The Holistic Life Foundation is a Baltimore-based 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization committed to nurturing the wellness of children and adults in underserved communities. Through a comprehensive approach which helps children develop their inner lives through yoga, mindfulness, and self-care HLF demonstrates a deep commitment to learning, community, and stewardship of the environment. HLF is also committed to developing high-quality evidence-based programs and curriculum to improve community well-being. Listen as we discuss the Foundation and Naropa with its founders. Special Guests: Ali Smith, Andres Gonzalez, and Atman Smith. Support Mindful U at Naropa University

23. Empowering Underserved Communities: Holistic Life Foundation

As the birthplace of the mindfulness movement in the United States, Naropa University has a unique perspective when it comes to higher education in the West. Founded in 1974 by renowned Tibetan Buddhist scholar and lineage holder Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Naropa was intended to be a place where students could study Eastern and Western religions, writing, psychology, science, and the arts, while also receiving contemplative and meditation training. 
Forty-three years later, Naropa is a leader in ‘contemplative education’, a pedagogical approach that blends rigorous academics, contemplative practice, and experiential learning. Naropa President Chuck Lief explains, “Mindfulness here is not a class. Mindfulness is basically the underpinning of what we do in all of our classes. That said, the flavor or the color of mindfulness from class to class is really completely up to the individual faculty member to work on—on their own. So, what happens in a poetry class is going to look very different from what happens in a research psychology class. But, one way or another the contemplative practices are brought into the mix.”
This podcast is for those with an interest in mindfulness and a curiosity about its place in both higher education and the world at large. Hosted by Naropa alumnus and Multimedia Manager David DeVine, episodes feature Naropa faculty, alumni, and special guests on a wide variety of topics including compassion, permaculture, social justice, herbal healing, and green architecture—to name a few. Listen to explore the transformative possibilities of mindfulness, both in the classroom and beyond!

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Mitchie Takeuchi is the writer and producer of the "The Vow From Hiroshima" a film about an atomic bomb survivor in Hiroshima who has dedicated her life to nuclear disarmament and activism. Mitchie is also a descendant of survivors of the atomic bomb and the film follows their friendship and mission to abolish nuclear weapons worldwide. 

On this episode, Mitchie shares about her life and work, how this film came together, and the impact she hopes it will have on nuclear guardianship and more. 

“Nuclear weapons and humanity can’t coexist” Special Guest: Mitchie Takeuchi . Support Mindful U at Naropa University

105. The Vow from Hiroshima

Reggie Hubbard is a yogi, political campaigner and activist, speaker, and meditation instructor. 

On this episode he speaks to working with grief and how to heal, he tells his story of how he aligned his professional and spiritual life into an integrated path of purpose, and he explains why he believes mindfulness is essential to political activism.  Special Guest: Reggie Hubbard. Support Mindful U at Naropa University

104. The Essential Relationship of Mindfulness and Activism

Artist, author, and leadership development trainer, Rosi Greenberg, breaks down the concept of the inner critic and redefines imposter syndrome. 

Our inner critic isn’t going anywhere, but it can become an ally when we come into relationship with the wisdom that underlies it. She also examines imposter syndrome as something that is often a product of systems of oppression and in recognizing this, how can we look at systems change while also applying compassion to ourselves and our current experience.  Special Guest: Rosi Greenberg. Support Mindful U at Naropa University

103. Reexamining Imposter Syndrome and the Inner Critic

Hear from Harmony Kwiker on the magic that is gestalt therapy. 

Harmony is a visiting professor of Naropa’s master's program in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling. She shares  about how the gestalt therapy model has helped her bridge her spiritual path with a practical way to help others and provides a framework to treat patients as equals who are empowered in their own healing journey to come into contact with the deepest parts of themselves.  Special Guest: Harmony Kwiker. Support Mindful U at Naropa University

102. Healing the Whole Person with Gestalt Therapy

Our latest podcast with Jen Berlingo, MA, LPC, ATR is out today!

Jen is a Naropa Alumnx of the MA Transpersonal Therapy program, a practicing coach, licensed therapist and author of her new book Midlife Emergence: Free Your Inner Fire.  

In this episode you’ll hear about her Naropa experience and how getting a degree in counseling served her true calling of art, therapy and coaching after leaving the corporate world. She also shares her journey of coming out as queer in midlife and what it looked like to alchemize her midlife transition into a Midlife Emergence of true authentic living.  Special Guest: Jen Berlingo . Support Mindful U at Naropa University

23. Empowering Underserved Communities: Holistic Life Foundation

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