The Gift of Bewilderment with Báyò Akómoláfé

Explicit content warning

05/30/23 • 45 min

The Tension of Emergence: Thriving in a world that remakes, not breaks

In this episode Jennifer speaks with author, teacher and trans-public intellectual Báyò Akómoláfé about what’s revealed when we become lost and bewildered. Through story, myth and examples of ecological errancy, Báyò encourages us to stay with the trouble.

With laughter and curiosity they explore—

How to cultivate “lostness” in a world that privileges certainty
The limits of inclusivity politics
Why hiding is a courageous act of refusal
How we’re transformed by spontaneous acts of creativity

Tune in for an intimate and rich conversation about how we navigate separation and belonging in an entangled universe where bewilderment becomes a living portal of possibility

Links & resources—

Báyò Akómoláfé’s website
Follow and join the conversation with Báyò on Facebook
Follow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn and get her newsletter by subscribing here

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

With laughter and curiosity they explore—

How to cultivate “lostness” in a world that privileges certainty
The limits of inclusivity politics
Why hiding is a courageous act of refusal
How we’re transformed by spontaneous acts of creativity

Tune in for an intimate and rich conversation about how we navigate separation and belonging in an entangled universe where bewilderment becomes a living portal of possibility

Links & resources—

Báyò Akómoláfé’s website
Follow and join the conversation with Báyò on Facebook
Follow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn and get her newsletter by subscribing here

Previous Episode

Lost touch with your dreams? Try this (A Practice) with Jennifer England

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with author and teacher Toko-pa Turner.

When you lose touch with what matters- it’s easy to look to external advice, guides and mentors. But finding your way home- to yourself and each other- happens most authentically from the inside out. Learning to trust the intuitive hits you receive can help you reorient to your dreams, longings, and wisdom.

In this practice, Jennifer offers a different way to work with fragments of images, messages, metaphors that come to us in our dreams. Taking Toko-pa’s cues, Jennifer encourages us to put down our rational mind and embrace the living world of the imagination.

If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you!

Links & resources—

For more practices, offerings and writing from Jennifer, subscribe to Jennifer’s newsletter
Follow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn
Email Jennifer with any questions or observations- [email protected]

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker.

Next Episode

Get more comfortable being 'lost' (A Practice) with Jennifer England

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with author and philosopher Báyò Akomóláfé.

Ever assume that “something’s wrong” if you’re lost, confused or bewildered. Notice the impulse to run back towards certainty and solid ground? In a world that privileges straight lines and arrival points- no wonder we pathologize the experience of “feeling lost”.

In this micro-episode, Jennifer guides you to discover the upside of your “lost” or “bewildered” experiences. She encourages you to befriend the discomfort of disorientation long enough to alchemize its teaching. Jennifer reminds us that this is a foundational capacity for emergence, spontaneity and connection.

If you play with the practice and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! Email Jennifer with any questions or observations- [email protected]

Links & resources—