153. How to Be With Your Contradictions: Brandi Stanley, author of ‘This Plus That’ [reads] ‘Matter and Desire’

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Once, long ago, I chatted with Brené Brown about the possibility of writing a book together about paradox. With everything she could bring, and not entirely sure what I’d bring other than the idea for the book, I thought we could co-create something fantastic and fascinating between us. My guess is that she considered it for about two seconds, and instead decided to write Daring Greatly, one of her great books. It’s clear that Brené made the right call here, but that didn’t stop me from loving paradox - it’s the place where logic bends, where unexpected combinations create magic, where the impossible works. Paradox is where the shy mysteries of the universe peek out and wave ‘hello.’

Brandi Stanley is a writer and podcast host, both under the name This Plus That. You’ll find her happily thriving in many intersections, including the one where this podcast lives; the intersection between the written word and speaking it out loud. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Brandi reads two pages from ‘Matter and Desire’ by Andreas Weber. [reading begins at 16:05]  

Hear us discuss: 

Sources of strength and stability. [8:59] | “Conflict breeds intimacy, but intimacy requires real comfort with death.” [22:37] | Attachment wounding explained. [25:42] | How to reconcile with your paradoxes: “My queerness now feels so intertwined with my mysticism that I can’t find a place to separate them at all.” [27:10] | The gift of being a fugitive. [33:18] | How are you nourishing yourself? [35:09] | “All of my faults are not singular.” [37:48]