Brad Warner is an ordained Zen teacher and the author of many books, including There is No God and He is Always With You, Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate, and Hardcore Zen, Brad is the creator of the “Hardcore Zen” blog and YouTube Channel and is also a punk rock bass player in the band, Zero Defex. He has published work in Buddhist magazines Shambala Sun, Buddha Dharma, and Tricycle as well as rock magazines such as Alternative Press, Maximum Rock and Roll, and Razorcake.But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Brad Warner and I Discuss Hardcore Zen and …His book, “Letters to a Dead Friend About Zen”Absolute truth and relative truthThe Buddhist precepts – there are no universal rules that apply to everythingThe universe is a living entity that is affected by our actionsWhy he wrote this book for his friend who diedIceberg metaphor – what can be seen is what we know about ourselves, but we also have unseen and unknowable parts of ourselves.His thoughts on Buddha being a geniusThe Buddha, the Dharma, and the SanghaA goal of not having a goal is also a goalBeing in a goal-oriented societySeeing things as they are and realizing that we’re wrongThe challenge of accepting our current reality as how it's supposed to be and not how we want it to be.Working with our desires for things to be a certain wayBrad Warner Links:hardcorezen.comTwitterFacebookYouTubeIndeed: Helps you find high impact hires, faster, without any long term contracts and you pay only for what you need. Get started with a free $75 credit to boost your job post and get in front of more quality candidates by going to www.indeed.com/wolf Calm App: The app designed to help you ease stress and get the best sleep of your life through meditations and sleep stories. Join the 85 million people around the world who use Calm to get better sleep. Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription (a limited time offer!) by going to www.calm.com/wolf SimpliSafe: Get comprehensive protection for your entire home with security cameras, alarms, sensors as well as fire, water, and carbon monoxide alerts. Visit simplisafe.com/wolf for free shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you enjoyed this conversation with Brad Warner on Hardcore Zen, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Brad Warner )2016 Episode)Shinzen YoungShozan Jack HaubnerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Wilson, Ph.D., is a Professor of psychology at the University at Mississippi. He is Past President of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, and winner of the University of Mississipi’s prestigious Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award. Dr. Wilson is one of the co-developers of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and has written several books, including Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong: A Guide to Life Liberated from Anxiety.In this episode, Kelly Wilson and Eric discuss his approach to helping others to become liberated from their anxiety.But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Kelly Wilson and I Discuss Being Liberated from Anxiety and…His book, Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong: A Guide to Life Liberated from Anxiety.Anxiety is not as a disease or that we’re brokenHis past view of vulnerability as being the enemyHis theory that 1 out of 2 people has experienced some form of suffering or hardship in their lifeHow labels can obscure a personBefore talking about acceptance, it’s important to understand what matters.His approach to this therapy is about the direction towards what you love rather than just eliminating symptoms.Your suffering may be due to how it’s being carried, not that it’s being carried.Facing our difficulties is how we come to understand what courage and sacrifice look likeValues and vulnerability as a starting place in therapyIdentifying what would make the hardest thing worthwhileWhen we don’t know our values, identify where it hurtsIf the burden could be lifted, what would you allow?Reclaiming what we value by taking redemptive actionThe next right thing is acknowledging where you’ve been wrongCommitted action is just the next action that brings you back to who you want to beIt’s all about moving in the right direction, not the distanceKelly Wilson Links:onelifellc.comTwitterFacebookPeloton: Wondering if a Peloton bike is right for you? You can get a free 30 day home trial and find out. If you’re looking for a new way to get your cardio in, the Peloton bike is a great solution. Eric decided to buy one after his 30-day free trial. Visit onepeloton.comIndeed: Helps you find high impact hires, faster, without any long term contracts and you pay only for what you need. Get started with a free $75 credit to boost your job post and get in front of more quality candidates by going to www.indeed.com/wolf Best Fiends: Engage your brain and play a game of puzzles with Best Fiends. Download for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play.  If you enjoyed this conversation with Kelly Wilson on Being Liberated from Anxiety, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Steven C. HayesRuss Harris (Part 1)Russ Harris (Part 2)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring Washam is a well-known meditation and dharma teacher based in Oakland, California. She is a founding member and core teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center located in downtown Oakland. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys an organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom. In addition to being a teacher, she is also a healer, facilitator, spiritual activist, and writer. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based healing practices into diverse communities and is committed to enriching the lives of disenfranchised people everywhere.In this episode, Spring Washam and Eric talk about how we can foster deep transformation within ourselves and our world.But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Spring Washam and I Discuss Deep Transformation and…Her book, A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage, and Wisdom in Any MomentBalancing action and contemplationFocusing on what you are fighting for (not just what you’re fighting against)Her constant, daily practice of forgivenessUprooting greed, hatred, and delusion to heal her heart and mindHer profound experiences of interconnectedness Why she takes things far less personally now but still feels the pain of lifeThe deep shift in the heart that transforms someone into an antiracistHer Sunday program: The Church of Harriet Tubman & The Underground Railroad CrewConnecting to our ancestors and learning from historyHow no one is exempt from the 10,000 joys and the 10,000 sorrows of lifeThe way faith in a bigger, loving force can lead to beautiful transformation when pain in life happens to usThe lawful unfolding of the universeWaking up to our innate Buddha natureTransforming difficulty into growthGiving our suffering meaning for transformationDropping into the body to feel the energy and find the blocks in the heartGetting curious when we feel triggered Being afraid of our feelings blocks our transformationMeeting our numbness with loving self careDeveloping self-compassion and compassion for othersSeparation being at the core of many of our woundsThat our whole journey is about letting goSpring WashamLinks:springwasham.comThe Church of Harriet Tubman & The Underground Railroad CrewTwitterInstagramFacebookBLUblox offers high-quality lenses that filter blue light, reduce glare, and combat the unhealthy effects of our digital life. Visit BLUblox.com and get free shipping and also 15% off with Promo Code: WOLFTalkspace is the online therapy company that lets you connect with a licensed therapist from anywhere at any time at a fraction of the cost of traditional therapy. It’s therapy on demand. Visit www.talkspace.com and enter Promo Code: WOLF to get $100 off your first month.If you enjoyed this conversation with Spring Washam on Deep Transformation, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Soring Washam (2017 Interview)Sarah BlondinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ibram X. Kendi is an American author, historian, and scholar of race and discriminatory policy in America. He is the Director for the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University and he received the National Book Award for Non-Fiction for his book, Stamped From The Beginning: The Definitive History Of Racist Ideas In America. In this episode, Ibram X. Kendi and Eric talk about his recent book, How To Be An Antiracist.But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Ibram X. Kendi and I Discuss Being an Antiracist and…His book, How To Be An AntiracistHow he defines the word “racist”The problem at the core of racismHow to determine if a policy is racist or antiracistRacial discriminationDifferentiating between people and policiesThe importance of viewing individual behaviorsHow mistakes impact people of different racesIbram X. Kendi Links:ibramxkendi.comTwitterInstagramIf you enjoyed this conversation with Ibram X. Kendi on Being an Antiracist, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Jamia WilsonAustin Channing BrownRuth KingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sasha Sagan is a writer who has also worked as a television producer, filmmaker, editor, and speaker. Sasha’s writing has appeared in New York Magazine, O Magazine, Literary Hub, and others. Her latest book is called, For Small Creatures Such As We: Rituals For Finding Meaning In Our Unlikely World.In this episode, Sasha Sagan and Eric talk about bringing a sense of sacredness to a scientific world, maintaining our awe and wonder, and the role and importance of ritual in our lives.But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Sasha Sagan and I Discuss Science, the Sacred, and…Her book, For Small Creatures Such As We: Rituals For Finding Meaning In Our Unlikely WorldMaintaining our sense of awe even as we discover the explanations for thingsSitting with the discomfort of not knowing to foster wonderFollowing our curiosity and having questions as we follow the threads to discoveryGoing through the right of passage of an existential crisisThe fact that things end makes them preciousHow so much of ritual is processing changeRitual being a 3 step path from a state of separateness to a state of togethernessThe wisdom in having rituals that mark timeCreating ritualsThe positive and negative of our human tendency to find patternsTolerating ambiguityThe need for nuanceInterconnectednessSasha Sagan Links:sashasagan.comTwitterInstagramBLUblox offers high-quality lenses that filter blue light, reduce glare, and combat the unhealthy effects of our digital life. Visit BLUblox.com and get free shipping and also 15% off with Promo Code: WOLFPlushcare: Provides excellent primary and urgent healthcare through virtual appointments. It’s easy to book online and you can even get same-day appointments. They accept most major insurance carriers, are available in all 50 states and you get prescriptions sent to your local pharmacy. Go to www.plushcare.com/wolf to start your free 30-day trial.Calm App: The app designed to help you ease stress and get the best sleep of your life through meditations and sleep stories. Join the 85 million people around the world who use Calm to get better sleep. Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription (a limited time offer!) by going to www.calm.com/wolf If you enjoyed this conversation with Sasha Sagan on Science and the Sacred, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Lesley HazletonGretchen RubinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Albert Flynn DeSilver is an American poet, memoirist, novelist, speaker, and workshop leader. He is the author of several books of poems, a memoir titled “Beamish Boy (I am not my story): A Memory of Recovery and Awakening”, and the book discussed in this episode:  Writing as a Path to Awakening: A Year to Becoming an Excellent Writer and Living an Awakened LifeIn this episode, Albert Flynn DeSilver and Eric talk about using writing, poetry, and contemplative practices as a way to guide us on the path to awakening to our true selves.But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Albert Flynn DeSilver and I Discuss Writing as a Path to Awakening and…Attention and action are needed to transcend our conditioningAwakening means waking up to the reality of existence, that we are not our mindsWaking up to our true nature as opposed to conditioned natureHow writing is a creative act that can wake us up to full potentiality or higher truthWriting and meditation as contemplative practices that support each other.Poetry is a way to talk about that which can’t be spoken ofHow reading poetry is a very different and visceral reading experienceWriting with a sense of curiosity and explorationFreewriting exercises – setting up to write what’s there, internally and externallyRealizing we are in collaboration with all of the energy around usUsing prompts for writing for awakening practiceGaining perspective and distance from the voices in our headSetting yourself up for success with intentionalityThe paradox of being “the greatest invention ever” and “completely insignificant”Albert Flynn DeSilver Links:albertflynndesilver.comFacebookTwitterInstagramBombas: “The most comfortable socks on the planet” – Eric Zimmer. Visit www.bombas.com/wolf and enter offer code: wolf to save 20%SimpliSafe: Get comprehensive protection for your entire home with security cameras, alarms, sensors as well as fire, water, and carbon monoxide alerts. Visit simplisafe.com/wolf for free shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee. Indeed: Helps you find high impact hires, faster, without any long term contracts and you pay only for what you need. Get started with a free $75 credit to boost your job post and get in front of more quality candidates by going to www.indeed.com/wolfIf you enjoyed this conversation with Albert Flynn DeSilver, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Ellen BassSue Monk KiddSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josh Johnson is a comedian and an Emmy-nominated writer. He is currently a writer on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and a former writer and performer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Josh was named New York’s Funniest Comic at the New York Comey Festival in 2018.In this episode, Josh Johnson and Eric talk about comedy and how humor can facilitate healing, understanding, and our connection with one another. But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Josh Johnson and I Discuss Humor and Healing and…The duality of being humanUsing humor as a coping mechanism that can facilitate healingHow when you laugh you feel no painThat levity can strip something of its power over usWhat it means to be truly contentThe role of comedy in his lifeThe relationship between objectivity and comedyHow he’d rather try and fail on stage than not try something out of fearThe prevalence of mental health issues in comediansThe way humor can change our perspectivesHow he approaches depressive episodes in his own lifeHow skewed our feedback can be based on who surrounds usJosh Johnson Links:joshjohnsoncomedy.comYouTubeFacebookTwitterInstagramIndeed: Helps you find high impact hires, faster, without any long term contracts and you pay only for what you need. Get started with a free $75 credit to boost your job post and get in front of more quality candidates by going to www.indeed.com/wolfBest Fiends: Engage your brain and play a game of puzzles with Best Fiends. Download for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play.Talkspace: the online therapy company that lets you connect with a licensed therapist from anywhere at any time. Therapy on demand. Non-judgemental, practical help when you need it at a fraction of the cost of traditional therapy. Visit www.talkspace.com and enter Promo Code: WOLF to get $100 off your first month.If you enjoyed this conversation with Josh Johnson on Healing and Humor, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Pete HolmesPaul GilmartinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Susan David is a psychologist on faculty at Harvard Medical School. She’s also the co-founder and co-director of The Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital and is CEO of Evidence-Based Psychology. Along with speaking and consulting, Susan is also the author of Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life.In this episode, Susan David and Eric examine how we can experience, interpret, talk about, and relate to our emotions so that we live a life that is more intentional and deeply rooted in what we value. But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Susan David and I Discuss Understanding Emotions and…Her book, Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change and Thrive in Work and LifeThe problem of going on autopilot through our habitual actionsThe problem of going on autopilot through the habits of our internal worldThe benefits of taking time to think about what we value and then examining our habitual patterns to find ways they might be out of alignmentThat we own our emotions, they don’t own usValues as qualities of actionEngaging with choice points in life Actions as votes towards the person we want to beThe mistaken view of emotions as good or badEmotions as signposts for the things we care aboutThat emotions are data, not directivesHow to decipher whether emotions are old habitual patterns or present-day valuable signalsAsking, “Is my believing this emotion opening me up to thrive or shutting me down into something small?”Being compassionate and curious with difficult emotionsHearing yourself when you describe your emotionsUtilizing emotion granularity to more accurately label and better understand emotionsThe skill of noticing our emotions so that they don’t define usDifferentiating emotions from thoughtsEmotions during times of uncertaintyGentle acceptance as a prerequisite to changeSusan David Links:susandavid.comEmotional Agility QuizTed Talk: The Gift and Power of Emotional CourageFacebookTwitterInstagramAthletic Greens: The all in one daily drink to get daily nutritional needs, support better health and peak performance. Visit www.athleticgreens.com/feed to get 20 free daily travel packs with your first purchase. Calm App: The app designed to help you ease stress and get the best sleep of your life through meditations and sleep stories. Join the 85 million people around the world who use Calm to get better sleep. Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription (a limited time offer!) by going to www.calm.com/wolf SimpliSafe: Get comprehensive protection for your entire home with security cameras, alarms, sensors as well as fire, water, and carbon monoxide alerts. Visit simplisafe.com/wolf for free shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee.  If you enjoyed this conversation with Susan David on Understanding Emotions, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Susan David (February, 2019)Hilary Jacobs HendelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A. H. Almaas is the pen name of A. Hameed Ali. He is the founder of the Diamond Approach to Self-Realization which is a contemporary teaching that developed within the context of both ancient spiritual teachings and modern depth psychology theories. He has authored eighteen books about spiritual realization, including the Diamond Heart series, The Pearl Beyond Price, The Void, The Alchemy of Freedom, and his newest book, Love Unveiled: Discovering the Essence of the Awakened Heart.In this episode, A.H. Almaas and Eric explore how to use curiosity, inquiry, courage, kindness, and love to discover our true nature, which he refers to as our “essence”. It is a deep and freeing approach to achieve healing and wholeness within ourselves. But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, A.H. Almaas and I Discuss Discovering our Essence and…His newest book, Love Unveiled: Discovering the Essence of the Awakened HeartThe Diamond ApproachWhat he means when he talks about our “essence”The difference between personality and essenceSeeing our children’s essential nature and loving them for itThe Theory of HolesThe role of inquiry in feeling your emotionAccessing your emotions by seeing what’s in the way of feeling themPrinciples that ground us in inquiry so we might see the totality of our experience in the present momentThe difference between and integration of psychology and spiritualityThe result of staying with our direct, immediate experienceHow wanting to change ourselves interferes with our ability to study and learn about ourselvesIncluding our desires in our inquiryThat “allowing things to be exactly as they are” is the highest teaching there isBecoming consistently curious about what’s happeningHow to learn to stay with emotional painThe similarities between sadness and kindnessInquiring about our essence A.H. Almaas Links:diamondapproach.comTwitterInstagramFacebookBLUblox offers high-quality lenses that filter blue light, reduce glare, and combat the unhealthy effects of our digital life. Visit BLUblox.com to get free shipping and also 15% off with Promo Code: WOLFTalkspace: the online therapy company that lets you connect with a licensed therapist from anywhere at any time. Therapy on demand. Non-judgemental, practical help when you need it at a fraction of the cost of traditional therapy. Visit www.talkspace.com and enter Promo Code: WOLF to get $100 off your first month.SimpliSafe: Get comprehensive protection for your entire home with security cameras, alarms, sensors as well as fire, water, and carbon monoxide alerts. Visit simplisafe.com/wolf for free shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee.  If you enjoyed this conversation with A.H. Almaas on Discovering Our Essence, you might also enjoy these other episodes:A.H. Almaas (2016)James FinleyHenry ShukmanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Blondin is a writer and videographer from British Columbia, Canada. She’s also the creator and host of the well-known podcast “live awake“. In this episode, Sarah and Eric discuss her book, “Heart Minded, How to Hold Yourself and Others in Love”, where she shares how we can learn to train our minds to listen and follow our hearts.But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Sarah Blondin and I Discuss Being Heart Minded and…Her book,  “Heart Minded, How to Hold Yourself and Others in Love.”  Listening to the longing that guides us to the dark placeHow grace is like the wind that comes from within lifting us up from the mireCreating a mainline to the heart will move you forward, but we must learn to be aware of it.How taking responsibility for our pain becomes our strengthSeeing from the perspective of the heart and learning to see beyond the painFeeling and giving yourself permission begins the healing processAddressing and not avoiding your afflictionsBecoming empowered to stop choosing to go to the dark place comes with time and practiceBringing the mind down to the heartHow the unharnessed mind is frantic and is an ungrounded companionThe call of the heart is living and leading with loveThe heart gives us a strength to help us maneuver difficult timesTraining the mind to start following the heart’s agendaAs the heart grows, it infiltrates our consciousness and moves us into a more harmonious state.Creating boundaries for yourself when suffering and struggle show up“Inner hospitality” comes from learning how to stay and allowing your feelings to move in then out.How achievements and pursuits hold little value compared to what we create within ourselvesSarah Blondin Links:sarahblondin.comTwitterInstagramBLUblox offers high-quality lenses that filter blue light, reduce glare, and combat the unhealthy effects of our digital life. Visit BLUblox.com to get free shipping and also 15% off with Promo Code: WOLFSkillshare is an online learning community that helps you get better on your creative journey. They have thousands of inspiring classes for creative and curious people. Get 2 FREE months of premium membership at www.skillshare.com/feedSimpliSafe: Get comprehensive protection for your entire home with security cameras, alarms, sensors as well as fire, water, and carbon monoxide alerts. Visit simplisafe.com/wolf for free shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee.  If you enjoyed this conversation with Sarah Blondin on Being Heart Minded, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Sue Monk KiddDorothy HuntSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.