The Spiritual Psychology of Acting Podcast

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What happens when you move beyond simply trying to survive, succeed and make sense of the world, and begin to experience life from a completely different level of awareness?

In Part 3 of our Levels of Consciousness series, we start to move into the higher levels: Willingness, Acceptance, Reason, Love, and Joy.

What do these levels actually look like in everyday life? And what do they reveal about psychological and spiritual maturity?

This is where things really start to change.

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Book a Live Intro Seminar for the SPOA:
https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/courses/online-intro-seminar/

Support us on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing [email protected]

If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

Follow us:

Instagram: 

SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

Facebook: 

SPOA - https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualPsychologyOfActing

 
An Awakened State Production

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Why do some people live in constant anxiety, while others face the same situations with courage?

Why are some driven by pure ambition and desire, while others seem strangely calm and grounded?

According to psychiatrist and researcher David R. Hawkins, it’s not random.

He proposed something called The Map of Consciousness, a framework that suggests human emotions and worldviews exist on a measurable scale, from the most destructive states of mind all the way up to the most expansive and enlightened.

In the previous episode of this mini-series, we explored the very bottom of that map: the heavy emotional territories of shame, guilt, apathy and grief.

But in this episode, we start climbing.

Today we’re moving through the levels of Fear, Desire, Anger and Pride, before crossing a fascinating turning point in Hawkins’ model. The critical threshold of 200.

Below that line, people are driven by what Hawkins called Force, where life is often a struggle.

Above it, something shifts.

We enter the territory of Power.

And that’s where we begin to stop fighting life quite so hard and start engaging with it in a completely different way.

So, in this episode, as we climb up the levels, we explore what these states look like in our lives and how they show up again and again in the stories we love to watch.

Because some of the most unforgettable characters in film, television and theatre live inside these levels.

Characters ruled by fear or chasing desire.

Characters burning with anger or whose pride becomes their downfall.

And characters who against all odds find the courage to rise above it.

Book a Live Intro Seminar for the SPOA:
https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/courses/online-intro-seminar/

Support us on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing [email protected]

If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

Follow us:

Instagram: 

SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

Facebook: 

SPOA - https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualPsychologyOfActing

 
An Awakened State Production

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What if human suffering wasn’t random?

What if there were actually a 'map', a framework for understanding why certain people remain trapped in cycles of shame or anger, while others seem able to rise above the same circumstances and live with courage, and joy?

In the 1990s, psychiatrist and researcher David R. Hawkins proposed something radical.

He suggested that human emotions, motivations, and worldviews exist on a measurable scale of consciousness, ranging from the most destructive states of mind all the way to enlightenment.

He called it The Map of Consciousness.

Now, at first that might sound a bit abstract or 'woo-woo', but stick with us. Because instead of judging people morally, what the map gives us is a surprisingly practical way to understand the mechanics of human behaviour.

So, in this 3 part mini series, we’re exploring all the levels of Consciousness, starting with the very bottom of the map.

Because in this basement level are four emotional states that can often keep us locked in suffering.

Shame.
Guilt.
Apathy.
Grief.

For some, these aren’t just passing feelings. They’re entire worldviews that colour how we see ourselves and others around us.

And some of the most powerful stories ever told, in film, TV, and theatre, are about characters trapped in these states, trying to climb their way out.

So, in this episode, we’re exploring what these levels actually look like in real life and how becoming aware of them might help us begin to move beyond them.

Book a Live Intro Seminar for the SPOA:
https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/courses/online-intro-seminar/

Support us on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing [email protected]

If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

Follow us:

Instagram: 

SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

Facebook: 

SPOA - https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualPsychologyOfActing

 
An Awakened State Production

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Today we’re diving into an area of the industry experiencing somewhat of a boom – audiobooks. We wanted to speak to someone who not only understands that world, but who’s shaping it from the inside.

Our guest in this episode is Elise Arsenault – she’s an award-winning audiobook narrator, actor, coach, and entrepreneur. Throughout her career, she’s narrated close to 200 audiobooks, as well as providing voiceover for commercials and video games.

Elise is also the founder of The Global Actor, host of the Global Actor podcast, and creator of the The Great Audiobook Adventure – a program that’s specifically designed to help actors break into and build thriving careers in the audiobook industry.

Most recently, she delivered a fantastic TEDx talk titled, The Power of a Human Storyteller in the Age of AI. If you haven’t seen or heard it yet, it’s a heartfelt, timely argument for why human voices still matter.

So, today, we’re exploring all of it: Elise’s journey, her craft, the ever-evolving audiobook industry, and exactly what role humans still play in a world that seems to be increasingly full of synthetic voices.

TEDx talk (The Power of a Human Storyteller in the Age of A.I.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDlR76DPkSs

Elise's website: https://theglobalactor.com/

The Great Audiobook Adventure: https://audiobookadventure.com/home/

The Global Actor Podcast: https://theglobalactor.com/podcast/

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing [email protected]

If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

Follow us:

Instagram: 

SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

Twitter:

SPOA - https://twitter.com/spiritualacting

John Osborne Hughes - https://twitter.com/JOsborneHughes

Jordan Turk - https://twitter.com/jordantheturk

 
An Awakened State Production

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This time of year can be great – but also quite intense. There are more expectations on us, more emotions at play, and more stories circling in our heads about family, money, the future, and how we think we should think and feel about those things.

Today’s episode looks at a simple idea from the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi that cuts straight through all that noise: you are not your thoughts.

What’s interesting about this century old spiritual teaching is how it aligns with modern psychology and points to the same wisdom: to stop wrestling with your thoughts and instead change your relationship to them.

We talk about how to do that in a world that seems so full of anxiety and fear and how to remain present when the mind is trying to run the show (which, around Christmas time, it usually is).

Book a Live Intro Seminar for the SPOA:
https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/courses/online-intro-seminar/

Support us on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing [email protected]

If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

Follow us:

Instagram: 

SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

Facebook: 

SPOA - https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualPsychologyOfActing

 
An Awakened State Production

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This week we are joined by Anne Alexander-Sieder - an American actor, podcaster and coach based in Germany.

She’s someone who rebuilt her creative life from the ground up. After taking a sixteen-year break from acting and living far from the industry, she found her way back through a process she calls The Curator Method.

She’s since gone on to found Act Bold Training and create The Escape Route Challenge - a five-day journey that helps artists build better connections, break through obstacles, and find the people who can take them to the next level.

In this conversation, we explore some of the biggest questions every artist faces:

How do we make a living while staying true to our art?
How do we balance family, career, and creative purpose?
What’s the difference between our job - the thing that pays the rent - and our work - the thing that feeds the soul?

Anne shares how the solution to most of our creative struggles can often be found inside the problem itself - and why the secret to getting what we need is often found through service and giving.

We also talk about getting off the hamster wheel of comparison, celebrating the small wins, and choosing thoughts that serve our artistry rather than our ego.

This is a conversation about how to stay connected to your purpose, even when life pulls you in a dozen different directions.

The Escape Route Challenge (10th-14th Nov): https://www.actboldtraining.com/escape-route-challenge

The Escape Route Free Workbook: https://www.actboldtraining.com/escape-route-playbook

Act Bold Training: https://www.actboldtraining.com/

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing [email protected]

If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

Follow us:

Instagram: 

SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

Twitter:

SPOA - https://twitter.com/spiritualacting

John Osborne Hughes - https://twitter.com/JOsborneHughes

Jordan Turk - https://twitter.com/jordantheturk

 
An Awakened State Production

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One of the big themes of this podcast is how acting and life are completely intertwined – the craft of acting isn’t just about performance, it’s about understanding yourself, other people, and the world we live in.

And that’s exactly what this conversation is about. In just a few weeks, John will be running a brand new course. And this isn’t just another acting workshop – it’s something far richer, giving you the practical tools to understand yourself on the deepest level.

So, whether you’re an artist looking to free yourself up creatively, or someone who just wants to live with more clarity, joy and purpose – what we’re talking about today is for you.

In the episode, we unpack what the course is all about, go through the Three Higher Purposes of Human Life that forms the spine of the course, and how its lessons apply both on stage and screen and in everyday life.

Find out more: Online Intro Seminar 

Book your place here: Know Yourself, Be Yourself - Full Course

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing [email protected]

If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

Follow us:

Instagram: 

SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

Twitter:

SPOA - https://twitter.com/spiritualacting

John Osborne Hughes - https://twitter.com/JOsborneHughes

Jordan Turk - https://twitter.com/jordantheturk

 
An Awakened State Production

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We're back! John and Jordan catch up with each other and discuss what's coming in season 4 of the podcast.

Support us on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing [email protected]

If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

Follow us:

Instagram: 

SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

Twitter:

SPOA - https://twitter.com/spiritualacting

John Osborne Hughes - https://twitter.com/JOsborneHughes

Jordan Turk - https://twitter.com/jordantheturk

Facebook: 

SPOA - https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualPsychologyOfActing

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In this bonus episode, we discuss the new course to come out of the Spiritual Psychology of Acting – Active Embodiment. We chat about what is and give all the details of how you can study it.


Request the Free Active Embodiment Intro Recording:
https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/courses/active-embodiment-online-intro-class/

Active Embodiment Live Online Training Course:
https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/courses/active-embodiment-live-intensive-course/

Active Embodiment Live In-Person Course in London:
https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/workshops/active-embodiment/

Support us on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

 If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing [email protected]

If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

Follow us:

Instagram: 

SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

Twitter:

SPOA - https://twitter.com/spiritualacting

John Osborne Hughes - https://twitter.com/JOsborneHughes

Jordan Turk - https://twitter.com/jordantheturk

Facebook: 

SPOA - https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualPsychologyOfActing

 An Awakened State production.

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We conclude our third season of the podcast by chatting to the brilliant, Richard Brake.

If you don’t recognise the name, you will most definitely recognise the face as Richard has starred in a ton of movies and tv series over the last 20 years. After landing a supporting role in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, Richard began to break out in the 2005 film Doom, Steven Spielberg’s Munich, and Hannibal Rising.

Since then, he’s had a vast and varied career, not just in movies but in television as well, appearing in Peaky Blinders, Ray Donnovan, The Mandalorian, and most famously as the Night King in the HBO series, Game of Thrones.

Richard is a fantastically versatile actor but he’s particularly adept at playing villains, monsters and psychopaths, as is evident in his work in horror films like Mandy, Barbarian, and as fan favourite Doomhead in Rob Zombie’s 31.

Despite being scarily good in his horror roles, Richard has a warm, down-to-earth, lovely nature. It was especially good to get to chat with him as he worked with John early on in his career, studying the Spiritual Psychology of Acting.

We discuss the impact that had on his life as well as the turning points that helped him build the career he has today.


The Last Stop In Yuma County movie clip:
https://youtu.be/tJJx0rUoqNI?si=TRvDo6tKa4roFB9-

Active Embodiment Intro Class:
https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/courses/active-embodiment-online-intro-class/

Active Embodiment Live Online Training Course: https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/courses/active-embodiment-live-intensive-course/

Active Embodiment Live In-Person Course in London: https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/workshops/active-embodiment/


Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing [email protected]

If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

Follow us:

Instagram: 

SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

Twitter:

SPOA - https://twitter.com/spiritualacting

John Osborne Hughes - https://twitter.com/JOsborneHughes

Jordan Turk - https://twitter.com/jordantheturk

 
An Awakened State production.

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