Alison West, founder of Yoga Union and one of J's primary teachers, joins the show for the first time to talk about their shared past and the what they see going forward. They discuss Alison's former career as an art historian, her transition to yoga, when they met in the early nineties, when grassroots organizing saved NY state from regulation, back care and scoliosis, and the tenderness and inspiration shared through yoga inquiry.

Kari Hohne, author of Decoding the Night Sky: Ancient Babylonian Astrology and The Mythology of Sleep: The Waking Power of Dreams, talks with J about oracles and the field of interconnectivity underlying reality. They discuss Kari's early interest in dreams, studying physics and ancient systems, interpreting symbols of the mind, creating a dream dictionary, Tao te Ching and I Ching, synchronicity, and the expansiveness of trusting life is benign.

Norman Blair returns to the show to assess the current state of the yoga teaching profession and encourage creative ways of moving forward. They discuss the impact of the pandemic on teachers and centers, online teaching and getting back together in person, pay equity for yoga teachers and the formation of a yoga teacher union, the benefits of keeping things small and cooperative, and daring to think creatively about our future.

Kelly Kamm was recommended to J by a listener and it lead to this talk about the NY yoga scene, mythology, and the current state of play. They discuss earlier times, opening and closing a yoga center, misgivings of vinyasa yoga, seeking deeper connection to the invisible forces of magic and spirit, hindu mythology and fringe dwelling goddesses, leaning into the uncomfortable, incorrect assumptions, and fusing the sacred and the everyday.

Jessie Nieusma (he/him/his) answered J's call to join him for a discussion to dispel misinformation and humanize trans people. They discuss the realities of trans kids, the importance of ensuring that trans people receive the care they need, myths about sports and bathrooms, scare tactics and statistics, spectrum’s along both gender and sex, different ways to move the needle towards equality, and getting to know each other across our differences.

Kathryn Anne Flynn, author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga, talks with J about yoga methodology and pedagogy. They discuss the influence of yoga in Kathryn's childhood, teaching yoga for the general population, magic, Madame Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society, the "ceptions" and exploratory practice, pigeon pose, mobility and stability vs strength and flexibility, strategies for making practice fit needs, and daring to be simple.

Katchie Ananda, J's first yoga teacher, returns to the show to talk about gender spectrum and biological sex. They discuss how Katchie ended up becoming active and writing about the issue, the cancel campaign waged against her in response, whether intersex people prove that sex is assigned rather than observed, woman’s liberation and individual expression, Big Pharma in trans medicine, and every persons right to be whoever they want,

Gregor Maele, author of How to Find Your Life's Divine Purpose, talks with J about belief systems and realizing a purposeful life. They discuss pros and cons of experiencing the entirety of everything at once, perceptual filters and the process of enculturation, infinite human capacity for bullshitting, how we know what we know and how we know if were wrong, feeling freer from a fear of death, and collective purpose in finding peace with nature.

Rachel Feinberg, old friend and Iyengar yoga teacher, talks with J about what's been happening since they last spoke 14 years ago. They discuss Rachel's lack of online presence and how she has managed to keep it local, the role of alignment in Iyengar yoga, teaching at IYAGNY, having your own space vs teaching at a center, weathering the pandemic, and the subtle exchange between teachers and students that communicates yoga.

Madhava Setty, MD, author of WOKE. An Anesthesiologist’s View and The Conspirituality Podcast: Clear Signal or More Noise?, talks with J about challenging official narratives. They discuss his early career in the Aerospace and Defense Industries, his transition to studying medicine and observing people under Anastasia, questions around the pandemic, the official story of 9/11 WTC7, and the radical implications of interconnectedness.

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.