What if falling endlessly could teach you about flow, effortlessness and presence? Join host Max Mulligan as he explores Downwell, an affordable, challenging roguelike platformer where you fall down an endless well armed with Gunboots.

Drawing connections to Taoism, psychology and philosophy, this episode unpacks how Downwell transforms moment-to-moment gameplay into a meditative state of total immersion.

Downwell

• Downwell Wiki – https://downwell.fandom.com/wiki/Downwell_Wiki
• Wikipedia – Downwell – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downwell_(video_game)

Taoism and Wu Wei

• Straight Bamboo – The Chef Cuts the Ox – https://straightbamboo.com/the-chef-cuts-the-ox/
• Stephan Joppich – Wu Wei – https://stephanjoppich.com/wu-wei/
• Einzelgänger – Taoism Philosophy Articles – https://einzelganger.co/category/philosophy/taoism-philosophy/
• StPeter.im – Taoist Writings – https://stpeter.im/writings/tao/

Flow Theory (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)

• Wikipedia – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihaly_Csikszentmihalyi
• Flow Research Collective – History of Flow – https://www.flowresearchcollective.com/blog/history-of-flow
• Study.com – Flow Theory Video Lesson – https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-flow-theory-works.html

Video Essay Covering Flow, Wu Wei, and the Taoist Charioteer Parable

• YouTube – Don't Try | The Philosophy of Flow – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k23x5kP7dAY

Written and Recorded by Max W. Bartley

Produced by Kai Williams

Intro/Outro Music by Ashley Rezvani