Thom Krystofiak holds a B.A. from Harvard (magna cum laude) and an M.A. from Cambridge University, where he was a Knox Fellow. A trained teacher of Transcendental Meditation, in 1983 he joined an intentional community in Fairfield, Iowa, where he and his wife continue to live. He calls himself “a rigorous and thoroughgoing skeptic surrounded by ready believers,” and says he has “developed unique perspectives on the eternal and ever-new contest of doubt vs. belief.” He is the author of Tempted to Believe: The Seductive Power of Claims About ‘The Truth’. We spoke about the perspective that informs that book, touching on topics central to life on the spiritual path, such as the need for objectivity and discernment, balancing trust and independent thinking, and the temptation to believe the hard-to-believe. Learn more about Thom Krystofiak here: https://krystofiak.com

Thom Kystofiac Interview

The spiritual landscape has never been more diverse, more eclectic, more individualized or more internally focused.  Spirit matters, and in our open-source world, matters of the spirit are complex and endlessly fascinating.  The Spirit Matters podcast aims to help listeners make sense of it all.

Religion & Spirituality

Other

Spirituality

Christianity

Buddhism

Hinduism

Judaism

Islam

This is the Spirit Matters Grand Finale. Dennis and Phil reminisce about their seven years and reflect on the 300 or so interviews they've conducted about spirituality with teachers, leaders, scholars, scientists and experts of various kinds - all wise and all happy to share their insights and guidance. They share what they've learned from the experience and their gratitude to everyone who helped along the way. And they announced that Phil will be carrying the Spirit Matters banner solo on a new platform: mindbodyspirit.fm.

Dennis and Phil -- The Grand Finale

This is the Spirit Matters Grand Finale.  Dennis and Phil reminisce about their seven years and reflect on the 300 or so interviews they've conducted about spirituality with teachers, leaders, scholars, scientists and experts of various kinds - all wise and all happy to share their insights and guidance. They share what they've learned from the experience and their gratitude to everyone who helped along the way. And they announced that Phil will be carrying the Spirit Matters banner solo on a new platform: mindbodyspirit.fm.

Dennis and Phil - The Final Episode

Paul J. Mills is Professor of Public Health and Family Medicine and the Director of the Center of Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health. A clinical researcher with a focus on integrative medicine and spiritual practice, his former positions include: President of the American Psychosomatic Medicine Society, Chief of Behavioral Medicine at the University of California San Diego, Director of Research at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, and editor of several professional journals. He has more than 400 scientific publications in the fields of pharmacology, oncology, cardiology, psychoneuroimmunology, behavioral medicine, and integrative health. His work has been featured in Time magazine, The New York Times, National Public Radio, and many other sources. He has presented at hundreds of conferences and workshops around the world, including at the United Nations. And he is the author of the intriguing new book, Science, Being, & Becoming: The Spiritual Lives of Scientists. We spoke about that book, the historic tension between science and spirituality, and what he learned interviewing scientists about their spiritual experiences. Learn more about Paul Mills here: https://profiles.ucsd.edu/paul.mills

Paul J. Mills Interview 2

Eric Shaw is a scholar, writer, and yoga instructor with a particular interest in yoga's history, philosophy, and postural evolution. He received a masters degree from United Theological Seminary in Religious Studies, and other masters degrees from Western New Mexico University and the California Institute of Integral Studies. He has written over 100 articles on the yoga tradition for leading web and hardcopy platforms, as well as essays on art, religion, politics, race, and gender. His lectures have been hosted by museums, colleges, and conferences throughout Asia and North America. Eric is also the author of two books, BKS Iyengar and the Making of Modern Yoga and Sacred Thread: A Comprehensive Yoga Timeline: 2000 Dates that Shaped Yoga History. We spoke about that second book and his comprehensive research on the history of yoga, and touched as well on the state of contemporary yoga in the West. Learn more about Eric Shaw here:

Eric Shaw Interview

Henry Yampolsky is a lawyer, a mediator, an educator, a public speaker, and an author. He serves as the Assistant Director for Education, Outreach, and Conflict Resolution at Virginia Tech's Office for Equity and Accessibility and teaches conflict resolution, mediation, and peace building through the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention. Henry has worked on many complex conflicts and has taught and lectured around the world. He’s also a yogi and a master-level instructor of Sattva Yoga, having been trained in Rishikesh, India. He’s also the author of a new book, Dis-Solving Conflict from Within: An Inner Path for Conflict Transformation. A native of Kyiv, Ukraine, Henry currently resides in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. We spoke about his new book, spiritual development as a vital aspect of handling conflict effectively, why he speaks of “conflict transformation” rather than “resolution,” and much more. Learn more about Henry Yampolsky here: https://www.livingpeaceinstitute.com/#about

Thom Kystofiac Interview

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