Conspirituality Podcast Episode Summary: Relief Project #7 with Sam Adler-Bell

Podcast Information:

• Title: Conspirituality
• Hosts: Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker
• Episode: Relief Project #7: Sam Adler-Bell
• Release Date: January 21, 2025

Overview: In this episode of Conspirituality, host Matthew Remsky engages in a profound conversation with Sam Adler-Bell, a journalist and co-host of the podcast Know Your Enemy. The discussion delves into themes of war, media consumption, psychoanalytic theory, community building, and personal resilience in the face of modern crises. Through introspective dialogue, Sam shares his insights on navigating emotional turmoil, fostering meaningful relationships, and drawing strength from familial influences.

1. Confronting the Terror of War and Media Influence

Timestamp: [03:04]

Sam Adler-Bell opens the conversation by expressing his deep-seated fear of war and its pervasive presence in society. He discusses the "metabolism of war"—how modern communication technologies amplify and process images of conflict, leading to a desensitization and partial satisfaction derived from online moral outrage.

Sam Adler-Bell: "I feel that outrage and genuine moral anger are metabolized into a spectacle that doesn't actually change anything. There's a shamelessness that augurs a new era in how countries wield power."

He reflects on the persistent brutality of ongoing conflicts, particularly highlighting the war in the Middle East and its expansion into Lebanon. Sam is concerned that the widespread consumption and sharing of war imagery may reduce the efficacy of collective outrage, allowing war-makers to evade accountability.

Matthew Remsky: "I'm hearing about layers of alienation… a loss of the capacity to respond."

Insight: Sam underscores the ineffectiveness of digital outrage in instigating real-world change, fearing a future where moral indignation becomes mere performance without substantive impact.

2. Transference and Countertransference in Relationships

Timestamp: [09:26]

Transitioning to psychological frameworks, Sam delves into Freudian concepts—transference and countertransference—and their implications for interpersonal relationships. He explains how individuals often project past relationships onto present interactions, hindering genuine connections.

Sam Adler-Bell: "We confront each other through a space of reckoning with each other's shared respective histories and pasts."

Quoting journalist Janet Malcolm, Sam paints a bleak picture of personal relationships as intricate webs of past projections, emphasizing the tragedy of never truly knowing another person.

Sam Adler-Bell: "We cannot know each other. We must grope around for each other through a dense thicket of absent others."

Insight: The discussion highlights the challenges of forming authentic relationships amidst the layers of subconscious projections, suggesting that awareness of these dynamics can foster greater empathy and understanding.

3. Overcoming Obstacles in Building Community Relationships

Timestamp: [13:10]

Building on psychoanalytic theory, Sam addresses the greatest obstacles in forming community relationships: the ingrained patterns of transference that impede genuine connection. He proposes that play and creativity can serve as tools to navigate and dismantle these unconscious scripts.

Sam Adler-Bell: "Remembering how to play… play in the sense of playing a game, but also play acting."

By engaging in playful interactions, individuals can redefine roles and introduce irony, challenging the rigid structures that prevent authentic engagement.

Insight: Emphasizing flexibility and creativity, Sam suggests that reimagining interactions through play can break down the barriers erected by past experiences, paving the way for more meaningful community bonds.

4. Generosity and Forgiveness Through Psychological Awareness

Timestamp: [16:25]

Matthew prompts Sam to explore whether understanding transference and countertransference fosters forgiveness and generosity towards those with differing political views or actions.

Sam Adler-Bell: "Thinking psychologically or psychoanalytically does create opportunities for generosity."

Sam explains that recognizing one's own projections allows for a more compassionate perspective, reducing anger and fostering a willingness to see others beyond their projected roles.

Sam Adler-Bell: "Your own way of relating to the information… is also grist for the mill."

Insight: Sam advocates that self-awareness in psychological dynamics enhances the capacity for empathy and forgiveness, even in polarized environments.

5. Guiding a Child Through Climate Anxiety

Timestamp: [21:48]

When asked how he would comfort a child terrified of climate catastrophe, Sam shares a personal anecdote about his eight-year-old half-brother, Henry. Henry's fascination with villains and disasters in media reflects his deep engagement with themes of death and evil.

Sam Adler-Bell: "When we talk about disasters… he's speaking very concretely, and that helps me to be grounded."

Sam finds that conversing with Henry offers him a new perspective, as the child’s concrete questioning challenges his own abstract apprehensions, fostering a mutual exchange of understanding and resilience.

Insight: The interaction illustrates that children can provide unique insights and act as anchors in navigating complex emotional landscapes, highlighting the importance of active listening and mutual support.

6. Ancestral Wisdom and Personal Inspiration

Timestamp: [27:10]

In contemplating ancestral advice for difficult times, Sam reflects on his diverse heritage—hillbillies from Missouri and Jews from the Pale. He acknowledges the hardships his ancestors endured but questions the applicability of their wisdom to modern challenges.

Sam Adler-Bell: "Pain, cruelty, and suffering are not good teachers necessarily."

Instead, Sam draws inspiration from his father, a union labor lawyer and self-described socialist, whose optimism and practicality embody a balanced approach to activism and personal well-being.

Sam Adler-Bell: "He keeps his eyes simultaneously on the ground and on the horizon… fundamentally hopeful while recognizing the big mess around us."

Insight: Sam emphasizes the value of practical optimism and incremental progress, suggesting that personal resilience can be nurtured through balanced perspectives and tangible actions.

Conclusion

Throughout this episode, Sam Adler-Bell offers a rich tapestry of insights drawn from psychology, personal experiences, and familial influences. His reflections on the impact of war imagery, the complexities of human relationships, and the role of psychological awareness in fostering community and empathy provide listeners with thoughtful perspectives on navigating contemporary challenges. By intertwining theoretical concepts with personal narratives, Sam illustrates pathways to resilience and meaningful connection in an increasingly tumultuous world.

Notable Quotes:

• Sam Adler-Bell [03:04]: "Our outrage about war seems to metabolize into a spectacle that doesn't actually change anything."

• Sam Adler-Bell [11:39]: "The phenomenon of transference… was Freud's most original and radical discovery."

• Sam Adler-Bell [16:25]: "Thinking psychologically… creates opportunities for generosity."

• Sam Adler-Bell [27:10]: "Pain, cruelty, and suffering are not good teachers necessarily."

This episode of Conspirituality offers a nuanced exploration of how personal and collective psyches interact with global crises, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, empathy, and practical optimism in fostering a more connected and resilient society.