Annie Carpenter, veteran yoga teacher trainer from Yogaworks and creator of SmartFLOW Yoga, talks with J about the history of YTT’s, current industry trends, and transitioning from growth models to in-depth inquiry. They discuss Annie’s background in yoga, her opinions on conducting trainings and mentoring teachers, how things have changed over the years, and indications of a grassroots upswell for a return to core principles.

Kerry Maiorca, founder of Bloom Yoga Studio and Chair of the Board of Directors for Yoga Alliance, talks with J about the inner workings of the Yoga Alliance and the Standards Review Project. Kerry and J are old friends and participated in the same yoga teacher training over twenty years ago, after some reminiscing they talk about how she became involved at the YA, the evolution of the organization, and the status of the review process.

Tao Porchon-Lynch, named Oldest Yoga Teacher by Guinness World Record and author of Dancing Light, sits down with J a few months after her 100th birthday to talk about her life and the spirit of yoga. They discuss the morning class that J took with her, some of her childhood experiences, how she greets each day with the expectation that it will be the best yet and believes anything is possible, and the inspiration that Tao and her life instills.

Neil Boyd, Board Vice-President of the Feathered Pipe Foundation, talks with J about his life as a farmer, his yoga, and how the two have informed each other. They discuss the connection between his work and the turn of the seasons, how he got into yoga, teachers that helped him, farm practices and yoga, Krishnamurti, the magic of the Feathered Pipe Ranch, and the simple wisdom of embodying kindness in your attitude and actions.

J moderates a panel discussion at the Hauora Yoga Conference with Katie Lane, Donna Farhi, Jac Wilson, Leanne Davis, and Felicity Molloy on the accreditation of yoga and yoga therapy in New Zealand. They discuss the current standards for Yoga Australia and Yoga New Zealand, the difference between yoga and yoga therapy, standardization and pedagogy, and the possibility of creating something uniquely Aotearoa

Michael de Manincor, founder and Director of The Yoga Institute, is a student of TKV Desikachar that J met earlier this year and reconnected with for this conversation about the study and transmission of yoga, and the kind of science that supports it. They discuss Michaels trajectory, the PhD research he is doing, Patanjali, competencies for yoga teaching and yoga therapy, and the possibility of moving our understanding of yoga forward.

Anne Jablonski, president of the Feathered Pipe Foundation, shares with J her love of Freedom Style Yoga and the magic that is the Feathered Pipe Ranch. They discuss Anne’s relationship to the teachings of Erich Schiffmann, what makes the ranch so special, teaching people to develop their own intuitive knowing, mindfully unplugging as an essential form of self-care, and the importance of connection in fostering the spirit of healing.

Karen Rain talks with J about the lack of consent culture in yoga, and ways that people can change what they are doing in their own spheres to create a safer and more just society. They discuss the abuse and deception that Pattabhi Jois committed on her and others, deflection and denial from the community, and educating ourselves about power imbalances. Karen also turns the tables on J and holds him to account for his own culpability.

Genny Wilkinson Priest joins J for this probing conversation about the impact of Pattabhi Jois’ sexual assaults on the ashtanga community and yoga world at large. They discuss Genny’s previous life as a journalist, her love of the ashtanga system, her process of evolving in light of the revelations about Pattabhi Jois, efforts being made to shift the culture going forward, hard adjustments and injuries, and the possibility of reformation.

Gregor Maehle, founder of 8 Limbs Ashtanga Yoga, discusses the history of Patabhi Jois’ sexual assaults and the need for the Ashtanga tradition to evolve. He talks about the studies and motivations that led to his adoption of Ashtanga Yoga, direct experience of observing the abuse, injuries that led to his separation, deeper philosophical and evolutionary factors in the creation of stratified power structures, and how to sublimate and grow.

Pedro Luna, creator of the Instagram account @Yogimemes, started taking J’s live stream classes and it led to this conversation about Pedro’s infamy on Instagram and their shared experiences trying to make a life as yoga teachers. They discuss the challenges of being a dad, generational divides when it comes to social media, how Pedro got to 100,000 followers, and discerning the line between promoting your work and maintaining integrity.

Karin Carlson, founder of Return Yoga, has been bringing yoga out of the studio model into underserved communities for years and, after reading a recent post she wrote about the Yoga Alliance, J reached out to work through some ideas together. They discuss the early blogosphere days, shifts in the industry, questions of regulation and Yoga Alliance’s role, and filling the gaps between ancient wisdom and modern day relevance.

Nadiya Nottingham and J know each other from the early days of the NY yoga scene and have been friends for years but this is the first time they really have a full length conversation about ideas that are important to both of them. They discuss Nadiya’s evolution from yoga to QiGong and Celtic Tree Medicine, similarities and differences between QiGong and Yoga, power animals, and the mystery of each persons own individual medicine.

Shelly Prosko returns to talk with J about some difficult questions he has been grappling with. They discuss the concept of right or proper alignment, the difference between yoga therapy and yoga, changing understandings around pain, and moving from a postural-structural bio-mechanical model to a biopsychosocial-spiritual model. They also consider science and mysticism, and how we might keep yoga from falling into foreseeable pitfalls.

Carrie Owerko and J talk about her unconventional approach to teaching Iyengar Yoga and some of the pressing issues facing the community. They discuss her formative theater influences, questions about right alignment and the importance of interoception, her relationship to the Iyengar method, the accounts of sexual assault by a senior teacher, and the fundamental problems inherent in hierarchical traditions.

Dr Loren Fishman, pioneer of integrative medicine and founder of yip.guru, talks with J about his relationship to BKS Iyengar and his published research on the treatment of many disorders, including piriformis syndrome, scoliosis, osteoporosis and rotator cuff tear. They also discuss ideas about postural alignment and injury prevention, creating protocols without sacrificing the mystery, PGC1alfa, and evidence-based yoga in medicine.

Jessie Barr and Tom O’Brien, creators of OM City, are launching a campaign to fund a second season of their show which is J’s favorite ever depiction of the yoga teacher lifestyle. J gushes over how much he loved the first series, finds out why it has taken so long to make more, communes with them on the challenges of independently producing your own stuff, and discuss portrayals of yoga as cliches or nuanced reality.

Patti Safian and J used to run in the same circles back in the early days of the NY Yoga scene and a recent reunion at the TKV Desikachar celebration led to this conversation about her mom, her yoga, and her takeaways from years of study. They discuss her article in Glamour about her mom leaving to become a disciple of Rajneesh, yoga in the nineties, different traditions, cults and cult-like behavior, and how to never giving over your power.

Philip Goldberg, author of American Veda and The Life of Yogananda, talks with J about the long arc of yogic spiritual teachings migrating into western culture, and some of the important figures and moments that have shaped its progression. They discuss the roots of yoga’s export to America and writing American Veda, his new book on Yoganandya, the importance of tradition and the democratization of yoga.

Larry Payne, founder of Prime of Life Yoga and Yoga Therapy Rx, gives J a dose of expertise and humor in this conversation about his life and career. They discuss his journey to India, the influence of TKV Desikachar on his life and teaching, bridging yoga and western medicine, differences between yoga and yoga therapy, and the grand picture of yoga spreading around the world with the power of its transformative qualities.