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Michael Taft is a meditation teacher and best-selling author of many books such as The Mindful Geek and Nondualism.  He is also the host of the podcast, Deconstructing Yourself.

In this episode, Eric and Michael discuss spiritual practices and learning to deconstruct and reconstruct ourselves.

But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!

In This Interview, Michael Taft and I Discuss Deconstructing Yourself and …

• His podcast and blog titled “Deconstructing Yourself”
• Learning to “untangle” the concepts and emotions that can overwhelm us
• The importance of “reconstructing” ourselves after the “deconstructing”
• Taking our meditation practice from the cushion into everyday life
• Finding what is sacred to you and bringing more of it into your life
• Defining and distinguishing between psychology and spirituality 
• Thoughts and feelings and seeing their constructiveness
• Vipassana practices and his work with Shinzen Young
• Differences between early and later Buddhist practices and traditions
• How real spirituality contends with the intense human condition

Michael Taft Links:

Michael’s Website

Deconstructing Yourself Podcast

Twitter

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Michael Taft, you might also enjoy these other episodes:

Michael Taft Interview (2015)

Paths of Spiritual Awakening with Henry Shukman

Jonathan Robinson is a psychotherapist, best-selling author of many books, and a professional speaker.  His work has been translated into 47 languages.  Jonathan has made numerous appearances on the Oprah show and CNN as well as other national TV talk shows.  He has spent over 35 years studying the most practical and powerful methods for personal and professional development and is also known for his popular podcast, Awareness Explorers.

In this episode, Eric and Jonathan discuss enlightenment as well as various techniques to explore our awareness.

But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!

In This Interview, Eric and Jonathan Robinson Discuss How to Explore Our Awareness and …

• His definition of enlightenment: a shift in identity from ego-personality to presence and awareness
• Enlightenment is being at peace in the present moment
• His humbling experience of speaking to Mother Theresa
• Experimenting with and being willing to try different techniques to help shift your view
• How having gratitude and saying “Thank You” many times a day can change your experience
• Techniques and phrases for working with our judgmental mind
• Learning to not take our views so seriously
• How being more playful in our lives can bring the feeling of freedom
• His powerful technique for happiness:  not letting your mind take over when you’re enjoying something
• The different forms of inquiry we can practice
• Questions we can ask that can reorient ourselves from our problem seeking minds
• Making a pain and pleasure list and scheduling things from your pleasure list

Jonathan Robinson Links:

Jonathan’s Website

Awareness Explorers Podcast

Facebook

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Jonathan Robinson, you might also enjoy these other episodes:

Dorothy Hunt on The Heart of Awareness

Mary O’Malley on Practical Awakening

Ryan Holiday is one of the world’s foremost thinkers and writers on ancient philosophy and its place in everyday life.  He’s a sought-after speaker, strategist, and the author of many best-selling books.

In this episode, Eric and Ryan discuss his book, Courage is Calling:  Fortune Favors the Brave

But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!

Enrollment for the Spiritual Habits Group Program is now open through October 12. Click here to learn more and signup!

In This Interview, Eric and Ryan Holiday Discuss Everyday Courage and …

• His book, Courage is Calling:  Fortune Favors the Brave
• The 4 cardinal virtues that a good life depends on
• Courage, both physical and moral, is the willingness to put yourself at risk
• How fear gets in the way of courage
• Learning to get specific with our fears
• Courage is also about sharing our vulnerabilities with others
• The importance of just getting started
• How courage requires making decisions
• Determining and gaining clarity on our personal values
• Stoicism and how it encompasses the core virtues
• Similarities and differences between Buddhism and Stoicism
• Heroism goes beyond courage, doing something for the greater good or greater than oneself
• How it requires courage to have belief and hope that things can change for the better
• His courage to open a bookstore in the midst of the pandemic

Ryan Holiday Links:

Ryan’s Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Ryan Holiday, you might also enjoy these other episodes:

How to be Fearless with Jessica Hagy

Conscious Leadership with Eric Kaufmann

Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson are hosts of the popular podcast, Being Well.  Rick is a psychologist who writes and teaches about the essential inner skills of personal well-being, psychological growth, and contemplative practice, and together they address many of these issues on their podcast.

In this episode, Eric and Ginny discuss how to be well and experience psychological growth with Rick and Forrest.

But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!

Enrollment for the Spiritual Habits Group Program is now open through October 12. Click here to learn more and signup!

In This Interview, Eric, Ginny, Rick, and Forrest Discuss Learning How to Be Well and …

• Their podcast, Being Well
• The “dreaded experience” and how we organize our lives to avoid our fear, shame, vulnerability
• How growth comes from facing and leaning into our dreaded experiences
• Limiting beliefs and how our self-conception is 6 months out of date
• Understanding that our brains are forecasting machines
• Rick’s experience in a body massage skills workshop
• Pausing to take in the positive experiences that come on the other side of facing the dreaded experiences
• The assumptions that Forrest must be perfectly adjusted being the son of a psychologist
• Nature versus nurture and how we all have wounds to deal with, no matter our upbringing
• The upper reaches of potential 
• Becoming comfortable with the experience of admitting fault is how we free ourselves
• Asking where the forces of control are in our lives
• Distinguishing between our internal and external forces
• How our circumstances can be unfair, and yet our healing is our responsibility
• We have a moral responsibility to decide which “wolf” we will feed 
• The hope in knowing that all storms will pass 

Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson Links:

Rick’s Website

Rick’s Facebook

Forrest’s Website

Forrest’s Instagram

Forrest’s Facebook

Being Well on Instagram

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson, you might also enjoy these other episodes:

Dr. Rick Hanson (2018)

Dr. Rick Hanson (2015)

Being Human with Krista Tippett

Luke Burgis is an entrepreneur who has founded and led multiple companies.  He is currently Director of Programs at The Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at the Catholic University of America.  He is also the founder and Director of Fourth Wall Ventures, an incubator that he started to build, train, and invest in people and companies that contribute to a healthy human ecology. 

In this episode, Eric and Luke discuss his book, Wanting:  The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life

But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!

Enrollment for the Spiritual Habits Group Program is now open through October 12. Click here to learn more and signup!

In This Interview, Luke Burgis and I Discuss Mimetic Desires in Everyday Life and …

• His book, Wanting:  The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life
• Human desires and how they apply to the wolf parable
• Mimetic desire refers to how we imitate the desires of other people
• How particular modeled desires come from a sense of lack
• The importance of understanding that our desires are driven by imitation
• Learning to exercise more freedom in what we desire
• Desire is the energy of movement toward or away from something
• Anti-mimetic desire is having the ability to not engage in what you desire
• The differences between thin and thick desires
• The paradox of desires and values:  “Do we desire what we value or do we value what we desire?”
• Recognizing the hierarchy of our values and evaluating our desires accordingly
• A fulfillment story is sharing a personal story with someone else about something in your life that gave you enduring joy
• Understanding the social nature of our desires

Luke Burgis Links:

Luke’s Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Luke Burgis, you might also enjoy these other episodes:

How to Find Zest in Life with Dr. John Kaag

Finding Zen in the Ordinary with Christopher Keevil