Wake Up, Human

In this episode, I explore what it means to show up raw in body, mind, and spirit, and in the everyday moments of our lives. I reflect on the layers of conditioning, perfectionism, and “shoulds” that disconnect us from ourselves, and why waking up is less about becoming something new and more about showing up as who we already are. The episode explores: Why showing up raw is more powerful than sho...

In this episode, I'm exploring the fundamental freedom of mind: a freedom we all share that does not require permission from any government or authority to be true. Let's learn to exercise our freedom of mind, so we can all become a bit more human. 

In this episode my guest and I explore the fascinating skill of bending spoons with the mind—something that all of us humans are capable of!—as a portal to greater self-knowledge, inspiration, and connection with the world around us.

I explore the aftermath of the 2024 US election through a lens of rehumanization, focusing on how we can heal divisions by understanding others' needs—and thinking for ourselves. Some topics I touch upon... The dangers of falling into lockstep with political "teams" without questioning our beliefs The importance of dialogue and curiosity instead of assumption and judgment The red/bl...

Manifestation is not just about vision boards and wishful thinking—it's an intentional practice of aligning our energy with our desire, through the power of the mind. In this episode I talk with Irina Portnova about the practical side of manifestation: "We don't attract what we want, we attract who we are." Some of the topics we cover... Everything in our world is energy, inclu...

Our modern world rushes past death and endings, urging us to "move on" before we've properly acknowledged what's been lost. But what if this cultural tendency keeps us subtly tethered to the past, preventing us from fully opening to what comes next? Inspired by the death of the hawk on a busy urban street (and the woman who stopped to collect her body), this episode examines ho...

The seeds of hatred can take root in any human heart—even those most committed to compassion and peace. In this episode, I share my journey through betrayal and rage alongside reflections on the genocide in Palestine, exploring parallels between personal and collective trauma. What happens when appropriate anger—that evolutionary response designed to protect us—has nowhere to go? Like an encounter...

The constant pressure to do everything immediately has become so normalized we barely notice it anymore – but this "tyranny of urgency" is destroying our wellbeing, relationships, and connection to life itself.  Urgency isn't just about feeling rushed; it's a colonial, capitalist programming that keeps us disconnected from our bodies and each other. When we're constantly i...

Have you ever had a moment where everything went sideways – literally? This storytelling episode takes you deep into the Guatemalan countryside where a borrowed red Toyota truck, a burning mountainside, and a muddy crevasse converge to deliver some fun insights about decision making and human connection. The story explores how both intuition and experience serve as powerful guides when we face unc...

In this episode I explore the prophecy of the Eagle and Condor, which in its different iterations offers a powerful framework for understanding humanity's divisions between "north and south," and a possible path toward reconciliation and healing. This particular teaching of the prophecy originated with Quechua tribes of the Andes and speaks of a 500-year separation between two human...

What if the very pain you're running from contains the medicine you need? In this vulnerable and deeply personal episode, I dive into the wisdom behind the poet Rumi's profound insight: "The cure for the pain is in the pain." Pain isn't just something that hurts us—it's a messenger, a signal flare demanding our attention. Yet modern society has conditioned us to numb,...

In this episode I reflect on the passing of a dear friend, exploring what it means to live fully while we have the chance, and the ways in which our lives create meaningful ripples in the world, beyond the simple moments we live. When my friend Susan died of cancer just months after retiring, it invited me to confront some shadowy subjects, including the question, why do we postpone joy? Susan was...

What happens when we compare Barbie's journey out of Barbie Land with Neo's escape from the Matrix? In this exploration I dive into how these starkly different films both challenge us to question the manufactured realities we live within—and consider how me might transcend them. Both characters face a pivotal choice—Barbie between the high heel and the Birkenstock, Neo between the red pi...

Lorin Peters shares his 50-year journey as a physicist, teacher, and lifelong activist for nonviolence and peace, from his transformative experience in the Peace Corps to his work with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Palestine. How a death threat and a prophetic dream in Thailand launched Lorin's commitment to nonviolence The connection between Gospel nonviolence and Gandhian nonviolence throug...

Have you ever looked back at years spent in a soul-sucking corporate job (or other seemingly dead-end pursuit) and thought, "I wasted so much time"? We often convince ourselves we've wasted time in corporate careers or chasing someone else's definition of success, but every choice we make teaches us what we need to know to find our authentic path. Exploring the idea of "wa...

What if the wisdom we're seeking has been speaking to us all along, but we've forgotten how to listen? Rose de Dan's journey from disconnection to animal communication began during what she calls her "black and white Kansas" period – a time of feeling lost and questioning life's purpose. Through a profound Reiki experience, she awakened to dormant aspects of herself,...

What if the ancient sites of our ancestors still held living wisdom that could reconnect us with our forgotten heritage? Ireland stands as perhaps the last repository in Europe where this connection remains unbroken, where stone circles and fairy mounds aren't silent relics but continue to speak through mythology preserved across millennia. In this captivating conversation, independent resear...

What if love isn't just a feeling, but a powerful spiritual path that could heal our divided world?  In this soul-stirring conversation, I speak with Matthew Busse, a former molecular biologist turned spiritual teacher who serves as teacher-in-residence at the Abbey of the Redwoods. Matt shares his remarkable journey from scientific success to spiritual seeking after discovering that conventi...

What does it mean to belong somewhere? As a person of European descent living in the United States, I've often wrestled with this question – how to honor the indigenous peoples of the land I call home while also nurturing my own sense of place and belonging. In this special narrative episode, I step away from my usual format to share a personal written reflection titled "We Are All Indig...

What does it mean to be a creative person? If you've ever dismissed your own creativity with "I'm not artistic," this conversation might fundamentally change how you see yourself. In this enlightening exploration of human creativity, artist and dreamkeeper Denise Kester reveals how our modern culture has mistakenly categorized some people as "creative" while leaving t...

Have you ever noticed the endless stream of thoughts running through your mind? The unexamined mental chatter that dictates your mood, decisions, and sense of self? What if there was a simple practice that could help you step back from this mental noise and reconnect with your deeper wisdom? In this powerful solo episode, I explore meditation as a remedy for what I call "separation sickness&q...

Dive deep into the authentic traditions of yoga and Vedanta with Gajananam, a dedicated practitioner with nearly three decades of experience studying under direct disciples of Swami Vishnu Devananda, one of the pioneering yogis who brought these practices to the West in the mid-20th century. Most of us are familiar with yoga as a physical practice – the postures and stretching we see in studios ac...

Dive into the world of America's most influential naturalist and social reformer as Shannon Wills welcomes Thoreau scholar Jeffrey S. Kramer to explore the lasting power of Henry David Thoreau's ideas for our modern lives. "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation," wrote Thoreau in 1854. But what antidote did he offer to this condition? Kramer, curator of collections at...

Movement specialist Janice Eisenman shares her passionate mission to help people reconnect with their bodies from the inside out, challenging cultural narratives that equate physical appearance with personal value. Through mindfulness practices and compassionate awareness, she guides clients to rediscover the joyful, uninhibited movement we all experienced as children. Breaking the cycle of pain a...