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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 Jun 15, 2020
Monday Jun 15, 2020
Tim's the founder & Chief Empowerment Officer of Family Addiction Recovery Services, Sustainable Recovery Renovention® Services, Inc., LaunchPad Discover Your Purpose Services® & finally Co-founder of Wide Wonder ZERO Stigma Education Services.
Tim is a loud and persistent voice in the field of mental and emotional health advocacy, addiction treatment, and recovery. He is an active participant in the movement to reduce addiction and mental illness related stigma. The moon shot of his most important role so far, as co-founder of Wide Wonder, is to create the first ZERO Stigma city in America!
Monday Jun 08, 2020
Monday Jun 08, 2020
Heather Randolph is the Senior Peer Support Specialist at Spectrum Health & Human Services. Sean and Heather sit down to dive deeper into Spectrum Health's new program "Community of Caring". Community of Caring is online and gives people a space to gather, learn, and socialize. Whether you are looking for mindfulness or recovery groups there is a spot for you.
Monday Jun 01, 2020
Monday Jun 01, 2020
Jodi Aman, has been a psychotherapist for over two decades. After earning her master’s in social work at Columbia University, she studied and taught Narrative Therapy around the world, focusing on trauma and anxiety recovery. Her popular YouTube show, Practical Miracles, inspires people to get clarity, evolve past fear, and finally stop the out-of-control downward spiral by releasing that self-critic. Having clawed her way out of her own emotional crisis, Jodi shares her story of stepping into her personal power in her bestselling book You 1, Anxiety 0. Most important, she is the mom of three lovable young adults.
Monday May 25, 2020
Monday May 25, 2020
Brittany Bennett is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Sean and Brittany have an intriguing conversation centered around Depression, Suicide, and Relationships.
Brittany Bennett's Website and Psychology Today page.
Monday May 18, 2020
Monday May 18, 2020
Julie Gutowski is the Senior VP of Administrative Operations and Business Development at Spectrum Health & Human Services. In this episode Julie and Sean talk about the new program put out by Spectrum Health, "Community of Caring". Community of Caring is a way to join other people in yoga classes, recovery groups, and many more. To see the entire list of groups and gatherings that are offered please visit Spectrum Health's website. (Look for "Community of Caring" on the top of their home page)
Room 9 Website: https://bit.ly/3bfMMIg
YouTube:https://bit.ly/355PZIM
FaceBook:https://bit.ly/3duWhW9
LinkedIn:https://bit.ly/3bt8YPl
IG:https://bit.ly/2zoYoLD
Monday May 11, 2020
Monday May 11, 2020
Matthew Oliver is back once again. In this episode Matthew talks about his recent battle with Mental Health, finding balance between caring too much and not caring enough after a relapse, and the importance of holding yourself accountable in recovery.
Monday May 04, 2020
Monday May 04, 2020
Christine Glavey is back!! Sean and Christine have a conversation about how she has gotten through the social distancing period thus far, the importance of embracing uncertainty, and finding and naming your emotions.
Be sure to check out Room 9 on YouTube and on the Room 9 Website!!
Room 9 | Ending Stigma Through Storytelling
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Cindy Voelker is the Associate CEO of Spectrum Health & Human Services. In this episode of Room 9, Sean and Cindy have a conversation about how Spectrum Health has adapted and evolved since the social distancing began. From sending nurses to clients homes to Telehealth Appointments, Spectrum Health has done an incredible job in the continuation of services for the people who need it.
Monday Apr 20, 2020
Monday Apr 20, 2020
It is actually not so much reprogramming as it is just programming, but how can we start putting our attention to positive thoughts instead of negative? Let's talk about that process. Influenced by Brendon Burchard, let's have a discussion on how we can rewire ourselves to habitually think positively.
Thursday Mar 26, 2020
Thursday Mar 26, 2020
Talk Talk Talk. If you are struggling talk to someone. It is time that we stop always acting like we don't hurt. It is more important than ever to call, text, or even facetime someone when you are struggling. Get out of your head and let someone know you are having a tough time.