Wanter Dynamics & The Love We Are

What happens when the things we thought would bring fulfillment begin to lose their grip—and we're left wondering what the point of any of it is? In this episode, Mitch shares a profound exploration with a longtime spiritual practitioner who found himself facing what he called "existential acceptance"—the realization that achievement, acquisition, and accomplishment cannot deliver the lasting cont...

What happens when stillness is so complete that even the sense of being a separate self begins to dissolve? In this episode, Mitch shares a profound experience from his years at the ashram—an unexpected invitation from his teacher that revealed a deeper truth about awakening, spiritual practice, and the nature of reality itself. Called from deep meditation to rise and walk, Mitch discovered firsth...

What happens when we stop protecting ourselves and become completely vulnerable? In this episode, Mitch shares a powerful story from his early years at the ashram and an experience that transformed his understanding of spirituality, worthiness, and Divine connection. Inspired by the ancient teaching that "there's great power in the invitation," he devoted himself to practices designed to invite Gr...

What happens when a wave returns to the ocean? In this deeply moving episode, Mitch shares a profound story about life, death, love, and the mystery of what remains when a human life comes to completion. Drawing from a simple observation of ocean waves rising and falling upon the shore, he explores a timeless question: Are we merely the wave, or are we also the ocean? The episode weaves together r...

For this episode, Mitch shares a profound story of despair, surrender, Grace, and the surprising way love can arrive when we need it most. After experiencing several days of living in what felt like pure Oneness—an all-pervasive state of love, compassion, and connection—the experience suddenly vanished. What followed was a painful descent into longing, hopelessness, and what Mitch calls "Ick World...

For this episode, Mitch shares one of the most vulnerable and transformative stories of his spiritual journey—a story about fear, failure, perfectionism, and the surprising freedom that can be found when we stop running. When a beloved teacher invites him to lead chanting at a week-long retreat, Mitch says yes before fully realizing what he has agreed to. What follows is a cascade of anxiety, self...

What if our relationship to pain is not quite what we think it is? In this episode, Mitch shares an extraordinary experience that began with an ordinary breakfast and a cracked tooth. What followed was more than twenty-four hours of intense physical sensation, no immediate relief, and an unexpected invitation into one of the deepest explorations of consciousness he had ever encountered. Unable to...

What if there is no such thing as ordinary work? In this episode, Mitch shares one of the most transformative lessons from his years at the ashram through the ancient practice of seva —selfless service. What begins as a sincere desire to serve in the beautiful temple quickly turns into something he never expected: years of cleaning toilets, scrubbing bird droppings, and confronting every part of h...

Can we experience our emotions without becoming trapped inside them? In this episode, Mitch shares a memorable morning from his years at the ashram, when an unexpected entrance by a beloved Swami became a profound teaching on the nature of human emotion. Arriving late, disheveled, and full of energy, she burst into the classroom with an announcement that no one expected: "Grumpy Shiva is here toda...

What are we waiting for? In this episode, Mitch shares a memorable encounter with a young Eckhart Tolle shortly after the release of The Power of Now . A small group gathers in Boulder, expecting a spiritual talk from a teacher whose work was beginning to quietly spread around the world. But something unexpected happens. Minutes pass. Then more minutes. The room sits together in complete silence....

What if home isn't a place we find, but something we've never actually left? In this episode, Mitch shares a quiet moment from a walk through the forest that became a profound exploration of presence, pace, and belonging. What begins as an ordinary walk gradually slows into something deeper as the forest seems to invite a different rhythm—one guided by breath, stillness, and attention. Along the w...

What happens when we stop creating for approval and start creating from authenticity? In this episode, Mitch shares a memorable story from his very first college art class and a lesson that would shape his understanding of creativity for years to come. After spending a week carefully crafting a drawing of a Royal Gala apple, he proudly brought it to class—only to hear two words from his professor...

What if most of our suffering begins long before we realize we're suffering? In this episode, Mitch shares a humorous story from an evening walk at Cherry Creek Reservoir, where a disappearing sunset, a cooling breeze, and an approaching thunderstorm led to an unexpected realization: he had just yelled at a cloud. What begins as a simple moment of frustration becomes a powerful exploration of what...

What if the path is much simpler than the mind believes? In this episode, Mitch shares a memorable encounter from a road trip through the wide-open landscapes of northern New Mexico. A young traveler, armed with a thick stack of highlighted directions and notes, stops at a remote gas station searching for the way to Alamosa, Colorado. The answer turns out to be surprisingly simple. Yet sometimes t...

What if some of the things we call mistakes are actually openings? In this episode, Mitch shares a remarkable experience from his years leading Wisdom Chanting gatherings, where music, silence, and collective presence often gave rise to profound moments of insight. During one particularly powerful evening, something unexpected happened: in the middle of a chant, the music seemed to take over. The...

What if life isn't happening to us—but is inviting us to ride it? In this episode, Mitch shares a conversation with a big-wave surfer from the North Shore of Oahu who offered a profound insight into the nature of human experience. While exploring family challenges and feelings of being caught in a "poor me" perspective, an unexpected metaphor emerged from the world of surfing. The surfer describes...

What if the part of you that worries, reacts, and becomes upset is actually trying to protect you? In this episode, Mitch explores a playful and compassionate way of understanding one of the most challenging aspects of the human experience: what he calls the barking Wanter. Inspired by a simple interaction between a woman and her dog, this conversation examines what happens when the Problem Solver...

What if separation is not the deepest truth of reality? In this episode, Mitch shares a contemplative insight that emerged while sitting beside the ocean. Watching the waves rise and fall, each appearing unique and separate, a simple yet profound realization arises: every wave is still the ocean. From this perspective, the ocean becomes a metaphor for Consciousness itself—one vast, living wholenes...

What if non-attachment has nothing to do with withdrawing from life? In this episode, Mitch shares a deeply personal story from his years at the ashram, when a teaching on non-attachment left him confused and searching for clarity. Unable to reconcile the idea that peace could come through detachment, he asks for direct guidance—and receives an unexpected answer beside a quiet lake. What unfolds i...

What if every thought, action, and act of kindness creates a ripple that affects us all? In this episode, Mitch explores the ancient concept of karma through a powerful vision received during a teaching at the ashram. Standing together in a shared body of water, all beings are connected within a single living field. Every action creates ripples. Some disturb the water. Others help restore it to ca...

How do we love others without losing ourselves? In this episode, Mitch shares a memorable and humorous metaphor from the Earth Zoo—a place filled with all kinds of beautiful creatures, including Bengal tigers. Through this playful story, we explore the difference between unconditional love and unwise expectations. When a Bengal tiger behaves like a Bengal tiger, it isn't being wrong. It's simply e...

What if no one is behind—and no one is ahead? In this episode, Mitch shares a simple yet profound metaphor: a flower garden. When we plant seeds, some sprout sooner than others. Some become buds while others are already flowering. Yet we would never criticize a bud for not being a flower. We understand that every plant unfolds according to its own timing. Through this beautiful reflection, Mitch i...

What if the freedom we've been seeking is available right here, in the middle of ordinary life? In this episode, Mitch shares a timeless Zen-inspired story about a devoted seeker who travels to a temple in search of enlightenment, only to be given a surprising assignment: chop wood and carry water. Certain that a mistake has been made, the student spends months resisting the life they have been gi...

Why do the deepest transformations often take longer than we expect? In this episode, Mitch explores an ancient teaching about jivanmukti —liberation while living. Drawing from his years in the ashram and the wisdom of the ancient lineages, he shares a simple yet powerful metaphor: a fruit tree grown from a seed. When a seed is first planted, nothing appears to be happening. Day after day, we wate...

Can we be deeply spiritual and fully human at the same time? In this episode, Mitch explores an ancient teaching shared by his teacher at the ashram: the metaphor of a bird with two wings. One wing represents the practical realities of life—our work, relationships, responsibilities, finances, and physical existence. The other represents the subtle realm of spirit—Grace, wonder, creativity, mystery...