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Room 9 Podcast: Where Beliefs Go to Be Challenged
Welcome to Room 9— a show that refuses to play it safe, tiptoe around sacred cows, or let anyone (host included) off the hook when it comes to their beliefs. If you’re tired of echo chambers, allergic to dogma (whether it’s religious, political, or scientific), and hungry for conversations that actually interrogate the roots of what we think we know, then you’ve just found your new favorite listen.
It's not just another podcast where ideas politely brush past each other. Here, we take a sledgehammer to the foundations—left, right, center, and every shade in between. The goal isn’t to shock for the sake of it, but to create a space where honest, uncomfortable, and sometimes downright confrontational dialogue is the norm. If you’re looking for a show that will challenge your assumptions, force you to confront the tough questions, and maybe even make you squirm a little, you’re in the right place.
A Borderline Anti-Theistic Edge
Let’s be clear: we’re not here to coddle religious sensibilities. In fact, this podcast leans unapologetically toward an anti-theistic perspective—not merely skeptical of supernatural claims, but openly critical of the ways religious thinking can distort our understanding of reality, morality, and each other. But unlike the shallow, meme-driven atheism that’s content to mock from the sidelines, Room 9 goes deeper. We break down the actual arguments, dissect the psychology of belief, and expose the subtle ways faith traditions shape our collective consciousness.
The show doesn’t just poke holes in religious thinking; it asks why so many of us are drawn to myth, ritual, and transcendence in the first place. And it doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff—the contradictions, the atrocities, the parts of sacred texts that most apologists would rather you ignore. If you’re ready to wrestle with the Bible’s “worst bits,” question the moral legacy of Christianity, or just see what happens when faith is subjected to relentless scrutiny, you’ll feel right at home here.
Data, Science, and the Relentless Grind of Truth-Seeking
At the core of Room 9 is a commitment to the scientific method—not as a collection of facts, but as a way of thinking. Every episode is grounded in skepticism, logical analysis, and a refusal to accept comforting narratives just because they’re popular or emotionally satisfying. Science here isn’t a set of dogmas; it’s a process: observe, hypothesize, test, critique, and—crucially—be willing to change your mind when the evidence demands it.
We champion healthy skepticism, but not cynicism. The show’s attitude is that real intellectual integrity means exposing every idea (especially your own) to the risk of disconfirmation. It’s about the grind of peer review, the pain of admitting you were wrong, and the discipline of never letting your beliefs calcify into dogma. If you want to see what it looks like to defend the integrity of the scientific process—warts and all—while refusing to worship authority or tradition, Room 9 is your laboratory.
Guests Who Disagree, Conversations That Matter
Room 9 isn’t just a solo rant. Expect a steady rotation of guests, many of whom are “more spiritual for lack of a better term.” The goal is not to stack the deck with like-minded atheists or skeptics, but to bring on people who genuinely see the world differently—pastors, mystics, Jungians, theists, and seekers of every stripe. The trick is to find guests you can argue with fiercely, but still be “completely cool with it” once the microphones are off.
Debate is encouraged, disagreement is inevitable, and civility is non-negotiable. These aren’t softball interviews; they’re real confrontations—sometimes heated, always honest. You’ll hear local pastors’ sermons dissected and debated, spiritual experiences put under the microscope, and cherished beliefs (from all sides) subjected to the same relentless cross-examination.
Series That Dig Deeper
Room 9 isn’t afraid to get specific. One recurring series will feature the host listening to local pastors’ sermons and picking them apart, line by line—testing their claims against logic, evidence, and ethical scrutiny. Another might dive into the world of spiritual but not religious thinkers, exploring why myth and ritual still have such a hold on the modern mind, even in an age dominated by science and data.
But the approach is always the same: no cherry-picking, no hiding from the hard passages, and no letting anyone (least of all the host) off the hook. Whether it’s the “worst bits” of the Bible, the latest pop-psychology trend, or the comforting fictions we tell ourselves on the left and right, Room 9 is here to ask: “Is this actually true, or just another poetic framework that makes life feel more coherent?”
A Host Who Challenges Himself
Room 9 isn’t just about challenging others; it’s about the host putting his own beliefs on the chopping block. The show’s creator is no stranger to spiritual journeys, existential crises, or the seductive power of narrative. He’s been through the “it’s not religion, it’s a spiritual journey” phase, dived deep into Jung, and come out the other side with a commitment to relentless questioning.
Every episode is an exercise in intellectual honesty—willing to admit when an argument lands, when a critique stings, or when a cherished idea just doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. The host’s writing style is direct, unflinching, and allergic to self-deception. He’s not here to provide easy answers, but to model what it looks like to wrestle with the hardest questions, even (especially) when they hit close to home.
Why Room 9?
Because most podcasts are afraid to go where this one goes. Because most conversations about belief are either too polite, too shallow, or too invested in protecting someone’s feelings. Room 9 is different. It’s a place where the only sacred thing is the pursuit of truth—where beliefs go to be challenged, not coddled.
So if you’re ready to have your worldview shaken, your assumptions questioned, and your mind stretched, subscribe now. Bring your best arguments, your deepest doubts, and your thickest skin. In Room 9, nobody gets out unscathed—and that’s exactly the point.
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Room 9: Where data, logic, and the scientific process meet the messiness of belief. Edgy. Unapologetic. Relentlessly honest. Come for the debate, stay for the discomfort—and maybe, just maybe, leave a little smarter than you arrived.
Episodes
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Ryan Horwath is the founder and CEO of Pacific Cloud Seafood. Pacific Cloud Seafood is a values-based seafood company delivering sustainably caught seafood to people who believe in eating with the ecosystem. In this episode Sean and Ryan chat about over-fishing the oceans, corruption in the industry, and the way to get the best fish from your local market.
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Brian is a therapist, a carpenter, and a soon to be dad. This conversation touches on overworked therapist, psychedelics, recovery, and much more.
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
Michael Nieves is a Storyteller, Culture Builder, Conversation Starter, a Pastor, and much more. Sean and Mike talk parenting, do we protect or teach, and the responsibility that comes along with raising a child who will one day no longer be a child. Also, be sure to connect with Michael on his LinkedIn page.
Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
Sunday Aug 08, 2021
Sunday Aug 08, 2021
In this episode of Room 9 Sean and Matt take a deep dive into a few chapters from Dr. Jordan Peterson's book "Beyond Order".
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Here is the Room 9 host, Sean Cuddihy, saying "fuck" and venting. He also shares some Room 9 struggles and what the future is looking like.
Monday May 31, 2021
Monday May 31, 2021
This is a conversation with Devon Philips. Devon started as a software developer. He owned a few businesses, got a few degrees, and most importantly is constantly working on his own individuality. In this episode of Room 9 Sean and Devon touch on just that, the importance of introspection and personal development. Oh yeah, we also touch on psychedelics.
Reach out to Devon on Instagram and be sure to give his blog, "To Just Be", a read.
Monday May 24, 2021
Monday May 24, 2021
SB is a life coach, business owner, public speaker, and much more. In this episode of Room 9 Sean and SB get into a wonderful conversation around the challenges that come with developing self-awareness and improving ones own individuality. Connect with SB on her website or reach out to her on LinkedIn
Monday May 17, 2021
Monday May 17, 2021
Travis Carlson of Pan-American Film Division is an Independent Film Maker from Buffalo, NY. He is also a writer, director, actor, cinematographer... should I keep going? Because I could.
Sean and Travis get into Pan-American Film Division's first full length film "Mother's Day". Which is, first and foremost, an honest portrait of a Mother and Son swept away by life-changing transitions and mental illness. This film was based on the raw, real-life story of Writer and Director Travis Carlson. You can check out the film and other work by Pan-American Film Division on their website.
Monday May 10, 2021
Monday May 10, 2021
Ben Burns is the Chief Operating Officer of The Futur and as Digital Creative Director at Blind. In this episode of "Room 9" Sean chats with Ben about his journey from designer to the police force and back to designer again, as well as the importance of learning to just jump into fear. Be sure to check out what else Ben, Blind, and The Futur have going on their websites.