

Sounds of SAND
Science and Nonduality
Sounds of SAND invites listeners into a contemplative journey through the infinite cycles of existence - from its raw beauty to its deepest mysteries, from its intricate complexity to its profound wonder. Through intimate conversations, thought-provoking interviews, poetic readings, and carefully curated music, we weave together ancient wisdom with lived experience, creating a tapestry of sound that honors the great questions of being
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 14, 2023 • 52min
#65 Emptiness & Grief: Francis Weller
A live recording from a recent SAND Community Gathers (Sept. 2023) hosted by Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo (co-founders of SAND). Along with their guest, Francis Weller, they explore themes of emptiness, individualism, self-help, separation, religion, belonging, relationality, and Francis's deep work with grief.
Francis Weller, MFT, is a psychotherapist, writer and soul activist. He is a master of synthesizing diverse streams of thought from psychology, anthropology, mythology, alchemy, indigenous cultures and poetic traditions. Author of The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief; The Threshold Between Loss and Revelation, (with Rashani Réa) and In the Absence of the Ordinary: Essays in a Time of Uncertainty, he has introduced the healing work of ritual to thousands of people. He founded and directs WisdomBridge, an organization that offers educational programs that seek to integrate the wisdom from indigenous cultures with the insights and knowledge gathered from western poetic, psychological and spiritual traditions.
Support the Sounds of SAND Podcast by becoming a SAND Member
Episode Topics:
0:00 – Introduction
4:00 – Emptiness & Individualism
9:00 – Religion & The Original Trauma
13:43 – Self-help & Separateness
18:22 – Belonging
23:46 – Grief & Emptiness
28:57 – Rationality vs. Relationship
34:32 – Joy & Grief
44:20 – Buddhism & Emptiness
46:48 – Guided Meditation from Francis
Dec 7, 2023 • 1h 7min
#64 AI & the Global Brain: Peter Russell
Peter Russell is on the faculty of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, a fellow of The World Business Academy and The Findhorn Foundation, and an Honorary Member of The Club of Budapest, and President of Science and NonDuality.
In 1982 he coined the term "global brain" with his 1980s bestseller of the same name in which he predicted the Internet and the impact it would have.
Peter Russell Interviews his AI Clone
Peter’s new book, Forgiving Humanity: How the Most Innovative Species Became the Most Dangerous
Peter’s Course on SAND, Enjoying Meditation
Topics:
00:00 – Introduction
03:23 – Peter’s AI Clone
08:56 – The Black Box
10:21 – Non-linearity
11:17 – The Global Brain
13:18 – Usefulness of GPTs
15:52 – Forms of Intelligence
17:38 – The Unexpected
29:00 – AI & Consciousness
31:32 – Digital Reality and Consciousness
35:42 – Importance for Society
50:48 – AI and Inequality
53:57 – A Digital Dark Age?
01:01:12 – The Future of AI
Nov 30, 2023 • 54min
#63 Ancestral Constellations: Efu Nyaki
SAND co-founders Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo join Euphrasia “Efu” Nyaki for a community conversation on holistic healing from trauma. Efu has developed a method that integrates ancestral wisdom from her Snail Clan in Tanzania, somatic therapy, and family constellations. Her approach helps resolve PTSD, depression, addiction, chronic illness, and more by releasing trauma at the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.
Euphrasia (Efu) Nyaki was born and raised on the slopes of mountain Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, where she gained the essence and vital healing energy from her ancestors. The strength of her ancestors lead her to earn a Bachelor of Science degree, train as a science teacher, and later to train as a healer using holistic methods. Efu enjoys helping others and for this reason joined an International Catholic Missionary community called Maryknoll sisters of Saint Dominick. Having arrived in Brazil as a missionary in 1993, Efu worked for 5 years with women who suffered from violence using mental health programs in the periphery of the city of João Pessoa, Brazil. In the year 2000 she co- founded two NGOs, and in the past 20 years, Efu has offered bodyworker and herbal medicine trainings for community leaders. For the past 10 years Efu has been teaching Family Constellation (trans-generational trauma healing) and Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) for trauma resolution in Brazil and other parts of the world. Efu was also asked by Dr. Peter A Levine, the developer of SE™, to join his Legacy Faculty to assist him and teach his Master Classes.
Efu’s new book:
Healing Trauma through Family Constellations and Somatic Experiencing: Ancestral Wisdom from the Snail Clan of Tanzania (Sacred Planet)
Support the Sounds of SAND Podcast by becoming a SAND Member
Nov 23, 2023 • 1h 1min
#62 The Dreamer’s Dream – Éric Baret
Without either diploma or culture, Éric Baret has no special competence. Touched by the non-dual tradition through Jean Klein's teaching, he suggests that one turn towards listening, free of any notion of gain. Nothing taught, no teacher. Meetings for the joy of being nothing.
Let the Moon Be Free: Conversations on Conversations on Kashmiri Tantra
Articles and writings from Éric on SAND’s Website
Topics:
0:00 – Introduction
3:26 – Lineage
5:18 – Jean Klein
11:53 – Guru / Student Relationship
23:46 – Arc of Awakening
29:56 – Sleep
38:38 – Dream Consciousness
42:56 – Body
50:44 – Listening
57:33 – Let the Moon Be Free
Episode Transcript
Nov 16, 2023 • 33min
#61 Roots Run Deep: Gabor Maté
No statement, no words can speak to the immense human suffering, the devastation and the horrendous humanitarian crisis intensifying in the Middle East. The current tragedy is awakening existential fear, acute grief and deep despair. Unspeakable atrocities have left many in a state of deep shock and in need of support.
Gabor Maté, M.D. is a renowned speaker, and bestselling author who is is highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics including addiction, stress and childhood development. Rather than offering quick-fix solutions to these complex issues, Dr. Maté weaves together scientific research, case histories, and his own insights and experience to present a broad perspective that enlightens and empowers people to promote their own healing and that of those around them.
Roots Run Deep Resources for Palestine / Israel
Full Video Recording of this Episode
Part two of this Roots Run Deep series live online with Dr. Gabor Maté, Dec 15, 9am PT
Nov 2, 2023 • 1h 3min
#59 Attuned: Thomas Hübl
Renowned teacher Thomas Hübl discusses his new book 'Attuned' focusing on practicing interdependence for healing personal and collective trauma. The podcast explores emotional attunement in relationships, presence, and collective healing, as well as the importance of listening, transparent communication, and syncing emotions in fostering meaningful connections.
Oct 19, 2023 • 1h 11min
#57 The Alchemy of Love: Cynthia Bourgeault and A.H. Almaas
Join Cynthia Bourgeault and A.H. Almaas in a captivating dialogue on the alchemy of love, delving into divine and personal love as catalysts for spiritual transformation. Explore Nonduo Love, the transformative power of love in creation, and the healing impact of love on emotional wounds and trust. Discover the boundless nature of love and its role in self-discovery, relationships, and global transformation.
Oct 12, 2023 • 54min
#56 Wounded Healers: Angel Acosta
Dr. Angel Acosta works to bridge the fields of leadership, social justice & mindfulness. He completed his Ed.D. in the Curriculum and Teaching Department at Teachers College, Columbia University. His research explored healing-centered education as a promising framework for educational leadership development and community care.
Angel is the director of the Wounded Healer Project. This portrait series captures the profiles of nine educators, community leaders and practitioners, all of whom have dedicated their lives to — in some shape or form — creating spaces for others to thrive, flourish and heal.
Topics:
0:00 – Introduction
2:40 – Angel’s Background
10:54 – Spiritual Bypassing
17:06 – The Nuances of Race
21:42 – Wounded Healers
34:38 – The Power of the Voice
39:30 – A Unique Focus on the Teacher
44:41 – Reaction to the Wounded Healer Project
47:16 – Understanding “Systemic”
51:28 – What’s Coming Up for Angel
16 snips
Oct 5, 2023 • 1h 1min
#55 Cerebrospinal Fluid: Mauro Zappaterra
Join Mauro Zappaterra, MD and PhD from Harvard, as he unpacks the fascinating world of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its critical role in brain development and function. He dives deep into how CSF connects to consciousness and even our ancestral roots in the sea. Mauro shares insights on the impact of CSF on pain management, including chronic pain and unique phenomena like phantom limb pain. This intriguing discussion blends scientific research with spiritual perspectives, revealing the profound implications of CSF for wellness and healing.
Sep 28, 2023 • 60min
#54 Nordic Animism: Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen
Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen is a Historian of Religion, Ph.d from Uppsala University in Sweden. His research into Afro-diasporic strategies for maintaining animist reality in the modern world has lead him towards reading North European cultural history from the perspective of rejected animist knowledge and practice. The objective is to recover Euro-traditioanl forms of landconnectedness ecological knowledge and kinship with the greater community of beings. Rune has lived in a number of countries in Europe, Africa North- and South America and presently runs the platform “Nordic Animism”.
Links:
Nordic Animism
YouTube
Instagram
Topics:
0:00 – Introduction
2:39 – Christianity and Animism
5:13 – Heart of Nordic Animism
10:05 – Decolonization
12:39 – Animism in Academia
14:44 – Universal Animism
17:50 – Bio-ancestry
23:18 – Animism as a Spiritual Practice
41:50 – Animism and Societal Problems
48:00 – Animism and Trauma
55:24 – Getting Started with Animism


