Stephen Cope, author of Yoga and the Quest for the True Selfand The Dharma in Difficult Times, talks with J about the crossovers and divergences in eastern and western spirituality. They discuss psychotherapy and contemplative pursuits, crazy wisdom teachers, discovering Kripalu, shaktiput from Amrit Desai, reinvention from ashram to retreat center, and slowly refining your capacity to know that still small voice within.

Nadine Watton, part of the Hillside Yoga Collective, talks with J about riding the wave and surviving the crash of yoga into the mainstream in both practice and profession. They discuss mutual friends and synchronicity, practicing in the late 90’s, teacher training certification becoming a thing, Dave Charlton and the British Wheel of Yoga, choosing yoga as a profession, yoga teacher collectives, and letting go of trying to fit into tired molds.

Katie Armstrong, founder of Inspired Living, talks with J about moving through different life stages and the healing power of building muscle. They discuss starting a yoga-related business in the early aughts, the festival circuit and the unseen backstage realities of presenters, hormone replacement therapy, muscle as medicine, diversity of embodiment practices, crisis of sedentary lifestyles, and resiliency in the face of entropy.

Susi Amendola, author of The Centered Heart, talks with J about the intersection of medicine and holistic health. They discuss suffering from debilitating anxiety, being saved by yoga and joining an ashram, reconciling fallen gurus, becoming part of the Dean Ornish Lifestyle Medicine Program, internal vs external locus of control, coexistence with allopathy, using imagery, and addressing the core process underlying our choice making.

Brad Wetzler, author of Into the Soul of the World, talks with J about overcoming addiction, spiritual interventions, and laying ourselves bare in order to heal. They discuss the pandemic period they met in, getting misdiagnosed as bipolar and becoming addicted to medication, mental health care, saints and gurus, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, receiving shaktipat, materialism, devotion, being softened by love, and real humanity.

Live from the Berkshire Yoga Festival 2024, J talks with Johanna Epps, Louise LeGouis, and Leslie Kaminoff about motivation, purpose, and the zeitgeist of the times. They discuss making sense of the scandals, hurting our bodies and student safety, what sells and presenting to the public, reasons to attend and benefits of presenting at a festival, eternal topics and breaking new ground, and not taking for granted the joy of being in person.

J departs from his usual format to reflect on how he lost hope in the viability of small intimate yoga centers and why he has decided to open one now. He discusses the dark night of the soul that many yoga teachers are facing, the events that have led to the crossroads he faces, a random opportunity or perhaps divine intervention that has changed everything, and the hard reality that has caused him to admit that he can’t do it alone.

Godfrey Devereux, author of The Little Book of the Bandhas, returns to talk with J about releasing somatic intelligence from learned habits and the story that bandhas tell us. They discuss varied ideas about bandhas, connection between Mulabandha and exhalation, spontaneous muscle events leading to energetic experience, bandha in the extremities, oojai breathing, and the irresistible invitation to surrender into the totality of life and being human.

David and Iana Lifar, founders of the Indra Devi Foundation in Argentina and creators of Indra Devi International Virtual Yoga School, talk with J about the legacy of Indra Devi with translation by Mariana Campos. They discuss being inspired to meet Indra, an experience that convinced David she was something special, the influence of Krishnamurti, Krishnamacharya and Sai Baba, and the gestures of love that characterize Indra's presence.

Michelle Thielen, founder of Yoga Faith, talks with J about utilizing yoga practice to strengthen a belief in Jesus Christ. They discuss yogis being OK with God but not Jesus, Christians thinking yoga is demonic, personal faith separate from institutionalized churches, historical roots of christian yoga, whether or not Jesus is cool with chanting, Satan and the battle for souls, and receiving guidance and blessings in the secret place of the most high.

Hari-kirtana das, author of Journey into the Bhagavad Gita: A Guide to Exploring Timeless Principles of Transcendental Knowledge and Integrating Them Into Your Life, talks with J about universal principles that lead to religious experience. They discuss origins and larger context of the Bhagavad Gita, divergence of faith and knowledge, reincarnation, acting in harmony with cosmic order, and seeing ourselves as we truly we are.

Tessa Hillman, author of Yoga Stories from Guru Guptananda and Memoir of a Skeptical Seeker, talks with J about opening up to spiritual realms and receiving guidance. They discus coming to yoga in the 70's and 80's, yearning for a deeper understanding, coming into communication with Guru Guptananda, messages from a North American Indian Chief, protection by your own goodness, and being helped along by guides and angels.

Sage Rountree, author of The Athletes Guide to Recovery and The Art of Yoga Sequencing, talks with J about yoga for athletes and endurance science for yoga teachers. They discuss the origins of Sages name, starting out in yoga and becoming an endurance coach, being ready for connection, sports specific conditioning and utilizing poses, changing science. three best things for recovery, business models, and charging people to trust the process.

Godfrey Devereux, author of YOGA UNVEILED, YOGA DECODED, and ANNOTATED YOGA SUTRAS, returns to talk with J about whether or not Patanjali is a dualist and the invulnerability of our spiritual nature. They discuss translation vs rendering, adhering to interpretations, manufacturing silence, deeper relinquishing, intelligent power, moral codes, tantra and sexuality, and rhythmic progression towards the presence of awareness.

Josh Kane, founder of Gandiva Yoga Studio, talks with J about transitioning from independent contractor to center owner, the pursuit of deeper understanding, and the in's and out's of dedicated locations. They discuss how a blue-man group audition led to yoga, being a child actor, John Friend's bowspring system, studying with Ragunath, falling out with studio owners, challenges of creating a home studio, and and risking it all on lasting joy.

Eddie Ellner, founder of Yoga Soup, talks with J about the trajectory of yoga into western culture, paradoxes in the human condition, and creating spaces for people to gather. They discuss the early 90's yoga scene via Yogaworks and Jivamukti, the influence of Brian Kest and Steve Ross, dangers of celebrity, discerning truth, creating Yoga Soup, and penetrating the fear of what might happen to make a place for friends to come together.

Vijay Hassin, Sharada Thompson and Kathleen Rosenberg talk with J about the underbelly of Swami Satchidananda and the Integral Yoga Institute. They discuss Vijay's history, the meeting in the 1970's when allegations of sexual misconduct were first made, recent revelations and the Facebook group that Kathleen started, Sharada's story of mistreatment at the hands of Swami Satchidananda, and reconciling the hurt created by failed leaders.

Lizzie and Judith Lasater return to catch up with J and talk about their latest offering, a free mini-course in Restorative Yoga to Support Menopause and Beyond. They discuss teaching during the last few years of transition, the genesis of their new course on menopause, generational differences, viewing body changes as a process vs treating a condition, exercise vs innercise, positive aspects of aging, and some keys to a long healthy life.

Hy Brown is J's dad and they have a candid talk about the life he’s led, choices he’s made, and the lessons he's learned. They discuss growing up in Brooklyn, his involvement with the mob, becoming vice president of Tishman Construction, working on famous building projects, understanding the system, the impact of having a heart attack at age 47, J's mom and navigating her death, finding new purpose, and learning to care for others.

Bryan Kest, author of Autobiography of an American Yogi, talks with J about the trajectory of yoga into the mainstream and the role he played in it. They discuss the early LA yoga scene, class with David Williams, one-to-one with Pattabhi Jois, mentality of not being good enough, before "power yoga" became a generic term, beefing with Maty Estaty, controversy with his brother, and the passion and commitment that fuels a life in yoga.