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The Divine Comedy of Pete Holmes: Spirituality, Creativity, & Growing Through Adversity

The Rich Roll Podcast

Wed Oct 18 2023



Hydration and Electrolytes:

  • Importance of hydration for preventing muscle cramps, headaches, and energy dips
  • Hydration is not just about drinking water, but also replenishing electrolytes lost through sweat
  • Element offers a super tasty electrolyte drink mix with the proper ratio and amount of electrolytes without added sugar or artificial ingredients

Apparel Sponsorship - Faherty Brand:

  • Faherty Brand offers well-crafted earth-friendly styles that are stylish, soft, comfortable, and durable
  • Started by twin brothers Alex and Mike in 2013 with a focus on making things that last while caring for people and the planet
  • Offers breathable, natural performance workwear for men, women, and kids
  • Exclusive offer of 20% off first order when using promo code RICHROLL at checkout

Spirituality & Creativity:

  • Pete Holmes discusses spirituality, creativity, consciousness, fatherhood, and mid-life disorientations with Rich Roll
  • Talks about how parenthood changes perspective on life and helps one take themselves less seriously
  • Mentions the importance of pain as a precursor to transformation and the illusion of self in relation to reality
  • Discusses the power of mercy over forgiveness

Parenting & Self-reflection:

  • Pete Holmes shares how having a daughter changed his perspective on life and made him less self-centered
  • Talks about balancing disappointment with love and support during emotional moments with his daughter
  • Discusses reparenting oneself by providing comfort, safety, and love during challenging situations
  • Reflects on his own childhood experiences and appreciates his parents' efforts given their circumstances

Transformation Through Pain:

  • Pete Holmes talks about how pain can be a catalyst for personal growth and transformation
  • Discusses embracing pain as a means to change and evolve
  • Shares personal experiences of going through painful relationships leading to self-discovery
  • Discusses healing, repairment acceptance in moving forward from pain

Reality & Illusion:

  • Pete Holmes discusses the nature of reality and the illusion of self
  • Talks about how people often ignore or distort reality to avoid discomfort or maintain their beliefs
  • Reflects on his own experiences with questioning reality and discovering deeper truths
  • Discusses the idea that our perceptions shape our understanding of reality

Finding Joy in Pain:

  • Pete Holmes shares his experience with using pain as motivation for positive change, such as fasting for weight loss
  • Discusses balancing spiteful motivation with finding what feels good
  • Shares insights on reprogramming one's relationship with food through fasting mimicking diets
  • Reflects on the benefits of experiencing discomfort and using it as fuel for growth

Veganism & Ethical Dilemmas:

  • Discussion about Pete Holmes' transition from veganism to including fish in his diet
  • Talks about cognitive dissonance and ethical dilemmas surrounding dietary choices
  • Reflects on challenges of being vegan while balancing family needs and personal health goals
  • Discusses limitations of opting out entirely from causing suffering due to everyday consumer choices

Comedy Writing Process:

  • Pete Holmes describes his creative process for writing new comedy material
  • Talks about finding passion-driven ideas that evoke strong thoughts and perspectives
  • Explains testing jokes on stage without writing them down, relying on text messages to himself for note-taking purposes
  • Shares insights into stealing ideas from oneself by revisiting old material or unused bits

The Evolution of Stand-up Comedy Career:

  • Pete Holmes reflects on different phases in a stand-up comedy career: starting out, hitting it hard, finding balance
  • Discusses importance of honoring one's own creative process and finding a balance that works for personal growth
  • Talks about transitioning from constant performing to focusing on specific shows/events while maintaining creativity
  • Shares insights into joy of having supportive community, building relationships beyond show business

Living in Ojai:

  • Pete Holmes discusses his move to Ojai and positive impact on his life
  • Reflects on happiness from living in a quieter, more peaceful environment
  • Talks about sense of belonging within the community, forming genuine connections with people outside show business
  • Shares how this phase of life is happiest he has ever been

Ojai and Sacred Time:

  • The speaker finds the drive to Ojai sacred, using it for reading, learning, and making phone calls.
  • They mention that driving in from Ojai for meetings or shows is not a problem for them.

Delusions about Living in Los Angeles:

  • The speaker reflects on the delusions people have about living in Los Angeles, such as thinking long drives are normal.
  • They compare the drive from Ojai to various destinations with the same destinations in LA, highlighting how much shorter it is in Ojai.

Getting Creative About Blocks:

  • The speaker encourages getting creative about blocks instead of focusing on the amount of time spent driving.
  • They suggest considering other factors like fear of irrelevance or feeling like one needs to be part of the hustle and bustle.

Living in Ojai:

  • The speaker shares that some people who live in Ojai can feel dried out and crave being in the mix of things.
  • They acknowledge that living there comes with privileges, including career flexibility and stacking their schedule according to their preferences.

Career Path:

  • The host praises the guest's unique career path, which includes being a stand-up comedian, writer, thought leader, and spiritual explorer.
  • They discuss how spirituality has become an important aspect of their life and work, integrating it into their comedy routines and podcasts.
  • The guest talks about his journey towards incorporating more vulnerability and personal experiences into his stand-up comedy through podcasting.

The Impact of Podcasting on Comedy:

  • Both speakers highlight how podcasting has allowed comedians to share more personal stories and connect with audiences on a deeper level.
  • They discuss how podcasting has given comedians control over their own work and audience connection in ways that were not possible before.

The Power of Metaphor and Myth:

  • The speakers discuss the importance of metaphor and myth in conveying spiritual truths that go beyond literal language.
  • They emphasize that literal truth is the lowest form of truth, while metaphor allows for a deeper understanding of complex concepts like God or spirituality.
  • The guest shares personal experiences with psychedelics, which opened his mind to the power of metaphor and helped him explore spirituality.

Exploring Spirituality through Psychedelics:

  • The guest reflects on how taking psychedelics, such as mushrooms or ketamine, has allowed him to have profound spiritual experiences.
  • He acknowledges that these experiences may not be for everyone and encourages caution when approaching them.
  • The guest also mentions how non-chemically induced moments of transcendence can be found through quiet contemplation or reading spiritual texts.

Finding Home in the Universe:

  • Both speakers discuss the concept of finding home in the universe and realizing that everything is already okay.
  • They highlight the importance of surrendering to the unknowing and appreciating life's mysteries rather than seeking definitive answers.
  • The guest shares stories from different religious traditions that convey this message, including parables like the prodigal son.

Embracing Vulnerability and Facing Demons:

  • The speakers talk about embracing vulnerability as an essential part of personal growth and transformation.
  • They emphasize the importance of facing one's demons instead of avoiding them, whether through therapy or other means.

The Role of Symbols and Stories:

  • The guest discusses the transformative power of symbols and stories in spirituality.
  • They highlight how symbols can lead to a deeper understanding and connection with spiritual concepts that are difficult to express through words alone.
  • The guest mentions various spiritual teachers and authors who have influenced their perspective, such as Eckhart Tolle and Rupert Spira.

The Absurdity of Life:

  • Both speakers delve into the absurdity of life and the importance of embracing awe and wonder.
  • They discuss how recognizing the absurdity can lead to a deeper appreciation for existence and a shift in perspective.

Timelessness and Surrendering to the Unknown:

  • The guest shares experiences where time seemed irrelevant or disappeared completely during psychedelic journeys.
  • They emphasize the idea that surrendering to the unknown is essential in finding peace and connecting with something greater than ourselves.
  • The speaker reflects on moments of transcendence that go beyond rational understanding but provide a profound sense of being at home in the universe.

Returning Home:

  • The conversation touches on the theme of returning home, whether it's through storytelling, metaphor, or personal transformation.
  • They explore different narratives like the prodigal son or coming back to oneself after periods of exploration or struggle.
  • The guest emphasizes that we are all on an arc toward self-realization, where everything comes together as one.

The Comforts of Story:

  • The dying person was worried about dying
  • Richard Roy said the point of life is to accept that you are accepted
  • A Course in Miracles quote: "Who could be disappointed? Who asks for what he has already?"
  • Pete Holmes mentions having these quotes on his mirror

Communicating the Notion of Remembering or Returning Home:

  • People who haven't had their reckoning struggle with understanding this concept
  • Baggage and resistance to spiritual language due to past experiences
  • Joseph Campbell's perspective on storytelling and Eckhart Tolle's focus on the present moment
  • Dropping the ego and getting familiar with one's true self

Understanding Self and Dropping Attachments:

  • Ram Dass' perspective on identity and letting go of attachments
  • Distance as an illusion, everything happening within our awareness or consciousness
  • Science views reality as a group hallucination originating in the brain, overlooking the influence of the observer on perception
  • Constantly changing beings, taking oneself less seriously

Practices for Cultivating Awareness:

  • Daily mindfulness practice involving discussing these topics with others
  • Forgetting and getting caught up in distractions like emails, finding comfort in teachings from Eckhart Tolle, Muji, Rupert Spira, Christ, etc.
  • Breathing exercises, meditation guided by Mooji, reading books like "Being Aware of Being Aware" by Rupert Spira

Dealing with Anger and Forgiveness:

  • Technique called "reign" (recognize, allow, investigate, nurture) to address anger or negative emotions
  • Forgiveness hack: imagining oneself in the other person's shoes and understanding their actions based on experiences/circumstances
  • Distinguishing between intellectual forgiveness and divine mercy as a deeper practice recognizing interconnectedness

Dealing with Anger and Forgiveness (continued):

  • Father Greg Boyle's perspective on forgiveness being overrated and mercy being more important
  • Recognizing that forgiving others is a practice of self-love and recognizing our shared humanity
  • Pete Holmes' personal struggle with anger towards his parents and the ongoing work needed for forgiveness and mercy

Conclusion:

  • Conversations like these serve as an opportunity to hang out, learn, and grow together
  • Pete Holmes' special "I Am Not For Everyone" on Netflix offers a mix of spirituality and humor
  • Acknowledgment of the podcast sponsors: Element, Faherty Brand AG1 Whoop Inside Tracker Plant Power Meal Planner