Tattoos and Torah

What is the difference between saying 'thank you' and having gratitude? How do you practice gratitude authentically? Giving thanks and gratitude are not the same. Saying 'thank you' is the inevitable result of actions we take, lessons we learned and appreciation of what we have gone though. Gratitude is being able to look at our life and our experience and acknowledge what we know, fee and appreciate now that we didn’t before. The words 'Thank you are the acknowledgment of how our life is better BECAUSE of our experiences (whether they're good and bad)! How can I come to be grateful for all conditions and circumstances of my life (even the painful ones)? If you're looking to expand your experience of gratitude to include all parts of your life, then this podcast episode is for you.

What exactly defines success? What makes a person successful? How do you break into a new industry?

Our guest on today's podcast episode, Nathen Aaren, has been working with executives and brands for years, helping them reach their next level of success. He is a speaker, entrepreneur and dream life seeker. Working with fortune 500 companies & Grammy Award winning artists, he is the podcast producer of two podcasts which charted #1 across iTunes.In this episode, Rabbi Iggy and Nathen dive into the idea of success. They discuss how to transform your life, how to truly develop your passions, and what it takes to follow your dreams to fruition. Are you looking for a powerful coaching moment to fire you up and recharge (and redefine) your motivation? Are you interested in getting clear on what you stand for and going after what matters most to you? Then this is a must-listen episode.

There is a deep connection between seeking meaning and cultivating connection. Finding meaning in life, clarifying the values we hold dear, and the connection we feel to the world and people: how are these interconnected and informing each other everyday? 

Many of us want joy, equanimity, happiness, gratitude and mindfulness in this life. But achieving those things is dependent on a few factors. In this episode, we're talking about one of those major factors: SERVICE. Being of service is a major component in how we feel in the world, the actions we take and how we can cultivate a strong sense of self within us. By being of service, we acknowledgment through our actions that we MATTER, that we have value and that we can overcome our shortcomings. Being of service is the path to making a difference (and cultivating our ongoing legacy on this earth).If you want to dig into the notion of service and how to find your path to service in this world, this podcast episode is for you.

George Haas is one of the most respected dharma teachers in the world, integrating attachment repair and meditation to support people in living more meaningful lives. Surviving abuse, trauma, addiction, abandonment and tragedy, his take on life is unique and inspiring. Not only that, he is an acclaimed artist whose art is featured at the MOMA, the Hammer Museum and the Library of Congress. In this episode, Rabbi Iggy and George talk about survival, AIDS-era New York City, photography, art, spirituality, Buddhism, Queerness. They also talk about his latest book, the Lower Manhattan Dormitory Effect. If you’re looking to hear about how Buddhism and meditation can support people who are recovering from addiction, then this episode is for you. Also, if you've ever wanted to know what spiritual leaders talk about then when they hang out, then you’ll want to check out this episode!

We often focus on the light in us, the beauty of the well illuminated path and the spark of the divine in all things. But there is enormous beauty in the shadows, too. In our inner chaos and Biblical Tohu Vavohu. The wonder that is in us and compels us to ask questions and to explore. Ever wonder why we wear masks? Why in so many cultures we celebrate the day of the dead or Halloween and the like? To honor that fringe of darkness, Rabbi Iggy and Ben L talk about being drawn towards the strange, vociferous and the unconventional. From skulls to Beethoven, from Heroine to recovery, they discuss the serpentine road that leads us to a life of meaning.If you’re fascinated with the dark side, then this episode is for you

How do you go about transcending tragic events in life? How can you move from a place of confusion and hatred into into a life of devotion, heart practices and a path committed to decreasing suffering? What is Karma (and what are some ways of understanding its role in our lives today)? In this episode of Tattoos and Torah, Rabbi Iggy speaks with Dave Smith, internationally recognized Buddhist meditation teacher, addiction treatment specialist, and published author. Dave shares about his journey in life through music (as a touring rock musician), addiction and Buddhism, the lessons he learned along the way and some of the darker sides of mindfulness, Dharma and recovery. Dave teaches residential meditation retreats and classes, provides trainings and consulting in both secular and Buddhist contexts, and works with students through his meditation mentoring program. He has extensive experience bringing meditative interventions into jails, prisons, youth detention centers and addiction treatment facilities. He recently founded the Secular Dharma Foundation and lives in Paonia, Colorado.If you’re interested in learning ways to decrease suffering and increase contentment, then this episode is for you!

Coming it out is not just a proclamation. It’s not just an affirmation. It is an act of bravery and assertion. It’s a statement : This is who I am! In this episode of Tattoos and Torah, Rabbi Iggy explores the nuances of coming out and how he approaches the integration of queer identity with spiritual identity.In many ways, coming out marks the beginning of something. The practice of coming out weaves into a life long emotional, psychological and spiritual practice, because we live in a mostly heteronormative world that requires a consistent ‘coming out’ in the occupying of space as a queer person. (Coming out isn’t something that happens just once for many of us… It can be an ongoing aspect of being queer). Queer spirituality is not a common tandem. In fact, few people articulate the relationship between their LGBTQI+ identity and their spiritual world.Rabbi Iggy talks about his own experiencing with coming out, the lessons he learned in the process, and how his origins within a Jewish Orthodox home impacted his coming out. Growing up in a Jewish Orthodox home, with no visible gay role models, coming out was a complex journey. His spiritual expedition takes on a tour of his stops along the way, and the principles he developed that have helped him find comfort in his own skin while fully embracing his spiritual life and path. If you are interested in the cross section of spirituality and queer identity, if you’re looking for support in your own coming out journey, or if you want to hear about the community you belong to, then this podcast episode if for you.

How do we beat hate and undo discrimination as a culture in 2020 (when the institutions that guide and govern us are modeling divisiveness, exclusion and hate)? How do we fight back and create a world of inclusion, acceptance and a celebration of diversity, when the world around us is filled with discrimination, ignorance and barbed speech? What does it take to skillfully stand up for ourselves, and to advocate for ourselves as well as other marginalized people and communities around us? On this episode of Tattoos and Torah, Rabbi Iggy speaks with Dr. Rachel Fish, activist, scholar, published author, mother and all-around badass woman. As someone who works to dismantle and address different types of discrimination, including antisemitism, homophobia, Islamophobia and more, she and Rabbi Iggy discuss what it takes to make a change in people’s lives, and how to make sure our future generations are protected from discrimination and violence. Dr. Rachel Fish is the founding Executive Director of the new Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism is Robert Krafts (owner of the New England Patriots) foundation to catalyze dynamic new solutions to stop the age-old hatred of antisemitism, homophobia, Islamophobia and much more. If you want to learn how to beat hate and bigotry, as well as address self-hate and ultimately create positive change the world, then this episode is for you!

Do spirituality and science live on different planes? Do we need to leave our spiritual practices and beliefs at the door before entering the lab?

In this episode of Tattoos and Torah, Rabbi Iggy and Dr. Michael McGee talk about the role spirituality plays in the world of science, medicine, hospitals and institutions, as well as addiction rehab. They also discuss the emerging variety of the different kinds of addictions we are facing these days.

Dr McGee teaches people to successfully learn to stop engaging in the use of addictive substances or behaviors. He provides advising for people on how to heal, repair their lives, and realize their full potential.

Rabbi Iggy and Dr. McGee discuss new ways to look at addiction and addicting behavior, and how a careful examination of the self as well as medical practices can improve all areas of our lives.

If you ever wondered how doctors treat patients struggling with addiction and what tools they use to help address the pain and suffering and cultivate relief, then this podcast is for you.

In this episode of Tattoos and Torah, Rabbi Iggy reflects on the concept of silence and solitude as a spiritual practice. He transforms our approach to a prayer said on Yom Kippur into a tool for finding meaning in our lives and examine the self. He shares how recovery can teach us how to more effectively spend time in reflection and inspiration (and why making space for silence in our lives is a powerful enhancement for our addiction recovery journey). If you're looking for ways to cultivate your relationship with your higher power, increase your intuitive strength and emotionally regulate using your own consciousness (mind, body, nature), then this episode is for you."