The Hoffman Podcast

As a young boy, award-winning artist Darieus Legg came to love the ocean. He grew up on a sailboat, eventually sailing to his new home on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. At the age of nine, Darieus saw his first surfer magazine and the images of surfers reminded him of the dolphins that had followed along his family’s boat. He felt inspired to become a surfer. As time passed, Darieus realized he wasn’t cut out for competitive surfing and began to focus on making art. Eventually, he realized that whatever he was going to be doing needed to be less of “a means to an end” and more of “doing it for its own sake.” With this realization, what began to drive his work were both the pure love of creating and the opportunity to learn more about both making art and himself. Always a sensitive child, Darieus could feel things that seemed really unusual. He tried to toughen up and hide these feelings as he got older but when he was fifteen and his parents divorced, the experience felt ‘life-shattering.’ Later into adulthood, Darieus realized these painful feelings he’d stuffed away were causing him great suffering. Both his work and relationships were suffering, too. It was at this time that Darieus heard about the Hoffman Process from two different sources. What he heard resonated with his experience enough that he enrolled. Darieus had already done many different modalities of deeply spiritual work but they’d mostly been rooted in a solitary practice. For Darieus, being in a community during his Process was deeply healing. We hope you enjoy this animated, soulful conversation with Darieus and Liz. Discover more about Darieus Legg: Darieus Legg is an award-winning artist in five different disciplines of filmmaking. He creates live-action documentaries that use his hand-drawn 2D animations. His animated characters Uncle Wally and Aunty Mai play a vital role in educating the audience. As the featured artist in the 2023 Hawaiʻi International Film Festival, Darieus created the poster, key art, and trailer that plays before every film. His recent short film, Stoker Machine, serves as a proof of concept for asking people what makes them Stoked, and sharing the response through film and animation. Darieus creates aspirational content that explores human ingenuity, creativity, and resilience. He’s directed and executively produced Telly and AAF Gold award-winning content. His work has covered feature film, live-action documentary, commercial, professional learning, and animation. Darieus is the featured artist at this year’s Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. This festival runs from Oct 12-22 on O‘ahu – through Nov 5 on neighboring islands,  Half Persian and half Irish, Darieus Legg grew up on a sailboat and on the big island of Hawaiʻi. Under the tutelage of Shane Dorian, Darieus excelled in surfing and competed professionally until he transitioned from surfing full-time to filmmaking in his early twenties. Next, he spent a decade in Hollywood learning from the best storytellers in the world. Still an avid surfer, he loves learning about and being in the ocean. He also loves reading and the magic of the movies. Find out more about Darieus through his website and follow him on Instagram.   As mentioned in this episode: Stoker Machine, Darieus’ film. Professional Surfing: •   World Surf League •   The history and meaning of Stoked: “So, when you hear an action sports enthusiast saying, “I’m stoked!” it means he/she is excited, euphoric, thrilled, ecstatic, exhilarated, pleased, delighted, exultant, happy, and overjoyed. According to surf historians, the expression became fashionable in California in the 1950s. A bit like the shaka, the “stoke” is strongly linked with surfers and wave riders.” •   Surfing Magazine •   Skegs (skags/fins on the surfboard) •   Shane Dorian, Big Wave Surfer •   World Tour Qualifying Series Big Island Hawai’i – Island of Hawaiʻi The Billabong House on the North Shore – tour with Shane Dorian Dolphins: Everything you need to know United States Merchant Marine Vietnam War The Vietnam anti-war movement Persians of Iran Minimalism (the ’80s) John Grisham, Author •   The Firm •   The Pelican Brief Illustration/Animation New Age Seth Speaks, by Jane Roberts Firewalking on coals TM – Transcendental Meditation Ashtanga Yoga Vipassana Meditation Dzogchen Tim Ferris podcast with Blake Mycoskie of TOMS shoes Neil Strauss The Truth: An Uncomfortable Book About Relationships Listen to Neil on the Hoffman Podcast: Healing as a Path of Honor

Certified executive coach and leadership consultant Kristen Esquivias sits down with Sharon for this intimate conversation about deep personal change, difficult times, and inner growth. Personal work offered through the Hoffman Institute invites students to step into real change in their lives.  Wholeheartedly accepting this invitation, Kristen dove into the transformation awaiting her. She has done both the Hoffman Essentials course (2020) and the Hoffman Process (2021). Patterns of perfectionism can be very painful. Kristen describes the heaviness, suffering, and isolation that come from her experience of her perfectionist patterns. They can make life painful and lonely. She shares with us a moment during her Process when she realized that all of her patterns were completely absent. In those moments, she experienced freedom and a profound sense of possibility. Now embodied, Kristen carries this experience forward in her work with clients. Kristen shares how her work in both Hoffman Essentials and the Hoffman Process has helped her navigate the big changes she’s been through over the past three years. These changes have included her parents moving away, her divorce, the pandemic, her kids doing school at home through Covid, and setting out on a new career path as an entrepreneur. She also shares a somatic ritual she uses to bring herself back to the present moment, to give herself comfort and touch, and to give her a sense of belonging and rootedness. We hope you enjoy this insightful episode with Kristen and Sharon. Discover more about Kristen Esquivias: Kristen Esquivias is a certified executive coach and leadership consultant. She has nearly 15 years of experience in Strategy and Analytics roles in Corporate Retail in the SF Bay Area. She now works with individuals, teams, and organizations on personal growth, leadership development, and team dynamics. Kristen draws upon a variety of modalities to support her clients in leading and living a more fully expressed version of their authentic selves. She guides them as they upgrade their inner operating system in support of their growth and expansion. Kristen has an uncanny ability to create a compassionate, safe space for her clients. She brings levity to the depths and fullness of the human experience. She holds deep reverence for the sacred inner work her clients courageously navigate on their journey toward achieving their goals, vision, and greater impact in their world. A mom of two, Kristin is also a certified yoga teacher, a self-proclaimed personal growth junkie, a beach lover, and a sunset chaser. She values connection, authenticity, and growth. Kristen holds a Master’s and an Undergraduate degree in Statistics. She also has a minor in Psychology. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the ICF. She’s received certifications from the Coactive Training Institute and the Institute for Coaching Mastery. Kristen is also trained in the Enneagram and Leadership Circle 360 assessment. Find out more about Kristen and her work, here. Follow Kristen on Instagram. As mentioned in this episode: 2-Day Hoffman Essentials (H. E.) In this live virtual 2-day Hoffman Essentials program, Hoffman teachers will guide you through experiential activities, individual assignments, and engaging discussions to bring more understanding, love, and aliveness to your life. Become aware of and dismantle the barriers that stand in the way of living your best life. (Please note: This program is for people who have not participated in the Hoffman Process.) The experiences and learning from this program are designed to provide useful tools and practices that you can carry with you for a lifetime. Find out more here. Inner Child Work The Hoffman Quadrinity Process® helps participants identify negative behaviors, moods, and ways of thinking that developed unconsciously and were conditioned in childhood. Working with a Hoffman Coach Hoffman Life Coaches are certified, experienced Hoffman Process teachers. You can work with a Hoffman coach you already know or someone new. Hoffman terminology: Positive Legacy: The positive gifts we receive from our parents. Read a post on our blog that speaks to the power of positive legacy. Awareness Hell: In awareness hell, we know we are aware of our patterns. We’re aware of the things we do that we wish we didn’t do. Yet, we are still unable to change. We understand but feel stuck in this place of hell even though our awareness keeps expanding.  To get out of awareness hell, our work to grow and transform must include three additional steps for change to take place. These three steps are Expression, Compassion, and New Ways of Being. All four make up the Cycle of Transformation.  

Our guest today, Ezy Finkel, did the Hoffman Process in March of 2023. Ezy shares with us his intimate story of recovery from addiction with honesty, humility, and light. Ezy grew up in an Orthodox Jewish community and shares his difficulties living within this community. Eventually, he was asked to leave. Then, years later, he was asked to come back to be a source of healing there. Ezy’s story touches on many points of the human experience and reflects a journey of recovering his true nature, his Spiritual Self. His family had a strong pattern of perfectionism. During his Process, he discovered that he also rebelled against this pattern, needing to be different. One day at the Process, Ezy discovered a stand of trees on the land. One tree was still bare while the others were evergreen. He realized that he was like that bare tree, that he was uniquely himself. Ezy sees now that he has seasons and that change is ongoing in a human life. One thing Ezy wanted to gain from the Process was rediscovering his playful, fun-loving nature. After his Process when his daughters noticed that he now is like a little kid, he realized that he had gained exactly that. As Ezy shares this story with us, you can hear the love and joy in his voice. Sharing about his life in recovery, Ezy says that his life now with his wife and children is a whole different life and is “chaos-free.” What really stands out is Ezy’s love and humility as he shares about working with others in recovery. Content Warning: This episode mentions substance abuse. Please use your discretion. Discover more about substance abuse at the Substance Abuse Hotline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish,.. Discover more about Ezy Finkel: A creative, friendly, and passionate person, Ezy Finkel is deeply committed to his family, making a positive impact in the world, and conducting business with honesty and integrity. He is a managing member of Gem Consulting Group, a firm specializing in investing in behavioral health real estate and operations. Ezy grew up in Lakewood, NJ, and now lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife and children. He cherishes his family life in which they love to play and engage in various sports activities. Dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need, Ezy spends a significant amount of time volunteering at local organizations and utilizing his professional skills to drive positive change. As mentioned in this episode: The Quadrinity Check-In Learn more about the Quad-Check and other Hoffman Process tools here. Join us on Instagram for a daily Quadrinity Check at 8:00 a.m. PT and an Appreciation & Gratitude practice at 6:00 p.m. PT.

Chip Conley, a co-founder of Modern Elder Academy (MEA), joins us today in conversation with Drew. Chip is not a graduate of the Hoffman Process, but the work of MEA and the work of the Process both beautifully support growth and change within. ** (See below for the next community conversation with MEA and Hoffman.) Content warning: This episode mentions suicide. Please use your discretion. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please reach out to The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), or message the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Listen in as Chip shares his life journey of learning on many levels. In mid-life, Chip’s world was rocked when he lost friends to suicide. He had his own suicidal thoughts. Realizing that the human changes we go through in mid-life are not supported by our culture, he began to consider what humans really need to navigate the twists and turns of life. Out of this, Modern Elder Academy was born. In his exploration of mid-life, elderhood, and growing wisdom, Chip has come to see that the ultimate spirituality is one that “actually helps you to show up with the most humanity in this lifetime.” Our humanity can be deepened and ripened through life if we engage in an exploration of and conversation in an understanding of our own spiritual nature. As Chip wisely says, wisdom isn’t taught, it’s shared. **While the vast majority of our guests are Process graduates, we occasionally host experts in other modalities of healing that align with the work of the Process. Join Chip in conversation with Liza and Raz Ingrasci: Chip, along with Liza and Raz Ingrasci of the Hoffman Institute, hosted another live event – a community conversation with MEA and the Hoffman Institute. These conversations offer insights and powerful approaches for deepening our spirituality and humanity. Please watch the replay here.  Discover more about Chip Conley: Chip Conley is on a midlife mission. After disrupting the hospitality industry twice, first as the founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the second-largest operator of boutique hotels in the U.S., and then as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, leading a worldwide revolution in travel, Conley co-founded MEA (Modern Elder Academy) in January 2018 in Baja California, Mexico. Inspired by his experience of intergenerational mentoring as a ‘modern elder’ at Airbnb, where his guidance was instrumental to the company’s extraordinary transformation from a fast-growing start-up to the world’s most valuable hospitality brand, MEA is the world’s first ‘midlife wisdom school’ and has a campus opening on a 2,600-acre regenerative horse ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico in early 2024. Dedicated to reframing the concept of aging, MEA supports students to navigate midlife with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. A New York Times bestselling author, Conley’s 7th book “Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age” is about rebranding midlife to help people understand the upside of this often-misunderstood life stage and he was asked to give a 2023 TED talk on the “midlife chrysalis.” Discover more about Chip here. Follow Chip on Instagram and LinkedIn; and follow MEA on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Mentioned in this episode: Three founders of Airbnb Blake Mycoskie, MEA Faculty Lynne Twist, MEA Faculty Liza Ingrasci, CEO Hoffman Institute Foundation Esalen Institute Omega Institute Blue Spirit, Costa Rica Kripalu Yoga Center Appreciative Inquiry Quote: “The purpose of life is to find your gift. The work of life is to develop it. The meaning of life is to give it away.” David Viscott Long Beach Polytechnic High School Stanford University •  Stanford Graduate School of Business AIDS Epidemic Arthur Brooks: From Strength to Strength Burning Man Brian Chesky ROI: Return on Investment —> Ripples of Impact Prostate Cancer  •  Symptoms •  Hormone Depletion Therapy The Hero Archetype Oprah interviews David Brooks Dacher Keltner, Berkeley & MEA Faculty Dacher Keltner’s Awe Walk (on YouTube with The OnBeing Project) BJ Fogg, Stanford & MEA Faculty Mantra Wisdom Well, Chip’s Daily Blog Esther Perel, Psychotherapist and Best-selling Author Matthieu Ricard, French writer, photographer, translator and Buddhist Monk Dan Buettner, Author, National Geographic Fellow, Founder of Blue Zones Michael Franti, Musician & MEA Faculty Pico Iyer, Writer & MEA faculty Aaron Taylor, Football Player & MEA faculty Essence (Your Essential Nature) Imposter Syndrome Growth Mindset •  Carol Dweck, Stanford The Enneagram •  Helen Palmer •  More about the Enneagram: S3e27: Raz Ingrasci & Ward Ashman – Hoffman and the Enneagram on the Hoffman Podcast US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, on the Epidemic of Loneliness •  Download PDF Report Robert Putnam, American Political Scientist •  Harvard Kennedy School of Government •  Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, by Robert Putnam Emotional Insurance, Chip Conley    

Dr. Richard Schwartz, founder of IFS, discusses the unburdening process to heal trauma. He explains the concept of parts and burdens, and the discovery of the core Self in each person. The podcast explores shame, couples therapy, and the importance of adopting the IFS model. It also touches on personal reflections and the potential for integrating different therapeutic modalities.

In our season 6 finale, we host producer, songwriter, musician, author, and keeper of the American blues music flame, Shawn Amos. Shawn came to the Hoffman Process feeling like he was living his life while “… at the whim of all of these unseen forces and past traumas, and unconscious reactions to my parents…” A couple of days into the Process, Shawn realized he had to stop being cynical of the work if he was going to get the most out of his week there. He went all in, which opened him to the profound possibilities available for lasting change. Through the work of the Process, Shawn says he was able to “get control over” himself. He realized that the Process offered him an owner’s manual to himself, to his unique way of being. He shares that the tools and transformation he found at his Process have stayed with him over these 15 years since. In his words, the transformation from healing the pain of his past “was profound.” He now operates from a more grounded, conscious aware presence. Shawn also shares his inner conflict around race and identity. For many years, Shawn played the Saxophone. Then, he started playing the blues harp and singing blues music. It was then he felt a profound reconnection with his Blackness and his lineage, both backward and forward. At around 22:00, Shawn plays a bit of the blues harp for us. Listen in for a taste of the music he creates as Rev. Shawn Amos. Content Warning: This episode mentions child sexual abuse and might not be suitable for all listeners. More about Shawn Amos: For Shawn Amos, it’s about the story. He’s made a name as both a teller of tales and an astute shaper of others’ stories. He comes by the storytelling chops naturally. The only child of William Morris agent-turned-cookie entrepreneur, Wally “Famous” Amos, and singer Shirley “Shirl-ee May” Ellis, young Shawn spent hours in shadowy nightclubs, on the funky streets of 70s Hollywood, and in his own broken home, listening intently to people’s stories. He helped make his father’s cookie hustle real. In young adulthood, he jumped from screenwriting for A & M Films to the stage, crafting acclaimed Americana music that wrestled with race and identity. On the other side of the microphone, Shawn oversaw soul icon Solomon Burke’s last three albums, and produced seminal CD collections Q: The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones, and Grammy-nominated box set Rhapsodies in Black: Music and Words from the Harlem Renaissance, among others. Since 2014, as the Reverend Shawn Amos, with harmonica in hand, Shawn has brought blues to audiences from LA to Amsterdam, delivering unbridled joy – both live and through recordings. Blue Sky, the 2020 release by his band, The Reverend Shawn Amos & the Brotherhood, hit Number 6 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and scored four out of five stars from American Songwriter magazine. For his 2022 debut novel, Cookies & Milk, Shawn delves into his past to concoct a wildly entertaining story about the strength of family and the power of forgiveness – plus just the right amount of semisweet chocolate – to mend hearts. Shawn’s doppelganger, Ellis, embarks on hilarious and sometimes harrowing misadventures as he helps his dad open the world’s first chocolate chip cookie store in the multi-hued 70s landscape of music, ambition, and often-challenging elders. The book was awarded the NAACP Image Award in 2023. Discover more about Shawn: At his website, Facebook and Instagram, and YouTube. As mentioned in this episode: William Morris Agency Simon & Garfunkel The Animals Rona Elliot and Roger Brossy, Shawn’s dear friends. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Buddhism Taoism The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel van der Kolk Hillsong Church Documentary: The Secrets of Hillsong In America, the Richter-tuned Harmonica is called the Blues Harp. Bob Dylan Paul Simon Joan Armatrading        

Eighteen years ago, faced with a painful change coming in his life, Erik Larson knew it was time for change within himself. He came to the Hoffman Process. Eight days later, upon his return home, he told his two small children he had been at Better Daddy School. He told them things were going to be different. From that day forward, they were because he had changed. This was the beginning of his new life, a life Erik now deeply loves. In this conversation, Erik and Drew go deep into the transformation that is possible through the work of the Process. Erik takes us through his experience of taking a painful moment of his life and using it to do the work to become the man, father, and businessman he knew in his heart he could be. Erik speaks about two pivotal moments of his Process. The first was when a few of his fellow Process mates offered reflections on what they saw when they looked at him. He had seen a similar image when looking at himself and wanted to change it, but did not know how. It was then that something amazing happened, something he could not explain but knew was profound.  The other pivotal moment was during a heart-to-heart exercise. Suddenly, his confusion and feelings of ‘not getting it’ disappeared and he began to Erik apply himself completely to the work. Hundreds of people found their way to the Hoffman Process through Erik’s recommendation and how he speaks of the change that is possible. Life is a process of coming back to the Right Road again and again, and as for each of us, Erik’s is no exception. He speaks of his life, including the hard parts, with honesty, gratitude, and love. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Erik and Drew. More about Erik Larson: Erik grew up in the Pacific Northwest where he learned to love the outdoors. After graduating from the business school at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, he moved to San Francisco where he began his first career with Ernst & Young.  He raced Sailboats on a national champion yacht for 5 years before relocating to Aspen, Colorado for the next 27 years.  Erik became a partner in a firm in Aspen. He was married and has two magnificent children who are thriving in university life in Sydney, Australia where Erik lives part of the year. Erik loves to be an inspiration and motivating force for people to become the best they can be.  His tagline at Aspen CrossFit was “Igniting Human Potential” and Erik did just that for thousands of people along the way. Now, Erik is in the process of figuring out what his next chapter in life holds.  He is obsessed with photography and is self-taught. Take a look at Erik’s photography on Instagram to see what he has accomplished. Erik’s favorite mantra is “I LOVE MY LIFE!!! And it certainly is evident. As mentioned in this episode: SealFit US Tactical CrossFit CrossFit  Kettlebell swings Thrusters Burpees Hoffman Graduate Groups The primary purpose of grad groups is for graduates to do their Hoffman tools work together. Each group has a Hoffman-trained volunteer group leader. This leader oversees and leads the programs in alignment with the principles of the Process and Hoffman grad group protocols and standards. Daily Instagram Live Quad-checks and Appreciation & Gratitude Practices with Hoffman teachers and teacher candidates. Hoffman Q2 Intensive: Beyond Mom and Dad    

Britt Lightning, the lead guitarist for the all-female, Platinum-selling, 80’s rock band Vixen, is our guest this week on the Hoffman Podcast. Listen in as Britt regales us with stories of how the guitar and playing music came to be her life’s work. Her journey to playing guitar was supported by many, including her parents, and spotlights many synchronistic moments. In wonderfully uplifting ways, her story highlights how when we follow our inner calling, we find that the Universe is indeed conspiring on our behalf. Britt came to the Hoffman Process because she was feeling creatively stifled and felt a sense of stuckness in her life. She heard herself thinking, “This can’t be it” about her life.  And even though she’d been on stage for years, Britt still wasn’t comfortable expressing herself with her voice. As she tells Liz, expressing herself through music has always been easier than through words. At the end of her Process after doing all of the cathartic expressive work, Britt shares how her voice finally broke through in a wholly authentic way. This capped off her Process journey and carried her forward into her life post-Process. A few days later, directly following the Process, Britt and her band played on stage. She shares how she stood on stage with complete self-confidence and ease. A few days later, Britt found her creativity renewed and flowing in powerful ways. Finding her Spiritual Self in the Process is something that now guides Britt in her life. Her image of her Spiritual Self is a beautiful being, goddess-like, dressed all in white. Now when Britt is faced with life choices, she thinks of her Spiritual Self’s goodness and makes her choices accordingly. She chooses not to do things that she cannot envision her Spiritual Self doing. We hope you enjoy this wonderful conversation with Britt and Liz. Our creativity is a vital aspect of living joyful lives. And as Britt shares, it’s all within you. More about Britt Lightning: Britt Lightning is the lead guitarist for the all-female Platinum-selling 80’s rock band Vixen. She is also the Musical Director at Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp. During COVID Britt hosted and helped to produce over 160 online Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp masterclasses with legendary artists including Roger Daltrey (The Who), Alice Cooper, Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), and more. From 2015 to 2016, Britt played guitar for Rachel Platten, performing live at festivals and on national TV shows promoting the single “Fight Song”, which charted at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Britt performed live on Good Morning America, the Today Show, Live with Kelly and Michael, VH1, the Teen Choice Awards, and Nickelodeon. She also performed on the 2016 finale of America’s Got Talent, which took place at NYC’s Radio City Music Hall. Britt also performed on Live with Kelly and Michael with Jason Derulo to promote his new album “Tattoos”. From 2012-2015 Britt performed for 22-time Grammy Award-winning artist Alejandro Sanz in his stadium-level world tour. She is featured in Sanz’s “La Musica No Se Toca – En Vivo” CD/DVD. Britt joined Sanz at the 2013 Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas performing the single “No Me Compares”, and performed with the band at prestigious festivals, venues, and international TV specials. Britt recorded “Live At The Roxy”, a live CD/DVD with Alejandra Guzman, an iconic Latin artist who has sold over 30 million records. Labeled the “Closer” by Lady Gaga, Britt has followed her dreams by striving to grow and evolve as a musician while simultaneously earning a degree in Music Business from Northeastern University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude. Britt continued her education at the Berklee School of Music. She also has experience working in the music industry with Live Nation and Universal Music Group. Follow Britt on Instagram and Facebook. Follow Vixen on Instagram. As mentioned in this episode: Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp Van Halen Alejandro Sanz Barcelona, Spain Jaded Lady Gaga    

A world-renowned expert in the mind-body connection, Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., completed the Hoffman Process in 1990. This conversation with Joan and Sharon is a deep exploration into the nature of callings through the lens of Joan’s life. The callings of her Spirit first showed up early in her life. At the age of ten, Joan experienced a very difficult journey through childhood OCD. At one point, she had profound realizations of how she could help heal herself and did so. Through this, as a child, she realized she would become someone who could help others heal from similar challenges. Through the wisdom of her Spiritual Self, Joan has been guided into and along a life of self-discovery and deep service to the world. Joan became one of the first to work directly with AIDS patients, even when we didn’t yet know much about AIDS itself. She tells us that her courage to step into this role without medically knowing the risks came from listening to Spirit. Her story is a moving recollection of this time when so many suffered greatly from this epidemic. Joan has been on the cutting edge of scientific inquiry into Mind-Body well-being. With clarity and candor, she shares how her journey has been a labor of science and Spirit. As Joan shares, our calling isn’t a single thing. Our calling changes as life changes. Our job is to listen deeply and to allow our Spiritual Self to flow through us into the world. As she has for many years, Joan leads Hoffman’s Advisory Council acting as its Chair. Content warning: This episode mentions experiences with OCD and suicide, and may not be suitable for all listeners. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please reach out to The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), or message the Crisis Text Line at 741741. More about Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.: Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and Harvard Medical School trained cell biologist with postdoctoral fellowships in cancer cell biology, psychoneuroimmunology, and behavioral medicine. She synthesizes cutting-edge science and practical tools for well-being with deep humanity.  Joan, a sought-after international speaker, is a New York Times bestselling author of 17 books. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Public Television, and numerous websites. She is president of Mind-Body Health Sciences, LLC in Santa Fe, NM -the Land of Enchantment- where she lives and tends her outdoor gardens, indoor gardens, and gardens of the heart with her husband Gordon Dveirin, EdD, and their two standard poodles, Mitzi and Lola. You can register for her live online course series, the Gifts of Spiritual Memoir, and find out about other courses and appearances at her website, www.joanborysenko.com. Joan is also Chair of the Hoffman Institute’s Advisory Council; learn more about Hoffman’s Advisory Council here. As mentioned in this episode: Advaita Vedanta Hinduism Buddhism Mind Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School Herbert Benson (the first person to introduce meditation into medicine) Meditation Goes Mainstream, Washington Post – 1987 Jon Kabat-Zin, His mindfulness mind-body meditation clinic. 1982 AIDS Epidemic Positive Psychology and Character Strengths LGBTQ Community OCD Aldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception Lisa Miller, Psychologist at Columbia University    

Nationally recognized thought leader, Bernard Franklin, completed the Hoffman Process in June 2022. As Bernard shares, he was a man who had blocked his emotions, feelings, and energy, and “all of those channels were ready to explode.” He was shaky. He wasn’t comfortable in his own skin. And having arrived at the world’s best educational institution and at the height of his career, he found himself profoundly needing something he could not yet name. He found it at the Hoffman Process. At Bernard’s Process: Bernard beautifully shares a story from the first night of his Process. In the first few hours, something did not sit right with him. Old childhood memories were triggered. At that moment, Bernard spoke up from his belly. He said what he couldn’t say as a child. And at this moment, he was met by his Process teacher with kindness, gentleness, and the invitation to look deeper. Bernard stayed and had a profoundly transformative experience. His story is an example of how surrender to the Process does not imply or insist on acquiescence. The recurring theme woven throughout this rich conversation with Bernard and Sharon is that of healing the wound left by a father who could not love his son in the way his son needed. Bernard takes us into the journey of healing his relationship with his father and in turn with his own masculinity. Through his Process, Bernard was able to truly embrace the reality of his parents’ lives as they were, not as he’d wished they’d been. In this embrace, he found a deep and lasting compassion for both his parents. Consequently, the direction of his life’s work has changed. After integrating the work of the Process, Bernard realized he must follow a new path. He is now bringing his lifetime of work and his open, vulnerable heart to what he names “our world’s toughest men.”  Content Warning: This episode does mention abuse and might not be suitable for all audiences. More about Bernard Franklin: Dr. Bernard Franklin is a nationally recognized thought leader on issues confronting urban trauma and violence, mental health, resilience, boys’ and mens’ development, and K-12 and higher education issues. His 40-year career includes leadership at five higher education institutions and a Kansas City philanthropy. In 2022, Bernard completed a Fellowship with Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative focused on urban mental health research, specifically on violent and marginalized urban individuals. He is the Managing Director of Uncornered, a Boston-based organization transforming urban communities into violence-free neighborhoods. Bernard earned an MS in Counseling and Behavioral Studies from the University of South Alabama. He obtained a Ph.D. in Counseling and Higher Education Administration, with an outside emphasis in family studies from Kansas State University. Bernard earned a master’s Professional Training Certificate focused on the trauma/resilience theory model of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) from Texas Christian University. He has been a speaker, taught courses, and consulted K-12 and higher education organizations on social-emotional teaching and learning, trauma, attachment disorder, resilience, and neuroscience. Bernard served as Chaplin and a member of the NFL Kansas City Chiefs professional counseling team. He is a member of the distinguished advisory board of The Center for Law, Brain & Behavior at Harvard. Bernard is a widowed and proud father of a daughter and three sons; and has seven adorable grandchildren. Discover more about and connect with Bernard on LinkedIn. Among Bernard’s many awards and honors: Bernard was twice honored among the 100 Most Influential African Americans in Kansas City (1998, 2009). The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce honored him with the Distinguished Leadership Award for contributions to urban education. The Kansas City Downtown Council awarded him “Urban Hero” for his urban public education work. Morehouse College Research Institute presented Bernard with the “Vision Award” for “pioneering work in the area of educating men on the importance of fatherhood.” As mentioned in this episode: Hoffman’s tagline: “When you’re serious about change.” Bernard had arrived at the world’s best educational institution, Harvard. The Korean War