Verbō: A Podcast on Poetry, Philosophy and Becoming.

Why Knowledge Alone Keeps You Stuck

Brian J González Martínez — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:32:31 GMT

This episode explores the nature of change, plasticity, and the difference between understanding and action. It emphasizes that real transformation requires physical practice and movement, not just insight or knowledge, and discusses how environment and repetition shape behavior.

Before You Reach for It

Brian J González Martínez — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 02:48:15 GMT

In this episode, Brian Gonzalez shares his personal journey with addiction, focusing on the importance of awareness and control over one's habits. He discusses how addiction can manifest in various forms and emphasizes the need to confront discomfort rather than escape it. Through his experience of quitting vaping, he highlights the significance of rewiring the mind to regain control over the body. The conversation culminates in the idea that mastery is a continuous journey of renewal and presence, rather than perfection.

The Mountain Within: Understanding Self-Sabotage

Brian J González Martínez — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 23:11:23 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the metaphor of climbing a mountain as a representation of personal growth and self-discovery. He delves into the concept of self-sabotage, emphasizing that the true obstacles we face are often internal rather than external. The discussion highlights the importance of embracing the journey, understanding that every step taken is a part of the ascent towards self-mastery. Gonzalez encourages listeners to confront their fears and recognize that the summit is not just a destination, but a continuous process of becoming.

The Cost of Speaking Your Truth

Brian J González Martínez — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the profound implications of silence versus speaking one's truth. He delves into the personal and societal costs of remaining silent, emphasizing the courage required to voice uncomfortable truths. Through personal anecdotes and reflections on broader societal issues, he challenges listeners to confront their own truths and the impact of their silence on themselves and the world around them.

Dreams are the Oldest Technology

Brian J González Martínez — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:21:07 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the profound nature of dreams, emphasizing their role as a technology of the mind rather than mere reflections of our subconscious. He discusses how dreams engage with our memories and emotions, serving as a guide for personal growth and transformation. By shifting the focus from interpreting dreams to listening to them, Gonzalez highlights the importance of understanding the deeper messages they convey about our lives and selves.

The Violence Of Delay

Brian J González Martínez — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 17:30:00 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the concept of delay and its impact on our lives. He emphasizes that the notion of 'later' is a deceptive comfort that leads to regret and missed opportunities. By postponing our dreams and decisions, we rob ourselves of time and experiences. Gonzalez advocates for the importance of presence and taking action in the moment, rather than waiting for the perfect time. He concludes by hinting at the next episode's focus on the cost of speaking one's truth in a divided world.

Why Silence Terrifies Us?

Brian J González Martínez — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:00:00 GMT

We crave silence, yet most of us run the moment it arrives. In this episode, Brian González explores our uneasy relationship with quiet, from his childhood in Puerto Rico to his experience with silence as a danger in the Army to our modern-day itch for constant noise.

Blending science and storytelling, he explains why silence feels uncomfortable, how the brain's default mode network makes us wrestle with big questions, and why that discomfort is exactly what we need. Listeners will learn how silence heals, fosters new neural connections, and provides the fertile ground where meaning and creativity flourish.

Silence isn't emptiness. It's presence. It may also be the most radical gift we can give ourselves.

The New Mirror of the Human Mind

Brian J González Martínez — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:30:00 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the profound implications of AI on human identity and creativity. He discusses the existential fears that arise when humans confront the capabilities of AI, questioning what it means to be human in a world where machines can imitate our thoughts and creativity. Gonzalez emphasizes the importance of understanding the distinction between AI-generated outputs and human experiences, arguing that true creativity stems from the friction of existence and the unique human condition.

Why Everything Is a Mirror?

Brian J González Martínez — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:30:01 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the concept of mirrors as reflections of our inner selves. He discusses how our interactions, emotions, and experiences serve as mirrors that reveal our truths, fears, and desires. By facing these reflections, we can achieve personal growth and transformation. The urgency of self-reflection is emphasized, as ignoring these mirrors can lead to distortion and regret. Gonzalez encourages listeners to embrace their reflections and recognize that their stories are still unfolding.

The Illusion of Desire

Brian J González Martínez — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:39:38 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the complex nature of desire, particularly in the context of AI and the illusions it creates. He discusses how our desires can often be borrowed from societal expectations and how this can lead to a hollow existence. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing and reclaiming one's true desires to live authentically and fully. Gonzalez warns against the dangers of living in a theater of desire, where we perform roles dictated by others, rather than embracing our own unique narratives.

The Collective Unconscious in the Age of Social Media

Brian J González Martínez — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 20:51:35 GMT

Have you ever scrolled through your feed late at night and come across a post that felt as if it were pulled straight from your own mind? That eerie sense of déjà vu is no coincidence—it's a glimpse of what Carl Jung called the collective unconscious.

In this episode, Brian González delves into how social media acts as a cracked mirror of the human psyche, why ideas often emerge in multiple minds simultaneously, and the significance of viewing creativity as stewardship rather than ownership.

Verbō is where words become bridges, carrying us from the hidden to the spoken and from the collective to the personal.

The Power Of Redirection

Brian J González Martínez — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 01:58:57 GMT

In this episode of Verbō, Brian Gonzalez explores the emotional turmoil of rejection and the transformative power of redirection. He shares personal experiences of disappointment, emphasizing that a 'no' can serve as a compass guiding us toward new opportunities. The conversation encourages listeners to confront their disappointments, reframe their narratives, and embrace the journey of self-discovery that follows rejection. Brian highlights the importance of taking action and not allowing setbacks to define one's identity, ultimately framing rejection as a necessary step in personal growth.

The Heresy of Presence

Brian J González Martínez — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 01:28:17 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the themes of faith, belief, and the divine, challenging traditional notions of religion as a means of understanding God. He emphasizes the importance of encountering the divine directly, rather than through the lens of rigid beliefs and rituals. Gonzalez advocates for embracing doubt as a pathway to deeper awareness and understanding, suggesting that true spirituality lies in presence and creation rather than adherence to dogma.

How to Build Your Life When Everything Fails

Brian J González Martínez — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 23:41:21 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the theme of personal collapse and the journey towards rediscovery and meaning. He discusses how individuals often build their lives around routines and identities that can crumble unexpectedly, leading to a profound sense of loss. However, he emphasizes that such collapses can serve as invitations to reflect inwardly, find true meaning, and rebuild from a place of authenticity. Drawing on historical and philosophical references, Gonzalez illustrates the importance of embracing stillness and the mystery of existence as a pathway to personal growth and resilience.

Dependent by Design

Brian J González Martínez — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:30:01 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the pervasive myth of independence in modern culture, emphasizing that true strength lies in our dependence on one another. He discusses how societal norms glorify rugged individualism, leading to a loneliness epidemic where people feel isolated despite being surrounded by others. Gonzalez encourages listeners to embrace vulnerability and connection, highlighting that dependence is not a weakness but a fundamental aspect of the human experience. He concludes with a call to action to practice dependence and foster connections with others.

The Half Of God We Forgot

Brian J González Martínez — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 03:17:17 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the concept of light as a metaphor for understanding our lives and the myths that shape our existence. He discusses how humanity has historically sought to gather fragmented pieces of light, often choosing those that represent power and control, leading to the formation of organized religion. Gonzalez emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with the forgotten aspects of light that speak to intuition and mystery, urging listeners to reflect on their own experiences and the narratives that influence them.

The Beginning

Brian J González Martínez — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 20:27:46 GMT

In the first episode of Verbō, Brian José González Martínez shares his story, from his upbringing in Puerto Rico to his service as a U.S. Army sergeant to his rediscovery of his inner poet. He introduces One Way, the vision behind Verbō, which is a space for creators, seekers, and soul-rebuilders to explore poetic self-inquiry, mythic rewriting, and creative resurrection.

Verbō is more than a podcast; it's a voiceprint of emergence. This is where the journey begins.

AI as a God: Why We See the Sacred in Our Code

Brian J González Martínez — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 15:53:12 GMT

Why do we reach for sacred language when we talk about artificial intelligence? In this episode of Verbō, Brian Gonzalez explores how humanity has always created gods in its own image. From stone and scripture to silicon and code. Through history, psychology, and spirituality, this conversation asks what it means when we treat AI not just as a tool, but as something divine. Is AI a revelation, or just a reflection? And what do we risk losing when we mistake the surface of code for depth of spirit?

The Lie Of Manifestation

Brian J González Martínez — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 01:36:47 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the misconceptions surrounding manifestation and the importance of inner work in personal transformation. He discusses how the allure of effortless spirituality can lead to disillusionment and emphasizes the necessity of aligning one's identity with their aspirations. The dialogue delves into the collapse of old identities, the discipline required for true change, and the daily practices that shape a new self. Ultimately, Gonzalez advocates for a grounded approach to personal growth, where action and intention converge to create lasting change.

Embracing the Shadow of God

Brian J González Martínez — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 18:54:32 GMT

Rediscovering a God Who Holds Our Complexity

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the complexities of understanding God and spirituality, emphasizing the importance of embracing the shadow aspects of faith. He challenges traditional views of a sanitized God and encourages listeners to confront the contradictions within their beliefs, ultimately leading to a more authentic and expansive relationship with the divine.

The Spirit vs. The Self

Brian J González Martínez — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 03:24:22 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the profound distinction between living from the spirit versus the self. He emphasizes the importance of presence and mindfulness, advocating for a deeper connection with the spirit that inhabits our everyday lives. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, he illustrates how the spirit is not an abstract concept but a tangible presence that animates our existence, urging listeners to slow down and appreciate the ordinary moments that often go unnoticed.

The Ritual of Scrolling

Brian J González Martínez — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:50:12 GMT

In this conversation, Brian Gonzalez explores the pervasive cycle of digital consumption and its impact on our sense of self and connection. He discusses how the act of refreshing social media feeds has become a ritual that distracts us from authentic experiences and meaningful interactions. Gonzalez emphasizes the importance of reclaiming presence and creativity in our lives, urging listeners to step away from screens and engage with the world around them. He advocates for a shift from consumption to creation, highlighting that true fulfillment lies in moments of genuine connection and self-discovery.

Did Jesus Say He Was God?

Brian J González Martínez — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 18:03:07 GMT

Did Jesus ever say he was God? In this episode of Verbō, we step beyond arguments and into embodiment. We will explore the weight of the " I am " statements, the subversive use of titles like Messiah and Son of Man, the power of his silences and the revelation carried in his actions. Instead of searching for one definite sentence, we will ask a deeper question: what happens when identity is lived rather than declared?