Note: We are using a streaming platform called RiverSide, which requires you to open the link above in either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Or you can download the Riverside app on your mobile device.

Donald Trump is a force of nature. To his supporters, he is a bold, uncompromising leader—one of the few figures strong enough to break a system they believe is corrupt beyond repair. They admire his defiance, his will to power, and his willingness to stand against entrenched elites. Many see him as a victim of the Deep State, railroaded by a politically motivated justice system that seeks to silence him through a felony conviction they view as illegitimate. To them, Trump isn’t just a leader—he’s a warrior, a necessary force for change.

For his detractors, Trump represents something far more dangerous. They see him as a demagogue, a con man, and a threat to democracy itself—vain, reckless, and profoundly corrupt. To them, he is a would-be dictator, a man who thrives on chaos and division, bending law and truth to serve his own interests. In their eyes, he embodies the very worst of American politics: cruelty, deception, and authoritarian ambition.

Trump is, in short, the perfect vessel for both golden projections and shadow projections — a larger-than-life figure onto whom people project their deepest hopes and fears. But what if, instead of merely reacting to him, we took a deeper look at what these projections reveal about us?

In this provocative and timely conversation, developmental and shadow expert Kim Barta will help us explore:

• How Trump functions as a mirror for our own unconscious biases, fears, and aspirations.
• What our emotional intensity—whether love or hatred—tells us about our own shadows.
• How we can reclaim and integrate disowned parts of ourselves to engage in more meaningful, grounded political conversations.
• How to step beyond the cycle of reactionary partisan attacks and communicate with more clarity, care, and effectiveness.

This discussion will be challenging, illuminating, and deeply relevant to anyone trying to navigate today’s political climate with greater self-awareness and wisdom. Whether you see Trump as a savior or a threat, what might it mean to step back, cool down, and engage from a place of real power and integrity?

Join us for a conversation that isn’t just about Trump — it’s about us, our shadows, and the possibility of a healthier, more conscious political culture.

About Integral Edge

Welcome to a world on the edge.

AI is rewriting the rules. Politics are more polarized than ever, with the far right and left in an endless clash. The metacrisis looms, late-stage capitalism is unraveling, DEI is evolving, and strongmen are rising once more.

But that’s just the beginning.

This podcast takes an integral look at the forces shaping our reality—from cutting-edge neuroscience and biohacking to cryptocurrency, global economics, and the ancient wisdom of awakening, mindfulness, and embodiment.

Keith Martin-Smith brings a deep, multi-perspective lens to the chaos, cutting through the noise to find what actually matters.

This isn’t just another commentary on the world. It’s a guide to seeing—and living—beyond the divide.

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Keith Martin-Smith is an ordained Zen priest, and the author of When the Buddha Needs Therapy, released by Integral Life Press in 2022. Ken Wilber said it was, “a terrific book, fully embracing a truly integral perspective and highly recommended.”