Voices in the Dark

Metaprogramming: The Science of Becoming Who You Are – Erick Godsey Interview

08 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is one of the best interviews we've ever done. We sat down with Erick Godsey to talk metaprogramming: the science and art of changing your fundam...

The Modern Stoic #5: Seeing Reality, Rejecting the Rulebook

06 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode explores the psychology of sharing and over-sharing; understanding and cultivating true friendship; how to use your own eyes rather than...

The Modern Stoic #4: On Not Being A Dick

30 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Self-development – becoming better humans – is what Voices in the Dark is all about. But how do we set about it without showing off, making others...

The Modern Stoic #3: Dying (And Living) Well

23 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

You forget to look before crossing the street; your foot slips as you walk down the stairs... and it's all over. Are you ready? Can you be at peace wi...

The Modern Stoic #2: True And False Friendship

16 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Who would you help to bury a body? Just how good a friend would they need to be? Would they do it for you? How can you be sure? Friendship is deeply h...

The Modern Stoic #1: How To Know When You've Struck Gold – And Then How To Mine It

09 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We all like to keep our options open – to play the field, diversify our portfolios, enjoy the freedom of an all-you-can-eat buffet. But there's a ca...

DMT Before & After: Spirit Molecule Or Psychedelic Blackhole?

02 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Ever been on a white-knuckle cosmic sleigh ride over the mountain peaks of enlightenment? Would you like to? They call it the Spirit Molecule. Just a ...

Perfection In A Glass – David Waterlow Interview (Jon's Bro)

25 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know what makes the perfect dram? By popular demand, we delve back into the world of whisky – the essential drink of the modern Renaissance M...

Legalising Drugs: Behind The Headlines – Anna Ross & Rosalind Roux Interview

18 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Legalise drugs? Sounds crazy, right? Think again. Drug policy isn't shaped by medical, sociological, or psychological data. It's shaped by tabloid sca...

Probably Offensive – Comedians Nick Dixon & Francis Foster Interview

11 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Are you easily offended? It's time to ask yourself why. Offence is taken, not given. So do comedians really have a responsibility to tip-toe round you...

We Need To Talk About Drugs – Jason Reed Interview

04 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We need to talk about drugs. Not a shouting match; not a series of threats. We need a real, unemotional and scientifically-based conversation which pl...

Romantic Encounters In A Darkened Room – Charlie Robb Interview

28 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When should we hold on and when should we let go? It's one of the most challenging questions we face in our lives, and it's never more difficult to kn...

Trashed: When Life Goes Off The Rails – Sascha Moore & David Bryan Interview

25 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Ever made a bad decision? Ever felt like life just wasn't playing fair? In Trashed, the breakthrough, critically-acclaimed play hitting the Edinburgh...

Virtual Awakening: VR And The Future of Humanity – Visual Artist José Montemayor Interview

21 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Virtual Reality is the future – but do we know what we're getting ourselves in for? This is a powerful conversation about technology, the future, an...

Psychedelic Philosophy: Dr Chris Letheby Interview

14 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Chris Letheby Asking big philosophical questions about psychedelic experiences and what they mean If a delusion leads to positive outcomes for us in l...

On The Whisky Trail

07 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The modern Renaissance man needs a drink with culture and heritage. So Jon and Dre hit Cadenhead's whisky tasting rooms to learn all about Scotch malt...

The 50th Law – Part 11: Confront Your Mortality. The Sublime.

31 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Are you afraid to die? You don't have to be. You can overcome those fears – and in the process you'll unlock your truest potential. This episode unc...

The 50th Law – Part 10: Push Beyond Your Limits. Self-Belief.

24 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

You are your own limiting factor. Who you think you are defines what you're capable of. If identity is an illusion (and it is), how do we set about ch...

Bringing The Veterans Home: Ayahuasca & Healing PTSD

19 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when you come back from a war-zone and try to reintegrate into everyday, humdrum reality? For countless veterans, coming home can be wors...

The 50th Law – Part 9: Respect The Process - Mastery

17 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Stop scrolling. You're bored. But what sort of bored are you? Remember blackouts? Remember how you managed to have fun, play games, and actually talk...

The 50th Law – Part 8: Know Your Environment From The Inside Out. Connection.

10 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

You don't know what you're talking about!' We've all said it, at one time or another. When we receive criticism and feedback that disrupts our confide...

Psychedelic Therapy Goes Mainstream: Rick Doblin Interview

07 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We're on the cusp of a profound cultural shift. Amidst a depression epidemic and huge numbers of veterans and others suffering from Post-Traumatic Str...

The 50th Law – Part 7: Lead From The Front. Authority

03 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We know it when we feel it. Sometimes we hate it. Sometimes we crave it. But how does authority work? In these modern times, we often distrust author...

The 50th Law – Part 6: Know When To Be Bad. Aggression

25 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Will you stand your ground? Do you get what you want? Are you prepared to be uncomfortable to do what's right? Probably not. In our society, we're ta...

The 50th Law – Part 5: Keep Moving. Calculated Momentum.

18 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We're all creatures of habit, but creativity dies on the vine of inaction. Change is the only constant in the world, but why are we so resistant to it...

The Shaman's Path: Don Howard Lawler Interview

16 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

For the last five decades, Don Howard Lawler has been practising shamanism, using his deep knowledge of plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and Huachuma...

The 50th Law – Part 4: Turn Shit Into Sugar. Opportunism.

12 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Shit is abundant – a near infinite supply of it as available to you at any given moment. But like most things that're easy to come by, it's not what...

Ayahuasca and Huachuma Before & After: Back From The Jungle

08 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Eighteen months after Ayahuasca turned his life upside-down, Jon headed back to the jungle to see what would happen this time around. For one thing, t...

The 50th Law – Part 3: Make Everything Your Own. Self Reliance.

05 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Who owns you? Think about it. Who controls your time, your work, even your sense of self-worth? If someone else controls any of these things, you're ...

Time For A New Politics – Election Special

02 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode, we sit down with musician, rapper and political activist Kayne Anthony to break down the upcoming UK General Election. Where...

The 50th Law – Part 2: Intense Realism

29 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

More than likely, you're living in a dream world. A fabrication. A projection of how you think the world is or should be. And just as likely, the worl...

The 50th Law – Part 1: Becoming Fearless

21 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When the hip-hop phenomenon 50 Cent asked to meet Robert Greene after reading his phenomenal bestseller, The 48 Laws of Power, it was only a matter of...

Autism is my Superpower - Life On The Spectrum

18 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We all know someone who's 'on the spectrum'. Someone a little weird. Not good with social cues, but passionately (perhaps disturbingly) intense in som...

Law 49 - The Secret Power Principles | Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power

15 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Now you know the Laws, but which ones should you put into practice first? And what are the underlying themes which bind them together? How can we trul...

Ayahuasca Before & After: Back To The Jungle

11 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Almost two years after he first went to the Amazon rainforest to drink the most potent psychedelic known to man, and after his whole life was turned ...

Law 48 - Assume Formlessness | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

08 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

One Law to bring them all and in the darkness bind them… Yes, it's time for the final and most crucial Law of Power: Assume Formlessness. Law 48 is...

Law 47 - Do Not Go Past The Mark You Aimed For - In Victory, Learn When To Stop | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

01 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We've all done it. At certain times in our lives we've all settled for second best; accepted what we thought we could get, rather than pushing for wha...

Law 46 - Never Appear Too Perfect | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

24 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The green demon is among us! Envy is a dangerous affliction and one which we all fall victim to at times. But being a victim is obviously not what we'...

Law 45 - Preach The Need For Change, But Never Reform Too Much At Once | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

17 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

There is only one constant in life: Change. It destroys, creates, excites... but also terrifies. Most of us, however opened-minded we claim to be, ins...

Law 44 - Disarm And Infuriate With The Mirror Effect | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

10 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Who's that in the mirror? And what are they trying to do to you? We all calibrate ourselves to the world around us, but if we're not careful we get ca...

Law 43 - Work On The Hearts And Minds Of Others | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

03 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Coercion is a dirty word; manipulation no better. But that's what social life is all about, down at its very core: we're all trying to get people to...

Release Into Now: Cory Allen Interview

30 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Cory Allen is a man of many parts: musician, producer, podcaster, meditation expert, philosopher... and now a full-time Professional Cory. He's gather...

Law 42 - Strike The Shepherd And The Sheep Will Scatter | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

27 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Bad apples, shit-stirrers and fifth-columnists. It only takes one to disrupt and destroy your power, but how can you spot and remove them before it's ...

Law 41 - Avoid Stepping Into A Great Man's Shoes | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

20 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

You've got Daddy Issues. And you're going to have to deal with them if you want to find your way to Power. Law 41 penetrates deeply into our psyches a...

Law 40 - Despise The Free Lunch | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

13 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Freebies? Surely we want them... Actually, we don't. Law 40 explains the enormous psychological burdens involved in accepting the free lunch, and how ...

Law 39 - Stir Up Waters To Catch Fish | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

06 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Control. We crave it, we scramble for it, and we hate to feel under the control of anyone else. Law 39 is all about learning how to retain control wit...

Feeding The Pleasure Monkey: Conner Moore Interview

01 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

From Bible-Belt town to living and then escaping the American Dream, Conner Moore can now be found exploring consciousness, making podcasts, lifting ...

Law 38 - Think As You Like But Behave Like Others | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

27 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Behave like others?! Doesn't this contradict the very fabric of The 48 Laws of Power, a book designed to reveal the mechanistic, unreflective ways in...

The Great Acceleration - Robert Colvile Interview

23 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Never got enough time? Always feel like you're spinning a dozen plates without a moment for yourself? Worried you're unable to remember anything witho...

Law 37 - Create Compelling Spectacles | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

20 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Words are wind, but images and symbols are unforgettable. Create a spectacle, tell a story, or imbue yourself with the resonant power of a symbol and ...

Law 36 - Disdain Things You Cannot Have - Ignoring Them Is The Best Revenge | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

13 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We've all tasted it now and then: the ability to shrug things off that might otherwise cause us distress and make us appear weak and needy is a fund...

What Is Your Favourite Place In The World? – Minisode 002

09 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by our friends Nic Gregoriades and Thomas Faustin Huisking over at Digital Communion, this is the second of a series of short (20 mins) but ...

Law 35 - Master The Art of Timing | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

05 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have your shit together? Drowning under to-do lists? Time is the one resource you can never replenish, so mastering how to use it wisely is not...

Law 34 - Be Royal In Your Own Fashion - Act Like A King To Be Treated Like One | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

29 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

One of Dre's favourite Laws, this one treads the fine line between performing, lying, and simply showing the side of yourself that you most want the w...

Law 33 - Discover Each Man's Thumbscrew | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

23 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Time to crack out the torture devices! Well, actually Law 33 turns out to be much less about tightening those thumbscrews than releasing the pressur...

Mindset with Muscle - Jamie Alderton Interview

21 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

World record holder; iTunes chart-topping podcaster; creator of the world's first online gym; fitness model; former soldier; body transformation coach...

Law 32 - Play To People's Fantasies | Exploring The 48 Laws of Power

15 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 32: Play To People's Fantasies You're living a fantasy, whether you know it or not. We all tell stories about ourselves and the world around us, ...

Make Sweet Beautiful Love To Your 2017

13 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when you try to record a live podcast in the lounge of a 5-star hotel without asking permission? It turns out you have a really powerful ...

031 - Exploring The 48 Laws of Power - Control The Options: Get Others To Play With The Cards You Deal

10 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Control The Options: Get Others To Play With The Cards You Deal How did I end up in this mess? All too often that's the question we ask ourselves when...

After Nepal: One Month Meditation Retreat

06 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a whole month. A month of 2-3 hours of meditation every day, no internet or phone calls, 5am starts, amazing people from around the world, a...

030 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

03 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 30: Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless Tim Ferriss breaks this Law all the time. So how does he get away with it, and to such great effect...

Before Nepal - One Month Meditation Retreat

26 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Jon's heading off to Buddhist monastery in Nepal for a whole month of meditation, reflection, and keeping silent most of the day. No internet. No phon...

029 - Exploring The 48 Laws of Power - Plan All The Way To The End

26 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 29: Plan All The Way To The End Do you know where you're going? Or are you just reacting in the moment, never planning beyond the next emerging c...

028 - Exploring The 48 Laws of Power - Enter Action With Boldness

19 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 28: Enter Action With Boldness Don't half-ass it. Don't be the timid one at the back making everyone else feel uncomfortable. Fortune may not alw...

027 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Play On People's Need To Believe To Create A Cultlike Following

12 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 27: Play On People's Need To Believe To Create A Cultlike Following   Even more controversial than usual, Law 27 is a guide to building your ow...

026 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Keep Your Hands Clean

05 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 26: Keep Your Hands Clean Have you ever scapegoated someone? Law 26 is about keeping your hands clean, a law which makes Jon uncomfortable. Togeth...

025 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Re-Create Yourself

29 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 25: Re-Create Yourself   As Law 25 explores identity and the benefits of recreating yourself, Dre and Jon give you a peek into their personal li...

Jeet-Kune-Do Of Power, a MidBook Recap | Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power

21 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We're pursuing knowledge and philosophising over the morality and practicality of Robert Greene's book The 48 Laws of Power. In episode 24 ½ we're ha...

024 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Play the Perfect Courtier

16 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 24: Play the Perfect Courtier Law 24 seems to be a combination of previous laws, and about taking stock and measuring your success so far, which m...

023 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Concentrate Your Forces

08 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 23: Concentrate Your Forces We're almost at the halfway point, so we're aiming to do a review at the halfway mark, considering what we've done an...

Talking the Walk 03: Kate Armstrong – Telling Stories of Life and Depression

03 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Armstrong's debut novel, The Storyteller, is a compelling, innovative and at times disturbing tale of depression, recovery, and the fragility o...

022 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Use The Surrender Tactic - Transform Weakness Into Power

01 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 22: Use The Surrender Tactic - Transform Weakness Into Power   Law 22 is all about knowing when to surrender and lose a battle so that you may l...

021 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Play A Sucker To Catch A Sucker – Seem Dumber Than Your Mark

24 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 21: Play A Sucker To Catch A Sucker – Seem Dumber Than Your Mark Are you a sucker? Or are you a show-off? Either way, you're not going to be po...

020 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Do Not Commit To Anyone

18 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 20 Do Not Commit To Anyone   We all like to hear that someone – in love or in business – is committed to us, but talk is cheap and value gro...

019 - Exploring The 48 Laws of Power - Know Who You're Dealing With – Do Not Offend The Wrong Person

10 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 19 Know Who You're Dealing With – Do Not Offend The Wrong Person   'Don't you know who I am?!' screamed the insecure person... But maybe you r...

018 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Do Not Build Fortresses To Protect Yourself – Isolation Is Dangerous

03 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 18 Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation Is Dangerous   Think you're safe hidden away behind those walls, excuses, or person...

017 - Exploring The 48 Laws of Power - Keep Others In Suspended Terror: Cultivate An Air Of Unpredictability

26 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Keep Others In Suspended Terror - Cultivate An Air Of Unpredictability You'd have enormous power if you could predict the future. Learning to predict ...

Peter Sage - LOVE & FEAR

23 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

There is a reason why a sizeable majority of London Real fans when asked "what is your favourite interview" reply Peter Sage without missing a beat. ...

016 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Use Absence To Increase Respect And Honor

19 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 16: Use Absence To Increase Respect And Honor In Law 16 it's time to make yourself a limited edition and never outstay your welcome. The more yo...

015 - Exploring The 48 Laws of Power - Crush Your Enemy Totally

13 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 15 Crush Your Enemy Totally:   Perhaps the most controversial Law of all – Crush Your Enemy Totally! As ever, we are you guides to when a Law ...

014 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power- Pose As A Friend, Work As A Spy

05 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

LAW 14: Pose As A Friend, Work As A Spy Who are you working for?? Well, yourself... or you should be. Law 14 isn't about insincerity or screwing your ...

Talking the Walk 02: Neo – Homeless Singer, Social Activist

04 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Neo: homeless by choice, musician by chance, and social activist by conviction. He's been a silver-service waiter to royalty, trained with the B...

013 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - When Asking For Help, Appeal To People's Self-Interest - Never To Their Mercy or Gratitude

30 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When Asking For Help, Appeal To People's Self-Interest - Never To Their Mercy or Gratitude Does this make you squeamish? Or maybe this is the Law you'...

012 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Use Selective Honesty And Generosity To Disarm Your Victim

22 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 12 - Use Selective Honesty And Generosity To Disarm Your Victim When is honesty not truly honest? And when is generosity less than generous? Ethi...

What Is Your Greatest Fear ? Minisode 001

19 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by our friends over at Digital Communion, this is the first of a series of short (20 mins) but deep conversations between Jon and Dre. Each ...

011 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Learn To Keep People Dependent On You

15 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Learn To Keep People Dependent On You An uncomfortable Law that makes us consider just who we are important to – and how precarious that can be as w...

010 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Infection, Avoid The Unhappy And Unlucky

08 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Infection: Avoid The Unhappy And Unlucky Ever find yourself dragged down or enmeshed by the negativity of the people around you? Does misfortune rain...

Episode 0: Meet Jon & Dre - What's It All About

04 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Voices in the Dark, what's it all about... Recorded during a massive thunderstorm over London (in mid-summer, of course), Jon and Dre dive into what ...

009 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Win Through Your Actions - Never Through Argument

18 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 9: Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument A Law that many smart people fail to observe... not least the big-mouthed hosts of this podc...

Talking the Walk 01: Seeking a High Existence with Martijn Schirp

15 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Martijn Schirp is the co-founder of HighExistence.com, a website dedicated to exploring spirituality, self-development, philosophy, cultural critiq...

008 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Make Other People Come To You, Use Bait If Necessary

12 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 8: Make Other People Come To You, Use Bait If Necessary Just who's in control here? Grab your insecurities and self-worth and join us as we invit...

007 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Get Others To Do The Work For You, But Always Take the Credit

07 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 7: Get Others To Do The Work For You, But Always Take the Credit One of the most controversial Laws in the book, this one makes people very sque...

006 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Court Attention At All Costs

29 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 6: Court Attention At All Costs They say all publicity is good publicity, but how do we deal with that in real life? How can we cope emotionall...

005 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - So Much Depends On Reputation - Guard It With Your Life

21 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 5: So Much Depends On Reputation - Guard It With Your Life Reputation can make or break you, but how can you keep control of it when it's ultimat...

004 - Exploring The 48 Laws Of Power - Always Say Less Than Necessary

14 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 4: Always Say Less Than Necessary Don't be fooled: this is a very dangerous Law in the wrong hands. What sounds like simple good manners can qui...

003 - Exploring The 48 Laws of Power - Conceal Your Intentions

09 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions Sex and seduction, politics and warfare… This episode has all of that and more! Disagreements emerge as Jon and Dre ...

002 - Exploring The 48 Laws of Power - Never Put Too Much Trust In Friends Learn How To Use Enemies

09 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 2: Never Put Too Much Trust In Friends Learn How To Use Enemies In this episode we take a look at the first of many Laws which on the surface see...

001 Exploring The 48 Laws of Power - Never Outshine The Master

09 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Law 1: Never Outshine The Master Join us as we begin our exploration of Robert Greene's provocative and compelling study of the 48 Laws of Power in ...