our shared humanity — if none of us really knows, maybe we’re all in the same boat after all.


    If you’re tired of hot takes and hungry for honest questions, hit follow and join the conversation. Welcome to the podcast where — we think, therefore we ask.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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