Episodes

  • Rejecting the Rat Race: Episode 42
    Dec 23 2024

    Dave and Brent discuss extreme examples of folks who've ditched civilization and ask themselves whether they'd ever consider leaving all our tech and amenities behind. Would you?

    Rejected Central is a human podcast hosted by bestselling novelist Brent van Staalduinen and educator and life-embracer Dave Parkinson. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, follow us online and social media, and let us know what you think. Thanks for listening!

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    34 mins
  • Reverse-Engineering Rejection: Carrie-Ellise Poirier | Episode 41
    Dec 16 2024

    Writer and inspirer Carrie-Ellise Poirier reached out via BlueSky, and we're so glad she did. What a story! She has taken hold of success by reverse-engineering the childhood trauma and BDD challenges she has faced throughout life, successfully publishing six editions of THE CABIN CREW INTERVIEW MADE EASY, a go-to resource for those interested in becoming a flight attendant. She's also writing a memoir called THE GOOD GIRL CHECKLIST, which we're excited to read, continues to help others who struggle with BDD with her inspiring stories of bodybuilding and rising above when things get tough.

    Rejected Central is a human podcast hosted by bestselling novelist Brent van Staalduinen and educator and life-embracer Dave Parkinson. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, follow us online and social media, and let us know what you think. Thanks for listening!

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    50 mins
  • De/Construction and Re/Jection: Mason Mennenga | Episode 40
    Dec 9 2024

    Brent chats with "the internet's youth pastor" Mason Mennenga about rejection, deconstruction, and how his online life mirrors his de/construction journey. Follow Mason on YouTube, X, Threads, Instagram, and BlueSky: he's worth paying attention to!

    Rejected Central is a human podcast hosted by bestselling novelist Brent van Staalduinen and educator and life-embracer Dave Parkinson. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, follow us online and social media, and let us know what you think. Thanks for listening!

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    45 mins
  • Rejecting Space: Geoffrey W Cole | Episode 39
    Dec 2 2024

    Chatting with the talented and driven horror/sci-fi/speculative writer Geoffrey W Cole about Bowie-tribute-orgies, mushroom/mountain/god conversations, and all the rejections writers seem to collect. Geoff also speaks whale, and we get a small sample.

    Rejected Central is a human podcast hosted by bestselling novelist Brent van Staalduinen and educator and life-embracer Dave Parkinson. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, follow us online and social media, and let us know what you think. Thanks for listening!

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    37 mins
  • Positive Psychology and Rejection: Katelan Dunn | Episode 38
    Nov 25 2024

    Dave and Brent sit down with sociologist and professor Katelan Dunn for a fascinating talk about the psychology of rejection, and how it wires/rewires our brains in positive and negative ways.

    Rejected Central is a human podcast hosted by bestselling novelist Brent van Staalduinen and educator and life-embracer Dave Parkinson. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, follow us online and social media, and let us know what you think. Thanks for listening!

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    47 mins
  • The Bell Curve of Rejection: Pete Rose | Episode 37
    Nov 18 2024

    Dave takes the wheel and explores the tainted legacy of Pete Rose, one of professional baseball's most enduringly conflicted figures.

    Rejected Central is a human podcast hosted by bestselling novelist Brent van Staalduinen and educator and life-embracer Dave Parkinson. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, follow us online and social media, and let us know what you think. Thanks for listening!

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    33 mins
  • Rejecting Denialism in the Gulf, Part IV: the University of Houston Student Panel | Episode 36
    Nov 11 2024

    Brent sat down with Kayla Zinsmeyer and Eamon Hennessey, two students at the University of Houston working on coastal biology, to talk sand dune biospheres, inoculated sand, the sexiness of megafauna, and the reality that sometimes we need to let things die.

    About the series: There are some places where discussions of climate change, sea level rise, and extreme weather events are very uncomfortable. Brent traveled to Houston, New Orleans, and Key West to talk to scientists and activists who are invested in and propelling these essential discussions and initiatives. What he discovered was enormous and gracious creativity when it comes to having conversations with climate deniers and those resistant to the idea of human-caused climate change, many of whom work in government and hold positions of influence.

    Rejected Central is a human podcast hosted by bestselling novelist Brent van Staalduinen and educator and life-embracer Dave Parkinson. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, follow us online and social media, and let us know what you think. Thanks for listening!

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    48 mins
  • US Election Mini: Rejecting Hate & Indifference
    Nov 5 2024

    On this incredibly important day for our American friends and family, we at Rejected Central hope all goes smoothly during voting and the tallying of the votes. Get out there, cast your vote (or don't, abstinence is legitimate option), and reject the hate that unfortunately has defined the loudest of election discussions, both from the left and the right. Most of us are pretty reasonable people: here's hoping that civility continues beyond Tuesday.

    Rejected Central is a human podcast hosted by bestselling novelist Brent van Staalduinen and educator and life-embracer Dave Parkinson. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, follow us online and social media, and let us know what you think. Thanks for listening!

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    5 mins