How do we deal with our world when life as we know it  changes, when everything we once knew to be true no longer is true, and when we must confront the cognitive dissonance that comes with such a rude awakening? The key lies in realizing that what is unfolding is, in fact, an awakening. As we navigate the new reality that is Covid-19, we have an opportunity to learn from the masters and teachers who facilitate such an awakening. Daryl Davis is one such guru. 

In addition to being an amazing musician, Daryl's claim to fame is getting hundreds of members of the KKK to leave the organization. You heard that right.  As an African-American who regularly hangs out with klan leaders, Daryl's very being serves as a fodder for cognitive dissonance -- and, as you'll hear in this episode, cognitive dissonance is what awakens folks to the quest of self-discovery, truth, and enlightenment. 

P/S As promised, you can subscribe to the all new ToE weekly newsletter here. 

In the latest episode of the 'Theory of Enchantment,' I sat down with Seth Godin, marketing guru extraordinaire. In our brief conversation, we spoke about some of the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur,  innovative approaches to marketing, and the importance of centering service in all that we do. Enjoy! 

He's a pulitzer prize winning writer, author, and columnist at the New York Times, but I'm mostly proud to call him my mentor and friend: Bret Stephens joins the ToE universe in this episode for a chat about writing, the purpose of the great books, and how to live a life worth living. Enjoy!  

Children of Promise (CPNYC) is an organization in Bedstuy, Brooklyn that mentors kids whose parents are incarcerated. I regularly volunteer there so I recently sat down with Sharon Content, the founder of the org, to talk about her journey of building, maintaining, and growing this non-profit that services the needs of kids and caretakers alike affected by the incarceration system. I think you'll be inspired by Ms. Content's tenacity and drive and I hope it motivates you to consider pursuing social entrepreneurial endeavors in your own back yard. Enjoy! 

In this latest episode, I sat down to talk with Meghan Daum about her latest book, 'The Problem With Everything: My Journey Through the Culture Wars.' We discussed generational divides between Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z, how social media is corroding our ability to think deeply about relationships, and the truth revealed about men and women in the 2008 film 'Revolutionary Road.' Enjoy! 

Dabney Hall spent 40 years of his life in prison. After returning to civilian life, he could have collapsed under the weight of the pressures around him and returned to prison. Instead he worked on improving his habits, became a participant in  Fortune Society's 'Alternatives to Incarceration' program, and assumed a leadership position in his community. In this interview, we sat down to talk about his journey and the advice he has to give to young African-American men trying to overcome poverty, gang life, and other negative influences in their environment. 

Happy New Year! This episode is dedicated to making you move your booty. 

Last year I received the incredible opportunity to sit down with DJ Tasha Blank of The Get Down in Brooklyn, New York right before her set at The Good Room. The Get Down is a fun dance party that occurs once every two weeks in the city and is headed by Tasha Blank who brings her fabulous sounds to the dance floor. In this interview, we got to speak about so much, including how artists can overcome their own fears, the importance of surrendering to the process, and how incorporating dance into our personal lives can help transform the way we experience the world around us. Be sure to check out Tasha Blank's soundcloud and if you're ever in the NYC area check out 'The Get Down.' It's an event you won't want to miss. 

Mr. Otura Mun is the founder of Ifé, a band whose music I discovered in 2017. "Ifé",  a Yoruban term meaning both Love and Expansion,  is a Puerto Rican based music group whose debut album is by far one of the greatest albums I've ever been blessed to hear. Combining the sounds of rhumba and electronic percussion along with the corpus and thematic elements of the Yoruba religion, Mr. Mun takes his audience on a spiritual journey that left me feeling open, creative, and above all, grateful for life.

Though we could not meet in person, (Mr. Mun lives in San Juan), we spoke over Zoom and recorded an almost 2-hour conversation about his process and journey to make this record. Musicians and artists will especially love this interview, but everyone regardless of their background should take some time to listen to the album. It is truly extraordinary. 

In this episode we speak with Meir Kay, a social media influencer and internet personality with hundreds of millions of views. People from all over the world flock to Meir's videos for his positivity, inspiration, and generally good vibes. In this discussion, we talked about the ups and downs of popularity, the importance of meditation and authenticity, and Meir's great work highlighting the dignity of the underserved and underprivileged in our society today. Enjoy! 

In this episode we sit down with Professor Jonathan Haidt to discuss his latest book, 'The Coddling of the American Mind.' We speak about the challenges to healthy identity formation in the 21st century, the negative effects of social media on the self-esteem of adolescents, and how to seek purpose and meaning in an increasingly fractured and polarized world. Enjoy!