Deconstructing Yourself
Michael W. Taft
Dedicated to liberation in all its forms, Deconstructing Yourself is passionate about fearlessly investigating, attempting, and questioning all things to do with awakening, meditation, mindfulness, brain hacking, consciousness, neurofeedback, and more.Your host Michael W. Taft interviews some of the most interesting thinkers, authors, and teachers around, as well as other offerings. In this hard-hitting, radical, and fun podcast we look at secular post-, non-, un- Buddhism, Vajrayana, nondual Hindu Tantra, philosophy, the neuroscience of the sense of self, neurofeedback and the consciousness hacking movement, aspects of artificial intelligence, entheogens, and much more.If you’re looking for fresh directions, free from dogma and conformism, think of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast as the radical cafe where you can hear from the most interesting luminaries either from the outside edges of dharma, or a fresh take from more traditional teachers. If you’re interested in more, check out the Deconstructing Yourself website at https://deconstructingyourself.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
69 snips
Sep 15, 2026 • 1h 13min
Awakening and Flow States, with Loch Kelly
Loch Kelly, author, psychotherapist, and meditation teacher, explores what comes after the first glimpse of awakening. He discusses flow states as doorways to awareness in action, the difference between waking up and waking with, and why simple awareness can be so easy to miss. The conversation also covers direct pointing, liberation, trauma, Internal Family Systems, and a guided Problem-Solver Glimpse practice.
18 snips
Aug 24, 2026 • 44min
A Conversation with Delson Armstrong
Delson Armstrong, a meditation teacher blending Buddhist, yogic, and tantric lineages, shares hair-raising flood survival and moments of primal awareness. He introduces his Sanskrit aphorism collection and discusses paraconsciousness, karma versus divine play, Śrī Vidyā goddess practice, and the pitfalls of spiritual ego and teaching with humility.
80 snips
Aug 2, 2026 • 51min
Meditation, False Insights, and Artificial Wisdom with Ruben Laukkonen
Ruben Laukkonen, neuroscientist at Oxford studying meditation, insight, and AI. He recounts using contemplative tools during extreme pain. They probe the strange authority of sudden insights and how confident false revelations can arise. He links meditation to improved brain signal-to-noise and posture as built-in neurofeedback. They close by asking whether artificial intelligence can express wisdom or scale it across culture.
152 snips
Jul 16, 2026 • 1h 2min
The Mystery of Consciousness with Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan, bestselling writer on food, nature, and the mind, discusses his new book and the enduring mystery of consciousness. They probe how researcher bias shapes theories, what literature, meditation, and psychedelics reveal beyond labs, AI’s ego-like behavior without inner awareness, the microbiome’s role in blurring self boundaries, and practical ways to increase presence.
154 snips
Jun 20, 2026 • 59min
A Conversation with Joe Hudson
Joe Hudson, executive coach and founder of Art of Accomplishment, blends contemplative traditions, neuroscience, and psychology for leaders. He explores why awakening on the cushion does not equal freedom in relationship. Short, practical conversations cover loving difficult emotions, somatic emotional inquiry, the “golden algorithm” of recreating avoided feelings, and transforming critical self-talk into curiosity and presence.
70 snips
Apr 28, 2026 • 35min
A Conversation with Wystan
A wide-ranging conversation about teaching awakening beyond strict lineage limits. They debate cultural translation of Buddhist practices and how to adapt forms for modern students. Devotion, heartbreak, and turning toward suffering get emphasis as vital practices. They also discuss shamatha and vipashyana as foundations and the possibility that awakening is real and attainable.
85 snips
Feb 7, 2026 • 34min
Michael Taft Interviewed by Pranab
Pranab Sachidanandan, founder of Attention Copilot and longtime student/facilitator, conducts an interview exploring meditation practice and Michael Taft’s Stack Model. They cover using mantra and visualization as samadhi tools. Conversations span applying the stack across senses, an inspiring chronic pain case, and building inclusive sangha outside traditional lineages.
86 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 46min
The Power of the Heart with Stephen Snyder
Stephen Mugen Snyder, a long‑time Buddhist teacher authorized in Theravada and Soto/Rinzai Zen, shares heart‑centered practices. He explores innate goodness, the two “missing” brahmaviharas, heart wisdom versus mind wisdom, group heart and devotional practices, receptivity and surrender, forgiveness as a heart practice, and how devotional supports and nondual view tune the heart.
44 snips
Dec 2, 2025 • 51min
Chasing the Serpent’s Tail with Sravana Borkataky-Varma and Anya Foxen
Sravana Borkataky-Varma, a scholar of Hindu tantra, and Anya Foxen, a historian of South Asian yogic traditions, dive into the fascinating history and complexities of Kundalini. They discuss its diverse definitions, from ancient Tantric practices to modern interpretations in yoga. The conversation highlights personal narratives of awakening, the interplay of energy and bodily experiences, and how these phenomena can lead to profound shifts in self-perception. They also explore the roles of teachers, lineages, and the intriguing overlaps with extraordinary states and possession.
123 snips
Sep 21, 2025 • 1h 2min
Nonduality and the Ego with Jake Orthwein
Jake Orthwein, a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and dharma student known for 'Unraveling the Dream,' dives deep into the nature of the self. He and host Michael Taft explore the delicate balance between a functional ego and ego identification. They discuss the concepts of no-self and emptiness, revealing how meditation and psychedelics can lead to ego dissolution. Orthwein shares insights on Buddha-nature vs. True Self, and the importance of maintaining a healthy ego when pursuing nondual experiences. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation!
