Chris Preist, co-director of Bristol Zen Dojo and author of Zen Streams, returns to talks with J about the intersection of zen and yoga. They discuss spiritual practice vs performance, learning rules through experience, connection between sound and spirit, textual meanings, professionalization and marketing, actualizing non-duality, emptiness, digital technology, freshness of words, and the discipline needed to retain authenticity.

Rachel Morarjee, former journalist and friend of the show, talks with J about the arc of gen-xer perspectives on yoga and the world. They discuss receiving shaktiput, the early yoga scene in china, external gurus, authority, personal practice, transcending ego, chanting, death of retail, spirituality and faith, challenges of modern society, God, fall of the yoga masters, life stages, and facing darkness by anchoring yourself to a source of grace.

Bernie Clark, author of PRANA: One breath, many worlds, talks with J about his new book exploring philosophy, physiology, and the energetic axis of the yoga experience. They discuss pre-vedic to Vedic times, evolution of societies, reincarnation, relationship with the divine, role of prana in tantra, Desikachar and Descartes, Theosophy and Chakras, fascia, clairvoyance and energy healing, and understanding the difference between spirit and soul.

Joanne Spence, author of Trauma-Informed Yoga: A Toolbox for Therapists and founder of Yoga in Schools, talks with J about the origins of trauma-informed care and the relationship between yoga and faith. They discuss exploring different approaches, early paths into yoga therapy, working at a psychiatric hospital, scientific explanations, attending seminary, being part of a church, secular approaches, and keeping things straightforward and kind.

Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen, co-authors of SAVASANA - Between Breath and Death, talk with J about the importance of practicing final relaxation. They discuss the shortening of savasana, death doulas and cafe's, the dissolution of self, the moment of death, guided meditation, reincarnation, falling asleep, alignment, using props, rolling to the side, being the witness, embracing things as they are, and recognizing the precious nature of life.

David Procyshyn, founder of doyogawithme.com and author of a Freedom from Anxiety newsletter, talks with J about the current state of the online yoga space and different ways to think about marketing. They discuss the ebb and flow of online sales, loyalty and word of mouth, knowing your audience, paying for advertising, customer segmentation, maximizing user experience, retreats, and questioning assumptions that inhibit playfulness.

Jim Bennitt, co-founder of Tejas Yoga and founder of Yoga for Grapplers, talks with J about the trajectory and evolution of Gen-x yoga careers. They discuss the yoga wave that started in the early nineties, classroom dynamics, appeal of Jiu-Jitsu, cult aspects, discernment of alignment, opening a center, functional movement, male friendships, post pandemic numbers, people leaving yoga, and the inspirational sparks that keep us motivated.

Sharon Molloy is a close personal friend of J and she joins the show to talk about their shared journey through yoga into faith. They discuss coming together around non-achievement, getting off on esoterica, mystical realms, materialism, making sense of lies and injustice, transhumanism, proof of the soul, evil, biblical prophecy, brokenness and the nature of self, the voice of God, and experiencing the pinnacle of love through saving grace.

Adam Rumack, co-founder of Open Circle, talks with J about subtle changes to the inner life of yoga communities and beyond. They discuss third series Ashtanga, taking over a Mysore room, nature-based rights of passage work, high demand communities, purity myths, underlying reality, hero journeys, perennial wisdom and power vacuums, vulnerability and responsibility, attachment and strategic planning, and getting beyond simple explanations.

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.