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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 Aug 10, 2020
Monday Aug 10, 2020
In this episode of Room 9 Sean has a conversation with Martin Hewlett. Martin does work around Hypnotherapy and Meditation in order to combat anxiety and other mental health challenges. Sean and Martin touch on the importance of laughter, taking responsibility for your life, and some pieces of Martin's story. You can find Martin on Twitter, @Hewlett_Martin, on YouTube, and his website.
Monday Aug 03, 2020
Monday Aug 03, 2020
Developing the skill of being able to look at yourself as if you were a complete stranger is invaluable. Here is where I (Sean Cuddihy) am at on this journey...
Video Talked About In Episode:
Monday Jul 27, 2020
Monday Jul 27, 2020
In this solo episode of Room 9, host Sean Cuddihy talks about the most challenging moments of his life, what happened, and how he was able to pull something good and beautiful from them.
Monday Jul 20, 2020
Monday Jul 20, 2020
Matthew is back! Sean and Matt are talking about an incredible book by the title "Unbroken Brain", written by Maia Svalavitz. Sean and Matt hit on topics such as how set and setting play a huge role in our substance use, the importance of keeping a good schedule, and how your experience of a successful recovery is not the same for everyone else.
Monday Jul 13, 2020
Monday Jul 13, 2020
Katrina Norris is the Program Manager out at Spectrum Health's Springville, NY location. In this episode Sean and Katrina talk about the adjustments Katrina had to make at the beginning of COVID, her passion for working with adolescents and teens, and the positive effects of using crafts as a healthy coping skill.
To get connected with Spectrum Health's online "Community of Caring" group visit www.shswny.org.
Monday Jul 06, 2020
Monday Jul 06, 2020
In this collaboration episode with Spectrum-Health Sean talks with Sandy Pufpaff about the benefits of crafts on your mental health, the political situation we find ourselves in in 2020, and the importance of being able to find words for how you are feeling.
Be sure to check out Spectrum's "Community of Caring" Zoom groups at shswny.org
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
Brandy Vandermark-Murray is the VP of Residential Treatment at Horizon Health Services. In this episode Sean and Brandy talk about how Horizon Health has adapted to COVID-19, the challenges they have had to face, and Horizon Telehealth. To find out more about Horizon Health Services you can go to their website --> by clicking here
Monday Jun 29, 2020
Monday Jun 29, 2020
Slash Coleman is an Author and a Certified Laughter Yoga Instructor. What is laughter yoga? Be sure to listen and find out. Slash shares part of his story, the effects laughter has on your health, and what exactly "laughter yoga" is. If you would like more information on Slash click the links below.
Company Website "Laugh For Life"
Saturday Jun 27, 2020
Saturday Jun 27, 2020
In episode 12 of Spectrum Health & Human Services Sean sits down with Carm Harper to talk about coping skills. Carm runs Spectrum Health's "Community of Caring" group "Coping With Carm"; she also talks about her challenges with complex regional pain syndrome and hers son's diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia. To participate in "Community of Caring" head on over to shswny.org.
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Amy Acaba is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at "Let's Talk Psychological Wellness". Sean and Amy get into setting healthy boundaries, the importance of self-talk, and how self-care is one of the most important pillars for healthy living. You can find out more about "Let's Talk Psychological Wellness" and Amy in the links below.
Let's Talk Psychological Wellness Website & Phone (917)283-0738 (call or text)