Why I Don’t Book Woo-Woo: A Rational Case for Skepticism in a World of Believers
🧠 Introduction: The Woo-Woo Whisperers Always Find Me
It happens like clockwork. I’ll be chatting with someone—maybe about pie crusts, maybe about podcasting, and suddenly I’m being told about the healing power of crystals, the cosmic alignment of my chakras, or how meditation will unlock my “higher self.” I nod politely, but inside I’m thinking: Why does this always find me? And more importantly: Why does everyone assume I’m into this stuff?
Let me be clear: I’m not. I don’t meditate. I don’t pray. I don’t believe in energy fields, past lives, or the idea that the universe is sending me signs. And I don’t book guests on my podcast who push those ideas either. Not because I’m trying to be edgy or contrarian, but because I believe in evidence, clarity, and intellectual honesty. And I think that matters.
🔍 The Evidence Standard: Why Belief Isn’t Enough
Here’s the thing: I’m not anti-belief. I’m anti-unexamined belief. If someone tells me they feel better after meditating, I believe them. But feeling better isn’t the same as proving that meditation taps into some universal consciousness or rewires your soul. That’s a leap, and I don’t make leaps without a bridge of evidence.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. If someone says they had a nice walk in the woods, I don’t need a peer-reviewed study. But if they say they talked to a tree spirit who gave them life advice? Or that they make love to 12-foot high balls of light? Yeah, I’m gonna need more than vibes.
Anecdotes aren’t data. Just because something “worked” for someone doesn’t mean it’s universally true. Placebo effects, confirmation bias, and the human brain’s love of patterns can explain a lot.
Science is slow, but it’s honest. Unlike spiritual systems that often claim certainty, science admits what it doesn’t know. That humility is a feature, not a bug.
🎙️ Why I Don’t Book Spiritual Guests on My Show
My podcast, 50 Tastes of Gray, is about curiosity, humor, and grounded storytelling. It’s about exploring the weird and wonderful parts of life, but with our feet on the ground. Booking guests who promote spiritual ideologies, especially ones that can’t be tested or challenged, doesn’t fit that mission.
I want conversations, not sermons. Too often, spiritual guests come with a message they’re trying to deliver, not a story they’re trying to explore.
I value intellectual friction. If a guest can’t handle pushback or critical questions, they’re not a good fit. And many spiritual proponents treat skepticism as hostility.
I protect my audience’s trust. I’ve built a platform on honesty, humor, and real talk. I’m not going to risk that by giving airtime to ideas I can’t stand behind.
🧘 But What About Meditation and Mindfulness?
Sure, there’s some evidence that mindfulness can reduce stress or improve focus. But that doesn’t mean it’s a gateway to enlightenment or that it “raises your vibration.” I’m all for people finding what works for them, but I draw the line at mystifying it or pretending it’s universal truth.
Meditation, like jogging or journaling, might help some people feel better. That’s great. But let’s not confuse a personal habit with a cosmic revelation.
🧩 The Deeper Question: Why Do So Many People Believe?
I get it. Life is messy. People want meaning, comfort, and a sense of control. Spiritual systems offer that. They give people a story to hold onto when the world feels chaotic. But I’d rather face the chaos honestly than wrap it in incense and mantras.
Belief is easy. Doubt takes work. And I’ve chosen the harder path, not because it’s trendy, but because it’s true to who I am.
🧭 Conclusion: Staying Grounded in a Floaty World
I’m not here to mock anyone’s beliefs. But I am here to draw a line. My show isn’t a platform for untestable claims, spiritual sales pitches, or cosmic shortcuts. It’s a space for real stories, real questions, and real people.
So if you’re wondering why I don’t book the energy healer, the breathwork guru, or the guy who channels dolphins, now you know. It’s not personal. It’s philosophical.
And honestly? I think the world could use a little more grounded thinking.
Hey, lighten up. Woo woo is fun. And rationality has its limitations, too. A dish is more than its ingredients, and life is bigger than your mental analysis of life. Listen to Hamlet: "There are more things, Horatio, in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy." You, too, Matthew. Namaste.
I’ve met my fair share of spiritual gurus. Some are harmless while others are downright evil. I am not into woo woo at all. People have tried to get me to meditate. I can’t think myself into a better outcome. It just feels like some sort of solution based on nothingness. But good if it works for you. Spiritual gurus like jay shetty and even tony Robbin’s are just good at marketing. The world doesn’t need more liars pretending to be healers. More duplicitous humans that market themselves as having the answers (listen to me you stupid human). They aren’t enlightened or have some sort of higher vibration. They just talk a good game. But fall apart when you poke holes in their theories. As a person who wishes people were more honest, real - I approve this message. 🙌🏻