Sheena Sood, PhD, Philly-based healer, writer, educator, and activist scholar of South Asian descent, talks with J about the painful history of caste and politicizing yoga towards healing justice. They discuss Sheena’s writing on Spectacles of Compassion, Decolonizing Yoga, Collective Healing, as well as some of the current politics behind the protests in India, International Yoga Day, the Modhi government, and the radical possibility for a liberatory yoga.

Valerie Hauser, Director of the Office of Native American Affairs at the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, talks with J about her work protecting indigenous culture. They discuss the role she plays advising the US government, understanding land-based spirituality and Traditional Knowledge, the disheartening reality of how many people just don’t care, and the continued fortitude to fight for what is right and embody justice.

Kiko Ellsworth, Emmy Award-Winning Actor, Men’s Evolution Coach, and Self Defense Expert, talks with J about discovering a spiritual life and the work men need to do for a better world. They discuss the process of abandoning egoic pursuits to find a deeper sense of self, the allure of celebrity, learning to better serve our partners with humility, choosing to be a force of love, and the unstoppable power of coming together with shared purpose.

Gil Hedley, Ph.D., author, Director of Somanautics Workshops and producer of the The Integral Anatomy Series, talks with J about the substance and meaning of existence in a human body. They discuss theology and ethics, models with which we view our bodies, denial of the feminine, “the fuzz” and “perifascia,” understanding interconnectedness of all things within our own systems, and fully embodying the majesty and grace that imbues our cells.

Todd Mclaughlin, oo-founder and director of Native Yoga Center and host of the Native Yoga Toddcast, talks with J about current events and pressing matters. After appearing on Todd’s show, J felt like it captured the spirit of what he loves about podcasting and decided to re-release it on Yoga Talks as a fun switch. They discuss the storming of the US Capital, the exposing of fake gurus, surviving the pandemic, and finding hope through conversation.

Daniel Simpson, former foreign correspondent and author of The Truth of Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide to Yoga’s History, Texts, Philosophy, and Practices, talks with J about exposing truth in both journalism and yoga. They discuss Daniels experience of writing for the NY Times after 9/11, why he decided to leave behind journalism and pursue yoga, what we actually know about the origins of yoga, and being clear about what texts say and what we choose.

Lucy Karnani, coauthor of Connecting: Conscious Communication for Yoga Teachers and Therapists, talks with J about utilizing tools for understanding connection and communication. Lucy and J connect and discuss her background in facilitating effective communication, the importance of values, levels of listening, conditions for change, and the link between our practice and being able to share it with others in a way that is helpful.

Krishna Das, best-selling western chant artist of all time, talks with J about what a real guru is and the practice of chanting. They discuss KD’s experience of Neem Karoli Baba and the role of a guru, his early beginnings of leading kirtan in NYC, singing to clean out the dark places, overcoming the pitfalls that come from becoming more interesting to others, understanding deeper love, and experiencing heart spaces as interconnectedness.

Trina Altman, author of Yoga Deconstructed®: Movement Science Principles for Teaching, returns to the show to touch base with J on expanding movement diets and meeting goals. They catch up on whats been happening since they last spoke and how they have been navigating the pandemic, discuss the evolution of yoga teaching, Trina’s views on utilizing movement, and the deeper inquiry into ourselves that transcends labels or categories.

Andrew Rosenstock, host of the Touching Into Presence Podcast, talks with J about Rolfing and other forms of mind/body therapies. They discuss the history of Rolfing and being “rolfed,” Andrew’s viewpoint on both technique and philosophy, parallels between structural integration and yoga therapy, movement, gait analysis, what can actually be done to a structure and why, and the somatic exploration at the heart of facilitating awareness.

Elisa Malinverni, founder of Way of The Mother Bern, talks with J about handling the quarantines and moving forward. They discuss the differences between how Switzerland and the USA have dealt with the pandemic, the blog she wrote about teachers giving away classes and devaluing the profession, the deep value of community and circles of trust, and the need for teachers to reimagine relationships and retain individual platforms.

Hareesh Wallis, Founder and Head Faculty of Tantrika Institute and author of Tantra Illuminated, returns to the show to talk about shifting paradigms of existence and near enemies of the truth. They discuss cultivating a reverent feeling towards life, balancing devotion with discernment, understanding gurus, kindness and tough love as pedagogical strategies, receiving downloads of innate intelligence, and understanding subjectivity.

Adam Schwartz, yoga teacher and podcast listener, talks with J about the dark underbelly of Yoga to the People NYC. They discuss the @yttpshadowwork Instagram account that started publishing anonymous testimony of manipulation and abuse at what was a premier yoga presence in the NY scene prior to covid, Adam’s first-hand experience of practice and training at YTTP, inner workings of studio policies, and lessons to be learned.

Lucie Vogel, Original Goat Yoga Mama and survivor of the Dahn Yoga cult, talks with J about holding institutions accountable and a defamation lawsuit filed by Matthew Remski. They discuss Dahn Yoga and her involvement in the organization, when the locust of control shifts in high-demand groups, legal barriers to accountability, why Lucie wrote an article exposing Remski’s lawsuit, and making sure our efforts to achieve justice are true to purpose.

Chris Preist, co-director of Bristol Zen Dojo, talks with J about the teachings of TKV Desikachar and collectivizing institutions of yoga. They discuss Chris’s history and study in both yoga and zen, the process of mind and ego, the role of oo-jai pranayama, going from gross to subtle awareness, deep commitment and teacher/student relationships, the failing of institutions to address abuse, and the power of sincere friendship and mutual bonds.

Heather Plett, author of The Art of Holding Space, talks with J the day after the 2020 election about what it means to hold space and learning to navigate in the dark. They discuss the liminal threshold of ambiguity and disorientation that occurs when we find ourselves transitioning, circles of trust and vulnerability, brave vs safe spaces, power and privilege, selective judgement, and creating new social contracts that foster equality and humility.

Jeff Krasno, author and host of the Commune Podcast, talks with J about the trajectory of yoga in our culture and its role in the larger collective fate of humanity. They discuss the origins of Wanderlust, downsides to turning yoga teachers into rock stars, the vital contribution that earnest teachers make in society, our current perilous moment, being open to learn from opposing viewpoints to counter polarization, and keeping faith in our institutions,

Hong Gwi-Seok, author of The Gift of Somatic Particularity in Iyengar Yoga and teacher at the Iyengar Yoga Detroit Cooperative, talks with J about evolving practice and bottom-up social change. They discuss her history with Iyengar Yoga, misconceptions about BKS Iyengar, the notion of somatic particularity, hierarchical power abuse, yoga and social change, and the spirit of inquiry at the heart of exploring interconnectedness with all things.

Judith Hanson Lasater, author of Yoga Myths: What You Need to Learn and Unlearn for a Safe and Healthy Yoga Practice, returns to the show and talks with J about letting go of the myths that once dominated yoga classes and embracing the spiritual underpinnings of practice. They discuss the genesis of her latest book, the inner workings of triangle pose, Mula Bandha as an energetic technique, and the heart space that really makes it all work.

Simon Borg-Olivier, co-founder and owner of Yoga Synergy, talks with J about both the science and metaphysics in his work uncovering the essence of yoga. They discuss his experience of studying with the gurus and pioneering yoga in the west, the influence of tradition in the process of innovation, energy in the human system, modern body vs traditional body, natural breathing, and recognition of our inherent interconnectedness.