Lifting the Iceberg

On this episode, I talk with Dr. Jordana Jacobs, a clinical psychologist in private practice in New York City. Her approach is integrative, combining psychodynamic and existential therapy into her treatment of patients. Dr. Jacobs’ training at Memorial Sloan Kettering working with terminally ill cancer patients, her studies in Northern India, and her Vipassana meditation practice inspired her research on the complex relationship between death awareness and love. Her dissertation, entitled “Till Death do us Part: The Effect of Mortality Salience on Satisfaction in Long-term Romantic Relationships” specifically explored the ways in which priming for death has the potential to increase intimacy in partnerships. In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Jacobs now speaks and leads retreats aimed towards helping people accept inevitable mortality so that they are able to live and love more fully. 

On this episode, I talk with Dr. Susan Burger about Neuro-Emotional Technique, or N.E.T, a radically innovative mind-body healing technique, in which Dr. Burger is an expert. Oh yah, she's also my mom.

On this episode, I talk to Donnalynn Civello. Donnalynn  a life coach, numerologist, and intuitive healer. A few months ago, I attended one of Donnalynn's numerology circles, and was incredibly surprised by how much I gained from the experience. In this episode, I talk to Donnalynn about my original skepticism around numerology, as well as how we can understand the numbers that present themselves to us in order to overcome obstacles, break negative patterns and to live a better life.

Daniel maintains full-time private practice as Co-director at The Center for Integrative Hypnosis in New York City. With offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn, he offers hypnotherapy, regression therapy, mindfulness, and meditation to individuals, groups, and businesses.

On this episode, I talk with Swedish visionary artist Alex Hedstrom about why he creates art, what psychedelic visions can tell us about the existence of a collective unconscious, and how his relationship with death has informed his art.

On this episode, I sit down with reproductive-health consultant Katie Smith to explore one of the subject that I know least about; female menstruation, fertility and pregnancy.

On this episode, Alexa Spaddy and I sit down with Alex Grey and Allyson Grey to talk about our recent trip to Burning Man.

On this episode, Alexa Spaddy and I talk about our collaboration with Lifting the Iceberg, and I ask her about her work as a graphic designer and social media manager.

On this episode, I interview Dr. Susan Burger, who is a chiropractor, public speaker, and my mother. One of the common themes I explore in this podcast is the "perennial philosophy"; the wisdom that threads itself through all religions and spiritual traditions. This is a curiosity of mine that I owe my mother for. We look back at her experiences with religion and spirituality, and what motivated her to raise my brother and I with and interfaith perspective.

Media theorist Raphael Zaki comes by the podcast to think out loud about the themes and ideas that he is condensing into his first book, “On Money, Mankind and the Cosmos”. We talk about the biases intrinsic in currency, how our definitions of value color the way we find meaning in our lives, and how we can program new games to play to spend our short time in this universe.

On this episode, I talk to filmmaker and self-proclaimed “bad animator” Danny Casale, aka "coolman coffeedan". Two years ago, Danny created a short animation titled “snakes have legs” which went on to go viral, getting hundreds of millions of views from people all over the world. We talk about how memes spread in this way, the relationship between art and the collective unconscious, and how dreams have played a role in Danny’s inspiration and creative process. You can stay up to date on any new podcasts by following Lifting the iceberg on Instagram and Facebook, or by going to liftingtheiceberg.com. This podcast is available for download on the website, as well as on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Play.

On this episode, I talk with Peruvian visionary artist Caro Arevalo about one of her more recent paintings, "The Evolution of Plants", where she maps the evolutionary journey of the plant kingdom on to a mandala structure. We talk about what inspired her to create this piece, and we geek out on plant consciousness, Jungian psychology, psychedelics, and the mysteries that the plant kingdom forces us to revel in. Be sure to check out Caro's work by following her on Instagram @cafeinacoli, or by checking out her Youtube channel. To stay up to date on any new podcasts, be sure to follow Lifting the Iceberg on Facebook and Instagram, or by going to liftingtheiceberg.com. Thank you to Alexa Spaddy for designing the graphics for this podcast. You can find out more about Alexa at alexaspaddy.com. Thank you to Kerusu for the soundtrack "Stay with Me". You can find Kerusu on Spotify, Youtube and Soundcloud.

On this episode, I talk with Brianna Spadafora. Brianna is an elementary and middle-school teacher who has explored innovative approaches to teaching, as well as having first-hand experience with the flaws of conventional public school education. We explore how teachers and institutions can help serve children in the unfolding of their true potential and their innate curiosities, rather than forcing upon them an institutional ideal.

On this episode, I talk to Amy Mastrine from MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies. Amy is a brilliant artist who has tremendous insight into the intersection between psychedelics and creativity. We talk about how psychedelics can be used to enhance creativity, but we also talk about some really important points on this subject that I feel aren’t talked about often enough, such as the potential downsides of being too creative and open as the result of psychedelic use.

On this episode I talk with Genevieve Kim. Genevieve is a storyteller, photographer and creative consultant whose work focuses on capturing her subjects essential, vital force. Genevieve is all about telling stories and about helping people discover the stories within themselves. We have a great discussion on her background in photography, using photography as a way to tell stories, and how artists can stay both creative and true to themselves in the modern digital landscape.   Thanks again for listening to the lifting the iceberg podcast. You can stay up to date on any new podcasts by following liftingtheiceberg on Instagram and facebook, or by going to liftingtheiceberg.com You can check out Genevieve’s work at genevievekim.com, but definitely check out her Instagram page @triangleflash to check out more of her photography, as well as photos from her Eye See You project Thank you to Alexa Spaddy for designing the graphics for this podcast. You can check out Alexa at alexaspaddy.com.

On this episode, I talk to Alex Aliume about his art, mystical experience, and the mystery that fuels his artistic inspiration.

Kareem Johnson is a Professor of Psychology at Temple University, whose expertise, among others, is Evolutionary Psychology, but more specifically, what he calls Quantum Evolutionary Psychology, which is the name of the Capstone class of his that I took before I graduated at Temple, where I did my thesis on the influence that altered states of consciousness had on the emergence of art. His course was one of the most important ones I’ve ever taken, and it greatly influenced my focus for this podcast. It was an honor to have him on, and I know you guys will love it as much as I did. 

On this episode I talk to Ross Divers, a researcher in the Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab at Temple University who is currently researching the use of virtual reality therapy to treat Alzheimer’s and dementia.

On this episode, I sit down with Delvin Solkinson. Delvin is a permaculture design expert who has traveled the world to study the principles, patterns and processes found in nature to improve human systems ranging from agriculture, politics, renewable energy, and to even spirituality and religion. 

On this episode, I have a discussion with Patrick Carbajal on how we view parkour as a spiritual practice.  You can find out more about Patrick by following him on Instagram at @pat_carbajal or by following his team, The Venture Co. You can stay up to date on any new podcasts at liftingtheiceberg.com or by following Lifting the Iceberg on Facebook and Instagram. Podcast available on Spotify, Itunes, and Youtube. Thank you to Alexa Spaddy for designing the graphics for this podcast. You can find her at Alexaspaddy.com Thank you to Kerusu for the soundtrack Stay with me. You can find Kerusu on Spotify, Youtube and Soundcloud.

On this episode, I have a discussion with Dr. Tom Berendt. Dr. Berendt is a Professor of Religion at Temple University whose work focuses primarily on the veneration, or worship, of animals and nature in different religious traditions throughout history. I first met Dr. Berendt when I took his "Earth Ethics" class at Temple, and continued to have discussions with him in this field when I joined his Pagan Studies club, where we looked deeply into nature-based religious traditions. In this episode, we explore the broad question of how religion mediates humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Dr. Berendt is not currently active on social media, but within the next year he will be upon his release of his new book, “The Animality Manifesto”. So stay tuned and I will be posting about that when it is released. You can stay up to date on any new podcasts at liftingtheiceberg.com or by following Lifting the Iceberg on Facebook and Instagram. Podcast available on Spotify and Itunes, and Youtube. Thank you to Alexa Spaddy for designing the graphics for this podcast. You can find her at Alexaspaddy.com Thank you to Kerusu for the soundtrack Stay with me. You can find Kerusu on Spotify, Youtube and Soundcloud.

On this episode, I have a discussion with Louie Izzo about his latest drawing titled “Overwhelmed by Light”. We talk about the creative process behind this piece, how to see and then portray subtle emotions in a portrait, and about the experience of ego-dissolution that is a motif in so much of his art. You can find out more about Louie by following him at louieizzo.art on Instagram. You can stay up to date on any new podcasts at liftingtheiceberg.com or by following Lifting the Iceberg on Facebook and Instagram. Podcast available on Spotify, iTunes, and Youtube. Thank you to Alexa Spaddy for designing the graphics for this podcast. You can find her at Alexaspaddy.com Thank you to Kerusu for the soundtrack Stay with me. You can find Kerusu on Spotify, Youtube and Soundcloud.

On this episode, I have a discussion with Bryce Clarke on Parkour and social media. Bryce is a parkour athlete and coach in New York City who has played a huge part in using social media to help build and grow the NYC parkour scene. I talk with him about the pros and cons of social media as it relates to the parkour community and parkour culture, and how social media has and is effecting the global evolution of parkour, for better or worse.

On this episode, I sit down with Caren Charles to talk about her painting titled “The Resurrection of the Hummingbird”. Caren is a Hudson Valley based visionary artist, body painter, live painter and vocalist who draws the inspiration for her work from the beauty found in nature, and whose creative process blends together intentional subject matter with free-flow creation. You can find out more about Caren at carenartist.com, and by following her on Instagram at @ccdiggity and on Facebook at Caren Charles Designs. You can stay up to date on any new podcasts at liftingtheiceberg.com or by following lifting the iceberg on Facebook and Instagram. Thank you to alexa spaddy for designing the graphics for this podcast. You can find her at Alexaspaddy.com Thank you to Kerusu for the soundtrack Stay with me. You can find Kerusu on spotify, youtube and soundcloud.

James Sharcot is the co-founder of the California based BioHack Energy company BeLifeWater and is an expert on the intersection between water, well-being and consciousness. James travels the world to share his expertise and transform the way the world thinks about and interacts with water. By providing the most natural and highest quality water technology and educational resources available, James aims to heal the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of being. You can learn more about James and his company at belifewater.com and at @belifewater on Instagram.

On this episode I sit down with Raphael Zaki. Raphael is a media theorist who earned his Masters degree under the cyberpunk media theorist Douglass Rushkoff. Raphael is an expert at the intersection between social activism, digital economics, media and the Occult. On this episode, I talk to Raphael about the philosophy and practices behind the concept of Magick, and how these occult practices are used as a bridge into the human subconscious.

On this episode, I sit down with Zak Ferentz. Zak is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, motivational speaker and front-man of the band Ferentz and the Felons. Zak and I break down his song Hudson County line by line, and by doing so, we talk about his life story, the lessons he’s learned from the darkest times of his life, and how he rose from the darkness in his past to become the person he is now. Please give his song “Hudson County” a listen before listening to this podcast; it can be found on Youtube, Spotify, or anywhere you get your music. I’ll also have a link to it in the show notes on liftingtheiceberg.com.

In this episode, I sit down with Edgar Soto to talk about his journey with creating his podcast, The Two Nines Podcast, and we talk about how a podcast can create community. 

On this episode, I sit down with Genevieve Wood to discuss her latest painting on ancestral lineage.

Tyler James Burger sits down with Alexa Spaddy to discuss the logo for Lifting the Iceberg, as well as how all of the thematic elements in the piece are emblematic of what this podcast will explore.