Episodes

Friday Apr 18, 2025
Friday Apr 18, 2025
His Handicap Makes Him Strong, and Then He Sloughs It Off, WIth Others’ Help (Clip)
In The Brothers’ Grimm’s story, “The Donkey,” the second king burns the donkey hide completely. We wonder about the necessity of the suit. Perhaps it’s about vulnerability – he only goes without his donkeyness after acceptance in the second castle and by the princess on their wedding night.
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For the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-skgyy-1881e63
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Friday Apr 18, 2025
Friday Apr 18, 2025
In The Brothers’ Grimm’s story, “The Donkey,” the titular character: Waiting, nothing happening, waiting patiently with a display of his very high talent. He is accepted but not advancing, so in a reversal of his earlier maternal rejection, he makes to leave this adopted kingdom.
Please like and comment!
For the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-skgyy-1881e63
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Friday Apr 18, 2025
Friday Apr 18, 2025
Mama gets what she wants – a baby – but not the kind she wants – a donkey. In this way the story’s premise reminds me of those myths where someone asks the God for something but …be careful about what you wish for. Notably, she does not cope with her fortune but instead rejects it. In contrast, strikingly, the king accepts him fully. As the story progresses, we see the donkey has immense charisma and confidence. How related is this to his lute mastery? After all, it shows talent – inherent and developed – beauty, harmony, emotional control, love even; not to mention its enchantments… He resembles the Bible’s poor shepherd David, who also ascended to a throne more magnificent than the one he is seen to usurp.
Please like and comment (except about my camera cover)!
For the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-skgyy-1881e63
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
(From a discussion on the Brothers Grimm’s “The Donkey,” Summary Part 4)
The king asks his daughter how the first day of marriage to the donkey went, and she was pleased. The servant tells his master of the donkey skin, and the king then hides to see for himself. They take the skin and the servant burns it. Upon awakening, the prince decides to escape when he realizes his animal skin is gone, but the king implores him to stay, and the prince ends up inheriting both this kingdom and the one he was born into!
Please like and comment (except about my camera cover)!
For the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-skgyy-1881e63
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
The donkey prince impresses with his manners, but eventually asks the king to be dismissed from his court, and the king asks what will keep him there. The reply is the princess. They are to be married. The wedding night, he doffs his donkey skin.
(From a discussion on the Brothers Grimm’s “The Donkey,” Summary Part 3)
Please like and comment (except about my camera cover)!
For the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-skgyy-1881e63
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
The donkey prince runs away and comes into another kingdom. He calls out at the entrance, advertising his lute-playing magic. Enchanted by the play, a servant lets him in. The court has mirth at his appearance and tries to sit him first with the peasants, then the soldiers; the ass insists he be sat next to the king. He is also sat next to the king’s beautiful daughter.
Please like and comment (except about my camera cover)!
For the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-skgyy-1881e63
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
A Mixed Royal Blessing Runs Away (Clip)
God decides to give a barren royal couple a child, but a donkey emerges from her. She wants to get rid of it, but the king says it’s a blessing. He masters the lute, but becomes distraught when he sees his reflection for the first time, so he decides to run away (with his faithful servant).
(From a discussion on the Brothers Grimm’s “The Donkey.” )
Please like and comment!
For the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-skgyy-1881e63
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
A King and Queen badly wanted a child; she felt like a barren field, but when they are finally blessed with progeny, it’s a donkey, and she would rather not have had any than this. The king, however, is grateful and will have his son sit on the throne. The donkey boy is cheerful and bright, and overcomes a lute master’s resistance and learns to play it as well as he does. One day he sees his reflection and, horrified, sets out on travels with his trusty sidekick. They stop at the castle of the most beautiful princess and play the lute until they’re let in. He demands to be sat at the royal table, where he shows his manners and cleanliness. After a while at court, he is ready to leave, but the king implores him to stay, offering him gold, finery, half his kingdom, and finally his daughter in marriage. The little ass perks up, and during his wedding night he is spied by a servant the king sent, who sees the groom disrobe the donkey suit. The next night the king steals it away and burns it completely, and in the morning the prince tries to leave when he discovers the theft. The king offers him half the kingdom now, and the rest at his death, and within a year or so the prince has two kingdoms.
(Sorry about the bad sound on my end. It’s been corrected in future episodes.)
Please like and comment!
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Red in ritual-like action sequences in this story, preceding his rebirth as a bird and his reincarnation as a family member (he is re-membered).
(From a discussion on the Brothers Grimm’s “The Juniper Tree.”)
(Sorry about the bad sound on my end. It’s been corrected in future episodes.)
Please like and comment!
For the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ibjaf-187ad01
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Why the suddenness of the stepmother’s killing and return to supper for the other family members? This seems a marked change from the ritualistic aspects of the story – the singsong account of the boy’s ordeal by his bird form.
(From a discussion on the Brothers Grimm’s “The Juniper Tree.”)
(Sorry about the bad sound on my end. It’s been corrected in future episodes.)
Please like and comment!
For the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ibjaf-187ad01
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Becoming Human
I view having deep, open conversations as perhaps the primary way I explore my and others' humanity. I am looking for self-transcendence, knowledge, depth and love though exploration of experience, stories (such as myths and folktales), and ideas. I hope you enjoy these conversations for personal growth and happiness, and thank you for listening.