Growth Guide: Recent Episodes
Bryan D'Alessandro
If you strive to live your best life you're in the right place.
Your host, Bryan D'Alessandro questions everything in the name of growth. In an endless pursuit to connect with teachers and teachings from all walks of life, none more important than another. In this way, we honor them and put these learnings into practice.
Get ready for deep conversations with astronauts, designers, entrepreneurs, yogis, healers, doctors, futurists, artists and so much more.
The goal is to pull back the curtain and feel more deeply connected with your true self, others, and this incredible world.
Unbuckle your mind and open your heart. It's grow time.
My guest today is Jim Gale, the founder of Food Forest Abundance. Jim has a simple belief, if we Control our food, we control our freedom. And the way to do so is simple too.
Fun fact, do you know what the largest and most destructive monoculture crop is? It’s grass. And there is a wild history around how we were duped into believing that it was a good idea to turn our fertile, food yielding land into a patch of green that we spend so much time and money to keep manicured with poisoness chemicals. We’ll get into that and so much more.
Jim’s catalyzing a movement to convert as many existing lawns & denatured farmland into diverse, plentiful, and easy to maintain food forests. By providing customers with designs, education and community resources he’s helping feed one community at a time. Wherever Jim is growing, he utilizes the wisdom of nature by replicating naturally occurring biological & botanical advantages. These completely eliminate the need for poisons & pesticides, and are permanent fixtures that scale to any size, are adaptable to any climate, and have plentiful annual yield. It’s Jim’s goal to eradicate the majority of health issues through a clean food and water supply.
On this episode we cover key principles and design systems for food forests, community resilience, shedding unhealthy narratives and much more.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love • Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love • YouTube: @growthguidepodcast --- Jim Gale • Instagram: @foodforestabundance • Website: foodforestabundance.com
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Sponsors:
• Xero Shoes - Live Life Feet First https://xeroshoes.com/go/growth • Spirit Squad Supply - Spiritsquadsupply.com Clothing for living outside the matrix. Welcome to the rebellion. • Brute Force Training – GET 10% OFF https://www.bruteforcetraining.com/_bryandalessandro • Atmananda Yoga Alignment Mat https://www.growthguide.love/alignment - Use code GROWTH for 15% off
George H Lewis back on the show to share about the upcoming total solar eclipse in Aries sweeping across the United States on April 8th. It's effects will be felt before and after the event and it will set the tone for the year ahead. Eclipses happen in an 18 year cycle and bring the same energetic story with them. This event happens on the new moon which presents a massive opportunity for growth, catalyzation, and transformation in our individual and collective lives. We'll get intothis one is ripe for shedding old stories that no longer serve and stepping into our soul purpose. This will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the United States until 2044. This eclipse will also last much longer because the moon happens to be so close to the earth.
George comes with a rich bag of knowledge, drawing from his time as a Court Painter to the Sultan of Oman, his time living with Bedouin tribes in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen and Oman where he was taught to deeply know and read the stars. Studying Archetypal Astrology in New York City under the supervision of mentors, including Monty Taylor and the infamous Frank Andrews who was Princess Grace and John Lennon’s psychic. With them he trained in numerous overlapping disciplines including Ancient Hellenistic Astrology, Tarot and Palmistry. George is here to equip you with everything you need to know as the eclipse has the ability to reveal and obscure. A lot of that is actually up to us which is why it is best to be prepared to take advantage of this powerful event.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love • Follow on Instagram @_bryandalessandro • YouTube: @growthguidepodcast
My guest today is Steven Haynes, founder of Fjord, a Norweigen-inspired cold water therapy company. Based out of Austin, They sell premium cold plunges to bring cold water immersion to high-performers and busy professionals looking for a physical and mental edge. By now just about everyone has heard about the cold plunge trend, from the likes of Wim Hoff, Rogan, Goop, Tony Robbins, but while it’s getting a ton of attention these days, cold immersion therapy has been around for thousands of years with the earliest documentation 3500BC. The resurgence of the popularity likely comes from advancements in science that have allowed us to scientifically prove many of the benefits of cold water immersion therapy such as stress management, recovery, sleep regulation, immune system fortification, and even mental resilience.
Steven is a strong proponent of cold hard data to support his work. Today we’ll cover the various protocols, benefits of cold plunging as well as some of the science behind it.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love • Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love • YouTube: @growthguidepodcast --- Steven Haynes
• Instagram: @fjordcoldplunge • Website: www.fjordcoldplunge.com
$250 off for Growth Guide Listeners - “FJORD250”
--- Sponsors: • Xero Shoes - Live Life Feet First https://xeroshoes.com/go/growth • Spirit Squad Supply - Spiritsquadsupply.com Clothing for living outside the matrix. Welcome to the rebellion. • Brute Force Training – GET 10% OFF https://www.bruteforcetraining.com/_Bryandalessandro • Atmananda Yoga Alignment Mat https://www.growthguide.love/alignment - Use code GROWTH for 15% off
Today, we're embarking on a journey into the heart of our fears and discovering the paths that lead us out of the shadows.
My guest is Gareth Higgins, a writer from Belfast, who grew up during the northern Ireland Troubles. Gareth is a masterful storyteller, a peace activist, and a guide who walks us through the landscape of our fears, not by bypassing them, but by understanding their origins and confronting their power over us. His book is a beacon for those seeking to find peace in tumultuous times, offering strategies rooted in personal narrative, social history, and profound empathy.
In 'How Not To Be Afraid,' Higgins delves into the nature of fear itself—the ways it shapes our lives, societies, and the stories we tell ourselves. So, whether you're grappling with personal anxieties or the collective unease of our times, today's conversation promises to shine a light on the paths through the darkness.
Stay with us as we uncover the insights and strategies that Gareth Higgins offers, exploring how we can navigate the complexities of fear, and perhaps, find ourselves stepping into a space of greater courage, compassion, and connection.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love • Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love • YouTube: @growthguidepodcast
--- Gareth Higgins: • www.garethhiggins.net • https://linktr.ee/garethhiggins
Sponsors:
• Xero Shoes - Live Life Feet First https://xeroshoes.com/go/growth
• Spirit Squad Supply - Spiritsquadsupply.com Clothing for living outside the matrix. Welcome to the rebellion.
• Brute Force Training – GET 10% OFF https://www.bruteforcetraining.com/_Bryandalessandro
• Atmananda Yoga Alignment Mat https://www.growthguide.love/alignment - Use code GROWTH for 15% off
My guest today is Dylan Scott, AKA The Hybrid Raccoon. Dylan is the 2024 HYROX US Champion. If you haven’t heard of Hyrox no sweat, I only did about 3months ago. This fast growing fitness racing sport combines running and functional movement exercises. Here’s a quick overview of the format of a Hyrox race: 1k Run -> 1,000 meter ski erg -> 1k Run -> 50 Meters sled push w/ 445lbs -> 1k Run -> 50 meters sled pull w/ 337 lbs -> 1k Run -> 80m Burpee Broad Jumps -> 1k Run -> 1000 meter row -> 1k Run -> 200m Farmers carry w/ 70lbs -> 1k Run -> 100m Sand bag lunges w/ 66lbs -> 1k Run -> 100x wall balls 20lb With over 40+ global races in 2023 seeing over 90,000 athletes & 50,000 spectators, it’s referred to as the World Series of Fitness Racing. Now that you’re up to speed on Hyrox, Dylan Scott has been dominating his recent races, often running two different races back to back. He trains about 4-5hrs a day while still working a full time job and being a new father. Dylan he has a very unique ability to balance extreme discipline and grit along with an emotional intelligence and adaptability. I find this to be fascinating as Dylan coaches himself so he must play the role of the ultra competitive athlete while still managing the larger well-being of himself and his family. As we discuss topics like race brain, and wiring for a tenacious never quit attitude, one thing was most surprising. That while elite pro athletes may have more at stake- like sponsors, press, risking humiliation– the waves of doubt and anxiety and the battle of inner voices are the same that we all have. That means we all have the opportunity to learn these skills of navigating intense emotional waves and cultivating mental fortitude and general resilence from an elite athlete. In training for and competing in my first Hyrox event, I’ve learned that along with the community being incredibly positive and supporting, anyone can access this sport. And what I’ve seen that it does , is develops the grit, resilience, and mindset to be at your best when things are at their worst. This means that when shit hits the fan, you can default to your training to perform how you want, and you have a reserve power supply to tap into to be there for those around you.
On this episode speak with Matt Mcgregor-Mento who just completed his first 100k ultra marathon- and he did it in barefoot sandals at that. If you’re at all like me, this feat sounds inconceivable. The thing is, it was for Matt too. At the age of 52 he’d never ran a distance even close to this before. While I will say from knowing Matt that he has taken on some pretty extreme feats previously like sailing around Long Island in a 10’ sailboat boat in which he halucinated after fighting currents for hours on end- so he knows a thing or two about committing to achieving goals.
I'm very interested in what motivates people to chase a big dream and what they learn along the way.
Yes this episode covers running, though the learnings of taking on something new, and daunting provides inspiration in all areas of life. So whether it is an ultra marathon, going back to school, changing careers, or living out of a sprinter van, these lessons provide some key insights we can all apply in our own lives. So grab a pen and paper as we discuss goal-setting and preparation, mindset, pushing beyond failure, and much more. Let’s get to it.
My guest today is a visionary leader, a champion of freedom, and a conscious living advocate - David Comfort. David is the founder of Rise, a conscious living community nestled in 800 acres of the lush landscapes of Costa Rica. Rise serves as a beacon of hope in upside down times. This family-focused residential community is consciously building an answer to the disconnect and dis-ease many are feeling around the world. Rise is building an ecosystem that integrates residences, a Waldorf inspired school, Certified Organic farm, fiber-connected co-working space, and a wellbeing retreat into one dynamic system. But let's rewind a bit. Before David became the architect of this vibrant community, he worked in New York City on wall street and then as a commercial Real Estate developer. So how did he find his way here? The journey is much simpler than one may think. On a quest for deeper meaning, purpose, and fulfillment he realized the value in accumulating meaningful memories far surpassed accumulating things. Through his own journey of exploration and introspection, he discovered the power of conscious living and the transformative impact it can have on individuals and communities alike. Join us as we explore topics like community, freedom, growth, and family.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love • Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love • YouTube: @growthguidepodcast ---
David Comfort: Rise Costa Rica • https://risecostarica.com/ • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rise.costarica/
Today, we're diving into the world of visionary leadership with a remarkable guest, Ari Weinzweig.
Ari isn't your typical restaurateur. He's the driving force behind Zingerman's Delicatessen, where he serves up mouthwatering dishes and a unique philosophy. This goes far beyond food; it's about vision, community, values, and outstanding business.
So much so, that Zingerman's generates over $65 million in annual revenue, a testament to Ari's exceptional leadership. But that's not the half of it. Way back when they first achieved success, every advisor pointed them towards franchising. But Ari knew that franchising inevitably degrades quality so instead they focused growth inwards, looking at what made Zingerman’s such a wild success. It turned out that their approach to leadership was the secret ingredient. This led to the birth of the ZingTrain program which has honed the skills of thousands of executives and leaders around the world. Among them are some of the most notable figures in the business world, like Tony Hsieh, former CEO of Zappos, and Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's.
Ari's approach is simple yet profound. He once said, "The success of a business can be measured by how well it realizes the dreams of its people." That's the essence of his vision and the key to his success.
In his book series on servant leadership, Ari describes himself as a lapsed-anarchist- As such, Ari questions everything, he consciously rewrites definitions for words we often take for granted- words like success, growth, community.
We talk about how visioning is a key to their ongoing success, the poetry of the belief cycle, and Ari shares his current work around replacing outdated models that often involve adversarial conflict and mechanized movement. Instead, Ari is drawing from organic living systems that use a regenerative approach. The impact they can have on how we conduct business and how we relate to one another is nothing short of profound. So grab a notebook and let’s get to it.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love • Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love • YouTube: @growthguidepodcast
Ari Weinzweig • https://www.zingermans.com/ • https://www.zingtrain.com/ • Zingermans Community: https://www.zingermanscommunity.com/e-news/ --- Sponsors: • Spirit Squad Supply - Spiritsquadsupply.com Clothing for living outside the matrix. Welcome to the rebellion. • Permaculture Education Institute If you are called to be a part of the positive change growing around the world through living simpler, speaking up and teaching permaculture. This course is for those who want to make permaculture their way of life and livelihood too. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: growth guide.love/perma • Morning Greens w/ Caffeine: https://Morningman.org - Use code GROWTH for 15% off • Atmananda Yoga Alignment Mat https://www.growthguide.love/alignment - Use code GROWTH for 15% off
My guest today is Marine Selenee, the author of the book, “Connected Fates, Separate Destinies: Using Family Constellations Therapy to Recover from Inherited Stories and Trauma”.
For anyone who isn’t familiar with Family Constellations therapy, this modality is mind-blowing. Before I intro Marine, Here’s some backstory, there was a German Psychotherapist named Bert Hellinger who sought to heal family and cultural traumas after being born into war torn Nazi Germany. From the 1950’s Hellinger spent 16yrs living amongst the Zulu nation in South Africa.
He observed their deep connection and healing modalities centered around traditional healers, ancestors, the natural world, spiritual forces, and the concept of Ubuntu defined as a universal life and natural healing force.
Marine uses the transformative power of Family Constellations to help people heal from family wounds and find individual blocks rooted in the family system. Her clients are able to get to the root of their pain, in order to not only heal themselves, but the generations before and after them.
Marine offers one-on-one virtual sessions and an online course. She also facilitates retreats and workshops.
Marine believes that by gaining the ability to end repeating patterns from your family system, you’ll become free to write your own story.
Lizz Bierman, a gifted activator, a dear friend, and as I see it, a modern-day witch. Lizz does ancestral work which she fittingly refers to as remembrance. This work activates deep purpose in her clients. The alignment she restores allows for witnessing life from a more grounded, secure and centered space. Lizz is a lifetime learner devoted to curiously exploring any areas she is guided to. Her work offers Energy Activations and Reiki Attunements, chord dissolving, Akashic Journeys and DNA Activation. Lizz has a big bag of tools to pull from and today we discuss a number of them. We cover topics like our Spiritual missions, finding alignment in unsteady times, Stepping into our power, and the gift of free will in the human experience.
We touch on dissolving energetic chords that often impact our lives behind the scenes, We get into our bloodlines and linenage work, like shifting our stories and shedding ancestral narratives and even traditions that no longer serve. You'll learn about getting onto our divine path so life serendipitously unfolds in magical ways
This episode is for the Ones who are Ready to be Empowered… to heal, to grow and to reclaim what is theirs. For those who are ready to step into their Truth and Remember who you came here to be.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
Join us for an insightful and thought-provoking conversation with Griff Green, the Founder of Giveth and a leading expert in the world of digital currency. In this episode of the Growth Guide podcast, Griff shares his journey and vision for building a world where people who produce value for society are rewarded fairly for the value they create. We dive into his experience crowdfunding $150m, and the hack heard round the world - where Griff ended up holding 10% of all Ether in existence. We also cover censorship and the Twitter files, and the tragedy of the commons. Griff is full of insights on corporate responsibility, non-USD backed currencies, and CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies). Don't miss this fascinating discussion on the future of giving and the potential and peril of digital currencies to create more equitable and sustainable economic systems.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
My guest today is Dr. Paul Canali. Dr. Canali has been involved in trauma and stress research for over 30 years. During that time, he has researched, developed, and practiced some of the most reproducible and effective forms of trauma therapy. When it comes to trauma- we often think it only refers to huge tragic events like experiencing physical violence, a major accident, or a disaster. While these are forms of "big T" trauma, there are "little t" traumas that we all experience. These can be things like a breakup, the death of a pet, losing a job, or getting bullied. The reality is that we have all experienced traumatic experiences and ended up holding on to them until we were no longer even aware that they were affecting our lives. For anyone who seeks to live a live of freedom, connection, and love, this work is for you.
While trauma has recently become a key focus in psychology, neurology, and overall health and wellness, Dr Paul has been studying the field for decades, in fact, since before there even was a field.
Dr Paul talks us through his approach, somatic healing, how psychedelics can be complimentary to the work, and he pays tribute to other pioneers in the field, like Bessel van der Kolk, Gabor Maté, and Dan Siegal to name a few. This one goes deep so settle in.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love/
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
In this episode, we discuss mental health in the classroom. Our students are experiencing an epidemic, suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, depression, body image disorders, and ADHD. We are losing our kids, and they are losing their imagination, creativity, and connection to their individuality, their peers, and the natural world. We are more obsessed with telling kids what to think than teaching them how to think for themselves.
My wife introduced me to fantastic pedagogies at different stages of development, from RIE (Resources for Infant Educating) to Peaceful Parenting to Waldorf Education. Today's conversation will focus on Waldorf Education in particular. The Waldorf pedagogy emphasizes the development of the whole child - including the intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of their being.
Dietmar Kasper is my guest expert on the topic. We cover how Waldorf works, its founder Rudolph Steiner, how kids transition to and from, as well as some common misconceptions. A Waldorf teacher in Neuwied, Germany, Dietmar’s been teaching over 20 years in mathematics, physics, and offering courses in anthroposophy and Waldorf education. He also travels the world spreading the teachings of Waldorf Education and supporting Waldorf communities through his "Teach and Travel" program..
Join me with the bitingly funny Steve Faktor. Steve brings a sharp and witty perspective to the field of innovation. Steve does things. He’s a sought-after key-note speaker given the stage by the likes of CFO Magazine, NYU, and Harvard. He’s the author of Econovation, and as Managing Director of IdeaFaktory, he consultants w/ companies like American Express and Citi. Steve also hosts the McFuture Podcast which delivers insights on innovation that make you laugh - so you don’t have to cry.
We bicker like an old married couple on topics like finding purpose, avoiding death by administration, suburban despair, cashing in on his Ukrainian heritage and much more.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love
• Follow on Instagram @_bryandalessandro
Today’s guest is George H. Lewis whose life has unfolded in a very enchanted way, as if off the pages of an old novel. George is a true polymath- a professional artist, speaker, astrologer, healer, that seems to herald from a different era. He’s a romantic and a modern-day mystic.
We discuss how Italy awoke his wanderlust and took him as an artist to the Middle East painting for Sheikh's and commoners alike. George has lived with Bedouin tribes in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Yemen which connected him to the stars through the tribes' highly intuitive teachings. He then serendipitously became the court painter to the sultan of Oman and was eventually appointed the spiritual diplomat for Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness initiative after painting the royal family.
Ground yourself, as we cross over timelines in the quantum realm and take a look at the exciting astrological year ahead. This episode is action-packed and trigger alert- covers some controversial topics, along with the very nature of conspiracies. This is an opportunity for exploring some unchartered territories. So take a deep breath, let go, and drop in.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love
• Follow on Instagram @_bryandalessandro
In this episode, I sit with creative powerhouse Justin Bolognino. JB’s ground-breaking work is threaded by technology, real-time design, and evolutionary immersive experiences focused on revealing hidden human connections. Sometimes known as the “Synchronicity Architect" JB is the founder and CEO of META, an immersive experience studio that specializes in “The Art of Being There.” With brand clients like Spotify, Twitter, HP, Samsung, Google, Vimeo, and artistic collaborations with St. Vincent, Dubfire, Skrillex, Phish, to name a few, META creates live, multi-sensory experiences that use technology, design and storytelling to ignite the human spirit. Perhaps my biased favorite of this work is the music JB created for the Growth Guide Podcast. Yes, that awesome ear-tickling sound comes from his talented mind. We cover some big topics today, touching on Ken Wilber’s - integral systems, Justin’s map of 6 primary realities- sonic, In Real Life, conscious, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Online. This all leads us naturally to the ever-present creative tension between digital and analog and getting our hands in the dirt as a grounding from all of the digital living we do.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love/sign-up
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
On this episode, I return with Bradley Olson, a Depth Psychologist with a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies with an emphasis in Jungian Analytical Psychology. Bradley is the host of the Joseph Campbell foundation's flagship podcast, Pathways With Joseph Campbell. Bradley is also the editor of the MythBlast Series and a leading expert on Joseph Campbell’s work. Our conversation covers so many rich topics that I’ve split it up into two episodes.
For those who don’t know Joseph Campbell’s work, he was an American writer. He was a professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College who worked in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work covers many aspects of the human experience. Campbell's best-known work is his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), in which he discusses his theory of the journey of the archetypal hero shared by world mythologies, termed the monomyth. Since the publication of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell's theories have been applied by a wide variety of modern writers and artists.
His philosophy has been summarized by his own often repeated phrase: "Follow your bliss." He gained recognition in Hollywood when George Lucas credited Campbell's work as influencing his Star Wars saga.
Bradley is an incredible gatekeeper of this wisdom which applies today as much as ever. We cover topics like the hero's journey, power struggles, the currency of fear, and the art of tenderness and kindness. Let’s get to it.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love/sign-up
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
Bradley Olson, Ph.D.
• @josephcampbellfoundation
• sked.link/josephcampbellfoundation
• Pathways With Joseph Campbell (https://pathways-with-joseph-campbell.simplecast.com/)"
On this episode, I speak with Bradley Olson, a Depth Psychologist with a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies with an emphasis in Jungian Analytical Psychology. Bradley is the host of the Joseph Campbell foundation's flagship podcast, Pathways With Joseph Campbell. Bradley is also the editor of the MythBlast Series and a leading expert on Joseph Campbell’s work. Our conversation covers so many rich topics that I’ve split it up into two episodes.
For those who don’t know Joseph Campbell’s work, he was an American writer. He was a professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College who worked in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work covers many aspects of the human experience. Campbell's best-known work is his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), in which he discusses his theory of the journey of the archetypal hero shared by world mythologies, termed the monomyth. Since the publication of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell's theories have been applied by a wide variety of modern writers and artists.
His philosophy has been summarized by his own often repeated phrase: "Follow your bliss." He gained recognition in Hollywood when George Lucas credited Campbell's work as influencing his Star Wars saga.
Bradley is an incredible gatekeeper of this wisdom which applies today as much as ever. We cover topics like the hero's journey, power struggles, the currency of fear, and the art of tenderness and kindness. Let’s get to it.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love/sign-up
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
Bradley Olson, Ph.D.
• @josephcampbellfoundation
• sked.link/josephcampbellfoundation
• Pathways With Joseph Campbell (https://pathways-with-joseph-campbell.simplecast.com/)"
Monte Farber is a one-of-a-kind character. He’s an acclaimed astrologer, psychic and author of over 40 books published around the world in fourteen languages.
Monte was the resident psychic for Jim Cramer's popular financial website TheStreet.com, where he made bi-monthly economic and stock predictions with uncanny accuracy.
It’s fitting that I met Monte serendipitously when some years ago I walked into his and his wife, Amy Zerner’s East Hampton shop, The Enchanted World Emporium. My wife Navah and I were studying astrology at the time so it was a fortunate encounter where we ended up having our charts read by Monty for the rest of the day.
An essential characteristic of Monte’s creative approach to living is his childlike sense of wonder, playful fun, and adventure. He is uniquely qualified to teach the creative approach not only to those interested in the creative arts, but to all who want to access and use their innate creativity and intuition to enjoy their life more and do their job better.
To Monte, spirituality and creativity are, essentially the same thing. Understanding either of them requires the knowledge that unseen forces and ideas both within us and without us create, to a large extent, our experience of reality.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love/sign-up
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
Monte Farber
• @montefarber
• Monte Farber & Amy Zerner Websites:
TheEnchantedWorld.com
MonteFarber.com
Chef Laura Mcintosh is the host of PBS’s Bringing It Home, a cooking show that combines recipes from innovative chefs with farm-fresh food. McIntosh travels the country, bringing viewers to the farms that produce the most-abundant crops and then brings them together with culinary wizards who turn their bounty into fresh and healthy gourmet meals for the whole family. McIntosh refers to the show as "Behind the Food," showing viewers what goes on "behind the scenes" to make fresh ingredients available to be used by home cooks as well as professional chefs.
Laura comes from a generational family of farming and restaurateurs. We discuss the lost art of farming and the intersection of technology and intuition. This episode is for anyone looking to grow a deeper connection to their food, the growers, and the planet.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love/sign-up
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
Laura McIntosh
• @bringingithome_
I have a deep love for nature and systems thinking, that is why I resonate so deeply with the permaculture approach to farming and gardening. Morag Gamble, is an incredible permaculture ecologist, and educator out of Australia. If we go by the metric of goosebumps per episode, this one is leading the pack. Hearing Morag discuss the principles of nature, relationships, and our greater global systemic disharmony has left me with some great practical tips and applications. I’m pretty confident it will do the same for you. Morag is the founder of the Permaculture Education Institute and the Executive Director of the Ethos Foundation, a permaculture charity dedicated to supporting women and youth in gaining access to permaculture education and becoming leaders and teachers in their own communities. The Ethos Foundation supports refugees, indigenous youth and people in the global south. Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love/sign-up
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
Morag Gamble
• Follow on Instagram @moraggamble
Sponsors:
• Morning Greens w/ Caffeine:
https://Morningman.org - Use code GROWTH for 15% off
• Atmananda Yoga Alignment Mat
https://www.growthguide.love/alignment - Use code GROWTH for 15% off"
Keith Garde is a successful entrepreneur, artist advocate, author, and a total mensch. His story is one of love, drugs, and rock n roll, though not necessarily in that order. Trauma and addiction have been half nemesis and half teacher throughout. Keith has won his battle with trauma and addiction every day for over 30yrs and now channels it all into coaching and advising leadership at it’s highest levels. His career in artist management led him to working with bands like Aerosmith. Sure, his time with Aerosmith included all of the antics you can imagine, along with the band’s recognition like 10 MTV Moonmen, multiple Grammy’s, American Music Awards, but you’d never get that from speaking with Keith. Keith also created, produced, and directed the seminal Aerosmith Rockumentary, "The Making of Pump". What his experience really left him with was a realization that the relationships between the people involved, is the magic that underpins creative success, as well as fulfillment.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love/sign-up
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
Dr. Rich Blundell is a scientist, trained in Big History which is the story of the cosmos and our place in it. His latest work "Oika", focuses on
Ecological intelligence. Ecological intelligence allows us to comprehend systems in all their complexity, as well as the interplay between the natural and man-made worlds.
It offers a way of seeing and being that reveals the magic in the mundane and the sublime in the subtle. It's also a lived experience of cosmic ecology that anyone can have. Here you'll find small stories and big ideas that reflect a heightened awareness of connection to something bigger, often by connecting to something smaller.
Rich is a really interesting dude, he lives on a boat, constantly connected to nature. He also crafts beautiful one-of-a-kind surfboards. In this episode, we discuss modern science, leadership, relationships, and the arts at this critical time in human history. This mind-bending episode is sure to take you on a passion-filled ride.
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Dr. Rich Blundell
• Oika: https://youtu.be/lHt5ndzNOsU
Lubomir Arsov is the director and storyteller known for his work on In-Shadow, a journey through the fragmented unconscious of the West, that represents the precarious and degraded condition of our contemporaneous unfolding. The film is beautifully told as mood scapes without dialogue. This is a challenging feat as well as one that affords viewers the ability to connect with the topics empathically. I see In-Shadow as the first step in a narrative bringing to light many of our unconscious patterns. As the great Carl Jung said, "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” The next step I see is creating solutions so that we can live in a more connected world that is filled with creativity, compassion, consideration aiding in expanding consciousness. It's my belief that this starts as an individual journey and progresses to the relationships and how we conduct our business. Lubomir and I discuss topics such as the technocratic emergence, the metaverse, and body sovereignty.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
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Lubomir Arsov
• https://www.inshadow.net/
• https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3396016/
Matt Tunney is CEO and founder of NGON Solutions, a company helping the oil industry operate more efficiently and improve environmental performance. The oil industry and Bitcoin seem pretty disparate, but NGON is changing that in a really cool way by capturing excess gas before it is flared and converting it onsite to usable energy that they use to mine Bitcoin. After gaining a PhD in theoretical physics from Cambridge University, Dr. Tunney spent the last 15 years working and trading in the financial and energy industries. Utilizing his experience in corporate structuring and trading throughout a successful banking career, he later leveraged his technical mathematical background, and his experience trading volatile and illiquid commodities through several market cycles to enter the blockchain industry where he sees significant growth and wealth creation opportunities. We discuss how Matt has stepped into the role of entrepreneur to innovate on how the oil industry operates. His approach improves on existing methods that consider the impact on the environment. We cover how over time he has converted skeptics and his vision for a greener future.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
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Matt Tunney
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-tunney/
• https://www.ngonsolutions.com/
John Richards (he/him) is the Director of Programming, On Air | Host of the Morning Show. KEXP is an independent radio station that bucks the entire system. No DJ is ever asked or forced to play any song at all. They play what they love, they have direct lines of communication with the listeners and the artists.
For most of his adult life John’s been starting the day for thousands of "morning faithful", all who got turned onto the show and made it a staple in their lives. John’s Morning Show is known for its fantastic themes, intimate live performances, and has been responsible for breaking acts like The Lumineers, The National, M83, and many others.
What makes John so special is his belief that music heals and his commitment to using his platform to work with listeners through our toughest issues- grief, depression, loneliness, and anxiety. It’s oxymoronic how intimate he has made the medium of radio, but that’s what he does, with the constant reminder that “you are not alone. music heals.”
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
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JOHN RICHARDS & KEXP
• https://kexp.org/
• The Dr and the DJ Podcast - https://thedrandthedj.com/
• Life on Mars - https://lifeonmarsseattle.com/
Social:
• Instagram @djjohnrichards
• Twitter @djjohnrichards
My guest this week is Amy Richards, a tour de force and a longtime pillar in the feminism community. Amy is an author, producer and organizer, most recently authoring We Are MAKERS, a book based on the PBS documentary series MAKERS. She produced the Emmy nominated series WOMAN for Viceland and executive produced The Glorias, among other stage and video projects. Amy is the president of Soapbox, Inc., the foremost feminist lecture agency, and the affiliated Soapbox Foundation, creators of Feminist Camp. Amy is active on the lecture circuit and contributes her writings and media appearances, to the current public conversations on feminism. Amy embodies the sacred feminine, leading with a sense of grace, strength, and empathy. Please learn more and get involved by visiting growthguide.love Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love/sign-up
• Follow on Instagram @growthguide.love
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-richards-806b0446/
• @feministcamp
• @soapbox_inc
• @heymsamelia
Chief Jackie (Black Bear) Singer has devoted his life to one of service, as a Navajo Sundance Chief (Brave Eagle) and traditional healer, and as a US Veteran and commander of Walk With The Warriors. Jake offers us an opportunity to learn from the traditions and wisdom of the Navajo people. Despite a long history of being wronged by the US government Jake transcends this paradigm and is tirelessly devoted to driving change from a place of love. One of his initiatives is Walk With Warriors where he seeks recognition and support for indigenous veterans. Since early 2000 he has been campaigning to make November 7th National Native American Veterans Day. Back in 2002 he and 5 fellow Native American veterans walked 2,800 miles across America, ending their journey in Washington DC where thier request was ignored. Even though the US government withdrew some of their agreements made in the treaty of 1868 (which they celebrate like their July 4th) to have native americans fight for them, the government consistently fails to recognize them for their contributions of service.
And now, they are fighting for their rights once again to maintain their sovereignty. This is a cause they continue to fight for so please check out the links to see how you can get involved.
I’ve been blessed to have sat with Jake in sweat lodge ceremonies and teepee ceremonies and am humbled by his openness, his commitment to his path and his power as a leader.
Please learn more and get involved below.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
And be sure to visit growthguide.love
• Join the Growth Guide Mailing List: https://www.growthguide.love/sign-up
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Chief Jake (Black Bear) Singer
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-singer-0714a471/
• https://www.facebook.com/WalkingWithWarriors/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Dance
• Treaty of 1868 - http://www.courts.navajo-nsn.gov/Treaty1868.htm
Christopher Lindstrom's long passion for alternative monetary systems and local currencies led to his work at the Schumacher Center for a New Economics, where he organized a major international conference, called “Local Currencies in the 21st Century,” in '06 he co-founded BerkShares, a local currency for use in the southern Berkshires of western Massachusetts, which continues to receive international media attention and has served as a model for other communities interested in creating their own locally circulating currency.
Lindstrom has been active in the bioenergy sector as an investor and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Catalyst Bioenergy Group, has served on the Board of Directors of the Slow Money Institute, and currently serves as a director of the David Rockefeller Fund. He is also the co-founder of CyclEffect, a new model of cooperative investing and business incubation that enables companies in their early stages to own a stake in a growing ecosystem of mission-aligned businesses.
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Let's step into the world of feature-film director and screenwriter Marc Meyers. Marc's body of work is diverse in genre but always reveals and honors the deeper emotional truth. Marc seamlessly moves from dramas like the critically-acclaimed cult hit My Friend Dahmer to romances like All My Life all the way to heavy metal slasher- We Summon Darkness. Whatever the film, he has a unique ability to help us empathize with the characters and even see part of ourselves within them. We discuss his roots on the stage, his process for developing films, his partnership with his wife and long-time producer, and the responsibility of storytelling in our modern world. With attention spans shorter than ever, content and screens coming at us from all angles, how do we connect with an audience desperately needing to connect with a deeper truth? We explore this topic and more so let's get to it.
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Today we speak with the acclaimed jeweler Pitango Trotoush. To label Pitango a jeweler is like calling the grand canyon a big hole. He’s an enigma, an artist, a mystic, and in many ways a guru. Acquiring a Pitango ring is typically accompanied by a tea ceremony, a reading where he seemingly looks into your soul while he describes the powers of the ring you selected. Or did it select you? His story reminds us to embody our truth and follow our purpose which is exactly what he did.
Some 30yrs ago Pitango came out of the Israeli army a hardened man who had lost his smile. One day while backpacking through India he begrudgingly followed a fellow backpacker to a cave where hundreds lined up. As he neared he felt something strange, the heaviness he carried became lighter. Each step closer brought him greater salvation and closer to his purpose. The monk he waited for changed the course of his life, while he never heard of this man, it was the Dali Lama. This experience clarified his purpose and he began making exquisite jewelry to empower people to be their greatest selves. Learn more about this incredible story.
Pitango Maybe sees his rings and jewelry as tools of healing, steeped in the study of the special alchemic connection between stones, metals, and antique symbols he intentionally selects precious and semi-precious stones from locations around the world. He combines them with antique medals, talismans, and coins. These words fail to express the power in his rings. I was drawn to his work over 15yrs ago and it’s rare that a week goes by without someone fixated on a ring that I’m wearing. First, it’s because they are gorgeous but more deeply because they are true talismans that carry an immense material power.
Learn more at growthguide.love
Astrology is a subject that was held in the highest regard at least as far as 3-4 thousand yrs. It’s a subject that was studied by the Babylonians, ancient Egyptians, Arabs, Greeks, Europeans, and on and on. Until the 17th century, astrology was considered a scholarly tradition, and it helped drive the development of astronomy. It was commonly accepted in political and cultural circles, and some of its concepts were used in other traditional studies, such as alchemy, meteorology, and medicine.
My next guest shifted how I relate to my life experience and made me feel intensely more connected to my place in the Universe. Rebecca Gordon is a renowned New York City astrologer, founder of 17-year running School My Path Astrology, and author of 'Your Body and the Stars' from Simon & Schuster. She is the resident astrologer for Harper’s Bazaar and has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Financial Times, Forbes, The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, and television shows like Dr. Oz and CNN among others. Over the last decade, Rebecca has also been collaborating with top luxury companies such as Chanel, Christian Louboutin, and Agent Provocateur curating astrological experiences, and most recently launched a wellness partnership with the Four Seasons. In Rebecca's client work, It’s her mission to align people with their own unique brand of stardust so they can step into their highest potential.
My wife and I studied Astrology with Rebecca for two years and it has had a profound impact on how we set our schedules, approach business, relationships and so much more.
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Muys Snijders is a powerhouse in the art world, but what makes her even more special is her deep intentions for honoring the artists and making art so accessible to everyone. In our discussion, we pull back the curtain on the art world’s past, present and future. I am incredibly passionate about this topic. I've always been an artist at heart and struggled with many of the artist’s current dilemmas. I graduated from the College of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University yet despite coming out of one of the top art schools I found it terribly challenging to enter into and make a living in the art world. I was encouraged to be pragmatic and look into commercial areas which ultimately landed me in the advertising industry. I've thought a lot about what the underlying reasons are for receiving advice that moved me away from my passion. I recognize how much we undervalue the arts in our current times and believe that connecting to the arts offers an opportunity to connect with much deeper parts of ourselves and our society. We’ll get into this and much more shortly covering innovation, diversity, patronage as well as emerging technology in the arts. Muys is a seasoned executive and visionary leader with over 25 years of international experience working in the art world. She launched her own art consultancy firm and served as the Managing Director of Christie's Americas. Muys has a deep knowledge of the market for Post War & Contemporary Art having led the division for Bonhams in New York and prior to that, she was the Global Director of Client Strategy and Private Sales for this department at Christie’s. Muys holds an MA in Art History and Classical Archaeology from Leiden University in the Netherlands, as well as an MA in Arts Management from Greenwich University and an MA in Art Market Appraisal from Kingston University in the UK. Muys is also a graduate of the Senior Executive Leadership Program for China from Harvard Business School, Tsinghua University in Beijing, and CEIBS in Shanghai and most recently obtained a Certificate in Alternative Investments from Harvard Business School. She is multilingual and has worked in London, Amsterdam as well as New York.
But don’t be intimidated as we know how the art space can often feel. Muys is as approachable and inspiring as she is experienced.
Today is my most special guest to date. A man that has played a tremendous role in my life, serving as a teacher, inspiration and so much more. 94yr old Conrad Homler is my grandfather. I have been truly blessed to have him as an elder and fixture throughout my entire life.
This episode is about honoring our elders, slowing down to connect with those who paved our way. Let’s acknowledge the change that occurs in just one life and about capturing the amazing stories that are so often lost or degraded over time.
Born in 1927 in BK, NY he entered in through the Great Depression. Not liking the austere world he experienced, he promised himself that he would create a more desirable life. He graduated HS at 15 and went to college on full scholarship all while working to help support the family on $3 a week. He served his country in the Navy narrowly avoiding deployment to the bikini islands where the US government's upcoming atomic bomb tests were to take place.
He lovingly reflects on his relationship with his wife of 75 yrs whom we lost this past year. As you’ll see he has a memory like a steel trap, an endless pursuit of growth, and the vigor of a much younger man
Kathleen Nagy is an orchestral musician, Bio Acoustic specialist, and author.
Sound healing has no doubt hit the mainstream in recent years yet it’s for from new.
Music and sound has as long a history as we do. All cultures have their own versions of sounds, music, and instruments as well as sound healing modalities. Whether it be Kototama from Japan, the sound chambers of ancient Egypt, or Tibetan singing bowls and gong baths. What they all have in common is that they use the vibrational frequency of sound to target areas of the body to move energy and restore health. Different frequencies have the ability to penetrate different densities- blood, muscle tissue, organs, bone and so one.
25yrs ago while making a living as a classical concert musician, Kathleen noticed the benefit she seemed to get from certain sounds she played on the horn. She explored ways to optimize this and used her practice to heal herself from chronic asthma. With this undeniable experience she transitioned from a career of music for entertainment to one for sound and healing.
Kathleen believes that our state of health can be found in the sound mapping of our voice.
She says that it not only identifies root causes but also that our unique vocal range can be used to target and healing numerous issues.
Kathleen focuses on a form of humming- yes humming that targets specific areas of the body.
Her book Humming for Health explains how it all works in great detail. But for now let’s hear it straight from her.
Visionary Kenji Williams is a composer, filmmaker, performer, and creator of the Bella Gaia experience. You may have heard him on TED, or seen him perform somewhere in the world.
BELLA GAIA is an immersive performance unlike any other. It combines live cultural dance and music from around the world with awe-inspiring NASA footage of our planet from here on the ground and from up in outer space. Using mixed reality, and interactive data visualization it shows us how humans and nature are interconnected, and how art and science are connected.
Itʼs an exploration of the relationship between human civilization and our ecosystem through time and space. What I love most of all is that it tells the story of our living, breathing planet, without a voiceover. Viewers are truly immersed in seeing and feeling this reality which I believe to be much more powerful than words.
Kenji has devoted his life to this work, passionately developing the show while focusing on scaling it in order to effect meaningful change in our world. I believe that Kenji’s perspective and passion for healing our planet are exactly the medicine we need right now.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
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• Visit me at: growthguide.love
My guest this week is Frank "The Legend" Shamrock, retired 4x undefeated UFC Middleweight Champion. Frank pioneered the sport as one of the first to successfully mix various disciplines. During his reign he was the No. 1 ranked pound for pound UFC fighter in the world. But all of that is a tiny part of his story. Frank's journey is nothing short of unbelievable. After leaving an abusive home at the age of 15, he lived on the streets, repeatedly landing himself in prison. One day he had the epiphany that he was on a losing path and decided to turn his life around. In prison, he committed himself to develop his mind, body, and spirit. He put himself through college, organized a weight training program, and when he got out channeled all of his energy into becoming the UFC champion. Never stopping on the path of growth, Frank lives by the Warriors code. Since retiring, Frank thrives as an entrepreneur, mentoring the youth, and motivating Fortune 500 companies as a public speaker. Frank has also journeyed deep down the road of reflection and healing bringing peace to himself and his family. A devout single father that I've seen in action, Frank works around the clock to consciously give his daughter the best life he can.
Jhon T is the founder of the Atmananda Yoga Sequence and inventor of the Atmananda alignment mat. His yoga system combines 71 poses rooted in Hatha and Ashtanga. I studied with Jhon T for my teacher training after ten years of practicing with him. I’ll say first hand that no other yoga teacher I’ve experienced gets more directly to the underlying issues. Living in NYC I had the choice between a lot of incredible teachers, but it was a no brainer. Breath is the backbone of his approach and Jhon’s style and isms demand that we take responsibility for how we show up on and off the mat. His teachings consistently push growth towards living a more consciously aligned lifestyle. Back in '94 after he saw many yoga students in NYC injuring themselves, he realized that this was a result of various yoga styles that were paying little attention to alignment in their teachings. He created the sequence and later his patented mat to equip yoga practitioners with the tools they need to become more conscious about cultivating a healthy practice.
Nathaniel Whitmore is an herbalist, mycologist, & Shiatsu-shi specialist. His knowledge and bag of tricks go deep pulling from many modalities that he’s been schooled in, from herbology to shiatsu, macrobiotics to martial arts, native traditions to quantum consciousness. We walk his serendipitous path talking about some of his teachers like spiritual moonshine man Taterbug Tyler, and Michio Kushi who helped to introduce modern macrobiotics to the US. Born and raised around the border of upstate NY and Pennsylvania his family has been here for so long that his street bears his name.
Jude Boudreaux is a financial planner that helps others live their lives on purpose. His approach uniquely pairs living in the present with planning for the future. Weaving together finance, personal growth, psychology, and positive thinking, Jude breathes new life into a topic that typically makes my eyes glaze over. You may have heard Jude quoted in publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Journal of Financial Planning, Money Magazine, and The Times-Picayune, to name a few. As an avid traveler and family man, his oldest daughter visited 45 states by 4yrs old, never missing an opportunity to live life to the fullest. We cover off on: relationships to money, how to create a plan (regardless of age) that allows you to enjoy the moment, and how to introduce finances to kids as a learning opportunity.
Hari Kaur Khalsa is a Master Kundalini and Meditation Instructor. The thing about Hari’s power is that I’ve never witnessed one so great yet without having any airs about her. She has been practicing for over 40yrs and running NY’s beloved studio Hari NYC The Treehouse.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Kundalini yoga, you are in for a real treat. I remember when I first discovered it and for me it shifts mood, mindset, and energy faster and better than anything (non-psychotropic) that I’ve found. Kundalini is so powerful that it was a technology kept secret for centuries. Hari was a key part of the team that brought and spread Kundalini yogi through the eastern US. Along with training countless teachers in her program, she has taught in hospitals and high schools to great effect.
Hari also founded the Illumined Woman courses to empower women of all ages. She expertly curates wisdom that brings women healing, comfort, and transformation. She is the author of two books: “A Woman’s Book of Meditation” and “A Woman’s Book of Yoga: Embracing Our Natural Life Cycles”.
This episode is for everyone looking to heal their inner patterns, limits, and traumas to live a more fulfilling life. Whether you are experienced with plant medicine, have been curious or never heard about it, this conversation will open your eyes to an ancient practice of healing through living in connection to the natural world.
After a career that scaled the heights of corporate success as a CEO of global companies, Angel Deer reached a turning point in his life – material success and trappings had not brought him happiness or fulfillment. He had a big degree, a big job, and success that most people aspire to, but he was not happy. He decided to completely change his life and embarked on a journey of self-exploration and meditation that took him from working with Mother Teresa’s mission in India, to the jungles of Peru in search of finding meaning in life and fulfillment beyond the material demands of society today. Through seeking to transform his own life to live in service to a higher purpose, he made a life-changing commitment to help others in their search for peace, harmony, and happiness. Angell founded The Sanctuary Shamanic Healing Center in upstate New York where he serves a thriving community.
Today’s guest is Mary Esther Malloy joined by my lovely wife, Navah D’Alessandro. Birth stories are a right of passage that every person on this planet experiences yet no two are the same. You think you know how babies are made? You are in for a big surprise. Mary Esther is the owner of Mindful Birth in New York City. It’s no secret that our current systems have a gross misalignment with their business objectives and the sacred act of our fierce women bringing life into this world. Hearing Mary’s insights and experiences in dealing with the system is eye-opening. Her childbirth preparation course hands down changed our experience by giving us the knowledge and tools to navigate the hospital system and make empowered decisions every step of the way. Navah and I had a pretty extreme birth experience with Navah birthing our son vaginally breech without meds- like a boss!
Without the guidance of our core team of Mary Esther, our Midwife Marcy Tardio, and our Doula Maggie Torrance I don’t know what the experience would have looked like so I want to honor the sacred feminine in them and the divine work they do. I'd also like to honor the incredible Dr that birthed our son for he is a rare breed of breech experienced, caring, and willing to take the risk in a time when hospitals and insurance companies strongly push against vaginal breech births, despite their comparable risks to cesarian. I sadly won't name him out of concern for backlash.
Mary Esther Malloy offers families an expansive, holistic approach to childbirth preparation, labor support, and parenting. In addition to teaching childbirth classes, running parenting groups, attending births, and raising her three children, Mary Esther publishes regularly about birth and parenting.
Today we discuss the ancient field of Ayurveda and how to heal your own imbalances using it with a gifted practitioner Damin Hagglund. I've experienced Damian's work first hand and it's been a key asset for maintaining my health.
We'll cover gut wellness, mind-body connection, martial sciences and his incredible journey. Damian's story begins like an epic Martial Arts saga. At the age of 5 Damian began training by entering boarding school studying under monks and masters. He lived in India for 18 years and trained with many great masters, covering ancient Vedic texts, Wing Chun, Taekwondo, and Aikido.
In 1995, Damian met Dr. Madusudan Ray, while on a search for relief from sciatica. After implementing the warrior system of Ayurveda, Damian was able to heal himself and after much dedication and persistence became Dr. Madhusudan Ray’s first western disciple. Damian practices a form of martial arts massage called Marma where he uses specific points on the body to resolve any disharmonies. With a no-nonsense attitude and approach, he has dedicated his life to serving others by sharing his experience and knowledge of Ayurveda around the world.
Whether or not you have heard of the Vagus Nerve prior, prepare to have your mind blown. For such a big and important topic, I’ve brought in the powerhouse, Dr. Eva Detko.
Dr Detko is a natural healthcare practitioner, author and speaker who has studied natural medicine and the human mind for over 20 years. She has extensive knowledge and experience in the field of human physiology, biochemistry, nutritional sciences and bioenergetics. Having successfully recovered from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, and reversed Hashimoto's thyroiditis, she’s well equipped.
I was drawn to her no nonsense approach to healing and her strong focus on the Vagus Nerve as a pathway.
The Vagus Nerve and the Polyvagul Theory codifies the inner workings of body's stress response systems. The vagus nerve is involved in anxiety and fear responses, ties right into the nervous system, prevents inflammation, aids breathing, but wait- there’s more- it also controls your heart rate, and connects the gut brain and the brain brain. There’s even a pretty new treatment of Vagus nerve stimulation which uses bioelectronics to treat a variety of conditions such as severe depression, and epileptic seizures.
Through understanding this we are able to identify imbalances before they progress into disease, and if we are experiencing disease we are given ways to treat at the root cause.
When it comes to the design world, the name Stefan Sagmeister billows across the land. You've seen his work with a diverse body spanning the Rolling Stones, HBO, the Guggenheim Museum and Time Warner. Along with winning almost every prestigious design award out there, Stefan has a Grammy award, for the limited edition set he designed for The Talking Heads.
This episode is not just for designers, we talk in depth about happiness, meditation, talk therapy, exercise, and working for his hero Tibor Kalman.
What took my love of Stefan to the next level is the work he has done to be a better human being and living a more fulfilling life. As you'll see, he is a total sweetheart of a person. Instead of the force-fed concept of retirement, Stefan decided he didn't want to ever retire and instead decided to just take a one year sabbatical every 7 yrs. During his second sabbatical he undertook a project to explore happiness. Well he opened up pandora's box and eight years later, the result was a beautiful documentary called, The Happy Film.
Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
Sharon has found herself training under some remarkable masters throughout her life. From direct students of Ōsensei: Nakazono Sensei, Sugano Sensei, and Yamata Sensei to name a few. Sharon teaches Aikido at NY Aikikai under Yamata Sensei. Yamata Sensei studied as a live in student directly under the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba - Ōsensei. It doens’t get richer than that.
Aikido is a defensive martial art that teaches us how to diffuse a situation with minimal harm caused. Ōsensei is quoted saying, To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace. This sentiment accurately sums up how Aikido is a meditation or even therapy for all areas of life. I’ve had the privilege of practicing with Sharon and can only say that she is fierce, deeply connected to greater spirit, and an absolute blast to be around. Sharon is the US Rep for the International Aikido Federation’s Working Group on Gender.
Sharon is also a healer practicing many modalities including Kototama. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of it, I hadn’t either but have fallen in love with the practice. Kototama uses ancient sacred sounds to affect dis-ease in the body, mind, and spirit. This Japanese practice believes that mystical powers dwell in words and names.
What’s your earliest memory of music? For certain, the first thing we all heard was our Mom’s heartbeat while nestled in the womb. That’s rhythm and that symbolizes love, as Keith explains, rhythm at its core IS Love.
Native New Yorker Keith “WildChild” Middleton is a 20yr veteran of the global hit show Stomp. After a tragic car accident that almost took his life, he dropped everything to pursue his dreams of producing music. He currently tours with his band Levels while living in Milan, Italy. Keith is a larger-than-life personality who embodies musicality and rhythm is all he does. On this episode we talk about: all things rhythm, his 20yrs performing around the world with Stomp, his near-death experience, his Uncle Pepe landing his cousin Prince his first deal w/ Warner Bros, and his son’s experience as a finalist on American Idol.
Growth Guide explores the depths of curiosity finding growth in all areas of life from all walks of life. We'll get into deep conversations with some incredible humans sitting around the modern-day campfire. Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
Outer space is something that has fascinated us since our earliest ancestors walked this planet. The awe of looking up into the sky and seeing our sun, moon, stars, and planets. The wonder and awe this provokes to this day.
Today we are blessed with speaking with one of the few people that have visited the international space station logging 178 days in space. Ron Garan, veteran Air Force fighter pilot, retired NASA astronaut, and social entrepreneur embodies the “orbital perspective” back here on Earth and today he teaches us all how to do the same without having to travel to space. We will cover his journey into space, the profound effect it has had on him and how we can apply those lessons to solve some of humanity's greatest challenges.
Growth Guide explores the depths of curiosity finding growth in all areas of life from all walks of life. We'll get into deep conversations with some incredible humans sitting around the modern-day campfire. Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!
The first episode is unlike the rest. It's me, your host, Bryan D'Alessandro (sans guest) giving context to how Growth Guide came to be and why you should care.
Growth Guide explores the depths of curiosity finding growth in all areas of life from all walks of life. We'll get into deep conversations with some incredible humans sitting around the modern-day campfire. Unbuckle your mind, and open your heart, it's grow time!