Hacking the Self

If you’re interested in Buddhism and Ayahuasca you’re going to love my conversation this week with Spring Washam.

Guest Bio:

Spring Washam is a well-known meditation teacher, author and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based healing practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founders and core teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA.

Spring is also the co-founder of a new organization called Communities Rizing, which is dedicated to providing yoga and meditation teacher training programs for communities of color. She received extensive training by Jack Kornfield, is a member of the teacher’s council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in northern California, and has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism for the last 20 years.

In addition to being a teacher, Spring Washam is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices for over a decade. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, an organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist  wisdom. Her writing and teachings have appeared in many online journals and publications such as Lions Roar, Tricycle, and Belief.net. She has been a guest on many popular podcasts and radio shows. She currently travels and teaches meditation retreats, workshops and classes worldwide.

Links:

Lotus Vine Journeys

Lotus Vine Journeys Facebook Group

Personal Website of Spring Washam

Spring’s Book: A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment

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In this episode author and religious studies scholar Erik Davis and I consider the arguments of the New Atheists, particularly the work of Sam Harris. We contrast Harris’ approach to religion with that of Jordan Peterson, as well as Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. Topics we touch on include:

Erik’s background and personal religious views

Religion as myth & metaphor vs revelation

Religion as a set of practices, rather than a set of beliefs

Problems with tribalism, including & beyond religion

Guest bio:

Erik Davis is an author, podcaster, award winning journalist and popular speaker based in San Francisco. Davis was born during the Summer of Love within a stone’s throw of San Francisco. He grew up in North County, Southern California, and spent a decade on the East Coast, where he studied literature and philosophy at Yale and spent six years in the freelance trenches of Brooklyn and Manhattan before moving to San Francisco, where he currently resides. 

He is the author of four books: Nomad Codes: Adventures in Modern Esoterica (Yeti, 2010), The Visionary State: A Journey through California’s Spiritual Landscape (Chronicle, 2006), with photographs by Michael Rauner, and the 33 1/3 volume Led Zeppelin IV (Continuum, 2005). His first and best-known book remains TechGnosis: Myth, Magic, and Mysticism in the Age of Information (Crown, 1998), a cult classic of visionary media studies that has been translated into five languages and recently republished by North Atlantic Press. 

Erik has a PhD in Religious Studies from Rice University. He is the host of the Expanding Mind Podcast. 

Links:

Techgnosis 

Mentions:

Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, Richard Dawkins, Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell

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Guest bio: Mitch Schultz is the documentary filmaker behind “DMT: The Spirit Molecule” and “Ayahuasca: Drink the Jungle.”

Mitch Schultz began his life journey in Memphis, Tennessee and has since called Texas, Minnesota, Colorado, New York, Europe, and Peru home. Guided by his lifelong love of storytelling, Mitch has cultivated a multi-disciplinary expertise in motion pictures, interactive media, and culture hacking.

He earned his Bachelor of Science primarily focused on media production, communication theory, and information mapping at the University of Texas at Austin. Soon after, Mitch completed his Masters of Fine Arts at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He was a researcher at the Interactive Telecommunications Program at Tisch. Mitch continues to foster his growth within the academic community by speaking at universities and conferences worldwide.

Schultz has also worked as a branding consultant for VisionLab, the progressive HD cable channel dedicated to experimental video art. Following the successful launch of VisionLab, he shifted into independent film production as Director of Development for Ghost Robot, where he outlined the company’s expansion from film into other platforms, including art, fashion, gaming, and music.

Currently, Mitch is developing a project that utilizes the potential of blockchain technologies to transform the media landscape.

Mitch and I touched on a number of topics including:

Mitch’s early childhood paranormal experiences

Making of “DMT: The Spirit Molecule”

Changing landscape of the psychedelic research scene

DMT experience vs. Ayahuasca

Healing trauma and addiction through psychedelic medicine

Cultural differences on aging and death

Competing explanations for the nature of consciousness

Blockchain & cryptocurrencies

Mentions: Jim Morrison, Aubrey Marcus, Joe Lubin

Showlinks: 

DMT: The Spirit Molecule (FB Page)

DMT: The Spirit Molecule (Unreleased Footage)

Twitter (Mitch’s Personal account)

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On this episode Raghu Markus shares his deep knowledge of the Bhakti Yoga tradition. He talks about what he learned from his own teacher, the legendary Neem Karoli Baba, and how we can all learn to live with more wisdom, compassion and trust.

Guest Bio:

Raghu Markus is the Executive Director of the Love Serve Remember Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving and continuing the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba and Ram Dass.

As a young man, Raghu spent two years in India with Maharaji and Ram Dass. He has been involved in music and transformational media since the early 1970s when he was program director of CKGM-FM in Montreal. In 1974 he collaborated with Ram Dass on the box set Love Serve Remember.

In 1990 he launched Triloka Records and Karuna Music in Los Angeles, California. Triloka established itself as a critical leader in the development of world music and for 17 years was home to such artists as Krishna Das, Hugh Masekela, Walela, Jai Uttal and transformational media projects that featured Ram Dass, Deepak Chopra, and Les Nubians.

Raghu owns Yatra Media and lives with his wife in Asheville, NC.

Topics discussed:

Bhakti Yoga

Teachings of Neem Karoli Baba

Similarities and differences between the Bhakti and Buddhist paths

Dualist vs. Nondualist schools of Indian thought

How to interpret accounts of “miracles,” paranormal events

Trust and Faith: the importance of these qualities and the distinction between them

Links:

Mindrolling Podcast

Be Here Now Network

Love Serve Remember Foundation

Mentions:

a. Opening monologue: Jordan Peterson, Mikey Siegel, Mary Taylor, Richard Freeman, Pattabhi Jois

b. Conversation with Raghu: Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass, Swami Muktananda, Duncan Trussell, Krishna Das, Roshi Joan Halifax, Sally Kempton

Please help to make Hacking the Self a sustainable project by:

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Show Overview:

In this conversation, legendary Ashtanga Yoga teacher Richard Freeman walks us through the various paths of yoga as described in The Bhagavad Gita. Richard is an exceptional teacher of yoga philosophy. Undoubtedly, this conversation will have much to offer for those both new and familiar with this classic text of the yoga tradition.

Guest bio: Richard Freeman is one of the most celebrated Ashtanga Yoga teachers of our time. Richard Freeman has been a student of yoga since 1968. He began his yoga journey with one simple sitting posture in the Zen tradition. Richard spent nine years in Asia studying yoga asana, Sufism, Sanskrit language, and Indian philosophical texts.

In 1974 Richard began working with B.K.S. Iyengar. With Iyengar Richard studied precise alignment principles, applying them to his own internally rooted experience of the forms. Drawing from this variety of contemplative traditions, Richard teaches the Ashtanga Vinyasa method of yoga as taught by his principal teacher, the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India.

Richard’s metaphorical, humorous, teaching style appeals to students of many backgrounds and nationalities. He teaches workshops and trainings throughout the world, and remains an avid student fascinated by the linking points between different traditions and cultures.

He is the co-founder, with Mary, of the Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado; has produced a number of highly regarded yoga audio and video recordings; and is the author of The Mirror of Yoga and co-author of The Art of Vinyasa (Shambhala Publications).

Links:

Richard Freeman Yoga

Mentions: Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

Please help to make Hacking the Self a sustainable project by:

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Guest Bio: Mary Taylor teaches Ashtanga Yoga as taught by her principal teacher, the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India.

Mary Taylor began studying yoga in 1971, after graduating from Julia Child’s cooking school, L’Ecole des Trois Gourmandes in Pari. Initially, she enjoyed yoga as a means of finding equanimity during the stress of University. It was this thread of balance that got her hooked.

It was not until 1988 that Mary found her primary teacher, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. The discovery of the Ashtanga Yoga system provided her with a profound and transformative impact. She continues to study and practice yoga and Buddhist teachings with great enthusiasm and inquisitiveness, with an eye on how the residue that is produced on the mat (and cushion) through these teachings informs and supports all aspects of everyday life.

Mary travels and teaches Ashtanga Yoga with her husband Richard Freeman. Mary also works as a caregiver in a hospital setting as part of the core faculty of the Being with Dying program (Upaya Zen Center) and the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Trainings. In 1988, with Richard, she co-founded the Yoga Workshop. Mary is also the author of three cookbooks and the co-author of What Are You Hungry For? Women Food and Spirituality (St. Martins Press) and The Art of Vinyasa (Shambhala Publications).

Shownotes:

In my conversation with Mary we explored the following topics:

* Ashtanga Yoga as a practice of self transformation

* Showing up for your practice; the need to be honest with ourselves

* Reconciling Eastern, Western Perspectives. Holding paradoxical points of view.

* How Psychology, and the ego, differs in Eastern and Western worldviews

* The importance of ritual

* and more…

Links:

Mary and Richard’s Website

Mentions: Pattabi Jois, Ram Dass, Krishna Das

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Guest Bio:

Guy Harriman is an engineer, Buddhist meditator and inventor of consciousness hacking technologies. Guy worked for many years in Silicon Valley, including for Steve Jobs at NEXT.

In 2008 Guy moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand and built lannayoga.com Healing Center.

Guy is the inventor of the spiritual tool called the Ajna Light. It is a unique device which

helps people on their own inner journey, no matter what their path is. Since Guy

designed the first prototype in 2014, as of 2017 it is estimated that over 10,000 people have

been on the Ajna Light.

Shownotes:

0:00-7:40: Opening Remarks

7:40-:11:00: Guy’s move from the UK to Silicon Valley

11:00-14:58: Working with Steve Jobs

14:58-21:21: The genesis of Guy’s interests in contemplative practices

21:21-24:55: What Steve Jobs taught Guy about living life passionately

24:55-28:10: Shifting from Silicon Valley to Thailand

28:10-31:23: Right View & Body-Mind Practices

31:23-36:55: How to integrate Yogic and Taoist Systems and Practices

36:55-40:00: Reconciling Different Schools of Buddhist Thought

40:00-43:40: Developing the Pyra Light

43:40-48:04: Healing the Body-Mind Right in the West

48:04-52:00: The Promises and Perils of Virtual Reality for the Humanity

52:00-56:05: Becoming a Buddhist Monk

56:05-1:12:33: Inventing Consciousness Exploration Technologies

1:12:33-1:14:15: Closing Remarks. How to follow Guy and his technologies

Links:

Ajna Light

Pyra Light

Lanna Yoga

Please help to make Hacking the Self a sustainable project by:

Making a donation at https://www.patreon.com/hackingtheself

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On the podcast this week Kevin Johnson, owner of Zero Gravity Institute in Austin, Texas. With over thirty years and thousands of hours in the floatation tank, Kevin is considered a pioneer of float tank technology and offers an unprecedented amount of experience and knowledge about the world of floatation tanks, altered states of consciousness and the exploration of non-ordinary realities. Kevin is an active public speaker who regularly presents on a variety of topics including floatation tanks, consciousness exploration, psychedelics, plant medicine, and modern shamanism.

Shownotes:

0:00-7:15: Opening remarks

7:15-11:35: How Kevin and I met

11:35-15:25:What is floating and what are it’s benefits?

15:25-20:15: How Kevin became interested in floating

20:15-24:55: More benefits of floating

24:55-29:30: Parallels and differences between floating and other contemplative practices like meditation

29:30-32:30: Epic Long, overnight floats and intensive floating regimens

32:30-36:17: The ideal floating protocol

36:17-52:09: Integrating floating experiences

52:09-57:30: Kevin’s personal approach to floating

57:30-1:01:35: Is combining psychedelics with floating a good idea?

1:01:35-1:09:00:Making sense of the Ayahuasca experience

1:09:00-1:16:10: Kevin’s perspective on the nature of consciousness

1:16:10-1:19:33: Closing remarks and how to find out more about Kevin and Zero Gravity Institute

Links:

zerogravityinstitute.com

floatmasterkev.com

Please help to make Hacking the Self a sustainable project by:

Making a donation at https://www.patreon.com/hackingtheself

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Sharing this interview with friends and on your social media platforms

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Guest Bio: This week on the podcast: Mikey Siegel, founder of Consciousness Hacking: a leading organization at the intersection of technology, science and spirituality. Mikey recounts his fascinating journey from MIT to Silicon Valley, and shares his vision for how mindful intention and use of technology can help us to lead more meaningful and connected lives.

Shownotes:

1:00-6:58: Welcome and Opening Remarks

6:58-13:30: How Mikey and I came to know each other

13:30-18:00: Mikey’s personal upbringing

18:00-22:35: Evolving as a learner at MIT

22:35-38:25: The Journey from the Outer World to the Inner

38:25-43:09: What Ayahuasca Can Teach Us about Consciousness

43:09-45:15: Mikey’s Inspiration for Creating Consciousness Hacking

45:15-49:10: The Growing Movement of Consciousness Hacking

49:10-55:28: How do we use technology more mindfully?

55:28-1:03:15: Mikey’s Favorite Technologies for Consciousness Hacking

1:03:15-1:06:30: The Potential of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

1:06:30-1:08:20: Potential Concerns about EMF Exposure

1:08:20-1:09:45: How to Become Involved with Consciousness Hacking & Closing Remarks

Links:

Consciousness Hacking

Mikey Siegel’s Personal Page

Muse Headband

Spire Technologies

Lief Technologies

This week I speak with biohacker and life coach Dayne Barkley. Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Dayne is a Certified Bulletproof Human Potential Coach & Primal Health Coach with a primary focus on Quantum Health principles and sleep. His philosophy towards health and wellness encompasses an holistic approach of Body, Mind & Spirit.

Links for Dayne:

Personal Website

Facebook

Twitter

Shownotes:

0:00-7:15: Intro remarks & announcement about name change

7:15-16:30: Gluten concerns & reducing inflammation in our diets

16:30-22:30: Developing a healthy gut

22:30-25:05: Intermittent Fasting

25:05-29:30: Bulletproof Coffee & Caffeine Consumption

29:30-38:00: Quantum Health Principles

38:00-45:20: Reducing Blue Light Exposure

45:20-52:20: Tips for Improving Sleep

52:20-56:40: Cold Showers to Boost your Immune System

56:40-1:00:00: Problems with EMFs from our Electronic Devices

1:00:00-1:03:25: Dan’s Tips on Great Books and How to Find Him

Dayne’s Recommend Websites, Apps, Products

D Minder (App for Tracking Vitamin D & Sun Exposure)

Findaspring.com (finding a spring with natural spring water in your area)

Oura Ring (Best device for tracking sleep, as well as other health metrics)

Dr. Jack Kruse (Nutrition, Paleo Diet)

Iris (software for reducing blue light exposure on your computer)

Please help to make Hacking the Self a sustainable project by:

Making a donation at https://www.patreon.com/hackingtheself

You can also help us to get the word out by:

Sharing this interview with friends and on your social media platforms

Writing a review for the podcast on iTunes, Sticher or the Google Music Store