The InKleined Podcast Episode 2 - Cruise Ships, Religion, Art and Drugs Ft. Jaden Ruesch

Welcome to the InKleined Podcast. Today's guest is Jaden Ruesch; a commissioned artist and photographer from Utah, USA (but no, he's not Mormon). Jaden and I met on the Queen Mary 2 during our first contracts as photographers at sea and bunked into the same cabin together. Fate would bring two more contracts together at sea, this time on board the Queen Elizabeth, and as cabin mates we would regularly hold conversations like this one; the only difference being that, on this occasion, there's a microphone.



See more of Jaden's work on instagram: @creation_jar



More about me here: www.samjameklein.com | @samjamesklein



Episode Description:



0:00 – 18:00 Reflecting on Cruise Ships. How we met – “Burma Road” adapting to new lifestyle changes and “walking the hallways”. 18:00 – 27:00 Overcoming new environments, getting responsibility and progression. The fake rank structure of Cruise Ships and where photography fits in – “rank and responsibility don’t line up”. 27:00 – 38:00 “What do you miss about life on board?” Growing up Mormon –an introduction to Mormonism. Expanding circle of influence. Leaving the church – “once the bookshelf breaks, you can’t put it back”. 38:00 – 45:00 Breaking out of the confines of religion to be “the truest me I can be”. Issues with authority. Nature vs Nurture. Chemical squirts – are decisions you own? 45:00 – 51:00How to be yourself, “the illusion of freewill”. Is sentience a mistake? Detaching from your emotions to get what you want from life. 51:00 – 56:00 Thoughts on Poly Amore – you can’t control freewill. Societal expectations on relationships. Dating and marriage; opinions change. 56:00 – 01:14:00 Becoming creative and starting out in photography. Being confident and allowing the body to control the mind. Overthinking and morbid curiosity; “if it bleeds it leads”. Life is fragile. 01:14:00 – 01:35:00 Being and introvert and the painting process. Making your talent work for you. Switch from photography to painting and drawing. Being alone. “Are you still a photographer without a camera?” Self-portraiture and Albrecht Dürer. Being a model and different versions of yourself. 01:39:00 – 01:47:00 Reflecting on mortality and “what do you leave behind?” JAR stickers. Making an impact with your life. 01:47:00 – 02:14:00 5 Big Questions begin. “What memory will you think about on your death bed?” “What’s been the biggest tangent in your life?” Religion, Art and Drugs. Bad trips and external gratification. Relationships. Being responsible in drug taking, learning to control your emotions. Ego deaths and “being a futon bed”. 02:14:00 – 02:27:00 Porn as a public health crisis. Exploring sexuality and sex as taboo. Religious structures (Mormonism). Religion is too simple. 02:27:00 – 02:34:00 “Have you ever been in love?” Not closing doors. Using sadness as motivation. 02:34:00 – 02:47:00 “When was the last time you cried?” Being a man and toxic masculinity. Existential dread and accepting mortality. Joining ships and the rush of travel. Soundtracks to different contracts. 02:47:00 – 02:56:00Travel flashbacks and trying to relate to PTSD. ‘One’ by Metallica. 02:56:00 – Closing “What are you trying to say?” Find the best truth you can.