Chris Grosso The Indie Spiritualist: Recent Episodes
Be Here Now Network
Indie Spiritualist host Chris Grosso is a public speaker, writer, recovering addict, spiritual director, and author. Through commentary, interviews and ragged truth-telling, the Indie Spiritualist podcast offers raw and real experiences and insights from an eclectic mix of artists, musicians, yogis, skateboarders, actors, spiritual teachers and more. A come as you are invitation to spiritual exploration.
Legendary artists, Allyson and Alex Grey join Chris in conversation around Ram Dass, psychedelics, spirituality, and Entheon—their new visionary art sanctuary & interfaith temple.
Visionary artists, wise psychonauts, and podcasters, Allyson and Alex Grey are co-founders & Ministers of CoSM, the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, a transformational art based non-profit which grew into an interfaith church and thriving artist community. Allyson and Alex are currently in the process of constructing Entheon, a sanctuary for visionary art, and sacred, nondenominational temple and hub for visionary artists and inner-seekers. Allyson and Alex host Sunday Art Church events, fusing creativity and dharma; as well as Full Moon Gatherings, which bring together artists, musicians, wisdom teachers, and free-thinkers to honor our cosmic alignment with nature and the creative forces. For a deep dive into their minds, check out their new podcast, The CoSM Podcast, and for updates on Entheon, CoSM, their art and events, visit their website CoSM.org
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Chris Grosso welcomes director Sebastian Siegel for a conversation about his new movie, Grace and Grit, which is based on the book by philosopher Ken Wilber.
Sebastian Siegel is a British-American director, producer, screenwriter and author. His modes of storytelling range from filmmaking to contemporary art and psychology. His latest movie, Grace and Grit, is now available to stream on Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube, Google Play, and more. Learn more about Sebastian and his work at sebastiansiegel.com, and be sure to follow him on Instagram.
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The Alan Watts Organization and Be Here Now Network have come together to bring you a new podcast series that dives deep into the Alan Watts Archive’s 100-hour collection of talks.
This Monday, June 7th, discover for yourself why Alan Watts has continued to inspire generations of seekers with the Alan Watts Being in the Way podcast.
This exciting new series is hosted by Mark Watts, Alan's son and archive curator. Mark and his guests share Alan Watts’ inspirational work that poetically interprets the wisdom teachings of the East for Western audiences.
Set a reminder for June 7th and subscribe to the Alan Watts Being in the Way podcast wherever you get podcasts to receive regular wisdom from Alan Watts - brought to you by the Alan Watts Organization and Ram Dass' Be Here Now Network!
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Hardcore Zen master, Brad Warner, rejoins Chris for a talk on death, discernment, cosmic meaning, Zen Buddhism, and making sure your crazy wisdom isn't too crazy.
Brad Warner is the author of Letters to a Dead Friend About Zen and numerous other titles including Don't Be a Jerk, Hardcore Zen, and Sit Down and Shut Up: Punk Rock Commentaries on Buddha, God, Truth, Sex, Death, and Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye. A Soto Zen teacher, he is a punk bassist, filmmaker, and popular blogger who leads workshops and retreats around the world. In addition to his books, his writing appears in Lion's Roar, Tricycle, Buddhadharma, and Alternative Press. He lives in Los Angeles where he's the founder and lead teacher of the Angel City Zen Center. You can learn more about Brad at HardcoreZen.info
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Dr. Christian Conte joins Chris to share life lessons on knowing yourself, stepping towards conflict, facing wounds, emptying your cup, understanding, and walking through anger with non-attachment.
Dr. Christian Conte is one of the country’s most accomplished mental health specialists in the field of anger and emotional management. A familiar figure on TV and radio, he is also a prolific writer, powerful communicator, and sought-after media expert. He was co-host of Coaching Bad and The Secret Life of Kids, and was the resident therapist for Family Therapy. Dr. Conte produces daily Emotional Management Minutes for over 300 radio stations, as well as hosting his own weekly show in Pittsburgh. He discussed his prison outreach in the TEDx talk, “Why I Chose to Go to Prison.' His latest book, "Walking Through Anger" is out now. For more info, please visit, Dr.ChristianConte.com
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Author Laura McKowen talks with Chris Grosso about the process of addiction and recovery, her resistance to defining herself as an alcoholic, and working with guilt and shame.
Laura McKowen is the author of We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life. She had a successful career in public relations and the Mad Men–esque drinking culture of advertising. After getting sober, Laura became recognized as a fresh voice in recovery, beloved for her soulful and irreverent writing online and in print. She now leads sold-out retreats and courses, teaching people how to say yes to a bigger life. Learn more about her at lauramckowen.com.
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Bestselling author, Gary Renard, joins Chris to discuss training the mind, Jesus’ and Buddha’s lifetimes together, and how to communicate with the Holy Spirit.
Gary R. Renard is the best-selling author of The Disappearance of the Universe, Your Immortal Reality, Love Has Forgotten No One, and the newly released The Lifetimes When Jesus and Buddha Knew Each Other. Gary is a winner of the Infinity Foundation Spirit Award, among the likes of Ram Dass, Byron Katie, and Neale Donald Walsch; and has been featured on Gaia TV‘s, “Open Minds.” Combining a disarming sense of humor with radical, cutting-edge metaphysical information and experiential exercises, Gary is well versed and well traveled in the spiritual community. For more info visit www.GaryRenard.com
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Legendary hip-hop artist, R.A. The Rugged Man joins Chris to talk about writing albums, emotions and mental health, how storytelling can heal traumas, and how to stay true to yourself.
R.A. The Rugged Man is one of the most fascinating figures in hip-hop history. His career spans decades, and defies simple narratives. The Rugged Man has been an up-and-coming star, an industry outcast banished and forgotten, an underground cult hero, an independent success story, and an influential master of the art form. Check out his newest album All My Heroes Are Dead, and for more music, blogs, and offerings, visit his website RAtheRuggedMan.net
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Musician and writer, Norman Brannon joins Chris to discuss his Hare Krishna punk music past, & share how we can find skeptical euphoria by moving beyond our stories.
Over the last 25 years, Norman Brannon has worked as a musician, critic, author, DJ, university lecturer, television host, documentary filmmaker, marketing creative, and record label manager. Although best known for cofounding Texas is The Reason, he first made his mark in hardcore punk bands like Shelter and 108, and capped his performance career with New End Original and Gratitude. He is also the author of the Anti-Matter Anthology, a 1990s post-punk and hardcore reader featuring work that originally ran in Alternative Press, Vibe, and Anti-Matter, his very own seminal fan-zine. Norman is currently working on an expanded second edition of the Anti-Matter Anthology, in addition to a second book that examines the relationship between queer language, ethnicity, and his own personal story. Norman lives in Brooklyn with his partner John and their Dotson.
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Inspirational underground hip-hop artist, Sage Francis, joins Chris to discuss music as a teacher, the resonance of truth, cultural shifts, and the magic of writing.
Sage Francis is CEO of Strange Famous Records, and half of the Epic Beard Men. He is widely considered one of our generation's greatest lyricists. His gifted wordplay creates vivid narratives to instigate as well as inspire, often deriving from an accumulation of public disdain and personal turmoil. Dubbed the forefather of Indie Hop, Francis originally earned worldwide acclaim in the 2000s by winning highly coveted titles in the MC battle circuit. At the advent of file-sharing, Francis' unique brand of music spread like wildfire and he gained a cult following. In 2005 Sage Francis was the first hip-hop artist signed to Epitaph Records and soon became one of the highest selling independent artists of his genre. Sage Francis has returned to releasing music independently and has a podcast in the works. For more info check out StrangeFamousRecords.com
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Author, musician, and transformational speaker, Justin Michael Williams joins Chris to discuss using meditation and mindfulness techniques to help discover your passion and fulfill your life's purpose.
Justin Michael Williams is an author, speaker, and top-twenty recording artist who is using music and meditation to wake up the world. By working at the intersection of music, mindfulness, and social justice, Justin has become a pioneering millennial voice for diversity, inclusion, and wellness. He has been featured by Billboard.com and Yoga Journal, shared the stage with Deepak Chopra, and presented at events such as Wanderlust and SXSW. Justin just released his new book, Stay Woke: A Meditation Guide for the Rest of Us, and is committed to using his voice for change. His greatest wish is to empower people from all walks of life to wake up to their life's purpose and accomplish the dreams they once thought were impossible. For more information please visit www.StayWokeGiveBack.com and follow @wejustwill on Twitter and Instagram.
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Actor and musician, Michael Imperioli, joins Chris to discuss finding Tibetan Buddhism, sharing meditation with others and acting his final scenes for The Sopranos.
Michael Imperioli is best known for his Emmy Award winning acting performance as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos, as well as writing five episodes of the show. Co-screenwriter for the Spike Lee film, Summer of Sam, Michael has appeared in six of Lee's films, and has also acted in films by Martin Scorsese, Abel Ferrera, Walter Hill, Peter Jackson, and the Hughes Brothers. Michael has also been involved in New York's rock 'n roll scene since the mid 1980s, playing guitar in the post-punk band Black Angus with filmmaker Tom Gilroy. Currently Michael is the guitarist and lead singer for the band, Zopa, and shares a steady stream of meditation tutorials and Dharma on his Instagram.
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Horror icon Ken Foree joins Chris to discuss his legendary acting career, African Americans in cinema, helping his mom heal with yoga, and his experiences facing discrimination.
Ken Foree is an incredibly versatile American actor widely known for his role as Peter Washington in George Romero’s 1978 genre-defining classic horror film, Dawn of the Dead, as well as his role of Roger Rockmore on Nickelodeon’s television comedy series, Keenan and Kel, amongst many other well known movie and television appearances such as the A-Team, Knightriders, The X-Files, The Devil’s Rejects, and Rob Zombie’s remake of Halloween. Ken has his own horror festival called Foree Festival, and is a well-loved cult-icon and legend within the horror and sci-fi film community.
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Dr. Rick Hanson joins Chris to share practices and discuss the neuroscience behind cultivating traits of inner resilience and mindfulness.
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, senior fellow of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, he’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. Learn more about Dr. Rick Hanson, his new book Neurodharma, his courses, and his podcast, Being Well, at rickhanson.net.
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Actor Michael Berryman joins Chris Grosso for a conversation around the gift of light, the masks we all wear, and how the horror genre connects to social consciousness.
Veteran actor and horror/sci-fi genre icon Michael Berryman is a native of Los Angeles, California. He was born prematurely with Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia, a rare condition leaving him with no sweat glands, hair, fingernails, or teeth. Michael has appeared in films such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Hills Have Eyes, and Weird Science.
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Spring Washam joins Chris Gross for a conversation about working with the fertile grounds of suffering, cultivating the fierce heart, and how plant-based medicine can help with trauma.
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Bill Barbot joins Chris to discuss his punk rock beginnings, embracing the mystery, Alan Watts, Buddhism, and finding wisdom in insecurity.
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Dan Cortese joins Chris to discuss finding yourself amidst fame, becoming the narrator of your own story, and the innate wisdom programmed into parenthood.
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Steve-O joins Chris for a conversation about his journey searching for identity, struggling with addiction, and finding a new life through recovery.
Since his national debut on MTV's Jackass as a skateboarder and stuntman, Steve-O has had continued success as a New York Times best-selling author with the release of his memoir, 'Professional Idiot', and has established himself as a force in the world of stand-up comedy. Subscribe to Steve-O's podcast, The Wild Ride, at steveo.com.
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If you enjoy The Indie Spiritualist Podcast, we think that you will appreciate this dharma talk from Insight Meditation (Vipassanā) teacher JoAnna Hardy that offers a toolkit for working with our emotions and thoughts.
JoAnna Hardy is a guest teacher on the Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast. You can subscribe to the Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast in your podcast player to receive regular dharma talks and guided practices from a collection of today's leading mindfulness and meditation teachers.
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The Indie Spiritualist interviews his friend and former band mate, Darrell Tauro, about music, addiction, recovery, sexuality, and getting punk as f##k.
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Psychotherapist Linda Graham joins the Indie Spiritualist for a discussion around the importance of strengthening our resilience, and creating new patterns of response to trauma.
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Lead singer of the band Dissolve, Paul Thorstenson, visits Chris Grosso on the Indie Spiritualist Podcast for a conversation about his journey as a musician and how music can offer a deeper connection to ourselves.
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Podcaster and author Cory Allen joins the Indie Spiritualist to talk about modern mindfulness, dealing with anxiety and depression, and transcendence through music.
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Therapist Sarah Buino joins the Indie Spiritualist for a discussion around addiction, speaking your own authentic truth, and working with shame and self-compassion.
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Chris Grosso speaks with author Neale Donald Walsch about his new book and how the biggest problem in the world today is the belief that we are separate from everything and everyone.
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In this new episode of The Indie Spiritualist Podcast, Colin McEnroe joins Chris Grosso for a conversation about our spiritual health, how we are shaped by faith, and staying connected beyond death.
Colin McEnroe hosts the daily WNPR show, The Colin McEnroe Show. He is a weekly columnist and blogger for The Hartford Courant and a contributing editor at Men's Health. He is the author of three books and one play. His work has appeared on the New York Times Op-Ed Page and in Bicycling magazine, Best Life, Cosmopolitan and Forbes FYI.
Be sure to subscribe to The Colin McEnroe Show on your favorite podcast player to check out Colin's exploration of Ram Dass' life and legacy with Chris, Sharon Salzberg, and Mirabai Bush on the Jan 9th Episode of The Colin McEnroe Show.
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The Indie Spiritualist sits down with musician East Forest to talk about the auspices of working with Ram Dass, and how his album for mushrooms works as a digital shaman.
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Author Christina Rasmussen joins the Indie Spiritualist for a conversation about her book on the afterlife and the many people she’s guided on their journeys to reconnect with lost loved ones.
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Television star and Life Coach Rosie Mercado joins The Indie Spiritualist for a conversation around self-esteem issues, listening to your body, and living life to your fullest purpose.
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Author and journalist Preston Fassel joins Chris Grosso for a conversation around the power of storytelling and how the genre of horror can help us work through the most difficult aspects of the human experience.
Preston Fassel is an award-winning writer, journalist, and screenwriter. His work has appeared in FANGORIA, Rue Morgue magazine, Screem magazine, and on Cinedump.com. His first novel, Our Lady of the Inferno, was published to widespread critical acclaim, being named one of the ten best horror books of the year by Bloody Disgusting and winning the 2019 Independent Book Publisher Gold Medal for Horror.
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Author Maureen Healy visits The Indie Spiritualist to talk with Chris Grosso about her book, The Emotionally Healthy Child, and how we can help children process emotions in a healthy way.
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Author and director Jeff Brown returns to the Indie Spiritualist podcast for a conversation with Chris Grosso about getting grounded in our spiritual practice and avoiding the traps of spiritual bypassing.
Jeff Brown is the author of Soulshaping: A Journey of Self-Creation, and Ascending with Both Feet on the Ground. He is also the author of the viral blog Apologies to the Divine Feminine (from a warrior in transition) and the producer and key journeyer in the award-winning spiritual documentary, Karmageddon. Which stars Ram Dass, Seane Corn, David Life, Deva Premal and Miten.You can connect with his work at soulshaping.com and karmageddonthemovie.com.
On the west coast? You can join Chris at the SAND (Science and Non-Duality Conference) Oct. 23rd-27th in San Jose, CA. Learn more about this conference that will bring together some of the brightest minds in science, artists and spiritual teachers from various traditions. Learn more about this endeavor to expand and deepen our understanding and experience of our relational nature through the two lenses of science and spirituality: scienceandnonduality.com
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Chris speaks with bestselling author Panache Desai about misconceptions of spirituality, breaking out of societal boxes and paradigms, and finding your true authenticity.
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Chris speaks with bestselling author Lissa Rankin about her book, The Daily Flame, and the process of connecting to and trusting your Inner Pilot Light.
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Author Danielle Dulsky joins Chris for a spirited conversation about her book, The Holy Wild, and what it truly means to practice witchcraft and be a witch.
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Chris speaks with author Sarah Anne Shockley about dealing with chronic pain, the importance of recognizing emotional pain, and shifting the cultural paradigm of pain away from fear.
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This week on the Indie Spiritualist Podcast, Chris Grosso speaks with guest Belinda Womack about making contact with the angelic realm and the road to recovery that all humans share.
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Shamanic healer Sarah Bamford Seidelmann joins Chris Grosso for a conversation about finding the wisdom and healing that are available through spirit animals.
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Author and speaker Wayne Liquorman joins the Indie Spiritualist to talk about non-duality and moving beyond the sense of authorship that is often attached to identity.
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The Indie Spiritualist gets Spiritual_AF with writer Roxan McDonald as they talk about childhood trauma, getting sober, and getting real with spirituality.
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Chris speaks with yoga teacher and author Kari Kwinn about codependency, addiction, and what makes a healthy relationship.
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Bestselling author Elena Brower visits the Indie Spiritualist to talk about self-care, mental health, and her new book on separation and divorce.
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Kamlesh Patel (Daaji) visits the Indie Spiritualist Podcast to talk about naturally going within and shifting our consciousness with heart-based meditative practice.
After graduating with honors in 1980, Kamlesh Patel moved to the US and practiced pharmacy in New York City, while also continuing the Raja Yoga system of Sahaj Marg, with great devotion. Kamlesh continued to follow Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chariji), the second President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, after Babuji’s passing, and has held a number of increasingly responsible roles as well as offering his support to the growth of the Mission worldwide.
In October 2011 he was proclaimed as Chariji’s successor, and in August 2012 was appointed Vice-President of SRCM with the full powers of the President, due to Chariji’s failing physical health. Following Chariji’s passing on the 20th of December 2014, he became the Spiritual Guide of the Sahaj Marg System, and the third President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission. He is often endearingly referred to as Daaji.
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Chris Grosso shares a conversation with psychotherapist and Buddhist teacher Dr. Miles Neale about holding contemplative practice in the Western world and finding a gradual path to awakening.
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This time on the Indie Spiritualist Podcast, Chris sits down with author and motivational speaker Joshua Coburn. The two share a sincere conversation around getting real with ourselves and taking a gradual path towards reaching our goals.
Find show notes and resources here: https://beherenownetwork.com/chris-grosso-the-indie-spiritualist-ep-82-joshua-coburn
Joshua Coburn is a youth speaker, author, mentor & “Corporate Oddity” who has spent his life & career redefining stereotypes, living his passions, and assisting others to Dream Big, Believe Big, & Succeed Big. Today, Coburn has made it his mission to make kindness a way of life while speaking with students across the nation on the inspirational and emotional rollercoaster ride known as the Manners & Motivation Tour. Learn more about Josh at joshuacoburn.com.
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Chris speaks with Marci Zaroff, author and eco-conscious innovator in the fashion and textile industries, about how we can start to easily start to make the decisions that align our actions with more in balance with nature.
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Marci Zaroff is an internationally recognized ECOlifestyle visionary, authority, innovator and educator and has been instrumental in driving authenticity, environmental leadership & social justice worldwide for nearly three decades. Learn more at marcizaroff.com
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Author, nutritionist and punk rock legend John Joseph shares a conversation with Chris about transforming our lives by changing our mental attitude.
Find links and resources from this episode here: https://beherenownetwork.com/the-indie-spiritualist-ep-80-john-joseph/
Coming from a hard life on the streets, John Joseph now inspires and empowers others to make positive changes in their lives through his music as frontman of the Cro-Mags and work as a vegan nutritionist. Learn more at purepma.com.
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Chris is joined by Jessica Lahey, a teacher, writer and mom, who shares strategies for effective parenting that allows children to learn and grow from failure.
Find show notes and resources: https://beherenownetwork.com/indie-spiritualist-ep-79-jessica-lahey/
Jessica Lahey writes about education, parenting, and child welfare for The Atlantic, Vermont Public Radio, and the New York Times, and is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. Learn more at jessicalahey.com.
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This time on the Indie Spiritualist Podcast, Chris speaks with Ambika about the transformative power of chant and kirtan.
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Author and poet Mark Nepo shares a conversation with Chris about the power of community and taking guidance from our true nature, instead of our fear.
Mark Nepo moved and inspired readers and seekers all over the world with his #1 New York Timesbestseller The Book of Awakening. Beloved as a poet, teacher, and storyteller, Mark devotes his writing and teaching to the journey of inner transformation and the life of relationship. Find readings, lectures, and retreats from Mark Nepo at marknepo.com.
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Chris sits down with Philip Goldberg to talk about the life of Paramahansa Yogananda and the yogi’s impact on Western spirituality.
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Tommy Rosen returns to the show to talk about the practices and modalities available for living a life beyond addiction.
Tommy is one of the pioneers in the field of Yoga and Recovery assisting others to holistically transcend addictions of all kinds.
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Tara Brach returns to the Indie Spiritualist Podcast for a conversation around answering the call to share the gifts of mindfulness and meditation practice with others.
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Mirabai Bush joins Chris for a raw conversation on dying and shares wisdom on how we can grieve in a healthy way and learn from the lessons death has to teach us.
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Sarah Marshank joins the show for a conversation about the philosophy of Selfistry and turning our lives into a work of art.
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Tracy Walton and Julia Autumn Ford, from the folk group Belle of the Fall, join Chris for a conversation about recovering and reconnecting with music.
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This week on the Indie Spiritualist, Chris sits down with Maria Felipe for a conversation about awakening our love and happiness.
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Visionary artist Chris Dyer visits the show to talk about art as a transformative practice, exploring different spiritual paths and healing with plant medicines.
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Dr. Pilar Jennings joins the show for a conversation about healing from psychological trauma and loss with the combined insight of Eastern and Western practices.
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Stan Tatkin, author of Wired for Love, joins Chris for a conversation about developing secure functioning relationships and navigating conflict with compassion and mindfulness.
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Chris is joined by Ira Israel for a discussion about the tools we can use to overcome and heal from the traumas, bad habits and wrong perspectives we have developed from childhood.
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Chris sits down with author and orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Hanscom to talk about how we can manage physical pain by reducing our stress and anxiety through different practices.
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World-renown energy healer and teacher of the Nahuatl tradition, Sergio Magaña “Ocelocoyotl”, shares his journey as a healer and gives us healing techniques to practice at home.
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Rachel Harris, PhD, visits the show to talk about her Ayahuasca research and what the medicine has to offer.
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Author and Dharma teacher, Josh Korda, joins Chris to talk about addiction, recovery, and his work at Dharma Punx NYC.
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Suzanne Scurlock-Durana, the author of “Reclaiming Your Body,” visits the show for a conversation about trauma and healing from the core.
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Professor Robert Thurman, author of” Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet,” joins Chris to talk about the Dalai Lama and the continuing crisis in Tibet.
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Author, Steve Taylor, joins the show to talk about the science behind the awakening experience found in his newest book “The Leap.”
Steve Taylor is a lecturer in psychology who has drawn on his years of research to study the psychology of awakening. Chris and Steve have a conversation around the awakening experience and remind us that journey is available to anyone, anywhere.
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Sandra Marinella joins Chris for a conversation about the transformative power of telling our personal story.
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On this episode of the Indie Spiritualist, Chris is joined by Sharon Salzberg to talk about her newest book "Real Love."
Chris shares some of his favorite excerpts from "Real Love" and discusses with Sharon the different ways we can cultivate real love in our own lives.
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Chris sits down with Matt Belair for a conversation on fulfilling our potential and integrating the mind, body and spirit.
Living a life dedicated to acquiring the skills and knowledge to help others on their paths to greatness, has brought Matt Belair to a level of expertise attained by few. A one of a kind author, speaker and conscious thought leader and podcast host, Matt believes in potential. His own, yours, everyone’s. Seeing the possibilities in someone’s life is his greatest gift.
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Lily Cushman joins Chris to share her inspiring journey and talk about how spiritual practice transforms lives.
Lily Cushman is the co-founder and director of the Brooklyn Yoga School, a donation-based yoga center voted "Best of New York" by New York Magazine in 2011. She has been teaching yoga for 10+ years and practicing daily since her teens. In 2014, Lily created the Vanaras Music record label to facilitates kirtan and spiritual music recordings and live events. She currently serves as the Executive Assistant to meditation teacher and NY Times bestselling author, Sharon Salzberg.
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Philosopher, Ken Wilber, joins Chris Grosso for a conversation on finding truth, understanding our identity and finding freedom from the shadows of the soul.
Ken Wilber is considered to be one of the most important philosophers in the world today. He is the most widely translated academic writer in America, with 25 books translated into nearly 30 foreign languages. Influenced by Madhyamaka Buddhism, Wilber's philosophy attempts at integrating psychology and spirituality. Learn more about Ken and his offerings at integrallife.com.
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This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris sits down with Nancy Colier to talk about addiction to technology and the "Power of Off."
Nancy Colier is a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, author, mindfulness teacher and public speaker. She is also a longtime student and practitioner of Eastern spirituality. Chris and Nancy Colier talk about the nature of addiction and learning to break our abusive relationship to technology.
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Chris is joined by Michael W. Taft, author of "Mindful Geek," to talk about mindfulness in the modern age.
Michael W. Taft is a meditation teacher, bestselling author, and neuroscience junkie. As a mindfulness coach, he specializes in secular, science-based mindfulness training in groups, corporate settings, and one-on-one sessions. Michael is the author of several books, including the bestselling The Mindful Geek and Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept.
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Author, Cheryl Abram, joins the show to talk about her books, spiritual journey and the importance of telling the truth.
Cheryl Abram is a mother of four, a writer and a public speaker. She lives in Northern Virginia and when not working at her full-time job, she blogs and hosts meetings on applying the non-dual and diunital perspectives to your everyday life.
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This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Colette Baron-Reid joins Chris to talk about her newest book, Uncharted, and her upcoming Oracle school.
Colette Baron-Reid is an internationally acclaimed intuitive counselor, Psychic Medium, Spiritual Teacher and host of the TV shows Messages From Spirit and The Adventures of the Motorcycle Medium. She and Chris explore how we manifest our reality, concepts of the soul, and tuning into our inner oracle.
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Chris sits down with author Samantha Bennett to talk about being in the moment, focusing on changes that are doable, and realizing that everything is perfect just the way it is.
Samantha Bennett is a writer, speaker, actor, teacher and creativity/productivity specialist and author of the bestselling, “Get It Done: From Procrastination to Creative Genius in 15 Minutes a Day." Samantha Bennett is the creator of the Organized Artist Company which is dedicated to helping creative people get unstuck, especially by helping them focus and move forward on their goals.
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Chris interviews scientist and mindfulness teacher, Shinzen Young, about the power of mindfulness practice and bringing it into the modern world.
Shinzen Young is an American mindfulness teacher and neuroscience research consultant. His systematic approach to categorizing, adapting and teaching meditation has resulted in collaborations with Harvard Medical School, Carnegie-Mellon University and the University of Vermont in the burgeoning field of contemplative neuroscience.
Shinzen Young is known for his interactive, algorithmic approach to mindfulness, and often uses mathematical metaphors to illustrate meditative phenomena. He is the author of The Science of Enlightenment, Natural Pain Relief and numerous audio offerings. Shinzen leads residential retreats throughout North America. In 2006, he created the Home Practice Program. These phone-based mini-retreats are designed to make deep meditation practice accessible to anyone in the world regardless of their location, health situation, and time or financial constraints.
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On this episode of The Indie Spiritualist, Chris chats with Ilona Ciunaite about fear, truth, and helping each other along the spiritual path.
Ilona’s search for truth started in 2002, when for the first time she “experienced the silence of the thinking mind, a sweet sense of being, contentment, peace,” and “feeling at home.” In 2010 she discovered Jed McKenna’s books, which were a shock to her belief system and catapulted her “out of hypnosis” and toward the realization that all she believed was not truth. It wasn’t until the initial deconstruction was done, after months of painful self-inquiry, that Ciunaite felt at peace: there was an emptiness, a not knowing, a not believing anything about anything. Then the last step was taken and the separate self was seen to be an illusion.
Together Ciunaite and Nezhinsky published a book, Gateless Gatecrashers, that consists of conversations leading to self-realization, and which can be downloaded for free at Liberation Unleashed. Liberation Unleashed is a global movement of people helping others to see through the illusion of self. Ciunaite has had hundreds of conversations with people from all around the globe. Her main focus and work is helping people end their seeking by inviting them to question their fundamental assumptions and look at their own experience. She does not give answers, only questions. In this way a seeker may see what is going on for themselves and free their minds from conditioned patterns to explore whatever comes next. Ciunaite holds live meetings and group sessions in the UK. All of her work can be found on her blog Marked, Eternal and on The Gate forum.
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Chris sits down with author Matthew Fox to talk about spirituality, activism, and mystic Thomas Merton. Matthew Fox is the author of over 30 books including Meister Eckhart, The Hidden Spirituality of Men, Christian Mystics, and most recently A Way to God. A preeminent scholar and popularizer of Western mysticism, he became an Episcopal priest after being expelled from the Dominican Order by Cardinal Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI. You can visit him at http://www.matthewfox.org.
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This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris talks to Kelvin Young from Advocacy Unlimited. Kelvin Young is the Assistant Executive Director of Advocacy Unlimited/Toivo Director and believes that healing begins from within. After many years of battling with drug addiction, anxiety, and depression, he began his healing process in prison. While incarcerated, Kelvin learned about the transformative powers of meditation, which helped him look within to find inner peace in a very hostile and restrictive environment. Chris and Kevin talk about the struggles along the path to recovery and what Toivo is doing to help others heal.
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Chris speaks with Dr. David Berceli about his innovative approach to therapy for patients suffering from trauma and addiction.
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Chris sits down with Brad Warner to share his wisdom and experiences as a Soto Zen priest as well as his new book, “Don’t Be a Jerk: And Other Practical Advice from Dogen, Japan’s Greatest Zen Master.” Brad Warner is the author of Don’t Be a Jerk and numerous other titles including Sit Down & Shut Up, Hardcore Zen, and Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate. A Soto Zen priest, he is a punk bassist, filmmaker, Japanese-monster-movie marketer, and popular blogger based in Los Angeles.
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Chris sits down with spiritual teacher Sally Kempton to discuss the divine feminine, compassion and bouncing back from hard times. Sally Kempton is a powerful teacher of applied spiritual wisdom, known for her capacity to kindle meditative states in others and to help students work with meditative experience as a framework for practical life-change. She teaches teleclasses, retreats, and workshops, and is on the faculty at Esalen and Kripalu.
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Chris brings on Damien Echols to discuss Ceremonial Magick and the spiritual path. They explore the practice and the important role it has had in Damien's life. Damien Echols is a ceremonial magician and artist who lives in NYC with his wife and cats. He spent 18 years on death row for a crime he did not commit and wrote the book "Life after Death" about his experiences.
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This week on the Indie Spiritualist, Chris has an insightful conversation with the spiritual teacher and author, Gabor Maté, about trauma, addiction, and recovery. What do we get out of our addictions? How does trauma cause us to disconnect from ourselves and dismiss our own experience? Gabor raises these important questions and provides guidance to rise above our suffering and self-abuse so that we may better care for ourselves and our loved ones. Show Notes Addictions Are Not The Problem – Gabor and I discuss how addictions are not the problem but instead are the person’s attempt to solve a problem in their life. Growing Up – Gabor and I explore the emotional and psychological conditions of children and their environment while growing up as a key component of the root cause of addiction. Trauma, Addiction, and the Brain – Gabor talks about the relationship between trauma, our brain, and addiction. Making Change – Gabor breaks down how we can begin to understand and then work with the traumas in our lives for true healing. Falling — Gabor talks about why many people who have tools, been in recovery, or on a spiritual path and work with mantras, meditation, prayer, yoga, and so forth, still fall into old self-defeating behaviors at times. Rising – Gabor and I explore the shame, stress, self-loathing and other negative feelings that come along for those who fall back into self-defeating behaviors and what people can do to not get lost in those overwhelming negative feelings? Watching Addiction – Gabor talks about what family members can do for a loved one who is caught in the grips of addiction. God and Recovery — Gabor talks about what a power greater than ourselves really means and how we can begin to transcend our limited egoic selves. More About Gabor Maté Gabor Maté is a sought-after speaker and teacher, regularly addressing health professionals, educators, and lay audiences throughout North America. As an author, Dr. Maté has written several bestselling books including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction; When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress; and Scattered Minds: A New Look at the Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder, and co-authored Hold on to Your Kids. His works have been published internationally in twenty languages. Dr. Maté is the co-founder of Compassion for Addiction, a new non-profit that focuses on addiction. He is also an advisor of Drugs over Dinner. Dr. Maté has received the Hubert Evans Prize for Literary Non-Fiction; an Honorary Degree (Law) from the University of Northern British Columbia; an Outstanding Alumnus Award from Simon Fraser University; and the 2012 Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award from Mothers Against Teen Violence.
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On this episode of The Indie Spiritualist, Chris has on poet and author, J. Ivy. As a performance poet & author, Ivy’s passionate delivery always leaves spectators transfixed in a state of inspiration. His motto, “Dreams Don’t Come True, They Are True” has guided him from his hometown Chicago to hundreds of cities. J. Ivy’s new goal to get one million people to write a letter to their fathers is themed as “One Million Letters Written, One Million Hearts Healed!” This campaign’s mission is to help inspire healing through writing for children and adults who have grown up in fatherless homes, which will in turn help to prevent this hurt and imbalance from being perpetuated. Listen to Chris and J go deep about family, forgiveness, and inspiring the next generation. Show Notes Chicago – J reminisces about his childhood years when he was still known as James Richardson and what it was like growing up in Chicago during the late seventies and early eighties. Changes – J talks about his experience of being a young teenager and watching his father’s life spiral out of control as he became an alcoholic, lost his job, his parents divorcing, and how that affected him. Words – J shares candidly about a deep depression he experienced later on in his life, which led him to stop going to class and work, and how the art of writing helped him to find his way out of that. The Art Of Words – J & I explore various pieces of advice for aspiring writers. Thank You – J talks about the importance of gratitude in his life and how it can help to stop the negative self-talk our mind sometimes throws at us. Forgiveness – J talks about forgiveness as a teacher, and how to authentically forgive oneself and others. Dear Father – J talks about The Dear Father Letter Writing Campaign he started with his wife, whose mission is to help inspire healing through writing for children and adults who have grown up in fatherless homes, which will in turn help to prevent this hurt and imbalance from being passed on to the next generations. More About J. Ivy J. Ivy, a NAACP Image Award Winning Poet has been featured on Grammy Award Winning Platinum Albums with Kanye West, Jay-Z & John Legend. He is the author of two books, Here I AM: Then & Now & Dear Father Breaking The Cycle of Pain published by Beyond Words/Atria/Simon & Schuster. Find J on twitter @J_Ivy or at www.J-Ivy.com.
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In this episode of The Indie Spiritualist Podcast, Chris has a compelling discussion with Ram Dass. From addiction to finding compassion for Donald Trump, Ram Dass shares his perspective on the spiritual path and using love to overcome our darkest moments.
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Tehya Sky Podcast Tehya Sky is a metaphysical guide and healing facilitator who offers retreats and workshops internationally. Her work focuses on helping us integrate our humanity and our divinity, as well as honor our unique callings. Sky lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more, visit tehyasky.com Dysfunction — Tehya discusses her formative childhood years, working in the music industry in LA, and finding her way onto the spiritual path. Spirituality Today — Tehya and I discuss spirituality and whether people are looking for something different today or not. Something Different — Tehya talks about what from A Ceremony Called Life offers that many of today’s “self-help” books don’t. Influences — Tehya shares some of the important influences in her life, and I share about an experience including Radiohead, acid, and the millennium. It All Is — Tehya and I discuss how spirituality can imbue all areas of our lives. Vulnerability — Tehya shares about how vulnerability and how accepting our vulnerability leads to healing and growth. Misunderstandings — Tehya and I discuss some of the common misunderstandings on the spiritual path, including the belief that we should get rid of our egos and have a silent mind. Separation — Tehya talks about what causes the feeling of separation and how to work through the obstacles that keep us feeling separate. Visit Tehya online HERE! Check out Tehya’s book, A Ceremony Called Life HERE!
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Interspirituality with Kurt Johnson Episode Recap Show Notes: • Early Years – Kurt discusses some of his early life events—including depression, scientific studies and much more—and how they led him to his life’s passion. • Wayne Teasdale – Kurt shares about his deep friendship with the wonderful Brother Wayne Teasdale, the impact he had on his life, and the continuing impact his work has in the world. • Interspirituality – In The Coming Interspiritual Age, Kurt writes, “Interspirituality is the natural discussion among human beings about what we are experiencing. In academic terms, it’s the intersubjective discussion among us all about who we are, why we are here, and where we are going. In the context of religion, interspirituality is the common heritage of humankind’s spiritual wisdom and the sharing of wisdom resources across traditions. In terms of our developing human consciousness, interspirituality is the movement of all these discussions toward the experience of profound interconnectedness, unity consciousness, and oneness.” Kurt and I explore what it means to be interspiritual and how it can deepen our spiritual paths. • Everyone’s A Mystic – Kurt and I explore our mutual friend Ken Wilber’s four quadrants of “I”, “We”, “It” and “It’s” and how they relate to each of us being a mystic. • Scientific Consciousness Studies – Kurt talks about scientific consciousness studies, discussing our basic experience of consciousness and “raw feeling”, quantum ideas of consciousness, and the future of unconsciousness. Kurt's Website Kurt's Bio Kurt Johnson, Ph.D. has worked in professional science and comparative religion for over 40 years and serves on many international committees, particularly at the United Nations. In comparative culture and religion Kurt has been on the faculty of New York City’s One Spirit Interfaith Seminary for 12 years and is the co-author of the very influential 2013 book on the future of world religions: The Coming Interspiritual Age. In science, with a PhD in Evolution, Ecology and Comparative Biology he was on the staff of the American Museum of Natural History for 25 years and is currently associated with the McGuire Center for Biodiversity at the University of Florida. Kurt has published over 200 scientific articles and seven books, including the popular science bestseller Nabokov’s Blues: The Scientific Odyssey of a Literary Genius. In 2015 his book on science and the arts, Fine Lines, appears from Yale University Press along with contributions in a United Nations NGO publication: Ethics, Spiritual Values, and the New United Nations Development Agenda. Kurt has presented regularly on science and religion at The Science and Nonduality Conference and the Parliament of the World’s Religions and published articles on this inter-relationship in many periodicals, including audio discussions with Ken Wilber at Integral Life. He is a founding member of the Contemplative Alliance and President of the Friends of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. At the United Nations he serves on the Executive Committee of the UN NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns and the NGO Forum 21 Institute. Formerly a monastic for over 10 years, and active in contemplative and sacred activism across several traditions, Kurt is also an ordained Eco-Minister and recently co-edited the Namaste Insights internet magazine on the eco-vision of interfaith pioneers Thomas Berry and Wayne Teasdale. Kurt’s Books: The Coming Interspiritual Age,Nabokov's Blues: The Scientific Odyssey of a Literary Genius, Fine Lines: Vladimir Nabokov’s Scientific Art
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Podcast Interview Bio Chandresh Bhardwaj is a seventh-generation lineage holder from a family of Indian gurus practicing the Tantric tradition. He is an internationally acclaimed speaker and founder of the Break The Norms Movement, with locations in New York, Los Angeles, New Delhi, and Amsterdam. For more visit breakthenorms.com. Episode Outline: • A Family of Gurus – Chandresh talks about his childhood and how he grew up in a family of spiritual Gurus. • The Seeds of Questioning – Chandresh talks about the passing of his sister and a close childhood friend when he was younger, both of which happened within a few years of one another, and how they became a catalyst that planted seeds of questioning in him, particularly about life and death and meaning and how to live. • Pain As A Teacher – Chandresh shares how we can use the pain in our lives as a catalyst towards our spiritual growth and development. • Break the Norms – Chandresh talks about the Break The Norms movement and how that began. • Today’s New Age Spirituality – Chandresh and I discuss today’s New Age Spirituality and chanting Sanskrit mantras, cursing freely, tattoos, veganism and more. • Just Be You –Chandresh shares a practice he calls “Uncover Your Authenticity”. • God – Chandresh and I discuss a humorous conversation he had with a Sanskrit scholar in regards to the nature of God, which we explore in greater detail. • Edging God Out – You have a chapter discussing the ego, which is always a hot topic amongst spiritual enthusiast. I remember even Wayne Dyer humorously sharing about how he couldn’t even keep track of how many times he’s gone back and forth about it, one minute suggesting we befriend it, only to later say we need to destroy it, and back and forth etc. So what is ego from your perspective and what the hell do we do with it? Recommendations: Chandresh's Website Break The Norms Website Chandresh’s Book: Break The Norms Other Books: 10% Happier by Dan Harris, Real Happiness by Sharon Salzberg
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Jack Canfield Episode Recap Bio You probably know Jack Canfield as the co-creator and co-author of the New York Times #1 best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul book series which currently has 225 titles in the series and more than 500 million copies in print in 47 languages. He is also the founder and President of the Canfield Training Institute, which trains entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, managers and sales professionals in how to accelerate the achievement of their personal, professional and financial goals. Jack has personally helped hundreds of thousands of people on six different continents become multi-millionaires, business leaders, best-selling authors, leading sales professionals, successful entrepreneurs, and world-class athletes while at the same time creating balanced, fulfilling and healthy lives. Jack is a dynamic speaker and was recently inducted into the National Speakers Association’s Speakers Hall of Fame. He has appeared on more than 1000 radio and television shows including Oprah, Montel, Larry King Live, the Today Show, and two hour-long PBS Specials devoted exclusively to his work. Jack is also one of the teachers featured in the recent hit movies The Secret, The Truth and The Tapping Solution. Jack’s best-known success resources are the New York Times best-selling book “The 10th Anniversary of the Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, The Power of Focus, The Aladdin Factor, and Jack Canfield’s Key to Living the Law of Attraction. All of these resources consist of powerful strategies designed to empower and inspire individuals to achieving success. Jack’s vision is to train 1 million people his “success principles” to pass on his legacy to others. He now has resources, live trainings and online certification course work available. Jack has been presenting these powerful principles and breakthrough strategies for 40 years to corporations, governments and universities in more than 30 countries. His clients have included Virgin Records, SONY Pictures, Daimler-Chrysler, KFC, Federal Express, GE, Johnson & Johnson, Merrill Lynch, Campbell’s Soup, Re/Max, The Million Dollar Forum, The Million Dollar Roundtable, and The Young Presidents Organization. Episode Outline: • A Family Disease – Jack and I begin our conversation by discussing how even though he personally hasn’t struggled with substance abuse or addiction, he has had some very tough times as a child living with an angry alcoholic father, a mother who crossed the line from abuse to dependence, and an aunt and grandmother as well as two of his own children struggling with substance abuse. • The Golden Buddha – Jack shares a story about a Golden Buddha and how it relates to those setting out on a path of sobriety. • Can I Ever Drink Again – Jack addresses the two most common questions that come up in regards to the 30-Day Sobriety Solution, which are 1) Can I ever drink again and 2) Do I need to quit drinking right now? • The Importance of 30 Days – Jack and I discuss an interesting experiment conducted by NASA that demonstrates why it takes 25-30 days to successfully reprogram the brain. • Event + Response = Outcome – Jack breaks down an equation he uses in his book which states that E + R = O, or, Event + Response = Outcome. From The 30 Day Sobriety Solution: “Every outcome you experience in life—sobriety or alcoholism, excessive drinking or “normal” drinking, financial success or poverty, health or sickness, happiness or dissatisfaction—is the result of how you have responded to an earlier event or events in your life. The formula states that if you don’t like the outcomes you are experiencing in your life today, you have two options: 1) You can blame the event (E) for your lack of results (O) or 2) You can change your responses (R) to the events (E) —the way things are—until you get the outcomes (O) you want.” • Why Do You Drink? – There’s a brief but very important section of The 30 Day Sobriety Solution that explores why people drink, noting that alcohol (or any other substance) is merely the symptom, whereas the real problem lies elsewhere, which Jack and I explore. • The Importance of Action – Jack elaborates on an interesting statistic he shared in his book regarding the percentage of information we retain after 2 weeks time and how it depends on the various ways in which we take it in. • The Power of Vision – Jack and I conclude our conversation by addressing one of the themes of the major themes of the book, which is how to get from where you are to where you want to be, or knowing where you are today vs. where you want to be in the future, and the importance of creating a vision and detailed description around that. Recommendations: Jack's Website Jack’s Books: The 30-Day Sobriety Solution, The Success Principles, The Power of Focus Other Books: In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Mate, Recovering Joy by Kevin Griffin, No Mud, No Louts by Thich Nhat Hanh
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Alanna Kaivalya Episode Recap Bio Alanna believes Yoga is for everyone and each student can develop the self-empowerment needed to embark on a personal journey to meaningful transformation. On this principle she founded The Kaivalya Yoga Method, a fresh take on yoga emphasizing the individual path while honoring tradition. Teaching students since 2001, teachers since 2003, Alanna has written and developed teacher trainings worldwide for top studios and independently. In January she debuted a comprehensive 200hr-online teacher training with YogaDownload. She holds a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, has authored numerous articles and two books: Myths of the Asanas, an accessible practitioner’s guide to stories behind beloved poses; Sacred Sound, a yoga “hymnal,” illustrating the role of chant and mantra in modern practice. Look for her third book, Yoga Beyond the Mat, in Autumn 2016. She lives in New York City with Roxy the Wonderdog. Episode Outline: • You Lucky Shit – Alanna and I talk about meeting one another back in 2012 and how I road her coattails (so to speak) into performing that year at Yoga Journal’s Estes Park Conference. • Yoga – Alanna talks about her journey to the yogic path and why her passion continues to grow for it on a daily basis. She also talks about the process of creating her recent 200-hour teacher training and what that offers that other programs don’t. • Yoga is Broken – Alanna and I discuss the commoditization of yoga and spirituality. • Books! — Alanna talks about her two published books, Myths of the Asanas and Sacred Sound, as well as and her forthcoming book Yoga Beyond the Mat, which will be out this fall. • Han Solo – Alanna brings a little mythology into our conversation about Kylo Ren murdering his father Han Solo in the most recent episode in the Star Wars franchise. Recommendations: Alanna's Website Alanna’s Books: Myths of the Asanas, Sacred Sound Other Books: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Satchidananda, Chants of a Lifetime by Krishna Das
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Bio Noah Levine, author of Dharma Punx, Against The Stream, The Heart of the Revolution and Refuge Recovery, is a Buddhist teacher, author and counselor. He has created a Buddhist approach to addiction recovery called Refuge Recovery, that includes peer lead meetings as well as a professional treatment center. He is also the founding teacher of Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, with centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Nashville and over 20 affiliated groups around North America. He teaches meditation classes, workshops and retreats internationally. Noah holds a Masters degree in counseling psychology and lives in Los Angeles. Episode Outline: • Dharma Punk – Noah talks about his experience with addiction and how it led him to the Buddhist Path. • A Community Effort – Noah revisits the origins of Refuge Recovery and shares about all of the preparation that went into the endeavor. • Refuge Recovery –In the Refuge Recovery book, Noah writes, “Refuge Recovery is a practice, a process, a set of tools, a treatment, and a path to healing addiction and the suffering caused by addiction.” Which we discuss. • Addiction Creates Suffering – Noah and I explore The Four Truths of recovery, beginning with the First Truth, which is, addiction creates suffering. In Refuge Recovery, Noah writes, “This is not a philosophy. It is a practice; it demands action. We must understand, acknowledge, admit, and take this action by writing and sharing an in-depth and detailed inventory of the suffering we have experienced in association with our addictions.” Can you expand on that? • The Cause of Addiction Is Repetitive Craving – The Second Truth of recovery is that the cause of addiction is repetitive craving. In Refuge Recovery Noah writes, “We have come to understand that all forms of addiction have their roots in the natural human tendency to crave for life to be more pleasurable and less painful than it actually is. The addict is not at fault for the root causes and conditions that lead to addiction, only for the habitual reactive patterns that perpetuate it.” Which again, we discuss. • Recovery Is Possible – The Third Truth of recovery is that recovery is possible. In Refuge Recovery Noah writes write, “Freedom from the suffering caused by addiction is attainable, if we are ready and willing to take responsibility for our actions and to follow the Eightfold Path. As you enter this process and attend group meetings, you will connect with many others who have also suffered the consequences of addiction and are now recovering. Allow the group to inspire you and to show the possibilities of recovery, while also making room for the imperfections of some of the individuals within the group.” • The Path To Recovery – So The Four Noble Truths sets out the way, the Eightfold Path, that leads to the end of suffering and is composed of eight factors, which Noah talks about. • Buddhist Atheist – Noah and I discuss an interesting conversation we recently had about God in relation to recovery and relapse. • Moving Forward – Noah talks about the current and future state of Refuge Recovery. Recommendations: Refuge Recovery Website Against The Stream Website Noah’s Book: Refuge Recovery, Dharma Punx, Against The Stream, The Heart of the Revolution Other Books: Indie Spiritualist by Chris Grosso (Foreword by Noah Levine), Hardcore Zen by Brad Warner
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Bio Zach is the host of the “It’s All Happening” podcast, an infrequent blogger/writer and a seasoned digital marketer and brand strategist. Zach is also a practitioner of bhakti yoga as taught through many of the Vedantic systems of Northern India. Through the practice of bhakti yoga he has found keys that unlock doorways that allow the soul to experience it’s true nature of being eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. In addition to bhakti yoga, Zach has been influenced by many different methods and traditions of consciousness exploration ranging from trans-humanism to Buddhism and clinical psychology. Zach is also a frequent pundit on the political systems that are fueling societies economic systems and structures. At the core of all of Zach’s work is the belief that we have been fused together by the adoption and collective practice of using technology, spirituality and mysticism to define the very nature of who we are. Episode Outline: • Beginnings – Zach talks about growing up with Timothy Leary as a father, having Ram Dass around his house, Be Here Now, and the beginning stages of his spiritual path. • Controversy – Zach and I discuss ISKON, Osho, Trungpa Rinpoche, and others in regards to their teachings and surrounding life controversies. • Ram Dass and Maharajji – Zach and I swap stories about our experiences with Ram Dass and Maharajji. • Kirtan – Zach talks about taking up the harmonium and singing his devotional heart out. • Music And Spirituality Zach and I talk about finding spirituality in music using examples such as Krishna Das, Bruce Springsteen, Iron Maiden, Shelter, 108 and more. • The Future Of America – Trump, Clinton, and Sanders. Zach shares his thoughts on why Bernie Or Bust will actually cause more harm than good, and the overall victory that Bernie Sanders has had regardless of how behind he is in the polls. Recommendations: Zach's Website It's All Happening Podcast
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Betsy Chasse is an internationally known film Maker and author, most notable at the Co-Writer, Director and Producer of What The Bleep Do We Know?! In 2014, she produced the acclaimed Song of the New Earth, which premiered at The Seattle International Film Festival. She has authored 4 books including What The Bleep Do We Know: Discovering the Endless Possibilities to Altering Your Everyday Reality and in 2014 Tipping Sacred Cows. She recently released her latest book, It Came Out Of My Vagina, Now What?!, A hilarious book on parenting written with Co-Author Debbie Spector Weisman, and is in production on a new feature documentary, LEAP, which explores the world of Coaching (Life, Relationship, Business and Executive) to be released late 2016 / early 2017.
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Mary O’Malley is an author, counselor and awakening mentor in Kirkland, Washington. In the early 1970’s, a powerful awakening led Mary to begin changing her relationship with her challenges, freeing her from a lifelong struggle with darkness. Mary’s latest book, What’s In the Way Is the Way, provides a revolutionary approach for healing your fears, anxieties, shame, and confusion, so you can live from a place of ease and well-being. Visit her at: www.maryomalley.com and www.whatsinthewayistheway.com
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Eben grew up in Ojai, California a mile from the home of rebel spiritualist Jiddu Krishnamurti. Eben great aunt was Paramahansa Yogananda's personal assistant and driver for a year at the Mount Washington Ashram in 1949. His father, when he was 6 years-old, also met Yogananda, so the thread of spirituality was woven into Eben’s life experience long before he became aware of its richness and beauty. During his teen years, in the 80's, Eben was a pioneer of the hardcore skateboarding and American hardcore punk rock scenes. He skated, played in bands, went to shows, and today acknowledges his place as a part of that greater movement. The same spirit guided him as he entered his life in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, and ultimately, into his life as a spiritualist.
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Mona Haydar is a poet, activist practitioner of Permaculture, meditator, composting devotee, mountain girl, solar power lover and a tireless God-enthusiast. She practices a life of sacred activism, poetry, contemplation and advocacy for living gently upon the Earth. She teaches classes and retreats on mindfulness and Islamic spirituality, leads workshops on creative writing and performs her poetry. Her words have found homes in the hearts of seekers, wanderers, poets, artists, lovers and stewards of the Earth. She grew up in Flint, Michigan, graduated from the University of Michigan and has since lived in Damascus where she studied Arabic and Islamic spirituality then went on to live in the mountains of Northern New Mexico at Lama Foundation and in the Redwood forest of Northern California with her husband and son. Mona and her husband, Sebastian set up a stand in Cambridge, Massachusetts with signs that read 'Talk to a Muslim' 'free coffee and donuts' 'free conversation' and 'Ask a Muslim' encouraging open and loving dialogue which garnered the attention of NPR, Al Jazeera, The Boston Globe among other media outlets. Currently she is working on her second collection of poems and her first work of nonfiction on Islamic Spirituality through the lens of other spiritual traditions. She is working towards her Masters in Divinity. Mona helps to grow a more universal love with her activism, writing, performing and teaching. www.monahaydar.com Episode Outline:
Experiences and Expression – Mona and I discuss her relationship to spirituality and religion as a child, experiencing God in nature and the depth, stillness and interconnectedness that flourished as a result, poetry as an expression of God, pulling ourselves back from the world of form and the God of “busy-ness” and more.
Islam – Mona elaborates on my very nursery school understanding of what the word Islam means, discussing the peace and surrender aspects of it and how the universe has no problem intervening in our lives in order to make us surrender.
The “G” Word – Mona and I discuss who “the one God” is according to the Muslim faith?
Peace Be Upon Him – Mona explains the role of the prophet Muhammad in the Muslim faith.
Donuts Anyone? – Mona shares about the “Ask a Muslim” stand she and her husband Sebastian set up in Cambridge, MA, which offers free donuts and coffee to people, as well as a conversation about being Muslim.
A Tiny Bit More – Mona shares about the power of reaching out to ones neighbor, regardless of their religion or lack thereof and sharing more love in the world.
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A former criminal lawyer and psychotherapist, Jeff Brown is the author of Soulshaping: A Journey of Self-Creation, and Ascending with Both Feet on the Ground. Endorsed by authors Elizabeth Lesser, Oriah Mountain Dreamer and Katherine Woodward Thomas, “Ascending” is a collection of Jeff’s most popular spiritual graffiti — quotes, soul-bytes and aphorisms frequently shared in social media. He is also the author of the viral blog Apologies to the Divine Feminine (from a warrior in transition) and the producer and key journeyer in the award winning spiritual documentary, Karmageddon, which also stars Ram Dass, Seane Corn, David Life, Deva Premal and Miten. He has written a series of inspirations for ABC’s Good Morning America and appeared on over 200 radio shows. His third book, Love it Forward, was published on Valentine’s Day, 2014. He is also the owner of Enrealment Press (www.enrealment.com) and the creator of a new online school, Soulshaping Institute (www.soulshapinginstitute.com), which launched in February, 2015. His newest books, a higher consciousness love story called An Uncommon Bond, and Spiritual Graffiti- another quotes and inspirations book- came out in 2015. He lives outside Toronto, where he both writes and makes regular plans to do a yoga class that never quite materializes. You can also connect with his work at www.soulshaping.com and www.karmageddonthemovie.com.
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Tara Brach is a leading western teacher of Buddhist meditation, emotional healing and spiritual awakening. She has practiced and taught meditation for over 35 years, with an emphasis on vipassana (mindfulness or insight) meditation. Tara is the senior teacher and founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. A clinical psychologist, Tara is the author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge.
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Don Miguel Ruiz is a renowned spiritual teacher and internationally bestselling author. He has spent the past three decades guiding students to personal freedom through his profound insights regarding the nature of human reality. His landmark bestselling book, The Four Agreements, contains practical steps for long-term, personal transformation and has been read by millions around the world. Don Miguel is also the author of The Mastery of Love, The Voice of Knowledge, Prayers, and the New York Times bestseller, The Fifth Agreement, a collaboration with his son, don José Ruiz. Each of his books are international bestsellers. The wisdom don Miguel has brought to the world has earned him respect around the globe. He has dedicated his life to sharing his message through practical concepts in order to promote transformation and ultimately change lives for the better. More at www.miguelruiz.com.
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Barbara Marx Hubbard is a prolific educator and author of seven books, including a revised and updated edition of her seminal work Conscious Evolution. She is an evolutionary thinker who believes that global change happens when we work collectively and selflessly for the greater good. Visit her online at barbaramarxhubbard.com. Episode Outline: • Vocation of Destiny – Barbara discusses what initially led her life’s path of exploring conscious evolution, including the atomic bomb, church, college, meeting President Eisenhower and more. • Conscious Evolution – Barbara discusses evolution becoming conscious in humans and how turning into evolution by choice, not chance can help expedite the process. • Evolution or De-volution – Barbara discusses Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s statement that there are two different kinds of people on earth—homo-progressive and bourgeoisie—and the impact on evolution by each. • The New Story of Evolution – Barbara discusses the evolving nature of humans and the universe as part of cosmogenesis. • The Impulse of Creation – Barbara discusses what Ken Wilber calls “Spirit-in-action” which includes higher consciousness, greater freedom and a more complex order.
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Adam Bucko is an activist, spiritual director to many of New York City’s homeless youth, and co-author of a the award-winning book called "Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation". He grew up in Poland during the totalitarian regime and spent his early years exploring the anarchist youth movement as a force for social and political change. At the age of 17, Adam immigrated to America where his desire to find his path towards a meaningful life led him to monasteries in the US and India. His life-defining experience took place in India, where on his way to a Himalayan hermitage, he met a homeless child who lived on the streets of Delhi. This brief encounter led him to the “Ashram of the Poor” where he began his work with homeless youth. After returning to the US, he worked on the streets of various American cities with young people struggling against homelessness and prostitution. He eventually co-founded The Reciprocity Foundation, an award winning nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of New York City's homeless youth.
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Guy Newland holds a Ph.D. in the History of Religions from the University of Virginia. He has worked with a great many Tibetan scholars and taught at five Dharma centers--all within the Dalai Lama’s school of Tibetan Buddhism. Since 1988 he has been a professor at Central Michigan University. His publications include The Two Truths (Snow Lion), Appearance and Reality (Snow Lion), Introduction to Emptiness (Snow Lion) and, in collaboration with others, Moonshadows: Conventional Truth in Buddhist Philosophy (Oxford). Episode Outline: • Early Years – Guy briefly discusses his early years on the spiritual path, studying mystic Christianity, Hinduism, Sufism, his interest in experience rather than doctrine, cultivating compassion within ourselves and finding his home in the Buddhist lineage. • Traditions – Guy discusses some of the similarities and differences between Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. • Perception – Guy breaks down the teaching of the two truths—conventional truth and ultimate truth—using various examples that include MacBook’s, Apple Corporation and Steve Jobs, mountains, animals, office buildings, telephones and more. • The Ground of All Being – Quantum Physics, the human mind, the Tao and seeing reality as it actually is are all discussed. • Emptiness and Universal Happiness – In life we suffer unnecessarily because we don’t see things the way are, looking to external things for lasting peace and happiness, however, things don’t have a graspable nature. Guy discusses the importance and benefit of understanding the Buddhist teaching of Emptiness and how it’s a peace in accordance with seeing things the way they are. We also cover practicing as a way of service for others as well as ourselves. • Books! – Guy talks about some of his favorite authors and books including Zen Master Raven, Practice of the Wild and more. • Music! Guy and I discuss our love of music including Hendrix, Radiohead, The Pixies, Sonic Youth and more.
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Bio Diane Hamilton has been a practitioner of meditation for almost 30 years. She began her studies at Naropa University in 1983 with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and became a Zen student of Genpo Roshi’s in 1997. In 2003, she received ordination as a Zen monk with her husband Michael Zimmerman, and received dharma transmission from Roshi in 2006. Diane facilitates Big Mind Big Heart, a process developed by Genpo Roshi to help elicit the insights of Zen in Western audiences. She has worked with Ken Wilber and the Integral Institute since 2004. Episode Outline:
Tragedy/Spirituality – Diane discusses her early years on the spiritual path, losing seven of her friends to a series of accidents at the age of seventeen, which became a very significant catalyst in her spiritual life, studying with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and more.
Conflict Is Good News – In her book, Everything Is Workable, Diane writes, “To learn to transform conflict, we must let go of the notion that something or someone is wrong or bad,” which she elaborates on.
Scary, Yet Exciting – Diane talks about relating to fear directly rather than trying to get rid of it. She explores what becoming aware of it looks like, tastes like, and feels like in our mind and body, and developing fearlessness in the process.
Three Perspectives, Three Truths – It has been said that there are three sides to every story; yours, mine, and the truth. Diane discusses individual participation with the three perspectives that are constantly happening, which includes the first person “I,” second person “you,” and third person “it.”
Everything and Nothing – Diane discusses what in Zen is often referred to as Big Mind. Others have given it different names including Eckhart Tolle who calls it Presence, Ken Wilber who calls it Ever-Present Awareness and Byron Katie who simply calls it Reality. Call it what you will, Diane talks about the importance of cultivating our experience of Big Mind and elaborates on what that actually is.
Integral Life – Diane talks about meeting Ken Wilber in 2004 and how his work and that of Integral Life has influenced her own life and work.
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Matthew Fox is the author of over 30 books including The Hidden Spirituality of Men, Christian Mystics, and most recently Meister Eckhart. A preeminent scholar and popularizer of Western mysticism, he became an Episcopal priest after being expelled from the Catholic Church by Cardinal Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI.
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Sera Beak is a Harvard-trained scholar of comparative world religions. She spent years traveling the world studying spirituality – from whirling with Sufi dervishes to meeting the Dalai Lama on her 21st birthday. The New York Times has called Sera one of the new “role models” of our generation. Sera is the author of The Red Book: A Deliciously Unorthodox Approach to Igniting Your Divine Spark and Red Hot & Holy: A Heretic’s Love Story.
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Mirabai Starr is author of CARAVAN OF NO DESPAIR: A Memoir of Loss and Transformation, new translations of the Spanish mystics, John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, and the award-winning book, GOD OF LOVE: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity & Islam. She leads contemplative inter-spiritual retreats worldwide. Episode Outline:
The Transformational Power of Loss – Mirabai and I discuss her new book, Caravan of No Despair and how she lays her entire heart and guts out in a raw and unabashed way for readers to see. We also discuss the transformational power of loss and how that can be a great catalyst for change and growth in our life.
On Suffering – Mirabai and I discuss Ram Dass’s quotes, “Suffering is the sandpaper of our incarnation. It does its job of shaping us” and how we can grow through our suffering. Mirabai also discusses the role the great mystic teachers can play in helping us to make sense of pain, loss and suffering.
On Healing – We’re all human and we’re all recovering from something, which is something Mirabai and I explore. We also talk about how bullshit spiritual niceties often don’t get the job done and what does work instead. On Spirituality – In a previous conversation that Mirabai and I had, she said, “I don’t know any enlightened beings. I used to think that was the goal but I don’t think we get perfection and I know you know that. And so all we can do is be present for all of it, no matter how yucky, with humility, humor and gentleness.” We discuss that and many of the preconceived notions people tend to have about spirituality.
What Is God? – The title says it all, and Mirabai and I dive right in.
We Are The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For – Mirabai and I discuss the passing of the spiritual torch that seems to be taking place and how can we make sure that to keep the lines of communication and mentorship open between generations so as to not lose the very important heart transmission from these great wisdom teachers.
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Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. is a Nagual, a Toltec Master of Transformation. He is a direct descendant of the Toltecs of the Eagle Knight lineage and is the son of don Miguel Ruiz. By combining the wisdom of his family’s traditions with the knowledge gained from his own personal journey, he now helps others realize their own path to personal freedom. Episode Outline: • The Rebellious Heart – Miguel discusses his teenage years growing up with brother don Jose Ruiz and their eclectic love of the arts, including the music of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and The Cure, films such as the Lost Boys and Dead Poets Society (and more) and how they were often judged as not being “spiritual” as a result. • Spirituality, Don’t Pigeonhole It – Miguel discusses the importance of honoring our truths on the spiritual path and to see the spirituality in all of life rather than trying to pigeonhole it. He also talks about how honoring his truth led him to working in filmography earlier in his with such people as Missy Elliott, Michael Stipe and more. • Are you using knowledge, or is knowledge using you? – This was an extremely important question that Miguel’s grandmother asked him many years ago. Miguel goes on to discuss his shift in perspective and experience of knowledge. • Smokey Mirrors – Miguel discusses the Authentic Self and how it often becomes obscured as by the filters of, and our attachments to, our belief systems, something he calls the “Smokey Mirror”. • Self-Love and Acceptance – In his book, The Five Levels of Attachment, Miguel writes, “Of all the beliefs to detach from, this is the most important one: Let go of the attachment that you must obtain some image of perfection in order to be happy,” which he elaborates on in greater detail.
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Bio Jessica Pimentel may be most well known for her role as Maria Ruiz on the Netflix hit series, Orange Is The New Black, but she’s also an amazing musician who sings for Alekhine’s Gun (amongst other musical projects) and a longtime practitioner in the Gelugpa Tibetan Buddhist lineage. Episode Outline:
Finding Your Way – Jessica outlines her early spiritual journey, which consisted of Christianity and bible study, Native American culture, Jainism, Judaism, Hinduism, Taoism and ultimately, Tibetan Buddhism.
Hardcore Music – There’s an ever growing number of old school punk/hardcore “kids” that are finding their way into spirituality these days. Books such as Noah Levine’s Dharma Punx, Brad Warner’s Hardcore Zen and my own Indie Spiritualist speak to this. Jessica talks about what first attracted her to this music and going to the bands shows, as well as what’s kept her there since.
Hardcore Spirituality – Jessica and I discuss the correlation between the punk/hardcore movement that has led so many of its fans to exploring Buddhism and spirituality in general.
Alekhine’s Gun – Jessica talks about the band Alekhine’s Gun, which she sings for as well as her other musical endeavors.
Orange Is The New Black – Having been recorded early 2014, Jessica talks a bit about the hit show, it’s unexpected success, her favorite characters and the upcoming 2nd season (which has since aired).
Service Work – Jessica talks about the opportunity Orange Is The New Black has given her to be of greater service to charities she supports including, The Women’s Prison Association, Ari Khensur Food Fund, Willie Mae Rock Camp For Girls, the Tsem Rinpoche Foundation and more.
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Loch Kelly, M.Div., LCSW is the author of, Shift into Freedom: The Science and Practice of Open-Hearted Awareness. He is an educator, licensed psychotherapist and recognized leader in the field of nondual meditation who was asked to teach Sutra Mahamudra by Mingyur Rinpoche and nondual meditation by Adyashanti. Loch has worked in community mental health, established homeless shelters and counseled family members of 9/11. He is the founder of the non-profit Open-Hearted Awareness Institute. Loch collaborates with neuroscientists at Yale, UPenn and NYU to study how awareness training can enhance compassion and wellbeing. Visit lochkelly.org.
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As a person in long term recovery from depression, trauma, self harm and substance abuse, compassionate and effective treatment of adolescent health is mission critical to Jamison Monroe. He is the Founder and CEO of Newport Academy, a series of healing centers for teens and families struggling with mental and behavioral health issues. With locations in California, Connecticut and New York City, Newport Academy encompasses four state of the art residential treatment programs, two comprehensive outpatient programs, and three nationally recognized therapeutic high schools designed specifically for teens in recovery. An Executive Producer of a truly game changing documentary about the prescription drug abuse epidemic among our nation's youth called Behind The Orange Curtain, Monroe, is a regular national news contributor on the topic of adolescent mental health to CNN, HLN, CBS and other major news outlets. Monroe has testified in front of the Parliament of the United Kingdom on the subject of teen prescription drug abuse. As a cofounder of drugsoverdinner.org, Monroe is a big part of our nation having over 10,000 dinner conversations about the impact of drugs on our society and making a push to end the stigma associated with addictive behaviors. Monroe’s global impact has been recognized by a host of international dignitaries and his tireless efforts have earned him several accolades including the illustrious Mona Mansell Award, which was presented to Jamison in 2014 by the Freedom Institute for his indelible mark on the addiction community and his passion for positive change. Monroe currently resides in New York City and serves on the board of directors for several non-profits and some of the world’s most progressive creative thinking projects such as the Inspiration Foundation and the Global Adolescent Project. Jamison Monroe continues to raise the bar wherever his passion and commitment take him.
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Dana Sawyer is a full-time Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the Maine College of Art, and an adjunct professor of Asian Religions at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine. He is the author of two critically acclaimed spiritual biographies, of Aldous Huxley (2002) and Huston Smith (2014), and has written on a wide range of topics related to consciousness expansion, Tibetan Buddhism, Hindu mysticism, psychedelic experience, and alternative philosophies. Besides teaching at the academic level, Prof. Sawyer is a popular speaker on the lecture circuit, having taught workshops at the Esalen Institute, the Kripalu Institute, and other such centers of psychological, spiritual and philosophical inquiry. His work has appeared in Tricycle, the Buddhist Review, Parabola magazine, Yoga Journal and other such publications.
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Jonas Elrod is a southern writer and director, grew up in GA with a deep appreciation for story as a means for change. He fell in love with stories told on porches late at night of fallen heroes, misfit love, and spiritual redemption. His appreciation for personal truth and deeper meaning has been a compass for his fiction and non-fiction work. His first documentary feature is Wake Up, which premiered at South by Southwest Film Festival. Wake Up found a wide audience in theaters across the country and was the premier episode on the Emmy award winning Super Soul Sunday on the Oprah Winfrey Network. The film was partnered with an interview by Oprah Winfrey. Jonas' latest project is directing and hosting a series for the Oprah Winfrey Network titled, In Deep Shift with Jonas Elrod, which is an unflinching look at what walking a spiritual path looks like. The series tracks Jonas as he travels across the country in search for people whose lives are forever changed by breakdown and breakthrough experiences.
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JP Sears is an emotional healing coach, international teacher, world traveler, and curious student of life. His work empowers people to live more meaningful lives. JP presents classes, workshops, online seminars, and leads retreats at numerous locations around the world on inner healing and growth. He is also very active on his YouTube channel, AwakenWithJP, where he encourages healing and growth through his entertainingly informative and inspiring videos.
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Liam is a world-renowned musician, a not-so-famous writer, rookie father, and avid psychonaut; most well known for his long-term tenure playing bass with the Dillinger Escape Plan. His other interests include traveling, yoga, meditation and most topics that fall under the umbrella of “mindfulness.” Liam lives in Philadelphia.
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Tommy Rosen is a yoga teacher, writer, and addiction recovery expert who has spent the last two decades immersed in yoga, recovery and wellness. Tommy has certifications in both Hatha and Kundalini Yoga and Meditation. He is one of the pioneers in the burgeoning field of Yoga and Recovery and has over twenty years of experience assisting others to holistically transcend addictions of all kinds. Tommy is the founder of Recovery 2.0: Beyond Addiction Conference and also leads the Recovery 2.0 #MoveBeyond Coaching Program. He presents workshops annually at Esalen, and Kripalu. Tommy’s first book, Recovery 2.0: Move Beyond Addiction and Upgrade Your Life was published by Hay House in 2014. Tommy and his wife, noted yoga teacher, Kia Miller, live and teach in Venice, CA.
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Keli is an ex-punkrocker, mother of three amazing kids. She joined the Hare Krishna’s when she was 19, but she remembers loving Krishna way before then. She and her husband Saci own Equal Vision Records. Keli also teaches yoga, chant kirtan and loves dark chocolate with peanut butter. • Hare Krishna – Keli discusses her childhood in upstate New York and how at 7 years old, while visiting a nearby ashram, she saw a picture of the universal form of Krishna, which led to an immediate heart and soul experience for her. She also discusses the influence that the Mahabharata Comic Books and movie Gandhi had on her at an early age. • Rebellious Spirit –Keli and I take a stroll down punk/hardcore memory lane as we discuss our introductions to it during our teenage years. From Keli seeing Black Flag in 1986 to our parents supporting our involvement in the punk/hardcore scene and much more, we cover a lot of old school ground. • Krishna-Core – Keli discusses playing guitar with the legendary hardcore band 108 while living at a Vivekananda ashram. She also recounts other Krishna bands and members such as Shelter, Prema, Ray Cappo (Ragunath), John Porcelly and more. She also shares about the time she tried to describe 108 to Krishna Das and his response. 13:38 • Equal Vision – Keli shares talks about her and her husband Saci’s record label Equal Vision, which has been a staple in the punk/hardcore music movement since the 90’s and how it continues to be today. • Mantrology – From Equal Vision to Mantrology, Keli talks about her and Saci’s bhakti record label which has became a seva for them as all of their profits go to supporting foundations such as Food for Life Vrindavan, a school for very poor children in Northern India: Share Your Care, a mobile eye clinic for rural villagers in India, which is under the direction of Radhanath Swami, Off the Mat Into the World, through the students of Seane Corne. Mantralogy also partners with The Call and Response Foundation, an organization that brings Sacred Music to at risk youth, and into prisons.
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Miguel Chen is the bassist for punk rock band Teenage Bottlerocket, as well as a Buddhist practitioner and a yoga-teacher in training at Blossom Yoga Studio in Laramie, Wyoming. He also has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Wyoming, which he someday hopes to use for something, seriously anything!
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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.
Episode Outline:
- The Beatles and… Kittens – David discusses in detail his work on the wildly successful MGM Beatles biopic that he wrote.
- Iron Filings to Magnets – Karmic forces in the universe? You bet… and David talks about his personal experiences with them, noting particularly how they led to his meeting Ram Dass, Krishna Das and more for the first time.
- Not Superstar, Messenger – David shares about his experience not only working with the legendary Bob Marley, but more importantly, their friendship and how it changed his life. He also recounts a Bob Marley concert that he, Ram Dass, Krishna Das and more were at and the impact it had on them.
- Donkey’s Years – From Maharishi and TM to Ram Dass and Maharjji and more, David discusses his spiritual journey and experiences from the beginning to present day.
- Maharajji Satsang – David talks about his decades long relationship with the Maharajji satsang, which, in 2006, led to his helping them on various video endeavors and how it’s taken him deeper into his own spirituality. He also recounts other work he’s been involved with and the dynamic from various ends of the joy and suffering spectrum.
- Mindrolling and Mindpod – David takes us on a recent trip down memory lane sharing about how the Mindrolling Podcast he co-hosts with Raghu Markus got its start, and how that blossomed into Mindpod Network - before moving to the Be Here Now Network.
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