

Awareness Explorers
Jonathan Robinson & Brian Tom O'Connor
If you want to awaken peace and love in daily life, pure awareness is always available as the background of all experience. Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor explore ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 18, 2025 • 41min
191: Inward and Outward Paths
In this episode we explore the concepts of the inward and outward facing paths. They are presented as different approaches in various traditions that, if pursued to their core, eventually arrive at a direct experience of a unified life. • Includes a guided meditation that extends the ancient neti neti practice of excluding all concepts of what you conceive yourself to be, and then re-including all so-called outer experience, thereby seeing that all is awareness and not separate from your true self. Short phrases to help you get a handle on the inward and outward facing paths: Nothing you can name or conceive of is awareness. Nothing you could name or conceive of is not awareness. Meditating with your eyes closed and looking within at awareness, and meditating with your eyes open and looking at the world as awareness. “Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. And between the two my life flows.” ― Nisargadatta Maharaj The song Jonathan mentioned in this episode is “Impermanence” by John Astin: https://music.apple.com/us/song/impermanence/72793994 Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature. NEWS: Awareness Explorers has made the following top listener charts on Goodpods: # 6 in the Top 100 awakening All time chart # 7 in the Top 100 joy All time chart # 5 in the Top 100 awareness All time chart # 8 in the Top 100 consciousness All time chart # 45 in the Top 100 meditation All time chart To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/ If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one. To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/ You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian Photo by Vladislav Babienko on Unsplash

Jul 4, 2025 • 58min
190: John Travis, Guest Explorer
In this episode, we interview John Travis, founding teacher of Mountain Stream Meditation Center, exploring his spiritual journey and teachings, and his emphasis on the importance of integrating mind, heart, and body in spiritual practice. • Includes a guided meditation grounding attention in the body and sense perceptions as a pathway inward to the recognition of awareness as encompassing everything, thus breaking the illusion of separateness. To learn more about John Travis, please visit: https://www.mtstream.org/ and https://www.mtstream.org/john-travis Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature. NEWS: Awareness Explorers has made the following top listener charts on Goodpods: # 6 in the Top 100 awakening All time chart # 7 in the Top 100 joy All time chart # 6 in the Top 100 awareness All time chart # 8 in the Top 100 consciousness All time chart # 45 in the Top 100 meditation All time chart To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/ If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one. To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/ You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

Jun 20, 2025 • 50min
189: Trauma and Awakening
In this episode, we discuss the relationship between trauma and spiritual awakening, and how trauma can not only obscure awareness but can also catalyze awakening. We also describe some effective trauma healing approaches. • Includes a guided meditation helping us to see an upsetting incident from the past within the larger peaceful space of pure awareness, which is unshaken by traumatic experience, and which holds and supports everything. The YouTube playlist mentioned in this episode: Spiritual Laughter Particularly, “Jeff Foster - All That's Left is Laughter” Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature. NEWS: Awareness Explorers has made the following top listener charts on Goodpods: # 5 in the Top 100 awakening All time chart # 6 in the Top 100 joy All time chart # 5 in the Top 100 awareness All time chart # 7 in the Top 100 consciousness All time chart # 44 in the Top 100 meditation All time chart To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/ If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one. To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/ You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian Photo by Fernando @cferdophotography on Unsplash

Jun 6, 2025 • 46min
188: Exploring Intuition
Dive into the fascinating world of intuition as the hosts explore its profound nature and its role in personal awakening. Discover how to harness intuitive insights by quieting the mind and asking the right questions. Anecdotes illustrate the balance between gut feelings and rational thought, emphasizing self-awareness in decision-making. A guided meditation is included to help clear mental blocks and enhance receptivity to intuition. Tune in for fresh perspectives on accessing innate wisdom and cultivating joy in everyday life.

May 23, 2025 • 55min
187: Robert Rugg, Guest Explorer
Join Robert Rugg, a transformative author and founder of Effortless Being Publications, as he discusses his spiritual journey towards self-realization. He shares insights on experiencing life with an effortless presence and the significance of embracing wholeness in daily interactions. The conversation touches on navigating grief, allowing emotions without resistance, and trusting one's intuition for joy. Listeners are invited to a guided meditation that guides them into a serene state of awareness, reconnecting with their true nature.

May 9, 2025 • 48min
186: Rituals
In this episode we explore the topic of rituals and their impact on experiencing deeper peace, love, and joy in life. • Includes a guided meditation in which we reflect on past meaningful ritual experiences, imagine new possibilities for personal rituals, and consider timing and context for implementing new rituals. Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature. NEWS: Awareness Explorers has made the following top listener charts on Goodpods: # 5 in the Top 100 awakening All time chart # 6 in the Top 100 joy All time chart # 5 in the Top 100 awareness All time chart # 7in the Top 100 consciousness All time chart # 43 in the Top 100 meditation All time chart To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/ If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one. To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/ You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian Photo by Ashley Batz on Unsplash

Apr 25, 2025 • 1h 46min
185: Pernille and Todd Lent Damore, Guest Explorers
In this episode we talk to Pernille and Todd Lent Damore, founders of the Awakening Curriculum, about the Wheel of Identification, which is their framing of the Ten Buddhist Fetters, as well as practical applications to wake up moment to moment in the midst of everyday life. Their focus is on direct experience with no resistance and no labels. • Includes a guided meditation exploring the felt sense of where “you” are located, by exploring where it seems to be showing up within the space of our senses, including visual, auditory, and bodily sensations, and looking at our raw experiences without labeling them. To learn more about Pernille and Todd Lent Damore, Guest Explorers, please visit: https://theawakeningcurriculum.com/ Or if you have questions, you can email: unfetterdmindfulness@gmail.com And you can also view their YouTube channels: @TheAwakeningCurriculum on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@theawakeningcurriculum and @unfetteredmindfulness on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@unfetteredmindfulness Todd’s Book: Only in Your Mind: Not Quite Poems from the Not So Linear Awakening Path https://a.co/d/7AsXuy0 Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature. NEWS: Awareness Explorers has made the following top listener charts on Goodpods: # 5 in the Top 100 awakening All time chart # 6 in the Top 100 joy All time chart # 5 in the Top 100 awareness All time chart # 7in the Top 100 consciousness All time chart # 43 in the Top 100 meditation All time chart To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/ If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one. To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/ You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

Apr 11, 2025 • 53min
184: What Makes an Ideal Human?
Delve into the intriguing qualities that define an ideal human. Explore the connection between personal awakening and traits like kindness and humor. Reflect on the subjective nature of morality through insights from historical figures. Discover the importance of self-acceptance and how flaws are part of the spiritual journey. Engage in a guided meditation to embody these ideal traits while navigating the complexities of everyday life. Join a discussion that emphasizes genuine emotional openness over prescribed spirituality.

Mar 28, 2025 • 1h 13min
183: Amy Albright and Drew Pierson, Guest Explorers
Dr. Amy Albright is a Doctor of Chinese medicine and executive coach, and Dr. Drew Pierson is a leading neurofeedback expert, both co-founders of Holon. They delve into the fascinating intersections of neurofeedback, consciousness, and well-being. Listeners can learn about innovative brain training techniques and the importance of personalizing approaches to mental health. The conversation includes practical exercises for connecting with energy and enhancing awareness, merging science and spirituality for transformative experiences.

Mar 14, 2025 • 1h 19min
182: Kat Adamson, Guest Explorer
In this engaging conversation, Kat Adamson, the widow of renowned non-duality teacher Sailor Bob Adamson, shares her journey of love and loss. She discusses Bob's profound teachings, emphasizing that there is no separate self, only awareness. Kat reflects on the importance of community support in healing and the path to self-discovery. Through guided meditation, listeners are invited to experience present awareness and explore their true nature beyond mental constraints. Her insights offer a fresh perspective on grief, connection, and spiritual awakening.