The Vinamre Kasanaa Show

#1 Jon Arciero on Bodybuilding as Art

Welcome to the Vitruvian Man Podcast. In our pilot, I have a conversation with classical bodybuilder Jon Arciero (@goldenage_john) about the body as a temple, the muscle-mind connection, and the aesthetics of classical bodybuilding.

#2 Ali Haejal on Film, the Human Psyche, and Spontaneity

Ali Haejal is a Lebanese American filmmaker currently trying to make it big in Los Angeles. He graduated magna-cum-laude with a degree in Film&TV and psychology from Boston University. When we recorded this conversation in October 2018, Ali discussed the pitfalls of perfection for a young filmmaker, how spontaneity and error fuels his creative process, and how he harnessed the human psyche in his films.

#3 Hardik Tuteja on Cannabis, Technology, and the Future

Hardik Tuteja is the Solutions Engineer at Flourish Software, a Business Insider Top 11 cannabis tech startup. In this episode, he demystifies the state of the cannabis industry, discusses legalization trends, and talks about how technology is revolutionizing the cannabis industry. You can reach out Hardik on https://www.instagram.com/hardiktuteja/.

#4 Adrian Thomas on Fake News, Truth, and Journalism

Adrian Thomas is a Boston University journalism graduate whose CV boasts working on Andy Cohen Live and being the Editor of Verge Campus Media at his college. In this podcast, Adrian dives deep into the science behind fusing events into a cohesive story, talks about journalism's responsibility in a world of fake news, and explains the wonderful evolution of broadcast journalism.

#5 Tristan Stewart and Ben Allen on Yoga, Mindfulness, and Mental Health on College Campuses

Tristan Stewart is a musical therapy student at Berklee College of Music and a professional Yin/Bhakti yoga teacher in Cambridge. Tristan surrendered to yoga after unexpected complications from marijuana-induced anxiety. Ben Allen is the former vice president of Boston University's Zen Meditation Club. The duo take us on an odyssey of the human consciousness. We discuss the mind-anxiety connection, the state of yoga in the West, and meditation as service to the world.

#6 Quazi Johir on The Law of Attraction, Shifting Your Reality, and Letting Go

Quazi Johir is a self-development coach, YouTuber, and a recent graduate of Boston University. Quazi uses his expertise in the Law of Attraction to aid other people live better lives. In this podcast, Quazi breaks down the Law of Attraction in its entirety, delineates the types of resistance we create for ourselves, and reveals techniques and mindset shifts that unlock our true potential.

#7 Michael Dowding on Writing That Makes People Actually Read Your Stuff

Michael Dowding is a Master Lecturer at Boston University and has been teaching writing and communication classes for over 25 years. Former Publicity Club of New England President, freelance contributor to the Boston Globe, and CEO of Wordscape Communications, Professor Dowding brings his extensive writing and PR experience to this conversation. He talks about writing with precision, finding your voice, and the joy he derives from teaching the next generation of writers.

#8 Charles Merzbacher (Filmmaker) on Content vs Craft

Charles Merzbacher is the director of film production programs at Boston University's College of Communication. He teaches courses in screenwriting, directing, producing, and cinematography. His films have been showcased at Chicago International Film Festival, Sundance, the USA Film Festival, and many others. In our conversation, Merzbacher describes the process of producing a short film, juxtaposes craft and content in the YouTube era, and narrates interesting stories from his career of 20+ years as a filmmaker. You can get "The SHORT! Guide to Producing: The Practical Essentials of Producing Short Films" at https://www.routledge.com/9780815394211. Use discount code FLR40 at check out. If you'd like to learn more about film production on a budget, you can contact Charles at merz@bu.edu.

#9 Dr. Felice Amato on Puppetry, Play, and Femininity

Dr. Felice Amato is an Associate Professor of Art Education at Boston University's College of Fine Arts. Receiver of numerous State grants and art and puppetry awards, Felice juggles her time between teaching at BU and performing at international puppetry conferences.
In this episode, Felice discusses tapping into our inner child through puppets, object theatre, and play. She also explores her relationship with motherhood, feminism, Simon De Beauvoir, and hero narratives.

#10 The Death of God, Meaninglessness, and Jealousy with Paul Katsafanas

Paul Katsafanas is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Boston University where he teaches classes on ethics, moral psychology, and nineteenth-century philosophy. A leading scholar on the German existentialist philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (who famously pronounced that God is dead), Katsafanas reveals insights from Nietzsche's texts to answer some of the most riveting questions of our society: How do you construct meaning in a meaningless world? What causes jealousy and what to do about it? How to find your place among polarizing groups? How to embrace adversity?
Additionally, Paul has authored three books Nietzsche's philosophy and has done extensive research on fanaticism, animal/human drives, and the philosophy of the mind. All of these are available at: http://people.bu.edu/pkatsa/research.html
The Vitruvian Man Podcast is also available on YouTube and Google Podcasts. https://linktr.ee/vinamrekasanaa
Thank you for your continued interest,
Vinamre