Sheela and Ravi Shankar, co-founders of Yoga Nidhi, talk with J about TKV Desikachar and the transformative power of yoga. They discuss the history of their relationship and how Ravi discovered TKV Desikachar, Sheela's religious upbringing, Desikachar in different contexts, chanting as prayer or meditation, defining Ishvara Pranidana, OM, Satva dominance in the mind, characteristics of a yogi, and the greater purpose behind practice.

John Heers, founder of First Things Foundation and host of Heavy Things Lightly, talks with J about fundamental principles of Orthodox Christianity and operating from faith. They discuss the wing and prayer that brought them together, John's religious background, lessons learned from Islam, distinguishing denominations, eastern mystical Christianity, communion, Georgian dinner rituals, and participating in a why that leads to beauty.

Geoffrey Dugue, MD, talks with J about actual Christianity and being humble in seeking for truth. They discuss the mutual friendship that brought them together, being trained as a medical doctor at esteemed institutions and the lack of meta narrative, indoctrination into the great laws, miracles, having a personal relationship with God, the hypocrisy of the church, giving Satan too much credit, the Holy Trinity, sin, and the love that gets you to heaven.

Todd Norian, author of Tantra Yoga: Journey to Unbreakable Wholeness, returns to talk with J about happiness, freedom, and opening to a bigger energy. They discuss what it means to be a yoga teacher in 2024, transmission, happiness and joy, Svatantrya, randomness and entanglement, creating healthy self boundaries, how to make a decision, being supported by spirit, and setting the sails to catch the winds of grace.

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.