The Integral Stage Expanded Universe (ISEU)

Stuart introduces his Aliens and Artists project and discusses the inspiration behind it, and the interview then quickly turns into a conversation, as Layman and Stuart share experiences and reflections, riffing on shamanic consciousness, the nature of time, Western esotericism, Terrence McKenna and Alan Watts, encounters with UFOs and "alien intelligences," paranormal phenomena, nature mysticism,...

How do we cultivate robust, ethical, convivial human beings who have access to their full cognitive, emotional, and motivational resources?  How can we better live functional, enjoyable lives, contribute to our societies' health and evolution, keep growing internally, and maximize the potentials of our best states?   Layman is joined by Integral practitioner, author, and therapist, Mark...

Drawing inspiration from the Salon des Refusés, the French "exhibition of the rejected," The Integral Stage brings you Salon of the Banned .  In this series, we check in with individuals who have been kicked out, de-platformed, or threatened with suppression in ostensibly advanced philosophical, spiritual, or political discussion forums, or putatively free modern communication media.  In...

In episode sixteen, Layman Pascal convenes with the six witches of High Pitch -- Bonnitta Roy, Nora Bateson, Ria Baeck, Miriam Mason Martineau, Schuyler Brown, and Ece Utkucan Anderson -- to talk about their new podcast series on the Stoa.  Together they feel into just what it is they are brewing in their magical dialogical cauldron, where boundaries are porous and much of what happens, happe...

For the sixth episode of the Fire from Heaven series, we are joined by Frank Marrero, a long-time student of Adi Da and the curator of several web resources on Adi Da's teachings including the incomparable Beezone .  Frank talks with Layman Pascal about his experiences of transmission with Adi Da, his understanding of the nature of consciousness, and some of the unique characteristics of the...

In the second episode of this Integral Stage reboot of Point/Counterpoint, Bonnitta Roy challenges Layman Pascal again to a debate, this time on the nature and existence of free will.  Inspired by Rick Repetti's writings on free will, they take up the philosophical question of determinism vs. indeterminism, and consider what possibilities might exist beyond that impasse.   Bonnitta and L...

In this Integral Stage reboot of Point/Counterpoint, Bonnitta Roy challenges Layman Pascal to debate the nature of nature.   When we say "human nature," do we mean something different from "nature," or not?  Is there a gap between "us" and everything else?   Welcome to Liminal Point/Counterpoint, the game show where Layman does his best to try to disagree with someone and the result...

Following their individual discussions, the Integral Ufology project convenes a group discussion with panelists Sean Esbjorn-Hargens, Stuart Davis, Chris Dierkes, Layman Pascal, & Bruce Alderman for a deeper dive into the topic.

For the first episode of our Sexuality Series, Layman Pascal talks with Paths of Transformation tantra teachers, Jon and Rose Skelton Pearson.  Together, they explore a wide range of topics, including the stages of sexuality, sex as practice and conscious play, the concept of masculine-feminine polarity, working with thresholds and subtle energy, preparatory steps for tantric practice and con...

For this special Integral Stage episode, Layman meets with process philosopher and theologian, Andrew Davis, to discuss the import and impact of Whitehead's thought on contemporary philosophy; his nondual (panentheistic) conception of the relationship of God and man; the priority of becoming over being; the ontological status of value; the nature of religion; the importance of contemplative practi...

For episode 22, Layman welcomes David Fuller, the founder of Rebel Wisdom, to the Integral Stage to discuss the troubling lack of high-level discussion and informed sensemaking around charged social or foreign policy issues, even in our purported "higher discourse" communities.  David leads with a rant on the contentious and often misinformed debates about Syria, and together they explore the...

In SWEDENBORG FOR A TIME BETWEEN WORLDS, Layman meets again with political advisor and pastor, Rich Tafel, this time to discuss Rich's deep personal and family connections to the Christian mystical visionary, Emanuel Swedenborg; the proto-integral nature of some of Swedenborg's teachings; the wedding of mysticism and social engagement, and the ways that Rich has tried to realize this in his own li...

In the third episode of our Integral Authors series, Layman Pascal talks with Theo Horesh about his new book, The Fascism This Time .  Theo reflects on the similarities of the rightwing populist movements sweeping the globe to earlier fascist uprisings, and explores together with Layman the integral ways we might understand their emergence and respond to the deep challenges to modern democrac...

You may have noticed that, as with "Integral" back in the day, the label " Metamodern ," is a bit of contested real estate. It appears to mean something pretty specific to the cultural metamodernists, Vermeulen and van den Akker, who first applied it back in 2010 to certain emergent post-postmodern sensibilities in art and media.  But does it mean the same thing to the Hanzi Freinachtian poli...

A WHEEL OF PERSPECTIVES Panel Discussion on the topic of evil and the shadow, with statements by Layman Pascal, Rev. Trevor Malkinson, Gaia Orion, Meister Wagoner von Porter (of the League of Rebel Eve), and Colin E Davis & Melissa Mari.   Cover Art:  B. Alderman, public domain image run through Prisma art filter Transitional Art Meditations:  Christopher Padgett Hunicutt and Th...

Although the Liminal Web community aspires towards rooted cosmopolitanism and worldcentric values, many of our social media conversations nevertheless tend to privilege or confine themselves to a limited set of cultural perspectives and geopolitical concerns.  In this new Integral Stage series, Global Voices, we would like to hear from members of our extended community who inhabit, or hail fr...

In this episode of New Education Systems, Layman sits down with Brad Kershner to talk about his extensive experience working for and managing alternative and progressive schools; the strengths and unique contributions of the Waldorf method; the challenges of education in a time of media saturation and rampant disinformation; the qualities of a good teacher and student; the need to get away from "t...

In THE ABS-TRACT (or, BRENT COOPER IS JESUS), Layman sits down with Brent to discuss his Abs-Tract project, the importance of critique, the alignments and tensions between Metamodernism and other adjacent communities, the "Fliminal Web," Metamodern politics and the problem with reactionaries, mindfulness and spiritual practice, and a number of Brent's recent writings.  At the end of the discu...

For episode 18, Layman is joined by bird-woman hybrid, Philosopher Queen and Dark Renaissancer, Raven Connolly, to talk about erotica; working with darker impulses and taboo; bravery to explore, push boundaries, and constructively embrace conflict; the archetype of the Fool; power literacy, and the social manipulation of desire; adult development, sexual maturity, and Raven's own journey towards t...

Gurdjieff's teachings have had a significant impact on Layman's thought, but they are often mentioned more obliquely than directly in his conversations.  Recently, however, several people approached Layman to talk about Gurdjieff's influence on their own work, so we recorded a few conversations, as well as conversations with a few guests on other important historical visionaries, and a mini-s...

For episode 2 of The Dreaming Arts, Layman Pascal meets with Bruce Alderman to talk about their early, formative dream experiences; the four most common approaches to working with dreams; the qualities of an integral approach to dreams; techniques for inducing lucidity in dreams; and the nature, scope, history, and practices of the Tibetan yogas of dream and sleep.   Beginning in the 1990s, B...

For episode 1 of The Dreaming Arts , Layman Pascal meets with teacher, dream guide, and co-author of Integral Dreaming, Daniel Deslauriers, to lay some of the groundwork for this new Integral Stage series.  Together they discuss Daniel's early formative experiences with dream work; his work on developing an integral approach to dreaming; dreaming as a relational practice; the cross-cultural h...

Bruce and Layman assemble with other Austin Emerge attendees to reflect on their experiences, learnings, appreciations & criticisms, and thoughts for moving forward.  Joining the discussion are Roger Walsh, Ph. D.; Ivo Mensch; Nomali Perera; and Ēlen Awalom.

In Re/thinking Religion, a new Integral Stage series, John Vervaeke joins Bruce Alderman and Layman Pascal to explore possible points of contact and confluence between their respective approaches to religion and spirituality.  For the fifth episode, they reflect on an ecological reading and extension of Nietzsche, the nature of virtue and the virtues needed for navigating the meta-crisis, and...

Jim Rutt joins Layman Pascal on The Integral Stage to talk about his recent essay, Musk and Moderation .   Does Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter represent a threat or opportunity for social media and the freedom of speech?  That isn't clear yet, but Jim Rutt has some advice for Musk, and he discusses it with Layman in a convivial, insult-filled exploration of the challenges of free speech...