26 Comments
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Amanda Conta Steencken's avatar

Loved the chat :) Thanks for sharing. And I'm psyched that Iain McGilchrist and his amazing work came up. You both must read his latest opus: The Matter With Things. He brings neuroscience into quantum biology in a masterful way.

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Alex Dobrenko`'s avatar

omgg heck yes but wait i gotta finish the master and emmissary first!!!

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

Oh fuck that you got through chapter 2 you know everything. I did just orderer it, though--both volumes. I feel like maybe we should workshop this? My favorite thing about Substack is it's like the best seminars in college.

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Amanda Conta Steencken's avatar

book club, baby! I've been reading it since April 2024 - in my book club. 1 chapter per month... it's the only way I could stay consistent... If you do set up a Substack workshop for this keep me in the loop. I do intend to go back and re-read :)

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

I was up last night, plotting a syllabus! (really). I'm so glad you recommended this, Amanda, I seriously cannot WAIT for its arrival.

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Alex Dobrenko`'s avatar

wait can we book club for real I feel like I would get so much more out of it

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

That sounds SO GOOD. Ordering now!

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Sarah Kovatch's avatar

Pure delight! So glad you shared.

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

Ha! I didn't even know I was sharing. Feel like I spammed everybody, but it sure was a good time!!

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Aunt Kat's avatar

That was great!

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

Auntie Kat, bless you for joining. I have been thinking of Pap so much since. And Uncle Chris this week. Ours is a strange and glorious family.

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Emily Henderson's avatar

I loved this conversation!

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

I'm SO grateful you were on!!

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Anna Schott's avatar

This was fun. Reminded me of how my favorite thing to do is write like super vulnerable essays then go back and delete them because they make me feel gross. I know how to party!

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

My kind of party. Except... the oppositional defiance in me defies allowing myself the dignity of their removal, so I leave them up and feel kicked in the guts for days. Endlessly exposed, doing nothing about it. Must be some kind of exposure therapy, right?

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Anna Schott's avatar

Or bravery!

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Katharine Beckett Winship's avatar

Isabel, your heart!

Love you🌱🌿♥️

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

I am SO grateful you joined and I felt especially inspired by that line of discussion--funny, it could've been six essays or one conversation. We should do one!

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Katharine Beckett Winship's avatar

Are you serious??

We could do one for Earth.

🌱🌿💚

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

WE MUST

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Katharine Beckett Winship's avatar

As i watched you, i thought, “i could never do that!!” You are amazing.

But if it’s for Earth…

my email is sanctuarytwo@gmail.com 🌱

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Thaissa Lara's avatar

Few speak about both writing and parenting with such softness and truth. I’ve long admired how you juggle the creative life nurtured beside the caregiving role—there’s grace in every word, or at least in the 90% I managed to catch before my brain started asking for subtitles and a snack!

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

Oh, thank you so much, Thaissa. We were talking really fast! I think everybody needed subtitles.

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Paolo Peralta's avatar

Delighted all through out! Great book recommendation! Will look into stroke of genius. The brain is amazing! Keep rocking 🙌

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

You are the best, Paolo!! Thanks for YOUR perpetual support ✌️

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Mary B's avatar

This was so much fun to watch!

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