Hello 2026, goodbye duality

Born Again | Infinite Onion, Rebirth & Why Growth Feels Like Going Backwards

It’s New Year’s Day — but are we really starting again, or just uncovering another layer?

In Episode 62 of the Temple Barred Podcast, Jim and Philip explore the idea of being “born again” — not as a once-a-year reset, but as something that happens constantly, moment by moment. Through stories of Christmas chaos, repeating patterns, dopamine, ADHD traits and self-reflection, the lads unpack why personal growth can feel frustrating, circular and unfinished — even when real progress is happening.

At the heart of the episode is the idea of the Infinite Onion:

Every time we think we’ve “figured it out,” another layer appears — and that doesn’t mean we’ve failed. It means we’re evolving.

This episode explores:

• Rebirth beyond New Year’s resolutions

• Why self-improvement feels repetitive

• Patterns, self-judgement and awareness

• Dopamine, conflict and unconscious behaviour

• Letting go instead of trying to control

• Duality, perception and the illusion of separation

• Consciousness, identity and choosing love over fear

• How algorithms, media and attention shape reality

• Finding growth in everyday moments

Honest, reflective and often hilarious, this episode is for anyone feeling stuck, tired of “reset culture,” or wondering why growth doesn’t look the way it’s supposed to.

🎧 You haven’t gone backwards.

You’re just peeling the next layer.

🎄 Christmas 2025 Special | Temple Barred Podcast 🎄

The lads sit down for a raw, funny, and deeply human Christmas special that captures everything this time of year brings — grief, gratitude, chaos, connection, and plenty of laughs along the way.

Jim and Philip reflect on the true meaning of Christmas after a year marked by loss, sharing a heartfelt tribute to a loved one gone far too soon and offering compassion to anyone finding the season difficult. From the loneliness that can creep in during the holidays to the small lights that help us through dark moments, this episode is an honest reminder that this too shall pass.

As ever, the heavy moments are balanced with classic Temple Barred storytelling:

🎤 a painfully funny tale of Philip’s “big break” acting role that lasted less than a second

🎶 life as a working musician — gigs gone wrong, sound disasters, horse arenas in Belgium, and Irish pub madness

📻 conversations on music, autotune, Spotify vs YouTube, modern fame, and why authenticity still matters

🌍 shoutouts to listeners tuning in from Germany, Canada, Vietnam, and beyond

This episode is a love letter to listeners around the world who use podcasts as company, comfort, and craic — whether you’re freezing, sweating, celebrating, or just getting through the day.

Pull up a chair, pour a drink, and spend Christmas with the Temple Barred Podcast.

✨ Themes: Christmas reflections, grief & healing, Irish humour, music industry stories, mental health, creativity, community

🎧 Perfect for: fans of long-form conversation, Irish podcasts, honest Christmas episodes, and unfiltered storytelling

Merry Christmas from Temple Barred — you’re not alone. 🎄💛

Episode 61: Cults, Consciousness & the Illusion of Reality

What isn’t a cult anymore?

In Episode 61 of The Temple Bar Podcast, Jim and Philip dive headfirst into one of the most provocative conversations yet — from religious cults and modern fandoms to consciousness, duality, fame, belief systems, and the nature of reality itself.

Starting with David Koresh, Jim Jones, Scientology, and the origins of cult behaviour, the conversation expands into religion, Sikhism, Jesus as a reformer, and how messages rooted in love and unity can become distorted over time. Are cults simply belief systems taken to extremes — and if so, are governments, corporations, football clubs, and pop fandoms just more socially acceptable cults?

The episode moves fluidly between:

• Cults & cult leaders (Waco, Jonestown, Scientology)
• Religion vs belief (Christianity, Sikhism, Jesus, Nanak)
• Modern “cult” culture (Taylor Swift, Kanye, Bono, football fandom)
• Fame & power — why every public figure eventually faces backlash
• The Law of One, free will, manipulation, and service to self vs service to others
• Consciousness, duality, dimensions & reality as a simulation
• Why nothing can exist without contrast — light and dark, good and bad
• Christmas parties, chaos, human nature, and the joy of losing control 🍻

Along the way, there are laugh-out-loud tangents, grounded Irish storytelling, deep philosophical reflections, and plenty of moments that will make you question what you think you know — without ever telling you what to believe.

This is a conversation about mankind, belief, identity, and why — in the end — everything might actually be okay.

🎙️ Listen now and decide for yourself what resonates — and what doesn’t.

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