Practice You with Elena Brower

On compassion in the context of activism, building a culture of care, and cultivating enthusiasm to save our democracy. Being radically human [2:42] Sharing peace in a way that incites action [4:24] Our responsibility to each other. Information and discernment [6:21] Planting seeds of love and compassion [12:52] Changing our opinions over time [18:00] Immigration detainment camps. Focusing on huma...

On showing up for your writing with devotion. On reading as writing; writing as reading. On humility as wisdom. Albert Flynn DeSilver is a poet, memoirist, speaker, master mindfulness meditation teacher and workshop leader teaching nationally at the Omega Institute, Spirit Rock, 1440 MUltiversity, Shambhala Mountain Center, the Esalen Institute, and at writing conferences nationally. Albert has re...

On clearing biotoxicity and creating work that heals. Biotoxicity [2:17] The Milk Cleanse [7:07] The genesis of NeuroPraxis [11:21] The importance of knowing your own body [19:46] Ayurveda and balance [23:10] Slowing down and appreciating time [23:43] Prayer [28:04] Jody Levy is an artist, designer, director, educator, entrepreneur, executive and investor from the Detroit area who lives between De...

On the life-changing conversations of race, the majestic presence of lineage, and the vital, daily work of loving yourself. The birth of The Jacy Method [2:15] On feeling alone in a community [7:01] The importance of expressing joy and showing up as yourself [9:39] Jacy's morning marriage practice [16:42] On living multiple lives as a Black person [24:52] The opportunity to have conversations abou...

On transcending our instincts, practicing what scares us, seeing where we coincide, and choosing our state. After spending a year as a Bartley fellow at the Wall Street Journal, Chloé Valdary developed The Theory of Enchantment, an innovative framework for social emotional learning (SEL), character development, and interpersonal growth that uses pop culture as an educational tool in the classroom...

Erin is a travel, culture and lifestyle documentary photographer, creative culture consultant, writer and founder of Black Burner Project. After discovering her love for photography on a solo trip the Philippines, she has placed travel photography at the center of her personal work. Erin's first experience of Burning Man [3:17] What moved Erin to create the Black Burner Project [10:01] The feeling...

On connecting to Nature, our wisest innermost council, and our deepest compassion. Managing chaos [2:44] Understanding the need to project chaos outwards [6:23] Tools that Pixie is using and sharing right now [10:13] Asking for help and managing resources [17:07] Disassociation and discernment [19:04] Shamanic arts. Returning to the core of peace within [21:30] Building your council. Releasing con...

On the past as fuel for the future, the realities of race, and the magic of making records. Jeff's earliest musical influences [3:37] His first experience of racism [6:40] Creating his own blueprint for life [11:10] Speaking to his children about what it means to be Black in America [15:16] Favorite moments with Bad Boy [22:16] The night that Biggie was murdered [26:22] Artists Jeff is most excite...

On racism recovery as psychological, individual and collective healing. How April came to her work [2:35] Racism from a psychological perspective [11:12] Narcissism and codependency [18:43] White privilege. Complicity [23:00] Treating perpetrators. Defense mechanisms [26:08] Co-dependent racist savorism and anti-racist education on Instagram [33:19] Racist rejection of whiteness and cultural appro...

On scarcity in schools, committing to our edification, wealth as activism, and standing back to back as we heal. Jesse Johnson is a master sales and success coach, specializing in helping spiritual entrepreneurs build 7-figure businesses. An artist, activist, and educator, Jesse's career began with 12 years teaching math in NYC public schools. Frustrated by the limits of both bureaucracy and pover...

On the voyage of service, what still needs our attention, connecting to Mother Earth, and majestic remembrance. Nadine McNeil, is a yoga teacher, speaker, transformational coach and humanitarian whose mission is to ignite infinite possibility in people around the world and share yoga with diverse underserved communities. Over the last few decades, Nadine has travelled the world in service of the U...

On whiteness in wellness, our responsibility, our clumsiness and our commitments. Creating Wanderlust [4:41] Spirituality and Civic engagement [16:30] Acknowledging complicity. The role of the wellness teacher [20:39] Black Lives Matter protests. Witnessing glimpses of Oneness [29:21] Grace for clumsiness. Taking moral inventory [36:33] Reframing the notion of separation [43:39] Shaping the world...

On studentship, using your art to heal, and becoming heavy enough to hold it all. Kiese Laymon is the author of three books, most recently the NY Times bestselling memoir, Heavy: An American Memoir. He is a Professor of English born and raised in Jackson Mississippi. The places we stay [3:26] What inspired Kiese to write Heavy to his mother [5:05] The consequences of masking pain [7:18] How learni...

On choosing conscious shocks, conscious suffering and crystallizing your commitment to daily bliss. The Fourth Way [1:30] The law of divided attention [8:28] The law of aim [12:20] The law of identification [15:12] The law of shocks [20:54] The law of three [27:05] The law of self-remembering [30:55] Unnecessary vs necessary suffering [33:06] Buffers. How much joy can you stand? [36:45] The law of...

On belonging, dreamwork, and welcoming aging as a privilege. Toko-pa Turner is an award-winning Canadian writer, teacher, and dreamworker who blends the mystical tradition of Sufism with a Jungian approach to dreams. In 2001 she founded the Dream School, from which hundreds of students have graduated, and she speaks internationally on the subject of dreams and belonging. Sometimes called a "midwif...

On the perpetual revolution of the soul, with the one and only Seane Corn. Becoming an elder [3:06] What Seane's friend Billy taught her [8:12] The role of therapy in processing trauma, speaking out against injustice [15:33] Grief [29:50] Dismantling the systems within, creating social change [40:29] Seane's main mentors and guides [50:48] What Seane would say to a young yoga teacher [53:52] Resou...

On music as medicine, listening carefully, and the relevance of surrendering. Paavo's early connection to music [2:37] Things that help Paavo in uncertain times [6:39] What inspired the making of the Flow State album [9:33] Questions about work life balance as an artist [14:34] Improvising [19:00] Not knowing and surrendering [21:07] What needs healing [30:08] Favourite view [31:03] Prayer [31:42]...

On the road to sobriety, the questions we need to ask, and the ways we need to listen. Laura McKowen inspires people to say yes to a bigger life after addiction. She's the author of the forthcoming memoir, We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life (January 2020), and has been featured on WebMD, The Guardian, The New York Post, Bravo, and the TODAY show. She writes an internationall...

On intentional death and dying, elder and hospice care, and the conversations we need to have to help our elders die beautifully. Over the past 20 years, Sierra Campbell has worked with the elderly suffering loss of independence through health crises such as illness, a fall, operations, and facing the great unknown, death. After a decade of owning and operating a successful home care agency, Sierr...

On poetry that transforms our ways of seeing, listening and being. IN-Q is a National Poetry Slam champion, award-winning poet, and multi-platinum songwriter. His groundbreaking achievements include being named to Oprah's SuperSoul 100 list of the world's most influential thought leaders, being the first spoken word artist to perform with Cirque Du Soleil, and being featured on A&E, ESPN, and HBO'...

On communication in quarantine, with courageous openness. Prioritizing the team [1:47] Assuming that your partner's freak out is a coping mechanism [3:50] The importance of knowing yourself first [5:30] Moving together [7:01] Family meetings, being present [7:40] Checking in every day [12:14] Practicing courageous openness and mutual respect [19:07] RESOURCES Esther Perel podcast Hiro Boga The Mir...

On the efficacy and daily magic of EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique, to recognize, release and heal ourselves. Tapping as a way of letting go of the physical grip of old emotions [2:24] Nick's early encounters with tapping [8:03] Making The Tapping Solution documentary [11:16] Tapping as a bridge to meditation [16:00] The power of acknowledging how we actually feel [17:48] The Tapping Solution...

A hybrid of laser-like practicality and cutting-edge visionary insight, Scott Schwenk has been catalyzing the inner evolution and leadership development of individuals, relationships, and larger groups and organizations for over 25 years. His work and teaching is a blend of stillness, unexpected expansion, laughter, discovery and potent actionable insights revealing dynamic inner freedom and a thr...

On boundaries, magnetizing prosperity, and practices for releasing blocks and renewing your relationship to abundance of all kinds. Desiree Delunae is a Licensed Acupuncturist, herbalist, author and Blue Diamond Wellness Advocate. She provides a unique perspective of essential oil usage by infusing ancient principles of Chinese Medicine. Her work holds a core philosophy that emotions are a signifi...

On the true history of "woke" culture, dismantling toxicity and meditation as a recipe for freedom. Justin Michael Williams is an author, speaker, and top 20 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 voice for diversity and inclusion in wellness. He has been featu...