In this episode of The Observatory, Jake Orak joins the show to discuss his journey of self-discovery, spirituality, and what it truly means to live authentically. From his early years in drumming to life-changing experiences in Vietnam, Switzerland, Bali, and Nepal, Jake shares how travel, entrepreneurship, and personal breakdowns opened the door to deeper self-awareness and intentional living. He reflects on closing one chapter of his life through a powerful completion ceremony, the origins of his meditation and inner work, and how these threads eventually wove into his book, Threads of Change.

Timestamps

[02:02] Jake Orak’s background in drumming
[03:00] Jake’s background information
[06:00] Jake’s experience in Vietnam and Switzerland
[14:07] Jake’s entrepreneurial journey
[23:57] The completion ceremony that Jake did with his ex-wife
[27:28] How Jake nurtured his self-awareness and intentionality
[29:40] The nervous breakdown that Jake had in Bali
[37:30] The genesis of meditation and personal work
[47:57] How Jake’s trip to Nepal influenced his life
[01:08:45] Jake's connection with Utah
[01:17:20] Jake’s journey of writing the book: Threads of Change
[01:21:28] How Jake met his partner, Adrian
[01:24:57] The Inner Circle Stewards Drum Session
[01:30:41] Developing your spirituality
[01:35:24] The difference between living in the space of being and the space of doing

Notable quotes:

• “When you start doing things consciously for yourself and developing your own flavor of spirituality, that’s when things start to unfold, especially when you are able to share that openly within a group.” - Jake Orak [01:30:41]

Relevant links: 

Jake Orak Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeorak/?hl=en

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast
Produced by NC Productions!

In this episode of The Observatory, Scott and LaRae Wright share the timeless wisdom they would impart to their younger selves. Through reflection and heartfelt honesty, they explore three powerful lessons each has learned along the way. LaRae opens up about embracing changing perspectives, nurturing her gifts, and cherishing time spent with elders. Scott shares the importance of self-compassion, respecting the earth and all living things, and honoring the feminine on a deeper level.
 
Timestamps

[02:50] LaRae’s first advice: It’s okay for your perspective to change
[04:11] The biggest contributing factor to LaRae not being open to perspective change
[11:11] Scott’s first advice: Don’t be so hard on yourself 
[19:02] LaRae’s second advice: Nurture your gifts and talents 
[26:57] The book: The Artist’s Way
[28:33] Scott’s second advice: Respect the earth and all living things on earth
[35:39] LaRae’s third advice: Spend more time with the older people 
[38:45] Scott’s third advice: Have a deeper respect  for the feminine

Notable quotes:

• “For us to have the fully human experience that we are meant to have, allow and expect your perspective to change, and it’s okay.” - LaRae Wright. [03:52]
• “You should question everything because it gives you a deeper understanding, commitment, and a deeper sense of knowing.” - LaRae Wright. [07:05]
• “Learn to be in a relationship, not just for physical reasons but for emotional, mental, and spiritual reasons.” - Scott Wright [43:04]

Relevant links:

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast
Produced by NC Productions!

In this episode of The Observatory, Bennett Maxwell joins the show to discuss his personal path to self-discovery and the deeper meaning of joy and fulfillment beyond success. As the CEO of Franchise KI and founder of Dirty Dough, Bennett opens up about how his entrepreneurial journey became a catalyst for inner growth, teaching him to find peace and purpose even in life’s imperfections. He shares how serving others, exploring spiritual truths, and facing his own challenges led to greater clarity and alignment.
 
Timestamps

[02:09] Bennett Maxwell’s background information
[06:50] Bennett’s entrepreneurial journey
[13:02] What drove Bennett to the self-discovery journey
[15:18] Finding joy and fulfilment despite life’s dirtiness
[18:25] Finding joy in serving others
[23:19] How entrepreneurship has shaped Bennett’s personal life
[26:11] How Bennet started the journey of self-discovery
[37:12] The thought storm
[41:18] How the next 60 years look for Bennett
[52:00] True alignment in life
[59:36] Bennett’s addiction to nicotine

Notable quotes:

• “Don’t wait for life to be perfect to find that joy and fulfillment.” - Bennett Maxwell [15:22]
• “Everything is of God or nothing is of God.” - Scott Wright [46:03]
  “True alignment is having no preference in life.” - Bennett Maxwell [52:00]
• “All suffering comes from desire. Desire is the root of all suffering.” - Bennett Maxwell [54:22]

Relevant links:

Bennett Maxwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-maxwell-703717126/ 
Website: https://bennettmaxwell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bennettmaxwell35
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bennett.maxwell#

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast

Produced by NC Productions!

In this episode of The Observatory, Chad Nielsen joins the show to discuss how men can heal past wounds, deepen their understanding of masculinity, and embrace their true sexual power. Chad Nielsen is an intimacy coach who helps men heal and expand their relationship with their Masculinity & Sexuality. Hear Chad’s childhood trauma, his experience with drug addiction, his biggest turning point to getting better, the 12-step heling program and how his kid influenced his emotional growth. You will also learn the importance of acceptance, hope, and community in your healing journey, and how to create a safe space for others.
 
Timestamps

[03:29] Chad Nielsen’s background information
[07:15] Chad’s memory of his father
[11:05] Chad’s childhood trauma
[17:03] The importance of hope in healing
[22:47] Chad’s experience with drug addiction
[27:22] The 12-step healing process
[32:22] Chad’s biggest turning point in getting better
[37:22] How Chad’s kid influenced his emotional growth
[45:28] Chad's sponsor in the healing program that made a huge difference
[52:43] How Chad uncovered the unhealed parts of sexuality, masculinity, and intimacy
[56:34] Bill Wilson, the author of the book: Alcoholics Anonymous
[01:01:25] Learning to hear the voice of intuition
[01:04:25] The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell
[01:11:34] Building a safe space for others
[01:19:56] The importance of community in your healing journey
[01:26:11] The secret sexuality coaching for men
[01:35:04] The crisis of identity as a man

Notable quotes:

• “There is no place of being too broken to have a happy, joyous, and purposeful life.” - Chad Nielsen [14:24]
• “When you leave behind something that no longer serves you, it will be painful for a while.” - Chad Nielsen [01:02:27]
• “You have to jump into the unknown, and it's not going to be easy at first, but you have to do it anyway.” - Chad Nielsen [10:03:43]
• “You can never give someone anything until you have it for yourself.” - LaRae Wright [01:10:16]
• “We all have gifts and life experiences that give us a unique ability to help people.” - Chad Nielsen [01:37:25]

Relevant links:

https://www.instagram.com/safetoloveshow
https://www.instagram.com/chadonlove
https://www.instagram.com/aprilbenincosa

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast

Produced by NC Productions!

In this episode of The Observatory, Scott and LaRae share a profound reflection on time—what it means, how it shapes us, and why it might not be as linear as we think. Scott shares how his relationship with time has evolved, leading him to see it as circular rather than sequential. Together, Scott and LaRae explore how letting go of milestones and deadlines allows us to experience life more fully in the present moment. They reveal that everything unfolds when we’re ready, and when time ceases to matter, peace and presence take its place.
 
Timestamps

[02:13] How Scott’s relationship with time has changed over the years
[03:50] The milestones that we give ourselves
[07:00] Scott’s new perspective on time
[14:36] Time is circular and not linear
[20:00] Time doesn’t matter
[23:44] Going back in time by sitting around a fire
[36:45] The questions that will help you understand time

Notable quotes:

• “Time is more circular than it is linear.” - Scott Wright [14:36]
• “You are always on time if time doesn’t matter.” - LaRae Wright [18:26]
• “Everything comes when you’re ready. If you try to rush it before you’re ready, you will miss it.” - LaRae Wright [22:23]
• “Be in your season whenever that season is. There is no time, there is only now.” - Scott Wright [38:24]

Relevant links:

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast

Produced by NC Productions!

In this episode of The Observatory, Scott and LaRae share powerful insights about breaking through cognitive rigidity and embracing authentic self-expression. LaRae opens up about meaningful conversations with her siblings that sparked deeper reflection, while exploring Dr. Todd Rose's research on how we perceive differences versus similarities in others. They also examine the striking statistic that only 10% of people create 80% of social media content, revealing how cognitive rigidity keeps most of us silent and conforming.

Timestamp

[07:09] The meaningful interactions that LaRae had with her siblings
[08:32] Mel Robbins podcast episode with Dr. Todd Rose
[11:00] The statistic of 10% of people sharing 80% of the content on Social Media
[13:11] Cognitive rigidity
[18:14] The power of authenticity
[31:40] The importance of listening and trusting your intuition
[35:50] A challenge for the week

Notable quotes:

• “We are more similar than we are different.” - LaRae Wright [09:44]
• “Authenticity is compelling because it brings us to our present selves all the time with one another.” - LaRae Wright [19:30]

Relevant links:

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast
Produced by NC Productions!

In this revisited episode of The Observatory, Bryson Ninow joins the show to discuss his journey through addiction, divorce, and parenting. Bryson shares how he got into drug addiction, how he realized things should change, the recovery process, and how community service has propelled the recovery process. You will also learn how he got into spirituality, his experience with plant medicine, and how it changed how he shows up as a father. 

Timestamps

[03:42] Bryson Ninow’s background information
[10:13] How Bryson got into drug addiction
[13:39] The day Bryson realized that things should change
[14:45] The recovery process
[17:50] The therapy that Bryson did with his mom
[20:30] How community service propelled Bryson’s recovery process
[24:36] How Bryson got into spirituality
[27:13] Bryson’s experience with plant medicine
[35:00] Growing your creativity
[42:40] Scott’s experience with porn addiction
[47:54] How spirituality has changed how Bryson shows up as a father
[52:19] How Bryson’s journey is impacting the lives of his daughters
[58:17] The programming and effects of modern music
[01:05:35] Parenting using human design
[01:14:09] The healing modalities that Bryson offers

Notable quotes:

• “There is no big or small tea in trauma. We take in different traumas but store them the same way.” - Bryson Ninow [08:34]
• “Community can get you sober.” - Bryson Ninow [20:43]
• “The more comfortable we become expressing our creativity and having a community to support it, the bigger the creativity gets.” - Bryson Ninow [35:37]
• “Vulnerability is the key to happiness.” - LaRae Wright [01:19:42]
• “Our responsibility as parents is to keep our children’s channel clear by educating them.” - Bryson Ninow [01:07:00]

Relevant links:

Bryson Ninow Website: https://www.instagram.com/bnins/

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast
Produced by NC Productions!

In this revisited episode of The Observatory, Chris Farmer joins the show to discuss the power of the universe and the importance of listening to your intuition. Chris Farmer is a board member and artist coordinator with the Jung Society of Utah. Hear about the Jung Society of Utah's history, how the universe woke up Chris, how it almost burned down, and the day he realized he had a special connection with the universe. You will also learn the universal double-check, the power of intuition, and Chris’s experience with marriage and work.

Timestamps

[01:42] The history of the Jung Society of Utah
[06:48] How Chris started paying attention to his intuition
[08:18] Chris Farmer’s background information
[12:40] How Chris started getting curious about life
[15:35] How the universe woke up Chris
[21:00] How the world burned in front of Chris
[27:34] The universal double-check
[34:19] Is intuition real or not?
[46:17] The day Chris realized he had a personal relationship with the universe
[50:41] How Chris got to Salt Lake from Idaho
[58:02] Chris’s first experience with alcohol
[58:11] Chris’s experience with divorce
[01:04:25] Chris’s experience with the other marriage
[01:19:00] How Chris started working in San Francisco
[01:24:50] The secret grow room dungeon

Notable quotes:

• “I naturally delight in connecting people with what feels like the sunshine of the universe.” - Chris Farmer [08:46]
• “The universe meets you exactly where you are and doesn’t care what belief system you are in.” - Chris Farmer [15:54]
• “Everything is energy, and the physical follows the energy. Whatever is happening, there is an energy to it.” - Chris Farmer [32:52]
• “The universe makes things just as painful as it has to to get you to do something different.” - Chris Farmer [01:15:29]
• “The world is limitless, but we always think it’s not.” - Chris Farmer [01:18:53]

Relevant links:

Chris Farmer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianwestphotos/
Website: https://jungutah.org/

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast

In this revisited episode of The Observatory, George Bumann, a professional sculptor and wildlife ecologist, joins the show to discuss communicating and listening to the world and nature and how it's constantly communicating with us. George shares insights from his book "Eavesdropping on Animals: What We Can Learn From Wildlife Conversations" and explores the importance of creating a relationship with nature. The conversation delves into instances of listening to nature, techniques for achieving stillness, and the connection between music, listening, watching, and the natural world. George, whose sculptures can be found in prestigious collections across the United States, brings a unique perspective that combines his artistic background with his deep understanding of wildlife ecology.

Timestamps

[01:51] About George Bumann
[04:00] The book - Eavesdropping on Animals: What We Can Learn From Wildlife Conversations
[07:20] Creating a relationship with nature
[16:31] Instances George observed listening to nature
[25:29] Allowing nature to be what it is
[31:30] Using our senses to focus more when we are still
[35:28] Techniques to get into stillness
[44:22] We are never well in isolation
[49:21] Yellowstone environment experience for George
[58:40] Connection between music, listening, watching, and nature
[01:03:52] George’s experience when he was dancing around the fire
[01:12:23] Getting into spaces where we explore

Notable Quotes

• “In a lot of cultures the birds are the messengers, they are the ones that bring the messages to the clan or to the tribe.” - Scott Wright [13:51]
• “You can learn with the plants, you can learn with the animals have to teach us but that’s the big thing, is most of us just do not know how to listen anymore.” - George Bumann [14:54]
• “If you are darting your eyes around, the only thing you are seeing is the one thing you are looking at.” - Scott Wright [33:48]
• “Our culture, even our science has become so reductionist and focused on particular things.”  - George Bumann [35:38]
• “Those broader ways of observing contexts gives you the relationship.” - George Bumann [35:52] 
• “We live in the land of the free but we are not free.” - George Bumann [01:04:34]
• “Conversations can happen on so many levels beyond words.” - LaRae Wright

Resources Mentioned

1. The Book: Eavesdropping on Animals: What We Can Learn From Wildlife Conversations - George Bumann : https://www.amazon.com/Eavesdropping-Animals-Learn-Wildlife-Conversations/dp/1778400205
2. The Book: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants - Robin Wall Kimmerer: https://www.amazon.com/Braiding-Sweetgrass-Indigenous-Scientific-Knowledge/dp/1571313567
3. The Book: The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music - Victor L. Wooten: https://www.amazon.com/Music-Lesson-Spiritual-Search-Through/dp/0425220931

Connect With George Bumann: 

https://www.georgebumann.com/
https://www.facebook.com/george.bumann.3/
https://www.ayellowstonelife.com
https://www.ayellowstonelife.com/language-of-the-wild/

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast

Produced by NC Productions!

In this episode of The Observatory, Scott and LaRae discuss the purpose of alchemy, which aims to liberate the entire individual self, including the parts held in darkness. Hear how you can transform your best self into your soul self, what makes life sacred, and the practice of paying attention and being present. They also share the areas in their life that have turned from lead to gold and the upcoming ‘You are the Medicine’ retreat.
 
Timestamps

[03:31] Transforming your best self into your soul self
[03:56] What makes life sacred?
[07:21] The practice of paying attention and being present 
[13:08] Scott’s memory of turning bricks into gold
[14:28] About the book: The Alchemist
[19:21] The areas in LaRae’s life that have turned from lead to gold
[25:55] The areas in Scott’s life that have turned from lead to gold
[31:37] The year of alchemy for all the listeners
[34:11] ‘You are the medicine’ retreat

Notable quotes:

• “It’s important in our lives to have something that nourishes our souls.” - Scott Wright [30:52]
• “It’s less about doing and more about being, creating from a place of presence.” - Scott Wright [31:22]

Relevant links:

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast

Produced by NC Productions!