Deep Fix

After many months of baby-induced ego death, I’m excited to finally kick off a new season of the pod with someone who has profoundly shaped my spiritual life: Michael Taft.We sat down for a wide-ranging conversation that spans enlightened wizards, psychedelic dismemberment, and the very practical art of recognizing awake awareness in the midst of daily life. I’m delighted to share this one with you—it might be my favorite to date.Michael Taft is a longtime meditation teacher and author whose work integrates nondual wisdom traditions, classical Tantra, and modern neuroscience. He’s the host of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast, and he has guided thousands of practitioners into deeper recognition through his Dharma talks, guided meditations, and retreats. Before teaching full-time, he spent decades training with masters in Hindu and Buddhist lineages— including time living in India—and became one of Shinzen Young’s most prominent students.Before meeting Michael, I’d been practicing about as seriously as one can outside a monastery—fully committed to the spiritual path, with all the neuroses that come with it. His teaching helped my system relax in a way I didn’t realize was possible and seems to have flipped what has been an irreversible switch. Since then I’ve dove into his retreats and teachings, and I regularly send his guided meditations to friends and clients… and the ones who stick with it reliably have awakening experiences and sustained insight. Not many teachers can produce that kind of result.What continues to impress me most is his teaching style: relaxed, emotionally friendly, grounded, precise, funny, and—when needed —sharp enough to cut through the b******t. He’s a teacher who can help you go all the way in awakening, not just taste it.You can feel that in this conversation. Toward the end, he guides us through a direct, real-time glimpse of what he calls Nondual 2—the shift from transcending the world to waking up in the world, and why so many people unknowingly stop halfway on the path.In this episode, expect to learn more about:•How a soul-annihilation psychedelic experience in the mountains of Japan catalyzed his initial awakening• Why he refused to teach for years, and what ultimately shifted his perspective• How he trained with “enlightened wizards” in India, and how those experiences shaped his humble, anti-guru approach• Nondual 1 vs. Nondual 2: why awakening often stops at “no separation,” and the deeper realization of everyday life as the sacred display of awareness• Why later Buddhist and Tantric traditions resonate more for him — embracing emotion, energy, and daily life rather than trying to shut them down• How to recognize awake awareness on demand in the middle of ordinary life• The unseen pitfalls of highly altered-state retreats — and why he designs retreats for stability and integration• How to build confidence in awakening through direct recognition rather than belief or attainment-chasing• Why he believes awakening is ultimately about God, death, and not missing the point of being aliveIf you’re new to Michael’s work, I highly recommend exploring his vast library of free meditations and talks on his YouTube channel.Start with his beginner nondual series: do the full sit, then listen to the dharma talk and Q&A later in the day to help integrate the insight. After that, move on to this nondual series or simply start following his weekly sits at the Alembic.Do this for 30 days and let me know what you notice.Hosted by Alex OlshonskyRead my essays + the full transcriptWork with me (coaching)Join my men's groups + retreats This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deepfix.substack.com/subscribe

Imagine a world where every single moment pulses with life, where the mundane becomes magical, and where you’re intimately connected to the heartbeat of the universe. Now, what if I told you this world isn’t a clichéd fantasy, but the reality we’re already living in? What if you could access this “psychedelic” state of being without ingesting a single substance?Today, I’m joined by someone who doesn’t just understand this reality—she lives it. Rosa Lewis, a mystic and meditation teacher from the UK, is pioneering a radical approach to heartfulness that combines Tantric Buddhism, Jungian depth psychology, shadow work, and mysticism.In this episode, Rosa and I embark on what she describes as a “shared imaginal journey.” This conversation is far different—more exploratory, vivid, and contemplative—than my previous pod episodes. I encourage you to approach it not just as a listener, but as a participant in a receptive state.You can expect to learn:* How to perceive the psychedelic nature of reality without any substances* The art of making the energetics and emotions of the moment as vital as anything in the external world* How heart states like gratitude, forgiveness, and joy can deepen your connection to life’s inherent magic* The power of imaginal practices in accessing deeper levels of consciousness* Techniques for developing a secure attachment to the universe itself* The difference between surface-level roles and deep archetypes, and how to connect with your core essence* Understanding soulfulness and embracing your unique character in spiritual practiceAnd I highly recommend exploring Rosa’s work:* Her website, practice guides, and especially her soul-awakening framework* Her description navigating psychosis, 100 Ways It Is Like To Be Me, and 50 Things I Mean by a Buddha (which has the prompt we used for our exploration)* Also her YouTube, including how to access jhana through sexualityHosted by Alex OlshonskyRead my essays + the full transcriptWork with me (coaching)Join my men's groups + retreats This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deepfix.substack.com/subscribe

Serendipity in the digital age brought about this episode. It was a true highlight when Daniel Pinchbeck, a writer whose work has profoundly influenced my thinking, responded to one of my essays proposing we have a dialogue. After a brief email exchange, we decided to just hit record on our initial conversation, which I’m delighted to share with you today.Daniel Pinchbeck is a NYT Bestselling author whose books include Breaking Open the Head, 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, How Soon is Now, and When Plants Dream. He is the founder of the Liminal Institute, and he co-founded Reality Sandwich and the Evolver network, fostering conversations on transformative culture. He’s also the author of one of my favorite Substack newsletters. His work delves into ecology, politics, indigenous wisdom, mysticism, psychedelics, and social change.In this episode expect to learn more about:* Indigenous prophecies that forecast a collective descent into insanity followed by a state of enlightenment or awakening, and their relevance to the current global crises* Why Daniel identifies as a ‘monistic idealist’, believing that the universe is primarily comprised of consciousness, rather than matter* Concerns about the impact of technology on cognitive capacity and the need for a deeper level of crisis to catalyze collective action* How the digital age has accelerated the breakdown of sensemaking and led to a bifurcation of communities* Daniel’s criticisms of the RFK Jr. Presidential campaign* A nuanced exploration of the war in the Middle East* Why young people are depressed and sometimes have little hope for the future, and whether that’s a self-fulfilling prophecy* The importance of holding both the pain and the bliss of our current reality, and the outsized potential for a shift in collective consciousness* Daniel’s personal journey towards a state of “joyful surrender” and Jnana yoga amid our existential threatsLearn more about Daniel on his website. And I highly recommend subscribing to his Substack, Liminal News.Hosted by Alex Read my essays + the full transcriptWork with me (coaching)Join my men's groups + retreats This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deepfix.substack.com/subscribe

Renowned dharma teacher Vimalasara discusses Buddhist methods to overcome addictions and harmful habits. Topics include implicit teachings on addiction, addiction to 'thinking,' preventing addictive storylines, and understanding vedanā. The conversation explores Vimalasara's journey to becoming a Dharma teacher, unique steps for recovery, writing about recovery, reconnecting with the body, power of thoughts, and sobriety with psychedelics.

Meet Manuela Mischke-Reeds, a trauma expert and co-founder of the Hakomi Institute, as she discusses somatic psychotherapy, the transformative power of recognizing somatic experiences, unfreezing through micro movements in therapy, and the sacred concept of somatic intelligence for healing.

Today I’m excited to share a conversation with Dr. Joe Tafur. Joe is an integrative family physician, curandero, author, and speaker. His acclaimed book, The Fellowship of the River, explores the role of spiritual healing in modern healthcare. And this is the book I recommend most for folks new to ayahuasca.Joe is a pioneering figure in the psychedelic field, renowned for his efforts to unite the worlds of indigenous shamanism and Western allopathic medicine. His perspective was informative early on my path and ultimately helped inspire me to work in this field. In other words, I’m a total fanboy.In this conversation you can expect to learn:* What Joe, who is both a medical doctor and shaman, would tell a rationalist who is curious but skeptical about ayahuasca* Why indigenous traditions teach us to “not get ahead of the medicine” and avoid the trap of turning life into a game of optimization* Understanding that the Psychedelic Renaissance, despite its shadow side, is ultimately doing an excellent job of getting people started on a path of spirituality and personal growth* How Joe came to understand that emotions are always at the root of journeys that truly heal and create lasting change* Joe’s interpretation of one of my most mind-bending ayahuasca visions* A definition of “faculties of the soul,” which are universal traits that resist commercial exploitation, such as forgiveness, gratitude, and grace—and how we can attune to these frequencies* How spirituality should always be rooted in practicality, meaning its success is measured by how individuals contribute to their communities, ecosystems, and society, as well as by the quality of their relationships* Why plant medicines can be so helpful for people struggling with addiction, offering an alternative treatment model that, counterintuitively, doesn’t require ever-escalating doses of medication (suggested further reading)And without further ado, I give you Dr. Joe Tafur.Hosted by Alex OlshonskyRead my essays + the full transcriptWork with me (coaching)Join my men's groups + retreats This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deepfix.substack.com/subscribe

Do you ever wonder why so many people complain about “late-stage” and “hyper” capitalism? What do we even mean when we use such terms?Are you interested in having conversations with friends about economic possibilities that don’t result in you being called a “naive socialist” or “blood-hungry capitalist”?And how are economics linked to the cutting edge of meditation and psychedelics?In this episode, Oshan Jarow and I explore these questions and more, seeking to understand how we can cultivate the right conditions—both within ourselves and in the world around us—to encourage the flourishing of human consciousness.Oshan is a staff writer with Future Perfect at Vox where he writes about consciousness—including cognitive science, meditation, psychedelics, and philosophy of mind—and economics, with a focus on policies that can help build a more convivial future. Oshan is also the co-founder of the Library of Economic Possibility, a platform advancing public knowledge about heterodox economic policies, and host of the Musing Mind podcast.This is a massive conversation and exchange of ideas! The first half explores economic possibilities and then the second half delves into exciting frontiers at the forefront of neuroscience, meditation, psychedelics, awakening, and policy.Topics include:* How Oshan became passionate about the intersection of consciousness and economics, and how he defines “consciousness studies”* What people are implying when they complain about “hyper-capitalism”* How to transcend labels like “capitalism” and “socialism” and have a generative conversation with your friends about economic possibilities* Breaking down the meaning of the “emancipatory social sciences”* The importance of grasping—and valuing—predictive processing, the leading brain theory that mediation experts, psychedelic researchers, and cognitive scientists are obsessed with* What the Psychedelic Renaissance might miss if it exclusively focuses on mental illness instead of the full range of phenomenological experience* The importance of defining the type of consciousness we’d want to construct after going through intense “deconstructive” practices such as psychedelic journeys and meditation* How you can play a part in influencing economic policy changeWhen I set out to launch the Deep Fix pod, Oshan was among the first individuals I envisioned dialoguing with. Having followed his work for years, I’ve consistently admired how he blends forward-thinking, intellectual insights with genuine humanity. After this convo, I suspect you might join me in feeling confident that his influence will only become increasingly prominent over time.Follow Oshan’s work at Vox, and check out his website, podcast, and Substack.Listen to the episode on Substack, Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.Hosted by Alex Olshonsky.Read my essays + the full transcriptWork with me (coaching)Join my men's groups + retreats This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deepfix.substack.com/subscribe

Joining me for the third episode is John J. Prendergast, Ph.D. John is a non-dual teacher, author of The Deep Heart and In Touch, a retired Adjunct Professor of Psychology at CIIS, and a retired psychotherapist.When I first encountered John’s work, I felt an immediate resonance. I could tell he had that special something—call it a gravitas, awakened presence, or just a sense of grace. And meeting him for this conversation certainly did not disappoint. I found him to be incredibly perceptive, as if he could see right to the essence of who you are.This conversation is experiential, meaning that there are at least two times when John guides me through an embodied exploration non-dual inquiry, which you can follow along for your own benefit. We also discuss:* How to overcome social anxiety by shifting your identity from a sense of separation to a recognition of interconnectedness* The spiritual inquiry John has developed around the question: What is my deepest knowing?* The somatic release that organically happens from seeing things clearly* How to access true nature by moving beyond constant planning and overthinking, which is often especially crucial for men* John’s breakthrough awakening when studying with Adyashanti* How to avoid getting stuck in the “witness trap” as a meditator* The importance of “waking down” into the immanent, and how this tantric approach to seeing everything saturated in awake awareness is often better for Westerners* The Direct v. Progressive paths of meditation and spiritual awakening* A closing meditation exploring the non-dual ground of the UnknownAnd now, without further ado, my conversation with John J. Prendergast.Hosted by Alex OlshonskyRead my essays + the full transcriptWork with me (coaching)Join my men's groups + retreats This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deepfix.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Holly Whitaker, founder of Tempest Recovery, discusses a wide range of topics including information overload, snap judgments, postmodern deconstructionism, metamodernism, holding multiple truths, the living practice of a love ethic, and the principles of recovery.

Internationally bestselling author Gregory David Roberts discusses his life journey, addiction, spiritual beliefs, and ethical business practices in a captivating conversation. Topics include reaching a turning point, writing in prison, overcoming addiction, gangster tantra, free will debate, and the spiritual aspect of drug longing.