Wake Up, Human

In this episode I share a message from my great-grandmother, the last words she spoke to me before she died: "Don't let anyone step on you." I'm reflecting on the precious wisdom of elders, and the power of standing up for ourselves in a world that often tries to hold us down.Modern Western society has largely disconnected us from our elders and their wisdom, by separating generations from one another physically, socially, and spiritually. That is one reason so many of us are divided, misguided, and lost, and it's one of the roots of the separation sickness of modern culture. But deep connection still lives in our ancestral memory, and it's a path toward wholeness in a fragmented world. Reconnecting to the fullness of being human includes reconnecting our stories to the stories of those who came before us. If you still have access to your elders, listen to their stories. If they've passed, honor them by the way you live, knowing that their wisdom lives on in you. And don't let anyone step on you.I honor your memory, Grandma Agnes, by telling your story.

In this episode my guest and I explore the fascinating skill of bending spoons with the mind—something that all of us humans are capable of!—as a portal to greater self-knowledge, inspiration, and connection with the world around us.

I explore the aftermath of the 2024 US election through a lens of rehumanization, focusing on how we can heal divisions by understanding others' needs—and thinking for ourselves.Some topics I touch upon...The dangers of falling into lockstep with political "teams" without questioning our beliefsThe importance of dialogue and curiosity instead of assumption and judgmentThe red/blue binary that's making us all look like sheepBuilding effective coalitions while maintaining personal values and boundariesCultivating resilience through self-care, rest, and joyThe story of the hummingbird: the power of doing what you can.If you'd like to learn more about me and Wake Up Human, visit my website, shannonwills.com. If you love the podcast, please take a minute to give me a review - it would mean so much to me and help the podcast reach more people. And if you know anyone who would appreciate this podcast, please share it with them.Thank you for listening.

Manifestation is not just about vision boards and wishful thinking—it's an intentional practice of aligning our energy with our desire, through the power of the mind. In this episode I talk with Irina Portnova about the practical side of manifestation: "We don't attract what we want, we attract who we are."Some of the topics we cover...Everything in our world is energy, including our thoughts, words, and emotionsWe are manifesting all the time, whether we know it or not—often unconsciously attracting what we fearA manifesting tool: creating a "to-be list" instead of just a "to-do list"How tapping into our emotions can accelerate manifestationWhat vision boards and the material objects we want to manifest really represent in our livesA practice for manifesting miracles instead of perpetuating problems.Join Irina's upcoming summit "Experience Love Again After Divorce" by clicking the registration link in the show notes. You'll get the link to my "Rewilding the Heart" meditation when you register.

Our modern world rushes past death and endings, urging us to "move on" before we've properly acknowledged what's been lost. But what if this cultural tendency keeps us subtly tethered to the past, preventing us from fully opening to what comes next?Inspired by the death of the hawk on a busy urban street (and the woman who stopped to collect her body), this episode examines how cultural barriers like commodification, clock-time orientation, and death aversion block our natural grieving processes, and how pushing back against these norms allows us to reclaim our basic humanness. By following our "sacred compass" rather than cultural pressures, we create space not just for proper grieving, but for the new life waiting to emerge.Honoring the death of things—whether relationships, dreams, hopes, or phases of our lives—is essential for genuine healing and growth. Rituals of acknowledgment, from earth altars to simple moments of prayer, can help us properly release what has ended.As we enter the harvest season, a time traditionally associated with both abundance and the beginning of nature's dying cycle, it's a potent moment to consider: What in your life needs proper acknowledgment? What might be waiting to enter if you open your hands heart, and release what has already gone?

The seeds of hatred can take root in any human heart—even those most committed to compassion and peace. In this episode, I share my journey through betrayal and rage alongside reflections on the genocide in Palestine, exploring parallels between personal and collective trauma.What happens when appropriate anger—that evolutionary response designed to protect us—has nowhere to go? Like an encounter with a bear in the wilderness, anger can serve us brilliantly in moments of danger. But when that same energy gets trapped, recycled, and amplified through experiences of victimhood and righteous indignation, it transforms into something far more destructive."Resentment is like drinking poison and wishing someone else would die," goes the saying—yet that poison can taste surprisingly good. From social media rhetoric that dehumanizes "the other" to generational trauma passed down through bloodlines, hatred perpetuates itself with remarkable efficiency.The antidote to violence lies not in denying our anger, but in redirecting its energy toward healing solutions that connect us across even the deepest divides. This isn't about ignoring structural violence or colonial oppression. Rather, it's about fighting the problem, not the person—recognizing that the real enemy isn't any group of humans but hatred itself. When we drop from our heads into our hearts, we discover a different kind of power—one that can stand firmly against injustice without perpetuating the very cycle we seek to break.Join me in this difficult but necessary conversation about what it means to wake up human in a world on fire.

The constant pressure to do everything immediately has become so normalized we barely notice it anymore – but this "tyranny of urgency" is destroying our wellbeing, relationships, and connection to life itself. Urgency isn't just about feeling rushed; it's a colonial, capitalist programming that keeps us disconnected from our bodies and each other. When we're constantly in emergency mode, our nervous systems become dysregulated, our critical thinking shuts down, and we lose touch with what truly matters. As your host Shannon Willis shares from personal experience, this urgency paradigm can lead to physical injury, emotional burnout, and a profound sense of isolation.But there is another way. Drawing from wisdom teachers like Eknath Eswaran and Dr. Rocio Rosales Mesa, Shannon explores simple yet revolutionary practices that can break urgency's spell. The gentle phrase "take your time" – offered to others and ourselves – works like magic to diffuse pressure. Physically slowing down signals safety to our nervous systems. Reconnecting with natural rhythms reminds us that periods of rest are essential to life's cycles.Perhaps most powerfully, resisting urgency helps us reconnect with our shared humanity. In our hyper-individualistic society, we've forgotten that no one is meant to carry life's burdens alone. When we slow down enough to see each other – really see each other – we remember that relationships, not task completion, are what we'll value most at life's end.Ready to reclaim your birthright to move at a sacred pace? This episode offers both validation and practical tools for swimming upstream against urgency culture. As the Tao Te Ching reminds us, "Nature never hurries, yet everything gets done." Listen now to discover how slowing down might be the revolution your life is waiting for.

Have you ever had a moment where everything went sideways – literally? This storytelling episode takes you deep into the Guatemalan countryside where a borrowed red Toyota truck, a burning mountainside, and a muddy crevasse converge to deliver some fun insights about decision making and human connection.The story explores how both intuition and experience serve as powerful guides when we face uncertainty, and how stepping away from our need to be right can sometimes allow the most creative of solutions to unfold. 

In this episode I explore the prophecy of the Eagle and Condor, which in its different iterations offers a powerful framework for understanding humanity's divisions between "north and south," and a possible path toward reconciliation and healing.This particular teaching of the prophecy originated with Quechua tribes of the Andes and speaks of a 500-year separation between two human paths of the eagle and the condor.It describes the eagle (North) as representing individualism, rationalism, and materialism, while the condor (South) embodies collectivism, intuition, and spirituality.The 500-year cycle (Pachakuti) of separation began around 1490 with Spanish colonization.Colonial exploitation continues today through extractive industries, destroying indigenous lands and traditional ways of lifeReconnecting with our own indigenous roots can prevent cultural appropriation while healing our disconnection.Supporting indigenous communities to stay connected with their lands preserves irreplaceable wisdom and cultural continuity.Creating balanced exchanges between "eagle" and "condor" cultures benefits both through mutual respect and reciprocity.• The fulfillment of this prophecy depends on our conscious choices to bring these separated aspects of humanity back togetherIf you'd like to learn more about me or Wake Up, Human, visit my website at shannonwills.com. Please share this podcast with someone who might benefit from the conversation.

What if the very pain you're running from contains the medicine you need? In this vulnerable and deeply personal episode, I dive into the wisdom behind the poet Rumi's profound insight: "The cure for the pain is in the pain."Pain isn't just something that hurts us—it's a messenger, a signal flare demanding our attention. Yet modern society has conditioned us to numb, avoid, and push through our pain rather than face it directly. This avoidance doesn't make pain disappear; instead, it pushes it into our shadow where it grows heavier and more burdensome, unconsciously driving our behaviors and sabotaging our wellbeing.Drawing from my own raw, recent experience with betrayal, I share how a devastating breakup forced me to confront not only the immediate wound but decades of unprocessed anger, grief, and fear. The journey through this pain reinforced to me that true healing doesn't come from circumventing pain, but from moving consciously through it.When we have the courage to walk into the fire of our hurt, we don't just burn through what's been weighing us down—we reclaim the parts of ourselves we've hidden away, becoming more integrated and whole along the way.Are you ready to stop running from what hurts? Me, too. Let's journey forth together, knowing that our deepest wounds might contain our most profound medicine.

In this episode I reflect on the passing of a dear friend, exploring what it means to live fully while we have the chance, and the ways in which our lives create meaningful ripples in the world, beyond the simple moments we live.When my friend Susan died of cancer just months after retiring, it invited me to confront some shadowy subjects, including the question, why do we postpone joy? Susan was a mentor and friend who helped spark the birth of Wake Up, Human, cheering me on to step into my voice and speak up. She was deeply kind, quietly strong, and secretly sparky. The speed of her illness—from diagnosis to hospice in mere weeks—underscores life's fragility, and the importance of living and loving while we have the chance. Through Susan's story, I explore how we're all connected in a vast web of relationships. Every interaction ripples outward in ways we cannot fully comprehend. Who you meet, what you say and do, how you live your life—it all matters. This retirement age milestone isn't natural or traditional—it's an industrial revolution invention that trains us to delay fulfillment for decades. The "industrial mindset" keeps us spinning on life's hamster wheel, too busy to make these vital connections. But stepping off that wheel is radical—and necessary.In Susan's honor, I'm changing how I approach this podcast and life itself. Don't wait until retirement to pursue what lights you up. Tell people you love them while you have the chance. And as Howard Thurman said, "Ask what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

What happens when we compare Barbie's journey out of Barbie Land with Neo's escape from the Matrix? In this exploration I dive into how these starkly different films both challenge us to question the manufactured realities we live within—and consider how me might transcend them.Both characters face a pivotal choice—Barbie between the high heel and the Birkenstock, Neo between the red pill and blue pill—representing the decision between comfortable illusion and uncomfortable truth. Their journeys mirror our own potential awakening to systems that may be designed to extract our energy, attention, and labor while keeping us distracted and compliant.Movies themselves present an interesting paradox - can these manufactured realities actually help us wake up from our own matrix? When Barbie first experiences anxiety and sadness in the real world, she's encountering emotions many of us take for granted. These human capacities - feeling deeply, empathizing, thinking critically, using intuition - are powers we often overlook but which connect us to our authentic selves.The most striking parallel between these films is their examination of human potential. Both suggest we have extraordinary capacities that remain largely untapped because we accept artificial limitations as natural laws. In our screen-dominated world, we've become so distracted that perhaps we need our distractions themselves to show us we're distracted - constantly choosing the blue pill without pausing long enough to consider the red one.Whether you're drawn to the philosophical depth of The Matrix or the surprisingly thoughtful commentary of Barbie, both films remind us that questioning what we accept as real is fundamental to waking up. Listen in and reconsider what veils might be covering your eyes - you might just find there's much more to reality than you've been led to believe.

Lorin Peters shares his 50-year journey as a physicist, teacher, and lifelong activist for nonviolence and peace, from his transformative experience in the Peace Corps to his work with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Palestine.How a death threat and a prophetic dream in Thailand launched Lorin's commitment to nonviolenceThe connection between Gospel nonviolence and Gandhian nonviolence through "the law of redemptive suffering"Why meditation became essential to Lorin's practice of nonviolence after 9/11The Beatitudes as a practical recipe for creating "heaven on earth" that many churches overlookHow unarmed civilian peacekeeping works to protect vulnerable populations in conflict zonesThe devastating reality of moral injury among veterans, with suicide rates double the national averagePractical approaches to nonviolent economics through socially responsible investingThe importance of questioning both external authority and our own internal narrativesTo connect with Lorin Peters or to share information about socially screened investments, email him at lorinpeters@yahoo.com and mention you heard him on the Wake Up, Human podcast.

Have you ever looked back at years spent in a soul-sucking corporate job (or other seemingly dead-end pursuit) and thought, "I wasted so much time"?We often convince ourselves we've wasted time in corporate careers or chasing someone else's definition of success, but every choice we make teaches us what we need to know to find our authentic path. Exploring the idea of "wasted time" through the story of a Beijing woman who left her prestigious careerLearning that action brings clarity—we can only know what doesn't work by experiencing itComparing two paths: the corporate "success" track versus the soul-aligned but financially unstable pathUsing the metaphor of filling your gas tank (stability) versus hitting the open road (following your passion)Recognizing how capitalism and hustle culture have distorted our relationship with timeFinding balance between practical needs and living a meaningful, authentic lifeUnderstanding that past choices weren't mistakes but necessary steps to your current wisdomI'll be back soon with more episodes including an interview with Lorin Peters on the power of nonviolence, coming up next. Connect with me at shannonwills.com to share your thoughts on this off-the-cuff episode format.

I talk with Rose De Dan: animal communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, shamanic energy healer, and author. We'll explore our ancient relationship to animals, and their power to teach, heal, and transform us.

What if the wisdom we're seeking has been speaking to us all along, but we've forgotten how to listen?Rose de Dan's journey from disconnection to animal communication began during what she calls her "black and white Kansas" period – a time of feeling lost and questioning life's purpose. Through a profound Reiki experience, she awakened to dormant aspects of herself, transitioning into what she describes as the "technicolor world of Oz" where everything became alive with meaning and connection.This episode explores how modern humans have become disconnected from an ancient birthright – the ability to communicate with the non-human world. Rose shares powerful personal stories, including a transformative encounter with a bobcat spirit guide and a heart-opening moment with a cat in the woods that appeared precisely when she needed connection most. These experiences demonstrate how shifting from head-centered to heart-centered awareness opens doorways to deeper relationships with animals and nature.Rose challenges us to reconsider our approach to global crises like climate change. Rather than relying solely on technological solutions – products of the same head-centered thinking that created these problems – she suggests collaborating with the more-than-human world. "It isn't a matter of us protecting them," Rose explains. "It's a matter of they're going to need to work with us, because together we are strong."Perhaps most importantly, Rose reveals how personal healing and ecological healing are inseparable journeys. The more we heal our own wounds and release what no longer serves us, the more clearly we can hear the wisdom of the natural world. As Rose powerfully states, "With the help of all my relations, your shamanic allies, and holding space in balance with a foot in both worlds, you are not powerless, you are power with."Ready to reconnect with the wild wisdom all around you? Listen now and discover how dropping from your head into your heart might just change everything.

In this episode I have the pleasure of talking with Mr. Jack Roberts, an independent researcher and publisher on the landscape, mythology, and sacred sites of Ireland. The post Wake Up, Human 013: Ancient & Sacred Sites of Ireland first appeared on Wake Up, Human.

In this episode I have the pleasure of talking with Mr. Jack Roberts, an independent researcher and publisher on the landscape, mythology, and sacred sites of Ireland.

What if the ancient sites of our ancestors still held living wisdom that could reconnect us with our forgotten heritage? Ireland stands as perhaps the last repository in Europe where this connection remains unbroken, where stone circles and fairy mounds aren't silent relics but continue to speak through mythology preserved across millennia.In this captivating conversation, independent researcher Jack Roberts shares why Ireland's ancient sites matter profoundly to our modern world. Born in England but living in Ireland since the 1970s, Jack has spent decades documenting the megalithic monuments, stone circles, and sacred landscapes of his adopted homeland. His passion for these sites goes far beyond archaeology—he reveals how they embody a continuous spiritual tradition that predates Christianity yet survives alongside it.We journey first to Newgrange, Ireland's most famous Neolithic monument, where Jack explains how mythology gives voice to this 5,500-year-old structure in ways that Stonehenge, standing "mute" in England, cannot match. We explore the concept of "the Shee"—not the diminutive fairies of Victorian imagination but powerful earth spirits representing Ireland's original belief system. Jack shares fascinating insights about Ireland's unique experience with Christianity, brought not by outside missionaries but by knowledge-seeking Druids who created a distinctive blend of pagan and Christian traditions.Most compelling is Jack's perspective on what these ancient sites teach us about collective consciousness. "You do not build a massive monument like Newgrange on your own," he explains. "You do it as part of a massive consciousness, and that's what we've lost in the modern day." This disconnection from our ancestral roots affects our ability to love ourselves, each other, and the natural world.Whether you have Irish ancestry or simply seek to understand how ancient wisdom might address modern alienation, this episode offers a profound journey into a landscape where the past remains present. Listen now and discover why, as Jack passionately declares, Ireland is "bloody important" for understanding our place in the human story.

I talk with Matthew Busse on the theme of Love as a Spiritual Path: reconnecting to our hearts and reclaiming the power of love, not only as a healing path for the individual, but as a tool for the activist working for a more just and loving world. The post Wake Up, Human 012: Love as a Spiritual Path first appeared on Wake Up, Human.

I talk with Matthew Busse on the theme of Love as a Spiritual Path: reconnecting to our hearts and reclaiming the power of love, not only as a healing path for the individual, but as a tool for the activist working for a more just and loving world.

What if love isn't just a feeling, but a powerful spiritual path that could heal our divided world? In this soul-stirring conversation, I speak with Matthew Busse, a former molecular biologist turned spiritual teacher who serves as teacher-in-residence at the Abbey of the Redwoods. Matt shares his remarkable journey from scientific success to spiritual seeking after discovering that conventional paths to happiness left him feeling empty and disconnected.Together, we explore the concept of interfaith spirituality as a remedy for those disillusioned by traditional religion. Using a delightful ice cream metaphor, Matt explains how different spiritual traditions can be seen as various flavors of the same nourishing substance – with problems arising only when we insist others prefer our favorite flavor.At the heart of our discussion is love as a spiritual practice. We examine how our culture has diluted and commercialized love, making it difficult to connect with its true power. Matt offers practical approaches for reconnecting with our hearts, including meditation focused on cultivating love, bringing love into everyday activities, and the transformative mirror practice of looking into your own eyes and saying "I love you."We dive deep into why many struggle to love themselves, exploring how early emotional wounding, conditional love, and cultural messaging create disconnection from our hearts. Matt shares how breathing practices can calm the nervous system when trauma responses are triggered, creating space for healing and reconnection.Perhaps most powerful is our exploration of "saving what we love versus fighting what we hate" – a profound shift in perspective that changes how we approach activism and social change. This episode, dedicated to the memory of Thich Nhat Hanh, reminds us that in a world facing crisis and division, reconnecting with love might be our most powerful response.Ready to explore this path of love? Visit Matt's website at embracelovelife.com or the Abbey at abbeyoftheredwoods.org. If this conversation resonates, please subscribe and share it with someone who might benefit from these healing insights.

In this episode I narrate one of my own written works, a piece entitled, "We Are All Indigenous." I humbly offer this story as a contribution to the important conversation in this country about healing the wounds of the peoples of this land, both those who have been historically oppressed and those who are descended from the oppressors—and everyone in between. The post Wake Up, Human 011: We Are All Indigenous first appeared on Wake Up, Human.

In this episode I narrate one of my own written works, a piece entitled, "We Are All Indigenous." I humbly offer this story as a contribution to the important conversation in this country about healing the wounds of the peoples of this land, both those who have been historically oppressed and those who are descended from the oppressors—and everyone in between.

What does it mean to belong somewhere? As a person of European descent living in the United States, I've often wrestled with this question – how to honor the indigenous peoples of the land I call home while also nurturing my own sense of place and belonging.In this special narrative episode, I step away from my usual format to share a personal written reflection titled "We Are All Indigenous." The story begins at a Taoist meditation center where, instead of the familiar crystal singing bowl that typically concludes our gatherings, we receive unexpected visitors from the Center for Indigenous Arts. Their presence creates a beautiful synergy between Eastern spiritual practices and Native American traditions, culminating in a profound message from an indigenous woman: "We are all indigenous to this earth."This statement – at once simple and controversial – becomes the centerpiece of my reflection. I explore what it might mean to claim a shared indigenous relationship with the planet without diminishing the unique cultural heritage and historical wounds of specific Native peoples. I contemplate the experience of my herbalist friend with Irish ancestry who feels "like a woman without a land," and my own connection to ancestral places I've never known alongside the American West where I was born.The reflection touches on historical erasure, the devastating impact of colonization, and the impossible task of undoing past harms. Yet it also offers a vision of healing through recognition of our shared humanity and collective responsibility to the Earth. It's a fragile, imperfect meditation that asks more questions than it answers – but these are questions worth asking if we hope to create a world where everyone feels at home.I welcome your thoughts, stories, and perspectives on this complex topic. How do you navigate your relationship with place and belonging? Connect with me at shannonwills.com and continue this important conversation.

I talk with artist and teacher Denise Kester about the fundamental power of creativity. We'll explore creativity as a doorway to the unconscious, the relationship between creativity and dreaming, and the notion that creativity is not a luxury, but an essential need of the human being. The post Wake Up, Human 010: Everyone is an Artist first appeared on Wake Up, Human.

I talk with artist and teacher Denise Kester about the fundamental power of creativity. We'll explore creativity as a doorway to the unconscious, the relationship between creativity and dreaming, and the notion that creativity is not a luxury, but an essential need of the human being.

What does it mean to be a creative person? If you've ever dismissed your own creativity with "I'm not artistic," this conversation might fundamentally change how you see yourself.In this enlightening exploration of human creativity, artist and dreamkeeper Denise Kester reveals how our modern culture has mistakenly categorized some people as "creative" while leaving the rest of us feeling artistically inadequate. Through decades of teaching experience and her own artistic journey, Denise challenges this limiting belief, reminding us that creativity is our universal birthright—one we all possessed naturally as children.The discussion weaves through Denise's fascinating monoprinting process, where ink layers create depth and surprises that allow unconscious wisdom to emerge. She shares how dreams and animals have influenced her artistic voice, and how both dreams and artwork have consistently served as truthtellers in her life, accessing deeper knowledge than rational thought alone could provide.Most powerfully, Denise offers practical wisdom for reconnecting with our creative essence. Her "three deep breaths" practice serves as a bridge from analytical mind to intuitive body wisdom. "The head doesn't have anything to do with the creative process," she explains, emphasizing that our best creative insights emerge when we're present in our bodies. She also warns against "art abuse"—the destructive criticism that disconnects us from our natural creative confidence—and reminds us that we are literally made of "star stuff," with billions of years of cosmic evolution supporting our creative expressions.Far from being a luxury, Denise argues that creativity might be exactly what our troubled world needs most right now. When we embrace our creative nature, we access new solutions that analytical thinking alone cannot provide. As she beautifully puts it: "What you create creates you." Join this conversation to rediscover the artist that has been within you all along.

Have you ever noticed the endless stream of thoughts running through your mind? The unexamined mental chatter that dictates your mood, decisions, and sense of self? What if there was a simple practice that could help you step back from this mental noise and reconnect with your deeper wisdom?In this powerful solo episode, I explore meditation as a remedy for what I call "separation sickness" - the profound disconnection from our essential nature that manifests as anxiety, purposelessness, and the nagging feeling that something vital is missing from our lives. Drawing from nearly 20 years of personal practice, I share how meditation creates a revolutionary shift in perspective: the realization that we are not our thoughts.This single insight transforms our relationship with our minds and the world. When we witness our thoughts rather than identifying with them, we reclaim sovereignty over our attention and choices. We can see cultural programming, advertising messages, and self-limiting beliefs for what they are - mental constructs rather than absolute truths. In the space between stimulus and response lies our freedom and reconnection to native intelligence.The practice itself doesn't require special equipment, credentials, or complex techniques. Simply sitting quietly, watching the mind, and using the breath as an anchor provides the laboratory for this profound self-discovery. Like putting on glasses and suddenly seeing individual leaves instead of a green blur, meditation reveals the distinct nature of thoughts and our capacity to choose our relationship with them.Ready to experiment with this "people's medicine" that's available to everyone regardless of education, wealth, or status? Join me in exploring how this ancient practice offers a revolutionary remedy for our modern disconnection - not by adding something new, but by reconnecting with the wisdom that has always been our birthright.

This episode explores the theme of meditation as a "medicine" to bring us into wholeness, clarity, and sovereignty over our minds. I'll give a short overview of meditation, share some personal stories from my journey, and provide some practical tips along the way. The post Wake Up, Human 009: Meditation as Medicine first appeared on Wake Up, Human.

This episode explores the theme of meditation as a "medicine" to bring us into wholeness, clarity, and sovereignty over our minds. I'll give a short overview of meditation, share some personal stories from my journey, and provide some practical tips along the way.

Dive deep into the authentic traditions of yoga and Vedanta with Gajananam, a dedicated practitioner with nearly three decades of experience studying under direct disciples of Swami Vishnu Devananda, one of the pioneering yogis who brought these practices to the West in the mid-20th century.Most of us are familiar with yoga as a physical practice – the postures and stretching we see in studios across America. But what if that's just the surface of a profound tradition designed to bring us lasting contentment? Gajananam expertly unpacks the deeper purpose behind yoga, explaining how it differs from our typical approach to happiness. While we often seek balance through external circumstances – enjoyable experiences, tasty food, exciting adventures – these moments of satisfaction are fleeting. Yoga, by contrast, teaches us to create internal balance that doesn't depend on outside conditions.The conversation explores fascinating contrasts between Western and Eastern approaches to spirituality. In the West, the individual is central – we want to do what we like, how we like, when we like. In traditional Indian culture, people are more integrated together, with family and community as the unit rather than the individual. This cultural difference creates a natural foundation for spiritual practices that expand beyond the limited self toward greater unity.Gajananam shares beautiful insights about the Sanskrit language, even treating listeners to a traditional chant that demonstrates its vibratory nature. He explains how studying texts like the Bhagavad Gita with a teacher, rather than alone, creates a different kind of understanding – one that can't be achieved when the individual mind tries to transcend itself on its own. The battlefield setting of the Gita reminds us that yoga isn't just for quiet rooms but for navigating life's real challenges.Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or yoga-curious, this episode offers wisdom about connecting with our true nature and asking life's most important questions: Why am I here? What do I really want to achieve? As Gajananam reminds us, time passes quickly – make sure you're investing in what truly matters.

I talk with Gajananam, a long-time student and teacher of the ancient Indian tradition of Yoga. We'll explore some basic definitions and misconceptions about yoga, but we'll also dig deep into the timeless wisdom and philosophy of this perennial tradition. The post Wake Up, Human 008: The Wisdom of Yoga-Vedanta first appeared on Wake Up, Human.

I talk with Gajananam, a long-time student and teacher of the ancient Indian tradition of Yoga. We'll explore some basic definitions and misconceptions about yoga, but we'll also dig deep into the timeless wisdom and philosophy of this perennial tradition.

Dive into the world of America's most influential naturalist and social reformer as Shannon Wills welcomes Thoreau scholar Jeffrey S. Kramer to explore the lasting power of Henry David Thoreau's ideas for our modern lives."The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation," wrote Thoreau in 1854. But what antidote did he offer to this condition? Kramer, curator of collections at the Thoreau Institute Library and editor of numerous annotated editions of Thoreau's works, unveils the man behind the myths.Forget what you thought you knew about Walden. Thoreau didn't retreat to his cabin to escape society but to observe it more clearly. He visited town almost daily, maintained deep connections with friends and family, and used his perspective to comment on social issues. Far from being merely a nature writer, Thoreau wove together environmental appreciation and social justice in ways that feel remarkably contemporary.We explore how Thoreau's act of civil disobedience—refusing to pay taxes to protest slavery—rippled through history to inspire Gandhi, Tolstoy, and Martin Luther King Jr. Kramer shares how small personal acts of kindness formed the backbone of Thoreau's activism, from helping escaped slaves to buying a coat for a poor Irish boy.The conversation takes unexpected turns as we discuss what organic strawberries teach us about ethical living, why reading an author might be better than meeting them, and how the deceptively simple question "If I am not I, who will be?" might change your life if contemplated daily.Whether you're a longtime Thoreau devotee or encountering his ideas for the first time, this episode offers fresh insights into living deliberately in a distracted world, following your moral compass when society pulls you elsewhere, and finding authenticity in a culture that rewards conformity.Subscribe now and join the conversation about reconnecting with our innate human power to heal ourselves, our relationships, and our planet through the timeless wisdom of one of America's most revolutionary thinkers.

I talk with author and editor Jeffrey S. Cramer of the Walden Woods Project. We explore the life and legacy of Henry David Thoreau, including discussions on themes of Walden and Civil Disobedience, the power of the moral compass, and the art of living deliberately in a distracted world. The post Wake Up, Human 007: Living a Life of No Regrets first appeared on Wake Up, Human.

I talk with author and editor Jeffrey S. Cramer of the Walden Woods Project. We explore the life and legacy of Henry David Thoreau, including discussions on themes of Walden and Civil Disobedience, the power of the moral compass, and the art of living deliberately in a distracted world.

Movement specialist Janice Eisenman shares her passionate mission to help people reconnect with their bodies from the inside out, challenging cultural narratives that equate physical appearance with personal value. Through mindfulness practices and compassionate awareness, she guides clients to rediscover the joyful, uninhibited movement we all experienced as children.Breaking the cycle of pain and practitioner-dependency through self-awarenessHow modern lifestyles have dramatically reduced natural movement compared to previous generationsUnderstanding that compression, gravity, and unexpressed emotions get stored in our jointsWhy by age 12, girls talk about what their bodies look like while boys focus on what their bodies can doThe concept of "cultural terrorism" - how appearance-based value keeps women in perpetual anxietyDeveloping self-compassion and mindfulness as tools for reclaiming bodily sovereigntyShifting focus from how movement looks to how movement feelsRecognizing that what our bodies look like is nobody's business but our ownLearn more about Janice at mybodycouture.com where you can find information about both in-person and remote consultations.

I talk with movement specialist Janis Isaman on the theme of body awareness: shifting our attention from outward appearance to the inward experience of our bodies that is our birthright—and our empowerment. The post Wake Up, Human 006: Your Body is Your Own Business first appeared on Wake Up, Human.

I talk with movement specialist Janis Isaman on the theme of body awareness: shifting our attention from outward appearance to the inward experience of our bodies that is our birthright—and our empowerment.

I talk with Travis Steffens, a teacher and practitioner of breathwork. We'll cover the science behind breathwork, the mechanics of breathing practices, and the gifts that breathwork offers to the mystic and the spiritual seeker. The post Wake Up, Human 005: The Magic of Breathwork first appeared on Wake Up, Human.

I talk with Travis Steffens, a teacher and practitioner of breathwork. We'll cover the science behind breathwork, the mechanics of breathing practices, and the gifts that breathwork offers to the mystic and the spiritual seeker.

I'm joined by the delightful Marci Brockmann, an author and teacher whose work empowers people to live more fulfilled lives through the healing power of expressive writing. Our conversation centers on the theme of giving ourselves permission: permission to be who we are, to chart our own path, and to seek inside ourselves for validation, instead of waiting for the outside world to give it to us.

I talk with Solala Towler, a modern American teacher of the ancient Chinese philosophy and practice of Taoism. Our conversation centers on the theme "Taoist Tips for Getting Back to the Garden": exploring Taoism as a practice for returning to our true nature—and our true knowledge—within the complex and sometimes overwhelming modern world.

Solala Towler, teacher of ancient Chinese Taoism, shares how we can reconnect with our true nature through Taoist practices in an increasingly disconnected modern world. Drawing from 30 years of experience, Solala explores the profound difference between head knowledge and belly knowledge, guiding us toward authentic embodied wisdom.Some themes we explore...Solala's path to Taoism through Eastern philosophy, psychedelics, and healing from chronic fatigue syndromeExploring the concept of "getting back to the garden" as reconnecting with our essential human natureHow naming and categorizing has disconnected us from our ability to communicate with animals and natureThe distinction between information (which is abundant and free) and true knowledge (which requires practice and experience)Embracing a commitment to joy - let's stop taking ourselves so seriouslyUsing Taoist wisdom for navigating troubled times.Visit Solala's website at abodedao.com to explore his books, articles, classes, and workshops, and to get a dose of his light-hearted serious love of all things Tao.

In this episode of the Wake Up, Human podcast, I give an introduction to Wake Up, Human: the philosophy and background of the project in general, and the intention behind the podcast. My conversation centers on the topic of separation sickness: what it is, where it comes from, and why we need to address it if we are to find a way to heal ourselves, our relationships, and our planet.

Wake Up, Human explores the ways we humans have become disconnected from our native ways of knowing, and what we can gain from coming back into wholeness. This introductory episode unpacks the podcast's theme of reconnecting with our innate human power to heal ourselves, our relationships, and our planet.Themes I explore...Defining Separation Sickness: our disconnection from nature and from our own innate wisdomModern society conditions us to value material success over connectionWe've been programmed to accept artificial power structures while losing touch with natural rhythms of lifeWhen we no longer value our connection to the natural world, we can more easily participate in its destructionThe path to healing involves questioning authority, self-education, and reclaiming our sovereigntyBalancing masculine and feminine energies is essential for creating wholenessWaking up is a form of resistance against systems that keep us disconnectedReconnecting with our true nature helps us build the world we want to live in, now, and for centuries to come.Please join me in this exploration, and reach out to share your thoughts at shannonwills.com. I'm excited to see where this journey leads us together.

In this inaugural episode of the Wake Up, Human podcast, I talk with Tonja Reichley, an herbalist, ritualist and author in the Irish Celtic tradition. Our conversation centers on the theme of the mythic resistance: exploring myth as portal to finding our place – and our strength – within the often confusing matrix of modern cultural and social identities.

In this inaugural episode of the Wake Up, Human podcast, I talk with Tonja Reichley, an herbalist, ritualist and author in the Irish Celtic tradition. Our conversation centers on the theme of the mythic resistance: exploring myth as a tool for reclaiming our place—and our power—within the often confusing matrix of modern cultural and social identities.The mythic resistance offers us a pathway to reclaim our ancestral wisdom and resist harmful cultural narratives through connection with ancient stories, rituals, and traditions. A few themes we'll explore:Tanya's journey from corporate life to herbalism began, land connection, and ancestral rootsThe mythic resistance: remembering what it means to be human in relationship with the earth, as a form of resistance and rebellionMyths are different from folktales—they shape cultural identity and speak the language of our soulsCultural appreciation versus appropriation—honoring the distinction between learning from other traditions and capitalizing on themThe need for connecting to the land where we live while finding roots in our own ancestral traditionsRacial justice work, reconnection to indigenous tradition, and the weaving of story and myth as intertwined spiritual practices.Visit Tanya's website at dancingwiththewild.com to learn more about her classes, courses, and offerings. To learn more about me, and the Wake Up, Human Podcast, visit my website at shannonwills.com. Thanks for listening.