For Life on Purpose Episode #48, my guest is Zen teacher and author Brad Warner, who is also a punk bassist, filmmaker, Japanese-monster-movie marketer, and popular blogger. Brad joined me for a great conversation about his new book Don’t Be a Jerk: And Other Practical Advice from Dōgen, Japan’s Greatest Zen Master (New World Library), in which he paraphrases Dōgen’s work for modern times in his trademark style that readers have come to know and love, bringing his wisdom on topics like feminism, reincarnation, and the debate between science and religion to the forefront. We also discuss Dōgen's great work The Shōbōgenzō, Brad's life story, a brief history of Zen, and philosophical topics such as the notions of "no self", "not knowing", and the question of why we need to practice, if as the Buddha says, "We are all perfect just as we are."About: Brad Warner is an ordained Zen teacher and author of the books There Is No God And He Is Always With You (2013), Sex Sin and Zen (2010), Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate (2009), Sit Down and Shut Up (2007) and Hardcore Zen (2004).
He’s also a writer for the Suicide Girls website, bass player for the hardcore punk rock group 0DFx (aka Zero Defex), star of the movies “Shoplifting From American Apparel” and “Zombie Bounty Hunter M.D.,” director of the film “Cleveland’s Screaming!” and former vice president of the US branch of the company founded by the man who created Godzilla.Born in Hamilton, Ohio in 1964, in 1972, Brad’s family relocated to Nairobi, Kenya. When he returned three years later, nothing about rural Ohio seemed quite the same anymore. In 1982, Brad joined 0DFx (Zero Defex), famous for an eighteen-second burst of noise titled “Drop the A-Bomb On Me.” 0DFx recently reunited and has a new CD out.While still playing hardcore punk, Brad became involved in Zen Buddhism. The realistic, no BS philosophy reminded him of the attitude the punks took towards music. He made it to Japan in 1993 where he began studying the philosophy with an iconoclastic rebel Zen Master named Gudo Nishijima. After a few years, Nishijima decided to make Brad his successor as a teacher of Zen.To learn more about Brad and his work, visit: http://hardcorezen.info/.

48: Brad Warner- Don’t Be a Jerk and Dōgen, Japan’s Greatest Zen Master

How do you live your life more deliberately? What can you do to bring more meaning and purpose into your life? What are some tools and tips that you can use to upgrade your your health, happiness, and well-being? If you're asking those questions, you're in the right place! Life on Purpose presents in-depth conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, seekers, and thought leaders from around the world. We discuss how each of them are being purposeful with various aspects as their lives- whether in their daily habits, work and running a business, relationships, health, travel, money, or just how they move through their day. Each episode offers inspiration and concrete examples that listeners can apply to their own lives. Life on Purpose is the latest creation from Gregory Berg, producer/host of the acclaimed Radio Enso, which aired nearly 150 in-depth conversations from 2011-2014 and has a five-star rating on iTunes. Through the years, Greg has been fortunate enough to interview an amazing array of inspirational people whose life work revolves around helping others answer those very questions — creatives, academics, and visionaries like Brene Brown, Dr. Bernie Siegel, Jennifer Louden, Jonathan Fields, Danielle LaPorte, Chris Guillebeau, Susan Piver, Chris Brogan and MANY more. For more information, visit: http://www.lifeonpurposeshow.com.

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For Life on Purpose Episode #99, my guest is author, writing, and leadership coach Dave Ursillo.    Dave played a major role in my podcasting journey as not only have we talked multiple times on this show, but 10 years ago, he was guest #1 on my first podcast Radio Enso. So I invited him back to talk about where we were then, where we are now, and our respective journeys through the years.    “The key to living a full and whole life comes down to how well you know your True Self — and how you express that inner truth in your little corner of our planet.”   About Dave Ursillo:    "I’m a writer, an 11-time author, and a writing coach and leadership coach. I’m on a mission to help creatives, business owners and professionals share their voices, stories, and messages in our world. I also love to travel, I’m an avid home cook and baker, and I treat my morning coffee like some do fine wines.   Beyond my writing and publishing occasional books, I’m a fully self-employed creative professional and have been working for myself in a small business-of-one called Lead Without Followers, LLC., since 2009.  Once upon a time, I quit my job in politics and left a young career path in public service behind so that I could follow my dream to share my words with others — and to share some good in the world.  Today, I spend my days immersed in clarifying conversations as a writing and creativity coach, a leadership coach to small business owners and creative entrepreneurs, and occasionally as a communications strategist and story consultant.  In between my client work, I write an every-other-weekly newsletter called Chronicles of the Self-Storied Life, which is read by a few thousand readers worldwide, and publish occasional free resources like writing and journaling prompts.  I am always creating new and thoughtful educational content like e-courses, hosting occasional in-person workshops, and putting on digital experiences like webinars to help the creatively-curious, conscientious journeyers, everyday-yogis, self-employed entrepreneurs, bloggers, self-starters, and personal development practitioners express themselves more fully."  To learn more about Dave and his work, visit: https://daveursillo.com.  

99: Ten-Year Podcast Anniversary Retrospective with Dave Ursillo

 For Life on Purpose Episode #98, my guest is  international speaker and positive psychology "play coach” Jeff Harry. Jeff shows individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves, to feel their happiest and most fulfilled — all by PLAYING.   He's worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day.   Jeff joins me to talk about the crucial importance of play in our lives and how we can begin to rediscover that!    "I believe that play is as important as breathing, sleeping, and love. It's where so much of our happiness, fulfillment, and creativity comes from.”   About Jeff Harry:     Jeff Harry shows individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves, to feel their happiest and most fulfilled — all by playing. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day.   Jeff is an international speaker who has presented at conferences such as INBOUND, SXSW, and Australia’s Pausefest, showing audiences how major issues in the workplace can be solved using play.  Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers of 2020 for his organizational development work around dealing with toxic people in the workplace. His play work has most recently been featured in the Upworthy, Mashable, Shondaland, and the NY Times. He has also been featured on AJ+, SoulPancake, the SF Chronicle, and CNN.   While we spend most of our time pretending to be important, serious grownups, it's when we let go of that facade and just play, that the real magic happens. Fully embracing your own nerdy genius — whatever that is — gives you the power to make a difference and change lives.  Jeff believes that we already have many of the answers we seek, and by simply unleashing our inner child, we can find our purpose and, in turn, help to create a better world.  To learn more about Jeff and his work, visit: https://www.rediscoveryourplay.com   

98: Rediscovering Who You Are Through Play with Jeff Harry

Life on Purpose returns for a Spring 2021 Season with Episode #97. My guest is writer, therapist, coach, and founder of the New York Voice Dialogue Institute Bridgit Dengel Gaspard, who joins me to talk about her new book, The Final 8th: Enlist Your Inner Selves to Accomplish Your Goals (New World Library) and powerful techniques she’s developed to help readers/listeners recognize and free themselves from hidden internal conflicts that are blocking their ability to achieve their goals.  Bridgit coined the term “the final 8th” to describe the phenomenon when talented, energetic, motivated individuals have accomplished many steps toward a goal (7/8 of it) but stall in front of their finish line, for no apparent reason. In our inspirational conversation, Bridgit and I discussed: • The origin story of the term The Final 8th via working with various clients who were getting stuck; • Has she struggled with Final 8ths in her own life, including writing the book? • “Is the reason you’re stuck because you’re not meant to go any further? It’s served it’s purpose.”; • The idea that our healthy personality consists of many aspects, which she calls inner selves; • Voice dialogue, a technique developed by her mentors Dr. Hall and Sidra Stone; • “They each have wisdom and they have concerns. But they don’t have the whole picture.”; • The fact that this is NOT multiple personality disorder or dissociative identity disorder; • The effects of the pandemic on certain selves and what we can do about that; • The fact that for most people, working harder isn’t the problem or the solution; • The power of the questions, “What are the gifts? And what are the stings?”; • A simple technique that allows you to start to identify these inner selves; • How do these selves start? And where do they come from?; • Her chapter on Practice Safe Success: a concept that is silly but real!; • What is the Double Bind and why is it psychologically painful?; • Her Final Takeaway: “Be curious to see what’s there; if in doubt, get rid of the agenda.” • Her upcoming Final 8th 4-Week Masterclass, which runs in May; • Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.”; • Much more! “My clients were baffled about why they were stuck. They reported feeling frustrated, stressed, sad, and scared. They’d swear to me they yearned for the desired outcome with every fiber of their being,” says Bridgit. “I’d tell them, ‘Believe it or not, some of those fibers just aren’t with the program.’ The truth is, not every part of you wants what you think you want! Some of your inner selves are opposed to your goal.”  About Bridgit Dengel Gaspard: Bridgit Dengel Gaspard is a writer, therapist, coach, and master facilitator and trainer of voice dialogue who has led professional workshops for the Omega Institute, the New York Open Center, the International Coach Federation, the Expressive Therapies Summit, Conscious Life Expo, New York University, Columbia University School of Social Work, the National Association of Social Work, the Actors Fund, and other organizations.  During her career in acting, improvisation, and comedy, she discovered voice dialogue, a powerful technique of communicating and embodying our inner selves developed by Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone, who would become her mentors.  Bridgit earned a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University, acquiring clinical experience in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT.) She was an inpatient social worker at Bellevue Hospital Center and Creedmoor Psychiatric Center. She also worked as a psychotherapist at the New York University Counseling Center.  She founded the New York Voice Dialogue Institute and has been certified by multiple organizations for continuing education credits for social workers, mental health practitioners, nurses, body workers, psychologists, nurses, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, massage therapists, and life coaches.  Bridgit maintains a private practice in Manhattan specializing in creativity blocks, life transitions, and being stuck in sight of the finish line. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.  To learn more about Bridgit and her work, visit: https://www.bridgit-dengel-gaspard.com.

97: Final 8th- Enlist Your Inner Selves to Accomplish Your Goals with Bridgit Dengel Gaspard

My guest for Life on Purpose Episode #96 is accomplished coach, speaker, podcaster, and author Angie Swartz, who joins me to talk all about life purpose and why it's so important, even in these uncertain times.  In her work with a wide variety of personal and professional clients, Angie uses a unique combination of coaching methods, business experience, mindfulness practices, and energy tools to help clients realize and awaken their full potential. As the owner of Life Purpose Advisor, she coaches both in one-on-one and group settings. Her mission is to empower people and companies around the globe to create happy lives and meaningful careers that allow them to contribute to the greater good of the world. *PERSONAL NOTE: I've worked with Angie for several years and utilize her practices every day, so I can testify as to how impactful her work truly is! In our inspirational conversation, Angie and I discussed:  Should we even be thinking about Life Purpose in the middle of everything happening around us right now? "We’re here to live joyful lives! And there are lots of ways to find joy right now." Tips for people who are struggling to see the bigger picture/wider perspective; The importance of tools/practices/rituals to lessen the swing of life’s pendulum and bring us back to our center; The crucial importance of answering, “What really brings me joy?” More practices that she believes contribute to living a happier life in higher consciousness; Her belief that life is designed to be getting better, expanding, and improving; Returning to your strengths and what to do if you don’t know them; “I don’t have to do everything that I’m good at.” Three key tips to help us Master Happy and navigate these times; "Our purpose is always unveiling itself as our life progresses along!” Her journey from CPA and working with Fortune 500 companies to Life Purpose Advisor; Her work as a coach combining business experience, esoteric practices, and science-based tools; The concept of “spiritual number cars”; Her belief that there is something bigger than us that is supporting us all; The importance of healing old wounds and uncovering our wholeness by removing “emotional mud”; Her Life Purpose Advisor podcast, public speaking, classes, and other projects she offers; Various ways that she works with people who are ready to do the work; Her “Goal Planning and Intention Setting for a Great 2021" Virtual Retreat; Much more!  "Suffering is part of transformation, but we get to choose!" says Angie. About Angie Swartz: Angie A. Swartz is a professional coach who uses targeted coaching methods, business experience, and mindfulness practices to help clients grow into their full potential. With over 25 years of business leadership and coaching experience to call on, she assists clients in one-on-one and group settings. Angie's background includes a successful career with five different Fortune 500 companies as well as owning a boutique marketing agency. She is an accomplished speaker and host of the Life Purpose Advisor Podcast. Angie lives in Carlsbad, CA, and sees clients in person and via zoom. To learn more about Angie and her work, visit: http://www.lifepurposeadvisor.com.  

96: Life Purpose, Meaning, and Joy In Uncertain Times with Angie Swartz

My guest for Life on Purpose Episode #95 is award-winning author, speaker, teacher, and researcher Dawson Church.  He joined me to discuss his new book Bliss Brain, the Neuroscience of Remodeling Your Brain for Resilience, Creativity, and Joy (Hay House), in which he digs deep into leading-edge science, and finds stunning evidence that rapid and radical brain change is possible. In just eight weeks of practice, 12 minutes a day, using the right techniques, we can produce measurable changes in our brains that make us calmer, happier, and more resilient.   About Bliss Brain:   How Quickly Can You Remodel Your Brain For Joy?    Stunning new research shows that “flow” states begin changing your brain within hours. With practice, they remodel key brain regions completely. Stress circuits shrink while happiness circuits grow.  This leads to “Bliss Brain.” It’s a state in which joy is natural. It nurtures the personality traits of patience, compassion, creativity, and love.  In this remarkable new book, legendary researcher Dawson Church explains the neuroscience behind these discoveries. He teaches the 7 simple steps that lead to elevated emotional states, and shows how science can take you to Bliss Brain daily.  To learn more about Bliss Brain, visit: blissbrain.com.   About Dawson Church:    Dawson Church is an award-winning author whose best-selling book The Genie in Your Genes (www.YourGeniusGene.com) has been hailed by reviewers as a breakthrough in our understanding of the link between emotions and genetics. His follow-up title, Mind to Matter (www.MindToMatter. com), reviews the science of peak mental states.  He founded the National Institute for Integrative Healthcare (www. NIIH.org) to study and implement promising evidence-based psycholog- ical and medical techniques. In his undergraduate and graduate work at Baylor University, he became the first student to successfully graduate from the academically rigorous University Scholars program in 1979. He earned a doctorate at Holos University under the mentorship of neurosurgeon Norman Shealy, MD, PhD, founder of the American Holistic Medical Association.  After an early career in book publishing as editor and then president of Aslan Publishing, Church went on to receive a postgraduate PhD in Natural Medicine as well as clinical certification in Energy Psychology. Church’s groundbreaking research has been published in prestigious scientific journals. He is the editor of Energy Psychology: Theory, Research & Treatment, a peer-reviewed professional journal.  He shares how to apply the breakthroughs of energy psychology to health and athletic performance through EFT Universe (www.EFTUniverse.com). EFT Universe was the first organization to have its courses accred- ited for CME (continuing medical education) for all the major professions, including doctors (AMA), psychologists (APA), and nurses (ANCC). He has trained thousands of practitioners in energy psychology techniques and offers the premier certification program in the field (EnergyPsychologyCertification.com).   ###

48: Brad Warner- Don’t Be a Jerk and Dōgen, Japan’s Greatest Zen Master

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