It's All Happening: Recent Episodes
Zach Leary
“It’s All Happening” is a podcast. It’s the brain child of Zach Leary , a reasonably intelligent, strange, wise and funny guy who lives in Los Angeles. Zach has found himself talking to some pretty amazing people throughout his life, so why not make it a show? Every week or so (sometimes more, sometimes less) he will be bringing you conversations with amazing people about consciousness, art, yoga, technology, music, comedy and whatever else seems interesting in the moment.
It’s All Happening is back from a self-imposed hiatus with the genius of Miko Matsumura. Miko goes beyond his role as tech titan and takes you into a profound vision where technology, consciousness, spirituality and the human condition all dance together in a divinely orchestrated goal for the future. Our conversation covered the implications of the blockchain, why the end user matters and how to make sense of economic chaos. Keeping up with Miko is a task, let me tell you. He is a big brain, big heart human that is one of the finest thinkers around today.
Intro Rant – Heartbreak, The Grateful Dead and being hurt
Sponsored by – Sunrise CBD – Conscious CBD, Crafted for Wellness at Honest Prices
Miko Matsumura is a General Partner with Gumi Cryptos, a US $30M venture capital fund focused early stage blockchain startups and a Venture Partner with BitBull Capital, a cryptocurrency fund-of-funds. He is also an advisor to Arrington XRP Capital. He has been a keynote speaker at dozens of blockchain conferences around the world. He is also cofounder of crypto exchange Evercoin.
The love, light and sublime magic that is Deva Premal and Miten comes beaming in to this episode of the podcast. Recorded at a gorgeous ocean view villa in Malibu, our conversation covered the history, inspiration and philosophy that makes their life's offering in the form of song so special. In some ways it's hard to convey the potent and serene wisdom that being in their presence conveys, it's beyond words to some extent. They emit a sense of sereneness that I've rarely encountered. For over 25 years Deva and Miten have traveled the world delivering their brand of mantra infused sacred music to audiences near and far. The way that they share their gift of song and mantra goes beyond the traditional relationship of performer and audience and into a communal exchange of ceremony and ritual that is entirely unique and must be experienced. I hope some of their love is transmitted in this conversation.
Intro Rant - How we can take back effects of the "filter bubble"
Sponsored by - The Yoga of Strength - A Hero’s Journey into the Heart of Reality - A New Book by Andrew Mark Rowe
Deva Premal and Miten -
Awakened to the treasure of her childhood, Deva began asking her Indian friends to teach or reacquaint her with mantras, and Miten began composing original harmonic melodies for the ancient chants, with Deva singing lead. In her mother’s kitchen in 1998, Deva and Miten recorded their first album, The Essence, expecting it simply to circulate among Osho followers. Instead, it exploded at yoga studios, massage clinics, and retreat centers globally, introducing the world to a brand new sound, with album sales reaching 300,000 in hard copies alone. And so Deva Premal & Miten were born.
Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, shares his passion and history of his life's work on this episode of the podcast. Homeboy Industries is the largest gang intervention and re-entry program in the world and Father Greg's light created it. In the podcast he shares the origin story of Homeboy Industries, why healing and tenderness works and a vision for healing all of our inner cities. Father Greg is truly one of the great inspirations in the world of service and social outreach, his work has touched countless souls. Please check out what Homeboy Industries is all about if you're not familiar with them. He is truly doing the lords work.
Sponsored by - The Yoga of Strength - A Hero’s Journey into the Heart of Reality by Andrew Mark Rowe
Father Greg Boyle - In the face of law enforcement tactics and criminal justice policies of suppression and mass incarceration as the means to end gang violence, he and parish and community members adopted what was a radical approach at the time: treat gang members as human beings.
In 1988 they started what would eventually become Homeboy Industries, which employs and trains former gang members in a range of social enterprises, as well as provides critical services to thousands of men and women who walk through its doors every year seeking a better life.
Father Greg is the author of the 2010 New York Times-bestseller Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. His 2017 book is the Los Angeles Times-bestseller Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship.
He has received the California Peace Prize and been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In 2014, the White House named Father Boyle a Champion of Change. He received the University of Notre Dame’s 2017 Laetare Medal, the oldest honor given to American Catholics.
This episode of the show features an exclusive interview with the legendary Dr. Andrew Weil. The interview centers around the new science of psychedelics and why current research plays such an important role in crafting a new model for overall integrative medicine. Dr. Weil lends his insight and expertise into the areas of psychedelic research that go hand in hand with his decades long work into alternative medicine and overall well being. Dr. Weil has seen 50 years of psychedelic research go through many peaks and valleys and we're honored to have gotten his input for this amazing interview.
Intro rant – Documentaries on dysfunctional anti-heroes
Andrew Weil, M.D., is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, a healing oriented approach to health care which encompasses body, mind, and spirit.
The cosmic genius of the mind, Dr. Dan Siegel, returns to the It's All Happening podcast! Dan's new book Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence sparks a discussion that weaves together spiritual awareness, the constructs of the human condition and the inherent nature of the mind. Dan has done decades of work into studying the nature of our inter-personal relationship with the mind and how it can be understood resulting in methods for living a better life. Dan is the rare voice who can blend science and spirituality together to form an awe inspiring yet pragmatic daily practice and philosophical approach to our place in the universe.
Intro rant – The Green New Deal (extra long)
Order your copy of Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence today!
Dr. Dan Siegel
Daniel J. Siegel, MD is a contemporary psychiatrist and writer who specializes in interpersonal neurobiology and coined the term mindsight.
It's All Happening returns to the airwaves with one of the most important and culturally relevant discussions of today. Roger McNamee, Silicon Valley legend and author of the new book Zucked - Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe takes us through the monumental problem that social media is presenting in today's culture. Never before has such an influential insider taken a step back to rethink his earlier position that's resulted in becoming a whistle blower of the practices and methods that these platforms inflict upon us daily. Zucked must be read and each one of us must honestly take on this problem as best we can. This is one of the most important topics ever covered on this podcast. Enjoy.
Intro rant - My take on social medias growing influence into problematic territories
Roger McNamee began his career in 1982 at T. Rowe Price Associates, where he managed the top performing Science & Technology Fund and co-managed the New Horizons Fund. In 1991, he launched Integral Capital Partners, the first crossover fund (combining later stage venture capital with public market investments), in partnership with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Morgan Stanley & Co. In 1999, Roger co-founded Silver Lake Partners, the first private equity fund focused on technology businesses. In 2004, Roger and his partners launched Elevation Partners, an investment partnership focused on the intersection of media and technology. Since April 2017, Roger has been engaged, along with former Google design ethicist Tristan Harris and others, in a campaign to trigger a national conversation about the dark side of social media. Roger’s book about that experience, Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe, was published in February 2019.
The first It's All Happening podcast of 2019 launches with the explosively brilliant Dave Stringer. Our conversation took form around the connection between consciousness expansion and mantra music (kirtan). Dave went deep as he explain how the various methods for self inquiry all share similarities in how they shift our awareness of the self's relationship to universal consciousness. And that's just scratching the surface. Dave is one of the most thoughtful practitioners of eastern mysticism in the west and also one of the finest musicians in the genre. Enjoy!
Intro rant - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her sudden and important impact on the American political scene
Dave Stringer is a Grammy™-nominated record producer and composer who has been widely profiled as one of the most innovative artists of the modern Yoga movement. He’s both an inspiring singer and a captivating public speaker, resolving neuroscience, yoga philosophy and music into a participatory theatrical experience. Stringer’s sound invokes the transcendent mysticism of traditional Indian instruments with the exuberant, groove-oriented sensibility of American gospel and the ringing harmonies of Appalachia. He is featured in the upcoming documentary films Mantra: Sounds Into Silence and The Power of Mantra and has toured extensively, leading concerts, workshops and retreats all over the world.
Oscar winning screenwriter David Seidler takes us through the multi faceted brilliance and inner workings of his mind! Yes, David won an Oscar for his film, The Kings Speech, but to say that it's not the most interesting thing he's ever done may in fact be true. In his 81 years, David has led ten lives that resemble a fantastical odyssey of international wonder, intrigue, mystery all while dancing with the stars! Our conversation went exactly where it was supposed to go as it traversed his current work, Hollywood, the current state of culture and the craft of writing. My only regret is that it wasn't longer. To me, David is the quintessential example of where the arts meets the humanities!
Intro rant - The nature of change in the form of material possessions
David Seidler-
A Londoner by birth, David was sent to the USA as an infant during WWII which resulted in a childhood stammer. George VI, the stuttering reluctant King, became a boyhood hero, role model, and many years later the inspiration for his film The King’s Speech staring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, and Guy Pearce, which won the Best Picture Oscar for 2010 and for which David was awarded the golden man for Best Original Screenplay, two BAFTA’s and numerous other gongs. His stage version has toured England, played the West End, and been produced so far in eight foreign languages. He no longer stutters.
Seidler’s career commenced with writing dubbing scripts for Godzilla The Monster movies. He has over twenty credits to his name including: Tucker, The Man and His Dream starring Jeff Bridges, directed by Francis Coppola. Nominated for Writing Achievement by the WGA three times (winning for Onassis, The Richest Man In The World). David has also written three animated features, including Quest for Camelot. He is currently working on a Miles Davis project, So What, for Denzel Washington to direct.
David has lectured in Milan, Rome, Porto, A.F.I. Los Angeles, Sundance, Dreamago Institute in Switzerland, and Laboratorio Novas Historias in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He lived for several years in Fiji, where he was Political Advisor to Chief Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. He also resided in New Zealand for eight years and returns to Godzone yearly to educate the trout and torment his son Manu who is a senior video editor at TVNZ. His daughter, Maya, is a documentary producer in NYC.
Recorded in the midst of the swirling love-verse that is BhaktiFest, Vish graces the podcast with his wisdom, heart and humor. Visvambhar or "Vish" as he is affectionately known uses kirtan as his vehicle for delivering knowledge on how to incorporate practical devotion into your daily life. Our conversation covered his unique take on Bhakti Yoga, growing up in ISKCON, the many different philosophical paths, daily practice and the joy of kirtan. I've known Vish for a few years now and to see him rise to become not just a magnificent kirtan wallah but also a wisdom leader is remarkable. Listen with love!
Intro rant - The elections, fires and what we can do
Please support the Mayapuris fundraising drive for their new album - 9islands - CLICK HERE
Visvambhar ‘Vish’ Sheth -
Visvambhar ‘Vish’ Sheth is the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed group ‘The Mayapuris’, a headlining Kirtan group that has rocked stages from India to Florida, Australia to South Africa. Starting at the age of 5, Vish has spent his life leading Kirtans in the ISKCON (Vaisnava) tradition. He is a multi-instrumentalist, and a master of the Mridanga drum and performs in traditional as well as fusion styles. Vish started performing in the modern yoga studio culture 2007, and since then he has performed at countless studio gatherings and well known spiritual venues like Bhaktifest, Omega Institute, Wanderlust, Beloved Festival, Floyd Festival, and many others. In addition to being a master percussionist, Vish also plays many instruments – harmonium, bamboo flute, guitar, sitar, and bass. Vish is an in-demand sideman as well, and has toured with Kirtan pioneer Jai Uttal and is also a performing and recording artist with the renowned world-beat ensemble, The Hanumen. Vish has not only mastered his art but has a rare capacity to invoke the ‘rasa’ or the essence of the transcendental energies that define the Kirtan path.
The brilliant Mark Pesce jumps into the cryptocurrency flow of the IAH podcast. Episode 127 focuses on Mark's authoritative demystification of the world of cryptocurrency that he talks about often in his new podcast "The Next Billion Seconds."
“It’s vitally important for everyone - not just bankers and techies - to understand this new world of finance, investing and money. CRYPTONOMICS gives listeners the tools they need to understand this new world. This is the 101 for everyone,” says Pesce.
Our conversation tried to take a piece by piece approach to the complex world that crypto currencies inhabit and make into an accessible platform for discussion and possibly even investment. I learned more on this podcast than I have in a long time. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Intro rant - Insight into the insecurities of my 45th birthday
Mark Pesce -
Mark Pesce is a futurist, inventor, writer, entrepreneur, educator and podcaster. In 1994 Pesce co-invented VRML, a 3D interface to the Web. Pesce was a judge on Australian Broadcasting Company’s series The New Inventors, celebrating Australia’s newest inventions, and writes an award-winning column for global tech publication The Register. Pesce hosts several podcasts, including This Week in Startups Australia; and The Next Billion Seconds - winner of the Best Technical and Scientific Podcast of 2018 at the Australian Podcast Awards - offering a window into the world of tomorrow. Pesce has written six books, including The Playful World, VRML: Browsing and Building Cyberspace, and Hyperpolitics, and founded postgraduate programs at both the University of Southern California and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, holding appointments as Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney, and Honorary Adjunct at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Amidst a cloud of wisdom infused comedic mystical smoke, Episode 126 beams into your mind with the brilliance of Tommy Chong! Our conversation traversed Tommy's 80 years of life on this planet that has seen him having a front row seat for the counter cultures permanent shift on our society. He's part comedian, part film maker, part activist and all mystic.
If you want to hear how life can manifest into a magical state of being - look no further. Tommy shared his earliest memories of being a struggling comic and club owner in Canada, the explosion of Cheech and Chong and his hard fought time as a cognitive liberty activist. Dig it!
Intro rant - Kant, Enlightenment and Your Own Free Will
Tommy Chong -
When you hear the name Tommy Chong you immediately think of Cannabis. As one-half of the legendary comedy duo Cheech & Chong he helped pioneer a completely unique brand of comedy directed at the counter-culture movement of the early 70’s. The pair came to define a generation of young entertainers and single-handedly launched the genre of Stoner Comedy. And at the heart of this brand of entertainment was, of course, cannabis. On screen and off Tommy became a vocal advocate for his favorite herb. In a time where cannabis had to be talked about in whispers, Tommy was a loud voice for the advocacy movement, working tirelessly to destigmatize the use of this healing plant. Now that society has moved in a more positive direction regarding the medicinal and recreational use of cannabis, Tommy’s voice continues to ring out loudly, touting its benefits and place in society.
Episode 125 of the podcast comes to you LIVE from Bhakti Fest 2018. Dive in deep to many core topics of life in the modern world as seen through the spiritual and sometimes scientific viewpoints of Deepak Chopra, Shiva Rea and Jai Uttal. These three are icons of Eastern Spirituality as it's practiced in the West. Between the three of them they have touched countless thousands of people striving to understand their place in this wild world and how to better their relationship in it. I moderated the panel in front of a packed house that was full of beaming energy and tons of love. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Intro rant - The poison as a result of injecting dogmatic religion into spiritual gatherings.
Jai Uttal -
Jai Uttal (born June 12, 1951) is an American musician. He is a Grammy-nominated singer and “a pioneer in the world music community with his eclectic East-meets-West sound.” He is a “sacred music composer, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, and ecstatic vocalist, [who] combines influences from India with American rock and jazz to create a stimulating and exotic multicultural fusion that is truly world spirit music.”
Shiva Rea -
Movement is life for Shiva Rea, M.A, global prana vinyasa teacher, activist, and innovator in the evolution of vinyasa yoga around the world from large-scale festivals and conferences to unplugged retreats. She has taught thousands of students, teachers, and movers and shakers how to integrate yoga as a way of life.
As founder of Prana Vinyasa & Samudra Global School for Living Yoga, she integrates the roots of vinyasa, yoga, ayurveda, and tantra in creative and life-transforming online courses, workshops, retreats, and trainings. Her studies in the Krishnamacharya lineage, kalarippayatu, world dance, yogic arts, and somatic movement infuse her approach to living yoga and embodying the flow.
Shiva has collaborated across many fields and is known for offering the synthesis form of Vinyasa Flow throughout the world, bringing the roots of yoga alive for modern practitioners in creative, dynamic, and life-transforming ways for over 25 years around the globe.
Deepak Chopra -
Chopra studied medicine in India before emigrating to the United States in 1970 where he completed residencies in internal medicine and endocrinology. As a licensed physician, he became chief of staff at the New England Memorial Hospital (NEMH) in 1980.[7] He met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1985 and became involved with the Transcendental Meditation movement (TM). He resigned his position at NEMH shortly thereafter to establish the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center.[8] Chopra gained a following in 1993 after he was interviewed on The Oprah Winfrey Show about his books.[9] He then left the TM movement to become the executive director of Sharp HealthCare's Center for Mind-Body Medicine and in 1996 he co-founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing.
This episode of the podcast features the one, the only, the truly unique and powerful force that is Bhagavan Das. Our hour long conversation weaves in and out of the nature of yoga, the self and spiritual practice in a way that only he can. Told through the lens of Bhagavan Das's own story of transformation that began with his leaving for India in 1965, I discovered that it's nearly impossible to put into words the energy that swirls around this man. He is truly one of the most authentic characters to stem from the greater counter culture movement of the 60's. Eastern spirituality as we know it in the West would not be what is today if it were not for the karamas of Bhagavan Das. Melt into this episode, you'll be glad you did.
Intro: Listen closely for a chance to win two passes to Bioneers 2018!!
Bhagavan Das
I left America for India in 1963 to find my Guru. I was the the first American to live in the jungle of the Himalyas as a hermit-sadhu. I was given the Holy Name of Ram by Bhramanada Saraswati through his disciple Mahish Yogi. I went off alone to the caves in the mountains to meditate. I then came to meet Swami Chaitanya Prakashananda Tirth who gave me tapas to fast and pray for God's Grace. After a year of fasting, prayer and intense purification I met my Sat-Guru the Great Mahasiddha Neem Karoli Baba. I then lived with my Guru, side by side for many years. Then one day because of the tantric path that he seemed to know I must travel and the many karmic connections due to ripen, he sent me away. So I went towards Tibet to go deeper deeper and then beyond with the last living Yogis from high in the mountain peaks of Tibet and Nepal. During my time with the Tibetan Yogis I was the first to meet and live with Lama Kalu the Guru of the 16th Karmapa. He gave me the Essense Mahamudra Transmission, mind to mind. I recieved the Mother Light from His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and then the Vajra Yogini directly from the Karmapa in Sikkhim. I lived with Yogi Chen who explained all the details to me in english in his hermitage in Kalingpong. When on pilgrimage to the holy Bodhanath Stupa in Kathmandu I met and became the Guru of Richard Alpert who was to become Ram Dass after I brought him to Neem Karoli Baba. I am here now by the grace of the Guru Dev Dakini. She is the Mother Light always guiding me on the true path of Bodhichitta. This is It for Now.
The founders and guiding visionaries of Pathway to Paris, Jesse Paris Smith and Rebecca Foon sit down for an in depth discussion on climate change and how to inspire change via the power of rock and roll. Our conversation traverses the difficult but perhaps ultimately optimistic way in which we can unite to combat the most pressing issue of our time. Jesse and Becca are extremely powerful activist avatars dancing in the world of art, activism, politics and community. Their foundation, Pathway to Paris, may in fact raise the bar on bringing crucial awareness to this issue while also rocking out!
Pathway to Paris is an initiative in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and 350.org that brings together musicians, artists, activists, climate change experts, academics, politicians and innovators to participate in a series of events, dialogues and leading initiatives to help turn the Paris Agreement into reality.
Attend one of their upcoming events in SF or LA in September. Patti Smith, Bob Weir, Flea and Eric Burdon are all a part of it!
Intro Rant - More discussion on climate change through the lens of a TED talk from Nicholas Sparks.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by The Yoga of Strength, a new book by Andrew Marc Rowe. Pre-order to publish now!
This episode of the podcast is diving head first into waters that are deep, full of life and completely unexplored within the life of podcast. For this one there is no guest, rather I take an in depth look into two stories that happened within this weeks news cycle. Think of it as my ramshackle attempt at making an episode of an NPR program. It's called State of the Union with Zach Leary!
Inspiration is born from many corners of my life and like most creative people finding ways to share that inspiration if often a struggle. The guests that I have on this show are the life blood of IAH and I look forward to having many more brilliant souls on the show. However on occasion, I will supplement the normal format of IAH by releasing an under 30 minute op-ed/news/radio style audio discourse on topics that I think are worth discussing.
On this episode we cover the Trump/Putin press conference and it's wide reaching effects on the global consciousness. After that, we will take a look into the phenomena of Amazon Prime Day.
Please feel free to drop me an email or leave a comment on what you think of this one. It's an entirely new adventure for me and I'm excited about the possibilities. Onward!
Comedian, psychonaut and star/creator of the new film "Psychonautics", Shane Mauss drops by the IAH podcast zone to take us on a journey of his life, his comedy and the creation of his new film. The latter is a first hand documentary style account of Shane's deep dive into the world of psychedelics and their effect not just on him but also on humanity. Our conversation recounts some hilarious moments during its making and some cautionary tales that are essential for anyone on the psychedelic path. Shane is not just a comedian, he's a modern day philosopher. His insights shed light on many facets of our culture that are worth exploring and discussing.
INTRO RANT - The retirement of Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy
Shane Mauss - Originally from Wisconsin, Shane Mauss caught his first break when he was awarded ‘Best Stand-Up” at The HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in 2007. This led to his TV debut and first of five appearances on Conan. Since that time, he’s been on Jimmy Kimmel, Showtime, Comedy Central 'Presents' and 'This Is Not Happening'. For over a decade he has been headlining shows all over the world.
Shane has also been getting a lot of attention as a popular guest on podcasts such as You Made It Weird, Marc Maron's WTF, Duncan Trussell’s Family Hour, The Joe Rogan Experience, Never Not Funny, Bertcast, TOFOP, Crabfeast, and Keith and The Girl. He also travels the country interviewing scientists about the meanings of life for his own podcast 'Here We Are' which has a 5 star rating on iTunes.
Episode 29 with Michael Pollan as he discusses his new book 'How to Change Your Mind - What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence'
Michael beams into the IAH Podcast (Originally for the MAPS Podcast) for an all new episode of the show. His iconic books on the nature and ethics of food have become staples within the zeitgeist of the modern diet and sustainable agriculture. Now, as evidenced in his new book and this podcast, he's taken on the world of psychedelic science and research with as much insight and objectivity as you would expect from him.
Zach Leary's conversation with Michael dives into the importance of the research he studied while writing the book, the origins of his interest on the topic and his own personal experiences with psychedelic medicines.
INTRO RANT - the passing of Anthony Bourdain
Michael Pollan - For more than thirty years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where nature and culture intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in our minds. He is the author of the new book How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence and five New York Times bestsellers.
The It's All Happening Podcast continues it's exploration into the spiritual path with yet another wise, intuitive and iconic spiritual master. Lama Tsultrim Allione joins the podcast to share her journey into her lifelong immersion as a trail blazing woman deep in the heart of Buddhism and to discuss her amazing new book Wisdom Rising: Journey Into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine.
Tsultrim's masterful new book teaches you how to embody the enlightened, fierce power of the sacred feminine—the tantric dakinis. Our conversation breaks down the different archetypes of the divine feminine found in the tantric Buddhist teachings and why it's as important as ever to embody them for life in the modern Western world. This knowledge and the subsequent practice radiates for women but is also applicable for men and their search for a more balanced life.
INTRO RANT - How we spend our time and it's effect on emotional intelligence
Lama Tsultrim Allione, author and international teacher, is the founder and spiritual director of Tara Mandala. In 2009, Lama Tsultrim was selected by an esteemed committee of Buddhist scholars and practitioners to receive the International Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award given in Bangkok, Thailand.
This episode of the podcast features the practical and poetic wisdom from the one and only legendary Deepak Chopra! What an honor and thrill it was to sit down with Deepak to do a podcast that surfed many planes of consciousness, mysticism and science. Our conversation dealt primarily with the success of the scientific revolution over the course of the last 300 years and how that turned humanity away from it's mystic roots and quest for spiritual understanding. Deepak provides a roadmap on how to cultivate the spiritual heart while not turning ones back on science and logic. Sit back and settle into a download from one of the great icons of the modern spiritual movement.
INTRO RANT - The American Spiritual Experience as seen through "Wild Wild Country" and "Come Sunday"
Deepak Chopra, MD, FACP, Founder of The Chopra Foundation and the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, is a world-renowned pioneer in mind-body medicine and personal transformation, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
Chopra has authored more than 80 books, published in more than 43 languages, including 22 New York Times best sellers. Two of his books, Ageless Body, Timeless Mind (1993) and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success (1995) have been recognized on The Books of The Century Bestsellers List. For the last three years, Greatist.com recognizes Dr. Chopra as one of “The 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness “. The World Post and The Huffington Post global internet survey ranked him #17 influential thinker in the world and #1 in Medicine Fitness. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as “one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century”.
Jason Louv returns to the IAH podcast as our first three time guest! Jason's depth of expertise and eloquence shifts it's attention to that of his new book "John Dee and the Empire of Angels - Enochian Magick and the Occult Roots of the Modern World." John Dee was one of the most fascinating characters of the middle ages. His role as Queen Elizabeth I’s court advisor and astrologer, was the foremost scientific genius of the 16th century. Laying the foundation for modern science, he actively promoted mathematics and astronomy as well as made advances in navigation and optics that helped elevate England to the foremost imperial power in the world. Our conversation dives into many of the core topics this book uncovers and of course takes a few spontaneous turns! If you don't know who John Dee was, pay attention, your mind will be blown.
INTRO RANT - Why Trumps 41% approval rating is a cause for concern on a social level
Jason Louv is the author of eight books, including Generation Hex, Ultraculture, and Thee Psychick Bible. As a journalist, he has covered surveillance, international trade and the dark side of technology for VICE News, Boing Boing, Motherboard and many more. As a futurist and strategist, Jason has worked on Buzz Aldrin’s international campaign to colonize Mars, Google's artificial intelligence program, and in many more strange and wonderful places. He lives in Los Angeles.
Pre-Order "John Dee and the Empire of Angels " by clicking here
It's All Happening with Zach Leary returns with a new episode featuring Phil Goldberg, the author of the new book "The Life Yogananda - The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru."
Phil sheds light on the life and influence that Paramahansa Yogananda had on the American ethic. Arriving in 1920 in Boston, Yogananda soon after traveled through America spreading his brand of Indian mysticism and yogic philosophy onto the American public. Our podcast conversation touched on some of the more important milestones of Yogananda's life, his influence on LA specifically and how his teachings are still felt today. Yogananda remains one of the most colorful icons of the yogic revolution in the West. Phil's intellect, humor and wisdom is the perfect vehicle to capture this portrait and to tell the story.
INTRO RANT - April 2018 - Two different yet equally important milestones - the 50th anniversary of MLKs death and the 75th anniversary of the first LSD experiments.
Phililp Goldberg is the author or co-author of numerous books; a public speaker and workshop leader; a spiritual counselor, meditation teacher and ordained Interfaith Minister. A Los Angeles resident, he cohosts the Spirit Matters podcast, leads American Veda Tours and blogs regularly on Elephant Journal and Spirituality & Health.
Pre-Order "The Life of Yogananda" by clicking here
Our collective podcast audible journey collides head on with the dharmic brilliance of Christine Mason. She is a force of nature who dances her away through the multi-verse with ease, grace, wisdom and a whole lot of creation. Our conversation traversed many landscapes including technology, running companies and business, spiritual practice, refining ones dharma, how to create more compassionate working environments and a look at the state of yoga in the west. YES, we really did cover that much ground. Additionally, Christine shared with us her experience of how she re-adapted her life's work based on a psychedelic spiritual experience that changed her life instantly.
Christine's state of being in the world is truly remarkable and being with her can hover between inspiration and intimidation. She's extremely accomplished and constantly flowing with new ideas and energy. In my opinion, Christine is the model for the 21st Century woman. Enjoy the episode!
INTRO RANT - A look at dharma
This episode of the podcast is brought to you by The Timothy Leary Project a new book by Jennifer Ulrich, published by Abrams Books.
Christine Mason maps new markets for emerging technologies, scouts for strategic expansion opportunities, and guides internal innovation strategies for leading companies such as AutoDesk, Panasonic and Estee Lauder. Areas of investigation include technologies as far ranging as markets for biologic patents, short and midterm potentials for synthetic biology applications, 3D printing, unmanned aerial vehicles, cloud computing, big data, video analytics, and more. Christine also works with early-stage, needle-moving technology startups to bring them to market efficiently, including brand, marketing and early revenue and partnership development.
From 1996 to 2008, Christine worked in operating and leadership roles in technology. She conceived, resourced and built multiple organizations from a blank sheet of paper to millions in recurring revenue. She was founder and CEO of enterprise SaaS company SpringCM, CEO and board member of Content SaaS company MSDSOnline, founder and Chief Marketing Officer of online supply chain exchange MetalMaker, Inc., and CEO of Intellext. Christine advised Arch Venture Partners and their portfolio companies. Prior to working in tech, Christine led M&A project teams for PWC and ran trade strategy and digital marketing for a $1BN consumer rollup for Texas Pacific Group, including strategic scouting and post merger integration. She is an early stage investor in Mousera, Brandle and 15Five, among others.
This episode of the IAH podcast is actually a double dipping orgasmic sonic podcast co-share with the MAPS Podcast (www.maps.opg). The interview with Duncan was so good, of course, that I felt compelled to use it for both shows that I host. What can be said about a talk with Duncan? Not much that hasn't been said before however, since this episode was recorded for the MAPS show it's focus is primarily on psychedelics. Duncan is one of the smartest psychonauts in the multi-verse and is no doubt one of the finest representatives for the power and potential of psychedelics. Enjoy!
INTRO RANT - On John Perry Barlow
This episode of the podcast is brought to you by The Timothy Leary Project a new book by Jennifer Ulrich, published by Abrams Books.
Duncan Trussell is a comedian, psychonaut and host of the wildly popular Duncan Trussell Family Hour
The Astral Hustle's very own Cory Allen beams into IAH to take us on a journey of dealing with the full range of modern life's complexities with grace, poise and meditative focus. Cory is diligently working on his new book , "Now Is The Way", and through that launch pad we explored the myriad of topics the book covers. We talked about how to combat the static of the technological age with awareness and meditation, the unique challenges our time is facing, why mediation is more important than ever before and why it might be a good idea to back off from the over philosophicalization of our existence. Cory is a great thinker, mediation guide and emerging leader for the modern age.
INTRO RANT - Jordan Peterson - the rise and casting watchful eye
Cory Allen has taught thousands of people how to meditate in group workshops and through his online meditation course Release Into Now. He explores ideas on consciousness, mindfulness and the human condition on his weekly podcast The Astral Hustle, which has been downloaded over 1 million times. He’s written a book on living in the present moment titled Now is the Way, which will be published by Penguin Random House in late 2018. Cory is a composer who has released over a dozen albums, and is a renowned audio engineer with 15 years of experience.
Episode 112 of the IAH podcast dives head first into the grace and wisdom found on the path of yoga. Shayna Hiller drops by the kitchen table to share her intoxicating, intelligent and refreshingly unique take on the science of yoga and shares her approach to teaching it. Our podcast covers some of the wisdom that she's obtained from the completely colorful one-of-a-kind adventure that is her life. This is someone who spent years in the jungles of Costa Rica embarking on a monastic path of self inquiry that many great masters have done before her. Her reintegration back into the material world brings with her magic and energy that define the kind of wellness teacher she is. Our conversation went deep into all of this and more - Shayna truly is a remarkable soul who will break your soul open with light by just being in her presence!
INTRO RANT - Shyamdas - 5 years later
Shayna Hiller is a yoga teacher and certified Health Coach based in Venice Beach, California. She is the author of ‘Don’t Judge Me By My Cover‘. Travel nomad turned Health and Business Coach, her intuitive spiritual guidance coupled with offers her clients a comprehensive holistic method for reclaiming optimal health. Through years of professional training, her approach goes beyond mainstream coaching to reveal the root causes of various health and life concerns including emotional eating, anxiety, depression, relationships and career. She has the acute intelligence and articulation to discuss complex topics related to health, which is why many people benefit from her teachings. Her light-hearted, authentic approach to healing is truly one of a kind.
www.shaynahiller.com
The first episode of 2018 whirls in with pagan wisdom and Goddess power of Amanda Yates Garcia otherwise known as "The Oracle of Los Angeles." Amanda is a witch by birth, profession and soul. She's out to bring light, healing and knowledge to all those that seek her expertise. We did this podcast in person at the kitchen table and I'll confirm that her force field is powerful, seductive and extremely thought provoking. Our conversation dove into many mystical nooks and crannies surrounding the world today coupled with practical witchy suggestions for applying magic into ones own life. Amanda's perspective into how society and consciousness fuse together with the elements of the physical world is truly remarkable. I learned so much from this one, there must be a part 2 someday. If you're at all curious about how a modern day witch operates and thrives in today's world look no further.
INTRO RANT - New Year, New Everything
Amanda Yates Garcia - Growing up in a pagan household my magical education started young; I learned to read the tarot and made my own set of runes before I entered my teens; my great grandmother read palms and tea leaves, and I share the same family tree as Edgar Cayce.
Today I draw from a broad range of esoteric strategies including the Western Mystery Traditions of tarot, alchemy and Hermeticism; shamanic healing practices; positive magic and witchcraft; herbalism; energy work (Reiki, tantra and other yogas); psychomagic and more.
Throughout my years as a magical practitioner, I’ve given countless tarot readings; spent months at Zen monasteries; given lectures on Witchcraft at ESMOA, UC Irvine, Cal State Pomona and UCLA; received my Reiki Master initiation from Tibetan monk Tenzin Lama Sherpa; studied Holotropic Breathwork with Michael Stone and have received a certification in breathwork by David Elliott; and trained in shamanic healing techniques with Amanda Foulger of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. I also have a BFA in Dance Theatre from University College of London, and an MFA in Writing/Critical Theory and Film/Video from California Institute of the Arts.
There is nothing quite like tripping the light fantastic with David Silver. Episode 110 of the podcast brings David back to the show in the form of an exploration into our world today that only David can present. Our talk did dance in the political arena for a bit solely out of the desire to examine the surrealist schism that it is. We also talked about the passing of Siddhi Ma, our changing relationship with media, the success of the 60's, the protest movement and rock and roll. David is one of the finest minds on the planet today. Enjoy.
INTRO RANT - Remembering Siddhi Ma
This episode is sponsored by Belle Sante Beauty
David Silver started his innovative media career in the late sixties hosting WGBH-TV’s “What’s Happening Mr. Silver?” David’s 1979 Warner Brothers feature “No Nukes” helped start the whole trend of music/activism feature documentaries.
He also wrote the Billboard #1 MGM film, “The Compleat Beatles” the biopic movie of choice about history’s most famous band. David has worked with Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Ringo Starr, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Roger Waters and many others. He has created dozens of CD’s and movies, including pairing Allen Ginsberg with Paul McCartney, and producing the film biography of Timothy Leary. In 2009, David was the consultant to Ang Lee, the Academy Award-winning director, on his Universal/Focus Features release, “Taking Woodstock.” Since 2006, he has also been writing, directing and consulting with Ram Dass’s Love Serve Remember Foundation and, in 2012, directed the “Cultivating Loving Awareness” documentary.
For 50 years Bruce Margolin has been leading the charge for the reform of marijuana laws in California through this law practice and policy stewardship. To say he is a legend in the world of counter culture criminal defense law is an understatement. He is truly one of the great personalities, thinkers and leaders of our time. Our conversation covered so much of the rich tapestry of his life, journey, the state of cannabis laws and a very special detour. That detour comes in the form of this: in 1972 Bruce was the attorney for Tim Leary in his prison escape case. The time he spent with Timothy and the stories he tells are essential in forming a complete picture of the Leary saga. You can't make this stuff up. Tune into this episode to go on a journey into one of the most fascinating lives and front row seats that you'll ever come across.
INTRO RANT - Net Neutrality
This episode is sponsored by Belle Sante Beauty
Bruce M. Margolin has over 40 years experience in defending the rights of his clients. He is equally as passionate at working to reform laws he believes to be unjust. To that end, Mr. Margolin is also the Director of the Los Angeles chapter of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and has been so for over 30 years.
www.420laws.com
The nature of grief and how it can turn your life upside down is one of the most charged and misunderstood subjects in Western culture. Grief, especially around death, has no rule book which is why most people encounter it unprepared when something tragic happens. Episode #108 of the podcast features Megan Devine the author of "It's Ok That You're Not Ok - Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture that Doesn't Understand." Her expressive thoughtfulness and razor sharp opinions on the topic will leave you curious, softer and more accepting of how pain can and should work in ones life. Our conversation could have gone on for two hours - there are so many corners to explore. She is a fantastic soul. Enjoy.
INTRO RANT - Ram Dass "A Letter to Rachel"
This episode is sponsored by Belle Sante Beauty
Megan Devine is a psychotherapist, writer, grief advocate, & communication expert dedicated to helping you live through things you never thought you’d face. I’m proud to have created an online community and resource that helps people survive some of the hardest experiences of their lives. Through my book, podcasts, and online courses, I help people learn the skills they need to love themselves – and each other – better.
www.refugeingrief.com
The grace and wisdom of Daniele Bolelli enlightens the IAH podcast for Episode 107! It blows me away how Daniele can traverse the edge of so many different disciplines while being comfortable and authoritative in each. Our conversation covered comparative religion, the nature of fear, Americas confusion and how better to understand MMA. Check out all the great work Daniele does in his books and his podcast, "History on Fire." I hope this is the first of many podcasts we do together!
INTRO RANT - The tangents of #metoo and what to learn.
Daniele Bolelli is a writer, martial artist, university professor, and podcaster. He was born in Italy and currently lives in Los Angeles.
Episode 106 of IAH dives deep into one of the core issues that STILL plagues not only our country but our species as a whole. That is the issue of racism. Because of all the recent ugly examples that have bubbled up in America lately I wanted to dicsect the issue from a solution oriented perspective but also from a place that identifies the root level issue and not the superficial one. DJ's intelligence, rational objectivity, education and passion was able to guide me through a landscape that I know only so little about. DJ is really one of the most astute voices on the state of African American narrative in the US today. He'll be a return guest for sure!
INTRO RANT - Race and the Island Example
DJ. Salmon - Having grown up surrounded by the poverty and racism of the rural south, Donald B. Salmon, Jr. made his way to North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in political science and became invigorated by exposure to various movements aimed at pushing against the social and political status quo for people of African descent in the west. Donald is an avid supporter of hip hop culture who believes that through the arts, bridges can be built that connect people and ideas.
The "dude making a difference" beams into the IAH vortex to ruminate on the major issues facing our very survival. Rob is one of the few people I know who has truly embarked on a path of radical sustainability that has altered his life in a truly remarkable way. We discuss core environmental issues ranging from diet to cars to waste. Rob's humor and passion offset the dire news that's facing every single one of us. I for one learned a ton on this podcast and hope that each one of us can get inspired to change just one thing in our lives that can truly make this place inhabitable for years to come. As unlikely as that may seem.
INTRO RANT - The Weinstein Debacle
Rob Greenfield is an adventurer, environmental activist, humanitarian, and dude making a difference. He is dedicated to leading the way to a more sustainable and just world.
Rob is the creator of The Food Waste Fiasco, a campaign that strives to end food waste and hunger in the U.S. He has dove into more than two thousand dumpsters across the United States to demonstrate how nearly half of all food in the U.S. is wasted while 50 million (1 in 7) Americans are food insecure.
www.robgreenfield.tv
THE Super Yogi of Altered States of Intimate Consciousness - MARK WHITWELL - stops by the IAH podcast to go deep. Recorded live at Bhakti Fest '17, Mark and I revisit some of the past of our relationship, the true origins of yoga in the west and mans struggle with intimacy. Mark's wit, knowledge, intelligence and authentic wisdom is like no other. He is a yoga hiding out as a man.
Mark Whitwell - is interested in developing an authentic yoga practice for the individual, based on the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya and his son TKV Desikachar, with whom he enjoyed a relationship for more than twenty years. Mark’s teachings clarify the profound passion and relevance of ancient wisdom to contemporary life.
Mark has taught yoga for over twenty years throughout the US, Asia, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and was the editor and contributor to TKV Desikachar’s book The Heart of Yoga.
Visit The Promise
Dr. Neal Goldsmith beams into the kitchen table via the wonders of cyberspace to discuss his exhaustively evolved perspective on the psychedelic experience. Neal's background as a psychotherapist provides a unique perspective into the individuals relationship with the psychedelic journey and how it can alter your life in a constructive and healthy way. Our conversation surfed the many angles of his thinking in particular a breakdown of "psychospiritual development and resistance to change." For me, the juxtaposition of mysticism, psychology and spirituality into a uniformed discussion is one that few people can speak eloquently on - Neal is at the top of this list. Enjoy the podcast!
Intro Rant - The Importance of Hugh Hefner
Neal M. Goldsmith, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist specializing in psychospiritual development and resistance to change. Seeing “neurosis” as the natural unfolding of human maturation, he views psychology as the science of personal emergence and spiritual maturity. With the exception of biologically-based diseases, such as schizophrenia, psychology is not about “mental illness” and so Dr. Goldsmith treats “neurosis” as spiritual immaturity, not pathology. In fact, he believes the “sick” label itself tightens and distorts, actually slowing healthy realignment.
Neal is also the founder of the Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in NYC which is coming up on Oct 6-8. Click here to buy tickets
Episode 102 of the It's All Happening podcast features the divine creatrix behind PhenoVibe, Ariane Labyrinth. Ariane is a dear friend and soul sister, we recorded the episode in the quiet vibey confines of the post midnight witching hour. Yes, Ariane and her next Cosmic Cabaret event (Rites of Passage) goes down on September 29th but our conversation had very little do with that. We surfed the sonic sugary frequencies of metaphysical practice, energy, light space and a whole host of psychedelic sacredness that's almost impossible to talk about, but we did! This episode is not like any other that IAH has done, I hope you enjoy it.
Ariane Labyrinth - is the chief creatrix and inspiration behind PhenoVIbe. The focus of our practice is Cosmic Alchemy, a unique type of experience allowing us to directly connect to and immerse ourselves in source energy and light -the most empowering and transformative force of the universe. Her roots are in dance, metaphysical meditation and light work.
CLICK HERE for tickets to Rites of Passage on September 29th
On August 2, 2017, Gary Baum of the Hollywood Reporter published what is now a legendary piece on the real identity of LA cult icon Angelyne. It was so spell binding that nearly everyone in LA who is over a certain age participated in the chatter of what it all meant. I was so blown away that I had to track Gary down to see if he would do the podcast. Sure enough he was most gracious and sat down with me at The Hollywood Reporter office. For about an hour we discussed all the ins and outs and what-have-yous surrounding the development of the article and it's whodunit caper qualities. Two years prior, Gary wrote another article on the enduring legend of Angelyne and began to chip away at her razor sharp fabricated image. He's spent a lot of face time with Angelyne and has a wonderfully curious point of view on the deeper meaning behind not just her but also on the nature of reinvention, identity and life in the modern media-sphere. This is episode 101 of the It's All Happening podcast. I hope you enjoy it.
Gary Baum is a Senior writer at The Hollywood Reporter, covering the circus.
@garymbaum
EPISODE 100 of the It's All Happening Podcast!!! Amazing. To celebrate this milestone I brought back two return guests to the fold - Taryn Southern and Jack Kornfield. Taryn is the main guest and takes us on a wonderfully informative and inspirational journey into the emerging worlds of Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence. Taryn just released a new single that has AI as her band! And of course, Jack Kornfield's heartfelt wisdom grounds us in a dharma talk centered around making friends with our practice in these complex times. This episode truly embodies my passions of bringing technology and spirituality into one conversation.
I am beyond moved, grateful and blown away that 100 episodes has been reached. It seemed so far away! With the love and support of you guys we'll certainly have 100 more! Thank you everyone who's been riding along with me on the adventure these past two years. You've taught me more than you'll ever know.
Taryn Southern - I love to make stuff online. Here’s some music stuff. Some comedy stuff. Some VR stuff. Some TV and filmstuff. I’m the founder of Happy Cat Media, which has produced 1500+ videos for brands like Marriott, MovieTickets, and Today Show, and is now focused on immersive storytelling and consulting. My hobbies include adventure travel, margaritas, and irreverent comedy.
http://tarynsouthern.com
Jack Kornfield - Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India and Burma. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. After graduating from Dartmouth College in Asian Studies in 1967 he joined the Peace Corps and worked on tropical medicine teams in the Mekong River valley. He met and studied as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma. Returning to the United States, Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. Over the years, Jack has taught in centers and universities worldwide, led International Buddhist Teacher meetings, and worked with many of the great teachers of our time. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a father, husband and activist.
jackkornfield.com
On this episode of the It's All Happening podcast with go deep with Michael Brian Baker, the founder and chief visionary of The Breath Center. Michael is a facilitator and modern shamanic guide into a breath work practice that is sure to transform anyones state of being if they engage in the experience. I've done lots of it myself and let me tell you, it's a life changer. Our conversation centers around the origins of breath work in ancient traditions, their transformation into Western modalities, mysticism, the science behind breathing, higher states of consciousness and so much more. Michael is truly residing in a higher plane of feeling and expression on a daily basis and it shows here in this podcast. I love him dearly and I hope you all get a chance to experience his gift.
Michael Brian Baker is a student of compassion and humility and the founding member of The Breath Center. He travels extensively facilitating groups and individuals in the realization of self-mastery through somatic release, breathwork, and natural plant-based detox. Michael’s extensive experience as a keynote speaker representing the conscious and healing arts communities has built his well deserved reputation for restoring profound hope and intimacy in large group settings. He supports people in their own growth, freedom, and discovery of the bodies innate intelligence to heal from within.
Michael’s current home base as a teacher of the oral traditions and arts practitioner is in Ojai, California.
www.thebreathcenter.com
Episode 98 of the It's All Happening with Zach Leary podcast features the lightening rod that is Amarna Miller. For quite awhile I've been wanting to do have an adult film star on the podcast with the hopes of being able to dig into the controversy and philosophy around sexuality in America. Amarna is very bright and articulate and you'll see that the talk covered a wide variety of topics including her experience doing what she does, healthy sexuality around the world, why there is so much controversy on the issue, gender roles and feminism. I know this podcast will be a turn off for some and might strike a chord. My intention was to have a level headed reasonably non biased look into the topic. Like it or not it's a huge part of our culture and dialogue around it is a good thing.
Amarna Miller is porn actress and director, entrepreneur and graduated in Fine Arts. I am 24, bisexual and I love sex in all its forms, I consider it something natural that should not be hidden. I like BDSM, antique things, photography and art. And I just won the Ninfa award for best actress of the year! My life is based in travel around the world shooting for different producers. In this blog I will write my experiences, the ideas that I have, and also I'll post videos and exclusive photo shoots. I hope that by this way you could know me a little more
www.amarnamiller.com
The IAH podcast returns with Episode 97! This one features the bhakti-infused heart of financial wizard, Jason Rotman. I wanted Jason on the podcast for awhile because I know of so few people who embody consciously infused capitalism in such an inspiring way. He lives in both the material world and the spiritual world with grace and ease. By day he's a trading expert/analyst while also being a kirtan wallah, poet and lover of bliss. Our talk covered his transformation, why kirtan works, how the markets do what they do and an all around philosophical bhakti romp into the worlds affairs.
Jason Rotman is an advisor for alternative trading and investments at Lido Isle Advisors. He has also been playing sacred chant music since 2008 as Krishna’s Kirtan, a group that is known for sharing explosive and devotional kirtan (sacred chanting).
Krishna’s Kirtan is a veteran contributor at Bhaktifest, one of the largest yoga and music festivals in the country. Highly in demand for health and yoga retreats, events, and festivals, the group provides a powerful presence of love, spirituality, and deep devotion.
His kirtan album "Krishna's Kirtan" can be purchased by visiting here
His book of devotional poetry can be purchased here:
72 Messages of Love
This all new episode of the IAH podcast features the wise, smart and razor sharp funny local LA comedian, Vanessa Johnston. I ran into Vanessa after scouring the scorched earth of the Internet looking for comedians to come and brighten up the fabric of the podcast. Vanessa was good enough to come by to talk about her roots in comedy, her youth in Minnesota, making fun of my tulsi beads and why her first goal in life was to be president of the US. I really enjoyed this one!
Vanessa Johnston is a Los Angeles based stand-up comedian originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has been featured as a regular on Kill Tony at the Comedy Store Hollywood - the number one live comedy podcast in the world - where she wrote and performed a new minute of standup every week for 60 weeks straight. Vanessa performs at some of LA's favorite clubs, including The Comedy Store, The Ice House, and The Improv. She made her TV debut on Emmy-award winning sitcom How I Met Your Mother. In 2014, she starred in Netflix movie Jurassic City. Johnston has written and performed skits for talk shows such as The Doctors on CBS.
www.vanessajohnston.com
An all new episode of the It's All Happening podcast with the sharp, creative and profoundly deep thinker Ani Easton Baker. Ani spent years as a public school teacher mainly focussing on special needs students and her experience into the system, the children and how our society is broken in this area made for a fascinating podcast. We talked about that, the future of public schools and new models for education. We also shifted the talk to sex ed and why we need to stop calling people stupid because "Donald Trump is a genius!"
Ani Easton Baker - For twelve years I worked as a teacher, credentialed to work with primary grade students who have mild-moderate disabilities, which taught me most of the most important things about being alive. Last year, four years after being granted tenure, I took a leap and a leave of absence to make my first documentary film about the public education system, a system I have a lot of feelings and input about. I am beyond fortunate to have earned the support of VeryApe productions in New York, a company run by my absolute favorite documentary filmmaker of all time, Sean Dunne. With his support and the support of a small team of filmmakers in Los Angeles, I am making this long-held desire a tangible entity that exists in the world.
www.anieastonbaker.com
An all new deep state truth episode of IAH! This episode is with Peter Janney, the author of the book Mary's Mosaic: The CIA Conspiracy to Murder John F. Kennedy, Mary Pinchot Meyer, and Their Vision for World Peace. Peter's research into the tangled but glorious web of Mary Pinchot Meyer is a must read for anyone curious about the evolution of the American political state. Pinchot-Meyer was one of the great secretive characters of the 1960s who's association with JFK and Timothy Leary exploded into an epic tale that must be heard to be believed. It's literally un-fucking-believeable. It's not everyday that you get presented with a case that ties Kennedy's murder into a vision for world peace that might have been brought on by LSD. Listen to this podcast.
Disclaimer: during the interview, I was so dumbfounded that I literally was tripping on my words and at times struck silent. There are a couple of moments where I didn't know what to say as I just sat there in shock. I didn't edit those out as I want you, the listener, to feel it for yourself.
**Peter Janney** is an American writer, psychologist and lecturer based in Beverly, Massachusetts. He is best known for his book *Mary's Mosaic: The CIA Conspiracy to Murder John F. Kennedy, Mary Pinchot Meyer, and Their Vision for World Peace*, in which he makes a detailed case that ex-CIA wife and John F. Kennedy mistress Mary Pinchot Meyer was murdered by the CIA in order to cover up what she had discovered about the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
http://www.marysmosaic.net
An all new cybernetically fresh episode of IAH with the legendary R.U. Sirius. RU beams into the IAH portal to share his thoughts on the early days of cyber culture, how and why MONDO 2000 was such legendary idea and publication, why dis-information still matters and what to do about the lack of counter culture in our current paradigm. RU is one of the all time great thinkers and pundits on alternative culture and how to live between the lines.
**R.U. Sirius** is an American writer, editor, talk show host, musician and cyberculture celebrity. He is best known as co-founder and original editor-in-chief of *Mondo 2000* magazine from 1989 to 1993. Before that he founded and edited the magazines *High Frontiers* and *Reality Hackers*. Sirius was chairman and candidate in the 2000 U.S. presidential electionfor the Revolution Party. The party's 20-point platform was a hybrid of libertarianism and liberalism.
At one time, he was a regular columnist for Wired News and San Francisco Examiner, and contributing writer for Wired and Artforum International. He's also written for Rolling Stone, Time, Esquireand other publications. Sirius has written several hundred articles and essays for mainstream and subculture publications. He was editor-in-chief of Axcess magazine in 1998, GettingIt.com1999–2000, and H+ Magazine 2008–2010.
https://stealthissingularity.com
Danny Goldberg returns to the IAH podcast! The legendary music business impresario and cultural historian discusses his new book "In Search of the Lost Chord - 1967 and The Hippie Idea." It's the 50th anniversary of that fabled year and we discuss the impact that it had on us and why looking back on it's history is relevant even today. The book is a fantastic read and will have you marveling at a not so distant past and maybe even give you pause for how you live your life today.
Danny Goldberg, President of GoldVE Entertainment, has worked in the music business as a personal manager, record company President, public relations man and journalist since the late nineteen sixties. GoldVE Entertainment was formed in July 2007 and marks the return to artist management for Goldberg. A complete roster of artists can be found here. Goldberg is also a consultant to the forthcoming HBO series “Vinyl”.From 1983-1992, Goldberg was the founder and President of Gold Mountain Entertainment, an artist management firm whose clients included Nirvana, Hole, Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, Bonnie Raitt, The Allman Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones and more. Directly prior to the creation of GoldVE Entertainment, Goldberg had been the CEO of Air America Radio from 2005 until mid-2006. Goldberg formed the independent label Artemis Records in 1999 and ran the company until January of 2005.
@dannygoldberg67
The brilliance and poetic spiritual genius of Robert Thurman is revealed on this episode of the podcast. Bob beamed in from his abode in NYC and took me on a stream of consciousness journey through the process of enlightenment, our current state of affairs and why you shouldn't worry, the nature of the universe and one's role in it and the fate of the Dalai Lama. Bob is truly one of the great thinkers and spiritual gateways on the planet today. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!
Pick up a copy of his new book "Man of Peace: The Illustrated Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet" by clicking here
Robert A.F. Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University, President of the Tibet House U.S., a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tibetan civilization, and President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, a non-profit affiliated with the Center for Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and dedicated to the publication of translations of important artistic and scientific treatises from the Tibetan Tengyur.
Time chose Professor Thurman as one of its 25 most influential Americans in 1997, describing him as a “larger than life scholar-activist destined to convey the Dharma, the precious teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, from Asia to America.” The New York Times recently said Thurman “is considered the leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism.”
www.bobthurman.com
Govind Das returns to the podcast for Episode 90! We talk a lot about the path of yoga and it's integration from the mat into the world. So much happens within ones personal practice that we must learn how to take those experiences and incorporate them into our daily lives. The podcast also covers our current state of collective confusion and what can be done about that, raising yogi children in LA, living from the non-ego state and living ones dharma. Week in and week out, Govind Das is one of the pre-eminent yogis who is living in a world beyond just teaching - it's as if you are watching someone living their purpose and experiencing a total surrender right before your very eyes.
Of course this episode also talks about the loss and impact of the great Chris Cornell.
This is episode is brought to you by Siddhi Herbals - the best in CBD Technology. Visit their site for more info.
Govind Das (Ira Jeffrey Rosen) first came to yoga while living in Los Angeles in 1994 because of health concerns- specifically ulcerative colitis/crohn's/inflammatory bowel disease... After years of many different practices with the intention of healing(hatha yoga, ayurveda, buddhist meditation etc), Ira Rosen found his yogic "home' in the path of Bhakti Yoga... the aspect of yoga frequently described as the "yoga of the heart" or "the yoga of love and devotion". Not by avoiding or denying our life and health challenges, but only by accepting and courageously moving through and forward, the flower of our full appreciation and devotion to Life blooms.
www.bhaktiyogashala.com
Recorded live from Psychedelic Science '17! This is a dual podcast swap with The MAPS Podcast and features Shane Mauss, Lex Pelger and Berra Yazar-Klosinski. It was recorded live as a panel format and took place at the very tail end of the Psychedelic Science conference in Oakland, CA. Because it was the end of the conference we collectively reminisced and riffed in a loose, funny and free conversational feel about where psychedelic research is headed. We also spoke of our culture outside of our own echo chamber and how the rest of America is keeping up. I was so honored that these guys spent some time with me on stage and it took a lot for me to keep up with their brilliance and accomplishments. The intro was recorded live in India about two hours after the one-two punch of darshan at Kaishi-Vishwanath and the burning ghats of Varanasi. If you don't know what that means have a listen then book a plane flight. Enjoy!
Shane Mauss is a comedian and the host of the Here We Are Podcast
Lex Pelger is the Captain and Chief Genius over at Pymposia.org
Berra Yazar-Klosinksi is the Chief Research Scientist at MAPS
Recorded live from Psychedelic Science '17! Duncan Trussell and I sit down for part 6 of our mutual podcast discussions. It's hard to say what topic one really talks about when you're with Duncan but I can assure you many juicy corners of the multi-verse are explored! Ranging from spiritual wisdom in complex times, to the mutation of our species and value systems that must change in order for our survival. And the intro was recorded live in India!!
Duncan Trussell:
Duncan is a comedian, a resident of the multi-verse and host of the wildly popular Duncan Trussell Family Hour podcast.
http://www.duncantrussell.com
There are many great stories of the Eastern spiritual renaissance taking hold in the West. There's Richard Alpert to Ram Dass, Yogananda's revolution in Los Angeles, Swami Vivekananda bringing Vedanta to the States. And then there's the story of Srila Prabhuphad and the Hare Krishna movement. It's one of the most extraordinary stories of human manifestation in the 20th Century. Really. He arrived in America in 1965 at age 69 with $20, a type writer and a mantra. That's it. And in the front row for the entire phenomena was Shyamasundar Das who was "the Swami's" private secretary for seven years. His new book "Chasing Rhinos with The Swami" chronicles his life, times and adventures with him from 1967 until 1975. Our podcast talked a lot about the early days of the movement, how it took hold in the Haight Ashbury in the Summer of Love, what Krishna Consciousness is and a few amazingly intimate stories of life with A. C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI. No matter what you may think of the Hare Krishna movement, I urge you to put all that aside and listen with an open heart and mind. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, I hung on every word!
About Shyamasundar Das:
I was born in the body of Samuel Speerstra, in Salem, Oregon in May,1942. From early childhood I thrived on adventure and risk. After graduating from Reed College in 1965, I met Bhaktivedanta Swami in San Francisco in January 1967, and immediately became his disciple Shyamasundar Das. The Swami wed me to my girlfriend Melanie (Malati Devi Dasi) in a smoke-filled storefront in Haight-Ashbury we called the Radha-Krishna Temple.
In 1968, to please Swamiji, I traveled with five chosen devotees to London. There, we witnessed firsthand Krishna's magic display; we befriended the Beatles and, courtesy of Apple Records, spread Hare Krishna Mantra around the world. In October 1970, the Swami took twenty of his Western disciples to India, and together-as Prabhupad and his Dancing White Elephants--we barnstormed the country. In June 1971, Prabhupad accepted me as his Personal Secretary. I was by Prabhupad's side, day and night, in Europe, USA, Africa, Asia, Australia-even behind Brezhnev's Iron Curtain. I never saw him sleep, I never saw him make an error of any kind. How did I get this lucky, to observe close-up the life of the Perfect Person? Srila Prabhupad, the Magic Man himself!
To buy the book click here or visit chashingrhinos.com
I've had a few yoga teachers on the podcast but there was something about this conversation with maha yogi Steve Ross that really sparked my contemplation and imagination like I hadn't felt before. Sure Steve teaches "yoga" in the form of a pretty challenging asana class but he is really a portal into an entire world of knowledge, humor and very profound wisdom that come from his over 40 years of practice. We spent an hour talking about the differences between the western and eastern maps of consciousness, how to make sense of these confusing times, free will and the very essence of our place in the universe. Sounds pretty deep, right? It was. Steve is truly one of the great yogis practicing in the west today.
“Named “Guru of LA” by Vanity Fair, Steve Ross has practiced and taught various styles of yoga and meditation for over thirty years. Host of the wildly popular yoga show on the Oxygen network, Inhale, Steve is also the author of the best selling book Happy Yoga: 7 Reasons Why There’s Nothing to Worry About and founder and owner of one of LA’s most popular yoga studios, Maha Yoga. His diverse and unique background as having been both a vedic monk and professional rock musician, brings an authenticity and fun filled atmosphere to his classes, meditations and workshops.” For more on Steve click here
Human sexuality and the extremely fascinating yet complex rabbit hole that encompasses is one of the most fascinating topics to explore. My good friend Zoë Kors and I spent an hour barely scratching the surface of our cultures relationship to sex, our hang ups, the politics around it and most specifically women's issues and why they are so important. Zoë is an expert in helping women to get in touch with their core divinity that allows them to be the most potent manifestations of their incarnations. I really enjoyed this topic and wonder why I don't talk about it more on IAH, so I'll be sure to have Zoë back on. Enjoy.
Zoë Kors is committed to transforming the way we hold our sexuality—both individually and culturally—and to creating a compassionate, loving world through the cultivation of a sisterhood of wildly-expressed women.
Zoë is the former Senior Editor and Creative Director of LA Yoga Magazine and Origin Magazine. She is a frequent contributor to Elephant Journal, MindBodyGreen, and Aloha.com. Her article, “6 Ways to Have Radically Intimate Sex”, quickly went viral and is currently at nearly 2 million views with 20,000 Facebook shares.
She is a certified Co-Active Coach with the prestigious Coaches Training Institute in San Rafael, CA, and has a thriving private practice. Zoë’s work reflects her extensive study of Tantra, Zen Buddhism, meditation, yoga, breathwork, and other Eastern disciplines, which she blends with more process-oriented modalities of Western psychotherapy and Co-Active Coaching.
www.zoekors.com
Live from the MIND/WAVE event in downtown Los Angeles comes this very special episode on the topic of “Spiritual Materialism.” Myself, Daniele Bolelli, Cory Allen and Michael Philip sat atop gloriously high pulpits adorned with emeralds and holy water to instruct all of you on the virtues of sacred practice! Really, we sat on wooden chairs talking about the pitfalls of spiritual materialism and how western influences can make for strange bedfellows with eastern modalities. The other guys on the stage are wonderfully sharp and thoughtful and are all great podcast hosts in and of their own right. I highly recommend you check them all out. Also, I hope we get a chance to do more of these live events that get all of us in the same room. We only started to scratch the surface.
Daniele Bolelli's The Drunken Taoist can be heard here Michael Phillip's Third Eye Drops can be heard here Cory Allen's The Astral Hustle can be heard here
Chris Ryan returns to the podcast! It was so great to have him back and to dive into the mysteries of the human condition and why we do the things we do. Chris is one of the brightest minds around and together we dove into the potentials and optimism of the current state affairs, AI and social media. We of course, also talk about Chris's expertise as it relates to the hunter gatherer era and how it informs our current views on sex, gender roles and sexual identity. Also, read "Sex and Dawn" if you haven't already!
Christopher and his work have been featured just about everywhere, including: MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, NPR, *The New York Times, The Times of London, Playboy,* *The Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, The Atlantic, Outside,**El Pais*, *La Vanguardia*, Salon, Seed, and Big Think.
A featured speaker from TED in Long Beach, CA to The Festival of Dangerous Ideas at the Sydney Opera House to the Einstein Forum in Pottsdam, Germany, Chris has consulted at various hospitals in Spain, provided expert testimony in a Canadian constitutional hearing, and appeared in well over a dozen documentary films.
https://chrisryanphd.com
There are many great teachers and musicians who have come on the IAH podcast but I have to say that the magic, wisdom and love that Jai Uttal brought to the kitchen table was like nothing else. Jai effortlessly weaves together stories, knowledge and devotion into one voice like few others can do. We talked about his early days studying with Ali Akbar Khan, the landscape of spirituality and the 1960s, his passion for Indian classical music and kirtan and of course Neem Karoli Baba. Hearing Jai tell these stories had me forgetting that I was supposed to be on the other side of the table guiding the conversation. It was as if I was I was floating down the Ganga yearning for more of the unique musical magic that Jai creates. His new album "Roots, Rock, Rama!" is out now.
Jai Uttal has been rightly hailed as a world music pioneer. Singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, he was among the first to hear the universal heartbeat in the variegated rhythms of the globe. But his powerful, plangent voice and panoramic musical vision have also long been at the core of the yoga community’s tradition of call-and response devotional chanting known as kirtan. While his music is deeply rooted in Indian classical tradition—he studied long and hard under the Indian sarod master Ali Akbar Khan—it is also plentifully imbued with echoes of reggae, rock, folk, Brazilian music, Bollywood and other sounds from across the musical universe. All of these diverse and colorful strands are woven together beautifully on *Roots, Rock, Rama!*
www.jaiuttal.com
Why are relationships so hard? If you're anything like I am you've spent immeasurable time and effort clawing away at romantic relationships that just never seem to work out. For me personally, it's been by far the biggest supplier of grist for the mill. When the offer came across my desk to have Stan on the podcast I immediately jumped on it because I not only wanted to bring his wisdom to you but I also wanted to get into the deep end of my own issues. I got so much out of this one. We talked about the patterns within relationships, our nervous systems, gender roles and history, neurobiology and why that plays a role and techniques for dealing with conflict. Stan is smart, wise, very well educated and compassionate. Check out his site, books and this podcast!
Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT, is a clinician, researcher, teacher, and developer of A Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy® (PACT). He has a clinical practice in Calabasas, CA, where he has specialized for the last 15 years in working with couples and individuals who wish to be in relationships. He and his wife, Tracey Boldemann-Tatkin, developed the PACT Institute for the purpose of training other psychotherapists to use this method in their clinical practice.
In addition, Dr. Tatkin teaches and supervises first- through third-year family medicine residents at Kaiser Permanente, Woodland Hills, CA, and is an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine. He is on the board of directors of Lifespan Learning Institute and serves as a core member on Relationships First, a nonprofit organization founded by Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt.
www.stantatkin.com
In so many ways todays comedians really are the philosophers of the day. The medium allows these great minds to tackle tricky, touchy and controversial subjects in a way that can't be done without humor to offset peoples preconceived notions or the dreaded political correctness. Adrienne Airhart is no exception to this art - she came by the kitchen table to talk about her life as a comedian, how psychedelics are influencing her work and how a difficult and traumatic early life led to a breakthrough in becoming an incredibly strong woman. I really enjoyed getting into her mind and thought waves, I hope you do too!
Intro Rant: Death. Yes, death.
Adrienne Airhart is a comedian, writer and "cannabis professional." My degree is in linguistics, with an emphasis on the history of the English language. By night I am a stand up comedian, a presence which bleeds into much of my creative writing, as humor is the tie that brings compassion and education into interesting text. My favorite topics involve cannabis and general "woke-ness", ranging from environmental issues, cultural divides, psychedelics, and learning how to survive a scary political climate.
@craydrienne
Kelly MacLean joins IAH this week on a thoughtfully inspiring and comedically enlightened episode of the podcast. Kelly is not only an observant and socially biting comedian but she also grew up a Buddhist and maintains a pretty serious practice well into her adult life. Through the premature death of her brother she learned to put life, the spirit world and all it's amazement into perspective like few can ever do in life. We talked about death, bardos, comedy and a lot more in this hour. Enjoy the show!
Intro Rant: going with in vs. the rise in consumer spending
Kelly MacLean is an American stand up comic, writer and actress. She is an alumnus of The Groundlings in Los Angeles and winner of Jimmy Kimmel Live's 'Funniest College Kid in America' contest.
@thekellymaclean
The Tao Of Comedy
This episode grew out of my desire to take a focussed look at race in America. Through all the chaos of the talking heads, Obamas mixed departure and Trump's inexplicable rise it felt like a good time to examine this crucial issue in a way that felt more human and community based. I turned to two of the wisest and most insightful men I know to help unpack the discussion into areas that are impossible to do on my own. Roland Poindexter and Tony Moss joined me Katonah Studios in Marina Del Rey for an hour "panel" like format of the podcast. So much can be said here but this interview reminded me more than ever that unless we're going to meet on the road of understanding, tolerance and love that we're going to stay mired in the weeds of insanity.
Intro Rant: a reading of a crucial Obama speech from 2008
Roland Poindexter is a creative executive with over 20 years experience in television programming. Over the course of his career he has produced over 1,000 hours of television and his shows have earned more than 30 Emmy Awards. Currently, Poindexter is Vice President, Television Development for 20th Century Fox Animation. In this position, he overseas the development & production of television series, specials and web based short form content based of animated theatrical franchises, including “Ice Age” & “Rio” and live action theatrical franchises like “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” Previously Poindexter served as Senior Vice President, Current Series Animation for Nickelodeon, supervising annually over 200 hours of original production for the #1 kids cable network including such favorites as “SpongeBob SquarePants,” DreamWorks Animation’s “The Penguins of Madagascar” & “Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness,“ and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
Tony Moss returns to IAH, from...
From Tonymoss.me
“I am a artist, recording artist, and event producer influenced by 20 years of entheogenic study. My work is a synthesis of my interests in art, spirituality, and science, with passionate emphasis & interest in the evolution of human consciousness and greater under-standing and reverance for nature.
I’ve been called a mystic and a rationalist.
I marvel at the very presence of our being. I see “God” in evolution. I see God in everything.”
@iamlifeproject
We are all DEVO! This episode stops by the famous Mutato Studios on the Sunset Strip to sit down with the legendary Mark Mothersbaugh. For over an hour I took part in one of the most brilliant, though provoking, inspiring and wacky conversations that I've ever been a part of. First and foremost, I'm a fan of Mark's and of DEVO. They were one of the most influential bands of my youth through their ahead of their time use of multi media and music. Mark was so generous with his telling of the story behind the de-evolutionary roots of the band as well as his journey into being a soundtrack composer. Mark's view of how technology, media, culture and music fits into one cohesive narrative is unparalleled. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Mark Mothersbaugh is an American singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, author and visual artist.
Mothersbaugh's music career spans more than 40 years. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as co-founder, lead singer and keyboardist of the new wave band Devo, which released a Top 20 hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It". The band has maintained a cult following throughout its existence. Mothersbaugh is one of the main composers of Devo's music and made major lyrical contributions to the band's songs. He is one of only two members (along with bass player Gerald Casale) who have been with Devo throughout its entire history.
In addition to his work with Devo, Mothersbaugh has made music for television series, films and video games via his production company, Mutato Muzika, most notably as the composer for the popular long-running animated series Rugrats for its entire 13-year run, as well as all three theatrical films. He also has had a solo career which has included four studio albums: Muzik for Insomniaks, Muzik for the Gallery, Joyeux Mutato and The Most Powerful Healing Muzik in the Entire World. In 2004, he was honored with the Richard Kirk award at the BMI Film and TV Awards for his significant contributions to film and television music. Additionally, Mothersbaugh was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Kent State University in 2008.
Part 1 of the IAH and Team Human Podcast episodical swap! Next week Part 2 will be over at Douglas' podcast Team Human. Really exciting. Douglas is one of my oldest friends, mentors and inspirations. I've looked up to a great deal over the years on a variety of issues. Douglas was way ahead of the curve in interpreting the effect that digital media and cyberspace would have on the human condition. Through his books Media Virus, Present Shock and Throwing Rocks and The Google Bus - Douglas has given astonishing views into the color of our new world. On this podcast we talked a lot about what Team Human (the concept) means, looking back on the past and our experience in it and how our the very nature of our consciousness is changing right before our very eyes. Douglas is one of the great thinkers of our time, enjoy.
INTRO RANT: The quality of action within love
Douglas Rushkoff is a writer, documentarian, and lecturer whose work focuses on human autonomy in a digital age. He is the author of fifteen bestselling books on media, technology, and society, including Program or Be Programmed, Present Shock, and Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus. He has made such award-winning PBS Frontline documentaries as Generation Like, Merchants of Cool, and The Persuaders, and is the author of graphic novels including Testamentand Aleister & Adolf.
Rushkoff is the recipient of the Marshall McLuhan Award for his book Coercion, The Jacques Ellul Award for his documentary The Merchants of Cool, and the Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity. Named one of the world’s ten most influential intellectuals by MIT, he is responsible for originating such concepts as “viral media,” “social currency,” and “digital natives.” Today, Dr. Rushkoff serves as Professor of Media Theory and Digital Economics at CUNY/Queens, where he recently founded the Laboratory for Digital Humanism and hosts its TeamHuman podcast.
@rushkoff
It's a rare thing that I feel compelled to do a podcast around the subject of my dear paternal star guide, good ol' TL. I love and miss him a lot but can't spend too much time being too close in terms of my own work. Of course there are exceptions and this was one of them. James Penner wrote the most amazing book, Timothy Leary: The Harvard Years - Early Writings on LSD and Psilocybin with Richard Alpert, Huston Smith and Ralph Metzner. James stopped by the kitchen table to dissect not just the book but the entire history and context which is what makes the work TL and RD did at Harvard so monumental. Really, if you don't know much about the Harvard era one thing to know is that it was one of the key ingredients in the start of the 1960's. James is funny, smart and so well researched. This was a pleasure do and a worthy exception to the TL podcast rule!
INTRO RANT: moving through our collective relationship with the inauguration
James Penner is an Assistant Professor in the English Department of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. A graduate of Brown University and the University of Southern California, James divides his time between San Juan and Los Angeles.
The It's All Happening podcast finally joins forces with the host of the Synchronicity Podcast, Noah Lampert. Noah and I have been surfing the waves of podcasting, consciousness and friendship for awhile now and it was such a pleasure to finally co-habitate on this show. We covered what we think about the art of podcasting, Carl Jung, the balance between analysis and bhakti and some other important things that I can't remember right now. Noah is a fantastic, sharp and original mind that is worth checking out.
INTRO RANT: rabbit holes, news years resolutions and enough self help books
This episode is sponsored by Eat, Dream, Be. Head on over to eatdreambe.com/itsallhappening to learn more about these amazing neurotransmitters centered delectable food snacks.
Noah Lampert is the host of the Synchronicity Podcast and the chief architect of the MindPod Network. He's also a digital strategist, a musician, a seeker of wisdom and all around good citizen of this and other galaxies.
2017 sees us diving into the multi-verse with the great Dr. Fiorella Terenzi! Astrophysicist, Professor, Author and Musician - Fiorella blends so much knowledge and passion for the stars with her unique and poetic world view. Back in 1995 or so, Fiorella made some music with my dad that featured radio waves she captured from the galaxy and then transformed into soothing beats and melodies. We talked about that, bending the universe, the nature of space and time, black holes and why we must continue to look to the stars for our very survival. This was taped away from the cozy confines of the kitchen table in LA. It was taped live in Miami from her kitchen table! It was a wonderful, provocative and thought provoking interview. I've known Fiorella for 25 years and she's always been one of the most creative thinkers in this and any other galaxy!
INTRO RANT: the change agents of our time
This episode is sponsored by Eat, Dream, Be. Head on over to eatdreambe.com/itsallhappening to learn more about these amazing neurotransmitters centered delectable food snacks.
Described by Time Magazine as "a cross between Carl Sagan and Madonna", astrophysicist, author and recording artist Dr. Fiorella Terenzi received her doctorate in physics from the University of Milan, has studied opera and composition at Conservatory G. Verdi, and taught mathematics and physics at Liceo Scientifico, Milan. In research at the Computer Audio Research Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, she developed techniques to convert radio waves from galaxies into sound - released by Island Records on her acclaimed CD "Music from the Galaxies".
Her Avon/HarperCollins book, "Heavenly Knowledge", explores astronomy as a metaphor for human relationships and humanity's place in the Universe. The book, covered on ABC Radio, NPR Talk of The Nation, BBC Radio, and The Sci-Fi Channel, has been translated into Italian ("Musica Dalle Stelle" released by Sperling-Kupfer and bundled with her music CD "Galactically Yours"), German ("Der Kosmos ist weiblich" released by Goldmann/Bertelsmann), Latvian and other languages.
"What I hope to do with my work is to bring back the sense of beauty and poetry to astronomy and science to inspire a new connection with the Universe” Dr. Fiorella Terenzi Dr. Terenzi wrote the foreword for Paula Berinstein's recent book "Making Space Happen: Private Space Efforts and the People Behind Them" (Plexus Books) and has been featured in full chapter in Laura Woodmansee's "Women of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier" (Apogee Books) and the music and techonolgy book "The Art of Digital Music" by Kelli Richards and David Battino. She also provided a technical review of the educational text book "The Physics of Every Day Phenomena" by Thomas Griffith (McGraw-Hill), "College Physics" and "Physics for the Life Sciences" by Kesten/Tauck (Freedman). She has taught astronomy and physics at Glendale College, Pierce College (Los Angeles), Pace University (New York), Borough of Manhattan Community College and Bronx Community College (City University of NY, New York), Eastern Florida State College (Cocoa, FL) and is a full-time Instructor of Astronomy and Physics at Florida International University (www.FIU.edu).
www.fiorella.com
The final IAH podcast of 2016 brings you the great Andrew Gurevich. Andrew is as good a social, cultural historian/philosopher as they come. Our talk covered the vast landscapes of rising and falling ideologies, why looking at our past is important, social media and how to be a better inhabitant and of course a recap of latter day 2016 and how we got here. I hope to do more podcasts with Andrew as he really is a model for well rounded wise and balanced thinking.
INTRO RANT: 2016 and the rise of confusion
WELCOME: Our new sponsor Eat, Dream, Be. Head on over to eatdreambe.com/itsallhappening to learn more about these amazing neurotransmitters centered delectable food snacks.
Professor Andrew Gurevich lives with his wife and two children in Portland, Oregon. He teaches Writing, Religion, Literature and Mythology. He is a Board member for the Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness and is a regular speaker at their events where he explores the emerging interdisciplinary approaches to understanding symbolic and mythological consciousness. He has written and lectured about the deep psychology of the climate change denial movement; epigenetics, neuropsychology and religious symbolism; Goddess mythology in the United States and in “Old Europe”; and the resurgence of the sacred feminine in the mystical traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. His work has appeared in Popular Archaeology, Anthropology of Consciousness, The Ecologist, The Voice, Reality Sandwich and in the books “Indonesian Tribal Art,” “Jesus, Muhammed and the Goddess,” and “Voices of the Sacred Feminine - Conversations to ReShape Our World.”
He is a regular speaker at academic conferences, community lectures and on radio programs such as Dr. Karen Tate’s “Voices of the Sacred Feminine,” Dr. Christopher Ryan’s “Tangentially Speaking” and his own podcast entitled “On the Block Radio with Andrew Gurevich.” On the Block is a weekly podcast that explores the intersection of creativity and transformation with leading figures in academics, activism and the arts.
www.ontheblockradio.com
Daniel Pinchbeck has successfully morphed himself into of the most sought after, poignant and razor sharp social critics and consciousness surveyors of our time. His latest book "How Soon is Now" is like a how-to survival guide for the complicated world we are forging our way into. He stopped by the kitchen table to talk about the book, going "down and in", some politics, new economic systems and a whole bunch of other stuff. One hour with Daniel is just scratching the surface. It was a pleasure to spend some time with him and I hope we get to do it again. Also, be sure to pick up a copy of "How Soon Is Now" when it's released in February of 2017.
INTRO RANT: dharma vs. your current role
WELCOME: Our new sponsor Eat, Dream, Be. Head on over to eatdreambe.com/itsallhappening to learn more about these amazing neurotransmitters centered delectable food snacks.
Daniel Pinchbeck is the author of Breaking Open the Head (Broadway Books, 2002), 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl (Tarcher/Penguin, 2006), and Notes from the Edge Times (Tarcher/Penguin, 2010). His new book, How Soon Is Now, comes out in Februrary, 2017. Featuring a preface from Sting and an introduction from Russell Brand, How Soon Is Now? looks at the ecological crisis as a rite of passage or initiation for humanity and proposes a "blueprint for the future" - how we must redesign our technical and social systems to avert the worst consequences of ecological collapse.
http://www.pinchbeck.io
@DanielPinchbeck
Every now and then if you keep your eyes, mind and heart open you come across a teacher that will strike a chord of curiosity inside of you. Jai Dev Singh is that. Each time I've seen him in person I clearly get some radiant transmission that's telling me this guy is doing something that's working. Really, go see for yourself. Our podcast went through a brief history of the Kundalini yoga tradition, an examination of the word itself, various meditation transmissions, the fusion of consciousness and practice and so so much more. Jai Dev really is a mystic doing great works in the world around us. Visit his website, watch his videos and most of all - enjoy this episode!
INTRO RANT: complacency vs. action, Martin Luther King
Jai Dev Singh is a yogi and teacher. His innovative Yoga and Ayurveda courses have been attended and studied by thousands of people throughout the world. His flagship teachings are offered through The Complete Course of Ayurveda, The Radiant Body Home Course and The Life-Force Academy.
Jai Dev is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and previously served as the Clinical Director at the California College of Ayurveda, as well as the director of the college’s Pancha Karma Center.
He is a Kundalini Yoga teacher, certified by the Kundalini Research Institute. Jai Dev serves on the board of the Guru Ram Das Center for Medicine and Humanology. He is a partner at Floracopeia, Inc.
www.jaidevsingh.com
DYING TO KNOW CROWD FUND: igg.me/at/dyingtoknow
Another episode that was recorded live from the "Open in Your Heart in Paradise" retreat in Maui with Ram Dass, Krishna Das, Jack Kornfield and more! Mirabai Bush has consistently one of my favorite teachers at these retreats was kind enough to sit down with me for an episode covering an exploration into the now famous "just like me" practice, mindfulness in the military, the need to dig deeper and uncover all sides of a situation and some of the early days of eastern exploration in the America. I just love being with Mirabai, hearing her talk and hanging out in her field. She's one of the great wisdom keepers on the path today. Follow her work if you're not already.
INTRO RANT: social media vulnerability
Mirabai Bush teaches contemplative practices and develops programs through the application of contemplative principles and values to organizational life. Her work with individuals and organizations includes entrepreneurial project management, compassionate staff-board relations, organizational leadership, public relations, communication, networking, and strategic relationship building all through the lens of contemplative practice in action.
www.mirabaibush.com
Live from the Open Your Heart in Paradise retreat in Maui, I'm joined by Krishna Das for a devotionally potent episode of the show. Not only is KD one of the important transmitters of Neem Karoli Baba's teachings via his music, he's also become one of the wisest, most vulnerable and real teachers on the path of love that we know of. Our time together covered taking a look at who we think we are, projections onto each other, sharing of his own current vulnerabilities and struggles, the practice of kirtan itself and the need to have fierce compassion in the face of trying times. I can't say enough about KD and his importance in my life - I hope this episode covers some of that.
For Krishna Das, the journey started in the late 60’s. Krishna Das met spiritual seeker Ram Dass; he traveled across the country with Ram Dass as his student, captivated by the stories of his recent trip to India where he had met the legendary guru Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-ji. Finally, following his heart, in August 1970, Krishna Das left behind his dreams of being a rock star and made his way to meet this remarkable Being. Basking in the love of Maharaj-ji in the three years that followed, KD’s heart was drawn to the practice of Bhakthi Yoga – the yoga of devotion and after two and a half years with Maharaj-ji, he returned to USA – alas, six months after his return, word came that Maharaj-ji had died.
krishnadas.com
The one and only Larry Brilliant is the guest for this episode for It's All Happening. Larry is one of the great examples of combining purpose and seva with business. His new book 'Sometimes Brilliant' is out now and covers his life story that includes meeting his teacher Neem Karoli Baba to starting the SEVA foundation. On the show we talked about our current situation and how to make peace with it as well as a pin pointed look at the reality of our nations economic and education dilemma and what to do about it. Of course, we also talked about Neem Karoli Baba and what being a seeker was like in the early 70's for a young doctor from Detroit. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this one - Larry is an endless well of knowledge, wisdom and love.
INTRO RANT - The nature of change
Larry Brilliant is an American physician, epidemiologist, technologist, author and the former director of Google's philanthropic arm Google.org. Brilliant, a technology patent holder, has been CEO of two public companies and other venture backed start- ups. From 1973 to 1976, he participated in the successful World Health Organization (WHO) smallpox eradication program. In April 2009, he was chosen to oversee the "Skoll Global Threats Fund" established by eBay co-founder Jeff Skoll.
@larrybrilliant
What can we say after what we just witnessed this past week? Few of us have any answers - only outrage. Few of us have any composure - only rage. Few of us have any solutions - only confusion. In the face of such an unexpected landslide where hate and ignorance won knowing what to do next is so hard. Ram Dass beamed into the podcast this week to spread some love, compassion and understanding about what happened. That is followed by Jason Louv who takes us through a history of the alt-right and how we got to this point in time. It's a wonderful history lesson that we should all understand and take part in. Jason is an elegant and brilliant mind who can make sense of some of the most fringe aspects of life.
INTRO RANT - confusion on this Veterans Day and remembering what they fought for.
Jason Louv is: “One of humanity’s best mutant scouts on the frontiers of human experience.” – R. U. Sirius
Jason Louv is the author of Hyperworlds, Underworlds, The Angelic Reformation, Monsanto vs. the World and Queen Valentine, and the editor of Generation Hex, Ultraculture Journal and Thee Psychick Bible.
For the last fifteen years, Jason’s work has explored the outer reaches of human culture and possibility, through both science fiction and journalistic expeditions into some of the world’s strangest belief systems. His work shines with wit, compassion and an immense drive to share his enlightening experiences with his readers.
www.ultraculture.org
Ram Dass is one of the great spiritual teachers of our time. He is the very manifestation of love.
www.ramdass.org
One of the most important issues facing nearly everyone in the Western world is the onset of technology addiction. It's effecting all of us. It's so bad that we literally gather together in person yet don't engage, we stare at our phones. Nancy Colier came on the podcast this week to talk about her new book 'The Power of Off - The Mindful Way to Stay Sane in A Virtual World." Nancy is a brilliant and thoughtful psychotherapist and spiritualist who has a really well rounded and realistic view of how to tackle this problem and what the core symptoms are. I could have talked to Nancy for hours about what we're seeing around us, what I'm experiencing in my own life and what to do about it. I hope you enjoy the episode and I'm sure most of you can relate with it.
INTRO RANT - 7 things I've recently learned and still don't understand about the electorate and 2 things I've learned about the ironies of technology
Nancy Colier is a psychotherapist in private practice, an ordained interfaith minister, mindfulness teacher, relationship coach, author and blogger. She graduated from the University of Virginia, Columbia University School of Social Work, the Focusing Institute and One Spirit Interfaith Seminary. Mindfulness and Buddhist practices form the ground of her psychotherapy and spiritual counseling practice. A long time student of eastern spirituality and non-duality, Nancy helps to uncover the awareness, joy and presence that is the ground of well-being. Her work serves to connect clients with their authentic truth, remember their body’s wisdom. and know for themselves that they are spiritual beings on a human journey.
This week the transcendental divinity in the form of Juan Ruiz Naupari stopped by the kitchen table to take the IAH podcast on a new journey. He was joined by his translator Eric Baumgartner who beautifully weaved together the language barrier in what proved to be an amazing journey through practical spirituality, discovering ones own true nature, the roots of conflict and suffering and the role consciousness plays in our daily life. At first I was resistant to the idea of doing a foreign language podcast but thank you to my dear brother David Watts, who brought Juan to me, I was able to let go of that and settle into something new and worthwhile for both myself and the show. Juan is truly a potent being that is clearly on the path of something amazing. Being around him immediately makes you relax, open and tune into his frequency. I hope some of this joy is experienced in the audio you're about to experience.
INTRO RANT - The need to shorten the election season from here on out. This can be done through legislation.
Juan Ruiz Naupari is the creator of Pneuma System, a new Transpersonal perspective based in the comparative study of the ancient spiritual traditions of the planet. This system of self-knowledge, includes Pneuma Breathwork, a powerful, safe and simple practice which opens the way to Amplified States of Consciousness.
For more than thirty years he has studied transpersonal states and their application within both a therapeutic and human developmental context through imparting seminars and supporting the inner process of his students across Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Currently, he dedicates more than 500 hours a year to giving workshops, seminars and conferences internationally. Among the topics he investigates, the following stand out: Alchemy and Sexuality, The Vedas, elements of Egyptian religion, Greek philosophy, the Gnostic manuscripts of Nag Hammadi, and the history and philosophy of the first Christian Masters.
http://www.inkarri.us
Leah Pearlman joins the IAH podcast to share the story of her life's journey which is truly worth taking note of. It's one of those stories that you perhaps hear a little something about but then forget to follow up on how it turned out. A bright, creative young woman leaves a dream job as an early employee at Facebook to set out on a spiritual journey that was inspired by death, addiction, Burning Man, self love and an overall desire to share the path of the heart with everyone! The manifestation of her journey and intention took form in the wonderfully profound and simple Dharmacomics.com - talking to Leah about this, her journey and all it's twists and turns inspired me and forced me to step back and take a look at my own journey. I hope everyone who listens to this finds something here that will inspire a little time to reflect and admire your own brilliance and to possibly make changes where possible. Leah is a wonderful shining light.
Leah Pearlman drew her first comic in 2010 when her dad’s cancer went into remission. She drew a comic announcing the good news and posted it on Facebook.
A week later, after encouraging a friend to “follow his heart,” an image of someone literally following his heart popped into her mind. She laughed, and then put it on paper.
And so it goes. About once a week, ever since, she’s been moved by something or someone in her life. She illustrates the moment to celebrate it and the person who inspired her and posts the image online for anyone else it may touch. People often reflect that Dharma Comics have a deeply personal feel; that is because each one is deeply personal. They all have a story.
“Dharma” is a Sanskrit word, often used in Buddhism to refer to the teachings that offer us guidance in life. Dharma can also refer to one’s own purpose or path. Your “Dharma” is what you are meant to do. Leah often says the name is twofold: Dharma Comics are comics about Dharma, but they have also proven to be her dharma, what she is meant to do.
www.dharmacomics.com
Trevor stopped by the kitchen table for this truly inspiring episode of IAH. Trevor's gift to the world is his song but what transpires through his music, being and soul is so much more. Like so many of the great artists who came before him, Trevor is thoughtful, smart, intuitive, aware and you get the feeling when talking to him that he's seeing the world in the way that others are not. Our conversation ranged from his early days and upbringing, spirituality in life and music, why love really does heal all wounds and the quest to constantly explore and be a seeker. I'm somewhat of a late convert to Trevor's music and am so grateful that I get to discover this well of brilliance at this point in life.
INTRO RANT - When did anti-intellcualism and the celebration of ignorance become the norm?
From trevorhallmusic.com:
As an eleven year old, playing harmonica beside his father in South Carolina, music quickly became Trevor’s most intimate companion, guide and creative outlet. In his elementary years, he began to write his own songs and perform them locally. At sixteen he recorded his first record, and the following year he left South Carolina to study classical guitar at Idyllwild Arts Academy, an international boarding school east of Los Angeles. There, Trevor was introduced to yoga and certain spiritual practices found in India, which greatly influenced his music and his life journey. During his senior year, Trevor signed a record deal with Geffen Records and his career as a musician formally began.
Trevor quickly broke through the music scene, with such early accomplishments in his career as having a song recorded on the Shrek the Third soundtrack, as well as joining a series of sold-out tours with artists such as Steel Pulse, The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Matisyahu, Michael Franti, SOJA, Brett Dennen and Colbie Callait. Trevor’s quick rise on the scene, however, was ripe with challenges that conflicted with his spiritual life and devotional practice. In order to parallel his life’s path with the messages in his music, Trevor moved into a traditional Hindu ashram in Southern California in 2008. When not on tour, he lived as a monk and devoted his days to spiritual practice and service. His involvement with the temple affected his music and his music quickly became his practice.
www.trevorhallmusic.com
Episode 61 features the wise, funny, bitchy, enigmatic, thoughtful and subtle genius that is Conner Habbib. I stopped by Conner's mid-city lair to do this podcast in the middle of a hot and sweaty Los Angeles afternoon. Conner occupies a very unique place in the world in that he is a Renaissance Man for modern times. Part porn star, part post modern philosophy intellectual, part writing coach and part activist. Our conversation ranges from me trying to understand his focus in the world to philosophical applications to living in the world around us. Conner is living on an edge that dreams of new living conditions and dimensions - one that I'd sure like to keep in touch with.
From Connerhabbib.com:
I’m an author, a lecturer, a porn performer, and a sex workers’ rights advocate. I serve as Vice President of the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee and am a member of PEN America.
My essays have appeared in dozens of print and online publications, including The Stranger, Vice, Salon, Slate, and more. I give lectures around the country about sexuality, spirituality, pornography, science, and art. I teach writing one-on-one and in groups. For seven years, I was an award-winning gay adult performer, and continue, occasionally, to perform in adult film. I’m the only person who has ever won awards for writing, teaching AND porn.
On October 30th be sure to check out Conners "Banishing The World: Postmodern Philosophy and The Occult" online workshop. Find details here.
@ConnerHabib
When Philip Goldberg's now seminal book "American Veda" came out sometime in 2013 I was immediately drawn to it in a way that I'm not drawn to most books. Finally there was something out there that put this entire scene I find myself a part of into a historical context. Phil stopped by the kitchen table to talk about this, the history of yoga in America, Emerson and Thoreau, taking a look cultural appropriation, the evolution of yogic methodologies and so much more. If you practice yoga in America I highly recommend that you listen to this podcast. Phil's wisdom, humor and straight ahead thoughtfulness will enlighten your worldview on not just your own practice but also to the practice as a whole.
Be sure to visit Phils site for a bunch of upcoming events including The Beatles Musical Journey to India and many other talks and programs.
Philip Goldberg is the author or co-author of numerous books; a public speaker and workshop leader; a spiritual counselor, meditation teacher and ordained Interfaith Minister. He lives in Los Angeles and blogs regularly on Huffington Post and Elephant Journal.
The insanely and beautifully wise and talented David Nichtern comes to the podcast to discuss his new book "Awakening from The Daydream: Reimagining The Buddhas Wheel of Life." Our conversation took place at Bhakti Fest out on a little patio surrounded by trees where the sound of mantras being sung is heard in the back ground. We spent about an hour talking about the wheel of life, why none of it is permanent, bhakti and buddhism and their relationship and so much more. David is truly a wise soul who has spent over 40 years traversing the landscapes of buddhism, meditation and rock and roll. Yes, he played with Jerry Garcia back in the 70's too!
David Nichtern is a senior teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. This tradition combines a contemporary, secular approach to meditation with the ancient practices and philosophies of Tibetan Buddhism. David was one of the initial American students of renowned meditation master Trungpa Rinpoche and studied closely with him soon after his arrival in the United States in 1970.
Karen returns to the IAH podcast and continues to expand, challenge and educate my world view around national security, terrorism, the roots of the Middle East conflict and what to do about it. Our conversation was vast and wide ranging and brought out must of what I wanted to dig into after reading her new book "Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State." Karen is truly one of the nations leading experts on these issues and having her back a second time is truly an honor.
Karen J. Greenberg, a noted expert on national security, terrorism, and civil liberties, is Director of the Center on National Security. She is the author of The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo’s First 100 Days (Oxford University Press, 2009), which was selected as one of the best books of 2009 by The Washington Post and Slate.com.
Her newest book, Rogue Justice:The Making of the Security State (Crown, 2016), explores the War on Terror's impact on justice and law in America. She is co-editor with Joshua L. Dratel of The Enemy Combatant Papers: American Justice, the Courts, and the War on Terror (Cambridge University Press, 2008) and The Torture Papers: The Road to Abu Ghraib (Cambridge University Press, 2005); editor of the books The Torture Debate in America (Cambridge University Press, 2006) and Al Qaeda Now (Cambridge University Press, 2005); and editor of the Terrorist Trial Report Card, 2001–2011.
The mysterious, wondrous, fastidious and prolific David Jay Brown stops by the IAH podcast to discuss his new book "Dreaming Wide Awake" which deals with the very real phenomena of lucid dreaming. In the true spirit of Davids long standing role as one of the great psychedelic gnostic wunderkinds we cover much more than that. I've known David for the better part of 30 years and our conversation took on many twists and turns starting with a sort of nostalgic but necessary recap of the modern expansion of consciousness movement and all it's players since the 60's. We talked about all the great notables that we had the honor of knowing and why looking deeper is just as important in 2016 as ever before. Also, David's new book helped shine much needed light on a lot of the floatation tank work that I've been doing as of late. This was truly a pleasure and I hope there will be more in the future.
INTRO RANT - (long) a trip down memory lane in LA and a look at the new anti-intellectualism movement that is unfortunately gaining steam
David Jay Brown (born 1961) is an American writer, interviewer and consciousness researcher. Brown has studied parapsychology, and the effects of psychoactive drugs. With parapsychologist Rupert Sheldrake, he studied pets and people who apparently anticipate events. Brown has served as a guest editor for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and he has published many interviews of prominent thinkers.
One of my favorite combinations within the multi-verse is to take visionary work and combine it with the urban realities that make up real life for most people. It's a necessary exercise to, now and then, step away from the elevated way nature of visionary experience and come back to the inclusionary bond that is all life. Tony Moss stops by the kitchen table to beautifully articulate how his 22 years of entheogenic work has led to profound realizations on the systemic problems of our culture and how to address them with grace. He's not coming to the table with dogmatic firm answers but rather with wonderfully poetic points of view that will open your heart up to asking the right questions. Tony is a wonderful ambassador for the shamanic arts, musicians and entheogen advocates.
INTRO RANT - The Landscape of Being on Team Human
From Tonymoss.me
"I am a artist, recording artist, and event producer influenced by 20 years of entheogenic study. My work is a synthesis of my interests in art, spirituality, and science, with passionate emphasis & interest in the evolution of human consciousness and greater under-standing and reverance for nature.
I've been called a mystic and a rationalist.
I marvel at the very presence of our being. I see "God" in evolution. I see God in everything."
@iamlifeproject
In the middle of all the muck and chaos that is the Trump vs Clinton showdown it seems that we have forgotten some very important ballot measures that will result in real progress should they be passed. One of those is Prop 64 - the Adult Use of Marijuana Act. Lynne Lyman who is the State Director of California for the Drug Policy Alliance stopped by the kitchen table to discuss this historical effort in great detail. Lynne is a wonderfully articulate and brilliant legal mind who can not only speak to Prop 64 but also to the entire history of our complicated relationship with the War on Drugs. Listening to her to speak was truly a joy as I learned so much and was fully enthralled. Ironically, the very next day after we did this podcast the DEA, once again, did not move Marijuana from being a Schedule 1 drug. The horror. Enjoy this episode.
INTRO RANT - TL reading, the DEA and their schedule one baffoon-ness
Lynne Lyman is the California state director for the Drug Policy Alliance. Based in Los Angeles, Lyman leads DPA’s criminal justice reform work in California and oversees all other aspects of the organization’s policy and advocacy work in the state. A native of Los Angeles, Lyman joined the Drug Policy Alliance in 2012 after working with the civil rights organization, Advancement Project, on violence reduction, community policing and criminal justice reform.
VOTE YES:
http://www.yeson64.org
GET INVOLVED:
http://www.drugpolicy.org
Two of the great ambassadors and talents from the mantra music world stop by the kitchen table to discuss the origins of the universe and the very meaning of life! Not really but it sure seemed like that. But we did talk about the Chant4Change project going on in Washington DC on 10/08, the practice of Bhakti Yoga in the west, the power of sound, the essence of mantras and how to find a deeper connection no matter what faith you do or do not belong to.
Gaura Vani is a multi-disciplinary artist – fluent in music, film and visual arts. He is most known for his Mantra Music performances (an emerging genre based on ancient Indian mantras or chants). Gaura Vani’s events are unifying and transporting – a mix of participatory rhythm and song, story and dance. He travels often to Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia performing both as a solo artist and with his sacred music ensembles Sita & the Hanumen and As Kindred Spirits. Gaura Vani performs regularly at eclectic venues like private homes, theatres, temples, yoga studios as well as festivals like Lollapalooza, Bhakti Fest and Wanderlust.
Benjy Wertheimer is award-winning musician, composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist equally accomplished on tabla, congas, percussion, esraj, guitar, and keyboards, Benjy Wertheimer has performed and recorded with such artists as Krishna Das, Deva Premal and Miten, Jai Uttal, Walter Becker of Steely Dan, virtuoso guitarist Michael Mandrell, tabla master Zakir Hussain, and renowned bamboo flute master G. S. Sachdev. He has also opened for such well-known artists as Carlos Santana, Paul Winter, and Narada Michael Walden. Benjy is a founding member of the internationally acclaimed world fusion ensemble Ancient Future.
www.chant4change.com
As I travel through the urban sprawl and colorful cultural montage that is mid-city LA I come to a huge Victorian style house where Charles Shaw, the king of the new generation of gonzo-journalism is staying. This is where we do our podcast. Charles and I sit in a sweaty musty corner of this amazing artist complex maze and discuss a wide array of conspiracy theories, reality theories, political contradictions, personal roadblocks, the global security threat and how our own personal relationship got off on the wrong foot. I don't agree with everything Charles says but he is wonderfully intelligent, seductively articulate and exhaustingly well researched. I can't wait for the next one!
Charles Shaw is the author of the critically-acclaimed memoir, "Exile Nation: Drugs, Prisons, Politics & Spirituality" (2012, Counterpoint/Soft Skull Press) and the Director of the documentary films, "The Exile Nation Project: An Oral History of the War on Drugs & The American Criminal Justice System" (2011), "Visurreality" (2013), "WHITE PANTHER: The Legacy of John Sinclair" (2013) and "Exile Nation: The Plastic People" (2014 Cinedigm Films: Executive Produced & Narrated by Edward James Olmos). He is currently in post-production on SOLDIERS OF THE VINE, a documentary series about healing war trauma with plant medicine.
His work has appeared in Alternet, Grist, Guardian UK, Huffington Post, openDemocracy & The New York Times. He was a contributing author to Planetizen's Contemporary Debates in Urban Planning (2007, Island Press). In 2009 he was recognized by the San Diego Press Club for excellence in journalism.
He is the former Editorial Director of Conscious Enlightenment Publishing (Conscious Choice, Common Ground, Whole Life Times, and Seattle's Conscious Choice), and the founder and publisher of Newtopia, former head writer for the nationally syndicated radio show Reality Checks.
He holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from Boston University. A native of Chicago, he lives on the West Coast.
Please support his crowd fund campaign for his latest project Soldiers of the Vine:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/soldiers-of-the-vine-cannabis#/
Ever wondered how to be "ultra spiritual"? Look no further! The great JP Sears makes his way on to the podcast to discuss ultra-spirituality, laughter in the spiritual world, our true roles and identities and offers a whole new lens to look at non-attachment with. JP goes beyond just being the Andy Kaufman of the spiritual world - he is truly a wise, accomplished and vast spiritual teacher. Check out what he's doing beyond just the insanely brilliant viral videos and you get thrusted into the idea of questioning everything you think you know.
From his website "I’m an emotional healing coach, international teacher, world traveler, and curious student of life. My work is intended to empower people to empower themselves to live more meaningful lives.
I run a very busy one-on-one client practice (most sessions are via skype) where I’m fortunate enough to work with people everyday on healing their hearts, resolving self-sabotage, and stepping into their true power.
I also lead retreats around the world on different healing and personal empowerment themes for like minded and like hearted people to come together and learn, grow, and heal.
I also make videos. I’m very active on my YouTube channel, where I regularly release videos to help people help themselves. I also make comedy videos known as my 'Ultra Spiritual' series. Aside from the entertainment value of these humorous videos, they also carry important underlying messages (at least I think so, but I’m biased because they’re my videos)."
http://awakenwithjp.com
It's the It's All Happening one year anniversary!! And to mark the occasion we have a very special guest in the form of Andy Summers. I dropped by Andy's studio in Venice, CA to record the episode and what followed was pure podcast magic. You, of course, know Andy as the guitarist for the iconic band The Police but going beyond those magical years he's continued to make his mark as one of the worlds most acclaimed, thoughtful and original guitarists who defies classification. Our one hour conversation wove it's away around the topics of craftsmanship within music, finding ones role in life, what the culture of mid 60's UK and our overall shared love for music. We journeyed through his career somewhat chronologically to cover his work with Robert Fripp, his jazz albums and of course The Police. If you're a fan of music of any kind this episode is for you. Andy is truly a remarkable mind, kind soul and unreal talent.
Andy Summers is known as the guitarist for the rock band The Police, he has also recorded twelve solo albums, collaborated with many other artists, toured extensively under his own name, published several books, and composed several film scores.
http://andysummers.com
A huge milestone for IAH! Episode 50!! This weeks guest at the kitchen table is Ian Forester - VR visionary, consciousness provocateur, businessman and architect for the new reality. He came by initially because I'm a lifelong fan and advocate of VR but what transpired was far more interesting, dense and exciting than just talking about the current state of VR tech. We cover everything from our relationship to this thing we call reality, to politics and to how our evolution might get mapped in the post-scarcity age which will give way to Augmented Realities. I don't normally say this about people but keep your eye out for Ian - he may be poised to become one of the great thought leaders of our generation.
INTRO TOPIC - an Alan Watts snippet and a tale on the systemic roots of fertile soil that grow Trumps.
Ian Forester if the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of VR Playhouse which is a Los Angeles-based creative studio and full-service production company specializing in virtual and augmented reality. With a fervent passion for transporting viewers through meaningful experiences in immersive media, VRP has amassed a specialized team with diverse backgrounds ranging from production to animation, journalism, VFX, theater and live events. From creative to production and distribution, VR Playhouse delivers complete projects through its cohesive VR pipeline.
Boasting a broad range of projects in the commercial, live sports, cinematic narrative and high-end real estate industries, VR Playhouse’s original VR content transports viewers into unexplored times and locations, allowing audiences to transcend their daily lives and experience new perspectives and emotions.
http://www.vrplayhouse.com
@VRPlayhouse
This is a new type of episode of the It's All Happening podcast, no guests here - just me. Now and then I'm going to bring you more in depth thoughts around specific issues that I've blogged on, touched upon in podcasts/talks or that have come up in and around my day to day life.
These episodes will take on two or more issues with each one being it's own self-contained segment. Please note that these episodes will be short - they will be anywhere from 20-40 minutes in length. So think of these as verbal blog posts or more structured podcast intro segments. I hope you enjoy it.
This episode focusses on two issues:
1.) Creating Value in the 21st Century - digging into new systems that can define value beyond antiquarian methods like the GDP
2.) Institutionalized racism - I'm no race relations expert or even a community leader but I did want to share my view of Institutional Racism from the lens of growing up an Angeleno in the 1980's and 90s.
For more visit..
www.zachleary.com
My dear friend, brother, teacher and all around inspiration Govind Das stops by the kitchen table to talk with me about what yoga means in a 21st Century application, the path of bhakti, how to combat the Maya, embracing ones dharma and finding compassion in these troubling times. Govind Das is truly one of the great American yoga teachers and you should check out his classes and offerings whenever possible.
INTRO TOPIC - my confusion around the new age community and the recent police brutality events.
Govind Das first came to yoga while living in Los Angeles in 1994 because of health concerns- specifically ulcerative colitis/crohn's/inflammatory bowel disease... After years of many different practices with the intention of healing(hatha yoga, ayurveda, buddhist meditation etc), Ira Rosen found his yogic "home' in the path of Bhakti Yoga... the aspect of yoga frequently described as the "yoga of the heart" or "the yoga of love and devotion". Not by avoiding or denying our life and health challenges, but only by accepting and courageously moving through and forward, the flower of our full appreciation and devotion to Life blooms. It is in this tradition of "Bhakti/Devotion" where Ira was given his spiritual name- Govind Das or simply "Govindas" which means "servant of the Divine"... This path of service is at the root of his spiritual life- to serve the Love and Spirit that lives in the hearts of all. His journey has led him to India on 5 different occasions to immerse himself in the ways of the yoga tradition at the Ashram of his "Guru" or main spirtual teacher- Neem Karoli Baba, as well as spending time in holy yogic places like Vrindavan, Varanasi, Rishikesh and many more... Through his journeys to the "motherland of yoga"- India, Govindas has been blessed to enjoy the "darshan" or be in the company of many yogic saints, sadhus, and wise teachers- It is from these transmissions that Govindas shares the authenticity of the Bhakti path... As well Govindas would like to express heartfelt gratitude to his yoga teachers here in California - Bryan Kest, Saul David Raye, Shiva Rea, and Mark Whitwell... and bow to his Bhakti and Kirtan teachers Ram Dass, Jai Uttal, Bhagavan Das, Krishna Das, Shyam Das, Raghu Markusand many many more...
www.bhaktiyogashala.com
The inspiring Dr. Molly Maloof comes by the kitchen table to educate, inspire and invigorate me into new ways of looking at the what real holistic health looks like for the 21st Century. Extending beyond that I also found our talk to be very inspirational into looking at my own health and complete physiological package. She is brilliant, articulate, thoughtful, very well educated, gorgeous and has a life force to aspire to. I'd love to have Molly be a regular health contributor on the podcast and hopefully this is just the first of many episodes together.
INTRO TOPIC - the quest for equanimity.
Dr. Molly Maloof's goal is to maximize human potential by dramatically extending human healthspan through scientific wellness, technology, & educational media. When she saw the digital revolution transforming medicine she knew she had to be a part of it. Since 2012 she has worked as an independent advisor and strategy consultant to over 18 technology companies in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Her fascination with innovation has transferred into her private medical practice, which is focused on providing health optimization and personalized medicine to entrepreneurs, investors, and executives. Her iterative programs take the quantified self to the extreme through comprehensive testing of clinical chemistry, metabolomics, microbiome, biometrics, and genomic markers. She favors the use of food over pharmacology and believes the next frontier in health tech is the exploration of our “inner media.”
www.mollymaloofmd.com
Hollywood, the counter culture, media and rock and roll has produced many characters over the years that have formed the fabric of our culture. Elliot Mintz stands as of one of those greats who, in my opinion, is one of the most astute cultural anthropologists of our time. This podcast was done in his living room as we waxed poetic about the early days of celebrity culture in 1963, the innocence that surrounded that time, spiritual integrity, John Lennon, Bob Dylan and so much more. I found this interview to be one of the most fascinating and engrossing I've ever done. Also, note that Elliot has one of the great voices and most articulate delivery systems ever. Enjoy.
NOTE - very long into rant about Brexit and the illusion of separation.
Elliot Mintz is an American media consultant and publicist. In the 1960s and early 1970s Mintz was an underground radio DJ and host. In the 1970s he became a spokesperson for John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and took on other musicians and actors as clients as a publicist ranging from Bob Dylan to Diana Ross.
www.elliotmintz.com
The genius of Duncan Trussell. Duncan comes by the kitchen table for the first time to do what only he can do. Many areas of the multi-verse were explored but what was most potent to me was getting Duncan's personal revelations on why spiritual practice works in his life. His humor, intelligence and razor sharp insightfulness were a joy to play with.
Duncan Trussell is host of the wildly popular podcast, "The Duncan Trussell Family Hour." Duncan is a comedian, podcaster, spiritual aspirant and all around genius of the 21st Century paradigm.
@duncantrussell
Have you ever wondered it's like to be completely content, wise and truly happy? Spending an hour with Sharon Salzberg will give you a glimpse into that reality. On this episode we explore the nature of self inquiry, how to start a practice and integration into the material world. I'm truly grateful that Sharon stopped by the IAH kitchen table to do this podcast. What a gift.
Born in New York City in 1952, Sharon Salzberg experienced a childhood involving considerable loss and turmoil. An early realization of the power of meditation to overcome personal suffering determined her life direction. Her teaching and writing now communicates that power to a worldwide audience of practitioners. She offers non-sectarian retreat and study opportunities for participants from widely diverse backgrounds. Sharon first encountered Buddhism in 1969, in an Asian philosophy course at the State University of New York, Buffalo.
@sharonsalzberg
Episode 43 is brought to you live from the Lightening in a Bottle festival in Bradley, CA! I stepped into the vortex of Amanda's 72 Winnebago to do the podcast and slide into the world of art, consciousness, viewing the world around us and how to keep communities vibrant and productive. This was one of the most fun episodes I've ever done, it was such a joy to surf the waves of bliss with Amanda at LiB. Her amazing partner Joe Bob Merritt sat in too!
Amanda Sage is at the forefront of a new breed of visionary/interdimensional artists using art as a tool for personal, spiritual, planetary growth and transformation.
Amanda was born April 19, 1978 in Denver, Colorado to her mother YOU and father Jackson, with two brothers still to come. Her childhood was filled with healthy, tropical, media-free, creative freedom in Florida without the distraction of formal schooling until she entered 4th grade in Colorado.
She has exhibited Solo and in Group Shows in Galleries, Salons and in various projects/events worldwide since 1999, including London, Vienna, Munich, Berlin, Bali, Colorado, Seattle, San Francisco, Moscow, Australia, Colombia and most exotically at Burning Man , hanging next to renowned visionary artists and friends such as Alex Grey & Allyson Grey, Martina Hoffmann, Robert Venosa, & many amazing artists involved in the growing movement of Visionary Art.
http://amandasage.com
While hundreds are practicing yoga and singing kirtan, Sridhar and I find a quiet place to sit down and do a podcast in the middle of the annual Shakti Fest festival in Joshua Tree, California. Our conversation takes on a wide biographical tone in that I used Sridhar's amazing life as the backdrop for a discussion on the practice of yoga, the wisdom of Bhakti and the complicated nature behind this whole guru thing. Sridhar has one of the most colorful lives I've ever come across and I can say without any ego, that's saying a lot.
While many people may know him as the Godfather of Bhakti Fest, Sridhar Silberfein has a long and storied history in the spirituality and health and wellness communities. He arranged to have Swami Satchidananda on stage at Woodstock to lead the Western world’s first mass Sanskrit chanting. And since the 1970s, one of the first stops in the US for many great spiritual teachers has been the Center for Spiritual Studies, a nonprofit organization Sridhar founded. Sridhar’s mission for everyone he meets or influences is to provide assistance to go deeper into Sadhana (or spiritual practice)—even if it requires a dose of tough love.
www.bhaktifest.com
Zach once again travels to a magical realm in Hollywood, California that for a moment became the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. Zach met up with the Greys to talk about manifestation, spirituality in the modern world, why religions aren't all bad and their mothership project entitled "Entheon". It's a temple of the most beautiful realized vision one could imagine. Enjoy the podcast and dive in.
Alex and Allyson Grey are the worlds most respected visionary artists and the founders of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) located in upstate New York. Alex's art is some of the most iconic of our time and can be found in everywhere from museums to album covers and to everywhere else in between.
Build Entheon Kick Starter:
http://buildentheon.com
Steve Agee stops by the IAH podcast table and reunites with Zach after a 21 year gap! The great comedian and Zach went to music school together at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood over 20 years ago. Both Steve and Zach were fledgling bass students at the time and then lost touch after school ended. This podcast is what happened after not seeing each other for over 20 years. We covered everything from health, hypochondria, death and the creative process and....junk food...oh, and Scientology.
@steveagee
Steves Podcast:
http://www.feralaudio.com/show/steve-agee-uhhh/
This episode is also brought to you by The Joy Effect:
http://www.thejoyeffect.xyz
The IAH Book Contest:
http://itsallhappeningshow.com/index.php/book/
Jim stops by the kitchen table to talk flotation tanks and all of their amazing uses. If you're curious about floating and where to start check out this episode. Jim is a wonderful ambassador for the modern float movement and is incredibly smart and thoughtful. Visit Just Float in Pasadena too!
Also...BIG NEWS!!! This episode features a new podcast theme song from none other than David Block AKA The Human Experience!!!! I'm so honored that he contributed to this podcast and is part of the IAH family! Check it out!
Jim Hefner is the owner and creator of the Just Float Center in Pasadena, CA. Jim is also a fledgling psycho-naught, serial entrepreneur, MBA, adventure athlete, husband and father, who also happens to be rabid about floating and creating the perfect float environment. Throughout his life, he's been drawn to hobbies and experiences that require perfect commitment to the moment. Whether on a sheer rock face, a mountain bike, a wave, or in a float tank, what matters most to him is the sacred experience of flow, of absolute attention, and freedom from the noise of everyday life.
http://justfloat.com
http://humanexperiencecreations.com
The host of the "Walking Home with Michael Donovan" podcast drops by IAH to break it wide open. Gurus, being a spiritual teacher, our humanity, porn and fashion are all discussed. Michael is a cultural force to be reckoned with. Also, a long rant on Prince at the beginning.
Michael Donovan is a visual artist using photography, video, and digital art. MD also runs a podcast featuring a range of guests contemplating consciousness, community, and enlightenment. He is based in NYC.
http://studiodonovan.com
Rick and I explore the multi-verse, MAPS 30th Anniversary and the complicated, rewarding and revolutionary road that psychedelics has seen over the course of the last 50 years. Recorded off site at the University of Pennsylvania where Rick and I were both panelists at the BioEthics Film Conference. This is a podcast that I've been wanting to do since Day 1 and I'm happy we made it work!
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master's thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Timothy Leary’s Concord Prison Experiment. Rick studied with Dr. Stanislav Grof and was among the first to be certified as a Holotropic Breathwork practitioner. His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He founded MAPS in 1986, and currently resides in Boston with his wife and three children.
http://www.maps.org
Joi beams into the IAH podcast and engages in the razor sharp and wildly intelligent observations that you'd expect from Joi. We talked about the history of tech and it's not so democratization, the Arab Spring case studies, the new global economies and so much more. So thrilled to have him on, it doesn't get much better than this.
Joi Ito is the Director of the MIT Media Lab as well as being a Japanese activist and an influential venture capitalist.
Ito has received recognition for his role as an entrepreneur focused on Internet and technology companies and has founded, among other companies, PSINet Japan, Digital Garage and Infoseek Japan. He maintains a blog, a wiki and an IRC channel. Ito is the chairman of the board of PureTech Health. Ito is a board member of Sony Corporation, The New York Times Company, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and General Partner of Neoteny Labs.
@Joi
I was so honored to have Snatam Kaur join the podcast! She is one of the most angelic and potent spiritual masters in the West. Her music has been such a blessing in my life as it has so many thousands of others. On this episode we talk about establishing a practice, the history of mantra music, the science and metaphysical properties of chanting, optimism and her new book "Original Light: The Morning Practice of Kundalini Yoga."
Snatam Kaur is an American singer, peace activist and author raised in the Sikh and Kundalini Yoga tradition. She has an amazing ability to transform traditional Sikh chants of India into a contemporary sound that appeals to the modern ear and awakens an ancient yearning in the soul. For over thirty years, she studied with and grew up in the presence of her spiritual teacher, Yogi Bhajan, while he was in his physical form, learning the essence of Naad Yoga, a form of yoga focusing on sacred sound. At the core of this practice is an essential experience of peace and healing which has helped her music to be accessible to people of all walks of life. She has taught and shared Naad Yoga and Kundalini Yoga and meditation through her recorded CDs, concerts, and workshops for the past sixteen years as a part of her commitment to give people tools for a daily experience of inner peace. Her new book Original Light; the Morning Practice of Kundalini Yoga is a compassionate and supportive guide to creating a personal daily spiritual practice. To find out more about her concerts and workshops, her book and her online course, Life Guided By Light, visit snatamkaur.com.
http://www.snatamkaur.com
Raja comes back to the podcast as a return guest to share what's happening at Green Tree Yoga and Meditation in South LA, the overall state of the urban realities, Bernie Sanders, bringing yoga to everyone and so much more. Lots of bases were covered on this highly dynamic and thoughtful episode. Raja rocks!
Raja Michelle is the founder and guiding teacher for Green Tree Yoga and Meditation. Their mission is to offer yoga and meditation to the South Los Angeles community, regardless of income, allowing that which connects us to flourish and to dissolve that which separates us.
http://www.greentreeyogameditation.org
Kevin stops by IAH to discuss the future of pretty much everything. The conversation ranges from how the media landscape is changing to how entertainment is being consumed to how Amazon drones are coming for you in your sleep! Kevin is one of the brightest minds around in the area of infotainment and this episode will show you why.
Kevin Pereira is a producer, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, musician, and comedian. He is currently the co-host of Hack My Life on truTV, and makes appearances on a variety of other TV and web shows.
@Attack
http://supercreative.tv
Chris and Zach hang out in a very thought provoking, heart centered common ground that explored many topics. Chris shares his insights into modern spirituality, a little bit about his story, thoughts on his new book "Everything Mind" and an all around great insight into how to apply spirituality to ones life without dogma or labels.
Rants include: Not very much!! Just a thought on how and where the Trump phenomena all began!
Chris Grosso is a public speaker, writer, spiritual director of Tovio by Advocacy Unlimited, teacher with the Worldwide Insight Organization, and author of Indie Spiritualist: A No Bullshit Exploration of Spirituality (Beyond Words/Simon & Schuster) and Everything Mind: What I’ve Learned About Hard Knocks, Spiritual Awakening and the Mind-Blowing Truth of it All (Sounds True). He writes for ORIGIN Magazine, Huffington Post, and Mantra Yoga + Health Magazine, and has spoken and performed at Wanderlust Festival, Celebrate Your Life, Yoga Journal Conference, Sedona World Wisdom Days, Kripalu, and more.
Chris is passionate about his work with people who are in the process of healing or struggling with addictions of all kinds. He speaks and leads groups in detoxes, yoga studios, rehabs, youth centers, 12-step meetings, hospitals, conferences, and festivals worldwide. He is a member of the advisory board for Drugs over Dinnerand hosts The Indie Spiritualist Podcast on The Mindpod Network.
http://theindiespiritualist.com
@XchrisGrossoX
The funny, insightful, smart and kick ass Taryn Southern stops by the kitchen table to discuss her role as a new media maven for the 21st Century as she goes on creating some of the most fantastic content the series of tubes has to offer! We also get into her roots, the future of tech, the ever changing media landscape and...cats.
Who is Taryn Southern you may ask?
I have a Youtube channel. where I write, produce, and post weekly sketches, vlogs, and music videos. Here are some of the videos that I’ve done over the years.
I occasionally do TV stuffs. I’ve done acting stuffs on Last Man Standing, The League, Legit, New Girl, Rules of Engagement, Guys with Kids, and American Dad, and hosting stuffs on shows like Shark After Dark, The X-Factor, Vh1’s Countdown Specials, TVGuide’s Hollywood 411, and G4’s Attack of the Show. I also host live shows and premieres.
I am digital media consultant, columnist, and enthusiast. I’ve spoken at conferences and companies like Science-Inc, YouTube, Bare Minerals, and GM to help them develop programming, connect with influencers, and learn effective marketing social media strategies.
http://tarynsouthern.com
@TarynSouthern
http://youtube.com/taryn
The mayor of all things great, my good friend, rock and roll master shaman and Bhakti legend Shiva Baum comes by to do an episode of IAH. We explore friendship, kirtan and The Church of Rock and Roll and why it still matters.
NOTE - a very long Amanda Chantal Bacon intro rant. Jump to 10:22 if you want skip it.
Shiva Baum has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with music. When he was 19 he began an internship at New York's Sony Music Studios followed by a summer at Columbia Records under the mentorship of then head of A&R David Khane and has never looked back from there. Shiva went on to discover and develop 90's alt rock band VAST who then signed with Elektra Records. Under the tutelage of Raghu Markus, Shiva then transitioned to influential world music label Triloka Records which was a division of Mercury/Polygram. Eventually Shiva became head of A&R working closely with Krishna Das, Jai Uttal and Bhagavan Das as well other world music artists including the Native American gospel group Walela and southern Cuban salsa phenoms Bio Ritmo. Shiva then headed over to Gold Circle records as VP of A&R developing new artists in tandem with working on new releases by seasoned 80's superstars John Waite and Pat Benatar. He has been mentored by industry luminaries Rick Rubin, Danny Goldberg, Jeff Ayeroff, and David Silver. Currently, Shiva is an artist manager, producer and "A&R coach" working closely with new artists BIRA, Brightside, and Clark Graham amongst others following his passion to discover and develop new talent. In addition, he is the main stage MC and head of music programming at the "Coachella of Kirtan" known as Bhakti Fest in Joshua Tree, CA. Shiva is very looking forward to the launch of a sacred music focussed podcast which he'll be hosting this year.
https://www.facebook.com/shiva.baum
The amazing and inspirational Ashley Booth stops by the kitchen table to discuss her own transformational face to face experience with God, the founding of the Aware Project and following your heart even when it seems impossible.
Ashley is the founder of the Aware Project that produces educational events in Los Angeles, California. She is balancing the conversation about psychoactive compounds in order to have intelligent, level-headed conversations on the responsible uses of psychedelics for both clinical and therapeutic purposes. Through her own inner work, she has developed a passion for removing the stigma and fear surrounding psychedelics. Her strength comes from combining a background in the sciences with a bigger and deeper view of humanity and the world. She inspires audiences to question what they’ve been told, do their homework, and form their own opinions.
http://awareproject.org
http://www.ashleybooth.net
Mirabai is the author of the new book "Caravan of No Despair - A memoir of Loss And Transformation". She stops my IAH to talk about her new book, the power of attachment, the lessons that come from loss and finding beauty even in the darkest times.
Mirabai Starr writes, speaks and leads retreats on the inter-spiritual teachings of the mystics.
Known for her revolutionary translations of John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Julian of Norwich, Mirabai renders mystical masterpieces accessible, beautiful, and relevant to a contemporary circle of seekers. Her commentaries on the interconnected wisdom of all traditions are lyrical and evocative.
Mirabai builds bridges not only between religious traditions, but also between contemplative life and compassionate service, between cultivating an inner relationship with the Beloved and expressing that intimacy in community, between the transformational power of loss and longing for the sacred.
http://mirabaistarr.com
@MirabaiStarr
The multi-verse is fully explored on this amazing episode of IAH. Alex Grey, Allyson Grey and Duncan Trussell hang out with Zach in a top secret Hollywood location where magical fairy teacher agents served up wisdom on engaged inertia, the nature of mystical experiences, teaching one how to become a visionary artist and the jeweled net of Indra!
Alex and Allyson Grey are the founders of CoSM, legendary visionary artists and an inspiring partnership of over 40 years.
Duncan Trussell is the host of the insanely brilliant "Duncan Trussell Family Hour" podcast, a comedian and a mystical psycho-naut.
http://cosm.org
http://www.allysongrey.com
http://alexgrey.com
http://duncantrussell.com
Joshua Fouts is is the Executive Director of Bioneers. He joined the podcast to walk us through one of the most poetic and substantial uses of technology that we've ever heard. He's truly one of the most thoughtful and articulate people around. Check out what Bioneers is doing and get involved.
Also, there's a long David Bowie segment towards the beginning too...
Joshua Sheridan Fouts is a globally recognized media innovator and social entrepreneur known for his visionary work paving new inroads for meaningful understanding between cultures.
An anthropologist, Joshua studied art and documentary film production. He began his career in Washington, DC in the 1990s where he worked at the US State Department and began to experiment with new ways to use radio, television and Internet technology for cultural collaboration. He went on to launch two first-of-their-kind think tanks focused on digital media innovation and cultural relations at the USC Annenberg School in Los Angeles where he founded the first-ever blog about digital journalism and later created a new master’s degree in public diplomacy.
http://www.bioneers.org
Pete Holmes (You Made it Weird) stopped by IAH to talk transformation, art, ol' Ramie D and so much more. Smart, funny, insightful and out of his mind - i love Pete Holmes!
Pete Holmes is a comedian. Maybe you know him from his podcast You Made It Weird. Or The Pete Holmes Show! Or his videos with FrontPage Films. Maybe you saw his hour special Nice Try, The Devil, or his half-hour Comedy Central Presents. Or on Conan. Or Jimmy Fallon. Or maybe you saw him on VH1. Or heard him as the e*trade baby or on Comedy Central's Ugly Americans. I mean, who knows. Pete also draws cartoons for The New Yorker, wrote for NBC's "Outsourced" and FOX's "I Hate My Teenage Daughter."
http://www.peteholmes.com
http://nerdist.com/podcasts/you-made-it-weird-channel/
@peteholmes
The brilliant, challenging and wise Chris Ryan stops by to talk about our world and species through his own unique cultural anthropologist lens. Enjoy getting your soul inspired and provoked as we head into 2016!
Chris is the author of the now seminal book "Sex at Dawn" and his working on a new book that will be called "Civilized to Death." His work has been featured just about everywhere, including: MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, NPR, The New York Times, The Times of London, Playboy,The Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, The Atlantic, Outside, El Pais, La Vanguardia, Salon, Seed, and Big Think.
A featured speaker from TED in Long Beach, CA to The Festival of Dangerous Ideas at the Sydney Opera House to the Einstein Forum in Pottsdam, Germany, Chris has consulted at various hospitals in Spain, provided expert testimony in a Canadian constitutional hearing, and appeared in well over a dozen documentary films.
http://chrisryanphd.com
@ChrisRyanPhD
Bob Wisdom comes by to hang out and take us through an oral history of his career, the arts in 1970s and 80s America, activism and so much more. He's one of the smartest, most sincere and connected people I've ever met.
Robert Wisdom is an American actor who has appeared in many different TV shows and movies throughout his career. He is arguably most well known for his roles in The Wire and Prison Break. He's also a progressive activist, a bhakta and mega wise humanist.
@RobertRayWisdom
Karen is the Director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University. She opens up the IAH spectrum by engaging in a healthy dialogue on post 9/11 global tensions, the rise of ISIS, American imperialism and the overall nature of conflict.
Finally IAH has an episode about US foreign policy with someone who actually knows what they are talking about! Enlightening, challenging and fascinating. Don't miss this one, she's fantastic.
Karen Greenberg is the Director of the Center on National Security, and a noted expert on national security, terrorism, and civil liberties. She is the author of The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo’s First 100 Days (2009), which was selected as one of the best books of 2009 by The Washington Post and Slate.com. She is co-editor with Joshua L. Dratel of The Enemy Combatant Papers: American Justice, the Courts, and the War on Terror (2008) and The Torture Papers: The Road to Abu Ghraib (2005); editor of the books The Torture Debate in America (2006) and Al Qaeda Now (2005); and editor of the Terrorist Trial Report Card, 2001–2011. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Nation, The National Interest, Mother Jones, TomDispatch.com, and on major news channels. She is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations. http://centeronnationalsecurity.org @KarenGreenberg3
A new and different episode of It's All Happening! This one is called the "Community Podcast Vol. 1." The general idea is to bring you a few different guests who are doing amazing works in the community. Arjuna O'Neal, Raja Michelle and Kelsea Rea are, respectively, doing some cool things in and around LA that help promote wellness, helping the underserved and bringing awareness to where our great city is lacking.
Also, I'm fresh of the Open Your Heart in Paradise retreat with Ram Dass, Krishna Das and friends. So I took this opportunity to go on a little rant about how this was the best OYHIP yet and how I'm still trying to make sense of the love portal that can be experienced there.
Raja Michelle
http://www.greentreeyogameditation.org
Arjun O'Neal
http://www.share-necessites.org
Kelsea Rea
http://thehurb.com
Leilani Münter, the only vegan hippie chick with a race car, charges her Tesla while hanging out with Zach and Elijah. To say that Leilani is one of the coolest, brightest and most well informed activists out there is an understatement. And yes. she really is a race car driver. She also helped to bring "Racing Extinction" to the world which premieres Wed December 2nd on the Discovery Channel.
http://www.leilani.green
@LeilaniMunter
http://racingextinction.com
Gay and Joanna gently help IAH dive into the saga of Timothy Leary just this one time. The episode gets shot through a love cannon when a forgotten and shocking Tim Leary prison story is revealed half way through - the four of us then dance around the planes of the universe, why humans behave the way they do and the quest for love and other altered states of consciousness.
Gay Dillingham is the producer and director of the documentary "Dying to Know: Ram Dass and Timothy Leary"
http://dyingtoknowmovie.com
Joanna Harcourt-Smith is an author, podcaster and former common law wife of Timothy Leary.
http://www.futureprimitive.org/joanna/
Dan stops by IAH to talk with Zach and Elijah on the nature of the mind, consciousness itself and a new lens for approaching well being and thus experiencing a truly integrated life! Minds blown. This one may take more than one listen to fully digest.
Dr. Siegel is currently clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine where he is on the faculty of the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. An award-winning educator, he is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and recipient of several honorary fellowships.
He's also written many best selling books including Mindsight and Brainstorm.
http://drdansiegel.com/
@DrDanSiegel
Author of the new book "LOVE EVERYONE - the Transcendent Wisdom of Neem Karoli Baba Told Through the Stories of the Westerners Whose Lives He Transformed", Parvati Markus on the show! Lovers of Yoga, Ram Dass, mystics and seekers - check it out!
Parvati Markusis a developmental editor and writer of spiritually oriented nonfiction books and memoirs. She has worked on books by various members of the satsang, from Ram Dass’s classic Be Here Now (before she went to India) to those since her time in India with Maharajji (1971–1972)—from Dada Mukerjee’s By His Grace and The Near and the Dear to Krishna Das’s recent Chants of a Lifetime. She is a former president of the board of the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram and Temple and a former development con-sultant for the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders, held at the U.N. in Geneva, Switzerland. She lives in West Palm Beach, Florida.
You can buy "LOVE EVERYONE" at Amazon or any local bookstore.
Jim is often called "America's wisest and most respected authority on psychedelics and their use," James Fadiman has been involved with psychedelic research since the 1960s. Jim spoke with Zach on the early days of psychedelic research at Harvard, what's happened since, micro-dosing and the theory of "healthy multiplicity"- the notion that all of us are multiples, that is we act as if we very different people in different situations.
http://www.jamesfadiman.com
http://www.psychedelicexplorersguide.com
Yogi, mystic, healer and explorer of the sacred multi-verse, Saul David Raye stops by IAH to open our hearts and blow our minds. Quite literally. This episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about yoga and hopefully inspire you to dig even deeper within your own soul.
@sauldavidray108
sauldavidraye.com
Ryland Engelhart is the Owner of Cafe Gratitude and the Co-Founder of Kiss the Ground. Cafe Gratitude is one of the leading institutions of the growing plant based organic food movement. Be sure to stop by and eat at one if you can.
Ryland stopped by IAH to help us figure out sustainable food, regenerative farming and all around conscious living within our multi-verses.
@lovebeingryland
http://thesoilstory.com
http://cafegratitude.com
Music business legend, friend and prayer expert Danny Goldberg gets into all of it with us.
Danny Goldberg, President of GoldVE Entertainment, has worked in the music business as a personal manager, record company President, public relations man and journalist since the late nineteen sixties. GoldVE Entertainment was formed in July 2007 and marks the return to artist management for Goldberg. A complete roster of artists can be found here. Goldberg is also a consultant to the forthcoming HBO series “Vinyl”.From 1983-1992, Goldberg was the founder and President of Gold Mountain Entertainment, an artist management firm whose clients included Nirvana, Hole, Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, Bonnie Raitt, The Allman Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones and more. Directly prior to the creation of GoldVE Entertainment, Goldberg had been the CEO of Air America Radio from 2005 until mid-2006. Goldberg formed the independent label Artemis Records in 1999 and ran the company until January of 2005.
Danny also hosts a very cool new podcast called "Rock and Roles":
http://www.mindpodnetwork.com/danny/
David is the co-host of the excellent MindRolling Podcast. His standard bio is as follows but I assure you it only scratches the surface.
David Silver started his innovative media career in the late sixties hosting WGBH-TV’s “What’s Happening Mr. Silver?” David’s 1979 Warner Brothers feature “No Nukes” helped start the whole trend of music/activism feature documentaries.
He also wrote the Billboard #1 MGM film, “The Compleat Beatles” the biopic movie of choice about history’s most famous band. David has worked with Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Ringo Starr, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Roger Waters and many others. He has created dozens of CD’s and movies, including pairing Allen Ginsberg with Paul McCartney, and producing the film biography of Timothy Leary. In 2009, David was the consultant to Ang Lee, the Academy Award-winning director, on his Universal/Focus Features release, “Taking Woodstock.” Since 2006, he has also been writing, directing and consulting with Ram Dass’s Love Serve Remember Foundation and, in 2012, directed the “Cultivating Loving Awareness” documentary.
http://www.mindpodnetwork.com/mindrolling/
Zach and Elijah journey over to Marianne Williamson's house for one seriously amazing podcast. Marianne transmitted some razor sharp wisdom, compassion and insight into modern day spirituatility, politics and love. She is truly one of the great teachers and wise-women of the modern age. And, perhaps most importantly, she is so unabashedly not full of shit.
Marianne Williamson is an American spiritual teacher, author and lecturer. She has published ten books, including four New York Times number one bestsellers.
www.marianne.com
@marwilliamson
Jason Louv stops by the podcast table to talk Vedanta, Magick and sorting through the new age nonsense to find the good stuff. Jason is truly an incredible human and an amazing guest. Over the course of the hour Jason blew Zach's mind on the practice and application of magick and how it can change your life!
Jason is the author, journalist and editor of Ultraculture.org and the founder of Magick.Me - really, if you have any interest in learning about this martial arts for your consciousness practice check out his site.
Jason Bentley came over to the podcast table (yes it's a table) at Zach's house to spend some time talking about KCRW, Los Angeles, the importance of music in life and how the musical landscape is changing right before our very eyes.
Jason is the host of KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" and also serves as the stations music director.
"I think being passionate about music and culture is fundamentally what enables me to be successful. I'm driven to share that excitement, whether it's DJ'ing at an art exhibit, working on a film project, or broadcasting from the radio station every day. It gives me a real sense of purpose."
That purpose has taken shape growing up at KCRW, beginning as a phone volunteer the summer after high school, scoring a nighttime air shift in 1992 with Metropolis running for 16 years, and ultimately being promoted to music director of the station.
Trudy stopped by IAH to hang out with Zach for over an hour to share her story of starting Insight LA, her reflections on the world around us and some exquisite ancient wisdom teachings for the modern world.
Trudy Goodman, Ph.D., is Founder and Guiding Teacher of InsightLA, a non-profit organization for Vipassana meditation training and secular mindfulness education. Trudy was a psychotherapist in private practice for 25 years and studied Buddhist meditation for 36 years with Asian and Western teachers. She was the fourth teacher of MBSR, mindfulness-based stress reduction, which she taught with its creator, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn.
www.insightla.org
@InsightLA
Mystic, buddhist, psychedelic visionary and author of the seminal book "Zig Zag Zen" - Allan Badiner stops by the IAH studio to hang out with Zach and Elijah. Allan explores the relationship between buddhism and psychedelics with ease, grace and some evidence that may blow your mind.
"Zig Zag Zen" is available at book stores everywhere and of course, at Amazon.com
Buddhism and psychedelic exploration share a common concern: the liberation of the mind. The new edition of Zig Zag Zen: Buddhism and Psychedelics has substantially evolved from the landmark anthology that launched the first serious inquiry into the moral, ethical, doctrinal, and transcendental considerations of the intersection of Buddhism and psychedelics.
Activist, film maker and Sankofa.org Co-Director, Gina Belafonte stops by IAH to drop some knowledge on the status of the #blacklivesmatter movement, how the arts can bring awareness to race relations in America and to share some great stories about her father, Harry Belafonte.
Also, the track "Don't let them get away with Murder" by Jasiri X is somewhere in the middle of the show. Enjoy.
Media theorist and cultural visionary Douglas Rushkoff brainstorms the future of everything with Zach and Elijah. Over the course of more than hour, Douglas fills us in on the disrupition around Uber, the need for peer to peer economies and the over arching need to be present in the future, which is now.
Futurist, author and computer scientist Ramez Naam discusses how what we call "the future" is actually working in our lives now. Oh, Ramez also teaches at Singulairty University and doesn't think that we have to worry about robots coming from the future to arrest us for sins of the future.
Ethan sits down with Zach and Elijah to talk about the current state of the war on drugs in America and an overall return to sanity on how best to approach it.
Ethan Nadelmann is the founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, the leading organization in the United States promoting alternatives to the war on drugs.
Described by Rolling Stone as "the point man" for drug policy reform efforts and "the real drug czar," Ethan Nadelmann is widely regarded as the outstanding proponent of drug policy reform both in the United States and abroad.
This episode also features the debut of the "Ask a Rapper" segement featuring the one and only Bishop Lamont.
Episode 1 - Zach and Elijah talk with two of the great western spiritual masters of our time, Ram Dass and Jack Kornfield on the topic of trust. The episode also includes an incredible contribution from our friend Eva Clay, a Los Angeles based womens empowerment leader.