Voices of Esalen

Ken Dychtwald is a lifelong friend of Esalen and certified amazing guy. Besides being the best-selling author of more than ten books, he's a ground-breaking gerontologist, a psychologist, an educator, a professional lecturer (one of the best to ever pick up a microphone), a superb storyteller, a consultant to several White House administrations, an amazing father and husband -- and apart from all that, he knows quite a lot about Esalen back in the day. As Voices of Esalen begins to develop into a larger body of work, I'm finding that some of the holes in our history are gradually getting filled in. To that end, I got into the 1970's with Ken Dychtwald, and we dug into the work of Will Schutz, famous for his encounter groups, and the psychodrama technique that came with it. Ken and I also talked about his seminal book, Bodymind, which he developed in his early twenties, and how he came to be at the forefront of the holistic health movement at its inception. We also chatted about his lifelong work with aging populations, culminating with a bold initiative with the XPrize foundation that aims to defeat Alzheimer's. Definitely have a listen.

Bob Walter is the executive director and board president of the Joseph Campbell foundation. Walter was Joseph Campbell’s editor for the last ten years of his life and the editorial director of "The Historical Atlas of World Mythology." Following Campbell’s death in 1987, he served as literary executor of Campbell’s estate, and continues to oversee the publication of Joseph Campbell’s writings. We got a chance to chat about the work and the life of Campbell, a central figure in Esalen’s history, as well as the human potential movement. Bonus: I got the chance to play some original Joseph Campbell clips taken from a speech he gave at the Esalen institute, on October 12th, 1967, entitled, “Freud, Jung, and Kundalini Yoga.” Enjoy.

Jean Houston is an interdisciplinary thinker and author, known for her ability to weave history, culture, spirituality, and science. While participating in a US Government-sanctioned research project on the effects of LSD (before such research was banned), Houston became acquainted with Robert Masters, a writer and a researcher into the varieties of human behavior and potentials. The two married in 1965, and soon became known for their work in the Human Potential Movement. During the first term of the Clinton administration, First Lady Hillary Clinton, while she was writing "It Takes a Village", invited Houston to work with her in the White House as an advisor. Dr. Houston is the author of 26 books and has worked in over 100 countries. She came to Esalen to teach about quantum theory and concurrent realities, and she and I spent much of our time together talking about her relationships with Margaret Mead, Joseph Campbell, Alduous Huxley, Eleanor Roosevelt, Deepak Chopra, and Hilary Clinton. “Jean Houston’s mind should be considered a national treasure,” says Buckminster Fuller, and I must say that I agree. It was such a pleasure to speak with her and laugh with her, enjoy her magical impressions, and learn.

Steven Harper is a wilderness guide, author, artist, and longtime teacher at the Esalen Institute. He focuses on wild nature as a vehicle for awakening; his work is inspired by a deep connection to inner wild nature. Steven is a contributor to the emerging field of ecopsychology, and has written at length on the subject. He was also a longtime student and close friend of Esalen founder Dick Price, and in our conversation, Steven’s son Kai and I spoke to him about his history with Dick. We also touched upon Esalen in the 80’s, what it was like to raise a family in Big Sur, and how he continues to connect to wild spirit.

Dorothy Charles writes, "The practice of being present is simple and not easy. We call it a practice because that’s what it takes – returning to the moment whenever I notice that I’m not present." Dorothy is a long-time and beloved teacher and Gestalt Practitioner at Esalen since 1985, where she continues to lead workshops and training groups. Dorothy received her training at Esalen with Richard and Christine Price. She lives in Aptos, California, where she and Christine Price lead and curate Tribal Ground, an educational and congregational organization dedicated to Gestalt Awareness Practice, Relational Gestalt Practice, and recognizing the sacredness in both life and death. http://www.tribalground.com

Dr. Kristin Neff writes, "Self-compassion involves acting the same way towards yourself when you are having a difficult time, fail, or notice something you don’t like about yourself. Instead of just ignoring your pain with a “stiff upper lip” mentality, you stop to tell yourself “this is really difficult right now,” how can I comfort and care for myself in this moment?" In this conversation, Kristin describes the difference between self-esteem and self-compassion, describes the scientific research she has been conducting in self-compassion, and gives us a few simple, actionable techniques to help direct compassion toward ourselves.

David Crow is one of the world’s foremost experts in the field of botanical medicine and grassroots healthcare. He is a master herbalist, aromatherapist and acupuncturist with over 30 years experience in the Ayurvedic and Chinese medical systems, as well as a renowned author, poet, and co-founder of The Learning Garden at Venice High School in Los Angeles, one of the country's largest and most successful school gardens. We explore the ins and outs of essential oils, aromatherapy, flower essences, ayurveda, psychedelics, energy bodies, and gardening.

Digital Raign is a conference that recently convened at Esalen with the intention of creating an "experiential ecosystem," dedicated to exploring the links between Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Technology, and essential human nature. Co-founders Alison Raby, founder of Mariposa Search, LifeBeforeDeath and Co-Founder of Wisdompreneurs, and James Hanusa, cultural strategist, entrepreneur, and advisor to Burning Man, walk us through unchartered territory in this interview. If you're looking to learn about new technologies and holistic ways to relate to them, this talk will provide helpful information.

Today we take a small step back in time to speak with Phillip Burrus, longtime member of the Esalen community and former Executive Chef. Recorded in the spring of 2017, only days before Phillip and his wife Isabel Chave-Manso set off for the next chapter of their lives in Spain, we spoke at length about Phillip's take on sustainability, the importance of locally-grown produce in food preparation, land stewardship, and community in Big Sur. He is a brilliant guy. If you ever wanted to learn more about what goes on in one of the best healthy kitchens in California, have a listen. Voices of Esalen is produced in conjunction with Cheryl Franzel, Jerilyn Hesse, Lori Putnam, Shannon Hudson, and Ean Golden. Our theme music is by Nico Holloman. Subscribe to Voices of Esalen on iTunes, and if you find the time, please rate and review.

Byron Katie was severely depressed in her early thirties. For almost a decade, she spiraled down into rage and self-loathing, battling constant thoughts of suicide. Then one morning in February 1986, she experienced a life-changing realization: "I discovered that when I believed my thoughts, I suffered, but that when I didn't believe them, I didn't suffer. Freedom is as simple as that. I found that suffering is optional." Together we discussed The Work, the philosophy and process of self-inquiry that Byron Katie has brought to millions of people across the world.We also spoke about her new book, "A Mind at Home with Itself," written with her husband Stephen Mitchell. I found her to be a remarkable person to be around, and our conversation as enjoyable and revelatory as any I can remember in recent memory. Please enjoy.