21st Century Vitalism

How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis with Osprey Orielle Lake

Joining us on the show is the founder and executive director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network, Osprey Orielle Lake! In this conversation, we explore some of the themes of her recent book, ‘The Story Is In Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis’. Namely, we explore how some of the foundational worldviews of Western Culture have contributed to what researchers are calling the environmental polycrisis. We then talk about how we can realistically change these worldviews, the importance of taking a gendered perspective toward the climate crisis, and how connecting to our ancestors helps us connect more firmly with our sense of place.

SHOW TOPICS
- What is a Worldview and its Relationship to the Climate Crisis?
- How Can We Change Worldviews?
- Learning from Indigenous Worldviews
- Moving Away From Materialism and Into Reciprocity
- The Birth of Consumerism
- Consumerism as a Surrogate for Meaning Making
- The Need for us to be Present with Nature
- How to Form Relationship with Land
- Being Responsible Ancestors
- The Role of Stories in Discovering Who We Are
- The Politicization of Gender and the Patriarchy
- The Importance of Getting Political

Links

wecaninternational.org

'The Story Is In Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis’
https://a.co/d/31rm2HW

 

Freestyle Dance as Self Development with Nickel Yudat

Joining us for our 100th episode celebration is founder of the Beyond the Moves dance classes, Nickel Yudat. Nickel is a UK based freestyle hip hop dancer and teacher who imparts onto his students the importance of mindset in the practice of freestyle dancing. In this conversation, we explore Nickel’s story of how he found his way to dancing, and ultimately how he’s using it as a practice to deepen his connection to some inherent positive qualities that we all share. We also chat about how to find your creative voice, the importance of discipline, and battle culture.

If you want to stay up to date on Nickel’s journey, follow him over on Instagram or check out his website at beyondthemoves.com


Show Topics
- What is Freestyle Dance?
- Exploring ‘Battle’ Culture
- Navigating Failure
- Self Image and Dance
- Importance of Mindset in Dance
- Cultivating Positive Qualities Through Dance
- Resiliency, Empathy, and Adaptability
- Maintaining Consistent Discipline
- How to Keep Practice from Growing Stale
- Seeing the Fundamentals as Advanced
- How to Find Our Creative Voice
- Self Compassion and Navigating Inner Judgement

The Beginner's Guide to Karma with Mordy Levine

Joining us on the show this week is entrepreneur, meditation teacher, and president of the Jigme Lingpa Center, Mordy Levine. In this conversation we explore the teachings of Karma from the Buddhist tradition. Namely what it is and isn’t, how we can work with it to create more joy in our lives, and its role in the journey of awakening.

This episode is connected to the release of Mordy’s new book release that he co-authored with his teacher, Lama Lhanang Rinpoche called ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Karma’ which is now available for purchase wherever you get your books. If you want to study with Mordy and Lama Lhanang Rinpoche further, you can head over to buddhistsandiego.com to connect with their online classes.

Show Topics
- What is Karma?
- Karma and Intentions
- Levels of Karma
- Is There Good or Bad Karma?
- Selflessness and Joy
- How Do We Work with Karma?
- Creating Better Intentions
- The Wheel of Life
- Is There Collective Karma?
- Creating Wholesome Karma in Unwholesome Situations
- Mastery of Mind and Spontaneous Service

Political Engagement as Spiritual Practice with Reggie Hubbard

This week's episode of 21st Century Vitalism is now live! Joining us on the show is the 500 hr certified yoga teacher and founder of Active Peace Yoga, Reggie Hubbard. One part teacher, one part activist, Reggie has established himself as a guiding voice in the art of combining spiritual practice with political engagement. Having over twenty years of service in this domain, Reggie’s resume includes but isn’t limited to working with the Obama administration, campaigning on behalf of Bernie Sanders, and managing MoveOn. He’s also gone on to teach meditation to Members of Congress, Congressional Staff, and other leading progressive organizations.

In this conversation we explore the intersection of spiritual practice and political engagement. Most importantly how our practice should inevitably lead to more awareness of the entrenched systems which allow and perpetuate harm in our society. We also shine light on the spiritual aspects of living in a democracy and the immense power that comes with having the ability to vote. Ultimately this culminates in a collaboration on how we can best maintain a political awareness while simultaneously staying resourced within ourselves to prevent overwhelm.

If you want to stay in touch with Reggie, consider heading on over to activepeaceyoga.com or following him on Instagram @oreggieglobal.

Show Topics
- Practicing Spirituality for Challenging Times
- Spirituality as a Preventative for Burnout
- Waging Peace
- Collective Liberation is the Only Liberation
- Spiritual Practice Isn’t About Isolation
- The Spiritual Responsibility of Living in a Democracy
- The Power of Your Vote
- Allowing Diversity of Thought While Mitigating Harm
- Lessons Learned from Racism
- How We Care For Ourselves Enables Our Care for the World
- Finding Time for Political Awareness as a Low Income Earner
- Resourcing Ourselves in Times of Political Stress
- What Do We Do if Donald Trump Wins?

The Everyday Magic of Feng Shui with Anjie Cho

Joining us on the show today is architect, feng shui practitioner, author, and dharma arts teacher, Anjie Cho. In this conversation we’re laying the foundation for how to begin your own exploration into the world of Feng Shui. We do this by covering the essential topics and themes that you’ll need to start adding more intention and awareness to your spaces. This is a great conversation for both beginners and advanced practitioners alike!

For those who want to study with Anjie further, consider checking out her newest book, ‘Mindful Living: A Guide to the Everyday Magic of Feng Shui’ which she co-authored with Laura Morris. In it, you’ll find more detailed descriptions of the themes that we cover in this conversation. Beyond that, you can tune into Anjie’s podcast, ‘Holistic Spaces’ or sign up for her Mindful Design Feng Shui school!

Show Topics
- What is Feng Shui?
- Everyday Magic
- Qi and Increasing Our Sensitivity
- How Qi Moves Through a Space
- Stagnant Qi and “Bad Feng Shui”
- Qi and Attention
- The Five Elements
- Utilizing the Elements in our Spaces
- Plants in Feng Shui
- Reading and working with the Bagua
- Creating a Meditative Space

LINKS
https://www.anjiecho.com
https://www.holisticspaces.com/podcast
Mindful Living: A guide to the everyday magic of feng shui

Taking Refuge in the Earth with Cynthia Jurs

Joining us on the show this week is dharma teacher, author, and environmental activist, Cynthia Jurs. Cynthia is a teacher in Thich Naht Hanh’s Order of Interbeing as well as an honorary lama in the Vajrayana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. She is largely recognized for her work with the Earth Treasure Vase practice which has brought her all around the world to a diverse array of cultures and ecosystems. She released her first book, ‘Summoned by the Earth: Becoming a Holy Vessel’ earlier this year which is now available wherever you order your books.

In this conversation, we explore the treasure vase practice as well as the reclamation of the feminine, householder practice, and collective awakening. 

gaiamandala.net

Show Topics
- What are the Earth Treasure Vases?
- The World as Spiritual Teacher
- Traveling to the World’s most Dangerous Places
- Why are we so Busy Minded?
- Reclaiming the Feminine
- Feeling Our Vulnerability
- Pilgrimage and Ceremony
- Intention Setting
- How To Practice in a Busy Life
- Householder Practice
- Needing to Awaken as a Community

The Discovery That There Is No Problem with Bruce Tift

Joining us on the show this week is author, LMFT, and professor from Naropa University, Bruce Tift! Having been in private practice since 1979, Bruce has served thousands of clients on the path toward becoming more in touch with their immediate experience in an effort to have better relationships to themselves and others. As a practitioner of Vajrayana Buddhism for over 40 years, Bruce brings a unique perspective that combines Buddhist wisdom and the best that the Western Psychotherapeutic model has to offer. He’s given presentations all around the world on this material and has released a book called ‘Already Free” Buddhism Meets Psychotherapy on the Path to Liberation’.

In this conversation we talk about the merger of these two distinct and oftentimes contradictory paths of working with ourselves. Through that lens, we ask the question, what are our neuroses and is there really a problem with who I am today?

Show Topics
- Contrasting Religion and Spiritual Path
- How Can Western Therapy be More Effective?
- Non-Self and Therapy
- Embodied Emotional Vulnerability
- Is There Really a Problem with Us?
- Anxiety As a Method to Take Care of Ourselves
- The Various Styles of Therapeutic Change
- Self Aggression 
- Holding Acceptance and The Desire to Improve Simultaneously
- Confronting Neurosis
- Meditation and Staying Open

Links
https://www.amazon.com/Already-Free-Buddhism-Psychotherapy-Liberation/dp/1622034112

Embodied Nondual Spiritual Awakening with Judith Blackstone, PhD.

On this week's episode, I was fortunate enough to sit down with the founder of the Realization Process, Judith Blackstone, PhD. Combining her 35 years of private practice as a psychotherapist and deep spiritual investigations as a meditator and dancer, Judith has refined an incredible process of nondual spiritual awakening which she now shares with other practitioners.

She is also an author of several books including ‘Trauma and the Unbound Body: the Healing Power of Fundamental Consciousness’, ‘The Intimate Life’, and ‘The ‘Enlightenment Process’. Her most recent book, ‘The Fullness of the Ground: A Guide to Embodied Spiritual Awakening’ released in the fall of 2023 and is available wherever you get your books.

In this conversation, we explore the outline of how the Realization Process works. Namely what Nondual Spiritual Awakening is and how we can incorporate it into a therapeutic model. It’s a conversation that focuses heavily on the theme of embodiment and the nature of constriction with an introduction to the method of releasing those constrictions so we can be more expansive.

If you want to check out Judith’s work, head on over to RealizationProcess.org or pick up some of her books from your online retailer of choice!

Show Topics
- What is Nonduality?
- Is Nonduality Inherent or Cultivated?
- The Obscurations of Nonduality
- How do we Embody Nonduality?
- Making Contact with Ourselves
- Relating to Challenging Situations
- Top Down vs Bottom Up Psychological Approaches
- Does Nonduality Mean “I” Disappear?
- Nonduality in a Therapeutic Context
- Fundamental Consciousness and Core Breath
- The Nature of Constrictions
- The Experience of Fundamental Consciousness

Confidence and the Eight Worldly Winds with Ethan Nichtern

Joining us on the show today is Buddhist teacher, author, and podcast host, Ethan Nichtern! In this episode we explore some of the topics of his newly released book, 'Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life's Eight Worldly Winds'. This is a timely book which aims to help us contact a place within us which allows us to navigate the often tumultuous waves of life with a sense of curiosity, buoyancy, and most importantly, kindness. 

Outside of the world of writing, Ethan is also the founder of the Interdependence Project, which is a nonprofit organization for secular Buddhist study as it applies to activism, arts and media projects, and Western psychology. He also offers numerous opportunities to help students deepen their understanding of the Buddha dharma - including the Year Long Buddhist Studies through the Dharma Moon platform. On top of this he is the host of the podcast, 'The Road Home' which is available wherever you tune into your podcasts. 

Show Topics
- What Is Confidence? 
- The Double Sided Coin of Hope and Fear
- How Hope Can Take Us From the Present Moment
- Confidence as a Response to Hope and Fear
- Mindfulness and Familiarity 
- The 8 Worldly Winds
- Relating to Pleasure and Pain
- Mindfulness and Boredom
- Confidence as a Practice
- The Tibetan Practice of Raising Windhorse

LINKS
ethannichtern.com
'Confidence' Amazon Link

Tending to Grief While Living in a Chaotic Climate with LaUra Schmidt

Joining us on the 21st Century Vitalism podcast this week is cofounder of the Good Grief Network, LaUra Schmidt. In this episode we discuss their work in creating the '10 Steps to Resilience and Empowerment in a Chaotic Climate' program. Acknowledging the dire circumstances of our increasingly dangerous predicament, we explore some somatic practices that we can use to nurture our grief while making the necessary changes to show up for ourselves and others. 

LaUra's newest book, 'How to Live In a Chaotic Climate' is out now wherever you order your books. The preferred retailer is in the links section down below! 


Show Topics
- What is the Good Grief Network?
- Alienation of those Grieving the Planet
- Learning how to Face our Grief
- Why and How we Disconnect
- What is a Healthy Container for Healing?
- The Ten Step Program for Resiliency in a Chaotic Climate
- Reaction vs. Responding
- Learning how to Pause and the Frenetic Nature of our Culture
- Importance of Acknowledging the Severity of the Situation
- The Value of Grief
- Addressing The Mortality of All Things
- Hero Figures and Appreciating Ordinariness
- The Importance of Community

LINKS
How To Live In a Chaotic Climate Book
goodgriefnetwork.org