Unraveling Religion

In this episode recorded for Alchemical Dialogues, Henry Cretella inteviews Joel about the arts, and how they are instrumental in creating change within ourselves and in the world. The relationship of inner and outer reflects a unity in the mystical experience. Henry and Joel talk about a particular immersion in poetry, and for Joel, this art form is an expression of humanity’s mystical longing. J...

In the second half of this two part conversation recorded, the panelist delve deeper into spirituality and practices with anticdotes, lessons, tips, and stories. Topics covered and included are Materialism and science and spirituality, relationships and consumerism, how does 'Service' relate to spirituality, healing and trusted loving relationships as spirituality, wonder and rest as spiritual pra...

In this dynamic and unique discussion, Unraveling Religion brings together five former guests of the show: Chris, Henry, Rich, Sara and Bettie. Together with Joel, the panel explores the fundamentals of spirituality including what it is, what means, its potentials, and practices. Lively, invigorating, and warm ​ -​ ​ our discussion centered around exploring definitions, meaning and difference, per...

In this talk, Bill and Joel cover the terrain of poetry, storytelling, and questions: 'What does silence teach?' 'What is the ego, what is Self?' 'What of service in our world?' Bill and Joel reference Before Your Quiet Eyes the local Rochester Bookstore for many local literary events, and where Joel and Bill met. In this engaging and dynamic conversation, poetry is shared and discussed and Bill r...

In this walk and spontanous talk through a local neighborhood and nearby meadow in Rochester, NY, Henry and Joel discuss Henry's path and development in spirituality, syncretism, Indiginous teachings, studying shamanism, forces in Nature, Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism, and what called him to his path. While walking, rustling leaves, Henry and Joel explore synchronicities, his guides and teachers, lesso...

In this fascinating episode with Sara Hughes and Joel, the conversation examines the activism surrounding ‘relationship’ in our human experience within the Web of Life. Sara's work has focused on transforming relationships with young people, and ways of doing so including Eco-farms, intentional communities, 'unlearning' habits of cultural norms, to create a safe world for all. The terrain dialogue...

In this episode Bettie Scullin joins Joel to discuss the Akashic Record. The Akashic Records is a non-physical compendium of all universal events, thoughts, words, emotions and intent ever to have occurred in the past, present, or future in terms of all entities and life. Bettie has spent decades cultivating a sensitivity to accessing these records for the benefit of people. Bettie and Joel discus...

In this dialogue, Rich and Joel seek to understand awakening, awareness, and enlightenment in relation to identity. Rich and Joel discuss congruence and authencity in relation to our human experience, and the distractions from living a genuine life. Krishnamurti and Tolstoy, Ghandi and Confucius, Rumi and Rilke are called on to aid us in examining these questions. "Is there spiritual redemption" -...

Sister Grace says 'we all have a story to tell,' in this conversation Joel and Sister Grace explore the mystical application to homelessness, hope, faith, and belief in one another. Regarding Sister Grace, whether at war protests, in advocacy for the homeless, or through initiatives to ensure proper burials for the poor, Sister Miller brought her advocacy work to Rochester a little more than three...

In this brief talk, Joel describes the origins and purpose of  Unraveling Religion , reviewing some of the guests and giving an overall flavor of what Unraveling Religion examines through its conversations. 

Vicki and Joel discuss her evolution in spirituality and as an activist, including the struggles of many different people and populations, the power of indiginous life-ways and the importance of connection to Nature and humility, the prison system and war and restricting pipeline access by Water Protectors. In Vicki's path as an activist, her upbringing and family influences were explored, Martin...

Henry Cretella, M.D, host of the humanistic and spiritual podcast  Alchemical Dialogues , talks with Joel Lesses, host of  Unraveling Religion  in a far-reaching and engrossing conversation about spirituality and poetry. Listen to Henry and Joel discuss the meaning of identity and paradigm, mysticism, and ‘who am I’ as a resolution to the existential question of life. With an emphasis on the sacre...

In 2015, in the wide expanse of spiritual and emotional terrain, before his passing in 2018, Maj Ragain, northeast Ohio's poetic fixture and teacher sits with Joel to talk of spirituality and mentorship, sharing poems, talking of tenderness and eroticism and the flux of life, 'all rivers run to the sea.'  Maj Ragain was born into a small, southeastern Illinois farm town. Home-tutored and raised on...

In this talk from 2017, Wadud and Joel explore what is beyond psychology from a religious, mystical, and spiritual perspective in dreams; also, the relation of Freud, Jung, and Sufism and what dreams teach, symbols, where does meaning stop, archetypes, the unconscious, "accidents," "symptoms/neurosis" and the balance of our actions as tipping scales to what is good. About Henry Cretella, M.D: he h...

During 2015 Joel spent two months in Nepal and spoke with the NGO Tevel B'Tzedek's Founder Micha Odenheimer about Judaism, globalization, poverty, and the Prophets of the Bible. Tevel's mission is to form education and bonds in rural communities of developing nations, to enrich communities through sharing and knowlege education and resources. This talk centers on Judaism's rich tradition of suppor...

'Crazy…or wise? The traditional wisdom of indigenous cultures often contradicts modern views about a mental health crisis. Is it a ‘calling’ to grow or just a ‘broken brain’? The documentary Crazywise explores what can be learned from people around the world who have turned their psychological crisis into a positive transformative experience.' Exploring alternatives to psychosis, from 2014 as Craz...

Two friends find meaning in discussing life and reveal kindness as the lasting binding element; is it Plato or Aristotle? It is only how we define love that matters, because only love endures forever. Richard Wicka shares Sartre's "The Wall" Joel Lesses shares a Chasidic Tale "The Rabbi's Gift" each finds newness in understanding because this evening we were not alone, we shared an evening walk.  ...

In this final segment, more hilarity as the conversation loosens up. The poetry continues, talk of Bardos (spiritual realms), what does it mean when we first meet someone and time slows or stops, spiritual signs are discussed. The special evening ends with a favorite Rumi poem.  

In this continuation of the three part show, Joel and Lisa talk more about identity and examine it through the psychological lens, relationship as a model of teaching, repressed memories; poetry begins to emerge in this second segment, existential psychology and mental health distress are examined. What do we attach or connect to in the world. Is the world physical spiritual or both? What does it...

Lifted from the archives, this from July 2013, into the deep of night, armed with Mike's Hard Lemonaid, American Spirits, Pringles, Eckhart Tolle and Rumi, in Lisa's 2001 Black Hundai Elantra in the parking lot of Allentown Trading Company Gas station, at the corner of Buffalo's Allen Streen and Delaware Avenue, Lisa Carley Hotaling and Joel Lesses explore the nature of the existential condition a...

In this special episode of Unraveling Religion, Joel travels to Toronto to meet Dr. Abuelaish and together engage in a Sacred conversation regarding life, understanding, and reaching beyond tolerance into respect and love for our human differences found in countries, religions, cultures, and people. As a medical doctor and healer, Dr. Abuelaish's life is a tireless effort to broaden our human unde...

In this deep and sacred connection, Reverend Mary Masters and Joel Lesses discuss the moderate, practical and mystical aspects of Unity's message. As fellow students together, shared wisdom insight and questions for one another are explored, deepening understanding of our humanness and humanity. Joel seeks to understand forgiveness and to resolve to do "non-harm." How do we embody: "Forgiveness?"...

In this older talk from 2017, dusted off, Richard Wicka (I Thou Video Series) and Joel discuss in deep kinship: our planet and how decisions of our President affect our world, identity and ego of human beings including Trump, problems and solutions on a large scale, and delve also into memory, poetry, writings, and life. Spiritual versus biological lenses are used to explore these and many other t...