No Place Like Om

TRIGGER WARNING - THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SUICIDE CONTENT, PLEASE BE ADVISED BEFORE LISTENING.

As is often the case, my desire to help others and bring goodness into this world has resulted in bringing my own personal growth along the way. I started this podcast in May of 2020 and I've learned so much in these short months...not just about social justice, mindfulnes, and about others...but also alot about myself.

In light of this week (Oct 4-10) being National Mental Illness Awareness Week and last month being National Suicide Prevention month I wanted to touch on a project & topic that is deeply personal to me and sensitive. In this episode I share more information about the Project Semicolon and some great resources from their site. I also share the helpline for NAMI (1-800-950-6264), which is available M-F 10a-6p ET. There is also a confidential crisis counseling number you can text...if in crisis text "NAMI" to 741741 at anytime 24/7.
You can visit their website here for more resources & information.

I do decide to get personal and share my own survival story. It was 23 years ago that I tried to take my own life. My hope is that by recovering out loud others won't suffer in silence. Remember, you are not alone, and your story doesn't have to be over. 

Intro music by Orion Moran
Clip of "Dirty Habits" written & performed by Angela Meyer

If you don't already follow Corey Leak and his Podcast...go and do so right now! And while you're at it, support him on Patreon too, because as we discuss in this episode it isn't enough to just READ the books to be anti-racist. Here we talk about many resources (which I'll link below) and the importance of learning the real history of our country so we can begin to heal.

Note, I refer to an episode from First.Name.Basis, which is another favorite podcast within this session as well.

Check out these resources Corey pointed out:
James Cone, "The Cross and the Lynching Tree" https://www.amazon.com/Cross-Lynching-Tree-James-Cone-ebook/dp/B005M1ZIGI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=R2BGA0TIFHM7&dchild=1&keywords=the+cross+and+the+lynching+tree&qid=1599605730&s=digital-text&sprefix=the+cross+and%2Cdigital-text%2C176&sr=1-1

James Baldwin, "The Fire Next Time" https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Next-Time-Vintage-International-ebook/dp/B00EGMV00W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QJYQIDPBAQRV&dchild=1&keywords=the+fire+next+time&qid=1599605707&s=digital-text&sprefix=the+fire+%2Cdigital-text%2C196&sr=1-1

Dyson, "What Truth Sounds Like" https://www.amazon.com/s?k=what+truth+sounds+like+michael+eric+dyson&i=digital-text&crid=1LW7PKQPUEA7A&sprefix=what+truth+%2Cdigital-text%2C173&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_11

Coates, "Between the World and Me" https://www.amazon.com/Between-World-Me-Ta-Nehisi-Coates/dp/0451482212

Joseph, "The Sword and the Shield" https://www.amazon.com/Sword-Shield-Revolutionary-Malcolm-Martin/dp/154161786X

Tisby, "The Color of Compromise" https://www.amazon.com/Color-Compromise-American-Churchs-Complicity-ebook/dp/B07BB6R827


“I’m a husband, father, writer, and speaker. I’ve devoted my life to contending for a better world by facilitating important social conversations on issues like race, religion, sexuality and social violence. I host a podcast called Existential and have committed to the work of anti-racism education.” Justice. Faith. Culture

Instagram: @coreyevanleak and @existentialpodcast

Facebook: Corey Evan Leak and Existential with Corey Leak www.coreyevanleak.com
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Intro music to No Place Like Om is written, performed and recorded by Orion Moran
Outtro Music (I do own the rights) "Om Laasuun Kaan" https://www.raszacharri.com/reggae-mantras

I'm back after a few weeks (meant to take a quick break that turned into a long one)...in this episode it's just me catching up a bit, and I finally have a guided, systematic relaxation practice to share (it's been awhile). BUT before we get to the practice, I wanted to take a moment to talk about Impact vs Intent. It's been a struggle trying to communicate with well-meaning white people (yes, I'm guilty of being one of them) why the road to hell was paved with good intentions and how we need to focus on our impact. In this weeks episode I give kind of a silly but hopefully effective example.

Please check out the Podcast First Name Basis, hosted by Jasmine Bradshaw as it was her 3-part series on Cancel Culture that really helped this concept of Impact > Intent click for me. I hope it's helpful! 

Stay tuned as I have a few more episodes lined up for Season 1!

It's another fiery episode this week, fueled by the inspiration of leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and my guest this week, young activist Riley Caven. This week I read aloud this to-the-point opinion piece as it really resonates with how I felt after the week of media reports surrounding the 'fucking bitch' verbal attack hurled at AOC. It's maddening how normalized it is for a man to speak that way to a woman, and how we sensationalize her response to it. This article hits the nail on the head...and prompts me to share my own most recent 'fucking bitch' story. Whew...this one isn't safe for kids, friends!

I do finally get to the most uplifting part of this weeks show...a sit down with a courageous young lady who is getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Riley just graduated high school and recently hosted a BLM protest in her small, predominately white town. I enjoyed talking to her about her experiences, what inspires her, and the advice she has to share with other young people who want to make a difference.

Read more about and watch AOC's epic speech here.

This week I got to sit down and get to know Shanna Small, founder of the Ashtanga Yoga Project. She is a writer and Yoga teacher who speaks to the intersectionality of Yoga and social justice.  She has practiced Ashtanga Yoga and studied the Yoga Sutras since 2001. She has studied in Mysore with Sharath Jois and is the Director of Ashtanga Yoga at Khali Yoga in Charlotte, NC.  She is a regular contributor for Yoga International, OmStars and the Ashtanga Dispatch.  
It was through her posts on Instagram (@wellness_yogini) that I found myself wanting to connect...she has a spark to her and tells it like it is in short, approachable videos. In addition to speaking on social justice, she also gives great, practical tips on the ashtanga practice. 
For information on workshops, please e-mail [email protected]. 

In a special July 4th episode I take a moment to reframe what we think of as 'independence day' and the hypocrisy of our founding fathers claiming 'all men' being free and equal even as they enslaved others. I refer to and read from the 1619 Project, presented by the New York Times as it draws our attention to when slavery began here in our country...what some call the original sin could really be called our origins.
If you didn't see the powerful video NPR put out this week of the descendants of Frederick Douglass, I highly recommend you watch it here. I refer to it and read an excerpt in this episode of his famous speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July," (1852)

My family isn't celebrating today...if yours is, take some time to consider who among us truly have freedoms in this country. Ask yourself if people are treated equally, and maybe even begin to examine how your white privilege has served you. This isn't meant to make you or anyone feel badly...rather to learn and grow and to do better once we know better. 

Be good to yourselves, and to each other. And may all beings truly be free...

In this fiery episode I sit down with speaker, activist, writer and leading voice in the chorus of courage Sarah Stevens to discuss a hot topic...Spiritual Bypassing. No, it isn't a term made up by Instagram users; it was coined by John Welwood in the 1980's in regard to behaviors he witnessed himself and others doing in the Buddhist Community as a way of side-stepping the hard work on the spiritual path.
Currently, in the yoga & wellness world we are watching this same thing happen and it is harmful. Yogis/teachers who are uncomfortable with the BLM movement are posting things like, "We Are One" which is really another way of saying 'all lives matter' right now. In this talk with Sarah we identify the different ways this is happening, how systematic and normalized racism is, and how we as white allies have to sit with and work through the uncomfortable realizations without diminishing the pain and oppression of the black communities.

In this episode I refer to this article, and this podcast.

You can find more about Sarah Stevens and her many projects by following these links:
The Beautifull Project
by Sarah Stevens
Black Pearl Coaching
Stripped: The Art of Being Seen (Sarah's TED Talk)

Intro music by Orion Moran
Outro music, "Yo Quiero Sol" by BRASKO (rights purchased through Soundstripe)

It was the music of Phish that initially connected me to todays guest, Mercie. Somewhere (a mutual friend? a shared subgroup for phans on Facebook?) I saw a post of this talented duo (Mercie and her partner Danika) singing this incredibly pure/sweet yet powerful version of the song "Leaves" and I shared it to several other groups. We became FB friends and fast-forward to the last few weeks. We're in Phans for Black Lives Matter together, and I happened to catch her share a link to her recent instagram post...when I took the time to watch it all it really touched & inspired me. It feels important to amplify her voice and her perspective, and I was grateful she agreed to come on the show to discuss the highlights from her resources for white allies talk (which you can find and listen to here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CA9SY8fDG43/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link ).

In todays show prior to the interview with Mercie, I give updates on COVID-19 in IL as we move into Phase 4 in our Re-open plan from Governor Pritzger and how that effects local yoga studios (including my own). 

Today is also Juneteenth, and in this episode I refer to the website http://www.junteenth.com for the information shared regarding the history of this important date. 

The original intro music is written and recorded by Orion Moran.
The outro music today "Zen Flow" legally downloaded (purchased) from Chris Collins, indiemusicbox.com. 

Support from our show comes from www.indigowellness.info.

I sat with Angela Meyer (signer, songwriter, yogi, and cowgirl with a heart the size of Texas) several weeks ago, before the revolution really took off. In the original interview we talk about mindfulness & ways to stay connected and how important it is during COVID-19 and the quarantine days...but we follow up to show support to the Black Lives Matter movement. Please enjoy this young modern renaissance woman and her music.

Today I'm taking a pause from my regularly scheduled content to amplify black voices, particularly in the world of mindfulness where the representation of BIPOC voices is often omitted. Instead of airing one of the interviews I have ready to share, I'm sharing a recording from a few years ago that is very timely today. This is from a black voice intended for white allies/accomplices to the black lives matter movement. It is a 17 minute meditation provided after a brief talk on white privilege & fragility. This episode contains my opinions...as well as references to other podcasts & websites that focus on the black perspective. 
Sources:
http://drcandicenicole.com/2016/07/black-lives-matter-meditation/
https://www.mindful.org/disrupting-systemic-whiteness-mindfulness-movement/
https://diannebondyyoga.com
https://www.amazon.com/White-Fragility-People-About-Racism-ebook/dp/B07638ZFN1
https://www.raszacharri.com/music