Podcasts about varun soni

We need a recovery of the sacred in our secular world. Because the mental, emotional, and psychological struggles haunting society right now can't be solved without addressing meaning, purpose, and the longing for connection to something beyond ourselves.In other words, spiritual health is an essential part of mental health.An attorney, religious scholar, and university chaplain, Dr. Varun Soni is Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, and is leading us back to our true north, through spacious and life-giving spiritual conversations and sacred practices that realign us to our values and identity.In this conversation with Varun Soni, we discuss:Finding the sacred in our secular culture.Religious pluralism and what it means to build trust that reaches across religious lines of difference.The transformative power of finding your “truth north”—your North Star—to orient our journeys of faith and spirituality.Varun shares six pillars of flourishing; how to align our actions with our values; and the benefit of listening to the cultural narratives and stories we tell.He reflects on the missing elements of spirituality in our understanding of mental health today, evidenced in his work with teens and emerging adults.He offers us a Hindu meditative practice to provide inner clarity, stability, and calm.And he comments on compassion and a cultivation sacred spiritual practices to counteract the loneliness, anguish, and suffering in our world.Show NotesDr. Pam King welcomes Varun Soni, Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at USCJourney from Hindu attorney to first Hindu Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life in the U.S.“What does it mean to be Indian? What does it mean to be Hindu? What does it mean to be American? What is this Indian American experience?”1965 Immigration and Naturalization ActInspired by grandfather's connection to Mahatma Gandhi“ What it meant to be Hindu was to be like Gandhi. What it meant to be Indian was to be like Gandhi. What it meant to live a meaningful life was to live like Gandhi.”“ I continued to study religion as a way of understanding myself.”Sitting with the Dalai Lama on Mahatma Gandhi's birthdayMentorship from the Dalai LamaDeepak Chopra's influence“Interfaith trust building”University ChaplaincyWhat is thriving to you?"Thriving is the alignment of purpose and practice—it's not about arriving, but about moving in the right direction."“What is my north star, and how do I get there?”Spiritual well-being about asking the right questions, not having all the answersReligion once provided meaning, rituals, and community—now young people seek new structures"What is sacred to you? If you can't answer that, you're drifting without a compass."The urgency of time when turning 50 years old“I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone anymore.”“Put the process before the answer.”6 pillars of thriving and well-being: diet, sleep, exercise, contemplative practice, emotional intelligence, connection to natureBasic physical pillars of thriving: Diet, Sleep, ExerciseSpiritual pillars of thriving: Contemplation, Emotional Intelligence, and Communing with NatureFinding what is sacred—faith, relationships, personal values51% of USC students non-religious, 80% spiritualRecord levels of loneliness, imposter syndrome, comparison culture“Not just a mental health crisis, but a spiritual health crisis.”Loss of intergenerational religious experiences—key protective factor against depression"We took away religion and replaced it with social media, then wondered why anxiety skyrocketed."Social media fuels disconnection rather than community"We weren't built for this much bad news. Our brains weren't designed to process global suffering 24/7."“There's no right way to do contemplative practice.”Find moments built into your dayExercise: So Hum breath meditation: Inhale “So,” exhale “Hum”Using meditation as a spiritual technology or tool"You are not your thoughts—you are the awareness behind them."Identity shaped by personal narrative—"If you don't like your story, rewrite it."Telling the story of who you will become"Every individual is the hero of their own journey, whether they realize it or not."Cultural mythology, from sacred texts to Marvel movies, reflects search for meaningSpirituality helps build redemptive life narratives“There power in being part of something bigger.”The Spiritual Child by Lisa Miller—research on spirituality and mental health"It's hard to hate the people you love—universities are one of the last places where people can learn to love each other across differences."Technology and mediated relationshipsWhat is sacred to you?"Gen Z's greatest superpower is empathy, but they've never been lonelier."Building protective factors for young peopleGratitude rituals shift focus from anxiety to appreciationCare, justice, and connectionMental Health CrisisMental Health and Spiritual HealthAwe-inspiring moments—nature, music, relationships—essential to well-being"Awe, wonder, and gratitude aren't luxuries—they're survival tools."“You can't doom-scroll your way to joy. Presence and connection matter.”Religious institutions declining, but human need for transcendence remainsCreating new rituals and meaning-making for a secular generation"Spiritual health is just as important as mental health—ignore it, and you miss a key part of the equation."What is your North Star? What gets you up in the morning?How do your daily practices align purpose and action?How do the stories you tell shape your identity and thriving?Try So Hum meditation as a daily mindfulness practiceEngage in one act of gratitude—write a note, express appreciation, savor a momentIt's all too easy to fragment our lives into secular and sacred, but thriving and spiritual health require wholeness and integration of every aspect of ourselves, including our faith and spirituality.Future generations of leaders need our guidance and support in their connection to community and their search for meaning, purpose, and hope.Keep your seat-belt firmly fastened, your seat-back upright, tray table stowed, and secure your own spiritual oxygen mask before assisting others.We can counteract the outrage, anxiety, and information overload with simple, daily practices that bring stability and clarity.We thrive when we align our actions and our values, our behavior with our beliefs, and our practices with our purpose.About Varun SoniVarun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California. He received his B.A. degree in Religion from Tufts University, where he also earned an Asian Studies minor and completed the Program in Peace and Justice Studies. He subsequently received his M.T.S. degree from Harvard Divinity School and his M.A. degree through the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He went on to receive his J.D. degree from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, where he also completed the Critical Race Studies Program and served as an editor for the Journal of Islamic and Near Eastern Law. He earned his Ph.D. through the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Cape Town, where his doctoral research focused on religion and popular culture. As an undergraduate student, Dean Soni spent a semester living in a Buddhist monastery in Bodh Gaya, India through Antioch University's Buddhist Studies Program. As a graduate student, he spent months doing field research in South Asia through UCSB's Center for Sikh and Punjab Studies.Dean Soni is currently a University Fellow at USC Annenberg's Center on Public Diplomacy and an Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Religion. He is the author of Natural Mystics: The Prophetic Lives of Bob Marley and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Figueroa Press, 2014) and his writings have appeared in the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Crosscurrents, Jewish Journal, and Harvard Divinity Bulletin. He produced the critically acclaimed graphic novel Tina's Mouth: An Existential Comic Diary by Keshni Kashyap, which is currently being adapted as a feature length film. He also produced and hosted his own radio show on KPFK-Pacifica that showcased music from South Asia and its diaspora. In 2009, he was one of the organizers of the historic Concert for Pakistan, a benefit concert at the United Nations General Assembly Hall featuring Salman Ahmad, Sting, Outlandish, Jeff Skoll, Deepak Chopra, and Melissa Etheridge.Dean Soni is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Academy of Religion, and the Association for College and University Religious Affairs. He is on the advisory board for the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, Journal for Interreligious Dialogue, Hindu American Seva Charities, Future45, and the Parliament of the World's Religion. Prior to joining USC, Dean Soni spent four years teaching in the Law and Society Program at UCSB. Born in India and raised in Southern California, he has family on five continents and they collectively represent every major religious tradition in the world. About the Thrive CenterLearn more at thethrivecenter.org.Follow us on Instagram @thrivecenterFollow us on X @thrivecenterFollow us on LinkedIn @thethrivecenter About Dr. Pam KingDr. Pam King is Executive Director the Thrive Center and is Peter L. Benson Professor of Applied Developmental Science at Fuller School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy. Follow her @drpamking. About With & ForHost: Pam KingSenior Director and Producer: Jill WestbrookOperations Manager: Lauren KimSocial Media Graphic Designer: Wren JuergensenConsulting Producer: Evan RosaSpecial thanks to the team at Fuller Studio and the Fuller School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy.

After a tremendous 2023 sojourn, we are BACK with the 27th edition of the Dances With Films Festival (20th June - 30th June 2024) taking place at TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. AND 'Echo Chamber' will be there with some in-depth coverage!!! So we had to come with the @EchoChamberFP https://www.instagram.com/echochamberfp/ coverage, and 'Day 1' is a real treat!!! Our first film is a reminder to cherish all the moments and look at the sunsets. It's a true life story which will open your heart and dampen your eyes. We then sit down with the man who brought it to the screen with so much care & consideration. It's a wonderful chat about so many things, but what really resonates is the integrity and spirit behind the work!!! Watch the conversation: HERE! https://youtu.be/9kbdOyhiO-U Shalin Shah (Kapil Talwalkar), an ambitious USC graduate, leaves behind his loving Indian American family (Faran Tahir, Meera Simhan) and devoted girlfriend, Fiona (Olivia Liang), to pursue his dream of making a difference as a Peace Corps volunteer. However, his life takes a devastating turn when a check-up for a lingering cough reveals a shocking diagnosis: a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Forced to return home and undergo treatment, Shalin confronts the fundamental question: what is the true meaning of life when faced with limited time? Based on a true story, PAPER FLOWERS is a poignant and inspirational journey of love, loss, and hope. It serves as a roadmap to cherish the moments we have and to remember to stop and enjoy every sunset. Today we have: Paper Flowers Watch Review: Here. https://youtu.be/BI5Va8pDIgA Dances With Films Friday, 23rd June 2024 at 19:30pm World Premiere, TCL Chinese 6 Theatres Buy Tickets: Here. https://danceswithfilms.ticketspice.com/dwf27-paper-flowers-opening-night London Indian Film Festival Wednesday, 26th June 2024 at 18:30pm, European Premiere Regent Street Cinema Buy Tickets: Here. https://londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk/paper-flowers/ Birmingham Indian Film Festival Thursday, 27th June 2024 at 19:00pm Midland Arts Centre Buy Tickets: Here. https://birminghamindianfilmfestival.co.uk/paper-flowers/ Director: Mahesh Pailoor Cast: Kapil Talwalkar, Olivia Liang, Faran Tahir, Meera Simhan, West Liang, Tom Everett Scott, Karan Soni, Anita Kalathara, Jeremy Culhane, Daniel Kim, Juan Gabriel Pareja, Jenny Gago, Varun Soni, Luciana Elisa Quinonez, Asit Vyas, Mita Vyas, Suniti Upasani, Nicole Delgado, Casey Gardner, Dawn Hudson Credit: AV Entertainment Company Genre: Drama Running Time: 100 min Cert: 15 Trailer: Here. https://youtu.be/lhKRqOlwrq0?si=xnhux1PxAcVtxmh_ Website: Here. https://paperflowersmovie.com/ X: @paperflowersmov https://twitter.com/paperflowersmov Facebook: Here. https://www.facebook.com/paperflowersmovie/ Instagram: @paperflowersmovie https://www.instagram.com/paperflowersmovie/ TikTok: @paperflowersmovie https://www.tiktok.com/@paperflowersmovie ------------ *(Music) 'Give The People' (Instrumental) by EPMD - 2020 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eftv/message

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Varun SonI, who's been a guest on Victoria Garrick Browne's Real Pod and Rainn Wilson's Metaphysical Milkshake to discuss spirituality, the role it still plays in our lives and the mental health crisis among young people. Dr. Soni is the dean of religious life at the University of Southern California. You can connect with Dr. Soni via email at vasoni@usc.edu Connect with Devon/ the show: https://linktr.ee/wheelwithitpod Subscribe to Wheel with It for more uplifting and thought-provoking conversations that spin the wheel of life in unexpected directions. Don't forget to share with a friend! Your support fuels our mission to share stories that truly make a difference. Subscribe here: https://wheelwithit.com/podcast/wheel-with-it-inclusion-and-more?v=0rq9 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wheelwithit/message

In this webinar, our guest, Dr. Varun Soni, in a chat with Ram S Ramanathan and Pranav Ramanathan, expand on the emerging challenges of loneliness and shares his perspectives on how ecosystemic support can be the solution. They talk about What are the causes of growing loneliness, especially in youth How can coaching be an intervention 4Ts to avoid the loneliness The advent of social media and its negative effects Mental health and well-beingTo know more about our courses in July click hereJoin our Coaching Community:  CoachnookThis episode was recorded on 28 June  2023, as part of the Masters of Coaching seriesYou can see the recording on our YouTube channel.  If you like this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and connect with us on the links below.  Thank you for your support!Contact Us https://coacharya.com/contactWebsite https://coacharya.comWebinars https://coacharya.com/events/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/coacharyaYouTube https://youtube.com/c/coacharyaFacebook https://www.facebook.com/CoacharyaTwitter https://twitter.com/coacharyaInstagram https://www.instagram.com/coacharya 

In this episode, Sam Shapiro, Marin Montessori's Head of School, speaks to Varun Soni, Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, about the mental health crisis on college campuses and what we might do about it. Throughout their deeply felt conversation, they try to work backward to identify the strategies parents of young children can use to increase the likelihood that their kids will enter college healthy, confident, and whole.

This week Victoria sits down with her former advisor and long-time mentor USC's Dean Soni. As a longtime student of every major religious tradition in the world, a contributor to the Huffington Post, and the Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at USC, Dean Soni This episode goes deep from the start. Victoria and Dean Soni really dig into how to actually stay positive in your life despite the current state of the world, how as humans we're always in a state of transition, and how you can leverage that to find gratefulness. This episode is perfect for anyone who's working to navigate life's transitions.   Sponsored by: Goodr: Did you see my polarized slope goggles? Head to goodr.com/realpod for FREE shipping when you get your own! Vionic: MUST HAVE. Use code REALPOD at checkout for free shipping at www.vionicshoes.com Cozy Earth: THESE SHEETS! Hit cozyearth.com and use code REALPOD for 35% off sitewide! Best bedding + PJs EVER. Athletic Greens: I drink AG1 with Max every single day! Visit athleticgreens.com/realpod   Produced by Dear Media This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

“The Grateful Dead saved me,” says Dr. Varun Soni, Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California. And he's not alone. In this episode, Dr. Soni argues that the Dead are actually a religion, and we meet Sage, a student of Dr. Soni, whose encounter with the Dead's music at age 21 has helped guide both her gender transition and spiritual growth. Credits:America's Dead is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Alex Kapelman, and Ben Montoya. Additional production from Josh Agajanian. The show is mixed by Sam Bair and Josh Hahn. Our theme music is by Jake Longstreth, John Nixon, Aaron Olson, and Ryan Adlaf of Mountain Brews and Richard Pictures. The show art is created by Andy J. Pizza. Special thanks to Joe Dawson at Sonos. 

Swami Yogananda travelled extensively in USA during the mid 1920s, speaking to large audiences in cities: breaking new ground; exposing minds and souls to yogic philosophy. In this minute we have contributions on this topic from Brother Chidananda, Varun Soni, Philip Goldberg and hear the voice of our guru Paramahansa Yogananda. One question he asks in this minute is as relevant now as it was back then: are we being distracted away from God by our many multifarious hobbies? 0:00 Jurassic Covid; 2:04 Summary of minute; 2:50 Why did Guruji travel across USA; 11:03 Where did he go and who did he meet?; 20:11 Swami Vivekananda; 32:30 Images used in the minute and Kodak; 38:51 Do you have time for Bliss?. Some lovely images and history of his tour can be found: http://www.srf-denver.org/History.html The voice of Swami Vivekananda discussed in this minute can be found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdTy8e7XMxA

Reva joins us from London to discuss Yoga and Meditation in the context of this minute where Brahmachari Martin (of Self-Realization Fellowship), Varun Soni and Mas Vidal weigh in on their definitions. Why are people moving away from religion? What is meditation? Why is Hatha Yoga not taught in SRF (in as much depth as Kriya Yoga)? We offer some guidance, as given by Paramahansa Yogananda (and some Monastics), on these intriguing questions.

Rainn and Reza sit down with academic Varun Soni to ponder, "What's Wrong with Being Lonely?"  https://www.instagram.com/rainnwilson/ https://www.instagram.com/rezaaslan/?hl=en   Special Thanks To Our Sponsors One Skin Visit oneskin.co/MILKSHAKE and use code MILKSHAKE for 15% off your first purchase. FUZZY Right now, Fuzzy is offering our listeners a FREE 7-Day Trial plus $20 off your first purchase of vet-recommended pet meds, supplements, treatments and more. Go to YourFuzzy.com and use PROMO CODE META to get started." DAILY HARVEST Daily Harvest makes it easy to feel good about what I'm doing for myself and the planet. Go to DAILYHARVEST.com/MILKSHAKE to get up to forty dollars off your first box!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are joined by our friend Josh, from the Young Adult Sangha, to cover in detail Swami Yogananda's momentous move to LA. His journey from the East to the West coast was intriguing; as will be seen from the fantastic stories from we discovered about the events along the way. In this minute we also have appearances from Varun Soni, Felicia Tomasco, Stefanie Syman and Mas Vidal all setting the scene and exploring the immediate impact Paramahansa Yogananda had in Los Angeles, the city of angels. --------------------- 0:00 Meet Josh; 9:42 Summary of Minute; 12:00 Why LA?; 18:50 What is a seeker and what is he/she seeking?; 25:49 Prophesies and visions of LA; 32:51 Transcontinental road trip and plucking out devotees; 49:48 The most important picture in history; 52:10 Biltmore Hotel; 53:21 Power of initiative. --------------------- SRF Denver website has a great history section for Guruji's travels; http://www.srf-denver.org/History.html

Varun Soni had many significant messages to offer in the film and provided them so effortlessly and concisely that they were easy to gloss over. We discuss them in detail and he reciprocates by providing his superb all-inclusive, healing, energy to our podcast in this very special interview. Two of the many different themes discussed how his family have been influenced by Paramahansa Yogananda and how the great guru's teachings are relevant for peace and harmony between religions. The issue of mental health amongst the youth of today is also dissected, using the light of India's timeless gift of Yoga to the world. 0:00 Meet Varun Soni 8:00 Religious conflicts in the world; 11:20 The inclusive approach of Yogananda; 15:51 Young people and religion; 23:14 Spiritual and mental healing; 26:10 Teaching spirituality at an early age; 29:27 Varun's involvement in the Awake film; 31:52 The meaning of Yogananda in Varun's life; 34:28 The reconceptualization of God; 36:42 Wording the message of spirituality; 42:45 Measuring data on well-being; 45:05 The structure of the Awake film; 47:50 Is the Awake film used in his classes?; 49:59 Attention spans and short form content; 51:59 Mindfulness classes; 55:10 The progress of inter-faith culture in America. -------------- Dr. Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California (USC) and the first Hindu to serve as the chief religious or spiritual leader of an American university. He is also Vice Provost of Campus Wellness and Crisis Intervention, Adjunct Professor of Religion, and University Fellow at the Annenberg Center on Public Diplomacy. Prior to USC, he spent four years teaching in the Law and Society Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

This episode will help you ask and answer the big questions in life! Dr. Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at USC, where he is the chief religious and spiritual leader for over 45,000 students. He has been featured on ABC News, Forbes, NPR, and The Los Angeles Times, he was also mentored by His Holiness the 14th Dali Lama of Tibet. On this episode Victoria and Dr. Soni discuss the mental health crisis that's facing our world and why so many are struggling to discover their own sense of meaning, purpose, and identity. Not to mention, how can we connect with others, make more friends, and truly feel fulfilled in our lives? This eye-opening conversation is one of Victoria's favorite Real Pod episodes EVER! Sponsors Away: Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials at awaytravel.com/real Ned: Go to www.helloned.com/REALPOD or enter REALPOD at checkout for 15% off your first one-time order or 20% off your first subscription order plus FREE shipping. Function of Beauty: Go to FunctionofBeauty.com/realpod to take your quiz and save 20% on your first order! Produced by Dear Media

Mahavatar Babaji has captured the hearts, minds and imaginations of millions of people around the world. This minute has the first mention of the great incarnation that is the param param param Guru of Paramahansa Yogananda devotees around the world. This episode features our first of many guests to the show. Anna Devi joins us from Switzerland and lights the podcast with her experiences. Varun Soni's* intellectual dialogue is discussed in some detail. --- 00:00 - Meet our first guest Anna Devi; 06:38 - Prayer Wheels; 10:03 - Varun Soni*; 19:13 - Religious diversity and expressions of worship; 25:02 - Hollywood Temple and the SRF logo; 30:06 - Yogananda Videos; 34:40 - Who is Mahavatar Babaji?; 42:12 - Kriya Yoga. * See dedicated interview with him in the "Special" series on our channel.

The How Do You Like It So Far team wishes you a happy 2021! With last year being one of collective pain, sorrow and loss, we need a new anthem for a new day that can inspire and comfort us. Take some recs from Varun Soni, USC's Dean of Religious Life. He has certainly helped plenty of Trojans through spiritual hardships, and hopefully the words of the seminal Bob Dylan can do the same to you.

If you like religion, sports or popular culture, this episode is for you, dear listener… and if you think you’re not interested in them, it is even more definitely for you! We are joined by Varun Soni, USC’s Dean of Religious Life and the first Hindu to serve as the chief spiritual officer of an American university. We traverse pandemic-driven transitions in higher education, acknowledging potentially lasting harms to students and others. We back out to the way the pandemic challenges our human need to look ahead, noting that we have not yet dealt with the present and wondering what our new stories of the future will be. That takes us to popular culture, which confronts polarization and isolation, giving us unique frameworks to talk in a way we can’t elsewhere. The conversation launches into an exploration of sports as religion and the activist role of sports – especially the WNBA and NBA – in this period of change. From the connection between fandom and religion, we end with powerful insights on Bob Marley as musician… and prophet. Varun's Essay: How Universities Can Think About Community-Building Through the Coronavirus PandemicLoneliness Report and related resourcesUSC Mindfulness classesCOVID as an event is responsible for the 4th largest number of casualties in American historyVarun hosts the Religion of Sports PodcastCatherine Albanese offers a definition of religion in America, Religions, and ReligionDerrick Bell: Interest-Convergence is a principle of critical race theoryRecent social activism in the NBA:How the NBA Is Quietly Becoming the Most Progressive Pro-Sports League in AmericaNBA "Players' Strike" as a new form of athlete activismNBA players "sit out" the playoffsLonger history of activism in the WNBA:WNBA players urge 'Vote Warnock' against Senator Kelly LoefflerHow The WNBA Paved The Way For The NBA Strike : Code SwitchThe WNBA made the NBA strike possible.Perspective | Taking a stand isn’t new for the WNBA. It’s a way of life.The One Name the W.N.B.A. Won’t SaySelected activists in Sports:Bill RussellMuhammad AliKareem Abdul-JabbarLeBron JamesMegan RapinoeColin KaepernickReligious services rescheduling around AYSO soccerFamous image of MLK kneeling in prayerTomahawk chop“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice”Ep 18: Diane Winston on religion and the entertainment mediaOrigin of the word “fandom”Varun's Essay: How the LA Clippers Made Me a Better HinduHuman stories about sports:ESPN: 30 for 30HBO: Real Sports with Bryant GumbelVarun’s Essay: What We Can Learn From Bob Marley's Spiritual LegacyVarun's book: Natural MysticsBob Marley: How He Changed the WorldSufi teacher Hazrat Inayat KhanBasics of RastafariShare your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com!Music:“In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet  https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmetSpaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeatsCreative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumentalFree Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceshipMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––“Is This Love?” by Bob Marley and the Wailers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHekNnySAfM

Former BIM4Housing Chairman Andrew Carpenter chats to Varun Soni, BIM Manager for calfordseaden. Together they discuss the many and varied benefits of using BIM (Building Information Modelling) in housing. This episode was recorded remotely during the Coronavirus pandemic over conference call.

Volleyball player and mental health advocate Victoria Garrick is a mentor to many student athletes and others who have been inspired by her public journey of vulnerability and strength. During this time of global pandemic and civil unrest, host Varun Soni asks Garrick how she has managed to deal positively with adversity without shying away from it, and what she learned about this subject from one of her great supporters and sources of inspiration, the late Kobe Bryant.

The most recognizable symbol of solidarity with today's movement against racism and police brutality has been to take a knee, an act of protest popularized by Colin Kaepernick. He's the latest in a long line of athlete-activists whose outspoken defiance have helped push forward social and political change in America. What can we learn from these individuals and the movements they are a part of? And what can we learn from the sports world about inclusion, teamwork, and working together to reach shared goals? Our host Varun Soni explores these questions and more in conversation with Jody Armour, professor of law and author of the upcoming book, "N*gga Theory: Race, Language, Unequal Justice and the Law."

Many of us experience sports much like religion: they give us a shared identity, a sense of community, and a common purpose. So what wisdom can we draw from the sports world to help us navigate the chaos and confusion -- and also the awakening and transformation -- happening today? Join host Varun Soni, Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California, in this limited-run series from Religion of Sports, launching July 30.

Dr. Satyan Devadoss FLETCHER JONES CHAIR OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO & Dr. Varun Soni DEAN OF RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL LIFE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA • Please like, share, subscribe to, and review this podcast. Thank you!

Dr. Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, where he is the chief religious and spiritual leader for over 45,000 students. He has been featured on ABC News, Forbes, NPR, and The Los Angeles Times; he also has a close relationship with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. He sits down with Victoria to discuss the current mental health crisis facing students throughout the country, and why so many are battling with issues of meaning, purpose, and loneliness. This is an incredibly eye-opening interview for anyone currently in high-school, college, or who has friends and family in those age groups.

As student matriculate from high school to college, they face both opportunity and challenge. Dr. Varun Soni, Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, recently published an op-ed in the LA Times titled, “There’s a loneliness crisis on college campuses.” We discuss his essay to learn more about this phenomenon and what teachers, students, and institutions can do to try and mitigate its prevalence.

Fuller faculty, along with scholars from various faith traditions, gather for a roundtable discussion on how technology impacts religious literacy, human connection, and interfaith dialogue. Participants include Fuller's Kutter Callaway, Ryan Bolger, Michal Meulenberg, and Clarissa Joan Middleton, as well as Najeeba Syeed, Varun Soni, and Faisal Qazi.

Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California.  This is an overview of Varun Soni's Life, Leadership, and Legacy episodes on pray.com.Hear more inspirational stories like Varun's on the Pray app: https://link.pray.com/hOzg1zP3i0He is currently a University Fellow at USC Annenberg’s Center on Public Diplomacy and an Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Religion. He is the author of Natural Mystics: The Prophetic Lives of Bob Marley and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Figueroa Press, 2014) and his writings have appeared in the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Crosscurrents, Jewish Journal, and Harvard Divinity Bulletin.Dean Soni is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Academy of Religion, and the Association for College and University Religious Affairs. He is on the advisory board for the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, Journal for Interreligious Dialogue, Hindu American Seva Charities, Hindu American Foundation, Future45, and the Parliament of the World’s Religion. Prior to joining USC, Dean Soni spent four years teaching in the Law and Society Program at UCSB. Born in India and raised in Southern California, he has family on five continents and they collectively represent every major religious tradition in the world.

Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California.Hear more inspirational stories like Varun's on the Pray app: https://link.pray.com/hOzg1zP3i0He is currently a University Fellow at USC Annenberg’s Center on Public Diplomacy and an Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Religion. He is the author of Natural Mystics: The Prophetic Lives of Bob Marley and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Figueroa Press, 2014) and his writings have appeared in the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Crosscurrents, Jewish Journal, and Harvard Divinity Bulletin.Dean Soni is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Academy of Religion, and the Association for College and University Religious Affairs. He is on the advisory board for the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, Journal for Interreligious Dialogue, Hindu American Seva Charities, Hindu American Foundation, Future45, and the Parliament of the World’s Religion. Prior to joining USC, Dean Soni spent four years teaching in the Law and Society Program at UCSB. Born in India and raised in Southern California, he has family on five continents and they collectively represent every major religious tradition in the world.“The cause that resonates with me the most . . . is the cause of inclusion, it’s the cause of belonging, it’s the cause of creating communities that allow people to be who they are. That celebrate differences but understand commonalities.”

Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California.Hear more inspirational stories like Varun's on the Pray app: https://link.pray.com/hOzg1zP3i0He is currently a University Fellow at USC Annenberg’s Center on Public Diplomacy and an Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Religion. He is the author of Natural Mystics: The Prophetic Lives of Bob Marley and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Figueroa Press, 2014) and his writings have appeared in the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Crosscurrents, Jewish Journal, and Harvard Divinity Bulletin.Dean Soni is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Academy of Religion, and the Association for College and University Religious Affairs. He is on the advisory board for the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, Journal for Interreligious Dialogue, Hindu American Seva Charities, Hindu American Foundation, Future45, and the Parliament of the World’s Religion. Prior to joining USC, Dean Soni spent four years teaching in the Law and Society Program at UCSB. Born in India and raised in Southern California, he has family on five continents and they collectively represent every major religious tradition in the world.“You cannot succeed unless you fail, and the more spectacularly you fail the more spectacularly you succeed.”

Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California.Hear more inspirational stories like Varun's on the Pray app: https://link.pray.com/hOzg1zP3i0He is currently a University Fellow at USC Annenberg’s Center on Public Diplomacy and an Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Religion. He is the author of Natural Mystics: The Prophetic Lives of Bob Marley and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Figueroa Press, 2014) and his writings have appeared in the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Crosscurrents, Jewish Journal, and Harvard Divinity Bulletin.Dean Soni is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Academy of Religion, and the Association for College and University Religious Affairs. He is on the advisory board for the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, Journal for Interreligious Dialogue, Hindu American Seva Charities, Hindu American Foundation, Future45, and the Parliament of the World’s Religion. Prior to joining USC, Dean Soni spent four years teaching in the Law and Society Program at UCSB. Born in India and raised in Southern California, he has family on five continents and they collectively represent every major religious tradition in the world.“Being a parent is the most ego deflating exercise I think you can have. You are completely in the service of others. Your hopes, dreams, aspirations are put to the side. They are realigned with the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of your child.”

Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California.He is currently a University Fellow at USC Annenberg’s Center on Public Diplomacy and an Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Religion. He is the author of Natural Mystics: The Prophetic Lives of Bob Marley and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Figueroa Press, 2014) and his writings have appeared in the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Crosscurrents, Jewish Journal, and Harvard Divinity Bulletin.Hear more inspirational stories like Varun's on the Pray app: https://link.pray.com/hOzg1zP3i0Dean Soni is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Academy of Religion, and the Association for College and University Religious Affairs. He is on the advisory board for the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, Journal for Interreligious Dialogue, Hindu American Seva Charities, Hindu American Foundation, Future45, and the Parliament of the World’s Religion. Prior to joining USC, Dean Soni spent four years teaching in the Law and Society Program at UCSB. Born in India and raised in Southern California, he has family on five continents and they collectively represent every major religious tradition in the world.

Varun Soni joins Jack Eason for a discussion of loneliness. Specifically among college students – a group most people would not consider being lonely. Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California. His complete biography can be found at https://orl.usc.edu/about/soni/  

Varun Soni joins Jack Eason for a discussion of loneliness. Specifically among college students - a group most people would not consider being lonely.

A conversation with Dr. Varun Soni who serves his Los Angeles community in both a spiritual and scholarly capacity. On this episode we discussed Buddhism, India, and the loneliness crisis on college campuses.

Varun Soni presides over the largest collection of chaplains and student faith groups at a secular American university. 

Millennials and Gen Z are struggling to find connections as they trend away from religious affiliation. Originally aired on May 24, 2019.

In Conversation with Radha Botofasina, Varun Soni, Sita Michelle Coltrane, Purusha Hickson, Ashley Kahn, Brandee Younger, Flying Lotus, Shankari Adams, Ed Michel, Surya Botofasina, Marilyn McLeod Ellison, Reggie Workman, Baker Bigsby and Oranyan Coltrane Created later in life, The Ashram Albums of Alice “Swamini Turiyasangitananda” Coltrane featured synth and vocal laden compositions inextricably linked to in her spiritual practice. Coltrane had always claimed music as an “expression” from within, but with these albums she left the commercial world in her wake, developing a new synthesis between her musical roots and Vedic sonic traditions. Through the voices of those who were closest to her, we are treated to an intimate view into this utterly transfixing and original body of work and the powerful heart and mind behind it. This episode was produced by Mark "Frosty" McNeill. Special thanks to all those who so graciously gave their time to be interviewed for this project. I would especially like to express my gratitude to the students of The Vedantic Center for opening their arms and memories to me. I am indebted to Josh Kun, Varun Soni, and Diane Winston for their guidance. Many thanks to Sasha Anawalt for her enthusiastic support. Eternal gratitude to my wife Nara Hernandez for her patience, love, and wisdom. This program is dedicated to the memory of Swamini Turiyasangitananda. –Frosty In Conversation is produced by dublab. Sound editing and music are by Matteah Baim. Due to rights reasons music from the original broadcast has been shortened. To hear more, please visit dublab.com.

Varun Soni, Vice Provost for Campus Wellness and Crisis Intervention and Dean of USC Office of Religious Life and Emily Sandoval, Senior Director of USC Residential Education discuss how to stay stress-free during finals (or at least how to reduce stress during finals) and how to apply these techniques to everyday stress beyond college and into the workforce.

This is USC Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni - on the Finding Mastery podcast with Michael Gervais - explaining why understanding the root of human suffering begins with removing ego.Full podcast available at smarturl.it/Varun-Soni

From the Hive is a contemplative space where meditative practice meets mindful everyday living. This is a pocket practice with Varun Soni. Keaton Nelly provides the drum track. If this sparks an interest check out the entire conversation on episode 20.

Dr. Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California (USC) and the first Hindu to serve as the chief religious leader of an American university. Find out more at varunsoni.com If you don't have time now to listen to everything, feel free to skip ahead to where the meditation begins at 38:00 and then come back later for the conversation. Troy Bronsink is the founder and director of The Hive - A Center for Contemplation, Art & Action. The Hive is a nonprofit located in the Northside neighborhood of Cincinnati. After nearly 2 years of over 3,000 tickets to classes and events sold, The Hive is now announcing its May/June classes. Go to cincyhive.org/class to check out the offerings. For $30/month, a Hive member can attend classes and events. If you're interested in this for yourself or would like to sponsor someone else to become a member, you can find more information at cincyhive.org/membership. We've just launched a new podcast called Common Good Podcast where we interview Walter Brueggemann, Peter Block and John McKnight. Check it out at commongood.cc/podcast The intro and outro music is by Troy Bronsink. From the Hive is produced by Joey Taylor.

This is Dean of USC Religious Life Varun Soni - on the Finding Mastery podcast with Michael Gervais - describing how we should go about tackling the mental health crisis the United States is currently facing. Full podcast available at smarturl.it/varun-soni Receive a free 20-count travel pack of Athletic Greens (valued at $99) with any purchase! Claim here: athleticgreens.com/findingmastery

On this episode I speak with Dean of Religious Life at University of Southern California, Dr. Varun Soni. Varun's rich and varied background and experience growing up in Southern California as child of one Hindu parent and one Buddhist parent makes him a unique voice in the academic and interreligious spheres.LINKSLearn more about Varun Soni and his work at his personal website: www.varunsoni.com.Office of Religious Life at USC: www.orl.usc.eduRoom to Thrive: https://www.roomtothrive.com/

This is USC Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni - on the Finding Mastery podcast with Michael Gervais - sharing the key questions he likes students to think about. Full podcast available at smarturl.it/varun-soni Receive a free 20-count travel pack of Athletic Greens (valued at $99) with any purchase! Claim here: athleticgreens.com/findingmastery

This is Dr. Varun Soni - on the Finding Mastery podcast with Michael Gervais - sharing the unique mission of the USC Religious Office. Full podcast available at smarturl.it/varun-soni

This is USC Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni - on the Finding Mastery podcast with Michael Gervais - explaining why he asks his students to redefine their metrics for success. Full podcast available at smarturl.it/Varun-Soni

Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California (USC) and the first Hindu to serve as the chief religious or spiritual leader of an American university.In a time where it feels like we have never been more divided, this conversation is about unity. It’s about empathy. It’s about diversity. It’s about curiosity and regard.There is so much to learn in this conversation.Varun has been personally impacted by some of the most influential thought leaders in history… Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, to name a few.As a leader (and I’m not throwing that term out there loosely) at the University of Southern California, Varun is deeply committed to helping students become, through embracing the tension between differences and commonalities.His goal is to run the office of religious life at USC as the office of the future – to envision what religion and spirituality is going to look like 10 years from now rather than what it looked like 10 years ago.In this conversation we talk about how to master the art of living – this includes the importance of asking yourself the right questions, redefining your metrics for success, and the importance of emotional intelligence.Varun also sheds light on some of the difficulties today’s college students face that previous generations may have thought inconceivable.

Today we re-release one our favorite episodes: Dr. Soni. Listen in to see the origin of Akaash’s epic man crush as we talk with a brilliant man, teacher, and leader. We have talked about Bollywood, we have talked about language, and we have talked about gender: but what about religion? Often, religion is the single biggest influence on how people live their lives. So that lends the question: when we all come from such different faiths, what is the role of religion in the South Asian American community? And not only that, Hinduism (which a majority consider themselves to be a part of) is a decentralized religion with little to no organization, that sometimes can even be called a science of thinking. When their religion is so hard to define, how do members of the Hindu community approach being the standard bearers for their faith in this new world ? To help Akaash and Arjun approach these questions, we welcome the esteemed Dr. Varun Soni. Dr. Soni graduated from Harvard Divinity school and got his phD at the University of Capetown. He is an author, who aside from writing books, edited a journal about Islamic and Near Eastern Law and is currently the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California. In other words, he schooled the s**t out of Akaash and Arjun, and they couldn’t have been more pleased. After the interview Akaash and Arjun engaged in a humbling discussion about our responsibilities as first generation South Asian Americans, and their hope for the future.

Varun Soni Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Varun Soni. Dr. Soni is Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, the first Hindu to hold that position at an American university. With a Ph.D. in Religious Studies, he is also an adjunct professor at USC and the author of Natural Mystics: The Prophetic Lives of Bob Marley and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. We spoke about Hinduism, his unique background and what it’s like to serve the religious and spiritual needs of a diverse college population.

After our interview with Dr. Varun Soni last year, we started discussing a way to get more involved with students. We have a strong belief that students are the biggest factor in determining our South Asian American mainstream identity. We also find them fascinating since we rarely get to hang out with them. We batted around a bunch of different ideas, but settled on the idea of a panel discussion with two professors and two students: one undergraduate and one graduate. One from India and one American born. We wanted as many identities present as possible. So on April 7th, we did our first ever live event. We didn’t know if we were going to release it ever but a lot of great stuff came out of it and we wanted to share with you guys! The topics centered around three questions: Are we a South Asian American community? Should we become a South Asian American community? How do we become a South Asian American community? For the next 35 minutes you are going to hear four individuals from wildly different backgrounds discuss. Enjoy and then tune back in on Thursday to hear as we opened up to the audience for questions….shit got real then folks!

Varun Soni, the Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, joins us this month on Common Knowledge as we talk about Hinduism in the United States. He chats with us about growing up Hindu as a boy in Orange County, California and discusses the challenges and opportunities of overseeing one of the most religiously diverse student bodies in the nation. We also share a story from Kristi Del Vecchio, a young interfaith activist, about how a Hindu concept radically changed how she thinks about food.   To read the blog post we talked about, click here!