Light Forest

In this episode of Light Forest I speak to Neel ⵣ. An artist and technologist, exploring the possibility of technology as a medium for expanding consciousness and interacting with our inner worlds.

Neel shares stories from his journey as an artist experimenting with spatial sound installations called ‘HOLOS', a technological framework in which every contributing individual integrates into a larger system of awareness, as part of Space Sound Syndicate.

Experiencing sound through his own installations experienced profound insights, touching parts of himself that never knew existed, a transformed relationship with his body, and eventually a renewed sense of identity and self. This led him on a series of journeys that led to where he is now: embarking on a fresh journey as an entrepreneur with the vision of building what he calls “free flow” technology.

The way Neel sees it, we are in a shift from a 'past material-centred worldview' into a a new reality with consciousness at its centre. He is interested in Technology for the new paradigm, one that allows us to navigate our inner worlds, responds to frequency, and mirrors your own consciousness.

Imagine if we lived in a world where technology, rather than making us feel more dense, manipulating us through our own desires and fears, but opening us up to ourselves and each other, helping us to feel more expansive and connected.

This conversation was challenging for me as my own mind was trying to play podcast host, looking to grasp and understand, to bring into some coherent form that Neel has personally experienced and lived.

Our own conceptions of technology are so limited by our present paradigm.

They say the Pyramids were a form of technology that allowed the ancient Egyptians to communicate across many realms. I hope this conversation stimulates and provokes, of what could be possible in the coming Light Forest paradigm.

⟡ The origin of the name “Yaz” and experimenting with identity through sound (05:00)

⟡ Sound as memory, architecture, and multidimensional perception (12:30)

⟡ Creating immersive, spatial audio installations that evoke altered states (15:50)

⟡ Technology as a medium for self-awareness  (21:30)

⟡ Cyclical history and reawakening the spiritual in technological times (29:10)

⟡ Daoist and Confucian design principles: flowing with nature through technology (32:40)

⟡ The concept of “free-flowing technologies” and adaptive environments (34:30)

⟡ Imagining holographic architectures that dissolve identity (39:15)

⟡ A new economy rooted in inner transformation, not material extraction (42:30)

⟡ Sound, spirit, and the future of collective empathy (46:30)

Follow Neel ⵣ

Faye Shapiro is a master vocalist, independent therapist, and introvert activist. She is the creatrix of Plexus Voice—a psycho-somatic technology for self-discovery and expressive empowerment, designed to weave a new sound reality for personal and collective healing.

In this conversation, we explore sound as a lens for understanding and experiencing life. Faye draws from a deep well of spiritual, biological, and metaphysical traditions to offer a masterclass on sound, healing, and embodied presence.

Faye shares powerful insights from her own journey and therapeutic practice, which is informed by Vipassana, Jungian psychology, Amazonian shamanism, and NARM® (NeuroAffective Relational Model) trauma healing, among others. At the heart of her work is a call to reconnect with the vibration of our own bodies—as an antidote to the fear, anxiety, and cultural disconnection of modern life.

She also offers practical tools and somatic perspectives—which she uses in her workshops and private sessions—that help us feel the touch of sound through our senses and reconnect with our inner voice.

Beyond her healing work, Faye is a multidisciplinary artist. Her music can be found on all major platforms, including this hauntingly beautiful track sampled in the intro:
👉 “Even” on YouTube

Originally from Israel, Faye brings a trauma-informed and energetic perspective to the the state of Israel’s genocidal policies, offering a vision of healing, redemption for the people of Israel. Moving from a Dark Forest present to a Light Forest World.
TIMESTAMPS

• Weaving a Sound Reality: Faye's Perspective – 05:46

• The Vibrational Body: Sound Beyond Auditory Experience – 09:05

• Disconnection from the Body: Cultural Influences – 11:56

• Reconnecting Through Sound: Faye's Methodology – 14:47

• Exploring Identity: Voices Within – 17:55

• The Journey of Authenticity: Finding Inner Voice – 21:02

• The Power of Sound in Creation – 23:46

• Listening to the Self: The Art of Voice – 26:51

• Embracing Vulnerability: Opening the Mouth – 29:52

• The Dance of Sound and Silence – 32:56

• The Artist's Journey: Curiosity and Creation – 46:31

• The Journey of Expression and Sovereignty – 48:13

• Understanding the Voice: Resistance and Allowance – 51:56

• The Global Trend of Sound Healing and Potential Red Flags – 56:45

• Insights on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – 01:01:20

• The Interplay of Feminine and Masculine in Conflict Resolution – 01:07:12

• The Path from Dark Forest to Light Forest – 01:12:40

  
  

  🎧 Links to Faye’s Work

  Plexus Sound Substack

  • Website

  • YouTube

  • Instagram: @fayefeya

• Instagram: @plexus_voice

  
  

  🔗 Connect with Light Forest
  📬 Newsletter & Reflections: lightforestworld.substack.com
  📷 Instagram: @lightforestworld

What if policymaking wasn’t just about data, efficiency, and institutional logic—but also about presence, inner clarity, and connection with nature?

Dr. Ora-orn Poocharoen is a pioneering Thai academic and the founding Director of the School of Public Policy at Chiang Mai University. She brings a deeply grounded, embodied, and fresh approach to how public institutions do policy. From bringing in grounding into workshops with the Thai military, to leading a national task force on the PM 2.5 air pollution crisis, Ora is actively bringing more Light into the regeneration of our planet.

In this conversation, Ora shares how her personal awakening—realizing the cost of disconnecting from her emotions—led to radical shifts in her life. She now blends spirituality and self-inquiry into spaces as unlikely as military and climate policy.

Ora is bringing to life a vision for a new paradigm: authentic public policy—one that sees not just systems, but souls

📌 Themes & Timestamps

Unpacking Authentic Public Policy (06:39)

Ora's Understanding of Authenticity (13:39)

Ora’s Awakening to Authenticity (16:50)

Authentic Policy Workshops with the Thai Military (29:28)
What happens when you ask army generals to connect with the earth? Ora shares powerful stories from her workshops with the Thai armed forces.

Bridging Spirituality and Ecology in Climate Action (41:29)
From “soul cities” to forest-based policy design, Ora discusses how spirituality is showing up in her work with Thailand’s Climate Change Department.

Smart Sustainable Governance (43:46)
A paradigm of policy: beyond efficiency and effectiveness, towards systems infused with spirit, justice, and wellbeing.

PM 2.5 Challenge in Chiang Mai (50:03)
Ora talks about leading Thailand’s air pollution response and the complexity of building consensus between scientists, farmers, foresters, and citizens.

Closing Reflections on Living Authentically in Times of Change (54:55)

🔗 Connect with Ora-orn Poocharoen

• School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

• Ora-orn on LinkedIn

🎧 Connect with Light Forest

• Website: lightforestworld.substack.com

• Twitter: Light Forest & @devlewis18

• Instagram: @lightforestworld & @daiyisi

🎶 The music for this episode was produced by me using Bandlab and original soundscapes.

The short Light Forest animation at the start of the video is made by Ian Pinto.

IIn this episode of Light Forest we explore the nation of Myanmar through Burmese Buddhism and learn about how Buddhist values are bringing light into the resistance movement against the Junta.

Taking us on this journey we have Joah McGee:

a trainer, podcaster, and humanitarian advocate with a deep connection to Myanmar as a longtime practitioner and researcher of Burmese Buddhism.

You may recognise his voice as host of the Insight Myanmar podcast where he shines a light on the intersections of Buddhism with social change and activism. He is founder of Better Burma, a humanitarian organisation providing aid and support to the people of Myanmar since the armed and open conflict between resistance groups and the Junta.

Joah shares deep insights into the historical and contemporary role of Buddhism in Burmese society, its relationship with governance, and how the people of Myanmar are navigating political turmoil, exile, and re-imagining their future.
We get into some of the deep contradictions that run through Buddhism in Burma & policy making: How a country that sought to center around Vipassana and meditation became one of the most violent places?
We learn the ways Buddhist practices such as Vipassanā and mettā, and other principles are helping leaders in resistance groups, forming a “non-violent” movement as a path to peace and reconciliation.
Joah has spoken to hundreds of people through his podcast, including influential monks, activists, and more, and we get to hear some stories that he's picked up from his guests.

You may have heard that an earthquake has ripped through Myanmar on March 27. Joah’s organization Better Burma is coordinating crucial relief efforts to those affected. I encourage you to support his campaign if you have the means and share with your networks.

Donate here

Topics Covered:

• The Historical Role of Buddhism in Myanmar (00:6:21)

• Joah's path into Myanmar and Buddhism (00:11:35)

• How present day Burmese Buddhism deviated from its path (15:10)

• Voices of Exile & Non-Violent Resistance: The role of Buddhist philosophy in sustaining hope and resilience. (00:20:15)

• Reimagining the Future of Myanmar with Buddhist principles (00:31:00)

• Joah's personal practises to keep balance and bring compassion into his work (00:43:12)

  
  

  Connect & Support:

  • Joah’s Podcast: https://insightmyanmar.org/podcasts

• • Joah’s Organization: https://www.betterburma.org/
  • episode with Ashin Kovida https://insightmyanmar.org/complete-shows/2023/10/26/episode-204-ashin-kovida

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  Follow Light Forest

  • Twitter: Light Forest & @devlewis18

  • Instagram: @lightforestworld & @daiyisi

  🎶 The music for this episode was produced by me using Bandlab and original recordings

We live in polarised times. Institutions are breaking and paradigms are being challenged. Life can feel like one big ‘Manthan’ (churn). How do we find our balance and come through this churn of ideas and values?

In this episode, we journey with Rajni Bakshi, a Mumbai-based author, journalist, and activist who has spent three decades chronicling the struggles for more humane and ecologically sound ways of life.
She is the author of:
• Bazaars, Conversations and Freedom
• Trusteeship: Business and Economics for Well-Being
• The Dispute Over Swami Vivekananda's Legacy
Rajni shares insight from Gandhi’s values and concept of Trusteeship, and Vivekananda’s vision, to offer pathways to see the higher nature in ourselves and others as well as evolve our planetary systems away from violence & dominion.
A middle path that transcends the trap of polarized discourse. A process that is fundamentally rooted in each one of us finding that feeling of inner contentment and joy.
Rajni is also the founder and curator of Ahimsa Conversations, a platform for reflections on the possibility of nonviolence and the nature of violence.

In this conversation we talk about

• Gandhi’s vision of Trusteeship (6:45)

• Gandhi’s view on the human condition (14:40)

• Wealth as a commons (25:10)

• Swami Vivekananda & India's Lost Confidence(41:30)

• Reimagining Nonviolence & Power – Can we shift our understanding of power beyond domination? (50:40)

• Activism without anger (61:31)

📚 References & Mentions in the Conversation Books & Thinkers:
• David Korten – When Corporations Rule the World
• Carl Polanyi – The Great Transformation
• Frederick Hayek – The Road to Serfdom
• Tim Berners-Lee – The original vision of the World Wide Web
• Eric S. Raymond – The Cathedral and the Bazaar
🔗 Connect with Rajni Bakshi:
• Ahimsa Conversations: YouTube Channel
• Books: Trusteeship: Business and Economics for Well-Being
🎧 Connect with Light Forest:
• Twitter: Light Forest & @devlewis18 • Instagram: @lightforestworld & @daiyisi 🎶
The music for this episode was produced by me using Bandlab and original recordings with my handpan

The declining health of our planet is a decline in your own health. I cannot be healthy unless you are healthy. This is Planetary health.

Dr. Geordan Shannon is a medical doctor, founder, and global health specialist.

She brings a critical approach to understanding and acting on global challenges including social inequity, globalization, health systems, and environmental crises.

Her current work sits at the intersection of Web3, planetary health, and public goods for health.

She is the co-founder and director at United Health Futures, co-founder of Unexia & Planet.health.

Geordan is a rare human being with feet grounded in the soil, working in remote rural areas of Indigenous Australia, post-Tsunami Sri Lanka, the Peruvian Amazon, and rural Kenya. She also walks the hallways of UN partners, national governments, and other key international bodies.

Her expertise and lived experience are so diverse and deep at the same time—this might be one of our more concept-rich conversations yet.
In this conversation we explore:

• Planetary Health as a concept: How health is not just about individuals but about relationships—with communities, ecosystems, and the planet itself. (00:07:55)
• Geordan's journey into Planetary Health (14:00)
• Translocalism: A New Model for Global Action: Why decentralized, place-based action is more effective than top-down global solutions. (00:20:47)
• The Role of Care & Care Chains in Planetary Health: How care extends beyond human labor to include our relationships with each other, our bodies, and the environment. (00:31:30)
• Two Loops Model of System Change: How old systems collapse while new systems emerge—and the different roles we play in this transition. (00:47:23)
• Web3 & Decentralized Technologies for Health & Regeneration: How Web3 offers new governance and funding models for planetary health. (00:56:00)
• The Hunger for Change: Why institutions are ripe for transformation and how grassroots movements are leading the way. (01:044:20)

• Connect with Geordan Shannon

• Website: https://www.geordanshannon.com/
• Medium:

Connect with Light Forest:

• Website: www.lightforest.world
• Twitter: Light Forest & @devlewis18
• Instagram: @lightforestworld & @daiyisi

🎶 The music for this episode was produced by me using Bandlab and original recording titled 'Equanimity with my handpan.

This is the 2nd part of my conversation with Gregory Pettys. You can check back to episode 6 to tune in to Part 1 on Seed and Living in Right Relation.

In this part of the conversation with Gregory Pettys, we yarn on:

Our planet is sick.

In this conversation with Gregory Pettys, we explore:

Light Forest Podcast: Episode with Cat Lau

It’s been a longer interlude than expected, but I’m excited to hop back on the podcast bike!

In this episode of the Light Forest Podcast, we journey with Cat Lau, a healer and heritage journalist from Bangkok, Thailand.

I first met Cat in Chiang Mai during a Light Forest workshop I hosted as part of one of the Pop-Up Cities. Cat participated in the SEA Punk Playshop, where she shared a trailer for her new documentary project, Wisdom Trails—a journey to unveil the spiritual wisdom of Thailand.

Chances are, if you’ve been to Thailand, you’ve visited a temple or enjoyed a massage. Yet, beneath these experiences lies a deeper wisdom that many of us miss.

In this conversation we touch on the following themes:

Connect with Cat Lau

• Website: www.catlauhealing.com/aboutme
• YouTube: Cat Lau Healing
• Wisdom Trails (Trailer): Watch Here

Connect with Light Forest

• Website: www.lightforest.world
• Twitter: @LightForest & @devlewis18
• Instagram: @lightforestworld & @daiyisi

🎶 The music for this podcast was created by me using a combination of BandLab and an original recording of a Hapi drum (a type of tongue drum) played by yours truly.

In part 2 of this conversation with Michel Bauwens, founder and director of the P2P Foundation, we cover:

Connect with Michel Bauwens:

Connect with Light Forest:

🥁The music for the podcast is produced by me using a combination of Bandlab and original recording of a Hapi drum (a type of tongue drum) played be me.