Best Clever Fools Podcasts (2025)

1
Home Unbound (Safety & Anxiety) w/ Samm 33:30

4d ago33:30

33:30

Samm takes us on a lyrical and lucid walk through what it means to be at home wherever you are, with some infotaining side quests into the relationship between polyvagal theory and zazen along the way. Why don’t we feel safe even when we apparently are? What (if any!) control do we have over our nervous system? Is too much discipline just another d…

1
Faith With Eyes Wide Open (Boundaries & Scandal) w/ Dave Cuomo 1:12:11

11d ago1:12:11

1:12:11

Good teachers go bad - which is confusing and upsetting. Dave does his best to walk us through best practices for managing boundaries, roles, and scandals in Zen as a balanced part of this complete practice. Is there something about Zen that makes it particularly prone to scandal? Are there things about Soto Zen that make it peculiarly well setup f…

1
The Destroyer of Their American Dream 44:14

11d ago44:14

44:14

An immigration attorney built a thriving practice helping vulnerable immigrants achieve their American Dream. But behind closed doors, this trusted lawyer was running a shocking scheme that would ultimately destroy the very families who put their faith in him.By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
The Big Gulp (Healthy Desire) w/ Sara Campbell 33:24

18d ago33:24

33:24

Sara takes an honest look at desire to see if she can afford a fulfilling life with less filling pay. How can desires lead to fulfillment? Is too little ambition just as dangerous as too much? If we really followed Buddha’s prescriptions could the internet even exist?? Find out here!By Angel City Zen Center

1
My Greatest Wish (Zazen Yojinki) w/ Keizan Jokin 25:48

25d ago25:48

25:48

Our great ancestor friend Keizan takes us on a wild ride of epically thorough zazen instruction, warnings, epiphanies, inspirations, cosmic descriptions and everything in between in ACZC’s fresh new translation of his classic “Points to Keep in Mind for Zazen” (Zazen Yojinki). What is the mind and what should we do with it? What should we do with t…

1
A Dead Man and a Damned Fool 51:20

25d ago51:20

51:20

Way back in 1864 a confederate sympathizing lawyer crossed paths with a killer. The result was explosive.By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
Go Be Clever (AI & Zen) w/ Dave Cuomo 41:30

1M ago41:30

41:30

Dave gets topical with a talk on AI from the Zen perspective to see if we can shed any light on what it is, what we should do with it, and whether or not we’re getting that right. Do the robots have any more or less of a self than we do? Is Zen a moral (or amoral…) philosophy? Are we all out of a job, and if so, are we really going to miss it?? Fin…

1
Bring It On! (Obon, Ghosts, & Materialism) w/ Gyokei Yokoyama 39:37

1M ago39:37

39:37

Gyokei gives us stories of friendly (and hungry!) ghosts as he explains the meaning and history of Obon, the summer festival of spirits in Japanese Zen. Is it possible to keep dying traditions and communities alive while also letting them go? Has a fish ever remembered to be grateful for water? Do ghosts count as living beings?? Find out here!…

1
Watergate: The Mother of All Bad Lawyer Stories 1:22:45

1M ago1:22:45

1:22:45

The Watergate story has got to be the most incredible example of sophisticated lawyers gone bad. Here's the final episode of the three-part series. (Watergate 3/3)By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
...& Then You Grow Up (Grief & Emotional Regulation) w/ Dave Cuomo 39:13

2M ago39:13

39:13

Dave loses a good dog friend and gets curious about the sweet and silly human feelings that come up in a week of sweet sorrow. Should monks be having more sex? Is Buddhism trying to cut us off from the most beautiful parts of life? Was Buddha (and California) wrong about the benefits of anger?? Find out here!…

1
Hard Feelings (Change & Transiency) w/ Mota 28:06

2M ago28:06

28:06

Mota gets an unexpected phone call and takes the opportunity to dig into some tough love teachings on change and transiency, and how they might even open us up to something warm and maybe even a little fuzzy. Have we forgotten how to die in this country? Why is Zen oddly good at the idea? Can it help us deal with the odd role reversals that come wi…

1
The Break-In Before the Burglary 1:00:00

2M ago1:00:00

1:00:00

They didn’t know it was a test run. But when the dust settled and no alarms sounded, the message was clear: it worked. In this episode, we revisit the lesser-known moment that gave the bad lawyers of Watergate the confidence to go further (Watergate Episode 2/3)By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
Fool’s Errand w/ Jordan Mylet (Meditation & Optimization) 35:22

2M ago35:22

35:22

Jordan takes a critical look at the benefits of zazen and questions whether that was ever really the point, or even something we should rely on. Can meditation become a form of avoidance? Is the need to feel better just one more attempt to control the world? And if Buddhism is really working why do we still wake up with a brain full of a-hole thoug…

1
Episode 51 - Setting Yourself Up for Trouble? 41:18

2M ago41:18

41:18

Abusers are master manipulators, wielding cunning tactics to ensnare their prey -but what makes you a target? In this gripping episode of Unmasking the Abuser, I peel back the curtain on the hidden beliefs and behaviors that leave you vulnerable to predators, no matter how much you know about their schemes. From subtle habits to deeply held convict…

1
Off the Hook (Impermanence & Ambition) w/ Sara Campbell 38:50

2M ago38:50

38:50

Sara goes looking for healthy ambitions in certain impermanence as she rests her case on training with a deeply personal breakdown and exegesis of her story/koan of the season - Dasui’s Kalpa Fire. How do we live a life worth living when society, and our own standards, aren’t aligned with our values? Does Zen offer alternative ambitions to aspire t…

1
A Banana Republic and the Death of JFK 49:52

2M ago49:52

49:52

The worst true lawyer crime in history can only be understood if we know the back story. And that back story involves the CIA, a Central American country, and the death of John F. Kennedy. Strap in for a tale of deception, betrayal, and the origin of the worst Good Lawyers Gone Bad story ever (Watergate Episode 1/3).…

1
This. Is a Good Idea (Buddhist Creation Story) w/ Dave Cuomo 35:48

2M ago35:48

35:48

Dave tells us the full creation myth of how Buddhism says this world came to be, how it’s going to end, and all the mishaps and miracles in between. Has all of this happened before? Is everything we love just a lament for what we lost? Was this whole existence thing really a good idea and is there even such a thing as a true story?? Find out here!!…

1
Waiting for Vairocana (Flash Fiction!) 6:05

3M ago6:05

6:05

Sara Campbell closes out our first official training ango with a flash fiction final - a brief loving study of our favorite Buddha and Bodhisattva archetypes.By Angel City Zen Center

1
Crushed by the Caseload! 32:00

3M ago32:00

32:00

A young lawyer, a pressure-filled practice, and an implosion for the ages!By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
Holy Hypocrisy (Buddhist Modernism) w/ Dave Cuomo 37:49

3M ago37:49

37:49

Dave tackles the big Buddhist question of the hour - are we really learning traditional Buddhism over here or are we making up our own thing and covering it up with a set of appropriated robes? Is it actually a problem if we are (and would it be possible not to)? Are lay people even supposed to be meditating? Is the East/West cultural divide too wi…

1
Commando’s Collapse: The Betrayal of Marco Martinez 49:38

3M ago49:38

49:38

Once a commando in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, Marco Martinez traded the battlefield for the courtroom. Or at least he tried. Instead, he pursued a short career of lies, sabotage, attempted espionage, and horrible treatment of women.By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
Blind Spots & Breakthroughs (What Am I Doing Here) w/ Matthew Sherling 40:58

3M ago40:58

40:58

Poet in residence and long time ACZC collaborator, Matt, generously boils down 14 billion years of carefully cultivated circumstances into one lucid and spiritually eclectic tale of what he’s doing and why he’s here - from the Zen prone slowness of the South, to the urban chaos of LA, to the sacred solitude of getting lost in foreign lands. Is rest…

1
The Real Point (Magic and Daranis) w/ Dave Cuomo 42:27

3M ago42:27

42:27

Dave unpacks the Ryogone, that monster of a magical incantation we’ve recently incorporated into our laid back secular practice here, and along the way explains how to work with magical traditions in the modern age, the use of chanting and daranis in Zen practice, and a whole a host of legends and lore complete with a battle of five armies. Can the…

1
A Swindler’s Swan Song: Conn’s Clever Con 49:37

4M ago49:37

49:37

Millions of dollars in fraud, collusion in the court system, and disabled victims caught in the crossfire. The story of lawyer Eric Conn is a criminal tale for the ages!By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
The Likes of You (Loving Kindness) w/ Sara Campbell 30:11

4M ago30:11

30:11

Sara hits a roadblock in love and zazen and takes the opportunity to teach us how to turn the worms that turn us sideways into features not bugs. How can insecurity be a source of confidence? What do we do when the “you” who is actually the ultimate “it” is also what’s getting in the way of us getting it? Can the teachers who shut us down be the pe…

1
Boiled Over (What Am I Doing Here??) w/ Tip Dunn 37:15

4M ago37:15

37:15

In his eagerly anticipated ‘What Am I Doing Here??’ talk, morning stalwart and life of the party, Tip, takes us to the pivotal personal moments that turn life around and upside down and led him to become a fixture here at ACZC. What hope does a better tomorrow offer us for today? Is volunteering at your local Zen center selfish if it helps keep you…

1
Episode 50: Your Superpower Cheat-Sheet! 37:23

4M ago37:23

37:23

Dive into the riveting world of Unmasking the Abuser with our milestone 50th episode! Now in its electrifying 5th season, this podcast, hosted by renowned social psychologist Dr. Dina McMillan, is your ultimate weapon for outsmarting manipulators and abusers. Dr. McMillan masterfully distills complex graduate-level social psychology into a powerful…

1
A Little Special (Daily Practice) with/ Dave Cuomo 39:35

4M ago39:35

39:35

Dave takes a critical look at modern Zen’s emphasis on daily zazen, going deep on what “practice” means and what’s it really for. Is skipping zazen self-care or self-delusion? If we’re really meditating all the time, do we still need to sit down and meditate? Do the sun, moon, and stars really depend on our zazen to shine?? Find out here!…

1
Murder Down the Shore, Part 2 43:05

4M ago43:05

43:05

Will Anne Marie Fahey's killer be found and brought to justice? Will the powerful Tom Capano get away scot-free? It's all answered in the final part of the story!By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
Take it Easy w/ Kiyo Tezuka 36:14

4M ago36:14

36:14

Very special guest Kiyo Tezuka joins us all the way from Hikone, Japan to share an epic tale of wayward youth spent as a globe wandering hippie looking for truth before accidentally settling down to the responsible(?) life of a temple monk. What do we become when we’re all grown up and still don’t know what we want to be when we grow up? Does Weste…

1
Murder Down the Shore, Part 1 40:57

4M ago40:57

40:57

A murder story so good you need two episodes to tell it. Join me for a tale of a murder that was tougher to solve than you'd think.By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
Rabble Rousing (History of Zen - Shenhui & the Art of Zen Marketing) w/ Dave Cuomo 44:16

5M ago44:16

44:16

Dave’s History of Zen series returns to visit a war-torn China and the calamities that led to Zen’s initial explosion on to the scene. Is Zen uncannily tailor made for upheaval and uncertain times? Were some dubious PR and a sketchy teacher exactly what a plucky young upstart tradition needed? Is jumping on a stage and claiming to be a 10th level B…

1
Lights Out (Negative Self Talk) w/ Chris Arnett 34:51

5M ago34:51

34:51

After going many rounds mano y mano with the relentless critical voice in his head, Chris reports back on how Zen teachings on false suffering and conceptual thought offer us help with the wars we wage with ourselves. Is it possible to stop having an adversarial relationship with yourself or is it just something we have to live with? Is facing the …

1
Rudy Giuliani: How the Big Apple's Mayor Went Rotten 1:00:32

5M ago1:00:32

1:00:32

Stuart chronicles Rudy Giuliani's fall from grace and explains what caused him to lose his mind.By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
Monk Mode w/ Sara Campbell (2 Truths - pt 2) 39:09

5M ago39:09

39:09

In part 2 of our “2 Truths” series, Sara puts both of those truths into practice to find out if there’s a middle way between selfishness and martyrdom. How do we work on behalf of all living beings without burning ourselves out? Can we really write off our private little luxuries as somehow good for everyone? Who ultimately deserves the best cut of…

1
Episode 49 - Does Being Woke Make You Vulnerable to Abusers? 38:36

5M ago38:36

38:36

For years, I’ve seen a gap in understanding manipulation, hesitant to address it until now. Compassionate, trusting people are preyed upon — not just by romantic Abusers, but also by some social and political movements. These groups mirror the worst Abusers: demanding blind loyalty, erasing boundaries, and punishing dissent or even questions with b…

1
No Days Off (The 2 Truths) w/ Dave Cuomo 34:23

5M ago34:23

34:23

In this behind the scenes special from our first ever training ango, Dave puts on his sensei hat to give a lecture on the fundamental Buddhist teaching of the Two Truths. Part 1 of a two part series! Next week Sara will show and tell her homework as she puts the philosophy into practice with a personal talk on where the rubber of theory meets the r…

1
The Lies That Run Through the Veins 1:07:17

5M ago1:07:17

1:07:17

You've heard every tale about drug users, right? Hang on, this one will surprise you. In this episode, we take a journey across the globe on a trip of deception and coverups with international consequences.By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
Frenemies (Zero Sum Thinking) w/ Dave Cuomo 38:34

6M ago38:34

38:34

Dave dives into the Zen of zero sum thinking and the truth of an "us vs. them" mindset through scenes from his wayward youth. Is there such a thing as being a good guy? How do we practice discernment in a world where no one is separate from anyone else? And can or should we really wish happiness for people when their joy is making the rest of us mi…

1
The Clever Wish 24:46

6M ago24:46

24:46

Send us a text This episode features a live telling of an Irish/Scottish folk tale, "The Clever Wish". Recorded at the Hearth Fire Sessions in Edinburgh in November 24, this episode previews the launch of the sessions again this year, starting on World Storytelling Day. This story is a favourite for all ages ,and it's riddle some quality makes it p…

1
Marriage Material (12 Fold Chain) w/ Sara Campbell 33:20

6M ago33:20

33:20

Sara takes a trip down the memory lane of dating and old anxieties around marriage to explore the 12 fold chain of dependent origination - the cycle that creates and perpetuates all our suffering (nbd). How often are we chasing after happiness based on societal expectations rather than personal truth? Why is breaking free from our desires so challe…

1
Freestyle! (Don’t Waste Time) w/ Pedro Peres 33:20

6M ago33:20

33:20

Pedro wrestles with the wasting of time and how to know whether we’re on the right path. Is the way in front of us a confusing multitude of branching streams we need to choose, a bright freedom of present possibility, or a blank void of ‘why bother’? Are we trying to repress our inclinations to conform to a prescribed practice, or finding our own f…

1
Ramble by the River 36:21

6M ago36:21

36:21

Send us a text Live recording from the banks of the River Tweed in the south of Scotland. The sun is shining, the frost is sparkling and the otters are swimming. This episode shares musings on creativity, creating moments of wonder amidst modernity, the polar pulls of to-do-lists and the wild, Fionn's true seeing and the poetry of the Otter. It's a…

1
A Quiet Cockiness (Zen 101) w/ Dave Cuomo 40:54

6M ago40:54

40:54

Dave gives us an intro to Zen talk for beginners of all experience levels, including instruction on how to not meditate while meditating, some light (uncannily relevant) history, and advice and encouragements for whole heartedly engaging in the modern day. How do we learn what no one can teach us? Is Zen the avoidant lover of spiritual practices? A…

1
Shakira, Sharif, and a Shady Law Firm 57:46

6M ago57:46

57:46

It's the story of the largest data leak in history: A pop star, a Pakistani politician, and a Panamanian lawyer walk into a podcast, and the result is cybercrime, a tale of secret offshore business deals, and lawyers who've gone bad.By GoodLawyersGoneBad

1
Chaotic, Reckless, Wakefulness (How to train Zen) w/ Gyokei Yokoyama 42:46

6M ago42:46

42:46

Gyokei takes an honest historical look at the tough love of monastic training, and the rebels and reformers who tried to improve it along the way. What kind of people are we trying to cultivate, and what kind of monks are we actually making? What does it take for a monk to be so bad even Dogen won’t sit with them? And does meeting the great matter …

1
Episode 48 - Key Components of Coercive Control Part 1 36:33

6M ago36:33

36:33

Coercive control has been a hot topic in recent years, with some jurisdictions even making it illegal. Lawmakers recognize the serious risks victims face - even without victims being subjected to frequent bouts of physical violence. But what exactly is coercive control? How does it take hold in a relationship, and why do victims often accept it wit…

1
Open Secrets (How to teach Zen) w/ Dave Cuomo 44:28

7M ago44:28

44:28

Dave looks into Zen’s famous wariness towards teachers and teaching, while delving into his own hang ups around the role as he prepares to formally play it. Are we all doomed to unwittingly adopt our teachers hang ups and issues? Is obedience just a matter of finding someone to tell you to do what you want? Is liberation just telling ourselves that…

1
Marrakech Storytelling Festival 35:00

7M ago35:00

35:00

Send us a text In this episode I give updates from the Marrakech International Storytelling Festival and share two short stories from the region. The stories are of a character famed through the Arab world, the wise fool, often known as Hodja, or the Mullah Nasruddin, but in North Africa he is known as 'Djoha'. I recently told one of these stories …

1
Spiritual Anarchy w/ Dave Cuomo 40:07

7M ago40:07

40:07

Dave tries to find some harmony between the power of rigid forms and the chaos of personal liberation, with mixed results, and offers up a practical guide to finding fundamental self worth along the way. Is conforming to tradition a process of maturity, or a great way to stamp out the precious life and humanity from the things we love? Can Zen be a…

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