Sam Rudra Swartz stops by the center in Brooklyn to talk with J about the Accessible Yoga Conference and his long-time relationship with Integral Yoga. They discuss his formative years becoming a resident of both the Yogaville Ashram in Virginia and the Integral Center in NYC, the onset of his physical ailments and the process of overcoming them, and his work in making yoga more accessible to everyone.

Anna Guest-Jelley, founder of Curvy Yoga, knows J from way back when in the early yoga blogosphere days. After getting a PR workup on her new book and feeling a bit jealous, J gets over himself and talks with Anna about her road to greater body acceptance, the influences that have presented challenges, the practice she discovered, the teaching she developed, and the culmination of her new book.

J sits down with his old friend, Zack Kurland. They started out in the yoga word on parallel tracks but Zack ended up taking a different turn ten years ago. They finally get a chance to talk about the way things went and how they are now. Zack discusses his studies in Yoga and Ayurveda, the early NYC days, his experience in yoga-related businesses, starting the Breathing Project with Leslie Kaminoff, and his decision to depart the yoga profession.

J talks to Dylan Galos, a podcast listener who sent an email that hit home and ended up challenging preconceived notions. They discuss Dylan’s bi-racial roots, his relationship to fitness, the PHD he is almost done with on intergenerational child abuse, and the realities of navigating yoga studio culture as an independent teacher who doesn’t fit the conventional molds. The conversation also touches on ways we can overcome our divides.

Beth Donnelly Cabán, long time friend of J and co-producer of The Essential Prenatal Yoga Video with Beth Donnelly Cabán, talks with J about their connection through his center in Brooklyn, the early NY yoga world that brought them together, Beth’s relationship with Integral Yoga, and the release of their new video. J and Beth’s producer, Josh Sitron, also jumps on to share the process and purpose behind facilitating their work.

Donna Farhi talks with J about her experience going from dance to Iyengar Yoga to “the refinement of natural and universal movement principles that underlie safe and sustainable Yoga practice.” They commune on a range of pressing topics that are affecting the yoga world today, including the lack of foundational understanding about Yoga, ethical behavior, pedogogy, and the kinds of questions that best encourage a healthy way forward.

Mike Huggins, founder of Transformation Yoga Project and author of Going OM: A CEO's Journey from a Prison Facility to Spiritual Tranquility, talks with J about the turn of events that took him from the top of a corporate ladder to federal prison. They discuss his work in applying yoga practices for addiction recovery and trauma-related issues, the personal realities of incarceration, and serving on a board together at Liberation Prison Yoga.

Peter Blackaby, author of Intelligent Yoga, talks with J about how he went from Iyengar yoga and an anatomical approach to a view that encompasses the complex relationship between things. They discuss some of his influences, including Vanda Scaravelli, Serge Krakovetsky, and Stanley Kellerman, the idea of functionality, and letting go of yoga practice as a form of physical exercise.

Helene Courvrette, co-founder of MISTY-Montreal International Symposium on Therapeutic Yoga, talks with J about her passion for bringing people together to share and learn. They discuss some of the deep tragedies and losses that Helene has endured, how they led to the work she does as a Yoga Therapist and organizer of MISTY, and the miracle of life that fueled it all. They also touch on the difficulties of organizing events and yoga centers.

Alex Auder, director of Magu Yoga and old friend of J, talks about her mothers' relationship to Andy Warhol, growing up in the Chelsea Hotel, NYC in the 80’s, the early formative times of Jivamukti Yoga, and the fierce determination of independent yoga center owners to make shit happen. They also compare and contrast the current landscape of social media and teacher trainings with how things were in the older days of yoga industry.

Dui Turner and Carol Horton have a conversation with J about the Yoga Service Council and the recent publication of Best Practices For Yoga WIth Veterans. Dui shares her story of nineteen years in military service, her passion for the healing arts, and how she is bringing them together. Carol joins in to speak about her role on the council and to give further insight into the process of creating consensus and community.

J brings Theo Wildcroft on the show after a lovely shout-out online that also included a playful jab about the lack of guests from outside North America. They discuss her research inquiring into the democratization of physical practice, the convergence of yoga and activism, and the radical impact of “pagans doing yoga in fields.” Theo was also around for the Anusara meltdown, and teaches yoga to children with special needs.

Serendipity brings Douglas Rushkoff, author of Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus and Aleister & Adolf, and host of Team Human podcast, to J’s basement for a conversation on the digital age and the economic effects of information technology on human well-being. They discuss Rushkoff’s writing trajectory, chronicling the evolution of the internet from its early open source origins to its corporate controlled iteration of today.

J has the honor of talking to Brenda Feuerstein, wife of the late Georg Feuerstein. Georg’s writings have been a huge influence on J and this was a special opportunity to learn about a man he considers a teacher but never met in person. They discuss Brenda’s relationship to Georg, on both personal and professional levels, and the work of continuing his legacy. They share in mutual appreciation for the deeper aspects of practice.

J hangs out with Susanna Harwood Rubin, author of Yoga 365, in her Manhattan apartment for an intimate conversation about the early years of the NY scene and how things have gone since then. Susanna shares some early shaping experiences transitioning from art world to yoga world, her perspective on the rise and fall of Anusara, and her love of studying yoga philosophy. They also talk about Hindu deities and her new book.

Brian Leaf, author of Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi and Misadventures of a Parenting Yogi, is a mutual friend of J’s producer. They knew of each other for years but this is the first time they actually met. They discuss Brian’s work helping students manage ADD and overcome standardized-tests, how he overcame ulcerative colitis through yoga and Ayurveda, his devotion to Swami Kripalu, and coming from a place of knowing.

Life comes full circle for J in this conversation with Katchie Ananda, his first ever and beloved teacher. They talk about early times when the NY yoga scene was just burgeoning, Katchie’s move away from NY to Colorado to study with Richard Freeman, her time in Anusara and relationship to John Friend, and the dharma path that she is following today. They touch base on how things have changed, and the need for "all hands on deck."

On the occasion of her seventh birthday, J shares some conversations with his eldest daughter, Roslyn Brown. He promised her that they were recording a “real” podcast and, after a recent incident where he maybe wasn’t there for her as a father, he felt compelled to make good on his promise. They talk about animals, her baby sister, her mom, and whether they should stay in Brooklyn or move somewhere else.

J sits down with Ryan Cunningham and Kate Robinson, hosts of Unrolled, for a lively conversation in Ryan’s kitchen just after a workshop at his center, Bow St. Yoga in Sommerville MA. They talk about how Ryan went from being a former-manager to a yoga center owner, showers, the awesomeness that is Unrolled Podcast, why J does Sanskrit chanting and if the name of his podcast is lame, and forging new models for yoga going forward.

J talks with Shelly Prosko, founder of Physio Yoga, about her mission to integrate yoga into the healthcare system. Shelly shares some of her personal story of how a random injury catapulted her work incorporating medical therapeutic yoga and traditional physical therapy. They discuss the difference between bringing medicine into yoga and yoga into medicine, the limitations of allopathic models, and the need for clarity of scope.