SUPERHEAD™: Brainwashing Myself With Audiobooks and Podcasts To Find Peace of Mind
“All is mind. The All is a universal, infinite living mind. The universe is mental.”
- The Kybalion: A Study of The Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece by Three Initiatives
A stream of consciousness is prevalent throughout history in literature, in movies, and constantly in my mind. Even when I sleep, I dream all the time, so I don’t feel like I get a break from the constant whirring of words, memories, information, and what seems to be supine-sleeping-induced hallucinations. Constantly thinking can be extremely helpful with things like wit, knowledge retention, creative ideas, etc., but constantly thinking can bring anxiety, worrying, and deep sadness. 2025 was a year that dyno’d my mental fortitude, for the better and the worse, but my thoughts became obsessive over the negative aspects of my career, my relationships with the people around me, and my money. Although I understand that staying still is necessary at times, 2025 was stagnant in different areas of my life, and straight-up regressive for my physical health (I have Sickle Cell irl). I’d be driving in my Hondacat on I-20, listening to music, I would zone out, and then I’d be thinking about things I can’t control that make me sad. These negative thoughts trickled up the steps, through my front door, into my bed, and all around me. I would cry, and my chest would physically ache because of how deeply I felt like I just was not enough. The thoughts began to seep into my days, my week, my life. Clearly, this isn’t sustainable. I love to be happy. This ain’t my first time around the block- I’ve been on antidepressants before, so I already know to be mindful of the way I feel- especially with negative emotions. Just like gravity, it’s easier to spiral down than to climb up. The best thing to do is remember you are in control of your thoughts, and how you react to the things you cannot control is what determines the quality of your life, because the universal is mental. How we think about the world around us is how the world we live in will be. So, I started listening to podcasts and audiobooks! I want to redirect my thoughts to be positive in the face of adversity and at peace in the face of rejection. I also just wanted to think about something other than that damn white rabbit. Here are some of the most helpful and interesting audiobooks and podcasts that I’ve listened to!
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
“I would rather focus on healing as best I can and building a happy life instead of burdening myself by trying to forgive someone [who] doesn't feel remorse".
The idea that we don’t have to work toward forgiveness all the time is revolutionary and will change your life. This memoir from child actor Jenettee McCurdy is a wild ride for so many reasons. She’s a homeschooled Mormon with a mentally and physically ill mother who projects her need to be a famous actor on her daughter. That’s genuinely just scratching the surface because by the end of it, you’ll be glad her mom died, too.
What a Time To Be Alone by Chidera Eggerue
“Nothing lasts when you aren’t content with your being. You reach a point where you stop feeling like a victim of life and become more of a student of life, your life becomes more meaningful”.
Read by the author, Eggerue provides her perspective on solitude and navigating romantic, platonic, and familial relationships.
Confessions of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffans
The New York Times Bestseller of 2006 follows the tumultuous life of Karrine Steffans aka Superhead™ as she recounts “[her] life story, thus far, which just so happens to include some people you may have heard of”. She drops big names like Vin Diesel, Shaq, and Jay-Z, details her sexual escapades, and gives insight into the entertainment industry. She also writes about being raped at 13 years old, brutally abused by her mother, and being a teenage runaway before getting into the industry- I cried twice! The book surprised me with how well it was written, how vulnerable it was, and how much I learned about being in control.
Manhardeep Singh’s 12 Laws Series
The 12 Laws of the Universe, The 12 Laws for Being Human, The 12 Laws of Karma, and The 12 Laws of Life are all Singh’s exploration of the nature of life. Reading or listening to The Kybalion: A Study of The Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece by Three Initiatives before the 12 Laws series is not necessary to truly understand this text, but the Laws build off the teachings of The Kybalion and Sikhism.
Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett
“If you’re alert and you’re smart (…) you learn living life itself is the lesson.” -Neil deGrasse Tyson
Bartlett has one of the most popular podcasts on the internet right now! He interviews a variety of experts and guests from Matthew McConaughey to billionaire business execs to CIA operatives. Bartlett is smart and well-researched, so his interviews are always meaningful and interesting, with a variety of topics and experts.
Eight Million Ways to Happiness: Wisdom for Inspiration and Healing from the Heart of Japan by Hiroko Yoda
“We are all subject to forces beyond our control, but we are also part of a bigger natural system that can strengthen us—if we learn how to reconnect with it”.
Yaoyorozu no kami (eight million kami or gods) is a Japanese phrase that refers to the spiritual beings found in nature, animals, people, trees, rivers, and even tools. It is the basis of the title of the book. Eight million is just a big number used to represent a lot of something, which suggests there are infinite ways to be happy, just as there are infinite ways to find God around us. She alludes to Haruki Murakami, who argues that finding joy in the minutia and the mundane, like the way the sun feels or seeing a ladybug, provides anchors in peace and happiness. Constantly searching for meaning gives life meaning, and that is the purpose of living.
Listening to something other than myself think allowed me to reframe the lens through which my life was being perceived. Action cures anxiety, and having obsessive thoughts about life’s ups and downs devalued my quality of life. Controlling my thoughts is an active, constant practice that I have to make a conscious effort at, and it’s always worth the effort because I want to be as happy as I can be for as long as I live. The universe exists within us as we exist within the universe, and the first step to existing in a peaceful universe is a peaceful mind.
