Episodes

  • Embodying Philosophy with Jacob Kyle

    Embodying Philosophy with Jacob Kyle
    Aug 18 2025
    Jacob Kyle is a scholar, educator, yoga teacher, meditation teacher, and writer. He holds a master of philosophy degree in classical Indian religions from Oxford University, an MA in philosophy from the New School for Social Research, an MS in political theory from the London School of Economics (2007), and is currently earning a doctorate at Oxford, researching a philosophy of creativity rooted in Kashmir Shaivism. A passionate advocate and practitioner of Kashmir Shaivism, he is the founding director of Embodied Philosophy, an online learning platform with an extraordinary collection of courses, lectures, and workshops, which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary. He also hosts the podcast “Chitheads” (chit means consciousness in Sanskrit). His guiding mission, he says, is “to re-imagine the modern function of the yoga teacher so as to be in greater alignment with the teachings, texts, and traditions of yoga's rich and profound history.” We spoke about the challenges of doing that, the origin and purpose of Embodied Philosophy, and more. Jacob's website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Conscious Living, Conscious Dying With Ramdev Dale Borglum

    Conscious Living, Conscious Dying With Ramdev Dale Borglum
    Aug 4 2025
    Ramdev Dale Borglum has been a pioneering figure in the conscious dying movement for decades, beginning when he founded and directed the Hanuman Foundation Dying Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in collaboration with Ram Dass, Philip Levine, Elizabeth Kubler Ross, and others. Since 1986, he’s served as Executive Director of the Living/Dying Project, which is now based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The program guides individuals through the sacred journey of death, combining Eastern spirituality and Western psychology. He is also a meditation teacher, a workshop leader, the host of the podcast Healing at the Edge. He is the co-author of Journey of Awakening: A Meditator’s Guidebook, and his forthcoming book, How to Live So You Can Die Without Fear, will be released in 2026. He also offers one-on-one support to select individuals. This conversation focuses mainly on what he's learned in his decades of work with the dying, and also his fascinating spiritual journey, which brought him into the company of extraordinary individuals such as Ram Dass, Ananda Mayi Ma, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and his guru, Neem Karoli Baba. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Karmic Relief With Philip Goldberg

    Karmic Relief With Philip Goldberg
    Jul 21 2025
    A special episode of Spirit Matters. Regular host Philip Goldberg moves to the other side of the table, turning over hosting duties to Rabbi Rami Shapiro for a conversation about Phil's forthcoming book, Karmic Relief: Harnessing the Laws of Cause and Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life. It's an in-depth discussion of the concept of karma, which is at once simple and complex. The term, which is used more and more frequently in ordinary conversation, is often misconstrued. The conversation delves into common misunderstandings of karma and teases out a lot of its nuances and its relevance to everyday life. Karmic Relief will be released in October; click here to pre-order it on Amazon (authors are grateful for pre-orders as they upgrade the book's position on Amazon). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • The Spirituality of Literature and Aging With Kamla Kapur

    The Spirituality of Literature and Aging With Kamla Kapur
    Jul 7 2025
    Kamla K. Kapur was born and raised in India and studied in the United States. Her writing has included plays, novels, poetry, essays and re-imaged Indian and Mid-eastern spiritual writings. She is the author of 8 books, including: The Singing Guru, which is a novel about Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh tradition; Ganesha Goes to Lunch: Classics From Mystic India; Rumi’s Tales From the Silk Road; and her latest, The Privilege of Aging: Savoring the Fullness of Life. She is based in the seaside town of Del Mar, which is just north of San Diego, where she taught literature, creative writing, mythology, and Shakespeare at Grossmont College for 15 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Reimagining Christianity With Robert K.C. Forman

    Reimagining Christianity With Robert K.C. Forman
    Jun 23 2025
    Dr. Robert K.C. Forman had a distinguished, twenty-year career as a professor of comparative religion at the City University of New York, during which time he had a major influence on the study of mysticism and authored several books and more than forty academic articles. A writer, popular public speaker, and spiritual counselor, he has shared his insights in Sweden, Iran, Finland, Israel, England, and across the U.S. After retiring from academia, he founded and ran the Forge Institute for Spirituality and Social Change (full disclosure: I was on the board), and also served as a board-certified hospital chaplain, an ordained interfaith minister, and a certified meditation teacher. His academic books include The Problem of Pure Consciousness and his books for the general reader include Enlightenment Ain’t What It’s Cracked Up to Be, and his latest work, which we’ll be discussing here, Christianity Reimagined: A Mystical Approach for Doubters and the Dubious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Come Home to Yourself With Sadhvi Bhagavati Saraswati

    Come Home to Yourself With Sadhvi Bhagavati Saraswati
    Jun 9 2025
    Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is an American woman who was raised in Hollywood and educated at Stanford before her life was unexpectedly transformed by a journey to India. For the last 30 years, she has lived at Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh, the famously sacred city in the Himalayan foothills. At the direction of her guru, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, she serves as Parmarth’s international director and gives daily spiritual teachings to ashram residents and guests. A popular public speaker, she has addressed various worldwide forums, including the United Nations, on issues ranging from sustainable development to gender equality. She also serves as the Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith Wash Alliance, the world’s first interfaith initiative for water, sanitation, and hygiene, and as President of the Divine Shakti Foundation, which is dedicated to uplifting women and children. Her work earned her a presidential lifetime achievement award for service from President Joe Biden. She’s also the author of the memoir Hollywood to the Himalayas and her new book, Come Home to Yourself. We spoke about the substance of that book, about Sadhvi's unique and fascinating path, and about today's spiritual challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Embodied Spirituality With John Prendergast

    Embodied Spirituality With John Prendergast
    May 26 2025
    John Prendergast Ph.D. is a nondual spiritual teacher who is now retired from psychotherapy practice and his role as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, where he taught masters level counseling students for twenty-three years. Among his major spiritual influences are Jean Klein and Adyashanti. John offers residential retreats with his wife, Christiane, at leading venues in the U.S. and Europe as well as online. He’s also an author. His books include Listening From the Heart of Silence; The Sacred Mirror; In Touch; The Deep Heart; and his latest, Your Deepest Ground: A Guide to Embodied Spirituality. We spoke mainly about the content of that last book and the importance of remaining deeply grounded as we evolve on the spiritual path. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Living Grace With Miranda Macpherson

    Living Grace With Miranda Macpherson
    May 12 2025
    Miranda Macpherson is a widely respected contemporary spiritual teacher who has been guiding others into the direct experience of the sacred for more than 30 years. Born and raised in Australia, she founded the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation in London, where she trained and ordained more than 600 ministers and spiritual counselors over the course of ten years. Now based in the San Francisco Bay area, she leads the Living Grace Global Sangha and offers retreats internationally and online. Among her spiritual influences are Sri Ramana Maharshi, A Course in Miracles, and The Diamond Approach, in addition to her extensive study of the world’s wisdom traditions. Her books include The Way of Grace: The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation; Boundless Love; and Meditations on Boundless Love. She is also a kirtan musician whose albums of mantra chanting include Streams of Grace and The Heart of Being. We spoke about her remarkable spiritual history (from which there is much to learn), how to recognize and abide in Grace; turning suffering into transformation; the proper understanding of nonduality; and appropriate spiritual responses to challenging world conditions. The episode ends with Miranda leading us in a guided meditation. Click here to learn more about Miranda and her work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins