Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

This week, we pause to remember the life, presence, and artistry of a friend of the show who will be deeply missed. Recorded in 2021, this conversation features Grammy-winning artist John Forté in his first appearance on the podcast. John and Raghu talk about the spirit of music, the highs and lows of success, and John’s experience headlining the Ram Dass Soul Land Music Series. John Forté (Januar...

Author and nonviolence practitioner Kazu Haga explores why fierce vulnerability is a vital practice for inner and outer transformation. Read an excerpt of Kazu’s book, Fierce Vulnerability , and purchase your own copy HERE . This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Kazu Haga chat about: Kazu’s difficult upbringing and how meeting Japanese Buddhist monastics transformed his life Combining social action...

Longtime friends David Silver and Raghu Markus discuss Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and the legacy of Dzogchen maintained by his four sons. Grab a copy of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s memoirs, Blazing Splendor , for a deeper look into his magnificent life.  This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and David have a discussion about: The life and teachings of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, one of the greatest Dzogchen medi...

In this music-filled re-release, Raghu Markus is joined by spiritual musician Jai Uttal to chat about opening our hearts through the magnitude of melodies. Get your copy of All In This Together, the latest book from Jack Kornfield!  Let this new book be your guide, as Jack reveals how to navigate our human experience with wisdom and care. Inside you’ll find a beautiful collection of stories,...

Anne Lamott, Raghu Markus, and RamDev reveal that letting go of how life should be opens the door to compassion, healing, and contentment with reality. This Dharma Session was recorded at the December 2025 Ram Dass Open Your Heart in Paradise Retreat. Learn about upcoming community events HERE . This week on Mindrolling, Raghu, Anne, and RamDev hold a talk on: Standing in presence with change and...

Looking through a Jungian lens, Psychologist Dr. John Price and Raghu Markus have a discussion on the mechanics of awakening. This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and John chat about: What we can learn from the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance  Jungian philosophy and creating balance within the psyche  Attraction to the arts, music, and alternative ways of being Comparing youth...

Discussing the loving-kindness lessons in Kind Karl , Sharon’s first children’s book, Raghu, Duncan, and Sharon chat about raising mindful kids who can become mindful adults.   Kind Karl will be released on 12/9!  Co-authored by Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a new children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness. To learn more ab...

Celebrating the release of There Is No Other , a new book of teachings from Ram Dass’ lectures, Parvati Markus and Raghu Markus listen to and reflect on some of the material used in its creation. This special episode of Mindrolling celebrates the new book, There Is No Other , a collection of teachings taken from Ram Dass’ lectures. In these times, Ram Dass’ teachings on wholeness and unity are mor...

Raghu Markus and Psychoanalyst Dr. Jeffrey Rubin unpack how mindfulness, empathy, and self-understanding connect the worlds of Buddhism and Western therapy. In this Mindrolling episode, Raghu and Dr. Rubin discuss: Jeffrey’s traditional upbringing and the unexpected spiritual experience he had during a basketball game Key parallels between Western psychotherapy and Buddhist wisdom How “hovering at...

This episode of Mindrolling is a collection of some of the most potent teachings from Raghu’s conversations with experts and researchers in the field of psychedelics. In this Mindrolling Anthology: Clip 1 ( Ep. 348 ) – We begin with a clip from one of Raghu’s conversations with Rick Doblin, who is a leader of the current psychedelic renaissance. They discuss grief, PTSD, and the role of psychedeli...

Raghu sits down with clinical psychologist and meditation teacher Dr. Tucker Peck to explore the meeting point of dharma and psychotherapy. If you are in the U.S., you can directly purchase a paperback copy of Sanity & Sainthood HERE . Otherwise, head over to Amazon for both paperback and ebook formats.  In this episode of Mindrolling, Raghu and Tucker discuss: Tucker’s first mind-alterin...

This episode of Mindrolling is a collection of some of the best moments from Raghu’s conversations with his podcast guru, the one and only Duncan Trussell. In this Mindrolling Anthology: Clip 1 (Ep. 4) : From the very beginning, it was love at first sight. In their first Mindrolling conversation, Duncan and Raghu talk about how they met. Clip 2 (Ep. 94) : Recorded live at the 2014 “Open Your Heart...

Merging art, science, and spirit, authors and intellectuals Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross illuminate why creativity is essential for humanity. Grab a copy of Susan and Ivy’s Book: Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us In this episode of Mindrolling, Raghu, Susan, and Ivy explore: Redefining art as any medium that allows someone to express themselves Learning to see the world with fresh eyes a...

Carried by a discourse on The Heart Sutra, teacher and author Susan Piver joins Raghu to explore the truth of emptiness. Grab your copy of Susan’s book: Inexplicable Joy: On the Heart Sutra This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Susan chat about: Practicing The Heart Sutra with only one syllable: ahh The truth of emptiness through recitation of non-truths  Understanding emptiness as bliss, not a...

Author and changemaker Shermin Kruse examines the timeless principles of Stoicism and their power to foster mindful, intentional, and empathetic living. Grab a copy of Stoic Empathy HERE to learn more about living a Life of Influence, Self-Leadership, and Integrity This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Shermin Kruse: Embracing discomfort and challenges as catalysts for personal and spiritual growth...

David Silver and Raghu Markus explore the life and teachings of George Gurdjieff, the Russian-born mystic and philosopher of consciousness. This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and David have a discussion about: How a teenage David Silver was first introduced to Gurdjieff’s teachings Gurdjieff’s influence on the 1960s counterculture and the evolution of consciousness movements The call to “do only what...

Offering a perspective of hope and unity, Danny Goldberg and Raghu Markus explore morality, polarization, and how negative media drives collective anxiety. Pre-order Danny’s upcoming book, Liberals with Attitude: The Rodney King Beating and the Fight for the Soul of Los Angeles This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Danny discuss: The uproar surrounding the brutal beating of Rodney King by the L.A. p...

Holding grief alongside wise teachings on death, Jaymee Carpenter and Raghu Markus discuss the great loss of Lady Diana J. Mukpo, wife of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Listen to Jaymee’s interview with Lady Diana J. Mukpo HERE This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Jaymee chat about: Remembering Lady Diana J. Mukpo, the wife of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the great Tibetan Lama Chogyam Trungpa’s leadership...

Author Andy Chaleff speaks to personal and collective grief, teaching listeners that embracing loss can help us live a more fulfilling life. Get your copy of Andy’s book, Dying to Live: Finding Life’s Meaning Through Death This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Andy have a conversation on: Andy’s early experiences with fear, existential dread, and childhood loss Andy’s emotional and intellectual proc...

Raghu Markus and Ann Tashi Slater dive into The Tibetan Book of the Dead , bardo states, and how embracing death and impermanence can help us live with greater presence and purpose. Pick up a copy of Ann's September 2025 book, Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World . This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Ann discuss: The Tibetan Book of the Dead and how it can help us in moder...

Recorded live at the 2025 Summer Mountain Retreat, this homestyle chat with Raghu Markus, Nina Rao, and Robert Thurman explores the Bhakti-Buddhist lineage of Ram Dass and Maharaj-ji. Join us this December for the 2025 Ram Dass Legacy Open Your Heart in Paradise retreat in Maui! This time on Mindrolling, Raghu, Nina, and Robert discuss: The story of finding Neem Karoli Baba and filling up on poori...

Continuing their earlier conversation, Dr. Bruce Damer and Raghu Markus have a socially charged discussion on facing our collective karma with equanimity and grace.  Start with the first part of this conversation HERE . In this episode, Raghu and Dr. Damer explore: Ram Dass’s teachings on social justice and keeping our hearts open in hell Understanding collective karma and how it shapes the w...

Discussing the spiritual experiences that shaped his life, Dr. Michael Shandler describes the lessons he learned from taking psychedelics, meeting Baba Hari Dass, and more. Grab your copy of Dr. Michael’s award-winning memoir, Karma and Kismet, HERE . In this episode, Raghu and Michael have an elaborate discussion on: Dr. Michael’s early encounters with antisemitism and racism in boarding school a...

Explaining all that anger can reveal, activist and yoga instructor Reggie Hubbard encourages listeners to use their anger for positive change. In this week’s episode of Mindrolling, Raghu and Reggie reflect upon: Reggie's powerful upbringing as a person of color, shaped by family stories from the Civil Rights era and beyond How surviving a stroke became a transformative spiritual experience for Re...

Blending psychedelic wisdom with the sacred power of sound, Raghu Markus and East Forest explore music as a gateway to nonduality, healing, and everyday spirituality. Check out Music for Mushrooms , a narrative documentary highlighting the personal journey of East Forest. In this episode of Mindrolling, Raghu and East Forest explore: East Forest’s creative process and setting Ram Dass’ teachings t...