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Meta-Cosmos

195: Shrink and Grow and Shrink and Grow [Tao Te Ching Ch.36]

Sep 20, 2026 · 15 min · 10 segments

It turns out, life seeks to shrink as much as it seeks to grow, but it would never admit to it. Bartleby and Artemus dip their little sock toes into the subject, but only just get started in a very…

It turns out, life seeks to shrink as much as it seeks to grow, but it would never admit to it. Bartleby and Artemus dip their little sock toes into the subject, but only just get started in a very short episode of Meta-Cosmos!

It turns out, life seeks to shrink as much as it seeks to grow, but it would never admit to it. Bartleby and Artemus dip their little sock toes into the subject, but only just get started in a very…

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Website

Show signals: SuitabilityLimitedBiasNot politicalAudience≈552 followers

Speakers: Artemis NehiHostBartleby NehiHost

Top entities: Tao Te Ching×9 Stephen Mitchell×8 Ursula K. Le Guin×8 Humboldt County×2 Laozi×3

Keeping the Episode Short0:00 – 1:01

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:00

Hello, and welcome.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:02

I'm Artemis Nehi.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:04

And I'm Bartleby Nehi.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:06

Yes, and repeat after me, Bartleby.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:08

Repeat after me, Bartleby.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:10

No, not that

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:11

part.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:11

Repeat the next part.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:12

No, not that part.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:13

Repeat the next part.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:14

Just promise me you'll keep the episode short.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:16

Just promise me you'll keep the episode short.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:19

No, not like that.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:20

No, not like that.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:21

No, don't repeat.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:23

Just promise me.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:25

Jeez Louise,

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:26

Artemis.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:26

Make up your mind.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:27

Do you want me to repeat after you or

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:28

not? You're listening to Metacosmos.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:32

And I'm being serious, Bartleby.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:34

We need to keep this episode especially short.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:37

Oh, really? Yes, absolutely really.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:40

In fact, if we don't, the podcast goes on a one-week break.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:45

Oh.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:45

Well, I don't know.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:46

Maybe that's not so bad.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:48

Look, I plan to finish our chapter-by-chapter reading of the Tao Te Ching, and this podcast, well, it potentially barely has enough episodes left in it to get that done.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:59

Oh, man.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:59

Don't remind me, Artemis.

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Tao Te ChingBookBook by Laozi
92%9 mentions
Stephen MitchellPersonPoet and translator
75%8 mentions
Ursula K. Le GuinPersonAmerican author
58%8 mentions
Humboldt CountyPlaceCounty in California
42%2 mentions
LaoziPersonChinese philosopher
25%3 mentions
SupermanEntityDC Universe character
8%2 mentions

Society
GrowthSociety > Human Behavior > Perception
Natural ForcesSociety > Human Behavior > Perception > Growth
Philosophical TextsLiterature > Translations
Lao TzuLiterature > Translations > Philosophical Texts
Ursula K. Le GuinLiterature > Translations > Philosophical Texts > Lao Tzu
Growth MindsetPersonal Development > Self-Improvement > Mindfulness > Understanding
GovernanceEthics > Moral Philosophy > Societal Values
Power DynamicsEthics > Moral Philosophy > Societal Values > Governance
PerceptionSociety > Human Behavior
Human BehaviorSociety
Societal ValuesEthics > Moral Philosophy
Moral PhilosophyEthics
MindfulnessPersonal Development > Self-Improvement
TranslationsLiterature
UnderstandingPersonal Development > Self-Improvement > Mindfulness
Personal Development
Self-ImprovementPersonal Development
Literature
Ethics

Keeping the Episode Short0:00 – 1:01

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:00

Hello, and welcome.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:02

I'm Artemis Nehi.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:04

And I'm Bartleby Nehi.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:06

Yes, and repeat after me, Bartleby.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:08

Repeat after me, Bartleby.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:10

No, not that

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:11

part.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:11

Repeat the next part.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:12

No, not that part.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:13

Repeat the next part.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:14

Just promise me you'll keep the episode short.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:16

Just promise me you'll keep the episode short.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:19

No, not like that.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:20

No, not like that.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:21

No, don't repeat.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:23

Just promise me.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:25

Jeez Louise,

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:26

Artemis.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:26

Make up your mind.

B

Bartleby NehiHost

0:27

Do you want me to repeat after you or

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:28

not? You're listening to Metacosmos.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:32

And I'm being serious, Bartleby.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:34

We need to keep this episode especially short.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:37

Oh, really? Yes, absolutely really.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:40

In fact, if we don't, the podcast goes on a one-week break.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:45

Oh.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:45

Well, I don't know.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:46

Maybe that's not so bad.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:48

Look, I plan to finish our chapter-by-chapter reading of the Tao Te Ching, and this podcast, well, it potentially barely has enough episodes left in it to get that done.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:59

Oh, man.

A

Artemis NehiHost

0:59

Don't remind me, Artemis.