The New Dimensions Café

Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a neuropsychologist who writes and teaches extensively on personal growth and contemplative practice. He is a co-founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, and editor of the Wise Brain Bulletin. His books include: Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom (New Harbinger 2009); Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time (New Harbinger 2011); Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence (Harmony Books 2013); Meditations to Change Your Brain - CD Set (Sounds True 2009)Tags: Rick Hanson, Ph.D., brain science, negativity bias, pain, neural experiences, safety, connection, Psychology, Science

Alan Kaufman is the Bronx-born son of a French-Jewish Holocaust survivor, and a recovering alcoholic with 23 years of sobriety. He’s a former Israeli combat soldier and a novelist, memoirist, and poet. He was instrumental in the development of the Spoken Word movement in literature. He’s Dean of The Free University of San Francisco. He is the author and editor of many books including: Jew Boy (Foxrock Books 2001); Matches (Little, Brown and Company 2005); Drunken Angel: A Memoir (Viva Editions/Cleis Press 2013)Tags: Alan Kaufman, writing, poetry, Zen meditation, Emphysema Man, The Last Emphysema Gasp of the Marlboro Man, quitting smoking, sobriety, twelve step program, Writing

Judith Orloff, M.D. is assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at U.C.L.A., and has been a presenter at medical schools, hospitals, universities, and the American Psychiatric Association. For more than two decades she has helped patients achieve physical and emotional healing through the synthesis of traditional medicine with intuition, energy, and spirituality.  She is the author of: The Ecstasy Of Surrender: 12 Surprising Ways Letting Go Can Empower Your Life (Harmony books 2014); Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life (Harmony Books 2009); Second Sight: An Intuitive Psychiatrist Tells Her Extraordinary Story and Shows You How To Tap Your Own Inner Wisdom (Warner Books 2010)Tags: Judith Orloff, M.D., surrender, intention, letting go, patience, intuition, linear mind, illness, traditional medicine, pain, stress hormones, self-torture, self-loathing, destiny, joy, Psychology, Health & healing

Christine Page, M.D. received her medical degree from the University of London in 1978. She’s an international seminar leader on healing and empowerment.  She became a well-known bridge builder and played an important role in the acceptance of alternative therapies in the British Health System. She is the author of: Frontiers of Health (Rider 2010), The Healing Power of the Sacred Woman: Health, Creativity, and Fertility for the Soul(Bear & Company 2013) Tags: Christine Page, illness, emotion, soul, intuitive, intuition, women's biological cycles, moon cycles, menstrual cycles, menses, Health & Healing, Women’s Studies

Anodea Judith, Ph.D., is a workshop leader and speaker on personal and planetary transformation. She holds a doctorate in health and human services, and a master's in clinical psychology. She is a highly respected researcher and visionary, and is best known for her pioneering work bridging Eastern and Western psychology through the chakra system. She is the author of: Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System (Llewellyn publications 1999), The Global Heart Awakens: Humanity's Rite of Passage from the Love of Power to the Power of Love (Shift books 2013).Tags: Anodea Judith, Ph.D., evolutionary drivers, the great growing up, consciousness, military spending, Social Change, Politics

Gail Storey was formerly administrative director of the University of Houston Creative Writing Program. She is a writer, hoop dancer and comic performance artist. Porter Storey, M.D. has been a full time hospice physician since 1983. He is a national leader in hospice and palliative medicine.  Together they bicycled on their tandem from Maine to San Diego, and years later trekked the Pacific Crest Trail. Gail is the author of: The Lord's Motel (Persea Books 2011), God's Country Club (Persea Books 2011), I Promise Not to Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail (The Mountaineers Books 2013) (winner of the Barbara Savage Award). Porter is the editor of: The Primer of Palliative Care, 4th edition (American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine 2010)Tags: Gail Storey, Porter Storey, M.D., Pacific Crest Trail, trekking, river rafting, falling into river, flooding in Boulder, Colorado, Personal Transformation, Ecology/Nature/Environment, Relationship/Partnership/Sexuality

David Bedrick, JD, DIPL PW is a teacher, counselor, attorney, organizational consultant, and writer. He’s a practitioner of Process Oriented Psychology, a branch of Jungian psychology. He did his clinical training at the Process Work Institute which is inspired by the work of Arny Mindell. Bedrick is a diplomate of the Institute. Currently he maintains a practice as a counselor and coach for individuals and groups. He also speaks and writes on topics ranging from ethics, diversity, and relationships, to dreams, diet, body image, anger, and shame. He is the author of: Talking Back to Dr. Phil: Alternatives to Mainstream Psychology (Belly Song Press 2013)Tags: David Bedrick, J.D., DIPL-PW, Dr. Phil, Dr. Phil McGraw, procrastination, cleaning up clutter, dreams, dream Wednesdays, collective dreams, Process Oriented Psychology, Arny and Amy Mindell, Psychology

David Mezzapelle is an entrepreneur and founder of Goliath Technology, GoliathJobs, JobsOver50, and Goliath–SilverCensus. He has worked with students and seniors as well as people of all ages in between. He is the author of: Contagious Optimism: Uplifting Stories and Motivational Advice for Positive Forward Thinking (Viva Editions 2013)Tags: David Mezzapelle, optimism, positive forward thinking, Joel Heller, failure, success, baby boomers, encore career, storytelling, Self Help

Sam Daley-Harris is the founder of RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund. RESULTS is an international grassroots citizens lobby committed to healing the break between people and government, and creating the political will to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty. He is the director of the RESULTS Educational Fund’s largest project, The Microcredit Summit, a campaign to reach 100 million of the world’s poorest families, especially the women of those families, with credit for self-employment and other financial and business services.  He is the author of: Reclaiming Our Democracy, Healing the Break Between People and Government, the 20th Anniversary Edition (Camino Books Inc. 2013)Tags: Sam Daley-Harris, RESULTS, citizen lobby group, activism, R. Buckminster Fuller, ending world hunger, Citizen Climate  Lobby, Eric Cantor, UN Children's Fund, citizen empowerment, micro-loan, micro-credit, Social Change, Politics

Estelle Frankelis a practicing psychotherapist and spiritual advisor who blends depth psychology with the healing wisdom and spiritual practices of the Kabbalah. She has taught Jewish studies in Israel and throughout the United States for over forty years in both academic and religious settings and was ordained as a rabbinic pastor and spiritual guide by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. Her books include:Sacred Therapy: Jewish Spiritual Teachings on Emotional Healing and Inner Wholeness (Shambhala 20015) and The Wisdom of Not Knowing: Discovering a Life of Wonder by Embracing Uncertainty (Shambhala 2017)Tags: MP3, Estelle Frankel, Jewish Theology, questions, child of Holocaust Survivors, Dizang and Fayan, wonder, entering the darkness, nature deficit disorder, uncertainly, the unknown, Psychology, Philosophy