
Does the pope shit in the woods? or: 🎵 Are you Experienced? 🎵
From The Hansel and Gretel Code by Curtis Cates, MD
October 21, 2025 · 1h 56m · Season 1 · Episode 43
About this episode
The episode explores various cultural questions and connections through a humorous lens, including mysticism and the phenomenon of ayahuasca tourism.
we finally get the bottom-line scoop on Gretel’s crying jags, and answer the 2 burning questions of Western Culture and Civilization over a couple of hot pastrami on ciabatas PART 1 [03:24] In which we find a deep and abiding connection between The Stooges and mysticism, and ask the burning question of Western Culture and Civilization: Is it okay to wear socks with sandals? PART 2 [21:49] In which we figure out exactly why ayahuasca tourism is booming PART 3 [39:59] In which we start filling in Gretel’s backstory over a couple of hot pastrami sandwiches, and can’t help but notice that somebody is constantly mopping the floors PART 4 [58:38] In which we do some Provençal provenance proofing, make a gratuitous reference to Taxicab Confessions, and ask that other major question of Western Culture and Civilization: Does the pope shit in the woods? PART 5 [1:16:42] In which we learn that a mystic is a mystic is a mystic, and realize that a cynic is a cynic is a cynic PART 6 [1:31:25] In which we combine ciabata and cardiology in a zen koan and end up with the definitive definition of grace *transcripts and links for each episode are available at: betweenthelines.xyz *Chapter Titles…
People in this episode
Host: Curtis Cates, MD
Topics covered
- mysticism
- ayahuasca tourism
- Western Culture
- Gretel's backstory
- socks with sandals
- ciabatta and cardiology
- grace
Keywords
- mysticism
- ayahuasca
- Western Culture
- Gretel
- socks with sandals
- ciabatta
- grace
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Stooges, Taxicab Confessions
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