Love Is The Author

Jess Damuck was one of Martha Stewart’s right hands in creating magazines and television shows for over a decade. She is now a creative director, food stylist, and the author of the bestselling cookbooks Salad Freak, Health Nut, and Open Wide with Benny Blanco. "Martha Stewart is my guru!" Musician John Moods is a German-Polish songwriter and recording artist who's intention is to listen to the heart and liberate it from the desires of wanting or trying to be cool. The two close friends took a road trip from LA to visit Jaymee in Ojai for the day at a highly transitional time in both their lives, which resulted in a deeply intimate conversation on topics ranging from the inspiration behind John's iconic mustache, Jess's ranking as the #4 listener of Arthur Russell on Spotify in 2025, the invitation to take the 'Leap of love' in life, the mystical white van that saved Jaymee's life, and that artists themselves are the true unfinished project. Plus the skinny on Jess's new cookbook (due this year), the mystery of John's unfinished album, and so much more.

Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?

email: [email protected] to set up a free consultation,

or visit: ⁠www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship⁠ for more info.

LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. 

SOUND MIX: Chris Faller

OPENING SONG: Tripura Subdari by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

CLOSING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

SPONSORS: 

YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠

RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

FAN CONTACT: [email protected]

ON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardener

Ruthanna Halprin Hopper is an American artist known for blending visual arts, dance, and somatic psychology. She is the daughter of actor Dennis Hopper and dancer Daria Halprin, and the granddaughter of renowned environmental designer Lawrence Halprin and dance pioneer Anna Halprin, creators of the world renown Halprin Method. Jaymee and Ruthanna discuss shadow work, synchronicities, collective soul being born in group settings, transparency about her father's mastery of reinvention, and more. “In an archetypal sense, it’s taken me a long time to come home”. 

LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, mixed, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. 

COVER PHOTO: Ekaterina Izmestieva

OPENING SONG: Gangstalean by JJ RAM (Jaymee)

CLOSING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?

email: [email protected] to set up a free consultation,

or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship 

SPONSORS: 

YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠

RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

FAN CONTACT: [email protected]

ON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardene

Robert Ryan is known for being one of the best tattoo artists on the planet, also a member of the band Soma (kirtan), whose new album Songs Of The Lotus Born is out June 11 on Centripetal Force Records. Devendra Banhart is a Venezuelan-American singer songwriter and visual artist, whose new book of poems Four Nose Jobs A Day is out now on Unnamed Press. The three friends jam on Lord Padmasambhava, Jesus Christ, AI, and so much more. 

LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. 

SOUND MIXED: Chris Faller

OPENING SONG: Tripura Sundari by Earthtones Music and Sheela Bringi

CLOSING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?

email: [email protected] to set up a free consultation,

or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship 

SPONSORS: 

YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠

RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

FAN CONTACT: [email protected]

ON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardener

Dory Bavarsky is a composer and music producer known for his music for television and film and his record label Full Color Sound Records. Recently, musician Devendra Banhart introduced Jaymee to Dory at a Buddhist gathering, and in the weeks that followed the two new friends entered into a mutual admiration society of each others work. On a recent trip to the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, Dory wrote an incredible song titled 'A Zen Master' which instantly became a favorite song of Jaymee's (you'll hear a live performance of the song to begin the episode). This conversation is truly a vibe, a thick atmosphere of playful contemplation about life and what's behind it all, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. 

SOUND MIXED: Chris Faller

OPENING SONG: A Zen Master by Dory Bavarsky

CLOSING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?

email: [email protected] to set up a free consultation,

or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship 

SPONSORS: 

YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠

RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

FAN CONTACT: [email protected]

ON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardener

Jaymee welcomes Tibetan Buddhist meditation master Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche of Pristine Mind Foundation for an in depth discussion on the merits of being a good natured rebel on the path, how one's inner motivation speaks louder than words or actions, and the principles behind his new book The Tibetan Book of Success out now on Shambhala Publications. 

LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. 

SOUND MIXED: Chris Faller

OPENING SONG: Gangstalean by JJ RAM (Jaymee Carpenter)

CLOSING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?

email: [email protected] to set up a free consultation,

or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship 

SPONSORS: 

YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠

RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

FAN CONTACT: [email protected]

ON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardener

Jaymee welcomes back RamDev Dale Borglum of the Living/Dying Project for a highly contemplative, hilarious and deeply meaningful  conversation surrounding his upcoming book How To Live So You Can Die Without Fear. Drawing from decades of work accompanying people through death, grief, and spiritual transformation, RamDev shares the hard-earned wisdom that comes from sitting intimately beside impermanence. You'll hear many engaging stories of being in the midst of the great Indian saint Neem Karoli Baba aka Maharaj-ji, a near death experience Dale had with Krishna Das in India, starting the conscious dying movement with Ram Dass and Stephen Levine in the 1970's, and the most meaningful healing experience he had with his father just prior to his passing. 

LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. 

SOUND MIXED: Chris Faller

OPENING SONG: Tripura Sundari by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

CLOSING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?

email: [email protected] to set up a free consultation,

or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship 

SPONSORS: 

YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠

RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

FAN CONTACT: [email protected]

ON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardener

In this fascinating episode of Love Is The Author, Jaymee sits down with Rani Singh of the Harry Smith Archives for a deep dive into the mythic life and enduring legacy of visionary artist, anthropologist, filmmaker, occult explorer, and collector Harry Smith. Best known to many for compiling the legendary Anthology of American Folk Music, Harry Smith’s influence quietly shaped generations of artists, musicians, filmmakers, and seekers—from the Beat movement to the psychedelic underground and beyond. Rani shares intimate stories from years spent preserving and stewarding Smith’s sprawling body of work, offering insight into the mind of a man who seemed to live somewhere between genius, mystic, archivist, and holy fool. Together, Jaymee and Rani explore Harry’s obsession with symbolism across cultures, the strange spiritual electricity that continues to surround his work decades after his passing, and the role of the cultural archivist as both protector and translator of forgotten worlds. A mind-expanding dialogue about one of America’s most enigmatic creative visionaries—and the invisible threads connecting music, spirit, and the collective imagination. 

Cover photo credit: Harry Smith Archives

LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. 

SOUND MIXED: Chris Faller

OPENING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

CLOSING SONG: Gangstalean by JJ RAM (Jaymee Carpenter)

Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?

email: [email protected] to set up a free consultation,

or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship 

SPONSORS: 

YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠

RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

FAN CONTACT: [email protected]

ON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardener

Street Monk 2 is the second in a series of spontaneous dharma talks of Jaymee's, this episode recorded outdoors at the park, as he shares teachings and contemplations with the support of nature and a choir of wind, birds and insects.

LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. 

SOUND MIXED: Chris Faller

OPENING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

CLOSING SONG: Tripura Sundari by Earthtones Music & Sheela Bringi

Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?

email: [email protected] to set up a free consultation,

or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship 

SPONSORS: 

YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠

RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

FAN CONTACT: [email protected]

ON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardener

In this special Street Monk episode, Jaymee opens the floor to questions from his mentees about spiritual practice, honesty, purpose, and the discipline of living what you say you believe—especially when life gets messy. There’s no script here, just presence: part guidance, part storytelling, part “learned this the hard way.” Jaymee shares what it means to bring spiritual awareness off the cushion and into the street—where it’s tested, refined, and sometimes hilariously humbled. 

LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. 

SOUND MIXED: Chris Faller

OPENING SONG: Ganstalean by JJ RAM (aka Jaymee)

CLOSING SONG: Gracious Means by Jaymee & Benjamin Carpenter.

Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?

email: [email protected] to set up a free consultation,

or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship 

SPONSORS: 

YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠

RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

FAN CONTACT: [email protected]

ON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardener

Ali Johnes is an American film producer (Holy Hell, Frida, The Witch) and the former co-head of Time Magazine's documentary division. Quinn Johnes is her incredible 9 year old son whose father, the legendary Gerry Gilhool passed away in a surfing accident on the 5th year anniversary of Quinn's conception, while Ali had in the middle of her battle with breast cancer. This is the incredible story of how all three of their lives magically intertwined, how the intelligence of the Universe solidified these souls beyond the realm of permanence, demonstrating a depth of love rarely shown in the wake of tragedy. Stick around for a special one on one interview with Quinn at the end. 

LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. 

SOUND MIXED: Chris Faller

OPENING SONG: Tripura Sundari by Earthtones Music.

CLOSING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music.

Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?

email: [email protected] to set up a free consultation,

or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship 

SPONSORS: 

YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠

RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

FAN CONTACT: [email protected]

ON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardener