21st Century Vitalism

University of Toronto professor, Dr. John Vervaeke joins the show to talk about his work in exploring one of the most profound crisis facing us in the modern age, the meaning crisis. We discuss what meaning is, how we can cultivate it through body based practices, and what awaits us on the other side. If you wish to explore Dr. Vervaeke's work further, I highly encourage checking out his 50 part lecture series, 'Awakening From the Meaning Crisis' over on YouTube. You can also find his new series, 'After Socrates' airing weekly on that same channel.  If you wish to support this show, subscribe over on YouTube, Follow us on Instagram, and Like us on Facebook. Also consider becoming a patron over at patreon.com/21stcenturyvitalism.  Thank you and enjoy! SHOW TOPICS - What is Meaning? - Addressing Self-Deception - Cultivating Virtue - Committing to Truth - Working with Neuroses - Does Pure Evil Exist? - The Role of Embodiment in Connecting to Meaning - The Different Kinds of Knowing - Where Have the Shamans Gone? - Love and Compassion

Founder of Lotus Nei Gong International school for Internal Arts, Damo Mitchell joins the show! In this conversation we set the stage for what it means to engage with the practice of Nei Gong, which is a system of cultivation and self-realization through the lens of Taoist wisdom. Show Topics - Importance of Working with a Teacher - The Stages of the Path - What is Nei Gong? - Cultivating the Dan Tian - Working with Qi - A Sense of Humor - Ethical Conduct - The Taoist View of Being If you wish to support this show - Follow us on Instagram for show updates and additional content. - Subscribe on patreon.com/21stcenturyvitalism to help keep the lights on. - Leave a review wherever you listen - Donate via Venmo @ brett-kane-1 If you wish to follow Damo Mitchell - lotusneigong.com

Founder of Soul Lift Cacao, Nick Meador, joins the show! This conversation is all about the subtle yet potent plant medicine that is cacao.  Show Topics: - What is Cacao? - History of Chocolate - Participating in a Cacao Ceremony - Healing with Cacao - Effects of Colonialization in Central America - Importance of Preserving the Culture of Cacao - Ethical Relationships in the Cacao Industry - Industrial Chocolate and Appropriation - Is Intention Enough? More about Nick:  Nick Meador spent years traveling throughout Central America connecting with cacao farms, collectives, and experts. In 2018 he founded Soul Lift Cacao to create a positive impact in the world by helping Mayan collectives share their artisanal cacao in the U.S. and beyond. Nick opened a brick-and-mortar cacao shop in Portland, Oregon, in summer of 2021. Now he also leads group cacao tours in Guatemala so that people can meet the farmers and collectives who make the cacao that they love. On top of that, Nick trains people on how to lead modern transformational experiences and workshops with cacao. Nick created the Soul Lift Cacao Method to show people how to create consent-based, trauma-informed spaces for participants to connect with ceremonial cacao. soulliftcacao.com

Mike Chang of flow60 returns to share with us his tried and true methodology of getting out of a rut. A timely conversation as we enter into the new year on how these difficult moments in our life can be turned into an opportunity for growth and exploration. Show Topics - What is a rut? - How to activate energy to take action - How to actually eat right - Releasing emotions - Unconditionally feeling our emotions - Navigating anger - Confidence - The energizing quality of service Mike has a new training program starting January 25th that you can sign up for at flow60.com If you want to support this show, consider signing up to the patreon at patreon.com/21stcenturyvitalism or offering a one time donation via venmo @brett-kane-1

Jeremy Wolf is an esteemed yoga teacher based out of Colorado. With more than 25 years of experience practicing yoga, he's here to help us understand how we can expand the practice into our daily lives. You can check out his virtual yoga nidra courses and more over at jeremywolfyoga.com Show Topics - How does yoga unfold? - Is yoga a religion or science? - Yoga off the mat - How the 8 limbs expand our practice - The potentials within stillness - The destabilizing nature of overstimulation - Breathe to ease mental agitation - Cultivating a neutral viewpoint - Converting pain into understanding - Recontextualizing freedom Jeremy's Bio "Jeremy's interest in mind and body began with martial arts, and later meditation became his doorway into yoga. He received his initial yoga certification in India in Classical Yoga and has completed his 500hr certification through Rod Stryker's school of ParaYoga. He is an E-RYT 500, YACEP, reiki master, meditation and yoga nidra instructor, with certifications and formal training in the Bihar, Himalayan, iRest and Amrit methods, and a music producer/label DJ for France's Ultimae Records. His weekly classes and trainings seek to embody the richness and holistic practice of yoga's deeply spiritual origin."

University of Delaware professor and New York Times bestselling author, Douglas Tallamy joins the show to talk about backyard nature conservation. Dubbed the 'Homegrown National Park' project which he based his book, 'Nature's Best Hope' off from, we explore the practical and effective ways you can transform your own yard into a refuge for the local ecosystem.  SHOW TOPICS The Issue of Biodiversity Loss Four Things Landscapes Need Changing Culture Invasive Plants Shrinking the Lawn Importance of Insects Saving the Monarchs Health Benefits of Nature Urban Conservation Overpopulation You can check out Doug's non-profit for more information at  homegrownnationalpark.org Or order a copy of his phenomenal book  Nature's Best Hope

Susan Piver rejoins us on the show to talk about her newest book, 'The Buddhist Enneagram: Nine Paths to Warriorship' which is out now! Combining the timeless wisdom of the East with the mysterious and powerful personality types of the Enneagram, Susan has created an immensely helpful map of how we can better understand ourselves and others. It is available wherever you find your books! SHOW TOPICS - The History of the Enneagram - Using the Enneagram to bridge self and other - The Jewels of Spiritual Practice - Discovering your type - Arcs of Transformation - Embracing our Discomfort - Cultivating Compassion - The Nine Types of Warriorship - Enneagram and Emptiness Buy the Book Here Her Online Meditation Community: Open Heart Project

Anna Lembke, MD is the medical director of Stanford Addiction Medicine, program director for the Stanford Addiction Medicine Fellowship, and the chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. As a clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries that have been featured in prestigious outlets such as The New England Journal of Medicine. She joins the show to talk to us about her newest book, 'Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence' which is about the dopamine system and addiction.  Show Topics - What is Dopamine? - Technology and Addiction - The Spectrum of Addiction - Moderate Symptoms to Severe - The Pleasure-Pain Balance - Overcoming Addiction - Boredom - Life Beyond Addiction annalembke.com Dopamine Nation You can find 'Dopamine Nation' wherever books are sold. 

The world renowned Tribal Fusion dancer, Zoe Jakes, joins us for an in depth conversation on all things dance! Founding member of the musical outfit, Beats Antique, Zoe has travelled the world headlining some of the biggest music festivals with her unique sound and performance. On top of her wildly successful music career, she's a dance teacher and mother, which we talk about at length.  SHOW TOPICS - Zoe's Journey into Dance - Founding of Beats Antique - The Spiritual Implications behind her Art - Intuition and Movement - Emotions and Performance - Motherhood and Maintaining Identity - Teaching Dance - Increasing Bodily Awareness through Dance - Avoiding Burnout - Importance of Confidence in being Successful LINKS https://www.eventbrite.com/o/zoe-jakes-23416065044 zoejakes.com https://www.beatsantique.com/

New York Times bestselling author, meditation teacher, and founder of Open Heart Project, Susan Piver joins the show! In this conversation, we talk about the intersection of Buddhism and romance, following the lifecycle of a modern relationship of choosing who to be with, how to ride the waves of instability together, and what to do when your heart gets broken. SHOW TOPICS Navigating Passion and Attachment Role of Commitment and Creating a Container Unconditional Love Love doesn't Stabilize Navigating Friction in a Relationship The Wakeful Quality of Heartbreak Moving Beyond Heartbreak LINKS openheartproject.com susanpiver.com https://www.amazon.com/Four-Noble-Truths-Love-Relationships/dp/1732277605 https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Broken-Heart-Breakup-Healing/dp/1416593160/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=wisdom+of+a+broken+heart+by+susan+piver&qid=1653932327&sprefix=wisdom+of+a+brok%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-1