Podcasts about buddhist

Honoring the release of All In This Together, Jack reflects on how stories awaken compassion, heal division, and call us back to meeting one another with respect.Jack's new book is out now!: All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our WorldToday's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.“We have the opportunity to reach out and mend the fabric of life... Action that actually undoes anxiety is making even the tiniest difference to others.” –Jack KornfieldIn this episode, Jack mindfully explores:Jack's recent trip with Trudy to India to see His Holiness the Dalai LamaWhat the Dalai Lama said about A.I. and compassionHaving a wise relationship with A.I. and technologyVaranasi and facing the reality of death at the burning ghatsStories as a medicine for the soulThe transformative story of Ram Dass, Maharajji, and the glance of mercyBeing fully worthy of loveLearning how to connect with genuineness, kindness, and respectArchetypal and universal teachingsBuddha's last mealIntention as the root of karmaOvercoming conflict with respect and good intention“Even making the tiniest difference to others begins to change the direction of your life and the circumstance of the world around you.” –Jack KornfieldThis Dharma Talk originally took place in Nov 2025 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Dharma Talk andGuided Meditation celebrating Jack's All In This Together book release. Stay up to date with Jack's upcoming livestreams and events here.About Jack Kornfield:Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack's entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield. “Stories are medicine.” –Jack KornfieldStay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We trace why people want human mindfulness teachers and how embodiment turns abstract practice into real connection. We share stories, simple techniques, and global signals pointing to a growing need for presence in a noisy world.• rising demand for human-led mindfulness• value of personal stories and warm presence• search for market data and trend signals• loneliness, “human walkers” and paid companionship• AI abundance versus embodied connection• head, heart and whole-body awareness cues• integrating mindfulness with yoga and healing arts• family co-regulation and the cuddle couch image• WHO mental health data and UN attention• simple breath practices for busy, loud daysSupport the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness: Certify.MindfulnessExercises.com Email: Sean@MindfulnessExercises.com Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life. Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work. Each episode offers a mix of: Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings Conversations with respected meditation teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change If you're interested in: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life Trauma-sensitive and compassion-based practices Teaching mindfulness in an authentic, non-performative way Deepening your own practice while supporting others …you're in the right place. Learn more at MindfulnessExercises.com.

On the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Dr Yuri Stoyanov – of SOAS university in London – joins Damian Thompson to reflect on the religious dimensions of the war once again. The theological gulf between Russia and Ukraine is perhaps comparable to the political one and, for now, seems insurmountable, with the war increasingly being framed in some spheres as a 'Holy War'. You have to stretch back to the First World War to find a war within Christendom framed in these terms, but what effect is this having on the family of Orthodox churches across Europe and the Middle East? And how can we better understand this strand of Russian 'jihadism'? Plus, what has the impact of the Papal succession been? And, how have other religious groups – such an estimated 2 million Buddhists – reacted in Russia?Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Dr Yuri Stoyanov – of SOAS university in London – joins Damian Thompson to reflect on the religious dimensions of the war once again. The theological gulf between Russia and Ukraine is perhaps comparable to the political one and, for now, seems insurmountable, with the war increasingly being framed in some spheres as a 'Holy War'. You have to stretch back to the First World War to find a war within Christendom framed in these terms, but what effect is this having on the family of Orthodox churches across Europe and the Middle East? And how can we better understand this strand of Russian 'jihadism'?Plus, what has the impact of the Papal succession been? And, how have other religious groups – such an estimated 2 million Buddhists – reacted in Russia?Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #491: The third episode in our five-part series features conversations recorded at the 16th International Burma Studies Conference at Northern Illinois University, where scholars, students, researchers, and practitioners gathered around the theme Dealing with Legacies in Burma. Held amid ongoing political turmoil and humanitarian crisis, the conference created a rare space for open dialogue and shared reflection. Insight Myanmar was invited into this environment to record conversations with a wide range of attendees, produced in collaboration with NIU's Center for Southeast Asian Studies. We hope these episodes bring listeners into the atmosphere of the gathering and into conversation with the people who continue to shape the field today. Naw Moo Moo Paw, a PhD candidate at UMass Lowell, grounds her research on disability caused by political violence during her own upbringing. Raised in the conflict-ridden Bago region amid landmines, forced labor, and death, she witnessed numerous civilian injuries, including of her own father. She completed a master's in Japan, where the quiet environment triggered long-suppressed PTSD stemming from her childhood experiences. Her current research examines post-injury political participation, social inclusion, and cultural interpretations of disability. She emphasizes that disabled people in Myanmar seek acceptance and community support more than financial aid and warns that unaddressed trauma may lead to future societal instability. Aye Minn discusses his work with an online university in Myanmar, which was formed after the 2021 coup to provide a learning space for teachers and students who left the state system. He characterizes his work as combining parahita, the Buddhist principle of acting for the good of others with atahita, or acting for one's own benefit… which Burmese culture often views negatively. He argues that self-improvement is inseparable from service, especially in a country where opportunity is rare. The university now operates largely on unpaid volunteer labor, reflecting Burmese society's long tradition of service and its scarcity of financial resources. He champions equity, urging Western scholars to recognize their privilege and consider more culturally adaptive academic standards. As he puts it, “We should bring more scholars who are underprivileged onto the table.” Grace, a master's student researching rare earth mining in Kachin State, explains that these minerals are essential for global technologies and green energy, but their extraction causes severe environmental and health damage. In northern Myanmar, communities face rising cases of skin disease, respiratory problems, and digestive disorders, intensified by post-coup instability. After restricting domestic mining, China shifted to Myanmar, where a complex mix of militias, the military regime, and the Kachin Independence Organization control territory. China pressures these groups to maintain mineral supply chains while Chinese investors conduct mining with little oversight, leaving toxic waste behind. Local resistance exists through petitions and faith-based organizing, but militarization and poverty limit effectiveness. Many villagers depend on mining for basic survival, reflecting longstanding resource-curse dynamics. She references recent reports of U.S. interest in sourcing rare earths from here, which could be of interest to Kachin leaders as it offers them a lifeline away from China.

Krishnam Thapa Magar, also known as Krishna Thapa or the "Warrior Monk," is a distinguished mountaineer and former SAS Sergeant Major who has achieved international recognition for his pioneering feats in extreme adventure and military leadership. Raised in the Nepal Himalayas, Thapa Magar fuses Buddhist philosophy with military discipline, serving as a motivational speaker and meditation guide focused on holistic wellbeing and modern leadership. He supports team development, mental health, and sustainable adventure, acting as a role model for service, compassion, and personal achievement. Krishnam Thapa Magar is globally respected for blending elite military leadership with world-class mountaineering and inspirational personal development.Thapa Magar was one of only two Gurkhas from the Royal Gurkha Rifles to pass the highly selective entry to the British Special Forces, serving as head of the SAS Mountain Troops. He operated on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, demonstrating exceptional leadership under pressure, and was the first serving Warrant Officer to summit both Everest and K2. Krishna Thapa holds nine world-first records in mountaineering, including leading the largest summit group ever to Everest, and making pioneering ski descents from peaks such as Dhaulagiri. He has guided and inspired climbers from diverse backgrounds, including amputees, the visually impaired, and Parkinson's disease sufferers, on expeditions around the globe—it's not just about the climbing but about enabling others to overcome adversity. As leader of Gurkha Everest Expeditions, he became the first serving Gurkha soldier to scale the world's highest peak while opening climbing routes and exemplifying teamwork and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this talk, Padmavajra explores the profound Buddhist concept of "Going Forth" from home into homelessness, describing it as a vital turning point where one moves away from the "cramped" dust of habit toward a life of genuine individuality and spiritual freedom.

19th February 2026  Bhante Bodhidhaja hosted this week's meditation session at the Roleystone Family Centre. Roleystone Meditation Group's weekly classes are about an hour long and include a talk on meditation, meditating together, and questions & answers. The sessions are led by a Buddhist monk from Kusala Hermitage in Roleystone (Buddhist Society of WA). Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube

Prayer Moment 4 of 4 in FebruaryPrayer for Revelation1. God is Relational:  Pray that Buddhists will accept adoption into God's family (Romans 8:15).2. Freedom: Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide Buddhists out of shame and guilt and into the truth (John 16:13)3. New Life: Pray that Buddhists will find assurance of salvation in a relationship with God (Romans 8:16).

Dan Florio is a musician/songwriter whose last album was titled "The Moment We Hold". Dan talks to me about Buddhist philosophy and we dive into the concept of non-attachment. Marlene the puppy makes a cameo.Support the show

Support the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness: Certify.MindfulnessExercises.com Email: Sean@MindfulnessExercises.com Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life. Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work. Each episode offers a mix of: Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings Conversations with respected meditation teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change If you're interested in: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life Trauma-sensitive and compassion-based practices Teaching mindfulness in an authentic, non-performative way Deepening your own practice while supporting others …you're in the right place. Learn more at MindfulnessExercises.com.

Episode #490: Matt Walton, a political theorist and scholar of Buddhism and politics in Myanmar, and author the acclaimed Buddhism, Politics and Political Thought in Myanmar, argues that Burmese political life cannot be understood through secular or Western democratic frameworks alone. He contends that struggles over democracy, authority, nationalism, and pluralism in the country unfold within a shared Theravāda Buddhist moral universe whose internal logics remain consistent even as they produce sharply divergent political outcomes. Ethical life, political legitimacy, and social order are deeply embedded in Buddhist moral reasoning, shaping how political ideas are articulated and contested. In his undergraduate years, he developed an interest in meditation, which took shape during his first visit to Myanmar. Initially going as a backpacker, he joined a demanding 21-day vipassanāretreat in the Mahāsi lineage in the Sagaing Hills. That retreat proved pivotal for him both as practitioner and professionally, sparking his interest how embodied Burmese Buddhism plays out in social, cultural and political spheres. Subsequent travels through Myanmar helped crystalize his awareness that democratic aspirations and rights discourse in the region operate within Buddhist concepts of causality, responsibility, and ethical conduct rather than liberal political theory. He devoted himself to the study of Burmese language, Buddhist philosophy, and political thought. Central to Walton's analysis is the relationship between lokī, the mundane sphere, and lokuttara, the supramundane orientation toward insight and liberation. These are not opposing realms but relational categories that structure political reasoning. Burmese discourse recognizes that ethical practice depends on material conditions, while also warning that excessive supramundane focus can undermine worldly governance. Political legitimacy emerges from negotiating this tension. Walton shows how Buddhist texts can generate competing political interpretations, supporting both hierarchical authority and participatory responsibility. Across history—from U Nu and Aung San to Ledi Sayadaw, Buddhist nationalism, and contemporary pluralist debates—Walton emphasizes that the same moral universe underlies empowerment and violence alike. Understanding this coherence, he insists, does not imply moral endorsement but is essential for grappling with Myanmar's political crisis and imagining more inclusive futures. Walton cautions against assuming secularism would offer a neutral alternative, noting that secular governance elsewhere remains shaped by Christian histories, and instead calls for explicit, critical engagement with Buddhist moral reasoning to identify resources for genuinely inclusive coexistence.

Here Sangharakshita shares two personal stories from his time in Kalimpong and how he came to learn that Vajrasattva is connected with death. This lecture is a series of reflections based around the Buddha's Parinirvana ('death'), stressing the importance of impermanence and explaining episodes recorded in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta. Excerpted from the talk entitled Between Twin Sala Trees as part of the series Incidents from the Pali Canon, 1983. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

Today Kris introduces the 'Mirror of Simple Souls', a work of Christian mysticism from the middle ages. Its author was Marguerite Porete - a French-speaking mystic and member of a Beguine religious community. Using the Christian language of the time, she outlined a path toward transcending Reason and unifying the Soul with God and Love. Here, Kris also shows how Porete's ideas are similar to the Buddhist path and have value to modern spiritual seekers of any faith.

Want to start or grow your podcast? I went from 3k to 400k YouTube subscribers in under 18 months - no ads. I share everything I've learned, honestly and practically, in my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://rodrigocanelas.substack.com/subscribeJoin David and Krishna Das, one of the most well-known voices of kirtan chanting in the West, on Tuesday, March 3rd for a FREE online conversation about their spiritual paths and Dharma Moon's renowned Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training. Click here for more info and to reserve your spot. https://www.dharmamoon.com/heartThis episode features David Nichtern, a senior Buddhist teacher, professional musician, and founder of Dharma Moon. David joins Rodrigo Canelas to discuss the common pitfalls of modern meditation and why many people are accidentally using the practice to create a "dream world" rather than engaging with reality.

Talk given by Dharmasara on 2025-11-15.In this talk, Dharmasara explores the role of community and friendship in Buddhist practice and the potential of spiritual life lived together.Reflecting on his own experience, he describes how an initial search for a teaching gradually opened into a network of friends, teachers, and fellow practitioners, revealing new ways of understanding and deepening relationships.Looking at the Sigalovada Sutta, the talk explores the six key relationships the Buddha encourages us to honour, and considers why friendship and responsibility within relationships are so central.Enjoyed this talk? You are warmly invited to visit Buddhistisches Tor Berlin in Kreuzberg in person. Join us for meditation, Dharma talks, and courses that support practice in everyday life. Find out more at: ☸️ https://buddhistisches-tor-berlin.de 

In this episode of the Peak Human Labs Podcast, Dr. Sanjeev Goel sits down with mindfulness educator, author, and wellness leader Lawrence Ellyard to explore how awareness, inner dialogue, and intentional living shape a truly fulfilling life. With over 30 years of experience in meditation, Eastern philosophy, martial arts, and holistic wellness, Lawrence shares his personal journey into mindfulness and explains why the mind often reacts before awareness creates space for choice. Together, they discuss practical ways to work with thoughts, reframe challenges, and build resilience through small, consistent practices. The conversation covers grounding techniques, compassion-based reflection, gratitude rituals, and the power of language in shaping emotional well-being. Lawrence also addresses how mindfulness practices align naturally with Western belief systems, including Christianity, making them accessible regardless of background or faith. This episode offers clear, practical insight for anyone feeling stuck on autopilot, overwhelmed by self-criticism, or searching for more peace, clarity, and purpose in everyday life.   Key Takeaways Mindfulness is a practice of awareness, not the absence of thoughts The mind often reacts before awareness creates space for choice Inner dialogue and language directly influence emotional well-being Reframing challenges as opportunities builds resilience and patience Gratitude and compassion can be practiced in micro-moments throughout the day Consistency matters more than intensity in personal growth Fulfillment comes from presence and alignment, not external achievement Awareness-based practices are compatible across belief systems   In This Episode: [00:00] Introduction and the importance of inner dialogue [01:02] Lawrence's background and work in global wellness [03:40] Early exposure to meditation and spiritual curiosity [05:09] A pivotal moment that redirected his life path [06:00] Living in a Buddhist monastery and intensive practice [08:12] How to begin exploring mindfulness and meditation [10:54] Attraction, aversion, and neutrality as learning tools [12:25] Reframing discomfort and adversity [15:16] Guided grounding and compassion practice [18:09] What meditation really is (and what it isn't) [20:31] Micro-moments of mindfulness in daily life [22:22] Bringing awareness off the cushion and into life [24:15] Gratitude practices with family and children [27:13] Language, self-talk, and reframing thought patterns [29:47] Seeing every challenge as a gift [31:00] Mindfulness and compatibility with Christian faith [34:04] Why fulfillment is a journey, not a destination [38:23] A parable on realizing inner richness [41:19] Impermanence and embracing life's seasons   Resources and Links Peak Human Labs Website  LinkedIn  YouTube  Instagram  Podbean Dr. Sanjeev Goel Website LinkedIn Lawrence Ellyard Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Books at Amazon

Talk given by Padmasagara on 2025-12-06.This talk explores the story behind the Karaniya Metta Sutta, one of the Buddha's earliest and most important teachings on metta, or loving-kindness.The talk begins with the context in which this teaching was given: a deep and unsettling forest, filled with strange sounds, shadows, and fear. From there, the story turns inward, pointing to the "forest of the heart": the inner landscape where emotions arise, move, and seek expression in our lives.Reflecting on how easy it is to lose touch with this inner world, the talk asks what it means to really listen to the heart, and how Buddhist practice, and metta in particular, can help us connect more honestly with ourselves, with others, and with the world.Enjoyed this talk? You are warmly invited to visit Buddhistisches Tor Berlin in Kreuzberg in person. Join us for meditation, Dharma talks, and courses that support practice in everyday life. Find out more at: ☸️ https://buddhistisches-tor-berlin.de 

Why does water baptism carry such deep meaning for believers around the world, often far more than in Western churches?In this episode of The Unshakable Church, Ron explores the powerful spiritual significance of water and baptism through a global lens. Drawing from firsthand experience among national church planters, he explains how new believers from Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim backgrounds understand water as a symbol of cleansing, rebirth, and devotion.Ron then unpacks five profound biblical truths that water baptism represents for believers today: spiritual rebirth, cleansing from sin, the work of the Holy Spirit, eternal life, and God's provision. These realities help explain why baptism is not just a ceremony, but a bold declaration of transformation and allegiance to Christ.Discover why this sacred act carries such urgency, joy, and meaning in places where revival is spreading rapidly across the world.

In this episode, Michael explores the intersection of mindfulness and situational ethics, unpacking how awareness can guide us through the complex moral landscapes of everyday life. Drawing from a 2015 lecture in an earlier version of his online course, Embodying Ethics & Vows in Modern Life, exploring in practical detail the two wings of the practice: calming (samatha) and insight (vipassana) With practical examples and grounded insight, he shows how these complementary practices support wise, responsive action—not as abstract ideals, but as lived ethics in real time. Whether you're deepening your meditation practice or navigating difficult choices in modern life, this episode offers thoughtful guidance on embodying awareness where it matters most. This episode is an excerpt from Michael's online course, "Embodying Ethics & Vows in Modern Life," which transforms Buddhist and yogic ethics into practical guidelines for aligning your actions with your values.à If you're interested in taking the full course, visit: https://edu-michaelstone.com/product/embodying-ethics-vows-in-modern-life/

The Buddha's time has come and his companion, Ananda, is completely grief-stricken for the teacher whom he loves so deeply. Vadanya shares the Buddha's gentle encouragement and public praise of his loyal companion in the moments before his Paranibbana. Excerpted from the talk entitled The Last Days of The Buddha given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2008. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

Adam interviews Mark Epstein, a psychiatrist and author, discussing the complex nature of desire from both a Buddhist and psychotherapeutic perspective. They explore how desire is often misunderstood as an obstacle, when in fact it can serve as a vehicle for spiritual growth and understanding. The conversation delves into the importance of recognizing and embracing desire rather than suppressing it, the role of the ego, and the lessons learned from personal experiences and stories, including the Ramayana and the parable of the strawberry. Buy the Book: Open to Desire – The Truth About What The Buddha Taught Support the Podcast: Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf Mark Shares  ·    Desire is not inherently negative; it's often our perception of it that limits us. ·   Suppressing desire can lead to greater dissatisfaction and emotional issues. ·      Desire can be a pathway to spiritual growth and understanding. ·      The ego plays a crucial role in our awareness and spiritual practice. ·      Meditation helps us to understand and transform our desires. ·      The middle path involves finding a balance between indulgence and suppression of desires. ·      Personal anecdotes can illustrate the complexities of desire and satisfaction. ·      Understanding the nature of desire can lead to greater empathy and connection with others. ·      The Ramayana serves as a metaphor for the journey of desire and its true purpose. ·      Self-awareness is key to transforming our relationship with desire. Find Mark Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/markepstein108 Website: www.markepsteinmd.com  Keen on Yoga Website: http://www.keenonyoga.com/ Instagram:  @keen_on_yoga | @adam_keen_ashtanga Retreats with Adam: https://www.keenonyoga.com/ashtanga-yoga-retreats Become a Patron: https://www.keenonyoga.com/patrons/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Keenonyoga Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mark Epstein 01:01 Desire: A Different Perspective 05:55 Desire as a Vehicle for Growth 11:55 The Nature of Desire and Suffering 18:04 Personal Anecdotes and Lessons Learned 24:06 Empathy and the Objectification of Desire 30:46 Exploring Desire and Unsatisfactoriness 33:42 The Middle Path: Balancing Indulgence and Suppression 36:09 Understanding Desire: The Role of Self and Shame 37:12 The Ramayana: A Story of Desire and Purpose 40:37 The Strawberry Parable: Appreciating Desire 43:43 The Ego: Our Greatest Obstacle and Hope  

"Fiat Lux". From the living breath of Genesis to the Kikuyu's sacred seed, from the Greek cosmic egg to the Sulawesi tale of the earth-shaking boar scratching its itch — across countless traditions, humankind has always sought to explain the origins of the cosmos. Perhaps fewer people are aware that humanity has also tried to explain the origins of technological life, with ‘technology' here meaning the discovery of activities that enabled progress: agriculture, the construction of more complex structures, brewing, and the domestication of animals. The myths, or stories, that describe how humankind, often with the help of divine or supernatural beings, came to acquire such knowledge are known as "civilisation myths".Western scholars (ethnographers, anthropologists, linguists, and archaeologists alike) were often fascinated by the collection of such stories from remote or so-called ‘exotic' places. These narratives were variously published in richly illustrated children's books or in dense and rather austere academic volumes. Among those who ventured into this field was Nicholas J. Allen, who explored both physical and conceptual terrains that were ‘new' only to Western audiences - for those who lived there, they were part of everyday life and cultural heritage.During his fieldwork in the Solukhumbu District (Nepali: सोलुखुम्बु जिल्ला [solukʰumbu]; Sherpa: ཤར་ཁུམ་བུ་རྫོང་།; Wylie: shar khum bu dzong), Allen studied the Rai, a division of the Kiranti peoples inhabiting the middle hills of eastern Nepal, and in particular the Thulung, one of more than a dozen Rai subtribes, each with its own distinct language. His attention was drawn to the peculiarities of the Thulung, which set them apart from other Rai groups. Through comparative linguistic andmythological analysis, Allen hypothesised that, although the Thulung had been influenced by Hindu immigrants, they showed virtually no trace of Tibetan or Buddhist influence and were hence the result of very ancient cultural heritage pre- dating Buddhism in Nepal. Yet, this observation was only the starting point of our own exploration, not its goal.In our work, we turned to the Jaw-Khliw cycle, a civilisation myth that culminates in a wedding. We sought to express this story through sound, following Khakcilik on his journey as he learns to build a house, prepare a swidden, and brew beer thanks to a woman called Wayelungma. His path is accompanied by the sounds of animals known to inhabit elevations between 1,400 and 2,000 m near Mukli, where the original soundscape was recorded in 1970. These include the dark-sided flycatcher, ultramarine flycatcher, Nepal fulvetta, and wild boar (the latter also mentioned in another of Allen's myths).The soundscape does not mirror the narrative point by point; instead, it employs evocative sounds to express key moments in the story, such as the Nepali gong introducing the three siblings, or the shimmering textures that evoke the magic of Wayelungma. We did not introduce one sad moment, as our intention was not to recount loss, but to dwell on the wonder of knowledge and of learning, with the aim of nourishing soul and intellect. The journey of Khakcilik and Wayelungma culminates in a marriage, for which Nicholas's 1970 recording was used. The names and lives of those who married and celebrated their love and were recorded by Nicholas may now be lost to history, but, in a romantic (and perhaps slightly naïve) gesture, we wished to honour love as one of the possible driving forces of civilisation itself — a celebration of the journey of Khakcilik and Wayelungma. Jaw and Khliw, the greater and lesser hornbill, try to kill their younger brother Khakcilik. Destroying an effigy of him, they fly off. After a quarrel the younger is eaten by an owl, then resuscitated. Meanwhile, Khakcilik, who lives by fishing, repeatedly catches a stone which he eventually deposits in his house. The stone, really a woman called Wayelungma or Nagimo, sweeps and cooks for him while he is out until one day, following advice, he hides behind a winnowing fan and captures her as his wife. Wayelungma instructs him how to build a house but in the process their first child is crushed under the central pillar. Also under her instruction and with her help he prepares a swidden, brews beer from its grain and invites, and when this fails, entices, his sisters to return home for the wedding. One comes from the north, one from the south and they contribute copper vessels as wedding gifts.Reference: TIBET AND THE THULUNG RAI: TOWARDS A COMPARATIVE MYTHOLOGY OF THE BODIC SPEAKERS Nicholas J. Allen (1980) in Tibetan Studies in Honour of Hugh Richardson ed. By Michael Aris and Aung San Suu Kyi.Proceedings of the International Seminar on Tibetan Studies. Oxford 1979. Aris & Phillips LTD Warminster, EnglandCeremonial (wedding) music from the Himalayas reimagined by Soundscapes Of Antiquity.———Part of the project A Century of Sounds, reimagining 100 sounds covering 100 years from the collections of the Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford. Explore the full project at citiesandmemory.com/century-sounds

This talk was given by Gil Fronsdal, Kim Moore, and Kerstin Deibert on 2026.02.20 at the Sati Center in Redwood City, CA. ******* How can we meet these painful times of polarization, divisiveness, and domination? What is needed to build bridges of compassion and understanding in places of conflict? And how might the inner work of cultivating peace translate into promoting peace in the wider world? The Buddhist Peace and Conflict Chaplaincy program (PACC; pronounced like pax) draws on foundational Buddhist teachings and practices to uncover the innate potential of the human heart to foster peace within and without. Participants will intimately explore the role of a Buddhist Peace Chaplain – a spiritual caregiver who is dedicated to the flourishing of peace and supports those enmeshed in conflict with clarity, kindness, and impartiality. More information about the program (starting June 2026), including how to apply, at https://sati.org/pacc/. ******* A machine generated transcript of this talk is available. It has not been edited by a human, so errors will exist. Download Transcript: https://www.audiodharma.org/transcripts/24465/download ******* For more talks like this, visit AudioDharma.org ******* If you have enjoyed this talk, please consider supporting AudioDharma with a donation at https://www.audiodharma.org/donate/. ******* This talk is licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License

What if dying is not an ending, but a moment of radical clarity? In his new novel "Vigil," George Saunders conjures a strange and often comic world of bickering angels visiting a dying, deeply flawed man—debating and waiting to see whether he can face the truth about himself before it's too late.In this conversation, Steve Paulson talks with Saunders about the evolution of his ideas about death and the possibility of an afterlife. Dying, he says, may be “the ultimate experience of wonder,” and he believes ghost stories can open powerful imaginative spaces for novelists. Saunders reflects on his own Buddhist practice as he considers these life-and-death questions, and he tells us why he thinks fiction is uniquely suited to grappling with complex moral issues and why Tolstoy and Chekhov are his personal sources of inspiration.Saunders is the author of such celebrated books as “Tenth of December,” “Pastoralia,” and the Booker Prize-winning “Lincoln in the Bardo.”  His nonfiction book about the great Russian writers is “A Swim in a Pond in the Rain.”This interview was recorded at the Central Library in downtown Madison shortly before Saunders spoke at the Wisconsin Book Festival.— To the Best of Our Knowledge — On his short story collection “Tenth of December.  To the Best of Our Knowledge: Reflecting on “Lincoln in the Bardo.” Substack Story Club with George Saunders —00:00:00 Introduction and Reading from Vigil00:07:50 The Plane Crash and Death Obsession00:15:00 The Writing Process and Wonder00:24:30 Moral Accountability in Fiction00:32:20 Chekhov, Succession, and Accuracy00:40:00 Kindness, Criticism, and Final Thoughts Wonder Cabinet is hosted by Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson. Find out more about the show at https://wondercabinetproductions.com, where you can subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter.

This talk was given by Gil Fronsdal, Kim Moore, and Kerstin Deibert on 2026.02.20 at the Sati Center in Redwood City, CA. ******* How can we meet these painful times of polarization, divisiveness, and domination? What is needed to build bridges of compassion and understanding in places of conflict? And how might the inner work of cultivating peace translate into promoting peace in the wider world? The Buddhist Peace and Conflict Chaplaincy program (PACC; pronounced like pax) draws on foundational Buddhist teachings and practices to uncover the innate potential of the human heart to foster peace within and without. Participants will intimately explore the role of a Buddhist Peace Chaplain – a spiritual caregiver who is dedicated to the flourishing of peace and supports those enmeshed in conflict with clarity, kindness, and impartiality. More information about the program (starting June 2026), including how to apply, at https://sati.org/pacc/. ******* A machine generated transcript of this talk is available. It has not been edited by a human, so errors will exist. Download Transcript: https://www.audiodharma.org/transcripts/24465/download ******* For more talks like this, visit AudioDharma.org ******* If you have enjoyed this talk, please consider supporting AudioDharma with a donation at https://www.audiodharma.org/donate/. ******* This talk is licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License

We guide a gentle mindfulness practice that softens the body, anchors attention in the breath, and trains a kind return from wandering thoughts. The aim is a reliable home base in presence that eases anxiety without force or judgment.• settling posture, softening belly, shoulders and jaw• choosing breath as a steady home base• receiving the breath rather than controlling it• using a soft “thinking” note to interrupt storylines• re-relaxing the body and reopening awareness• allowing background sounds and sensations• strengthening the muscle of returning to presenceSupport the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness: Certify.MindfulnessExercises.com Email: Sean@MindfulnessExercises.com Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life. Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work. Each episode offers a mix of: Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings Conversations with respected meditation teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change If you're interested in: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life Trauma-sensitive and compassion-based practices Teaching mindfulness in an authentic, non-performative way Deepening your own practice while supporting others …you're in the right place. Learn more at MindfulnessExercises.com.

The Buddha's Enlightenment and his Parinirvana are the two key events in his life. But what significance do they hold for us in our approach to life - and death? Subhadramati, an experienced and engaging Buddhist teacher, will explore these profound questions. This talk was given at London Buddhist Centre, 2024. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreeBuddhistAudio1967

Conan O'Brien broke his silence on the murders of Rob and Michele Reiner, saying he had seen them hours before their deaths, praising Rob's legacy, and expressing shock as their son Nick faces charges amid questions about his mental health and possible drug involvement. A baby macaque named Punch went viral after videos showed him being bullied at a Japanese zoo and clinging to a stuffed toy for comfort, sparking global sympathy, celebrity attention, and even a $250,000 purchase offer as updates suggest he is slowly being accepted. Plus, Thai police dressed in a red lion dance costume during Lunar New Year celebrations to arrest a suspected thief accused of stealing valuable Buddhist artefacts, with the dramatic sting operation quickly going viral online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our guest is Reverend Dr. Masaki Matsubara, who is an eighteenth-generation Zen priest in the Japanese Rinzai tradition. His career is unique and impressive. Following his Zen monastic training in Heirinji Monastery in Japan, he moved to the US in 1999 to study at Cornell University, where he eventually earned a PhD in Asian religions. Since then, he has taught Buddhist studies at prominent institutions, including U.C. Berkeley, Stanford University, Cornell University, Brown University and the University of Tokyo. Also, Rev. Matsubara is the head abbot of Butsumoji Zen Temple in Chiba, Japan Reverend Matsubara joined us in Episode #377 in September 2025 and discussed important ideas underlying Japanese society, such as the true meaning of Zen and the difference between Zen and mindfulness. Now, he is back to talk about food in Zen practice. Generally speaking, in business organizations, the lower level of the hierarchy tends to be in charge of food matters. CEO's would not choose and order lunch items for their employees, for instance. However, in Zen practice, preparing and serving meals is a very important part of training and the cook is called Tenzo. The idea of prioritizing meal preparation, as much as meditation and studying Buddhism, came from the classic book Tenzo Kyokun, written by the Japanese Zen Buddhist master Dogen in 1237. The book is old and sounds aloof from our daily lives, but there are many valuable lessons for living mindfully in our modern lifestyle. In this episode, we will discuss why food is essential in Zen practice, the precious lessons in the book Tenzo Kyokun, how you can practice a mindful approach to food in your daily life, how Japanese vegetarian cuisine Shojin Ryori exemplifies the essence of mindful eating and much, much more!!! The latest information on Reverend Matsubara's meditation sessions is found here on Instagram:@masakimatsubara.zen@the.gallery.nyc@o.d.o_nySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode I am once again joined by Alex W, long term practitioner of Zen, Pragmatic Dharma, and Western Occultism. Alex takes a deep dive into the world of magick to compare esoteric systems from around the world including Western Occultism, Tibetan Buddhism, Indian Tantric and Goddess systems, Santeria and more. Alex gives a history of the development of Western Occultism, exploring the Egyptian mysteries, Neoplatonism, Catholic mysticism, Kabbalah, Shi'ism, Wicca, the Golden Dawn, Thelema, Chaos Magic and beyond. Alex discusses esoteric techniques such spellcraft, opening the psychic senses, working with entities, mantra, yantra, alchemy, astrology, and divination. He considers the tension between natural talent and practiced skill, reviews strategies for protection against curses and entity oppression, and recounts his own path as a practitioner of the occult. … Full episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep349-deep-dive-into-magick-alex-w Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:09 - History of magick 06:08 - Christianity as a reinterpretation of Egyptian mysteries of Osiris 06:40 - Syncretism of the Golden Dawn 08:48 - Thelema 09:50 - English vs French magick 11:10 - Wicca 12:55 - Chaos Magic 16:04 - Belief and manifestation 19:26 - Theory vs practice 20:52 - Neoplatonism 22:54 - Kabbalah 29:09 - Shi'ism, Sufism, and the Church fathers 30:42 - Renaissance 32:36 - Not superstition? 33:53 - Alex's magick path 35:32 - Training under Alan Chapman 38:21 - Scrying and the Holy Guardian Angel 40:10 - What is the HGA? 46:04 - The real initiation of Western Occultism 47:37 - Santeria and spirits 51:16- Exploring the Renaissance grimoires 54:56 - Catholic mysticism, angels, and saints 56:25 - Spellcraft 57:25 - Hinduism and Buddhist magick 01:03:33 - Mantra 01:07:29 - Yantras and Indo-European astrology 01:10:15 - Tantra as a ritual process to effect change and invoke spirits 01:11:34 - Ramnath Aghori Baba  01:12:51 - How Goddess traditions work 01:19:13 - Initiated by Kālī and the Dark Feminine 01:25:21 - Opening the psychic senses 01:27:19 - Kālī, Chinnamastā, and the Dark Feminine 01:30:41 - Hecate 01:33:10 - Dark spirits, ḍākinīs, and the 64 yogis 01:37:19 - Network of friends 01:41:06 - Past lives 01:42:38 - Astrology 01:46:12 - Which practice is right for you? 01:47:42 - Alchemy 01:48:46 - Why practice magick? 01:53:14 - Divination and protection against curses 01:54:28 - 3 magickal self defence methods 02:02:10 - How common are curses? 02:05:26 - Why seek the Western Tradition? 02:12:08 - Indian vs Tibetan tantra 02:15:29 - Is magick well understood? 02:20:34 - Talent, lineage, and technique 02:22:44 - Crowley's birthchart 02:27:32 - Alan & Duncan's relationship 02:29:08 - Dangers 02:35:089 - Spiritual psychosis 02:37:50 - Devotion … Previous episodes with Alex W: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=alex For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

From interfaith practice to ancestral wisdom, Kaira Jewel Lingo and Vincent Moore explore how engaged spirituality across traditions supports collective awakening.Today's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This week on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Kaira and Vincent discuss:The Beloved Community for Engaged Spirituality: developing a monastic space for Buddhist/Christian/non-denominational practice in upstate New YorkReceiving Lamp Transmission from Thich Nhat HanhContending with hostility, wars, and climate crises Ancestral wisdom and honoring those who came before usSkillful means and working with people in denial around the current troubles of our timeEnjoying practice, allowing individuality, and letting go of rigidity Remembering that everyone has the capacity for awakeningThis conversation was originally recorded on the Paths of Practice Podcast. Listen to more episodes HERE.About Kaira Jewel Lingo:Kaira is a mindfulness meditation teacher, author, and mentor who guides people to transform and heal through embodied presence, stillness, and play. She is a Buddhist teacher who has spent decades weaving mindfulness and meditation with social justice. Check out her book, We Were Made for These Times, to learn about navigating change. You can keep up with Kaira on her website.About Vincent Moore:Vincent Moore is a creative and creative consultant living in San Francisco, California, with over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry and holds a graduate degree in Buddhist Studies. For years, he performed regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, an improv and sketch comedy theatre based in New York and Los Angeles. As an actor, Vincent performed on Comedy Central, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Seth Meyers, Above Average, and The UCB Show on Seeso. As a writer, he developed for television as well as stage, including work with the Blue Man Group, and his own written projects have been featured on websites such as Funny or Die. Additionally, he received a Masters of Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies with a Certificate in Soto Zen Studies and engages in a personal Buddhist practice within the Soto Zen tradition. Vincent is also the creator and host of the podcast, Paths of Practice, which features interviews with Buddhists from all over the world. Learn more on Vincent's website HERE."Whenever I read the Christian mystics or any mystic, really, it's like the mystics are in touch with this space that is beyond the confines of one tradition. They're in the groundwater, not in the well. All the mystics seem to get to that place of oneness, emptiness, or total interconnection." –Kaira Jewel LingoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if just one minute could gently shape your entire day?In this short, guided intention-setting practice, you're invited to pause, breathe, and consciously choose how you want to show up today. In just 60 seconds, we'll plant a simple seed of kindness and presence—helping you move through your conversations, work, and relationships with greater care and awareness.This brief audio is perfect for listening first thing in the morning, before a meeting, or anytime you need a reset. Let this one-minute practice support you in creating a day that feels grounded, intentional, and heart-centered.Press play. Take one breath. Set your intention.Support the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness: Certify.MindfulnessExercises.com Email: Sean@MindfulnessExercises.com Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life. Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work. Each episode offers a mix of: Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings Conversations with respected meditation teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change If you're interested in: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life Trauma-sensitive and compassion-based practices Teaching mindfulness in an authentic, non-performative way Deepening your own practice while supporting others …you're in the right place. Learn more at MindfulnessExercises.com.

Research shows that reflecting on our shared humanity can increase self-compassion and life satisfaction while reducing feelings of isolation. In this practice, Dacher Keltner guides us to look beneath our differences and connect with the qualities that make us human together.This guided exercise draws on a meditation by Sean Fargo, a mindfulness teacher and former Buddhist monk.How To Do This Practice: Settle your body: Sit comfortably and take a few slow, steady breaths. Let your shoulders drop, soften your jaw, and allow your body to feel supported by the ground or chair beneath you. Notice what's here: Briefly scan your body and emotions. Whatever you're feeling—calm, tense, distracted, open—simply acknowledge it without trying to change it. Bring someone to mind: Think of someone you don't know well, feel distant from, or have mild tension with. Picture them as if they were in front of you. Reflect on your similarities: Silently repeat phrases like: This person has a body and mind, just like me; this person has felt sadness, joy, and pain, just like me; this person wants to be safe, loved, and understood, just like me. Gently extend kind intentions toward them: May you be well. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you live with ease. Return and reflect: Bring your attention back to your breath and body. Notice if anything has shifted—perhaps a softening, a little more space, or a sense of connection—and carry that awareness into your day. This episode was supported by a grant from The John Templeton Foundation on Spreading Love Through the Media.Related Happiness Break episodes:A Meditation for When You Feel Uneasy: https://tinyurl.com/4x27ut3pA Meditation to Connect With Your Roots: https://tinyurl.com/ycy9xazcA Mindful Breath Meditation, With Dacher Keltner: https://tinyurl.com/mr9d22krRelated The Science of Happiness episodes:  Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/yxw4uhpfHow to Feel More Hopeful: https://tinyurl.com/4tfwhbpbHow Holding Yourself Can Reduce Stress: https://tinyurl.com/2hvhkwe6Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPodWe'd love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/4ju7rmtd

Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh's deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino are joined by Zen Buddhist nun Sister True Dedication to celebrate the legacy of Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay)'s teachings, and how they have impacted both them and the broader community.  This milestone instalment of the podcast – the 100th episode! – coincides with the centenary of Thich Nhat Hanh's birth. As well as discussing the purpose of the podcast series, the contributors reflect upon Thay’s compassion, and commitment to relieving suffering – and the monastic tradition's importance to the preservation and transmission of these teachings. The discussion also takes in topics such as the evolution of Plum Village; the development of an online monastery, to make Plum Village’s teachings more accessible; and the need for ethical values and mindful living in the face of global crises, and Plum Village's aim to be a community of resistance, embodying a way of life that is in harmony with the Earth and with each other. All this and: how has the podcast transformed the lives of its hosts? Co-produced by the Plum Village App:https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism:https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation:https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Course: Zen and the Art of Saving the Planethttps://plumvillage.org/courses/zen-and-the-art-of-saving-the-planet Interbeinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Plum Village Traditionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition Linjihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linji_school Sister True Dedicationhttps://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem Bodhicittahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhicitta ‘The Five Mindfulness Trainings'https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-5-mindfulness-trainings‘The 14 Mindfulness Trainings'https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainingsDharma Talk: ‘Redefining the Four Noble Truths' https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/redefining-the-four-noble-truths Zen and the Art of Saving the Planethttps://www.parallax.org/product/zen-and-the-art-of-saving-the-planet/ How To: ‘Begin Anew'https://plumvillage.org/articles/begin-anew Living Gemshttps://plumvillage.org/gems/ Stephen Batchelorhttps://stephenbatchelor.org/ Being with Busyness: Zen Ways to Transform Overwhelm and Burnouthttps://www.parallax.org/product/being-with-busyness/ Calm in the Storm: Zen Ways to Cultivate Stability in an Anxious Worldhttps://www.parallax.org/product/calm-in-the-storm/ Quotes “What you [the hosts] give voice and humanity and friendship to is what a spiritual life being lived feels like, sounds like, looks like. You’re both wonderfully descriptive in how you talk about both your own spiritual lives, and seeking, and your own experiences – and those of the people around us, here, in the community.” “Thay’s bodhicitta really sets him apart from many other leading spiritual figures, perhaps in that he was relentless in his creativity and his determination to relieve suffering and to find universal paths out of it. And something else that set him apart was that he didn’t offer the Buddha Dharma for Buddha Dharma’s sake: he wasn’t interested in the success of Buddhism per se; he wanted humanity to be a better species and he wanted human actions to not bring so much suffering to humans and to the planet.” “Thay transcended even Zen and Buddhism. He was an extraordinary human who wanted to share and develop practices and ways of being in the world, through mindfulness, through the Five Mindfulness Trainings and the 14 Mindfulness Trainings: concrete ways that we can cultivate ourselves to be better humans – an unusual legacy for a Zen master.” “Thay wanted every moment of his presence to manifest right action in the world. He wasn’t interested in small talk.” “A monastic only retires when he transforms and lets go.” “This is it. Stop searching, stop running.” “A lotus will be a lotus. And a rose will be a rose. And a magnolia will be a magnolia. But if we try to be everything, then we’re going to be nothing. And then we don’t know how to nurture the lotus, because the lotus is very particular; it needs mud. A rose is very particular, too; it needs a different setting.” “This is not an era of change, it’s a change of era.” “The primary direction that Thay gave us was to be a community of simplicity, of peace, of awareness, and of embracing suffering. Be that community. Which, by the way, is a really tall order.” “One of our first missions as monastics is to embody a way of living that is happy, harmonious, and different. And then to hold that light for future generations, outside of the rat race. A lot of monastic communities throughout history have emerged from this kind of intention: to not follow the path of getting a job, getting a mortgage, becoming householders, getting a pension, and being part of the machine. We step outside of that in order to cultivate different qualities.” “The algorithms, the screens, the politics, the lobbies, the economics are all taking us towards the worst of human nature. So we have to be able to say, ‘Well, we’re going to stand for the better parts of human nature.' And that’s going to be important: for us to lift up in the world, and to know that we have had ancestors, over the millennia, who were interested in cultivating non-violence, compassion, tolerance, inclusiveness, generosity, well-being, health. And we have to take our society in that direction and not give up on it. Because otherwise it becomes a dog-eat-dog world where we’re all scrambling over each other in a race to the bottom of the brainstem. So, one of our roles in Plum Village is to help people not give up on the ethical values that are needed now more than ever.” “When people leave Plum Village, they don’t leave with nothing. They leave with the world. They leave for the path. And we’re there to support that through the sanghas, through all our online offerings. And here is a community that's navigating this, evolving this, updating it, exploring it. The world passes through Plum Village, and, from that, we grow so much.” “We’re a light in the world. So wherever there’s darkness, light is there. We just have to search for it, or stop, pause, and know that that light is there.”

Lesley Logan and Brad Crowell unpack what having a “Pilates body” actually means, diving deep into the misconception that health has a specific aesthetic. They explore why moving for health matters more than chasing a look, how confidence is built through action, and what it takes to stop shrinking your own story. Through honest reflection and real examples, this episode challenges the narratives that keep people playing small. Listeners are invited to redefine strength from the inside out. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:Why “Pilates body” was never meant to describe a physical aesthetic.Moving for health instead of chasing shape or size outcomes.Reframing “fake it till you make it” as a confidence tool.How luck narratives keep people from owning their grit.Why having the right people in your corner matters long-term.Episode References/Links:Agency MINI - https://prfit.biz/mini Poland Contrology Pilates Conference - xxll.co/poland Brussels - xxll.co/brussels POT London - https://xxll.co/pot Spring Training - How to Get Overhead - https://opc.me/events The Pilates Body by Brooke Siler - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063337163The Great American Spit Out - https://beitpod.com/americanspitoutRethinking Thin by Gina Kolata - https://a.co/d/0djq9K9pHysteria Podcast - https://beitpod.com/hysteriaButts: A Backstory - https://a.co/d/gHqMk8vSend your wins or questions - https://beitpod.com/questions If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Lesley Logan 0:00  We have to cut to the bullshit of like, what a healthy body looks like. We just have to. Like, I am massively impressed by these strong women and strong men. They are not tiny people, they are big people, and what they can do is fucking insane. Lesley Logan 0:14  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:54  Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to dig into the redefining convo I had with Brooke Siler and Maria Earle in our last episode. And if you didn't listen to that one, you fucked up, you missed, you messed up. Brad Crowell 1:09  Game over. Lesley Logan 1:09  I'm sorry. I hate to say it that harshly, but you gotta, you gotta listen. I mean, what are you doing? How are you missing the Tuesday episode? No, I'm kidding. Listen to this. Sometimes people like to listen this, and then they go listen to that one. So if that's you, I'm not harping on you, you're gonna go listen to it, because you are gonna be so intrigued if you missed it. It was so good. It was so fun. Brad Crowell 1:28  Yeah, it was good. It was actually a lot of fun. And there were, like, some great moments in there that I started taking notes. Lesley Logan 1:35  Whoa, whoa. 643 episodes later, friends and he is taking notes. Oh, my God. Well, today is February 19th 2026, it's a Great American Spit Out. We observe Great American Spit Out on the Thursday of February's third full week every year. So complicated. This year it takes place. I have a really funny side note, I listened to this podcast. Brad Crowell 2:01  Third full week. Thursday of the.Lesley Logan 2:04  Yeah, The February's third full week every year. Yeah. So there's this one podcast I listened to, and those, I won't say the podcast name, because if you listen to it, you'll know what I'm talking about. And she always says the date, and she'll say 2000 2026 and it's taken forever for her to go, what I'm not saying it right? They're like, No, you're not, anyways. And that just made me think of it like, let's make it as complicated as possible. Thursday of February, third full week of every year. So would it be the third Thursday of the fullest week in February? Brad Crowell 2:37  Why would the third week of February not be full? Lesley Logan 2:39  Well, because you could start on a for the first could start on a Thursday. Brad Crowell 2:40  Oh, I see. Lesley Logan 2:41  And so that's not a full week. Brad Crowell 2:43  So it's not, technically, the third Thursday, because if the if the week start, if it starts on a Wednesday, the first Thursday is not a full week.Lesley Logan 2:54  The third Thursday of February's fullest week. Brad Crowell 3:00  I think this is hilarious. Moving on.Lesley Logan 3:02  Anyways, they're like, dying to know what this is. So this year, it takes place on February 19th. It's a day to encourage people, especially veterans, to stop using smokeless tobacco products. The important mission of the day. I mean, honestly, this is for everybody. I appreciate that we're encouraging our veterans.Brad Crowell 3:19  All tobacco products, but right now we're talking about the Great American Spit Out, which is clearly talking about dipping, yeah, dipping and other things. Lesley Logan 3:27  Dipping and other things. I guess there's other things. So the important mission of this day is to provide users with enough resources to help them stop using such products that tobacco plant is cultivated for its leaves. Tobacco leaves are rich in nicotine, which is an addictive chemical people can use tobacco to smoke, chew or sniff. The Great American Spit Out as the perfect day to start, to start fighting the addiction caused by tobacco products and nicotine. Smokeless tobacco users are encouraged to quit, even if just for one day. Hey, you know what? You know around here, we are here for just one day. Anything to start. I actually really picked this day because a few other days were quite boring. But my family has a history of smokers and it and all of them had to have surgery, and all of them did not die on an easy in an easy way. So my grandfather, he had a part of his lung removed, like a huge part back in the day when they did those surgeries, it looks like a shark bit him. And they would show us, this is this is our hooked on trucks. This is our dare campaign. My family would pull up a shirt and show us the shark attack. Oh, this is gonna happen to you if you smoke. And then, yes, but your parents did a more, kinder.Brad Crowell 4:25  Yeah, we didn't have any shark attack smoking shark attack (inaudible).Lesley Logan 4:29  Everyone was able to learn, like the way I was raised. And then my mom had another because of the blood, the way his blood coagulated, and his tobacco use started losing limbs. And to the day he died, he still smoked. Because at one point he was like, Well, if I have no feet or legs or fingers, I should at least continue to smoke. And then his wife died of secondhand smoke. She died of emphysema. So yeah, so at any rate. So I also looked up because we are hearing that tobacco products are back on the rise again, partly because, like, you know, the hooked on drugs is your brain on drugs and and and things like that aren't working. But also the youth today, the youth, the younger people today, the youths, they are actually they're they actually don't they have a deeper sense of fatalism, like they actually don't think that they'll be alive as long as the rest of the world has been or in a world that is going to be healthy and clean for them. So why not smoke? Which I get that? Here's the deal. Brad Crowell 5:25  Aren't they drinking less though?Lesley Logan 5:28  They don't drink as much, they also have sex later, so that's cool, or less. Do you know today, the day that we're recording this, I heard that 40 year old women are having more babies than teenagers, and that's huge. That is a huge deal Because, like.Brad Crowell 5:43  That's not what I don't think I would have expected that, but that's great.Lesley Logan 5:46  Well, because now IVF has gotten better and kids are having less sex. So, you know, so I think, but here's the deal. Like, look, we all have our vices. We all have our addictions. And there's just something about cigarette smoke that just and if you're a smoker who listens this, I'm not judging you. I feel bad that you got hooked on that you got hooked on it, and it bothers me, and I understand, like you could be addicted to alcohol and other things that are as bad. But there's just about cigarette smoke that I fucking can't stand. I can't stand walking by a doorway and smelling it. I can't. So if, if, if me wanting to stand next to you outside matters, maybe you quit today, and I know you're like Lesley, this is chewing. Well, chewing causes jaw cancer, you know, so tongue, not not sexy, not sexy. In fact, one of our friends fathers had jaw cancer from smoking, from chewing tobacco, and so we all got to see that. That was my parents way of making sure we never started chewing. Brad Crowell 6:43  The Shark Attack of the jaw cancer. Lesley Logan 6:45  Well, it's not sexy. I'm gonna tell you right now, even if you're fatalistic, you definitely want your teeth you do. So stop smoking, even for today. Okay, let's get into it. So oh gosh, my goodness, babe. Agency Mini kicked off today.Brad Crowell 6:59  Today. This morning. We are, we are, while you're listening to this, we're probably live on a webinar. Lesley Logan 7:05  Yeah? So you can, I think you could still sign up today, but. Brad Crowell 7:08  You sure can. Lesley Logan 7:07  But it's gonna move quick, so and you don't want to wait till the next one, because I know you're like, Oh, I'll wait till the next one. You'll forget about it. So you should just sign up for today. prfit.biz/mini it's for Pilates instructors and studio owners who work for themselves or want to. We are going to get you clarity. We're gonna help you with your business. Brad and I have been around a lot of different fitness business coaches out there, and one thing that they all have in common is treating you all the same and encouraging your business to follow certain templates. And we want you. We've I believe that your business will ride any recession wave if you are differentiated and your services are diversified, and it follows your goals and your life, and that's what we coach. Brad Crowell 7:31  That is. But, so go to prfit.biz/mini. That's profit without the O slash mini, and then in March, we're hitting the road, y'all, in a different way than normal when we when we say we're hitting the road, usually means we're hopping in the van. This time, we are hopping on a plane. We are going to be skipping across said pond. Lesley Logan 8:07  We're going to be in Poland. Yeah, Poland first for the Controlology Pilates conference with Karen Frischmann. That's gonna be a couple of days of epicness. And there's a day where you can get some sessions, and it's just a lot of fun. If you didn't, if you missed us the last time was a couple years ago. Don't miss this one. We don't know when we're coming back, and that's just because the world is really big, and I've got to start going to new places. You know, we need to go to Australia and stuff. So xxll.co/poland and then we'll, we'll venture over. I don't really know if it's I have, you know, when I look at the map, I'm so confused. I don't know. I clearly forgot how to study the map of Europe. So we're gonna go over to Brussels. I'll just say that, because I don't really know if it's up or down, or east or west. We're going to Brussels. xxll.co/brussels, we'll be at Els Studio. P li tells which I just love. I love NFL is listening to this one of my Oh, whenever I hear what else I always think of? What else? Yeah, yeah. From our time with Jay, we would start going, what else? What else? Anyways, xxll.co/brussels that's, when we meet Karen, again. Brad Crowell 9:11  Let's just say that again, xxll.co xxll.co/brusselsLesley Logan 9:17  What you can't you can't hear this fast you can hear. And that's just giving out the fine print. It's Karen and I again, also our friend Ignacio is going to be there. Oh my gosh, I love him so much I can't even wait. So definitely snag your spots to that before it's sold out. And then we're gonna do our second honeymoon and make our way over to London to POT London, and I have some information for you folks. My Saturday workshop is sold out. Brad Crowell 9:45  What already? Holy mackerel. Lesley Logan 9:47  Yeah, it is. It is at max capacity. And there's only a few spots left in my Sunday workshop. So if you are wanting to add classical concepts to your contemporary classes, then you're going to want to go xxll.co/pot xxll.co/pot I'm super excited. We'll have our decks there. Those workshops will happen, and you definitely want to stick around, because there's also going to be a little hangout session that we're doing for our members and our listeners. And then there's a really cool documentary that they are doing. The release, Pilates Anytime is doing the release of at that POT event. Yep, you'll want to be there. Then we're gonna come back. Brad Crowell 10:25  Then we're coming home. Lesley Logan 10:26  And we're doing some fun stuff at home. We have eLevate weekend, we have eLevate retreat. We have business retreat. You know those things you can't come to unless you can, and you'll know if you can. So you got an invite, but what you can come to is something we're doing in May. And believe it or not, May is still springtime. Brad Crowell 10:49  Believe it or not. Lesley Logan 10:49  It's still springtime. And so. Brad Crowell 10:51  News flash. Lesley Logan 10:48  News flash. Well, some people think it's the summer because of the weekend, the holiday weekend, but it is still spring, and we're doing spring training, and it's how to get overhead so this is our overhead exercises. We have a lot of requests for people struggling with Overhead, Jack Knife, Control Balance, High Season, Bicycle Headstands. So what I'm super excited about is that we're going to do a whole week long on all these different classes with different teachers from the OPC platform, so that no matter your body size, height, age, experience, you are going to have a class. It's going to give you tips for for your life, for your practice. I mean, we even have a teacher who's removing overhead exercises from her practice, and so you don't let fear stop you from this one or, Oh, I'm a beginner, or I can never do that. I have contraindications. We will have versions and variations for you. And our goal is it's kind of like. Brad Crowell 10:51  Look, it's how to do it, not necessarily having to do it, right? How to do it, not have to do it. Lesley Logan 10:54  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And at OPC, we're really big fans of like you you learn the variations and the versions replacements for your practice, and then we believe it's brave and courageous that you do that. So we're super excited about it. You're going to want to go to opc.me/events, to get on the waitlist for that, because you'll, you'll, if you're on the waitlist, you'll hear about Early Bird and all that good stuff, and so you won't miss out on that information.Brad Crowell 12:08  Yeah, totally. Well.Lesley Logan 12:10  I'm excited we have. I mean, hello, welcome to the new year. I know it's February 19th, everyone. Brad Crowell 12:14  Busy busy year already. Lesley Logan 12:16  But we just got home. This is our first day in the office. Brad Crowell 12:18  This is literally the first full day in the office, and it's already January's almost done.Lesley Logan 12:23  I know, I know I kind of like it, though I feel very I felt ready to come back to work today. So anyways, we have to get into this episode before that. We have a question from audience. Would you like to share it with me, babe? Brad Crowell 12:35  Yeah. So IG, from IG, Pilates_Rosi is asking, Hey, someone told me that you should always gear out on the Reformer to do the short box series. Yes, no. Do you agree? Lesley Logan 12:48  Isn't always such a strong word? Brad Crowell 12:50  Always. This is why I failed all personality tests, because there's always an exception. So the answer would be fucking no, but.Lesley Logan 12:57  Yeah, I don't always do anything. Brad Crowell 12:58  Oh, right. We don't always do anything ever come on. Lesley Logan 13:00  And also not every Reformer gears out. So then what? Right? Brad Crowell 13:04  Then, what are you supposed to do? Should you be gearing out? Maybe that's a better way to ask the question. So we're not getting into our ADHD-ness.Lesley Logan 13:12  All right, so in an ideal world, your some people call it a sitting box. I call it a short box, goes over your shoulder blocks on the carriage, like a hamburger side, like it's, I guess. Anyways, I'm trying to describe how it goes on the Reformer for visual. But anyways, the short box goes on the carriage over the shoulder rest. That's the goal. So most Reformers will have a peg or some sort of post that is on there, and then there's space, and then there's your shoulder block. And so the box would, one side of the box would fit between that and lock it into place, lock in air quotes, right, would sit in there.Brad Crowell 13:44  So it's not sliding off easily. Still can if you're not paying attention. Lesley Logan 13:44  I mean, you could. You know, people have done funny things, but in an ideal world, you just sit on it, and it's not going to move forward or backwards. It's going to be in place. And then from that position, your feet go underneath the strap and they should. Brad Crowell 14:01  You're facing the foot bar. Lesley Logan 14:06  You're facing the foot bar. Brad Crowell 14:08  Feet go in the strap. Lesley Logan 14:03  In an ideal world, your feet do not rest on anything. That said, sometimes they touch things. There's a difference between touching and resting, right? However, I have noticed in our tours that there are a lot of new rules out in the world, and so there are some people who put the box in front of the shoulder rest. And I think this is because people aren't really paying attention to how they put the box on.Lesley Logan 14:09  So you're saying in front, as opposed to over the shoulder, okay. Lesley Logan 14:10  Over exactly in front. So they put them in front of the shoulder rest. Because I think the boxes are getting damaged because people aren't paying attention to what they're putting the box on. Or some equipment has, like, different things back there on their blocks. They have to go in front of the shoulder blocks. So if you're going in front of the shoulder blocks, most of the time, you're going to gear out. Unless someone is fun size and your box is really big, you're going to gear out. What does that mean? It means you're going to move the carriage away from the strap a little bit so that you can actually have straight, non resting legs when they're under the strap. Now, can the legs be slightly bent, of course. Should they be forced to bend? I wouldn't, because then it makes it really difficult to get into your seat. Makes it really difficult to get into your center. Your hip flexor start pulling you up. So here is the thing that I would agree with.Brad Crowell 14:10  When you say the thing you're talking about now we're talking about the actual gearing. Lesley Logan 14:10  We're going to talk about the exercise. In an ideal world, you place the box on the equipment where the body needs it, so that their legs can be reaching as long as possible without locking out, and their feet are underneath the strap flex without resting. That's the goal. Brad Crowell 14:10  Okay.Lesley Logan 14:10  That's the goal. So it's going to be different for everyone. Some people are going to be in front of the shoulder blocks. Some people are going to be over the shoulder blocks. Some people are gonna be front geared out. But if you are putting the box in front of the shoulder blocks, because that's a rule, most often, you're gearing out. Brad Crowell 15:27  Yeah, because it's now shifting the box forward like four inches. Lesley Logan 15:35  And then, by the way, you have to gear back in, because the straps are measured with the carriage geared in, and so in my opinion.Brad Crowell 15:52  So it's really a pain, that's a pain in the ass. Lesley Logan 15:54  Yes, thank you so much. Just put the box over the shoulder blocks. Why are we doing why are making this harder? Oh, because we don't want just teach people, you have to. I remember my trainer saying, hey, when you put the box on, make sure this part of the leather is underneath the box. Otherwise it will curl in and it will break and it will hurt against someone's neck. Okay, great. Just tell people. This is why we have a weird rule, you know, Hey, you think polite is expensive. Don't damage the box. How about that? Okay? Brad Crowell 16:21  Yeah, don't damage my damn box. Lesley Logan 16:24  So anyways, I just think that like I get, I get, I get why some people make funny up rules, but we are when you change the exercise placement, you change the exercise, and when you change that, it affects the cueing that people are giving, and then teachers are giving out weird ass cues that make no sense to the person doing it, because they're like, well, how do I get my butt on if my hip flexors are overworking, you know? So it's just hard. So anyways, hopefully, Pilates_Rosi, this gives you some ideas to think about. Definitely check out my videos on the short box, and in my flashcards, you can see where the box is placed. You can see how long my legs are. And if you're an OPC member, you can send in a video. Brad Crowell 16:57  You can see how long her legs are. Lesley Logan 16:59  Oh, my God, they're so long. But if you're an OPC member, you can send in a video of your setup for your short box, and I'll give you personalized feedback on where your box goes. There you go. If you have a question, you can send it in.Brad Crowell 17:13  Yeah, send it in. You can text us, 310-905-5534, or hit us up. At beitpod.com/questions, beitpod.com/questions, where you can leave both a win or a question. Lesley Logan 17:25  I want your wins. Brad Crowell 17:26  Yeah. Lesley Logan 17:27  I want your questions and your wins. I want all. I want it all. Brad Crowell 17:30  We want them all. All right, stick around. We're going to talk about Brooke Siler and Maria Earle. Brad Crowell 17:34  All right. Welcome back. Let's talk about Brooke Siler and Maria Earle. Brooke and Maria are internationally respected Pilates educators with over 50 years of combined teaching experience. Brooke, the author of the best selling The Pilates Body dropped in 2000 y'all, has spent decades teaching and researching Joseph Pilates' original writings, photos and archival materials which deeply inspired the new 25th anniversary edition of her book and its expanded chapter on internal sensing and natural movement. Maria, who began teaching in 1997 and previously owned a Pilates studio in Manhattan's Upper East Side, now runs a global education practice from Barcelona, where she moved, I think she said, about 15 years ago, she appears as the model in Brooke's new edition of the book, and was chosen for her grounded, internal, authentic approach to movement, rather than an her aesthetic performance. Together, they're redefining what a Pilates body really is.Lesley Logan 18:34  Okay, so I have to say, and I did say this on the episode, but I had, I have many Pilates people pitched to be on this podcast, and while we talk about Pilates a lot, it's not a Pilates podcast like I know it's for Pilates listeners. But to me, Pilate is a mind body, you know, practice, and sometimes our mind is a little fucked up, and we need help from these Be It guests that we have so we can get into our body around our practice. So, but I really wanted to interview them, because what a e it till you see it story and just how the book came about, how the second edition came about, how Maria jumped in on the second edition. I mean, she was so vulnerable and authentic about all about that, about joining the book. And I love that Maria said, let's celebrate the body as it is. Let's cut to the bullshit of what it means to have a Pilates body. And I here's the thing that's really interesting, right? Like, when I bought the book, The Pilates Body, I wasn't like, Oh, I'm going to look like this after I do this book. Like, that's not how I interpreted the book. It's kind of like, like a runner, like, you know what I mean? Like, what do these things mean.Brad Crowell 19:31  That'd be weird to pick up, like, a Gold's Gym muscle book and be like, Oh, if I do these exercises, I'm gonna look like Arnold.Lesley Logan 19:37  I'm gonna have the Gold's Gym body, you know? And like, I mean, I guess like people, I guess people do, but I think this all stems from just terrible media information on what a healthy body looks like. And so I couldn't agree more with like, with the cut through the bullshit of what a Pilates body means, because we have to cut through the bullshit of like, what a healthy body looks like. We just have to. Like, I am massively impressed by these strong women and strong men. They are not tiny people. They are big people, and what they can do is fucking insane. Brad Crowell 20:07  Yeah like, the dudes who pick up the boulder and carry it down the thing, or those, like weird, like rock that are, like, shaped like, kind of like a diamond, like those, and there are hundreds of pounds. Those people who are in those bodies, those are huge bodies. They're not, they're not. Lesley Logan 20:23  They are stronger than anybody I know. Brad Crowell 20:25  Yeah. Lesley Logan 20:26  Literally any, any of the bodies that we work out with, that we're friends with, that we're connected with, stronger than any of the bodies I know. Remember when we watched, what was that Korean show?Brad Crowell 20:36  The one the 100, the 100, the physical doc.Lesley Logan 20:39  Oh, physic, Physical 100. Brad Crowell 20:42  The Physical 100. Lesley Logan 20:42  Didn't translate well, which is why. But like, it was interesting because, like, they brought on all these different athletes, or pseudo athletes and trainers, and they had all these different bodies, and depending on the challenge, certain bodies did better, right? Like, the mountain climbers certainly slayed the first challenge over the strong men, but then when it came down to the end, you had an equal amount of people who were in bigger bodies and endurance bodies at the same challenge. And so what it comes down to is like, on average, most of us, if we are paying attention to our body and balancing out our strength and flexibility and our endurance, can do a fuck ton of stuff, but so many of us are, like, obsessed with getting smaller, and it's boring. Anyways, I could keep going, but she for Maria, you know, she there was an internal struggle because, of course, like, she was excited about the conversation, and then she's still a human being. So we got to talk about, like, when you look at yourself in those pictures and you go, yeah, I'm a proud of my body. I'm proud to be part of this, but ooh, that's what I look like, and I resonate with this so much. I was, I was doing a photo shoot yesterday, and I was just like, Okay, guys, this is not a sitting outfit. This is a standing outfit. So can you like because, because also it's like, how much of it do you want to be as a just, how much of it is a distraction versus like, the point or, or do we just do it so that people feel real, see real bodies more often? Like, it's, it's such a complicated thing, and your your mind messes with you based on how you were raised. And these stories take a long time, but she said for her, it was bigger than the photos. She said it became about reframing what is in our bodies, to be embodied and to celebrate all the different phases. And I love this so much because, you know, Maria, Brooke, and I, and many people listening, our bodies are in a different part of our journey. So it's just we're, you know, we're not going to look like 20 year olds, nor should we. And then Brooke also was conscious of this issue because in 2000 she had wrote in that issue that she said she hopes, in earnest that the models in the book inspire and don't intimidate, because she chose the original models for their strength and endurance, and also because they knew the work, I think that that's, you know, really hard when you're trying to pick it out and not because of their size and it. And I think even though her heart was really, you know, in there about inspire and not intimidate, like people just have a really hard time reading all the words and applying that to themselves. And so I'm excited for this additional chapter.Brad Crowell 22:57  Yeah, I also just wanted to say I'm glad you grabbed this as your topic, because I when I said I started taking notes, I actually was quoting you. As much as I appreciate the interview, you said something that really stuck out to me. You said we should have always been moving for the health of it and not for the shape of it. Move for the health of it and not the shape of it. In fact, I thought it was kind of quippy little, like, tagline, you know, for the health of it, because it's almost like, for the hell of it. Lesley Logan 23:29  Isn't it so great that I can come up with these things?Brad Crowell 23:33  Also, it's so great that I can hear them and be like, we should clip that. Lesley Logan 23:36  That's your job. Brad Crowell 23:37  Be It Till You See It, baby.Lesley Logan 23:39  Well, and I think that comes from like, I don't know if I mentioned on this episode or a different one, but I read a book called Rethinking Thin and at the same time that I picked up The Pilates Body book, I picked up that book because I was thinking about becoming a personal trainer, and I was doing this personal training stuff. And it was this history. It's a history of dieting and, like, where dieting came from and where the ideal woman's body came from. And it's two fucking things that'll fuck and piss you off. One, it's a cartoon drawing. So that's annoying, because it's not even fucking real. And then the other was on the statue, Norman. So the Norman statue. Brad Crowell 24:12  Is it the one holding the earth? Lesley Logan 24:13  No, but it's just a man. It's just a man. And then what they did for Norma. Brad Crowell 24:14  Oh, Norman, Norman, versus Norma. Lesley Logan 24:19  Norma, or nor woman, from what I understand from it, a book about butts it's, they basically took. Brad Crowell 24:27  I really hope that was the title, A Book About Butts.Lesley Logan 24:29  I think it is. I'll look at while you're talking about your favorite thing, I'll look it up. They basically put boobs on Norman. Well, Norman does not have estrogen. His pelvis is a different shape, like, oh my God, he doesn't even have.Brad Crowell 24:42  Oh I see. So you're they took, they took sculpture of a man and just put boobs, and then said, this is what the ideal woman should look like.Lesley Logan 24:50  This is what a woman looks like. And so I think ideal, I think it might have been average, right? But it's not that's not even a thing, not even impossible. So, anyways, like, because of the book Rethinking Thin, I learned about all the different diets that came around, all the different things that were obsessing about, and also how genetics plays such a massive role on the size that your body is determined to be. And then there's and then you go into the history of, like, when being heroin chic is in and it's always when they're trying to take rights away from women. Like, literally, if you take all the different times heroin chic was in and then you take all the different times they're trying to oppress women, they literally line up at the same time. So it's like, it's a cultic behavior of like, ladies stop eating so you your brain isn't functioning and you're not able to hear how we're taking your rights away. Anyways, what did you love?Brad Crowell 25:41  Well, I just wanted to say shout out to a podcast called Hysteria that I listened to that talks about this all the time, like the women's rights and. Lesley Logan 25:52  Oh, we love Hysteria, yeah. Brad Crowell 25:53  And, you know, like, it's a lot of politics as well, but it's two, you know, very powerful women who really dig in. And it's been really enlightening for me to see this from a different perspective.Lesley Logan 26:06  Yeah, the book is called Butts: A Backstory by Heather Radke. Brad Crowell 26:12  By who? Lesley Logan 26:13  By Heather Radke. Brad Crowell 26:14  That's really funny.Lesley Logan 26:15  If anyone knows her, I want to interview her. But yes, it's about race, gender, control, beauty standards. It's, it's it's a lens of the human backside, and it's really great. But I also just want to say, if you're like, Oh, I get so annoyed when they get political. Ladies, being a woman in this world is political. Just, I hate to break it to you, but it is. Anyways, your turn. Brad Crowell 26:36  Yeah, you're not wrong. All right. Well, hey, look, back to Brooke and Maria. Maria also recounted how her mom often said, fake it till you make it. And I know that we've talked both times here about Maria, but I this really resonated with me, because I actually really wanted to hear you say, be it till you see it is the positive spin of fake it till you make it.Lesley Logan 27:02  I know, but, but I know, and I'm. Brad Crowell 27:03  We're not trying to take away from her. Lesley Logan 27:05  But also it works for her, like it works for her and it doesn't hold her back. So, like, I don't ever want to take something that works for someone away. And so I will let Brooke have fake it till you make it. That said. Brad Crowell 27:16  Maria. Lesley Logan 27:17  Oh, Maria said that, oh, yeah Maria said that. I will let Maria have that, because I think that's important. And also, if that is hard for you or inauthentic, then that's the be it till you see it reframe. That's all.Brad Crowell 27:28  Yeah and it is a reframe and, but it's obviously, you know. Lesley Logan 27:33  It's why always is a terrible word. Brad Crowell 27:36  Right. But she, she, so, Maria said she uses this when she's not quite sure what she's doing, or when she feels like she's not quite sure, helps her bypass the paralysis of starting where, you know, often starting things not 100% sure where they're going, but trusting that she's going to land on her feet. And, you know, I think it's really helpful. There's got to be, you know, it is a weird thing, right? This, this idea of having this internal dialogue of, like, your own internal like cheerleader versus like, you know, antagonist. And I think it's hard to sometimes be in the moment and see this is a time right now where I have to choose to fake it till I make it, right? You know, it's, it's hard to do that, but if you can, you know, being it until you see it is a win. You know, there's, there's a way to to at least get the ball rolling until, because confidence comes through action, right? It comes through doing and experiencing. So if you there's got to be a point where you got to get the ball rolling.Lesley Logan 28:39  Oh, couldn't agree more. And I like, I remember, like, you know, when I had a job in retail, one of the guys who worked for me, I was going through a lot, and I took him for his like, you know, monthly meeting. I said, Are you good? Like, I just know you got a lot going on outside of this. And he goes, Oh, none of that bothers me here, because when I cross the threshold of the store, sure, it's showtime. And that's another way of being it till you see it, or fake it till you make it, like, and I think that that's good mantra for us to have. And I also like, I think we are all putting too much pressure on feeling ready. You know, I don't know that I got to ask Brooke, like was, did she feel ready to like, add to this book? But also, like, this is a big endeavor to take a bestselling book and make changes to it. Like, like, the number of people like this book changed my life. I still have my book from 25 years ago. And then to go, Oh, I'm adding on. Brad Crowell 29:30  I'm just gonna make it better. Lesley Logan 29:30  I'm just gonna make it better. Brad Crowell 29:30  No big deal. Lesley Logan 29:31  And people didn't go, Oh, I'm just gonna keep the one I have. No. A bunch of our OPC members and our eLevate members all were like, Oh, I pre ordered the copy. I'm ready to go and, like.Brad Crowell 29:43  But, but I think this is, like, we're dancing around the word perfectionism, right? You know, like, the the idea of being ready to get started to do the thing, you know, that's, that's very much a perfectionism mentality, yeah. And it's, it creates this fear. That we're not gonna it's not gonna be right or done or perfect or whatever, and that that is debilitating, and also it is, like, the fastest way to go nowhere.Lesley Logan 30:10  Yes, it really is. And like, first of all, I think we, we're also blessed for the second edition of this book to be out, because the additional chapter isn't only a visual understanding of of what Brooke was trying to get in the first book, and also in the research she's done since. But, you know, she got to go through and, like, with 25 years of hindsight, and add into that, and it's, and I think that is a really beautiful thing, because it means the conversation continues, you know. And I think, like, going back to the word perfection, like, even though the book is it has hit print and you can all get it and you should, the conversation will continue. And I think that's what's really cool.Brad Crowell 30:47  Yeah, I think I'm, I'm excited for her, and also I love that she shared, that Brooke shared, oh yeah, I thought it was gonna get away with, like, the easy smack two books together and re release it, and be like, done. And then her publisher was like, No, no. Lesley Logan 31:02  Yeah, I know. I know. I actually really appreciated that, because when we redid the mat deck, we were like, Okay, we're gonna break these things out. And I think Meredith, I remember Meredith going, Oh, you edited every single card. And I was like, Well, yeah, because I thought we could just, like, pull these three out. But then once I did that, I was like, Well, I kind of got her through the whole thing like I now I know too much. I know too much about how it was used, and I.Brad Crowell 31:25  Well it would also have been five years, right? We got a tons of feedback. So I imagine that Brooke was similarly like, inundated with feedback for 25 years which is amazing.Lesley Logan 31:37  Probably, most unsolicited and some solicited.Brad Crowell 31:39  Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure. But hey, there's one more thing I wanted to talk about that Maria mentioned that really struck a chord with me. I really appreciate it. She didn't quite say it that way that I have said it, but the story she told herself, right? She, you know, was that, oh, she was just in the right place at the right time to be able to move to Spain, decide to live there and become an international educator, right? That's the story that she told her. She said it was she was spinning a narrative that kept her small, right? And so effectively, that was how she was viewing herself, (inaudible) well, and then when people would ask her, what did she do? How did she do it? She would say, I was just in the right place at the right time, which then allows them to go, oh, you lucked out, right? And she's like, but that takes away from all the hard work and the tough decisions, then the scary decisions that I had to make to get here. And that's not, that's not true. Yes, there's, of course, there's always some element of luck to it, but, you know, she was very intentional about that. And so she started to talk about the that that like addressing the narrative of playing small, you know, and, and I really appreciate that, because I remember when I was working for someone else. I, you know, why did I not go and ask for a raise? Oh, I'm just, I shouldn't even be here, was what I kept telling myself. I'm just the musician that, like I, you know, if I had ever gone through an interview process, they never would have hired me. These are all the things that I used to say to myself to justify the position that I was in, and that's 100% playing small. So I really resonated with this when she was talking about this. And she said today, she reframes her story. She said, you know, what got her here was her grit, persistence and tenacity, not luck, you know? And I just applaud her for I think it's really important that we identify that in our own lives. What story are you telling yourself that's keeping you small?Lesley Logan 33:31  Ooh, good question. Journal on that. Brad Crowell 33:33  Yeah. Well, stick around. We'll be right back. We're going to dig into those Be It Action Items that we got from Brooke and Maria right after this. Brad Crowell 33:42  Welcome back. All right. So finally, let's talk about those Be It Action Items. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Brooke and Maria? Brooke said the only way out is through. The only way out is through. She said she has a mentor who's a Buddhist, and their guidance has been helping her push through the fear, especially when it comes to like we talked about, how do you make something that's 25 years successful even better, and not jack it up? The only way out is through, right? She said, if I see fear, I'm going to head towards that fear so that I can make it through, right? She said, now, when she has an idea she wants to share, she reframes taking action as sharing, rather than doing a thing for others to react to, which I thought was pretty cool, because what she was talking about you asked her, like, how do you have the confidence to do this stuff? She said she started teaching, and three years later, wrote this book, three years later, wrote this book that has been an international success. Lesley Logan 34:45  Took me six years to get the fuck on YouTube.Brad Crowell 34:48  Right? So that's kind of amazing. And you asked her, like, how did you do that? And she said, Honestly, I just get so excited about the thing that I'm focusing on that I want to share it. And I didn't, don't approach it in the way that, like I'm the authority. Listen to me. No, she's excited about this thing. She's nerding about out about it, and then she's sharing it with others. And that's how you know, that's what gave her the confidence.Lesley Logan 35:12  Well, and also, do you know that, like fear and excitement, the difference is breathing like they're on the same energetic wavelength. But why don't you breathe? Yeah, so if you're afraid or nervous, exhale, and then you can enjoy excitement, because it's the same. Brad Crowell 35:29  That's amazing. Lesley Logan 35:30  According to Gay Hendricks, and you know he is, he is one of the lords around here. Him, by the way, on the day we're recording this, it's not the day you're listening to it. He's 81 today, so, he's an Aquarian. Of course, he is. Of course, that's why I love him.Brad Crowell 35:43  That's amazing. Well, what about you? What was your big takeaway? Lesley Logan 35:47  All right, so I took some of Maria's Be It Action Item as my takeaway. So make sure you have people in your corner. Fuck yeah. If you don't, if your people in your corner suck at life. I know it's hard, it's almost hard to, like, have nobody, but I'd rather you have nobody, and like, you've held a space open for somebody, rather than have people who are who are, like, actively bringing you down. So just keep that in mind. Make sure you have some people in your corner. And she said, it's important that we nurture those relationships that you've built. It doesn't have to be big, but it should be something you can hold on to. And this is interesting, like, I'm always just reflecting, you know, yesterday in our photo shoot like I'm used to having a lot of friends I only saw once a month because we live in LA and there's traffic. And I love those friendships. And they don't have to to me. It goes back to me. It doesn't have to be big, doesn't have to be a weekly relationship, but it is something you have to have tangible. You have to hold on, to have some connections, and those are people you have in your corner. And so if you haven't yet, take some time go through your context, who's actually in your corner? Which nurture? Which relations do you want to nurture back and because in the hard moments, people who show up for you and see you for you are can reflect back to you all the good stuff that you are. And this has happened to me more times than I can imagine. And we have a friend who is recently going through something that's really quite frustrating and awful. And you know what? We don't talk to her very often, but we heard what happened. Someone else told us who's also in her corner. And a bunch of us are like, Oh, here's how we can support you. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, and she didn't ask for that help. I'm sure she didn't even know what kind of help we can give. But when you have relationships, you nurture, even it's on a quarterly basis, people will show up for you, and they'll and you'll show up for them, and it's, and it's quite it makes life a lot more fun. Brad Crowell 37:17  Yes, yeah. I definitely agree. You know, I think that we've talked about it before, being intentional about who you let weigh in, you know, or how, how much weight you give to their feedback, you know. So that's important. But I think also too, you know, there was an element to this conversation about allowing life to life and for relationships to change, which I also really appreciated, because I have always had a fear of loss, of letting go, I don't know why, and I've always struggled with, like, friendships drifting apart. And it was really interesting to hear her say, hey, it's kind of okay that that happens, and it allows you to take stock of who actually is paying attention and, like, in your world and choosing to be in your world instead of you, you know, trying to drag people along.Lesley Logan 38:07  Well, and also, I think, like, if they're really meant to be in your life, and you run into them, or something comes up and you call them, it will pick back up. Maybe there might have to be a quick conversation, or, like, why there's been so much space, but it'll pick back up. You know, we recently saw someone I haven't talked to in years. They were a part of my life for quite some time, and I had reflected about, like, why I let that kind of fade out. And when I saw them, I was like, yeah, it's okay. Like, I'm still okay with that decision. And I think it's hard, because we go, should I have a whole conversation with them? Should we dialog? Should we have, like, a whole like, here's why our relationship didn't know you don't need to have those things. You just can move on, because no one is right or wrong in these instances. It's just the way life goes. And you evolve, and they evolve, and sometimes that evolution is together and sometimes it's apart, and you can still support them from afar. I'm Lesley Logan. Brad Crowell 38:56  And I'm Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 38:57  Go get The Pilates Body book if you haven't already, you should. It's so good, especially if you're into Pilates, it's, it's.Brad Crowell 39:02  The new one. Is the new one out? Lesley Logan 39:04  Yeah, the new one's been out since December. Brad Crowell 39:05  Great. So, so The Pilates Body 25th Anniversary Edition.Lesley Logan 39:09  Oh my God, if you want to see my reaction to my husband literally opening the package for me, instead of, like, every day for five days, watching me go to the mailbox to open this package, and then he just opened it. It's on my Instagram. It's in December. Brad Crowell 39:25  It would have been in November. It may or may not have happened. Lesley Logan 39:29  Yeah, yeah. It was, I was like, every day he's filming me check the mail for this book, and then the one day he gets the mail, he opened it. Anyways. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Lesley Logan. I'm just so grateful for you. Make sure you send this to a friend who needs to hear it. We want to hear your wins and your questions, so send them in to the Be It Pod, and until next time, Be It Till You See It. Brad Crowell 39:49  Bye for now. Lesley Logan 39:50  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod. Brad Crowell 40:32  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 40:37  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 40:41  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 40:48  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 40:52  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The King's brother is suspected of misconduct in public office. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied wrongdoing. Also: Dame Antonia Romeo has been appointed as Sir Keir Starmer's new Cabinet Secretary. And police in Thailand have gone undercover to arrest a man suspected of stealing thousands of pounds worth of Buddhist artefacts.

A calm, guided gratitude practice uses sevenfold repetition to help the words sink in and shift our attention. We move through receiving support, self-compassion, openness to love, and releasing hurts with kindness, closing with appreciation for health and the present.• research-backed reason to repeat affirmations seven times• gratitude for gifts received from others• holding gratitude for self, others and the greater good• opening to receive and give love• releasing hurts with compassion, kindness and thankfulness• appreciating health and rejoicing in what is presentSupport the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness: Certify.MindfulnessExercises.com Email: Sean@MindfulnessExercises.com Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life. Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work. Each episode offers a mix of: Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings Conversations with respected meditation teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change If you're interested in: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life Trauma-sensitive and compassion-based practices Teaching mindfulness in an authentic, non-performative way Deepening your own practice while supporting others …you're in the right place. Learn more at MindfulnessExercises.com.

#401 In this episode, Guy talked with Julian Polzin, a former psychotherapist turned spiritual teacher, and shared his profound awakening experience that began while grieving on a graveyard bench in Germany, leading to a complete dissolution of ego and entry into samadhi.  Through deep meditation practices, he began remembering hundreds of past lives as a Buddhist monk and yogi, receiving downloads of ancient yogic systems and experiencing visions of Atlantis and its fall due to spiritual corruption and transhumanist technology. He explained how dark entities on the astral plane compete for human souls by offering temptations that disconnect people from divine will, and how the Buddhist system was designed to counteract the Atlantean karma of the hyperactive intellect separated from God. Julian warned that humanity is repeating the Atlantean pattern with AI, transhumanism, and recent technological interventions that disconnect individuals from divine current, leading to a timeline split between those who surrender to God and those who fall into ego gratification. Now based in Peru's Sacred Valley, he works to build a monastery and teaches proper spiritual discernment, emphasizing that true liberation requires total surrender, renunciation of worldly attachments, and the guidance of a genuine teacher assigned by divine will. About Julian: Julian practices and teaches Zen-Buddhist methods in combination with the Yogic realization process and various other mystical practices. On his spiritual path he opened himself to mystical insight. He experienced realization beyond physical experience which changed his therapeutic approach.  In 2021 he traveled to Nepal to meditate in holy places to experience the land, ancient energies and intelligences of a non-material nature. He practiced psychotherapy in Germany for seven years, but moved on from the method after experiencing the limitations of the psychotherapeutic framework.  Now he focusses on sharing spiritual teachings of direct inquiry to assist his clients in realizing themselves through the mystical experience. Key Points Discussed:  (00:00) - Spiritual Odyssey: Awakening to Higher Realms! (00:42) - Welcome + What This Conversation Will Challenge (01:47) - Retreat Announcements & How to Connect (02:32) - Meet Julian: From Psychotherapist to Awakening (03:54) - Grief on the Graveyard Bench → Spontaneous Samadhi (06:32) - Two Weeks of Emptiness + Finding Words for It (07:35) - Channeling Zen, Kundalini & Past-Life Memories (12:28) - Integrating Trauma, Avoiding Ego Traps & Buddhist Prep (16:04) - Quitting the Day Job: Total Surrender vs "Spiritual Gold Rush" (20:27) - Atlantis Vision: Transhumanism, Tech Corruption & Timeline Split (27:17) - How Atlantis Fell: The 'Ascension Engine' and No Shortcuts (30:20) - Dark Entities Explained: Temptation, Energy Feeding & the Lower Astral (33:20) - Escaping the Astral Trap: Renunciation & Liberation (34:09) - Atlantis Repeat? Psychic Awakening Without Ego Death (34:40) - Buddha's Non-Reaction System & Starving the Ego (35:24) - Modern Overstimulation: Why Awakening Needs a Foundation (37:41) - Karmic Gravity & the Problem with the 'New Age' Gold Rush (39:21) - Civilizations Fall Through Spiritual Corruption (Inca, Tibet, Egypt) (41:48) - Visions of a Timeline Split: Transhumanism, Collapse & 'New Earth' (44:40) - Suffering vs Surrender: How Souls Learn by Law (46:39) - Karmic Repeats: The Same Choices Across Lifetimes (49:25) - A Tibetan Lama's Mistake: Spiritual Ego & the Teacher's Test (52:53) - True Lineage, Daily Tests & 'Selling the Soul' Explained (55:42) - Why Souls Reincarnate: God's Mirror, Surrender & Enlightenment (01:00:29) - Peru Monastery Vision, Money Discernment & Where to Find Him How to Contact Julian Polzin:thelighthouse.pe   About me:My Instagram: www.instagram.com/guyhlawrence/?hl=en Guy's websites:www.guylawrence.com.au www.liveinflow.co

Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra players and a star-studded cast, this Buddhist story from Tibet and India proves we can all be helpers, no matter our size. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

The two practices that helped turn this self described scowling, sarcastic skeptic into an expert meditator.   Devin Berry is a Core Guiding Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society and a residential retreat teacher at IMS and Spirit Rock. A meditator since 1999, his practice is rooted in long-term retreat practice and the mettā and vipassanā teachings of the Insight Meditation tradition.    In this episode we talk about: Why mindfulness alone is not enough How mettā is part of four related mental skills called the Brahma Viharas The story of how and why the Buddha (according to the legend) invented mettā practice The role and practice of generosity A year long experiment that Devin ran in mettā and danā And lastly, how these practices can help us both on and off the cushion   This episode originally aired on July 31st, 2024.   Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Thanks to our sponsors:  LinkedIn:  Spend $250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a $250 credit for the next one. Just go to linkedin.com/happier. Warby Parker: Our listeners get 15% off plus free shipping when they buy two or more pairs of prescription glasses at WarbyParker.com/HAPPIER — using our link helps support the show. To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris    

This talk was given by Mikey Noechel at the Imperfect, Impersonal, Impermanent Meditation Retreat on Jan. 28th - Feb. 1st, 2026 in Sewanee, TN. These are the first morning instruction on mindfulness of breathing. Enjoy!  Wild Heart Meditation Center in a non-profit Buddhist community based in Nashville, TN. https://www.wildheartmeditationcenter.orgDONATE: If you feel moved to support WHMC financially please visit:https://www.wildheartmeditationcenter.org/donateFollow Us on Socials!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildHeartNashville/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildheartnashville/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildheartmeditation

Send a textWhat would possess someone to basically spend every waking moment for four weeks running back and forth along the same stretch of pavement only ¼ of a mile long… 5400 times. Is this some sort of Buddhist monk ritual? Or cruel punishment doled out by sadistic POW camp guards during WWII? Someone who should have been locked up a long time ago in a mental institution? Or someone competing for a year's worth of Mexican food and some running shoes? Yep, it's the latter and it's the Burrito League. We chatted earlier with Diarra Cropper running loops around a parking lot with the burrito league in Manitou Springs, Colo., but now we are going to step it up a notch with someone who ran on the original course in Tempe, Ariz. and finished second, my good friend TJ Harms-Synkiew. I met TJ as a 21-year-old at the American Heroes Run a couple of years ago, and he has gone on to stack numerous impressive race finishes, including placing in the top four spots in five races in 2025 ranging from 50K to 200 miles to 24-hour backyard ultras. TJ has dedicated himself so much to ultramarathoning that he has led a nomadic life, living out of his car, spending a winter, yes, a winter in North Dakota doing nothing but earning money, building trails on Mt. Shavano, a Colorado 14er, and volunteering at races for the free entries, all while adding to his personal running community. We'll find out here what motivated him to go down to Tempe and average 300 miles a week on the same short stretch of street, over and over and over again.  He earned six months of burritos and two pairs of shoes – all while wearing out two pairs of shoes and beating up his body like none other. Is there something more here in what seems like insanity? Listen up here to TJ to find out. You might not want to sign up to do what he did, but you'll definitely admire his heart and spirit.TJ Harms-SynkiewInstagram @harmssynkiewBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram and Threads @stahlor and @we_are_superman_podcastYouTube We Are Superman PodcastSubscribe to the We Are Superman Newsletter!https://mailchi.mp/dab62cfc01f8/newsletter-signupSubscribe to our Substack for my archive of articles of coaching tips developed from my more than three decades of experience, wild and funny stories from my long coaching career, the wit and wisdom of David, and highlights of some of the best WASP episodes from the past that I feel are worthwhile giving another listen.Search either We Are Superman Podcast or @billstahl8Register for the American Heroes Run: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=133138Ride to End ALZ Coloradowww.alz.org/rideco 

What if a simple walk could unlock the secrets to your creativity? Join host Buzz Knight on takin' a walk as he delves into the enchanting world of singer-songwriter Boy Golden, whose new album, Best of Our Possible Lives, is a beautiful fusion of indie rock and roots music inspired by Buddhist philosophy. In this captivating episode, Buzz and Boy Golden explore how the act of walking has profoundly influenced his songwriting process, serving as a meditative practice that clears his mind and sparks inspiration. As they stroll through the themes of presence and vulnerability, Boy Golden shares the stories behind his poignant tracks like "Matter at Hand" and "Like a Child," revealing how the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh resonate in his music. This episode is not just about music; it’s about the journey of being present and embracing each moment, a theme that echoes through the heart of takin' a walk. Discover the collaborative magic between Boy Golden and producer Robbie Lakritz, along with the contributions of legendary bassist Pino Palladino, as they bring his artistic vision to life. Buzz Knight, known for his insightful music history podcasts, guides this conversation with a warmth that makes you feel like you’re part of their walk, discussing the intricacies of the music-making process and the emotional healing that comes from it. As the episode unfolds, listeners will gain music history insights and witness the personal stories behind Boy Golden's artistic reinvention. From his musical influences to his upcoming tours, this episode is packed with inspiring music stories that highlight the resilience and creativity of indie artists. Boy Golden even shares a heartfelt moment reflecting on his late grandfather, expressing a deep desire to walk with him again, reminding us all of the profound connections that music can foster. If you're a fan of legendary musicians and the stories behind albums, this episode of takin' a walk is a must-listen. Join Buzz Knight as he navigates the music journey of Boy Golden, offering listeners a blend of music history, songwriter stories, and the magic that happens when you take a moment to walk and reflect. Tune in for an episode filled with laughter, inspiration, and the joy of music storytelling that you won't want to miss! #indie music journey #career breakthrough #viral music success #music history on foot #buzz Knight Support the show: https://takinawalk.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode, Lesley Logan sits down with Pilates icons Brooke Siler and Maria Earle for a deeply personal conversation that goes far beyond the reformer. As they celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Pilates Body, they reflect on career evolution, friendships formed during lockdown, and the courage it takes to become more embodied as our bodies change. From life as expats to the intentional decision to redefine a global Pilates classic, this episode is a reminder that strength, trust, and confidence are built from the inside out. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:How Maria and Brooke's friendship deepened during global lockdown.Why the Pilates Body aesthetic needed to be questioned and reframed.What a Pilates body truly means beyond appearance and performance.Rediscovering Joe Pilates' original archival work to guide embodied movement.Owning grit and sustained effort instead of attributing success to luck.Episode References/Links:The Pilates Body Book, Revised and Expanded Edition by Brooke Siler - https://beitpod.com/pilatesbodyrevisedBrooke Siler's Website - https://www.brookesilerpilates.comBrooke Siler's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brookesilerpilatesMaria Earle's Website - https://www.mariaearle.comMaria Earle's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maria_earleLocal Bookstores - https://bookshop.orgReturn to Life Through Contrology by Joseph Pilates - https://a.co/d/0eqSRfGNGuest Bio:Brooke Siler began her Pilates training in 1994 under Joseph Pilates' protégée Romana Kryzanowska at Drago's Gym in New York City where she spent a decade studying under Romana's masterful tutelage. She opened her award-winning Manhattan studio, re:AB Pilates, in 1997 and was quickly embraced by Hollywood's A-list from Madonna to Dustin Hoffman, but Brooke is probably best known for penning the New York Times' best-seller The Pilates Body. The Pilates Body has become the highest grossing Pilates book of all time and she has followed it with titles: Your Ultimate Pilates. Body Challenge, The Pilates Body Kit, The Women's Health Big Book of Pilates and the Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners dvd. In 2021 Brooke launched her long-awaited, passion-product, The Tensatoner™! Brooke has studied anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, fascial networks and cadaver dissection with teachers: Tom Myers (Anatomy Trains), chiropractic physician Dr. Joe Muscolino (Know The Body), Leslie Kaminoff & Amy Matthews (Yoga Anatomy) and podiatristMaria Earle is an internationally recognized Pilates educator known for her warm, charismatic teaching style and deeply embodied approach to movement. With more than 27 years of experience in Pilates and wellness, she draws from decades of hands-on teaching, studio ownership, and advanced education to guide practitioners toward sensation-led, authentic practice. Based in Barcelona, Maria leads postgraduate teacher trainings and online education through her Digital Studio, supporting movers at every stage of life. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Maria Earle 0:00  It feels great to be a part of something that is, it's bigger than me, it's bigger than the book, it's bigger than us together, it's bigger than all of it. It's about this reframing what it is to be in our bodies and to embodied and to celebrate all the different phases. I mean, my size has never defined me.Lesley Logan 0:27  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started.Lesley Logan 1:10  All right, Be It babe, this is magical. If you had told me when I saw this podcast, I would have in this conversation, I would have like, no, what are you talking about? So while we normally don't talk a lot about Pilates on this podcast, everything is kind of Pilates to me. I have two incredible, humongously wonderful, brilliant, the biggest hearts of the entire world teachers on today's podcast, and we are going to talk about friendships and life and having brave conversations and and how do you accept an invitation to make an impact about something that is bigger than you? And this is really wonderful conversation. And so Maria Earle and Brooke Siler are our guests today, and we were talking about The Pilates Body book. And I'm honored. I can't believe I'm pinching myself that just fucking happened. I can't believe it. I can't believe I just got off like, two-hour chat with these wonderful women. What is my life? So anyways, I can't wait for you to hear this, and I do think it is a honest conversation about bodies and women and the things we go through. And I hope you love it and that you send it to a friend who needs to hear it, and you know, you tell us all about your favorite parts of it. Here they are. Lesley Logan 2:23  All right, Be It babe, we have like a dynamic duo. I'm not gonna lie, I also totally screwed something up when hitting getting everything ready, because I was so nervous and so excited, because I'm obsessed with both these women, I get to fan girl over them to their faces, which is very fun for me. So Maria and I got to officially meet in in Seoul Korea, but I had been following Maria Earle for a long time, and just watching she's just like, so graceful and so amazing and just wonderful everything she does. And I'm just like, I'm not graceful at all, but I just absolutely adored her. And I love like, I've spent time with her in Seoul, Korea, and so I feel like we'll always have a night in Seoul together. And then Brooke Siler, okay, so I went to, and you might not know this about me, Brooke, but I actually went to Pilates class, kind of kicking and screaming. I thought of that class was like a bunch of BS workout. I told the girl, it's an infomercial workout. It can't do what it claims, but I needed a friend. So I went to the class. And I was obsessed. Became obsessed with this class. I was like, oh, it was the most amazing thing I've ever done in my entire life. And I worked at South Coast Plaza, and I went to the bookstore, and I went to the fitness section, and I bought the Pilates book that was there, it was your book, I took it home, and I did every exercise like in the book. I started going to Pilates every single day. And you had a second book, and I bought that one. I was on the treadmill, like walking, like I was lifted, like I was obsessed. And then some, I moved to L.A., and someone's, like, can you be my Pilates instructor and like, kind of, you know, the internet and social media wasn't really a thing then. And then, fast forward to, I believe it was January of 2020, you were in L.A., and I was like, I have to go to this workshop. She doesn't know I'm so obsessed with her. And I went to the workshop and you taught an exercise a certain way that I had been teaching it that way, and I had no one had taught it to me like that, but I had just figured out like, and I pull straps I want my inner thighs up because it helps me get my butt on, helps me all these things. And you said it, and I was like, oh my God, I'm so validated right now. So anyways, I just had to tell you that, because, like, I you, like, even though I knew it was great, I just, like, needed someone like you to say it. I was like, this is amazing. So. Brooke Siler 4:31  Your little backup. Lesley Logan 4:32  Yeah, a little backup. So anyways, you've been part of my, like, be it till I see it as a Pilates person my whole life, and you and, like, for at least 20 years, and you didn't know it. But now I get to have the two of you on the Be It Till You See It podcast. So we'll start with Brooke. Brooke, can you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at? Brooke Siler 4:48  Yes. Well, first of all, thank you so much for having us. Me, us both. I, yeah, really excited to even have a conversation. I love being in a room with smart women. There's nothing better, really. So my name is Brooke Siler, as Lesley has already told you, I am an author. I'm a teacher. I started teaching in 1994 and then in 2000 I wrote the Pilates body, and it's been that fantastic 15 minutes of fame that has just gone on and on and on for me. I just am super blessed, super grateful. And yeah, I think that's who I am.Lesley Logan 5:25  Oh, my God, yeah, yeah. Then there's, I mean, like, when you have to, like, distill yourself down into a nutshell life, but it is, absolutely, we'll have to get into the 15 minutes of fame that keeps on giving you know for decades. Maria Earle, what do you rock at babe? Maria Earle 5:40  Hi. Also, thank you for putting this together. It's fun to be here with you two. So my name is Maria Earle, and I am a Pilates educator, and have been teaching Pilates since 1997 walked into the first Pilates studio a few years before that, and just never stopped. Anyway, I I'm based in Barcelona, Spain, and prior to that, I lived in New York City and had a Pilates studio for about eight years on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and took a big leap of faith and moved abroad about 15 years ago, which it's funny when you put a number to it, but, yeah.Lesley Logan 6:29  I know, I know I feel really young until I realize how long I've been doing something. I'm like, oh, I mean, I'm still young, but also we aged in there.Maria Earle 6:38  So yeah, I have a Pilates studio here, and I run post graduate teacher training courses and online things. And, you know, trying to live my best life, basically.Lesley Logan 6:52  Yeah, do the best you can. Like, do the whole balance thing they all tell us to do. You're like, balance gotta work, the balance of work and life. And, you know, you have kids too, right, Maria? Maria Earle 7:01  I have one, though it feels like multiples, but there is only one. I'm like, yeah, yeah, there's one. Lesley Logan 7:10  Yeah, oh my gosh, okay, well, so I guess we can go, you know, we can go anywhere we want, but I actually would love to hear how the two of you got connected, because part of me goes like, did you know each other in New York? And the other part of me is like, so jealous when I hear that you've been doing Pilates since the 90s, like, I would wonder what my life would have been like had I learned it sooner. I'm always so jealous of people who did it in the 90s.Maria Earle 7:36  Yeah. You call that Golden Age.Brooke Siler 7:38  It really was. It really was a golden, I feel like it was, yeah, it was a Golden Age. Pilates. (inaudible) I feel like Maria and I maybe have orbited each other, because we seem to have been in a lot of the same places at the same times, but we didn't actually meet each other, until just 20, what did we determine it was? 2018?Maria Earle 8:01  2019Brooke Siler 8:02  2019 in Barcelona. I came over to teach a workshop at a studio there, and Maria was there, and she was Maria (inaudible) and it was her birthday, and I was like, oh, loud American, oh my gosh, in Spain, in this little studio. And, yeah, we, I, we just kind of got to chatting, but we didn't do much after that, did we? For a while.Maria Earle 8:28  We talked, I think we talked a few times, because we know are we allowed to say this about you living abroad already. Brooke Siler 8:36  I mean, I live abroad. Maria Earle 8:37  That's not a that's not a .Brooke Siler 8:39  No, it's not a secret. No, I live in the U.K.Maria Earle 8:42  So yeah, I think. Lesley Logan 8:44  What if Brooke is like, don't tell anyone I live in the U.K.Brooke Siler 8:50  I'm the witness protection program. But other than that.Maria Earle 8:53  Witness protection program, I was like, I don't know. You know, I'm not gonna. Anyway, so yeah, (inaudible) exactly. I think we connected. I mean, not only do we connect over, you know, Pilates or whatnot, but I think there was, like a real like, wait, you live in the U.K.? And you were like, wait, you live here now? We were both kind of like, well, what are you doing? What? And so there was, I think, you know, I remember a number of phone calls where we were talking about, you know, the, the challenge of, you know, uprooting your life. And in later years, you know, I mean, I didn't move here with children, but Brooke moved with children, and basically. Brooke Siler 9:41  Yeah, mine were nine and 11 when we moved. Maria Earle 9:43  You know, she needed to start running, like, from the get go. She needed to have all the things together, right? I, I moved here as a single person going, lalala. This is great. This is fun. And then, you know, sort of built my life deciding like, oh, I'm really going to stop. Here, and I'm going to make a life here for myself. And, you know, I've never looked back.Lesley Logan 10:07  Yeah, I think that's so I think this is so interesting, like, because we have a lot of people write in, like, how do you make friends when you're older? Like, I've moved and I think, like, that was obviously shared experiences. Like, you go somewhere, like everyone did you hear they went to a thing that they both are interested in, but then you you connect on another level. Like, I think that's the important part of like, having a friendship. Like, you have to, can't just be like, oh, we just go to Pilates class together. Like, there has to be this other shared thing. And it's like, oh, we're both expats, and we both had to, like, start a whole new life somewhere. And I'd imagine Brooke that it's quite challenging to do that with two kids, like, I imagine, like, because you had already written the book by then, the original Pilates Body Book, and then you move. And so then you're like, you have a whole life. You're a best selling author, and then you're like, a mom trying to get two kids into school.Brooke Siler 10:54  Actually, that was the whole point was I had been kind of this, the Pilates Body author, since 29 years old, 30 years old, right? So I was like, Who? And I started Pilates at 26 years old. So here I was 46 or something. I was like, who am I without this? Like, half my life has been this. Can I just be a mom? So when I moved here, I came with my husband's name, like, I was like, I'm not gonna say Siler, I'm not going to tell anyone I do Pilates. My stuff was in the garage. Like I am to be mom, and that's what I can't or mom, my kids totally do not have English accents, but so, yeah, that's what I was going to do. So I joined the PTA because I'm that person, and I, yeah, I made like, you know, we went to the pub and did the pub quizzes and did all that stuff while the kids were in school. I was mama, and of course, then what did I end up doing, teaching the teachers Pilates for free. I was like, hey, let me come and give you guys Pilates because you I like, how do you do this with kids that's so challenging. Let me do something for you. So I came and started teaching every Friday, giving them Pilates session, you, I can't get away. You can't get away from it like it's who you are. If you're a teacher, you're a teacher, and if your art is is Pilates. Like, you know, I feel like my, my vocation is teacher, and my, my medium is Pilates, you know.Lesley Logan 12:15  I understand that. I think like I, you were all going to teach something that happened, that we, you know, someone probably told all of us that we should become a teacher, and we're like, okay, I'll do that thing. Yeah, yeah.Brooke Siler 12:29  Pulled me back in. And it wasn't till lockdown. That's when Maria and I really came together, and that's when, yeah, my whole Pilates World opened right back up again.Lesley Logan 12:40  Interesting. So, like, did you guys? Because, I mean, obviously we've heard, like, I think it was Esther Peral was, like, the Covid was, like, the great accelerator, like, if you were gonna do something, it was gonna, you were gonna do it, and it's gonna do it faster. So you're either gonna, like, if you're gonna break up with someone, you broke up with them faster. If you were, like, Brad and I, we picked up our life and moved as well, and I did it three years earlier than we thought we ever could. And, and, and so, like, was that the great accelerator for your friendship? Was it a way that you guys got deeper because there was not as many distractions? How did that go?Brooke Siler 13:09  Yeah, what do you think Maria?Maria Earle 13:11  I think so. I mean, I so agree with the great accelerator. I mean, I always think about, I mean, for our friendship, for sure, but also, you know, stepping into, stepping into newness, in terms of professionally, stepping into things that, otherwise, you know, it was the kind of the kick in the ass that I needed for a number of things that I'm totally happy to talk about. Lesley Logan 13:36  Yeah.Brooke Siler 13:38  (inaudible) About it because we were, like a little women's group. There was four of us.Lesley Logan 13:42  Yeah, okay, if I obviously, what happens in a women's group stays in women's group. But like, if there's something we can talk about from women's group, I would love to because I think this is where, this is where a lot of women I find our listeners are, they can get really lonely, or they they want community, and they seek community, but then, you know, someone doesn't show up to something, and it gets easy to take it personally. Like, how did you guys have a women's group, and what did you just talk about?Brooke Siler 14:07  It was, it was a movement. I mean, we were working out together, is what it was. So, like, two, three times a week, we were working out together and.Maria Earle 14:15  And then doing a lot of chatting afterwards. (inaudible) Talk about, like, set your morning aside. I mean, like, don't book any clients until after 12. There is just, there's just too much that needs to pass.Brooke Siler 14:33  Everything, you know, everything that was happening in Covid that was so amplified was happening around us. And so we would sometimes, you know, we'd get on the we'd go to work out, but someone had had a morning, something had happened, someone had seen something and and we would, you know, tears and sharing, and yeah, we yeah, all the things happened, yeah, yeah. But it was an unlikely like, none of us really knew each other knew each other before. And, yeah, we're an interesting foursome, actually.Lesley Logan 15:03  I love but I love it because it's like, I think, you know, you said side of the time, and it just evolved naturally. But also, like, when women do get together and they're and they share that, and they can be vulnerable, you know, they say, like, you know, movement is how, like, we like, trauma can leave the body. We can heal the body. Like, it's so important. I have a yoga class that I go to, and the first few minutes are kind of somebody bitching about something, and then we get into the yoga and then by the time the yoga is over, whatever that was like, moved out of all of us. And then, and then you can wrap up the conversation, if somebody needs to. And I sometimes kind of wish it went an hour longer, you know, I can imagine what a wonderful way to, like, very therapeutic.Brooke Siler 15:44  There's the physical workout and the emotional workout. They both kind of conjoined. Maria Earle 15:50  Yeah and when you just, when you just commit to it, you just lock into it, and that just becomes your non negotiable. Like, that's just, that's just what I do on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings, like, you know, sometimes things would come up, but we.Brooke Siler 16:07  We're committed to one another, to ourselves and to one another. Lesley Logan 16:10  Yeah. And that's like, so, okay, this is the hard part, right? Because, like, we're all teachers here. And like, we have the clients who, like, you know, they want to come three times a week, and then they and then they book, you know, this coffee date and this thing. And then we have the teachers who also say they want these things, or the women who are like, not necessarily teachers, because this is not most of the people don't even do Pilates listeners. But like the people, like they're they want this, but it is a commitment, like it is an actual like, you are not just coming Tuesdays and Thursday mornings until noon, but you're making sure everyone in your life knows about it so that it's things do come up, but they're kind of rare, because there's rarely, like, an actual emergency that can't be done on another day, like, there's, you know. So how did you guys, like, how did did you tell, like, Maria you have a kid, did you tell your one kid and Brooke, I'm assuming your kids are a little older now, but like, were they aware that, like, hey, leave me alone. This is my private time. How did you get the commitment to be something you could come to without the pressures of, like, all the guilt of all being a mom?Maria Earle 17:07  I don't know. I blocked it out. Brooke Siler 17:09  Yeah, me too. What guilt? That was our time?Maria Earle 17:15  No, I don't know. It's funny because I actually, I.Brooke Siler 17:20  Also we have boys, I feel like that needs to be said (inaudible).Maria Earle 17:25  Yeah, maybe, I mean, you know, it could have been messy, like, I don't know, but I know that it was time, not only well spent, obviously, But it was time that was so important to me that I just, I figured out how to make it work. And, you know, maybe sometimes I could only log in for a little while, or, you know, sometimes I'd say, like, I gotta, I gotta go. I gotta go, you know, I I just, I want to, I want to check in. I want to say that I love you, and like, hi, but like, I have all this going on. I, that's it. That's all I got for you. They'd be like, you know, bye, we need just that little bit of like, you got this, you know. Lesley Logan 18:16  Well and it also it sounds so it sounds a little bit like one, you know, you needed it for yourselves, and like, you did that, and they were, like, unapologetic about that. And then two, you found the right people that would understand if you couldn't, and they wouldn't take it personally, and they wouldn't hold it against you. And I think that's where a lot of people have screwed up in their groups, of their friendships. It's like they kind of have kept people from a long time, and you know, like, aren't good at voicing what they need or or even knowing what they need. So then it, it gets muddled, and it becomes an uncomfortable situation.Brooke Siler 18:48  I'm I'm wondering now if maybe what worked in our favor was that we weren't friends beforehand, really. We kind of we, we solidified the friendship, but actually we grew the friendship in lockdown. So we were learning about each other. So it was not only the interest in showing up to move, but we were also interested, I think, you know, in each other and one another, and each one of us had so many amazing things happen to us. You know, Alicia started a podcast, and Karen, like, set up her studio. And, you know.Brooke Siler 19:18  Maria bought. Maria Earle 19:20  Oh yeah, I bought my studio (inaudible). Brooke Siler 19:23  We were there for for all these things, you know. And we could share, like, hey, what do you guys think? And each one of us so has a different kind of forte, and we just feel like the universe just kind of made that all happen. So, without too esoteric, it really was yeah meant to be we and we yeah I think it became that, like.Maria Earle 19:45  It became a rock.Brooke Siler 19:46  You do, yeah.Lesley Logan 19:48  Yeah, and then and, I mean, like, life the world is open. Have you been able to keep the Tuesday and Thursdays together, like you guys still hanging out? Brooke Siler 19:57  It became different. It's shape shifted. It's. Not the same. It's more like, you know, yes, the world is open. There's so many other things going on. I mean, listen, I had to write a book just to see Maria again. I mean, that there was that moment of like, yeah, after having written the book, I was then like, oh, someone actually has to be the model in this. Who and I just, it was immediate. It wasn't even, like, a second I didn't even have a second choice. Like, had she said, no, I was screwed.Lesley Logan 20:31  So, so, so we're, I mean, of course, everyone's like, hold on. We have so many questions about this. Like, women's group, but we're gonna move on, guys, because we only have so much time. But like, if you, if you Brooke Siler's name does not ring a bell from The Pilates Body book, but, but that we, you know, I've literally moved with every apartment. It ever moved with me and into this house, and it didn't even go into a closet, like it's on the shelf. You know, because I think it represents, like the time when I was, like, I was, I believe so much that people can have an independent Pilates practice. And because I was like, but this book gave me that, like, I was able to have an independent Pilates practice. And I I think that, like, that's so necessary for the world we all live in today, to have, you know, to have enough Pilates in our life, whether you're a teacher or not, you need to have some way of doing it. So I was trying to look it up before we started talking, when did you write this book the first time?Brooke Siler 21:24  I started writing it in 1999 and it was published in 2000. Lesley Logan 21:28  Okay, so that's wow, so it's been 25 years. So then you had so then you're like, I'm gonna write it again. I guess.Brooke Siler 21:36  I was like, we should celebrate. It's 25 years, and I still have people coming and saying, oh, my God, my career started because of Pilates, because of The Pilates Body, and that was the first book I ever had, and I've heard that for 25 years, and it felt like, definitely, you know, the, Pilates is bigger now than ever. And I was like, how amazing would it be if we if we did a 25th anniversary, and I brought my literary agent, and she was like, yes, love the idea. And then we brought it to an editor, and they were like, yes, love the idea. And they were like, but, and I just thought, actually, I could, you know, there's that one copy of the Joe Pilates book where it's two of his books together. I thought it was going to get off really easy and just combine the first two books. And so I said to the editor, can't we just put the two together and make it.Lesley Logan 22:21  This one too. Brooke Siler 22:22  Yes, exactly. Wouldn't that be perfect? And then I don't have to do anything. And they were like, No, you have to put new material in there. And I was like, oh, okay. So I hear the things that are of interest to me at this time, like I'm doing a lot of deep work on breathing. I'm doing a lot of deep work on this (inaudible) and that's a whole nother topic, but they chose one, and that was what I went with. And so when I started doing the deep digging, it was, I mean, I had already done the deep digging, I should say, but then starting to try to put it into terms that could be easily understood, and how to make it blend deeper with Pilates. And it was stuff that I was doing that we were doing in our Tuesdays, Thursdays, you know, I always come with ideas. I'm like, hey guys, let's try this thing I've been playing with. And there they were just always game. They were very generous with me and allowing me to test out all of my crazy ideas on them. And yeah, so this one just kept sticking. And then I was teaching online classes, and people were like, writing me afterwards, going, Oh my God, I feel amazing. I can't believe, like, what this feels like. And I was like, okay, cool. So I not only wrote it, but I was like, listen, it's 25 years. I'm going to rewrite all the they didn't give me a budget to do all the photos again. So the photos are the same as they were, and the layout is the same, but I pretty much rewrote everything, like, I updated the language and put in new variations and a lot of archival, you know, just bringing Joe into it, because lockdown, I dug deep, deep in Joe's, you know, treasure trove, and put, like, instead of looking outside of Pilates, I just went back in. I feel like it's that when you go to the dentist, and they used to have the treasure chest and you could pick a toy, it's like, I just went, I did a deep dive into the, Maria, I did a deep dive in and found all. Lesley Logan 24:11  Maria, your dentist didn't have a treasure chest because mine did. And an aquarium, okay? And I would watch the rocket fish go across like I was my favorite.Brooke Siler 24:20  Yes, exactly, yes. So I just yeah, I think, you know, I was pulling stuff out and trying stuff, and they were loving it. And that's the way my mind works. I feel like lockdown for me was an incredible like, everything shut down, out, out, and my brain just went absolutely mad creative. Like I just couldn't stop creating. It was, it was amazing. Lesley Logan 24:44  So you're listening to this everyone. The book is already out, like we're talking about this before I've had my hands on a copy. And of course, I'm like, now (inaudible) even more than I was when you first told me about it, but like I do so and I'm excited to hear what Maria's response was like. Like to also You were telling her, I'm gonna redo this. Like, there is something about, like, Okay, I think we should celebrate. It's gonna be easy. But then it's like, okay, great. Now I've get to redo it. The in the redoing, it's like, you there's things that you can change, because you've had 25 years of teaching on top of it, 25 years of testimonial, 25 years of hearing people say they love this, or have questions about this, like, not many people get a redo and in life, you know, so. So Maria, when she came to you and said she was redoing this, is there anything that like you were the most excited about, that you were like, like, what? What part did you get to explore with her, that you were excited to be in the book?Maria Earle 25:38  Well, my, my role is a very tiny, tiny little role.Lesley Logan 25:43  No way, no way, no.Brooke Siler 25:47  Let's just call bullshit on that. I mean, it's not.Maria Earle 25:50  That is not true. What I mean to say is that, basically, as Brooke said, right, she had been developing these ideas and had an opportunity to basically add a new section to the book. And needed, and needed wanted to have somebody to to be the model for that new chapter. And I got to be someone who sort of got to be in the behind the scenes, like I got to sort of be in her brain a little bit while she was, you know, having this explosive sort of creativity moment, you know, I got to, I got to experience firsthand, you know, her process. And that was amazing. And, you know, I mean, I guess we could joke a little bit about this Brooke, because she she said she sort of hinted to it earlier when she said that, you know, she wanted me to do the book, but you know, she was like, if she said, no, you know, what was I going to do, right? You know, so I think so it took her a little while because she knew that I might like run for the hills when she's asking me to be the, you know, the model.Brooke Siler 27:05  The Pilates Body to be out there. Yeah. Maria Earle 27:08  I was like, Brooke, are you crazy? You know, is like my first reaction, you know. So, you know, do you want to do this? You know, before I'm 50 or after I'm 50, you know, I do you? You know who you're talking to, right? You know I was like, so is this, like a wedding boot camp kind of thing that I need to, like, get myself, like, totally, like, in shape or whatever.Lesley Logan 27:49  Whatever that means, yeah, yeah, yeah.Maria Earle 27:51  And she was like, No, I want you to just be you and talk about leap of faith. Talk about, like, stepping into, like, the scary bits and saying, Okay, I I trust you, yeah, and I believe in your vision, and I want to step into that space 100% because it is what I believe. Like, let's celebrate, let's celebrate the body as it is, like, let's, let's give it a whole another dimension here, you know, let's cut through the bullshit of what it means to have a Pilates body, and let's reframe that dialog. And no, I'm not going to get photoshopped as much as I, you know that little my head is like, well, could. Brooke Siler 29:04  We had a lot of conversations. Maria Earle 29:05  Couldn't they just a little, no, right? So it's like this, like inner dialog of over months and months, you know? And that is powerful and beautiful. And I, I could not have asked for am better partner to to do that with, and, you know, a safe space to like, be, no, I'm going to step into this, and I'm going to do it big, and it's going to be, it's going to be yeah and and, yeah. It feels great to be a part of something that is, it's bigger than me. It's bigger it's bigger than the book. It's bigger than us together. It's bigger than all of it. It's, it's, it's, it's about this reframing what what it is to be in our bodies. And to embodied and to and to celebrate all the different phases. I mean, my size has never defined me, and I have been, you know, I am not the size I was when I was 25.Lesley Logan 30:18  Nor I and probably not, right? I I love that we're going here, because I just have to say, like, we're recording this two weeks after so my youtube channel hit 40,000 subscribers, which I'm at the time, this is where, and I was so freaking stoked, because, like, I did it without, like, putting I did it without, like, doing a, you know, tits and ass workout, without, like, you know, the fake Pilates, like, we'll call it Pilates, but it's just, mostly just sit ups, like, I did it without, like, put on, I did it with, like, just educational support. And I'm so proud of what we did. And on the day that we hit 40,000 somebody wrote, your stuff is really great, but you used to be thinner, and it was really, the videos are really great when you were thinner. What happened? Of course, other subscribers are like, this is not helpful. This is why teachers and trainers are afraid to gain weight. Like, wonderful, supportive stuff and to and like, my response to this per and the person doubled down. So in case we're wondering, like, maybe it's a cultural thing, like, we have a house in Cambodia, and people will inquire, like, oh, you're bigger. Why? Because maybe you're rich. They want it like, like, you know, like, that's kind of different cultures. Have different experiences. So, so I was trying to like, so in case we thought maybe it's a cultural translation thing. No, they doubled down. They said it's a calories in, calories out. She could have better discipline. Oh, and to which I got pissed off, because I don't, I don't have the body I had at you know, when I discovered, when I when Pilates discovered me at 22 like I am, first of all, I am no longer sick. I no longer have digestive issues. I now absorb nutrition. I also like happen to look a lot better with curves. Thank you very much. But I, for the record, like I told I went online and told people, yeah, I've gained 40 pounds. I am the most disciplined person I know. I probably do Pilates more than people other people do who have different bodies than me. You cannot have fat phobic comments on my channel. This is wrong for so many reasons. I hope you have space and grace for yourself and others when your body's changed, because they will and it's and I really appreciate you sharing that journey, Maria, about your body too. It's like, I think so many teachers and so many women are afraid to put themselves out there, whatever their thing is. We can even switch Pilates to being an author, being a speaker or being a doctor, like every woman is so afraid. Well, I don't look like whatever x is supposed to look like. And so people are going to judge me. And then, because they don't put themselves out there, because they're afraid they'll be judged, then the only people that are out there are 22 year olds in their super cute outfits that have never looked good on me. And so, of course, like so then people think that's what it is. And so then we have this whole misunderstanding. Brooke Siler 33:05  It's really, it's a, it's, yeah, it is dysmorphia, and it's a really sad commentary, and it's, and, you know, I'm, don't let me get started on a patriarchy, because I will. Lesley Logan 33:16  We can, but yeah. Brooke Siler 33:19  You know, it's, it's this. It's not only an unrealistic ideal, but like, who's even the one coming up with that shit? It's just ridiculous. And the thing is, we've all bought into it at some stage in our lives. And certainly it's something that, you know, it can be on so many different levels. But Maria and I were talking about this too. There was plenty of times, like, even, you know, you'd want to Photoshop this, or there's the cellulite there, and there's the whole thing, and in the end of the day, we're wiser than we've ever been in our lives. We are more powerful in our own ways than we've ever been in our lives. We can move beautifully in at our this age in our lives. I started taking tennis last year. I go three times a week. One, I've never in my life played tennis. I started at 56 you have to love that and like, fuck it. I don't care if my thighs are thicker. I'm like, really enjoying what I can do in this body. And that's what a Pilates body always was. I did even look back in 2000 when I wrote the book, the if you go through the three models at the beginning, there is a passage at the Afterword that says, I chose these three models because of their they were teaching because they're teachers. Their ability to do the actual movements and endure the long photo shoots of the day, they happen to work for me. So that was very easy. They were there. I didn't do like a whatever they call that, a model call, you know, they they worked for me, so it was perfect. They were amazing teachers who were had modern dance backgrounds, so they were strong as shit, and they were beautiful. And I wrote, I hope in earnest, that they that they inspire and don't intimidate. And I wrote that in 2000 because for me, I already knew it's not about having a skinny you know, body, a particular type of body. It was just they were there to model the work, and I knew they could do it. And these are longer days of shooting. So with Maria, I knew her. I knew her work, because we've been working out together for years, and I could see her power and what she could do with her body. And I thought actually in the way she moved, coming from Kathy Grant, but she has this beautiful way of moving different than what I experienced from Ramana. So I loved it, and I thought it fit so perfectly. And it was very much about, you know, it's got a lot of Maria in it too, which is this beautiful, you know, soul. It's about sensing internally. And so it's, it's a kind of, it's a really nice, I think, flip. It's not that the work. I mean, she killed it, I will say, and I'm just going to admit this, I knew she was going to do an amazing job. I really, I can't actually believe how incredible she was, really. And she knows I say this all the time to her, because she, she killed it. She was a superstar rock star, like, if she couldn't get the thing, she was like, save it. We'll do it again at the end. Like she just, there was determination, like, nothing I've ever seen. It was a very long day of shooting, and I it was like, yeah. I was like, wow, that was really the right choice. I mean, I knew it was the right choice from the beginning. It was, it was a no choice choice. She was a no choice choice. It was just gonna be Maria or it was gonna be no one, and thank God, she took a day, I think, like a day, right when I asked you, and then, like, the next day, she was like, right, I'm good. Because I remember saying to my husband, like, what if she didn't do it? Like, I needed to be her. It's just her. It just was her. It was like, meant to be you. So. Lesley Logan 36:40  Oh yeah, but I, and I, Maria, first of all, like, I don't, I you, there's something about you that's just so magical that you could even, I don't even know, I don't know if I could take the day, I probably would have been like, I'm fucking scared. And, you know, but you know, like, I don't what, what did you think about? What did you? Did you journal? Like, what did you, what? How did you how did you contemplate the decision? Because you're correct, it's hard to find the words for it. It is going to be bigger than this book is any bigger because, because the book was already bigger than Brooke already, and so and so. And also I just want to say, like, I love that there. I love that the height of Pilates being so popular. This book is coming out again, because I do think it brings some authenticity to the work that we're doing. So what did you do during the day to, like, come to the decision we all want to know how you contemplated?Maria Earle 37:30  Well, I think, I think definitely it was a process. It was a number of conversations, you know, and and I knew in my heart that I that I had to say yes, I knew that it would be a major regret if I let fear and you know, like the little the little naysayers, you know you shouldn't be doing that, or what business do you have? You know nobody wants to see you know you. I knew that all those little voices that I ultimately would regret letting them win. So I knew that I had to say yes, and then basically I had to work backwards from the yes to convince myself that I was okay and that, that, you know, and luckily, luckily, I got good people on my corner, so, so whenever I felt like I needed to, oh God, oh God, what have I done? I'm not ready for that. Wait. I need that boot camp, you know, I maybe, if I did lose, you know, the 20 pounds that I've gained, you know, in the past 10 years, perimenopause is kicking my ass, you know, what if I, maybe I could, oh, God, like whenever I would sort of hit those high rev panic moments, you know, I just have to go to Brooke and whoever else was, were my rocks, you know. And you know, while I'm like, circling and, you know, and I can't land right, and they would be like, it's okay, we got you. This is going to be amazing. This is this and that, and.Brooke Siler 39:20  (inaudible) believing the people that see you like you almost have to see yourself through others' eyes like it was no doubt in my mind that you were perfect, perfect, but I just that's you know, you had to go through your process to get there, and I had to respect that. But yes, I was going to tell you how amazing and beautiful and stay as you are and like, think about how many people get to look and say, Oh, I feel that's me. I'm there. I'm being represented. It's, yeah.Maria Earle 39:52  I mean, because it's important. It's about, it's about really stepping into, stepping into that space, and that stepping into that space is really scary, but I show up that way from my clients every day, yeah, but I don't necessarily show up for myself in that way, and that is something that I don't like to admit. So I am admitting it here, and I'm admitting it now, but you won't ever hear me say it again. No, I'm joking. (inaudible) Maybe now I'll be able to say it more often, which is, like, I, you know, I fall into the same body traps, you know, even though I, I will with my clients and with the teachers who I work with, and, you know, my friends, I like show up with body positivity, and you are beautiful and you are powerful. And I don't, let's not worry about the, you know, the extra little curvy there, like, let's get strong. Let's get moving. Because it's about the moving, and it's about feeling strong, feeling great in your body. It's not about how your body looks. I do that for people all day long. And then when it comes to myself, it's like, right? Until it's like eating you up inside. And so and so the process, the process is not overnight. It's like a long term, term thing. And you know, the book's gonna come out, and I'm probably gonna hide under my covers for every day. Lesley Logan 41:17  For a few minutes, and then we're all gonna drag you out.Brooke Siler 41:21  We're coming in after you for sure (inaudible0.Lesley Logan 41:25  I'm gonna text you the day after it comes out to make sure that you're like, I I appreciate and that you said those things, because it's true. Like, I think we all hear like we're all that for our clients, like they body shame themselves, like, hold on, we're reframing that. And in the process of loving the body that I'm growing into. And, you know, there is all the things, because we were raised in, as our brain was developing, we were raised with the five minutes of tone here, the this here, like I was in modeling, and, of course, like I was like, working out all the time. And you guys went at a commercial agent and a modeling agent, and on the same day, the modeling agent said you're not thin enough, and my commercial agent said you're getting too skinny. And I was like, oh, I don't actually know what to do today. Like, I don't know what to do today because I'm now not hireable in commercials, according to you, but I'm not hireable enough because the modeling agency want to be a fitness model, but I wasn't toned enough to be a fitness model, but I wasn't skinny enough to be a model, model, and so, like you so and so here's, here's what I did. You guys, my agents were across the street from a fonuts, which is, if you've ever been to L.A., it's a non fried, gluten free donut shop. Okay, so the donuts are not fried. It's only gonna happen in L.A. and I I fucking went to the donut shop. I was like, fuck it. I don't even know what to do, and I consciously eating my feelings. Right now, I am an adult enough to understand. I do not, I have a therapy session around this, but I was just like, no one is going to be happy. And that is what I like sat on this bus stop with my donut, and I remember, like, no one's happy, and I told my husband, I said, I think I'm gonna let go of the agents. And I don't know what that means, because I don't I wasn't like wasn't like, wasn't like, I was I wasn't a dream of mine, but I was also like, I can't like, I can't handle these people and my own thoughts, like my own reaction, like, I can't my own thoughts of like my body changing and who I'm becoming, and trying to get healthier and absorb B vitamins, you know, anything to live on this planet like, and also have outside people tell me things like, so I that was, that was when I actually let go of but I will say, like, because we all go through that we can be very body positive and still have these things about ourselves. And I, I think it's hard to admit, but it's also like, it's, it's just honest, and it's a process, because I do think that in people falling in love with their bodies and seeing different bodies doing these strong exercises, they're still going to have their own thoughts to themselves. I can't do that. That's not what my body like all the and we have to go, you're going to have all those thoughts, and you're still invited to this party, because, like, we should have always been moving for the health of it and not for the shape of it. And I don't know when we stop working out for the shape. I don't know when that stops, but I do appreciate your honesty there, Maria. And I think it's I'm excited for what people are going to say and see and do.Maria Earle 44:37  Yeah, and also I would say, I would say something about to sort of bring a couple threads through that in that deep dive that Brooke did, like really looking into the archival work and looking at, you know, the pictures that Joe took doing his mat work, like we we sat with the book, you know, during the photo shoot, like we sat with the book and we were like, how is he doing this? As opposed to, and no, no zero shade, but different than looking at a manual or the gorgeous models that were in book one, right, that were all contemporary or ballet dancers who were making shapes, beautiful shapes, that were in very much influenced by the an esthetic that comes from dance. So you know, Mr. Pilates' swan is not a full extension with fingertips facing the ceiling, right? But we have that in our manual as like, that's what the swan dive is supposed to look like, right? And so we bought into an esthetic that doesn't necessarily, really, it's not, it's an it's an it's just that, it's just the esthetic, period, right.Brooke Siler 46:09  It doesn't even serve the body in the same way that when you realize what Joe was asking, and I always kind of joke about this, how many times I looked at those pictures in the book before lockdown, you know, for years before, because Romana had them on her walls and all of that. And in my mind, he was not in great form, not matching what I was being told. So, like, he needs to do this, he needs to soften his knees. He needs to and then when I started, really, and I've read those books a lot of times. I mean, honestly, before lockdown, I had already they were dog eared and highlighted in every color anyway. But then I went back in and, you know, every time you reread something, you read it with new eyes you because it's where you are. You need it. It meets you where you are in that moment, and it met in this place that was so perfect, because I really read it, I really I heard it, I saw it, and I thought, let me try what he's actually saying, because I had not, not done that. I just, blind faith, went with what I knew from my teacher, of course, who you know again, no shade there, either. Like, fantastic. It got me so far. But then being able to take Joe's words and his vision and his you know, he wanted to help us really be in our bodies and move better during the day. So when we did it that way, when we really got into the nitty gritty of what he was asking, and then the feeling like Maria was saying after the photo shoot, that she was like, Oh my God, I feel incredible. Like, not exhausted, and, I mean, maybe exhausted from the energy of it, but like, the feeling in the body is a good feeling, as opposed to.Maria Earle 47:53  Not fighting the body I was not, I was not fighting myself doing the exercises. I think that's, I think that's really, I think there's really something to that, you know, that you're not in a battle against you and the exercise, or you and the shape, and you trying to get into the shape, be the shape and and, you know, you'll see, you'll see the pictures. It's, it's not rocket science. It's not anything incredibly incredible. It's actually pared down. It's actually not performative, and therefore it's, it's, it's gonna resonate at a different level. And for some people, they're gonna be, like, it's just that.Brooke Siler 48:42  I said there's gonna be people who just rip the new chapter off and throw it away.Maria Earle 48:46  Like, well, what is this? You know. But if you're ready for it and you're in, you're willing to, like, excavate, and do the, do the work, as they say, right, then you're going to be like, Oh, this is this. This there. This is different. This feels different. This is, this is me being in my body in a different way. It's in my body in my way, as opposed to in somebody else's way, where I'm trying to, you know, do that, yeah, that what's happening down there at the end of the line.Brooke Siler 49:34  Very internal chapter in its own way. You can, you can enjoy it for the beautiful photos. But really, what's happening inside Maria in it is what's really, it's about and, and it's, you know, it will, it will be a new thing that people can take or leave. But it's really, I dug deep, and then I combined it with this natural thing called pandiculation. Which is what dogs, our pets, do all the time. You know, this, this lengthening and it's and then when I looked at the archival footage, pictures of Joe and the videos, I was like, Wait, that's what he's doing. And that's what he was saying, natural law of nature, how we move. Watch the animals. I was like, you know it was. And so, yeah.Lesley Logan 50:23  Yeah, yeah. I, I'm, thank you for saying what pandiculation was because I was like, I'm gonna have to look that up.Brooke Siler 50:28  And by the time you're, you know, this comes out, you will.Lesley Logan 50:32  but I can't wait for that. But I it's true. Like, my, my dog gets out of bed every morning, and he does both stretches, right? And I like, look at that. I'm like, I don't, I don't get out of bed and go. Lesley Logan 50:41  But he, you know when he does it 30 or 40 times a day. And they do it every time they move, because we don't like if you try to stretch your dog, they don't like stretch. If you try to pull your dog's leg, they don't like that. What dogs are doing? Pandiculation was fascinating. And when we do it, when we it's basically the word for yawn and stretch. It was developed in the 70s, whatever. Anyway, when you yawn and stretch, we think we're stretching, but we're actually contracting. So when you do this, you're not actually stretching the front. You're contracting the back of you and then releasing. And it becomes a signal that's sent to the brain so you actually learn how to regulate your muscle tension. It's phenomenal. Joe didn't say the word pandiculation, but he absolutely asked us to do what the animals do, and that's what the animals do, because it circulates your blood. It's so freaking cool. I just can't wait. I honestly, you know. Lesley Logan 51:37  I keep watching. I sent Brooke a little gif of, like, someone like, watching the mailbox. I'm watching the mailbox. I'm like, she's like, Lesley, I don't have my copy yet. And I'm like. Brooke Siler 51:47  My copy, yeah, no, I can't wait. Lesley Logan 51:49  I I'm really, I'm really stoked for this. I think, I think also, we're ready. I think there's a huge part of the community that's ready for our conversation about this. I think women who are, like, seeking actual Pilates class, are seeking this conversation, and I think you're giving people permission to do it at home, which has always been something that, like, I'm a huge fan of like, I just think that, like, we keep saying we want Pilates to be accessible, but it's not necessarily like about the price of classes, y'all. It's like making sure they have the ability to do it independently, on their own, because I truly believe that that is where confidence is built. It's like creating this agency within themselves. Like, I can do this, you know, I can look at me, I can do these. I can do this move. I can I can feel this in my body, and then go on the day. Like, I think women especially need that internal strength and agency that, yes, it's great to have a teacher like any one of us, to have eyes on you and like to give you some actual corrections. But also, I think sometimes we are always outsourcing. People are like, what are we? Am I good enough to somebody else's opinion and and really, I just want women to have that. So when you Brooke told me about this, I was like, fuck yeah, I'm in whatever it is you're doing I'm in,Brooke Siler 53:06  Developing that sense of internal trust, instead of always asking for the approval to come from the outside. Way to get to start approving of ourselves, feeling that we can trust what we feel, what we know. I don't care if you're I always tell my class it doesn't matter what I say. Literally, if I come over and I'm in your face saying, lift your leg. Lift your if it is not right for you, do not do it. Do not listen to me. Please. You have full permission not to listen to me. Listen to you. Only you are in your body. Only you know what you're feeling. So it has to be a joint you know, conversation that's happening, it can't just come from one side, so I am also really here for the conversations that will come from this and, yeah.Lesley Logan 53:53  Okay, we, I think the three of us could talk for hours, and we're, I'm already, I sorry, I looked at the clock. Hope you have a few more minutes. We're gonna take a brief break, and then find out where people can find you, follow you, work with you and your Be It Action Items. Lesley Logan 54:08  All right, ladies, we'll go. So what Maria? Where do you hang out? Where's your favorite place? She's gonna drink her tea. Where's your favorite place for people to connect with you? How can they work with you? What do you got?Maria Earle 54:23  So people can look me up, find me, contact me through my website mariaearle.com I also have an IG handle that is my name, Maria Earle, and yeah, I would say those are the two best ways to connect with me.Lesley Logan 54:41  Perfect, Brooke, what about you? And where can they buy this book? If they haven't gotten it already?Brooke Siler 54:47  It will be at all your favorite booksellers. I hope, I mean it's, you know, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, all those kinds of great places. And hopefully we'll get it into, you know, small bookstores too. I love the old (inaudible) bookshops.Lesley Logan 54:59  But also, they don't sponsor the show, but I heard, I heard it's bookshop.org, y'all, if you want to support small business, small bookstops, you can look there and see if it's there. When you buy it there, then they send money to a local bookstore. I don't know how that works, but that's what the commercials say. And do you do you hang on Instagram? What's your website? Where can they find you for more?Brooke Siler 55:17  I think it's pretty simple. So it's BrookeSilerPilates, all one word, and that's the website. That's my Instagram handle, that's my Gmail account, BrookeSilerPilates@Gmail. (inaudible) It's a one-stop shop. Yeah, so you can and I'm very I do like, I am social. I do like sharing and hearing back from people. I feel like it's really funny on Instagram. I'll put something up and be like, tell me what you think. And everyone's like, this is great, but nobody answers like, the question, yeah. I'm like, no, no. I really mean it, like I actually want to be in a conversation with you, but.Lesley Logan 55:52  Yeah, no, I feel the same. Brooke, they don't, they don't do it for this year. Brooke Siler 55:55  Yeah. I don't need the flattery, like, thank you, but I don't need that. I just really, actually want to know what do you think and what do you what are you doing? And, yeah.Lesley Logan 56:04  Yeah, yeah. Well, you know what, that'll be our next that'll be our next thing is like, how do we get women to share what they're actually thinking without thinking what they're thinking is wrong, you know? But that's, that's another in the next 25 years. Okay, I feel like I have tons of takeaways, but I still we have to in the show how we always end it with our Be It Action Items, so bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted, steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us? Well, whoever wants to go first?Brooke Siler 56:34  I mean, yeah. I mean, so, you know, I listened to another podcast you did where that came up, and I realized that it was the orthodontist. She was wonderful, and yeah, and I was thinking I felt quite similarly. I just kind of never believed that I couldn't, that I can't. I just do I don't, I don't sit. And there are things that I sit in question for sure, I think I have, like many women, you know, the fear of being judged. Who the hell wants that? There's nothing nice about that. So there are times that, like putting myself out there can definitely, I can feel stopped, but I'm, I believe very much in pushing through that. And I, I have had a Buddhist mentor since for like, 18 years now and so. And she's always like, you know, the only way out is through. So you just, you push through. You go through that. So I push through fear. Like, if I see fear, I'm gonna head toward it. It may take me a while, but I'm going toward that number one and number two. I don't know if it's just some innate sense of confidence. I just when I have an idea, I want to share it. And when you, when I think of it as being something that I'm sharing, it doesn't feel like it's a scary thing. I'm like, I love it. You said you love it. Let's just do it, it. It's just like that. So I think, for me, when I think of it as sharing, rather than me doing something for you, then to react to it's much it just makes it much more palatable to move forward, because I love sharing. I'm a group, I'm a group, I'm a, I'm a. I like my independence. I like to be on my own. I do a lot of stu

This guided meditation takes us through different ways of observing the mind, first examining its ever-present parts: perception, feeling, will, and awareness. Then we explore the nature of subjective reality itself by asking what is the mind without thoughts? Where is the space of our consciousness? And, how finely can we slice moments of consciousness? Do we ever arrive at a quantum of consciousness?Episode 7. Guided Meditation: What Is the Mind?Themes:Watching your thoughtsFree willWhat is consciousnessFinding peaceMind-body connectionBuddhist philosophyCultivating joyWatch the episode on our YouTube channelIf you'd like to practice with others and bring these ideas into your life, join our weekly meditation community with Scott.

FULL EPISODE: https://taking-the-land.supercast.com/subscriber_v2/episodes/952752A church kid chases his drug-dealing father, joins a gang to prove he's a “man,” and ends up running from the law. Then a mother's fasting, a stepdad's mercy, and a pastor's direct challenge collide into a real conversion.PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION for WORLD EVANGELISM:•NO ADS, Early releases, Full-Length Testimony Tuesdays• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for only $3/month on Supercast⁠: https://taking-the-land.supercast.com/⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for only $3.99/month on Spotify⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taking-the-land/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠Subscribe for only $4.99/month on Apple Podcasts⁠: https://apple.co/4owjo5ZIn this Testimony Tuesday episode of Taking the Land, Pastor Joe Albert Hernandez shares how God pulled him out of drugs, jail, and a fatherless identity crisis, and then launched him into pioneering in Detroit, a hard season in Baltimore, and finally missionary work in Cambodia.PERRY DOMINGUEZ ON TESTIMONY TUESDAY: https://youtu.be/BcSwXAdpgwAYou'll also hear what life is like in Cambodia (97% Buddhist), why it's unusually open to missionaries, what persecution looks like for young converts, and why the next chapter is raising indigenous workers to take the land.If you're a prodigal, a pastor in a hard season, or someone sensing a call to the nations, this one will grab you by the collar in the best way.Chapters00:00 In Cambodia: Why This Nation Is Wide Open04:49 Church Kid to Gang Life10:20 Jail, Running, and the Prodigal Realization14:41 A Mother's Fast and a Stepdad's Mercy19:10 Spiritual Fatherhood and Real Discipleship23:41 True Conversion: Changed DesiresPREMIUM ONLY:38:52 “Yes or No?” — The Call to Preach49:56 Detroit, Baltimore, and Hard Lessons55:49 The Cambodia Burden Returns1:01:44 Raising Indigenous Workers1:09:30 Persecution, Revelation, and Prayer PointsShow NotesALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD EVANGELISMLocate a CFM Church near you: https://cfmmap.orgWe need five-star reviews! Tell the world what you think about this podcast at:• Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3vy1s5b• Podchaser: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-the-land-cfm-sermon-pod-43369v

Meet Richard Lam-- Master TEAM CBT Teacher and Therapist! Today we chat with Richard Lam. Richard is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Mountain View, California. He is a graduate of Palo Alto University. He currently provides short-term therapy for anxiety, OCD, habits/addictions, depression, and relationship concerns using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Richard also trains other therapists in David Burn's model of CBT called TEAM-CBT Therapy. He is a certified Level 5 Master Therapist and Trainer in TEAM-CBT Therapy.  And today, Richard has gifts for you! They are fantastic! See below! I began by asking Richard how he got interested in teaching. When he was first learning, he was tutored by Dr. Angela Krumm, an advanced TEAM CBT practitioner and one of the three founders of the Feeling Good Institute. He was loving the training, but one day she said, "That's all I can teach you. Now you have to start teaching!"  And that started the wagon rolling down the hill. Richard is particularly interested in developing free self-help tools for patients, but also runs a special training class for TEAM CBT therapists who themselves want to become trainers. It meets in-person at the FGI office on Mondays from 12 to 2 PM. If interested, contact Richard (contact information is at bottom of show notes.) Richard is one of our most articulate TEAM CBT teachers, and is renown for some of his live demonstrations of specific techniques, like Forced Empathy. He has created a series of multi-page interactive teaching guides for a variety of techniques, so you can learn exactly how to do the Double Standard Technique, or the Externalization of Voices in a simple, clear, step-ty-step manner. Here are links to several examples. Check them out and feel free to share them with your patients if you are a TEAM therapist.  These links are all kick ass! Check them out and do the exercises. You'll be glad you did! Link to Double Standard Technique Link to Externalization of Voices  Link to Externalization of Resistance Link to I Feel Statements, Part 1 Link to I Feel Statements, Part 2 Link to Feared Fantasy Link to Forced Empathy Link to Forced Empathy Handout Link to Future Projection, for Habits Link to Paradoxical Ultimatum Richard tells us that mental health works a lot like physical health. When we don't regularly care for our bodies, things start to deteriorate and the same is true for our minds. These tools give you a way to keep nurturing your mental health so you can maintain a strong, healthy mind. Richard and I also discussed Acceptance--one of the most difficult concepts for patients and therapists alike to "get." I was delighted to learn he has a five-point plan to help people grasp this concept. Richard's Five Steps to Acceptance 1. The Win-Win Principle: How can I see this loss as a win? In high school, Richard had a patient whose heart was set on making the varsity basketball team, and was heartbroken when he only made the junior varsity team. But then he got to thinking that it would be fun to be the start on the JV team because his best friend is also going to be in JV. He relaxed and started to enjoy his practices with the team.  And He was promptly promoted to the varsity team!  2. Remember the butterfly effect!  Richard described getting angry and frustrated when he was late for an important appointment, and the car in front of him was moving slowly and caused a delay at a red light. His first impulse was to get angry and insist it SHOULDN'T have happened. But then, in reflection, he thought: "Wait a minute. This delay will change the entire trajectory of the rest of my life. And who knows, this could have save my life from some future tragedy if the trajectory of my life had been on time."  3, Growth mindset I have always thought of this important idea in simple terms. There is really no such "thing," from a Buddhist perspective, as "success" or "failure." These are just experiences. But often things do not turn out as one hoped. Instead of caving in, giving up, or feeling depressed or frustrated, although those are perfectly reasonable human experiences, you can accept your failure and view it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Our 9 month old grandson has reminded me that when we are learning to walk, we "fail" constantly, falling over, etc. But these are steps in learning that eventually culminates in the ability to walk--which is a miracle! 4. The spiritual view Acceptance can be thought of as letting go of judgement. Richard treated a woman who was angry at God because she could not have children, and she had always dreamed of having a big family. But from a medical perspective, her anger and constant agitation were actually the main reason she couldn't get pregnant. Shen she began working on reducing her anger using TEAM CBT, she was able to relax, and accept her fate with greater in peace. And then she suddenly got pregnant!  I, David, have seen this on many occasions. Check out Podcast #7f9, one of our most popular podcasts ever, with Daisy: "What is the Secret of a Meaningful Life?" Or Podcasts 268 - 269, featuring live work with our beloved Dr. Carly Zankman. Or #349: "What if my family rejects me?" All of these podcasts were amazing, and resulted in rapid pregnancies! 5. Empathy vs anger Richard described getting VERY angry when someone broke into his car and stole a bunch of stuff, but then asked himself why they did it. He realized that they were probably struggling and desperate for money--for drugs, for food, for family. Understanding someone's story can help lower the anger that you feel. Richard, Rhonda, and David

Today we're so excited to share our conversation with Bruce Tift, author, psychotherapist and longtime practitioner of Vajrayana Buddhism. This summer, our friends at Uplift Kids introduced us to Bruce's fascinating book Already Free, and we've been thinking about it ever since.In this conversation, Bruce dives into some of the ideas in the book. He explores how to make peace with being human. He looks at two seemingly opposing paths—both Western and Eastern wisdom—and shows how each offers a vital piece of the puzzle. Where psychotherapy may teach us to bring our early wounds and disowned emotions into awareness, Buddhist practices help us recognize the deeper freedom that's available when we stop identifying with the fixed self.We loved that Bruce talked us through the ways we organize around our core fears, why so many of our childhood survival strategies still run the show in adulthood, and why real freedom often begins with simply allowing ourselves to feel uncomfortable without trying to fix or escape.Bruce's insights feel so useful for navigating seasons of growth—emotional, spiritual, and relational.This conversation really helped us see that personal growth isn't about achieving some ideal version of ourselves—it's about meeting our actual experience with curiosity, compassion, and presence. We found Bruce's wisdom to be gentle, honest, and deeply liberating, and we're so grateful he joined us.You can find Already Free on Bookshop.org, Amazon, or wherever you buy your books, and you can find even more from Faith Matters on this topic in this week's newsletter on our website, faithmatters.org.Order That We Might Have Joy for the perfect Valentine's Day gift, and join the book club with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife!