May You Live Well

This week we have Buddhist monk Chophel Delek on the podcast. Chophel and I have crossed paths a few times in recent years through DNKL Tibetan Buddhist Center for Universal Peace, where Chophel lives and teaches and I have studied from time to time. Chophel grew up in nearby Fairfield, Connecticut and took ordination as a monk shortly after discovering Tibetan Buddhism in his early twenties. In this episode he takes us through the process of making that choice and how his life has shifted since, plus offers valuable tips and tools for working with your mind to create the causes and conditions for a more joyful present and future. I so enjoyed hosting this interview in person in the temple of DNKL and walked away feeling so refreshed and motivated to make the most of every moment of this human life, and I hope this episode brings you the inspiration you might be seeking these days as well. In this episode we discuss: Chophel's Catholic upbringing in Fairfield, ConnecticutWorking at Mercedez Benz as an automechanicThe life-changing moment of finding the Tibetan Book of the Dead in a Boston bookstoreChoosing a teacher and the decision to take ordination as a monkThe struggle of telling his family about wanting to ordainThe importance of investigating your guru thoroughly Chophel's biggest challenge in adopting this traditionWhen we get stuck on certain teachings and how to return to them laterThe choice between Theravada and Mahayana traditions and why he took the more challenging pathGetting to the roots of mental suffering through analytical meditationHow to shift from isolation and self-cherishing to connection and kindnessReincarnation and connecting past with presentUtilizing every encounter as an opportunity for practice and shaping future circumstancesA week in the life at DNKLThe meaning of his name and how he received itLinks and resources:DNKL Tibetan Buddhist Center for Universal PeaceDNKL full calendarDNKL on FacebookMay You Live Well on Instagram: @mayyoulivewell

This week we have musician and creativity/business coach Marcie Grambeau on the podcast. Marcie and I crossed paths in Thailand in 2014 when we were both immersed in exploring spirituality and healing, and she has carved out a unique path for herself as a somatic healer of over 10 years, yoga and meditation practitioner, and musician who also has a knack for business. In this episode she shares her story of growing up with a tendency toward perfection in Ann Arbor, Michigan, suffering and healing from adrenal fatigue in her early twenties, cultivating conscious community, and learning to thrive spiritually as well as materially. Besides teaching us about her take on tech, abundance, and figuring out what you want to create in the world, Marcie also discusses how she created her first devotional music album, Into the Light, which you can find on Spotify or in full at purelands.bandcamp.com.In this episode we discuss: Marcie's upbringing in Ann Arbor and expectations of excellenceSuffering from adrenal fatigue at age 21Becoming an empath overnightHealing the body through yoga, vegan diet, and connecting with a new communityMeeting her first Shamanic teacher and initiation into the healing pathMassage therapy training and getting to know the tech and corporate scene in San Francisco Addressing the "broke healer" mentalityBlockchain, cryptocurrency, and starting her own companiesWhy meditation is a bigger ask of people than we may realizeCreating her devotional music album, Into the LightPsychedelics and sound healingPodcasts as places to learn about business (or whatever you're trying to learn about)Marcie's top advice for getting unstuck and creating what you really want to bring into the worldDiscovering who we are through new experiencesLinks + Resources:Marcie on Instagram: @purelandsmusicInto the Light album (full)Into the Light on SpotifyMay You Live Well on Instagram: @mayyoulivewell

This week we have coach, organizational trainer, and international speaker Anahita Moghaddam on the podcast. Anahita is a fellow student of contemplative science and we first connected when I attended a talk of hers titled “The Neuroscience of Joy” at a Buddhist center in my hometown of Redding, Connecticut. Anahita has traveled extensively through the world and through the inner workings of the mind and in this episode she offers listeners invaluable glimpses into the contemplative path and all that entails. She brings this lightheartedness and humor when diving into domains of spiritual bypassing and the intoxicating space of spiritual materialism, which left me laughing out loud when preparing this episode for release. She also brings her wisdom and analytical skill to hot topics like leadership, romantic partnership, and resilience. At the end of the episode Anahita mentions that she was releasing an online course which is open for registration, so you can find the link in the show notes to check that out.In this episode we discuss: Anahita's upbringing in Iran and GermanyWhen we question if the ways in which we're living are true to who we areHer father's influence in terms of arriving on the contemplative pathHitting rock bottom and this initiating Anahita's journey to IndiaWhen books, resources, and teachers show up in moments of despair and confusion—plus what it means to have the openness to receive them at the timeSpiritual bypassing and the "intoxicating" space of spiritual materialismThe upward spiral of progress on the pathCompassion, patience, and resilience—why you shouldn't give up in the face of challengesA definition of love and how it can be applied to partnershipWhat it really means to love one another with generosity and spaciousnessTaking radical responsibility for oneself and how that correlates with accessing the power to transform your life and worldCoaching leaders and emerging leadersHow to cultivate leadership in your own lifeResources: Anahita on Instagram: @anahita.moghaddamAnahita's websiteAnahita's online course: Towards a New YouMay You Live Well on Instagram: @mayyoulivewell

In this episode we have mother, meditator, and creative Deb Owen on the podcast. Deb is a retired school counselor who also happens to be my mom and I'm thrilled to be able to share this conversation with listeners because it's really been over a decade in the making. Deb shares her story of what it was like to witness my journey as I stepped off a conventional path in my mid-twenties to pursue spiritual studies through slow-traveling some of Asia, and how this brought challenges to our relationship but eventually benefits as well. She also discusses her personal yoga and meditation practice that evolved more recently and how starting to meditate later in life impacted her health, well-being, and relationships. In the show notes you'll find links to her current creative projects as well as the guided meditation she practices daily.In this episode we discuss: Deb's upbringing and cultural backgroundThe differences she felt between religion and spiritualityIntroducing her family to yoga in the early 2000sDeb's career as a middle school guidance counselor and empathy for othersThe challenges of parenting Alexa when she moved across the worldThe role of prayer and trust during that timeWhy Alexa felt closed off to family whenever she would return home, and how Deb responded to thatStaying authentic as a parent when an adult child gets judgmentalDeb's advice to parents whose kids are going through an identity shift or living life differently than they'd likeMentorship and bringing meaningful work into the worldDeb's daily meditation practice and how it's impacted her lifeCompassion, self-care, and caregiving aging parentsExperiencing life through the heartResources: Deb on Instagram: @debowendesignsDeb's Cookie CupboardDeb's guided meditationMay You Live Well on Instagram: @mayyoulivewell

In this episode we welcome traveler, homesteader, and entrepreneur Dwyer Haney to the podcast. Dwyer and I met over a decade ago when we ski raced in the same conference in college and since then he's lived a pretty incredible life that includes living internationally, solo sailing down the coast of the Americas for 2 years, and now building a homestead in northern Vermont. Dwyer discusses his upbringing and how the confidence instilled in him by his parents that he can learn and accomplish whatever he sets out to do has shaped his pursuits in his adult life—as well as why he learned to sail and how this journey connected him more deeply to nature and a sense of awe. Plus we get Dwyer's take on happiness, interdependence, and building a homestead and fulfilling life. For more on Dwyer's past and present projects, be sure to check out the links in the show notes!In this episode we discuss: Dwyer's upbringing in New Hampshire and building the confidence to try new thingsLanding his dream job as a ski quality engineer for Black DiamondMoving to China for his job and working 18-hour daysWhat inspired Dwyer to leave his job and live on a sailboat for 2 yearsAwe and the humbling effects of different landscapesDwyer's most intense and life-threatening experiences during his voyageConnection to nature as a spiritual experienceDwyer's 37 days alone at sea during his passage from the Galapagos to Chile and  how this offered deeper insight to sense of selfThe connections between interdependence, happiness, and self-actualizationDwyer's transition from sailing life to homesteadingThe goals of homesteading and how things work at Bending Birch HomesteadTime affluence and letting of of wearing the busyness badge of honorDelayed gratification in building a home and a lifeDwyer's top advice for setting out to accomplish whatever it is you want to doResources: Dwyer on Instagram: @dwyerhaneyBending Birch Homestead on Instagram: @bendingbirchhomesteadAcross Islands and Oceans by James BaldwinVoyage of the RascalCole Forge StovesTime affluenceMay You Live Well on Instagram: @mayyoulivewell

This week we have meditator and athlete Sasha Dingle on the podcast. Sasha is a mindfulness teacher and coach based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and is also the founder of Mountain Mind Project. Sasha and I have actually never met in person, but our paths have crossed in different ways throughout our lives, starting with ski racing in the same circuits in Vermont as kids, moving to the Rocky Mountain West, and now connecting through mutual interest in supporting people to live fully using tools of meditation, mindfulness, and compassion. In this episode, Sasha shares her story of growing up in Vermont, competing on the Freeride World Tour, and how the ups and downs of being an athlete in the mountains led her toward contemplative practices.In this episode we discuss: Sasha's upbringing and cultural backgroundThe longing to make sense of ourselves and our worldsCompeting on the Freeride World TourSasha's pathway into deeper meditation practice through injury and healingFounding Mountain Mind Project and training the mind like you train the bodyThe "3D" experience of practicing within Tibetan BuddhismUnique mental and public health challenges in mountain towns and communitiesLeveraging the mind for performance in sports, relationships, parenting, and workThe importance of a teacher and community on the pathHow meditation can actually help you hide from yourself and how to come out of hidingLaying the foundation for flow to emergeMeditation apps: to use or not to use? Working with trauma and grief How losing people in the mountains can impact us and how these practices can support healing through thatWhy Sasha encourages group learning Resources: Sasha on IG: @sashadingle Mountain Mind ProjectmPEAK 3-day intensive 8/6/21-8/8/21Mindfulness-Based Stress ReductionMay You Live Well on IG: @mayyoulivewell

In this episode we have Dana Coman on the podcast. Dana is an L.A.-based hatha yoga teacher, human resources human capital analyst, and hypnotherapist who uses her skills to guide people through therapeutic sessions. Dana and I met at a mutual friend's Christmas dinner in Koh Phangan in 2014 and I was struck then—as I still am now—by Dana's energy and enthusiasm for life. And of course that's common when you're taking a few years off to travel the world and practice yoga every day, but Dana's joyfulness seems to grow in unexpected places as well—even, as she'll share in this episode, in corporate America. Dana also discusses the chapter in her life when she lived at Sadhguru's ashram in southern India, why she left ashram life and returned to the States, and how harnessing the power of the mind has supported her in cultivating a life she loves.In this episode we discuss: Dana's move to the U.S. and 8 years of of corporate work in ChicagoWhy she left everything to travel the world for 3 yearsExperiences that push us to our growing edgeThe transition from yoga as exercise to yoga as a pathway to liberationDana's choice to move to an ashram in southern India, what her life was like there, and why she transitioned back to the U.S.Taking on a spiritual name and embracing all aspects of our identityMorning rituals and the one yoga practice/kriya Dana still does dailyKarma and dharmaThe return to working in corporate and how Dana's experience of it has changed since her immersion into spiritual studiesTraining in hypnotherapy and how this transformed her lifeThe subconscious mind and how to work with itResources: Dana's hypnosis practiceIntuitive BreathworkDana on IG: dana_coman_chtDana on Facebook: Unlimited You HypnosisIsha FoundationLetting Go by David Hawkins

In this episode, dancer, choreographer, and movement teacher Paul Singh  joins us to share about his experiences in the movement form of contact improvisation (CI). Paul  first studied dance at the University of Illinois and began dancing contact improv in New York City. He's taught CI around the world and led movement classes for Movement Research, Sarah Lawrence College, and Julliard. A creative force, Paul has deep and insightful shares about what it means to move and be moved, be totally and radically present in the moment, and create space for ourselves and others in the dance and in our lives.In this episode we discuss: Paul's background and upbringing in Illinois Why Paul switched from a pre-med to music to dance track in college What contact improvisation (CI) is and why it's different from other movement formsBringing identity into the dance and CI spacesThe healing aspects of CI and renegotiating where you are in relationship to others at all timesWhat it means to be "advanced" and what deep listening has to do with itThe intersection of CI and queer studiesEmbodiment and being patient enough to fall into the bodyHow CI teaches us about tuning into our needs and desiresWhat RuPaul's Drag Race and Buddhist texts have in commonPractical tools for embodiment in daily lifeContact Improv and taking on the worldLinks and Resources: Paul on IG: @paulsinghdanceMay You Live Well on IG: @mayyoulivewellPeaceable Barn StudioLeviathan StudioPaul dancing CI at the Judson Church 

In this episode I sit down with yoga practitioner, author, and self-care coach Deniz Aydoslu. Deniz and I both spent quite some time studying yoga therapy on Koh Phangan, Thailand, and we've also both moved through our own journeys of applying yogic tools for well-being to working through depression. In this talk Deniz shares more about her own background and challenges growing up, what pulled her toward yoga and spirituality, and what she's learned about the intersections of emotional processing, boundaries, and relationships. We also get some of her top tips for self-care and building a life that you love – not just for the sake of your own joy, but for the well-being of others.In this episode we discuss: Deniz's German and Turkish background and upbringing in BelgiumChallenges with depression and mental health during adolescenceComing to yoga through injuryStudying psychology and criminology in the UKDeniz's journey to Asia for yoga studies and living there for 5 yearsThe inner landscape of depression and how yoga helped in the healing processThe role of purpose: recognizing purpose versus searching for it outwardlyThe wisdom of anger and setting boundariesA pivotal realization that led Deniz toward her current partnerThe essence of self-care and what that means for people individuallyLinks + Resources:Deniz's website + free ebook (www.denizaydoslu.com)Deniz's book, Messages from the Deep: Calm Anxiety and Lift Depression with Yoga & the ElementsOn Insgagram: @deniz.aydosluOn Facebook: facebook.com/therapiesforevolution

In this episode, meditation teacher and contemplative guide Kirat Randhawa joins us to share her story of stepping onto the contemplative path. Kirat first studied fashion and merchandising in London before moving to New York City, where she became acquainted with meditation and Tibetan Buddhism. She  joins Alexa to discuss the nuances of contemplative practice and how she personally navigates this transformative, challenging, and rewarding path. This is the stuff you likely won't hear in meditation class. In this episode we discuss: What to look for when seeking out a lineage or teacherWhy Kirat connected with Tibetan Buddhism, specificallyThe balance between discipline and easeCommon misconceptions about mindfulness, especially in regards to healing and traumaMoving through loneliness and confusion How to cultivate trust and confidenceWhy the dynamics in close relationships can change as you start meditatingRemoving the need to create a hierarchy of good and bad emotionsHow we identify the Self as a brand and how to move beyond thisWhat to do when you don't feel like doing your meditation practice that dayKirat's top advice for those on or embarking on this pathLinks and Resources: Kirat's websiteKirat on IG: @kiratrandhawaaaKirat's offerings on Alo MovesThupten PhuntsokHeal Haus

Welcome to May You Live Well, an interview-based podcast project featuring inspiring individuals from various backgrounds who share how they've been influenced by contemplative practices—and how these ways of being have impacted their work, relationships, lifestyles and worldview.