Once again, J offers his annual year end reflection on where things stand going into the new year. He discusses the grief of learning that a family member has terminal cancer, the difficult realization that he will likely need to close his yoga center, underlying economics, online algorithms, trade organizations, the dissolution of identity, realms of man vs realms of divinity, and finding an honest and straightforward way of proceeding through life.

Danny Mintz is a listener of the show who reached out to J about the origins of yoga postures and it lead to this conversation about depictions of practice and the inner workings of being a teacher. They discuss whether modern yoga is 5000 years old or 500 years old, different stages of life, studio closures, finding your edge, Anusara, Jivamukti, personal practice, speaking out against abuse, and testament for practice being the person.

Donna Farhi returns to talk with J about conscious pedagogic models that foster independence and moving towards grounded sensitivity. They discuss homesteading, recovering from a fractured pelvis, meaning of pedagogy, horizontal communication, checks and balances, contraction in the industry, being relevant to the times, sticking with the word yoga, fitness and perfected bodies, post-pandemic landscapes, and evolving into the future.

Kim Hopkins, executive director of the Shanthi Project, talks with J about the not-for-profit work of providing yoga and mindfulness education to children and adults. They discuss different phases of the organization and where things were when Kim took over in 2023, revenue structures and fund development plans, substituting the term yoga for mindfulness, importance of data and research, and the long game of creating meaningful change.

Neil Taylor joins the show to follow up with J on the ongoing conversation about mindfulness education. They discuss Neil's entrance into practice, the importance of solitude, quality of presence, Thich Nhat Hang, the Satipattana Sutta, the end of suffering, self and no-self, levels of awareness, distinguishing between mindfulness and meditation, mysticism and the secular, energy bodies, letting the mystery be, and embodying compassion.

Karin Lynn Carlson, founder of Return Yoga and author of the substack Gristle and Bone, returns to touch base with J on the reckoning going on in the yoga profession. They discuss starting online platforms, 200hr teacher training and the false promise of a career, living paycheck to paycheck, effects of the pandemic, AI, looking for jobs to pay bills, reconciling the downfall of the American dream, and finding direction from within.

Cassie McKamey is a listener of the show whose email to J led to this conversation about coming to yoga on the internet through a lens of christian faith. They discuss growing up in a church community in Kansas, youth pastors and questioning authority, following rules vs inquiring within, learning yoga on YouTube, personal relationship to God, guided meditation and divine will, and daring to believe in something greater than yourself.

Sarah Powers, co-founder of the Insight Yoga Institute, talks with J about integrating Yoga, Tao, and Mindfulness. They discuss the progression of yoga into a physical orientation to wellness instead of deeper inquiries, cliche of yoga profession, earlier days at Yogaworks, Paul Griley, different camps within Yin Yoga, differentiating Iyengar method, energy bodies, discipline and empathic support, and learning how to access joyful wisdom.

Edward Clark and Laurie A, Greene, co-authors of Yoga and the Body: The Future of Modern Yoga in the Studio and Beyond, talk with J about interrogating assumptions from within and without yoga traditions. They discuss the ancient origins of yoga, perspectives in theater arts, distinguishing asana and vinyasa, meaning making, trauma, emotions, intensity of inquiry, and experiencing every day awe-inspiring beauty.

Adam Keen, host of the Keen on Yoga Podcast, returns to the show to revisit a conversation they started years ago about the role of teachers and teachings. They discuss recent scandals in the Ashtanga community, origins of Ashtanga, implications of the "active series," homogenization of Mysore rooms, adjustments, hip replacement surgery, showing fallibility, and holding ourselves to account so we can provide something of meaning and purpose.

Anna Taylor, author of Weaving Mindfulness & Compassion into Yoga Teaching, talks with J about the intersection of mindfulness education and yoga. They discuss being curious about why yoga works, noticing the impact of practice, doing and being, attention training, involvement of the heart, failure, feeling taken care of, secular spirituality, strong flows and music, Satvic states, and promoting values that we believe in.

Chris Cochrane is a listener of the show who joins to talk with J about her unique background and perspective on science and yoga. They discuss working for NASA analyzing semiconductor crystals grown on the space station, scientists and engineers who are into yoga, micro-gravity and crystal structures, distortions in the atomic order, connection between science and spirit, horse wisdom, Patanjali, Shakespeare, and living your dream.

On the occasion of the 10-year anniversary and 500th episode of the show, J reflects on the state of the yoga profession and industry. He discusses the progression from blog writing to podcasting and his latest post entitled "What I've Learned About Where We Are," the effects of the pandemic on attendance patterns and the role of teachers, myths about marketing, status of the center J opened, and facing grim outlooks with courage.

Lora Markova and Katharine Scalora, founders of Earth & Aerial Yoga in Hudson MA, talk with J about the advantages of owning an aerial yoga studio. They discuss Lora's previous career in media and Katharine's background, providing immediate gratification, logistical realities, how Covid killed their traditional classes, remaining grounded in yogic principles, injuries, enrollment policies, and charting a new path to evolve aerial yoga.

Pamela Weber, co-founder of NATA Yoga in Paris, talks with J about the uncertain future that independent centers face and the determination that keeps them going. They discuss her life as an academic and moving to Paris, teacher training before 200hr certification, giving up tenure for yoga, the subversive nature of opening a center, erratic attendance and rising expenses, Swami Kripalu, and holding to a current of surrender and love.

Kelli Hansel and Shawn Lindsay, owners of Indigo Yoga in Caldwell NJ, talk to J about taking over a studio and reaching for more than just being OK. They discuss the yoga scene in the rural Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, learning from DVD's and correspondence courses, finding teachers on Instagram, not starting from scratch, business models and teacher-centered policies, small town feels, and prioritizing a shared human connection.

Josh Thomas and Geoffrey Dugue, hosts of the Love for the Unseen God Podcast, talk with J about opening to transformational grace and a personal relationship with Jesus. They discuss observed experience as a basis for truth, nonduality and a creator, discerning man-made religion, comparing unitarian and trinitarian views, emptiness and being born again, Genesis I and III, Shanti and Shalom, and the peace of choosing to follow Jesus.

Kevin Flynn, one of the founders of Christians Practicing Yoga, talks with J about the intersection between Yoga and Christ. They discuss the history of the show and how it has led to this topic, benedictine monks, embodied faith, christian ashrams, Patanjali, communion vs union, liberating Christ from Christianity, ways to follow Jesus, demons, the battle for souls, being saved, fellowship, and benefiting from a personal relationship with God.

Britta Van Dun, founder of Intuitive Health & Healing, is an old friend of J's and they talk about attuning to the subtle and healing with soul through acupuncture. They discuss exploring healing modalities in the early aughts, intersection of Chinese medicine and yoga, links between physical and energy bodies, actuality of needles, movement of meridians, resting in stillness, and being servant to something much greater than ourselves.

Chara Caruthers returns to talks with J about the therapeutic value of psychedelics and the questions their use raises. They discuss connections between meditation and psychedelics, transpersonal psychology, abuses in plant medicine, bad trips, ontological shock, intervention vs practice, machine elves, research and legalization, personal/professional ethics, intention, and the capacity to make meaning of our lives.