Ep. 100 (Part 1 of 2) | With extraordinary joyfulness and verve, Native American shaman Charles Lawrence tells the inspiring and fascinating tale of how as a young man, he left psychology, religion, and the white man’s domesticated world in the dust when he became initiated on his journey by mythologist Joseph Campbell, and a paranormal world opened its doors. “If you have a destiny, you better go gracefully, or you’ll get dragged by your heels,” Campbell told him. Indeed, to this day, now in his late 80s, Charles follows the call to ceremonies and Elder Councils all over the world, sharing his sacred shamanic energy and wisdom in blessing and benefit for all. Part Blackfoot by origin, Charles was baptized by traditional Hopi Elders, adopted by elders of Lakota and Coast Salish (Musqueam band), and acknowledged and accepted by Native American tribes and Indigenous Peoples near and far. Here, Charles transmits his love of life, his fearlessness around death, and his easy familiarity with the multidimensionality of existence, the limitlessness in every moment. “Is there joy in this moment in time?” he asks. “If not, why not?”In regard to our collective future, Charles tells us that solutions await us beyond our normal consciousness; in relation to our personal yearning, he describes the transformative power of being seen, being witnessed for who we are at the deepest level, to free our souls and break out of the box. He urges us to sing, to dance, and to “cry our own cry.” (“Nobody has your cry, your experience. You’ve got to cry your own cry.”) Charles also shares his liberating approach to death (“Dying is simple, just pull out the clutch and go into neutral!”), about how he acquired “death medicine,” a wonderful ability to help people make the transition, and his own death medicine practice. One cannot help but be thoroughly inspired and reinvigorated listening to Charles—as Roger wrote him afterwards, “You left a legacy of joy in all of us. I will sing and laugh more and open the door wider to Mystery because of it. And try to practice my last 10 breaths.” Recorded June 1, 2023.“What is it that’s just waiting at any moment to burst out of us in joy?“(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing psychologist and Native American shaman Charles Lawrence (01:04)How Charles left Western psychology & religion behind in the dust, beginning with his meeting mythologist Joseph Campbell and the opening of several paranormal doors (02:33)Living your destiny: follow the guidance, the intuition, whatever shows up (06:42)Native American wisdom has much medicine for us today; the knowing that everything is sacred (08:02)The Native American attunement to nature, sense of interconnection, and knowing that elders are to be revered contrasts sadly with our present culture (10:11)Charles’ call to meet Wallace Black Elk and his wife, Grace Spotted Eagle (12:17)Indigenous people’s special lens on reality and the death medicine tradition of the Ojibwe (14:23)Charles’ first Vision Quest in the Rockies while still a newbie (16:51)The Ghost Dance, the legend of the Broken Hoop, and inquiring into what would happen if we started gathering together again: weaving the basket of connection (19:10)How John came to travel with Wallace Black Elk, a man of connection and love with all beings (24:18)It still is the age of miracles! They don’t just happen in the Bible (27:14)How elders witness people, see people, and wake people up (28:06)Death medicine (helping people die): dying is simple, just push in the clutch and go into neutral (30:08)There is a difference between someone who is seeking something and someone who is sent (34:32)How Charles learned to talk to groups of hundreds of people with no microphone and fulfill the legacy, the prophecy, the path of destiny (36:20)Having a mission & being guided by something greater than you is an antidote to today’s cultural vacuum (37:10)What happened with John when Wallace Black Elk passed away (37:56)Resources & References – Part 1Joseph Campbell, professor, mythologist, author, The Hero with a Thousand Faces*Jean Houston, scholar, prolific author, visionary thinker, one of the principal founders of the Human Potential Movement  Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land*Swami Muktananda, founder of Siddha YogaJean Erdman, modern dance dancer and choreographer, avant-garde theater director (Joseph Cambell’s wife), co-founder of The Open Eye TheaterJoseph Campbell, Myths to Live By*Joseph Epes Brown, The Spiritual Legacy of the American Indian*Margaret Mead, Continuities in Cultural Evolution*, Culture and Commitment*Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Life is a Pilgrimage*Wallace Black Elk, Native American shamanic teacher, Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a LakotaGrace Spotted Eagle: Thunder’s Grace: Walking the Road of Visions with my Lakota Grandmother* by Mary Elizabeth ThunderBates Wilson, beloved superintendent of Arches National Park & Natural Bridges, the “Father of Canyonlands National Park”Malidoma Somé, Of Water and the Spirit: Ritual, Magic, and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman*Stanislav Grof, Books of the Dead: Manuals for Living and Dying*George Soros, investor hedge fund manager, author, philanthropist* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---The Personal Reality of Charles H. LawrenceWith a flash or two of lightning, a personal reality is shattered! Synchronously, the doors of perception open wide enough for a “guardian at the gate”—Joseph Campbell—to introduce Charles H. Lawrence to having a destiny that MUST be followed, or be dragged to: From rejected to chosen, from the very limited (Western) perspective of life to the astonishing expansive spectrum of Indigenous Intelligence and intimate personal—far outside the box/cage relationship with all Existence. From prescribed, programmed, “follow-the-leader Western societies’ rules to discovering the command to “find one’s own way through the darkest part of the forest” (The Hero’s Journey). The endless, constantly evolving, transforming experience of being but a small yet significant part of a greater story, and assisting the unfolding of New Myths that are waiting to happen.Discovering that one had been predicted to show up—at least a hundred years previously (Coast Salish/ Musqueam). Learning the difference between being a “seeker” and “one who was sent.” Being a deliverer of long-cried-for assistance in far off reaches of the Earth (South Africa). Seen by a Peruvian Shaman as the one to assist in creating a Healing Center deep in the Amazon jungle. Being acknowledged as a visionary (Alta messiah) by the Quero of the Altiplano of South America. Recipient of a glimmering (NW Indigenous term) that created, decades ago, a Ceremonial Community that continues to evolve and transform into “Circles/ Communities” that serve the “Cries” of today. This, and much more!---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 99 (Part 2 of 2) | In this riveting, disturbing, and hopeful conversation, addiction expert and recovery coach Dr. Bob Weathers explains the enormous difference it makes when we apply the Integral Model to addiction and recovery. It helps us cover all the bases in our understanding of addiction, from the neuroscientific to the spiritual, and offers a map for recovery in the form of integrated practices that target our physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, and system-coping needs. Bob’s mission in life is to educate—his clients, treatment professionals, policy makers—everyone who is affected by addiction one way or another (which is pretty much everyone) about this set of perspectives that is comprehensive enough to address something as complex as addiction. Bob is deeply familiar with addiction and the suffering it causes on a firsthand basis, and he shares his own experience with an open heart. He is also well informed about the big picture of addiction and shares the latest statistics: 46.3 million Americans are currently clinically addicted—only 6% received treatment last year.What about the future of addiction? Technology is becoming increasingly capable of creating powerful “super stimuli,” making it ever more difficult for people to exercise self-restraint, and internet addiction and internet porn are through the roof. What can we do to influence the powers that be on a social/systemic level to guide us on a new path? One that recognizes that happiness correlates with connection, contribution, and flow rather than the never-ending quest for more acquisitions? Listening to this honest, heartfelt, and impassioned conversation, you will not be in the least surprised to find out Bob is the 2022 winner of the Most Dedicated Substance Abuse Education & Recovery Coach award. “Living a life of value, meaning, and purpose? If you want to talk about happiness, let’s talk about that.” Recorded May 15, 2023.“We have got to begin to find creative ways to endorse restraint at all levels of our society.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Making the turn towards recovery from addiction is like an “incredible lightness of liberation” (01:23)Transformative lifestyle changes (TLCs) and daily practice invite the grace to change (04:28)The crucial element of giving something up: surrendering self (06:50)Cultivating a daily practice of acceptance: How surrendered am I in this moment? (09:01)Addiction is a progressive disease—and it’s devolutionary (11:33)The changing face of addiction: internet addiction, internet porn, super stimuli, evolutionary traps, globesity (15:36)Is the plague of addiction going to get even worse? What happens when virtual reality goes online? (18:05)The importance of a soul-centric approach: finding your higher power and higher purpose (20:08)Richard Rawson’s research on the effect of drugs on the dopaminergic system in the body and the brain (23:44)46.3 million Americans are currently clinically addicted—only 6% received treatment last year (25:36)To be human is to be enslaved: acknowledge there is no way we can compete with the stimuli we’re evolving, and the importance of restraint (26:06)What can we do as educators? Educate towards shifting public policy to something better than incarceration; harm reduction as opposed to a zero tolerance policy (27:38)What correlates with happiness? The illusion of acquisitiveness and how the happiest people are the ones who give back (29:43)The cultural roots of addiction (30:44)What makes Integral Recovery integral? (32:17)How would you define addiction and why can’t we be inclusive? (34:21)Resources & References – Part 2Roger Walsh, Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLCs) Can Be Powerful MedicinesRalph Waldo Emerson, Self Reliance*Tish Warren, thought leader on internet addiction,  Managing Screen Time is a Family Matter (New York Times opinion)Carl Jung, “individuation is an opus contra naturam”Richard Rawson, Associate Director of UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Current research on the epidemiology, medical and psychiatric effects, and treatment of methamphetamine use (National Library of Medicine)Gary Snyder, “the man who has the soul of the wolf knows the self-restraint of the wolf,” from Turtle Island*Martin Seligman, Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment*David Courtwright, Forces of Habit: Drugs and the Making of the Modern World*What are the Four Quadrants? (Integral Life website)John Dupuy, Integral Recovery: A Revolutionary Approach to the Treatment of Alcoholism & Addiction*The Journey of Integral Recovery podcast with John Dupuy and Douglas PraterDr. Bob Weathers, recovery coach: https://www.drbobweathers.com* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Dr. Bob has created two powerfully healing and transformative guided meditations to which iAwake added brainwave entrainment technology. You can check them out here:The Freedom of Forgiveness & The Gift of Gratitude“It was a marvelous therapy for me. I’ve never been so candid and honest about myself and my past actions…it’s like months of therapy.”  ~ Nina---Dr. Bob Weathers is a highly regarded addiction educator, recovery coach, author, and public speaker. Over the course of his professional career, “Dr. Bob” has provided tens of thousands of hours of therapeutic counseling and recovery coaching to satisfied clients. He has also committed over four decades to teaching, training, and inspiring graduate-level mental health providers at several southern California universities, including helping to develop their nationally accredited addiction studies certificate and mindfulness-based clinical training coursework. His two most recent books on addiction recovery are currently in press with Cambridge University Press.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Dr. Bob Weathers, addiction expert and recovery coach, discusses the integral model for addiction and recovery, addressing the physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, and system-coping needs. He shares the alarming statistics of 46.3 million clinically addicted Americans, while exploring the challenges of technology-induced super stimuli. The podcast delves into the significance of influencing social/systemic change to pave the way towards true happiness and the struggles of addiction and recovery, emphasizing the power of love and support.

Ep. 97 (Part 2 of 2) | In this moving, illuminating, and impassioned discussion, retired Police Lt. Chris Orrey and San Bruno Police Chief Ryan Johansen open our eyes as to the realities of policing in today’s world and offer solutions as to how the entire institution of police work could be transformed to become more effective and sustainable, both for police officers and for the communities they serve. Ryan and Chris explain that applying an Integral approach to police work—which BTW encompasses a lot more than simply law enforcement, to include the roles of social worker, mental health counselor, EMT, and more, in crisis situations—is exactly what is needed to turn around an institution that is controversial and flailing at this point. They point out that it is essential to prioritize officer wellness—not just physical wellness but interior wellness as well—and give officers the coping mechanisms and support they need to integrate the inevitable trauma of the job and role model resilience for the victims and survivors they interact with. An Integral understanding also paves the way for police leadership to become servant-based; where leadership puts the welfare of the officers first and foremost, and in turn, officers are in peak condition, mentally, physically, emotionally, to serve and protect their communities with compassion and skill.Nationwide, it is a time of catastrophic crisis in police recruitment and retention. Most departments are severely understaffed and morale is at a dangerous low. Chief Ryan’s San Bruno police department, however, is fully staffed and the officers have high morale. By applying the principles of the Integral Model and practicing a heartfelt, servant-based leadership style, Ryan has turned this national trend around. Whether policing impacts you directly or not, there is much to be gained by listening to this stirring conversation, which reveals so much about the realities of our society and the incredible courage, compassion, and outright nobility it takes to be a police officer—putting your life on the line to protect and serve others every single day. Recorded July 6, 2023.“I think that most police officers are exceptional human beings in that they are willing to endure tremendous suffering on behalf of others, most of whom they don’t know and will never actually get to know, and many of whom a lot of society has simply decided to bypass and would prefer to not even see.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2The pendulum swing of society’s opinions about cops and the story of Isaac Woodard (01:26)We can’t ignore what communities have suffered at the hands of police officers—historically and currently (04:58)What would Ryan do to make things better for officers? Focus on legitimately taking better care of cops (06:24)What the pendulum swing is doing today: the middle way is the right way (07:44)The developmental levels aspect of the Integral model holds great promise for policing (09:22)The expectation of officers to check their whole identity/personality at the door and California’s allowance of tattoos and other physical details (15:45)How do we help a community see cops as people like them? Overcoming the us vs. them mentality (17:45)How to develop officers as exceptional people who will show up? (19:42)If cops internalize the idea that their paramount purpose is to defend and protect human life, it will help them make the right split-second decision (22:13)We as individuals project everything from our personal traumas, relationship to authority figures, etc. onto police officers (26:52)Conveying to cops that their fundamental role is to protect people at all developmental levels— that’s what makes being a cop so noble (29:23)Bringing the Integral understanding to cops can make an enormous difference to both police officers and communities (31:13)The current catastrophic recruitment & retention crisis is pushing cops we do have out and deterring new officers (33:37)How do Chris and Ryan nurture themselves in this process? (36:24)Setting the example and prioritizing wellness practices—they are part of cops’ service (38:40)The importance and effectiveness of Integral Life Practice: practicing with iAwake Technologies’ brainwave entraining audio tracks, biofeedback & HRV regulation (41:04)Resources & References – Part 2Police Executive Research ForumGeorge Floyd’s murder by a police officer in May 2020 had global impact on the issue of police brutality and reignited the Black Lives Matter movementIsaac Woodard, African-American WWII veteran beaten by police hours after he was honorably discharged and still in uniform for nothing more than standing up for his dignity on a bus—an event that galvanized the Civil Rights movementOrson Welles Radio ProgramsBrown v. Board of Education ruled that racial segregation in schools is unconstitutionalSpiral Dynamics, Don Beck & Christopher Cowan, Spiral Dynamics*Steve McIntosh, Developmental Politics: How America Can Grow Into a Better Version of Itself*, see also Deep Transformation episode #20, Consciousness Evolves, Politics Can Too: Beyond the Culture WarJeff Salzman’s The Daily Evolver: A Developmental Take on the News, see also Deep Transformation episode #1, Polarization, Being Woke, the Universal Agenda, Mindfulness Going Bad, and the Integral VisionKen Wilber’s Integral Theory & the Integral Life websiteBuild Your Integral Life (Integral Life course)Integral Life’s cinematic course: What Are the Stages of Development?Roger Walsh, The World of Shamanism: New Views of an Ancient Tradition*Institute of Applied Metatheory: Integral Policing Transformation InitiativeIntegrative Policing: Bringing vulnerable communities and law enforcement together for goodFoundation for Inner Peace’s A Course in Miracles* Ken Wilber, Terry Patten, Adam Leonard & Marco Morelli, Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening*iAwake Technologies: Transformative Brainwave Entrainment Technology to Deepen Meditation & Spiritual Life, Relieve Stress, Release Trauma* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Ryan Johansen currently serves as the Chief of Police for the City of San Bruno, California, a diverse community of approximately 50,000 residents located amid the urban sprawl of the San Francisco Bay Area. Ryan has been a policing professional for approximately 20 years, beginning his career as a patrol officer with the Southeastern Division of the San Diego Police Department. Ryan transferred to the San Bruno Police Department in 2006, and in the years that followed, he has served in a variety of positions and assignments, including: Police Chief, Incident Commander, Tactical Commander, Field Services Division Lieutenant, Administrative Division Lieutenant, Watch Commander, Public Information Officer, Traffic Sergeant, Patrol Sergeant, Detective Corporal, Gang Unit Supervisor, Patrol Corporal, and Patrol Officer. Ryan served as the Investigations Commander for the San Bruno Gas Pipeline Explosion in 2008, the Incident Commander for the YouTube Active Shooter Incident in 2018, and the Tactical Commander for the Tanforan Mall Active Shooter Incident in 2019. Ryan has a longstanding meditation and contemplative practice and is a certified mindfulness meditation instructor. He serves as Vice President of the San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Association and is on the Board of the CA Police Chiefs Association. He has provided training in officer wellness, police culture, active assailant prevention and response, and public/private partnership in critical incident response all over the United States. Ryan possesses a Bachelor of Applied Sciences Degree in Law Enforcement Management, and he is currently enrolled in the Masters of Homeland Defense and Security Program at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.---Chris Orrey is a retired police lieutenant with over 30 years of service with the Hayward, California Police Department. She is a graduate of California’s Command College, an 18-month program designed to prepare law enforcement leaders for the challenges of the future, and the LAPD Leadership Training Program, which is based on the West Point Leadership Program. In true Integral fashion, she will soon have a Master’s Degree in Comparative Religion and Philosophy and will be continuing her education at the California Institute for Human Science, pursuing a doctorate degree in Integral Noetic Sciences with an emphasis on Wisdom Design. Her Master’s thesis is on the application of Wilberian Integral Theory to U.S. policing and is titled “Integral Policing: Transforming U.S. Policing via the AQAL Map.”Chris is also a blackbelt in kajukenbo-style karate and an ordained minister of A Course in Miracles. She lives in San Francisco, California.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 96 (Part 1 of 2) | In this moving, illuminating, and impassioned discussion, retired Police Lt. Chris Orrey and San Bruno Police Chief Ryan Johansen open our eyes as to the realities of policing in today’s world and offer solutions as to how the entire institution of police work could be transformed to become more effective and sustainable, both for police officers and for the communities they serve. Ryan and Chris explain that applying an Integral approach to police work—which BTW encompasses a lot more than simply law enforcement, to include the roles of social worker, mental health counselor, EMT, and more, in crisis situations—is exactly what is needed to turn around an institution that is controversial and flailing at this point. They point out that it is essential to prioritize officer wellness—not just physical wellness but interior wellness as well—and give officers the coping mechanisms and support they need to integrate the inevitable trauma of the job and role model resilience for the victims and survivors they interact with. An Integral understanding also paves the way for police leadership to become servant-based; where leadership puts the welfare of the officers first and foremost, and in turn, officers are in peak condition, mentally, physically, emotionally, to serve and protect their communities with compassion and skill.Nationwide, it is a time of catastrophic crisis in police recruitment and retention. Most departments are severely understaffed and morale is at a dangerous low. Chief Ryan’s San Bruno police department, however, is fully staffed and the officers have high morale. By applying the principles of the Integral Model and practicing a heartfelt, servant-based leadership style, Ryan has turned this national trend around. Whether policing impacts you directly or not, there is much to be gained by listening to this stirring conversation, which reveals so much about the realities of our society and the incredible courage, compassion, and outright nobility it takes to be a police officer—putting your life on the line to protect and serve others every single day. Recorded July 6, 2023.“The only way to meet the community demands of modern day policing Is to deploy officers who are healthy, happy, and well adjusted human beings, with a deep commitment to a well articulated purpose.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing San Bruno Police Chief Ryan Johansen and retired police Lt. Chris Orrey (01:00)What does it mean to be integrally informed? (04:46)Law enforcement is possibly the smallest component of what police do: the larger picture includes the roles of social worker, mental health counselor, big sister/big brother, emergency medical personnel, and more (05:49)Good cops embrace the role of societal “backstop” and excel at working with other agencies who carry on after the initial emergency (09:59)Is the training for cops enough? It’s gone from 3 months to 6 months (in CA), but it could really benefit from an Integral perspective (13:53)Training is often used as a scapegoat: every time there is a problem in policing people say this is a training issue, but whose fault is it really? (17:20)Integral leadership is essential in modern day policing (19:59)The four quadrants explained and how they apply to police reform (22:32)Healthy & toxic cultures in a police department are just like any other organization; they stem from how cops are taught to cope with the job and how they identify as a group (24:31)The goal is resilience: cops need to embrace the trauma of the job and integrate it; trauma + integration = resilience (25:59)A good integration requires a deep rooted peer support program, confidential counseling, a full paid hour of physically working out the stress of the job, wellness time, mindfulness training (27:53)Reframing trauma as not just a horror to be repressed but as an inevitable part of the profession that needs to be honored (31:04)Reframing trauma can also help cops better identify with victims and survivors and model that we can emerge stronger for going through the trauma (31:49)The top sources of stress for a police officer are 1) watching what humans are capable of doing to others, especially children, and 2) their own police administration (34:30)The double standard of expecting officers to practice procedural justice on the street when leadership is not practicing organizational justice to the cops (38:24)The critical importance of servant-based leadership (39:15)Resources & References – Part 1U.S. Dept of Justice’s FTO (Field Training Officer) Training GuideInstitute of Applied Metatheory: Integral Policing Transformation InitiativeKen Wilber’s Integral Theory & the Integral Life websiteBuild Your Integral Life (Integral Life course)Ken Wilber, Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution*What Are the Four Quadrants? (Integral Life website)This links to an article that touches on several studies on police stressors, with the O’Toole 2014 work being perhaps the most relevant: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261440806_Introduction_to_special_issue_police_stress_and_trauma_recent_perspectives* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Ryan Johansen currently serves as the Chief of Police for the City of San Bruno, California, a diverse community of approximately 50,000 residents located amid the urban sprawl of the San Francisco Bay Area. Ryan has been a policing professional for approximately 20 years, beginning his career as a patrol officer with the Southeastern Division of the San Diego Police Department. Ryan transferred to the San Bruno Police Department in 2006, and in the years that followed, he has served in a variety of positions and assignments, including: Police Chief, Incident Commander, Tactical Commander, Field Services Division Lieutenant, Administrative Division Lieutenant, Watch Commander, Public Information Officer, Traffic Sergeant, Patrol Sergeant, Detective Corporal, Gang Unit Supervisor, Patrol Corporal, and Patrol Officer. Ryan served as the Investigations Commander for the San Bruno Gas Pipeline Explosion in 2008, the Incident Commander for the YouTube Active Shooter Incident in 2018, and the Tactical Commander for the Tanforan Mall Active Shooter Incident in 2019. Ryan has a longstanding meditation and contemplative practice and is a certified mindfulness meditation instructor. He serves as Vice President of the San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Association and is on the Board of the CA Police Chiefs Association. He has provided training in officer wellness, police culture, active assailant prevention and response, and public/private partnership in critical incident response all over the United States. Ryan possesses a Bachelor of Applied Sciences Degree in Law Enforcement Management, and he is currently enrolled in the Masters of Homeland Defense and Security Program at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.---Chris Orrey is a retired police lieutenant with over 30 years of service with the Hayward, California Police Department. She is a graduate of California’s Command College, an 18-month program designed to prepare law enforcement leaders for the challenges of the future, and the LAPD Leadership Training Program, which is based on the West Point Leadership Program. In true Integral fashion, she will soon have a Master’s Degree in Comparative Religion and Philosophy and will be continuing her education at the California Institute for Human Science, pursuing a doctorate degree in Integral Noetic Sciences with an emphasis on Wisdom Design. Her Master’s thesis is on the application of Wilberian Integral Theory to U.S. policing and is titled “Integral Policing: Transforming U.S. Policing via the AQAL Map.”Chris is also a blackbelt in kajukenbo-style karate and an ordained minister of A Course in Miracles. She lives in San Francisco, California.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 95 (Part 2 of 2) | Author, activist, and humorist Steve Bhaerman (aka Swami Beyondananda) realized the power of humor as well as his talent for making people laugh early on, when his schoolmates would laugh so hard, milk would come out of their nose. Steve’s spiritual and psychological wisdom, his deep love and concern for humanity, and his clever, refreshing humor come together in a perfect triad to create the wise, inspired, and funny political and spiritual commentary that have delighted so many for so long. Steve’s mission is to bring people together to work for the things everybody wants—rather than a tug of war, his vision is of a tug of peace, all pulling in the same direction. He has seen over and over how effective comic relief is at bridging people’s differences; it can even disrupt dualistic thinking to where oneness becomes real and unity is achieved.Steve’s sidekick, Swami Beyondananda, will make you laugh and his humorous perspective on the great issues of our time (like truth decay) and insights about how we can create a more positive future for ourselves (like self-facing laughter and tantrum yoga) really help to lighten the load. Hope is transmitted through levity and we find we can all laugh at human behavior together. Steve explains that with laughter we release emotions, trauma, and mental structures because truth is being liberated, and that comedy’s role is to deconstruct toxic narratives yet leave people standing. In this conversation, you will experience the power of humor to make even the dire circumstances of today’s world feel a bit lighter—Steve/Swami’s inspired comedy is not only politically astute but palpably heartwarming. Recorded August 10, 2023.“We need to create a sane and sacred center that transcends both religion and non-religion…bring left, right, front and center to face the music and dance together.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Swami’s take on Donald Trump (01:36)The shadow side of well meaning liberal progressives (02:20)The trans-humanist movement: don’t neglect real intelligence (04:37)Believing in the primacy of the human mind is as dangerous as right-wing totalitarianism (05:17)Steve never does comedy to hurt anyone, but Swami knows how to insult people when necessary (05:32)How the progressive movement has heightened sensitivities to the point where comedians won’t perform on college campuses (09:55)Breaking the trance of people believing insane things (11:42)Humor disrupts dualistic thinking and puts things together in a new way—we like it when our mind is tricked (13:27)Steve’s podcast, Front and Center: From Political Battlefields to Cooperative Playing Fields (16:26)Lesser evil politics always empowers evil (17:08)As spirituality evolves, it recognizes everyone has to have a relationship with the transcendent (17:59)Reuniting the cosmos in love and practicing virtues can bring heaven to Earth (20:21)The future of spirituality combines walking the talk, being the love that you are, and releasing the grip of the ego with all of its insecurities and paranoias (21:49)How humor evolves in 4 stages: what we laugh at as we develop (23:31)With laughter we can release emotions, trauma, and mental structures because truth is being liberated (24:20)Comedy has always been anti-authoritarian and why there are no humorous right-wingers (29:26)People don’t want to be canceled by their tribe, and the casualty of nuance (32:48)The high level of public intimidation going on, transgenderism, and how the left is the new corporate party (35:39)Steve’s mission is to bring people together to work for what everybody wants (38:04)Resources & References – Part 2Voltaire, “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”Henny Youngman, comedian and musician, master of one-liners and famous for his “wife” jokesSwami Satchidananda, “Nothing will make you enlightened.”Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Giggling GuruSt. Maximus the Confessor, Christian monk, theologian, and scholar who coined the phrase cosmic love in the 8th centuryElaine Park, The Habits of Unity: Twelve Months to a Stronger America… One Citizen at a TimeMel Brooks & Carl Reiner, The 2000 Year Old Man (YouTube video)Bill Maher, comedian and political satiristJimmy Dore, comedian, political commentator, conspiracy theorist, host of The Jimmy Dore ShowStephen Colbert, comedian, producer, political commentator, TV hostCharlie Chaplin, The Great Dictator (1941 trailer on YouTube)Groucho Marx, Duck Soup (1933 trailer on YouTube)George Carlin, comedian, actor, author, social criticMartine Rothblatt, From Transgender to Transhuman: A Manifesto On the Freedom Of Form*12Habits4AllofUs.org: The 12 Practices of UnityRichard Flyer, created the conscious community network in Reno, Connecting the Good, a radically inclusive groupMartin Luther King, Jr., “Those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those who love war.”Swami and Steve’s website: Wake Up Laughing.comSteve’s podcast, Front and Center with Steve and Michael: From Political Battlefields to Cooperative Playing FieldsSteve’s Wiki Politiki Radio ShowBruce Lipton & Steve Bhaerman, Spontaneous Evolution: Our Positive Future (and a Way to Get There From Here)** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Steve Bhaerman is an internationally known author, humorist, and workshop leader. For the past 36 years, he has written and performed as Swami Beyondananda, the “Cosmic Comic.” Swami’s comedy has been called “irreverently uplifting” and has been described both as “comedy disguised as wisdom” and “wisdom disguised as comedy.” Author Marianne Williamson has called him “the Mark Twain of our generation.”As the Swami, Steve is the author of Driving Your Own Karma (1989), When You See a Sacred Cow, Milk It For All It’s Worth (1993), Duck Soup for the Soul (1999), and Swami for Precedent: A 7-Step Plan to Heal the Body Politic and Cure Electile Dysfunction (2004). On the more serious side, he co-authored with cellular biologist Bruce H. Lipton, PhD, Spontaneous Evolution: Our Positive Future and a Way to Get There from Here (Hay House, 2009). Steve is co-host of the Front and Center podcast (“from political battlefields to cooperative playing fields”), and is working with All of Us, Inc. to present and promote the 12 Habits of Unity). He can be found online at Wake Up Laughing.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 94 (Part 1 of 2) | Author, activist, and humorist Steve Bhaerman (aka Swami Beyondananda) realized the power of humor as well as his talent for making people laugh early on, when his schoolmates would laugh so hard, milk would come out of their nose. Steve’s spiritual and psychological wisdom, his deep love and concern for humanity, and his clever, refreshing humor come together in a perfect triad to create the wise, inspired, and funny political and spiritual commentary that have delighted so many for so long. Steve’s mission is to bring people together to work for the things everybody wants—rather than a tug of war, his vision is of a tug of peace, all pulling in the same direction. He has seen over and over how effective comic relief is at bridging people’s differences; it can even disrupt dualistic thinking to where oneness becomes real and unity is achieved.Steve’s sidekick, Swami Beyondananda, will make you laugh and his humorous perspective on the great issues of our time (like truth decay) and insights about how we can create a more positive future for ourselves (like self-facing laughter and tantrum yoga) really help to lighten the load. Hope is transmitted through levity and we find we can all laugh at human behavior together. Steve explains that with laughter we release emotions, trauma, and mental structures because truth is being liberated, and that comedy’s role is to deconstruct toxic narratives yet leave people standing. In this conversation, you will experience the power of humor to make even the dire circumstances of today’s world feel a bit lighter—Steve/Swami’s inspired comedy is not only politically astute but palpably heartwarming. Recorded August 10, 2023.“The creator is watching the comedy channel and we decide what’s on.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing Swami Beyondananda (the comedian Roger wanted to be when he grew up) who integrates humor, wisdom & spirituality (01:15)What is Swami’s spiritual orientation? FUNdamentalism (05:27)The Great Up-wising: wake up, wise up, grow up, show up (06:33)Levity vs gravity: laughing creates endorphins, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens our immune system (08:23)Crisis precipitates evolution: the challenge of our times (10:32)Why is mindfulness so important? Because so many people are suffering from mindFULLness! (13:03)How do you know if you are enlightened? (14:42)How do you release the grip of the ego? (16:17)Roger represents emptiness and John is full of it (16:55)Whatever your problem is, nothing will help (17:45) How to get beyond political polarization: leave the identity issues, focus on the identical issues that everybody faces (19:20)Creating a sane asylum: developing cosmic comic consciousness and practicing tantrum yoga (22:58)A story about praying for peace in the Middle East (24:59)Instead of a tug of war, let’s have a tug of peace, where we all pull together (29:19)What is Swami’s take on the climate issue? We need warmer hearts, cooler heads, and to restore balance on Earth (30:05)What is the secret for human happiness? (32:09)Introducing Steve Bhaerman, author, political humorist, and the story of how his character Swami Beyondananda came to be (34:05)Pumping ironies and laughing together at human behavior (38:43)Resources & References – Part 1Swami and Steve’s website: Wake Up Laughing.comSteve’s podcast, Front and Center with Steve and Michael: From Political Battlefields to Cooperative Playing FieldsSteve’s Wiki Politiki Radio ShowBruce Lipton & Steve Bhaerman, Spontaneous Evolution: Our Positive Future and a Way to Get There From Here*Norman Cousins, Anatomy of an Illness*Arthur Deikman’s test of enlightenment: Ask the spouseCommon Ground was the San Francisco Bay Area’s Magazine for Conscious Community since 1974 (no longer in publication)Yuval Harari, author of science bestsellers: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind*, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow*, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century*12Habits4AllofUs.org: The 12 Practices of Unity* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Steve Bhaerman is an internationally known author, humorist, and workshop leader. For the past 36 years, he has written and performed as Swami Beyondananda, the “Cosmic Comic.” Swami’s comedy has been called “irreverently uplifting” and has been described both as “comedy disguised as wisdom” and “wisdom disguised as comedy.” Author Marianne Williamson has called him “the Mark Twain of our generation.”As the Swami, Steve is the author of Driving Your Own Karma (1989), When You See a Sacred Cow, Milk It For All It’s Worth (1993), Duck Soup for the Soul (1999), and Swami for Precedent: A 7-Step Plan to Heal the Body Politic and Cure Electile Dysfunction (2004). On the more serious side, he co-authored with cellular biologist Bruce H. Lipton, PhD, Spontaneous Evolution: Our Positive Future and a Way to Get There from Here (Hay House, 2009). Steve is co-host of the Front and Center podcast (“from political battlefields to cooperative playing fields”), and is working with All of Us, Inc. to present and promote the 12 Habits of Unity). He can be found online at Wake Up Laughing.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 92 (Part 2 of 3) | Integral psychotherapist Mark Forman, author of the seminal work A Guide to Integral Psychotherapy, doesn’t mince words when it comes to the field he is passionate about: helping people out of their mental pain and dysphoria. Mark’s Integral perspective and longtime work in the trenches—with clients from all income levels, political persuasions, and levels of development—put him in a unique position to illuminate us as to the nuances of the hot button issues new to psychotherapy or ones that have suddenly exploded in numbers: misuse of the term trauma and its diagnostic creep, what the research says about the effectiveness of psychedelics to treat mental health disorders and what that portends for the future, the exponentially growing trend of teenage girls deciding they are transgender and the crying need for more data to help with counseling transgender and trans-curious youth, what is causing the loneliness epidemic, the pressing need to reimagine the male role to balance how feminism has changed the female role, and more. Mark describes the “therapeutic zone” that can happen in therapy when inspiration strikes, and shares the latest research on what makes therapists into “super-shrinks” who have client outcomes ten times better than average. He also relates how living in our psychologized culture affects therapy, and how it can get tricky when therapist and client are at different levels of development. Mark’s vast knowledge and big heart shine through the many topics he delves into and his tales of actual therapeutic encounters are eye opening and moving. This is an impassioned, courageous conversation on the front lines of mental health and psychotherapy. Recorded May 4, 2023.“Reflective listening is the beating heart of all therapy.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Trauma is less severe where there is a sense of purpose & meaning (00:50)The “gifts” trauma can offer: post traumatic growth, a resiliency generating idea that you can give back, take part, reduce someone else’s suffering (04:19)What makes psychotherapy so effective? Research suggests it’s an individual thing rather than which psychological school the therapist follows (07:07)The matrix problem: it’s almost impossible to define outcome measures (09:38)What does research show makes the biggest difference in outcomes? Super-shrinks make a lot of room for negative feedback (11:34)The therapeutic zone: conceptual curiosity, receptive listening, and dropping into the witness or pure awareness (23:08)The developmental stage of the therapist’s effect on the client: where it gets tricky is if the client is in a later stage of development than the therapist (27:40)Reflective listening is the beating heart of all therapy (36:59)Recent research on psychedelic therapy is showing it is amazingly effective: psilocybin for depression and MDMA for PTSD (38:06)Will the psychedelic therapy bubble burst when the risks become more apparent? (44:46)What about ketamine? (47:57)Trans issues in psychotherapy: the controversy is really over what is the appropriate age to socially transition versus the various steps of medical transition (51:28)Trending upwards exponentially: teenage girls suddenly deciding they are transgender—is this a “social contagion”? What is the right pace of care? (56:39)Are there inherent dangers with surgery? What happens with puberty blockers? (01:00:24)Trans-curious youth, are we treating youth in the most cautious way? And the big need for research and data (01:02:42)Resources & References – Part 2Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning*Michael Lambert, Benjamin Ogles, Scott Fields, Essentials of Outcome Assessment*Scott Miller, Mark Hubble, Daryl Chow, Better Results: Using Deliberate Practice to Improve Therapeutic Effectiveness*Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, guru of nondualism, author of I Am That*Carl Rogers, one of the founders of humanistic psychology, master of reflective listeningRoland Griffiths, director, Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins press release on Griffiths’ 2006 psilocybin studyStanislav Grof, LSD: Doorway to the Numinous: The Groundbreaking Psychedelic Research into Realms of the Human Unconscious*Don Lattin, Changing Our Minds: Psychedelic Sacraments and the New Psychotherapy*Transgender health care and gender-affirming careAmerican Psychological Association (APA) Mark Forman, A Guide to Integral Psychotherapy: Complexity, Integration, and Spirituality in Practice*Mark Forman, The Monster’s Journey: From Trauma to Connection*Mark Forman’s website: http://www.drmarkforman.com/* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Mark Forman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with over twenty years experience working with individuals, couples, children, teens, and families. His text – A Guide to Integral Psychotherapy: Complexity, Integration, and Spirituality in Practice – is one of the seminal works in the field of Integral Psychotherapy. Dr. Forman is more recently the author of The Monster’s Journey: From Trauma to Connection, which is a reimagining of the The Hero’s Journey archetype for those who have suffered early childhood trauma. Dr. Forman has an academic background in philosophy and religion and is a long-term practitioner of yoga, reiki, martial arts, and meditation.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 91 (Part 1 of 3) | Integral psychotherapist Mark Forman, author of the seminal work A Guide to Integral Psychotherapy, doesn’t mince words when it comes to the field he is passionate about: helping people out of their mental pain and dysphoria. Mark’s Integral perspective and longtime work in the trenches—with clients from all income levels, political persuasions, and levels of development—put him in a unique position to illuminate us as to the nuances of the hot button issues new to psychotherapy or ones that have suddenly exploded in numbers: misuse of the term trauma and its diagnostic creep, what the research says about the effectiveness of psychedelics to treat mental health disorders and what that portends for the future, the exponentially growing trend of teenage girls deciding they are transgender and the crying need for more data to help with counseling transgender and trans-curious youth, what is causing the loneliness epidemic, the pressing need to reimagine the male role to balance how feminism has changed the female role, and more. Mark describes the “therapeutic zone” that can happen in therapy when inspiration strikes, and shares the latest research on what makes therapists into “super-shrinks” who have client outcomes ten times better than average. He also relates how living in our psychologized culture affects therapy, and how it can get tricky when therapist and client are at different levels of development. Mark’s vast knowledge and big heart shine through the many topics he delves into and his tales of actual therapeutic encounters are eye opening and moving. This is an impassioned, courageous conversation on the front lines of mental health and psychotherapy. Recorded May 4, 2023.“The therapist is the priest of our times…imbued with a certain amount of metaphysical responsibility. So when the therapeutic field gets out of balance, it makes a difference.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing Integral psychotherapist Mark Forman, author of A Guide to Integral Psychotherapy and The Monster’s Journey: From Trauma to Connection (00:52)How we have moved from the animistic to the religious to the scientific worldview, and now look at the world through a predominantly psychological perspective (02:25)42 million people in the U.S. interacted with therapy or counseling, which is up 20 million people from the year 2000 (03:41)The therapist is the priest of our times…imbued with a certain amount of metaphysical responsibility. So when the therapeutic field gets out of balance, it makes a difference (06:41)Has there been a shift in what clients are bringing up? It’s still often about love or work, as Freud said; diagnoses are depression, anxiety, panic disorder, bipolar, eating disorders, substance abuse (09:20)What might be new is people venting their political worries, gender dynamics, and how informed people are about psychology, largely via the internet (10:45)Positive effects of people being more informed about their own condition (13:35)What are the negative effects of the psychologization of our culture? Falsely self-labeling disorders (15:25)The paradoxical nature of labels and the skillful use of labels (20:15)The phenomenon of diagnostic creep in recent decades, especially in regard to trauma (24:53)Kaiser’s study of 17,000 members provided a watershed moment correlating cause and outcome: 65% of adults had a traumatic event in childhood (abandonment, abuse), and the more boxes people checked, the worse their mental & physical outcomes were (27:40)Mark has found the hero’s journey motif doesn’t apply with people who suffered early childhood trauma (31:11)The magic quality of resilience (33:23)The widespread mistake of inflating upsets to trauma status and its effect of negating the research (33:54) The concept of “self as instrument” (40:48)Differentiating between real trauma and upsetting events (43:10)What are the forces making trauma labeling so popular: absolving ourselves of responsibility and playing the victim role (45:24)The role of the therapist is validating people’s pain, while offering a more practical, moderated narrative that is not so fire & brimstone: trauma means there is a lasting imprint on brain, body, nervous system, psyche (49:16)The supershrink literature: what constitutes the most effective therapist? (52:08)Resources & References – Part 1Mark Forman, A Guide to Integral Psychotherapy: Complexity, Integration, and Spirituality in Practice*Mark Forman, The Monster’s Journey: From Trauma to Connection*Mark Forman’s website: http://www.drmarkforman.com/Sigmund Freud: “Love and work are the cornerstones of our humanness.”Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD)The Rumpelstiltskin PrincipleDiagnosis creep, expanding disease definitionsThe original Kaiser Permanente/CDC Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma*Gabor Mate, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture*Janina Fisher, psychoeducator, Transforming The Living Legacy of Trauma: A Workbook for Survivors and Therapists** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Mark Forman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with over twenty years experience working with individuals, couples, children, teens, and families. His text – A Guide to Integral Psychotherapy: Complexity, Integration, and Spirituality in Practice – is one of the seminal works in the field of Integral Psychotherapy. Dr. Forman is more recently the author of The Monster’s Journey: From Trauma to Connection, which is a reimagining of the The Hero’s Journey archetype for those who have suffered early childhood trauma. Dr. Forman has an academic background in philosophy and religion and is a long-term practitioner of yoga, reiki, martial arts, and meditation.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 90 (Part 2 of 2) | Award-winning educator and activist Shakil Choudhury is the author of the outstanding book Deep Diversity: A Compassionate, Scientific Approach to Achieving Racial Justice, and in this potent conversation we learn a lot we perhaps didn’t know about the psychological, emotional, and neurobiological reasons for our ingrained biases, and the systemic bias in the culture at large. How and why do we discriminate? Many of our biases are hidden in the unconscious, which makes it that much harder to bring them into the light so we can begin to understand what’s going on and find ways to move ourselves and society toward justice and equity. Shakil explains that changing societal norms is at the heart of the battle for racial and social justice, as our habitual cultural behaviors tend to be viewed as legitimate, normal, and natural, when actually they may be outdated, off base, offensive, and unjust. Shakil deftly lines us out with specific steps we can take to recognize and change our own behaviors, as well as actions organizational leaders can take to effect change on a broader level.Shakil contends that educating people to become diversity and equity literate is the first essential step, and the 360-hour program he has designed to this end has proven very effective. Once people see the data, they cannot help understanding the drivers of racial and social injustice more clearly, which leads to the place where real transformation can happen. Shakil’s extraordinarily insightful and illuminating approach is fueled by many years of contemplative practice, and he leaves us with a vision of what we are fighting for—not just what we are fighting against—based on Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream of Beloved Community. Small groups of dedicated people have managed to successfully nudge societal norms in the direction of justice in the past, and this conversation and Shakil’s book, Deep Diversity, most certainly contribute a compassionate nudge in the right direction. Bit by bit, recognizing that this is a journey, Shakil conveys both the means and the hope that justice will prevail. Recorded April 26, 2023.“Can we hold the tension between our common humanity and our differences simultaneously?”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2How classism and racism come together, and the importance of asking the right questions about the variables that affect equality and diversity in our culture (01:43)Culture wide hypnosis and cultural hegemony (05:03)Where are we now as a species? We have made progress…but this doesn’t mean people are happy about the changes (07:03)System justification theory: we justify the system no matter what because we’re herd people (08:29)Changing the norms of society is the whole battle: small groups on the right side of justice can create a culture change (09:20)People coming together for shared purpose is deeply meaningful; contact activates empathy (11:17)The more we can see this as a literacy project, the more clearly we’re able to see the problems, the behavioral patterns (15:10)The data does not validate the fear that is being expressed about women and people of color getting preferential treatment (19:24)The empathy response to people who are like us and the threat response with people unlike us are biological responses (25:51)Does being on the right side of justice require a postconventional stage of development? (27:14) What can organizational leaders aspire to? Moving from a reactive form of leadership to a pro-active, responsive form of leadership (28:26)Listening, doing the pre-work, building relationships, and asking the right questions (36:21)Racial justice & equity, diversity and inclusion—what are we fighting for? Dr. Martin Luther King’s concept of Beloved Community (39:21)Can we hold the tension between our common humanity and our differences simultaneously? (42:06)Resources & References – Part 2Shakil Choudhury, Deep Diversity: A Compassionate, Scientific Approach to Achieving Racial Justice*References for the research studies mentioned in this podcast can be found in Shakil’s book, Deep Diversity*Ayn Rand, creator of the philosophy Objectivism, and author of the bestselling novel Atlas Shrugged*, The Fountainhead*, et. al.Cultural hegemonyThe Anglican hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful (“The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate…” This verse is now often omitted from the song.)System justification theoryDr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision of The Beloved CommunityShakil Choudhury, co-founder & Chief Visionary Officer, Anima Institute: A Compassionate Approach to Racial Justice, offering innovative organizational change and training solutions to nurture inclusive, productive workplaces and communities* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Shakil Choudhury, M.E.S., B.Ed., B.P.E., co-founder & Chief Visionary Officer of Anima Institute, is an award-winning educator, consultant, and author with over 25 years of experience in the field of racial justice, diversity, and inclusion. He coaches executive teams and has worked with thousands of leaders across sectors in Canada and the United States to help improve their equity outcomes. Shakil also facilitates dialogue processes to resolve inter-group conflict, having led projects internationally as well as with organizations locally. Shakil is the author of Deep Diversity: A Compassionate, Scientific Approach to Achieving Racial Justice. Written in an accessible, storytelling manner, many have called it a “breakthrough” book on issues of systemic racial discrimination due to its non-judgmental approach that integrates human psychology with critical race perspectives. Shakil’s most challenging and rewarding management experience, however, involves his two high-spirited children repeatedly teaching him the humble lessons of fatherhood. To clear his head during the week, Shakil loves to run the beautiful ravine trails near his home in Toronto.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell