Life on Purpose

For Life on Purpose Episode #49, my guest is writer, author, yoga teacher, and traveler Dave Ursillo, who returns for a fourth conversation on my shows. Dave was Guest #1 on my very first podcast (Radio Enso) back in 2011 and his wisdom, tools, and life experience always make for an excellent chat!

Throughout the various threads of his work, he helps creatives, self-starters and everyday yogis use their words to live the stories they want to be telling.

Dave joined me for a great conversation about conscious life evolution, creativity, the freedom of NOT knowing, what he's learned from teaching yoga, habit change, cultivating the right container for personal and creative growth, the notion of "service", the importance of tribe, karma vs. dharma, and much more!

About: Dave Ursillo is a teacher of writing, yoga and self-expression. He helps self-starters use their words, stories and voices to create healing within and share love in our world. In his former life, Dave was an aspiring presidential speechwriter and sought a path of leadership after 9/11/2001 to become a part of positive change in our world. He abandoned his career in 2009 to dedicate his life to his writing, through which he knew he could lead by example.

Today, as a teacher, workshop leader and founder of an online writers' group, The Literati Writers (LiteratiWriters.com), Dave teaches conscientious creatives, self-starters and everyday-yogis how to cultivate their gifts, speak their truth and embody their deepest values. He has brought his teachings to hundreds of thousands of readers and across three continents, and has been seen on CBS News Sunday Morning, Psychology Today, Zen Habits, Inc.com and the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. He lives in Rhode Island.

To learn more about Dave and his work, visit: https://www.daveursillo.com/.

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/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #47, my guests are Leah Hynes and Naz Murphie, the Founders of RYPL – Rock Your Purpose Live. They joined me for an inspired conversation about the crucial importance of community for support and guidance as well as connecting with like-minded people as we each find our life purpose and then work to turn our goals into action.

We also discuss each of their life stories, as they've taken the sometime difficult lessons learned creating a life on their own terms and now apply those lessons to helping others do that same.About: Leah Hynes and Naz Murphie are the Founders of RYPL – Rock Your Purpose Live- a community of more than 10,000 people all around the world crazy enough to believe we can change the world! They both did all the ‘right’ things that others said would make them happy, yet each realized there was something BIG missing. So in 2012, they joined forces to make a real difference. And now "Whether you are just starting out on your journey to find what positive impact you want to have on the world or you already know and are interested in having your dream put into action, these driven ladies know how to get you there."To learn more about Leah & Naz and their work, visit: http://rypl.rocks/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #46, my guest is is certified relationship coach, author, blogger, and speaker Kira Asatryan, an expert on loneliness, which she believes is a problem of epidemic proportions in our modern times. In her new book, Stop Being Lonely: Three Simple Steps to Developing Close Friendships and Deep Relationships (just published on New World Library), she says it’s not a lack of people in our lives, it is a lack of feeling that speaks to the heart of this new loneliness.But there is good news — YOU have the power to create closeness with any willing partner. Closeness is the foundation of all happy and long-lasting relationships, whether romantic, platonic, familial, or business, she writes.About Kira Asatryan: I'm a certified relationship coach, author, blogger, loneliness expert, and speaker. I love to speak publicly on the topic of loneliness, as it's a problem of epidemic proportions in our modern times. I maintain a private coaching practice in San Francisco where I help business partners, couples, and individuals develop closeness - the antidote to loneliness - in their relationships.I have a unique passion for those who feel lonely in this world. I understand the unique challenges that lonely people face because I face them as well. I've struggled with loneliness my whole life and have come to find that there are many others out there like me.We are the people who, despite excellent intentions, find it hard to get to know people and find it hard to believe that anyone cares about us. If you relate to this, I can assure you you're not alone.I've spent my coaching career researching, pondering, and reflecting upon what specifically makes relationships feel good or bad. The results of my efforts can be found in my book, my articles, my talks, and I believe they will help you immensely.You can stop being lonely. You've already taken the first step.To learn more about Kira and her work, visit: http://www.kiraasatryan.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #45, my guest is Dan Millman, a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor whose seventeen books, including Way of the Peaceful Warrior, have inspired and informed millions of readers in 29 languages worldwide and truly changed lives.

Dan joins me for an inspiring and in-depth chat about his latest book, THE FOUR PURPOSES OF LIFE- Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World, his own unique life journey, his classic Way of the Peaceful Warrior, what it MEANS to be a Peaceful Warrior, and much more!

About: Dan Millman is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor. After an intensive, twenty-year spiritual quest, Dan's teaching found its form as the Peaceful Warrior's Way, expressed fully in his books and lectures. His work continues to evolve over time, to meet the needs of a changing world.

bs seventeen books, including Way of the Peaceful Warrior, have inspired and informed millions of readers in 29 languages worldwide. The feature film, "Peaceful Warrior," starring Nick Nolte, was adapted from Dan's first book, based upon incidents from his life.

His latest book, the paperback edition of his book THE FOUR PURPOSES OF LIFE- Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World was recently published by New World Library. Deepak Chopra says it offers "concise and practical guidance for living a meaningful life with a clear sense of purpose, while Marianne Williamson noted "Once again, Dan Millman provides us with keys to a well-lived life."

Much of Dan's time is devoted to writing and speaking. His keynotes, seminars, and workshops span the generations to influence men and women from all walks of life, including leaders in the fields of health, psychology, education, business, politics, sports, entertainment, and the arts.

Dan and his wife Joy live in Brooklyn, New York. They have three grown daughters and two grandsons so far.

To learn more about Dan and his work, visit: http://www.peacefulwarrior.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #44, my guest is internationally recognized stress-management expert, author, and teacher davidji. He's a former COO, apprentice to Deepak Chopra, and the decade-long dean of Chopra Center University plus he's been named one of the top 100 trailblazers in yoga & ayurveda by Spirituality & Health Magazine.

davidji joins me for a fantastic chat about his latest book, the Amazon #1 Bestseller destressifying- The Real-World Guide to Personal Empowerment, Lasting Fulfillment, and Peace of Mind and real-world tools for achieving that, as well as meditation (we do the first ever in-show 16-second meditation!), the latest discoveries of frontier science, his own unique life journey, and much more!

About: davidji is a former COO, apprentice to Deepak Chopra and the decade-long dean of Chopra Center University AND he's been named one of the top 100 trailblazers in yoga & ayurveda by Spirituality & Health Magazine. He's an internationally recognized stress-management expert, corporate trainer, meditation teacher, and Nautilus Book Award-winning author.

He is credited with creating the 21-day meditation process, which spawned hundreds of 21-day meditation experiences & challenges around the world. Often referred to as the Velvet Voice of Stillness, he can be heard on more than 500 guided meditations, available on iTunes, Amazon, HayHouse, GooglePlay, Spotify, Pandora, SoundCloud, Insight Timer & on his own website.

His latest book, the Amazon #1 Bestseller, destressifying- The Real-World Guide to Personal Empowerment, Lasting Fulfillment, and Peace of Mind, is a bleeding edge, new stress-management book for mainstream America. Published last August on Hay House, the book shares the secrets and techniques he has used in training the global business community, US military, Dutch Special Forces, and Law Enforcement throughout the U.S..

destressifying is the first mainstream book to reveal both sides of stress, its damaging emotional aspects and its powerful healing properties. Drawing on decades of the author's experience working with individuals in extreme, high-pressure situations — including business leaders, world-class athletes, members of the military, and those in crisis — destressifying teaches the practical steps we all can take to effectively navigate life to a place beyond stress, and handle any type of stress that life throws at you.

To learn more, visit: http://davidji.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #43, my guest is activist, leadership coach, and wild woman Lea Ann Mallett. Lea Ann has spent nearly 30 years as an activist with a focus on environmental and social justice issues, including sitting a tree for three days in an ancient forest in British Columbia to protest clearcut logging there and fifteen years as a nonprofit leader. She's since embarked on life as a midlife mom, having two children in her early 40s.

Over time, she came to realize that ALL of us are changing the world, every day, through "The Beauty and Power of Small Actions." Her philosophy is that "every interaction we have with another person, the planet, and the other beings is an opportunity to change the world for the better."

About Lea Ann Mallett: I have always been convinced that what we do each day in the world changes the world.

From my years as an activist, sitting in an ancient cedar tree for three days to bring international attention to the clearcutting of old growth forests to leading activist blockades in the forests of northern Canada, to my work with street involved youth and my years as a nonprofit leader, I KNOW I have made a difference and I have seen so many people make a difference too.

I have been an intrepid world traveller, heading off to Kenya and Tanzania on my own to go on safari, backpacking across Central America, exploring the street markets of Beijing and roaming through Canada and the U.S. during months-long road trips in my old car with my belongings in the back seat.

I have been a successful activist, collaborating with other environmental leaders in creating thousands of hectares of new protected parks in Ontario, delivering HIV/AIDS education when the crisis was in its earliest stages, changing policies on the federal, provincial and local levels and raising international media awareness on key environmental and social justice issues.

I have successfully led two nonprofit charities, quadrupling the budget of the most recent organization I led and exponentially increasing its reach and impact.

What I also know is that it is easy to lose track of that creative edge, that feeling of having an incredible purpose, being exactly where you are supposed to be. The grind of daily life, the pressures of leading an organization, the wonderful, crazy challenges of being a parent - we can end up on auto-pilot, not creating our greatest impact or living our lives as fully as is possible. I found myself feeling disconnected from my purpose, my creativity and my purpose after taking on the double challenge of becoming a midlife mom and becoming an entrepreneur.

I went on a quest to find the best sources of inspiration, creativity, passion and energy to fuel my life, my activism and my business. I studied with world famous coaches, visionary thinkers and successful entrepreneurs to understand their magic so I could meld it with my own.

I am more powerful and create more impact in my life now than I ever have! My personal experiences with powerful coaching and my studies revealed that the limitations that I put on myself are choices and I can choose differently.

The more you become YOU, the more comfortable you become with who you are and tap into your unique talents and passions, the happier and more fulfilled you will be, AND the more impact you will make in your family, your community and your world.

To learn more about Lea Ann, visit: http://www.leaannmallett.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #42, author, speaker, and teacher Gregg Krech, one of the leading authorities on Japanese Psychology in North America returns to the show.

Gregg joins me for a very timely and inspirational conversation about New Year's Resolutions and why they often don't work; using dreams as a motivator instead; identifying your purpose vs. using feelings to guide your life; taking action as a way of figuring things out; the urgency of 30,000 — the amount of days the average person has in their lives; the Japanese psychology of Naikan; and much more!

About: Gregg Krech is an author, speaker, teacher, and one of the leading authorities on Japanese Psychology in North America. He's also the founding Director of the TohDoh Institute, an educational center for purposeful living, based in Vermont.

Gregg is the author of the award-winning book: Naikan: Gratitude, Grace & the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection, which has been translated into five languages, and he's the editor of Thirty Thousand Days: A Journal for Purposeful Living. His work has been featured in a wide range of publications including THE SUN magazine, Utne Reader, Fitness, Counseling Today, Cosmopolitan, and Experience Life.

His most recent book, The Art of Taking Action: Lessons from Japanese Psychology brings an eastern perspective to the issue of purpose is currently an Amazon best-seller in the Zen category. It offers an empowering approach to meeting our own personal goals, but also focuses on the impact on our actions (and inactions) on the world..

To learn more about Gregg and his work, visit: http://www.artoftakingaction.com or http://www.todoinstitute.org.

For Life on Purpose Episode #41, my guest is artist, photographer, life coach, and mentor Andrea Scher, the creator of Superhero Life — "where we all learn together to use our voices, share our superpowers and live life in full color."Andrea joins me for a great conversation about her work as a creative, coach, and healer; her Mondo Beyondo talk at WDS 2011 that helped inspire my first podcast (Radio Enso); her creative practices and classes, and much, much more!About: I’m Andrea Scher, creator of Superhero Life — where we all learn together to use our voices, share our superpowers and live life in full color. As an artist, photographer, life coach + mentor, I’m redefining what it means to be a SUPERHERO — ‘cause in my world, it’s got nothing to do with capes, spandex or sidekicks and everything to do with tenderness, intuition & baby steps of bravery.Back in 1995 when I was living in New Orleans, a tarot card reader told me that I was an artist. At the time, I held an oh-so practical degree in Economics, and rarely shared my passion for painting + photography with anyone. (But then, you can’t fool a good psychic.)She also said that my real work was as a healer — that I would heal people through my art. All of the hairs on my arms pricked up. All I could think was: Yes! Yes! But how? I never forgot that wise woman (she is still my spiritual advisor to this day) or that quiet promise I made to myself — to fulfill my true calling, and be a healing force in the world.But first, I had to start with myself. I began painting every day.I began painting . . . to find freedom + flexibility. To find the joy in the mess. To keep myself feeling engaged and alive and curious — not necessarily to save the world, but simply to fully experience it.But that’s the beauty of doing what we love — we delight ourselves first, and we can’t help but serve others in the process.To me, a Superhero is someone who invites her wisest, bravest, most alive self to come out and play, every day.This doesn’t mean having all the answers, being unshakably strong, or performing dramatic feats of heroism.It means being someone like you – and someone like me.Someone who is anxious and uncertain, oh, say, 50 – 80% of the time. Someone who wants to live a juicy, full, courageous life — but doesn’t always know how. Someone who understands that vulnerability just might be the greatest superpower of all.“To me, a Superhero is someone who invites her wisest, bravest, most alive self to come out and play, every day."Superhero Life is a love letter + resourceful playground for all my fellow creative superheroes. Moms who want to paint. Painters who want to write. Writers who want to travel. And travelers who want to come home.I’ve been writing + teaching online for nearly 10 years — back when the web was a much quieter place. My intention is to make Superhero Life feel like a virtual oasis — a space for unhurried healing, beauty, and joy to unfold.To learn more about Andrea and her work: http://superherolife.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #40, my guests are SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) an international expert in personal well-being and transformation whose name has become synonymous with transformation, color, healing, movement and fun AND her husband Dr. John Waddell, who has been helping individuals and couples lead happier lives for over 30 years through his clinical psychology practice and metaphysical teachings.

SARK and Dr. John join me for an inspiration conversation about their brand new book, Succulent Wild Love: Six Powerful Habits for Feeling More Love More Often, in which they offer powerful relationship advice including "Joyful Solutions" (where no one needs to compromise or sacrifice), being "Soufully Single", and listening to your Inner Wise Self.

We also discuss their unique life journeys, some unexpected recent news in their life, and much, much more!

About the book: Succulent Wild Love: Six Powerful Habits for Feeling More Love More Often combines SARK's trademark creativity with the more left-brain psychological perspective Dr. John brings to the table. Using real life examples, they offer six simple but profound habits for feeling more love more often that speak to readers at every stage in a relationship — whether they are looking for love, happily partnered, or in the midst of uncoupling.

About SARK: I’m SARK, also known as Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy- which spells SARK. The name was given to me by the author Henry Miller in the early 1980’s. Soon after, I started taking notes as spirit spoke through me. Those notes turned into all the books and art and everything SARKian. I love representing the SARK spirit and I know that that spirit is inside everyone!

Throughout the course of my life and career as an international expert in personal well-being and transformation, my name has become synonymous with transformation, color, healing, movement & FUN.

I’m inviting you to play and connect with me, letting gladness expand into your heart and touch that place deep inside of you- your inner Wise Self- that already knows everything you’ll ever need in this world is within you.

I’ve written countless books and created programs that I offer to provide a powerfull, grounded and practical approach to feeling glad more often, transforming what hurts into what helps and living a life of joyfull creative expression. No matter what!

About Dr. John: Dr. John Waddell has spent over 30 years as a practicing psychologist helping individuals and couples lead more joyful lives.

While a psychologist by training, he also spent many years studying metaphysics. This enables him to integrate the tools from both these fields to help people create richer, more fulfilling lives.

His interest in metaphysics led him to specialize in the practical application of the Law of Attraction. And he wrote two novels showing how the characters are able to consciously change their lives using this approach. (John and Jeanie Fly: Living the Law of Attraction and John and Jeanie Fly: Our World and The Law of Attraction).

In understanding his own life and in working with others, he begins with the attitude that we have the power to change any experience, and we have the ability to rendezvous with more joyful and fulfilling experiences, whether it’s with someone close to us, a physical situation, or a desire for more abundance. John created significant wealth and is exploring the true nature of wealth in all forms.

John was able to transform the painful loss of his wife in 2011, into a marriage where the honeymoon never ended.

His vision was to continue to grow, to be with someone in a relationship that was just as nourishing and would continue to new levels. John kept his vision and in 2012 met Susan Kennedy (SARK). Their lifestyles and spiritual connection are uplifting in more ways than John had even imagined. John and Susan live and create happily together in San Francisco.

To learn more about SARK and her work: http://planetsark.com/.