Dr. Ken Druck is a leading mental health expert in the areas of civility, relationships, and aging. Ken writes regularly for the national press and he is the author of several books including the one discussed in this episode, Raising an Aging Parent: Guidelines for Families in the Second Half of Life.In this episode, Eric and Dr. Ken Druck talk about caring for an aging parent, finding meaning after great loss, helping ourselves receive the love that’s offered to us, and how to live through the difficult nature of the difficult situations we will face 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, Dr. Ken Druck and I Discuss Raising an Aging Parent, and…His book, Raising an Aging Parent: Guidelines for Families in the Second Half of LifeStanding in the ashes of your “Plan A” in lifeThe tragedy of the death of his daughterThe choice to make your pain the central organizing principle of your life or choosing a life where purpose and meaning are the central organizing principlesOur wholeness coming out of brokenessHow aging is grieving the loss of our younger self and accepting yourself as you are todayLiving in a “both-and” rather than an “either-or” worldThat when we care for an aging parent, we’re giving life back to the parents that gave life to usGiving our parents the good things we have in our hearts to give as they face some of the biggest challenges of their livesThe importance of being a healthy caregiver and not becoming a “slave caregiver”Figuring out what is “enough” as a caregiverAllowing ourselves to receive the love as our parents offer it, rather than waiting for the way we want itFiguring out what stands in the way of us receiving other people’s love, gratitude, and generosityShowing ourselves compassion in moments of difficult decisionsThe work and legacy of an aging parentPutting our house in orderDr. Ken Druck Links:kendruck.comTwitterFacebookInstagramIndeed: 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.  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 a free HD camera.If you enjoyed this conversation with Dr. Ken Druck on Raising an Aging Parent, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Alan CastelKamla KapurJohn ZeratskySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julia Cameron is an American teacher, author, artist, poet, playwright, novelist, filmmaker, and much more. She is best known for her book, “The Artist’s Way.“In this episode, in addition to discussing her book, “The Artist’s Way,” Eric and Julia talk about finding your creativity and her famous practice known as “Morning Pages.”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, Julia Cameron and I Discuss Finding Your Creativity and…Her book, “The Artist’s Way“Her many strategies for feeding her good wolfCreative recovery is the process of tracking back to our original selvesCreativity as a spiritual practice“Morning Pages” is her daily practice of writing 3 pages longhand about anything that is on your mind first thing in the morningThe importance of writing no more or no less than the 3 pages.Morning pages are aimed at moving out of inertia into action.Learning to write past our inner critic is how we train ourselves to move past fearCloud thoughts are the thoughts that drift into your consciousness that are not connected to anythingMorning pages are your tough love friend and are not meant to be rereadCreativity can come from happiness as well as painThe reward for paying attention is a sense of well being that counters loneliness“Artist Dates” are expeditions out of your house that you find delightful or brings you joyThe myth that artists are born and not madeHow perfectionism stands between you and your creativityThe process of creativity is more important than the end productMoving past perfectionism with your morning pagesWalking is another important creative tool The secret doubt is our skeptical sense that a higher power isn’t interested in us.The voice of guidance is kind, intuitive, truthful, and supportiveJulia Cameron Links:juliacameronlive.comTwitterInstagramFacebookTransparent Labs offer a variety of supplements and protein powders that include science-based ingredients and have no sugar, fat, lactose, artificial colors or sweeteners. Check out Eric’s favorite, 100% Grass Fed Whey Isolate that comes in many delicious flavors. Visit transparentlabs.com and use Promo code WOLF to receive 10% off your order.Plushcare: 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/wolfIf you enjoyed this conversation with Julia Cameron on the Finding Your Creativity, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Albert Flynn DeSilverByron KatieSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Kingsland is a science and medical journalist with 25 years of experience working for publications such as New Scientist, Nature, and, most recently, The Guardian. On his own blog, Plastic Brain, he writes about neuroscience and Buddhist psychology. In this episode, Eric and James Kingsland discuss his book, Am I Dreaming: The Science of Altered States from Psychedelics to Virtual Reality and Beyond.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, James Kingsland and I Discuss the Neuroscience Behind Our Reality, and…His book, Am I Dreaming: The Science of Altered States from Psychedelics to Virtual Reality and BeyondWhat the best neuroscience tells us about how the brain worksThat we don’t see the world directly, objectively as it isOur experiential reality as a combination of what we expect to see and the feedback from what our senses are telling us is therePrediction Error CodingHow the brain mainly pays attention when you surprise itThat the Buddha discovered that we see a conditioned view of the worldThe types of things that go wrong in the brainViewing mental illness and addiction through the prediction functionality of the brainHow altered states can help when things go wrong in the brainExpanded the flexibility of the brainWhat happens in the brain during sleep and dreaming His experience with hypnosisActive InferenceJames Kingsland Links:Plasticbrainblog.comTwitterBLUBlox 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 worldwide 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/feedIf you enjoyed this conversation with James Kingsland on the Neuroscience Behind Our Reality, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Daniel LevitinCasey SchwartzDr. Rick HansonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Judith Grisel is a professor of Psychology at Bucknell University. Judith is a behavioral neuroscientist with a particular interest in addiction. Her work includes trying to determine what is different about people who develop drug addictions before they ever try a drug. In this episode, Judith and Eric discuss her book, “Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction” where she shares her personal experience of overcoming addiction as well as her passion for research into the neuroscience of addiction.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, Judith Grisel and I Discuss the Neuroscience of Addiction, and…Her book, Never Enough:  The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction"  Channeling her strong will and enthusiasm for addiction into recovery Focusing on what she wanted rather than what she didn't wantThe complexity of addiction is there are so many factors that lead to itNature via nurture as well as the inherited risks of addictionThe increased risk of teenagers with addictive disorders when using drugs or alcohol while the brain is still developing.The neural states associated with addiction also come from our history, culture, socialization, communication, and even microbiomes.The "debt of addiction is accrued when borrowing good feelings from the future is due"Mechanisms of what happens in the brain when abusing substancesTolerance is when the brain adapts and counteracts the effects of the drugDependence is when you no longer like yourself without the drugYounger adults may be more prone to addiction, but also more resilient.Her experience of receiving tough love from her parents that ultimately led to recovery.How isolation causes addiction and addiction causes isolationConnection is crucial in the process of recoveryDr. Judith Grisel Links:Judy GriselTed TalkPlushcare: 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.Jordan Harbinger Show: One of Eric’s favorite podcasts, the Jordan Harbinger Show, is where self-motivated people, just like you, dig deep into the untapped wisdom of the world’s sharpest minds- from legendary creators to intelligence operatives, iconoclastic writers to visionary change-makers. You’ll learn new strategies, perspectives, and tactics you won’t find anywhere else, then take these valuable insights into your own life and live what you listen to. You can find it on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyIf you enjoyed this conversation with Judy Grisel on the Neuroscience of Addiction, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Dr. Gabor Mate’Johann HariMaia SzalavitzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.