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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
Thursday Oct 10, 2019
Thursday Oct 10, 2019
Brittany Derry is the Program Manager at Spectrum Health & Human Services' Seneca St. building, located in Buffalo, New York. Sean and Brittany get together, on World Mental Health day, for a conversation centered around how the language we use can add to stigma, just because we struggle with a Mental Health Disorder doesn't mean we are it, and the services that Spectrum Health is currently offering.
Tuesday Oct 08, 2019
Tuesday Oct 08, 2019
Raymond Ganoe is the President/CEO of Evergreen Health and has over 25 years of experience working in Healthcare. Sean and Ray have a wonderful discussion centered around what pushed Ray into his field, the difficulties of finding what services each individual needs, and the popular topic of Harm Reduction.
Monday Sep 30, 2019
Monday Sep 30, 2019
Jeremy Hitt is the program director at Horizon-Health's Terrace House located in Buffalo, N.Y. Sean and Jeremy talk about his role as program director, what led him from being an engineer to his current position with Horizon, and how change is difficult, in general, for anyone.
Monday Sep 16, 2019
Monday Sep 16, 2019
In this rare solo episode of Room 9 Sean talks about how are constant search for happiness is the reason why we are unhappy. Influenced from the book "Everything Is F*cked" by Mark Manson, The Room 9 host touches on how our emotional constant is "it's not terrible but could be better", antifragility, and how pain/suffering should be valued more than anything.
Monday Sep 09, 2019
Monday Sep 09, 2019
Sean sits down with his BFF, Christine Glavey, for the third time in Room 9 history. Christine and Sean continue to talk about the challenges that a couple has to overcome when one of them is in recovery, dealing with a family members "two cents", and the importance of leaning into the "I don't know". This is Christine's third time one the show and has been Sean's biggest supporter since day one.
Monday Sep 02, 2019
Monday Sep 02, 2019
In the second Spectrum Health & Human Services podcast Sean sits down with two Peer Support Specialists, Jaclyn Vaccaro and Heather Randolph. Heather and Jaclyn discuss their role at Spectrum Health and how they are using a specific grant to create a recovery community that allows people, from the ages of 16-30, to participate in convivial activities. Spectrum Health & Human Services has been serving the western New York community for over 40 years and take great pride in their easy-to-access services. To find out more about Spectrum Health visit their website at www.shswny.org.
Monday Aug 26, 2019
Monday Aug 26, 2019
In this episode of Room 9 Sean sits down with his regular guest Matthew Oliver. Sean and Matt take the twelve steps and talk about them in a new way. Matthew Oliver has been on the show plenty of times and he continues to bring his well rounded experience to the table.
Monday Aug 19, 2019
Monday Aug 19, 2019
Janet Gaskin is the Parent and Family Support Liaison for Horizon-Health. Janet has dedicated her career to helping those struggling with Substance Use Disorder and supporting their families. Her main focus is building relationships with her clients and their family members by educating them as they transition in between levels of care. Sean and Janet have a conversation about the different experiences Janet has had working with family members, the language we use when talking about those who are struggling, and Stephen's Law, a new bill that was recently passed concerning those who struggle with Substance Use Disorder.
Monday Aug 12, 2019
Monday Aug 12, 2019
Nick Matiash is a men's life coach, a teacher, and an author. He is the owner and operator of Moving Past Mediocre, the platform he created to lead people to their version of success in mind, body, and soul. Nick has been giving away his "Emotionally Successful" workshop which you can be a part of at https://nickmatiash.com/optin-nick-matiash. Sean and Nick have a conversation about how many of us are not only fearful of failure but our own success as well, how we get stuck in our "familiar zone'', and the importance of vulnerability.
Monday Aug 05, 2019
Monday Aug 05, 2019
In this collaboration episode with Spectrum Health & Human Services, Sean sits down with two of the leaders from Spectrum's "Holistic Health Project". Kevin and Emily from Spectrum discuss the new approach of tackling all of an individuals needs, or a “holistic” approach to their care. With the intention of being fully engaged with the people they serve, the Holistic Health Project has been created to meet every need simultaneously, while still giving the client the care, support, and encouragement needed to obtain a healthy recovery