Spirit Matters Talk

Matthew Fox discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Reza Aslan is an internationally renowned writer, commentator, professor, producer, and scholar of religions. His books include: the international bestseller No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam; Beyond Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in a Globalized Age; and the #1 New York Times bestseller, Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth. They have been translated into dozens of languages and won numerous awards. Aslan’s degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Santa Clara University, a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard University, a PhD in the Sociology of Religions from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa. Born in Iran and a resident of Los Angeles, he is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the board of directors of several organizations, including the Ploughshares Fund, which gives grants for peace and security issues. We spoke about his

Reza Aslan discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Isabella Price, MA, is an international speaker and author of the book series “One Truth, Many Paths.” That series, on the world’s wisdom traditions, includes her most recent book Goddess Power: Awakening the Wisdom of the Divine Feminine in Your Life. Isabella teaches World Spirituality courses at JFK University and has also been teaching classes and workshops at the California College of the Arts and other educational institutions and religious venues. She holds an MA in the humanities (global history and comparative religion) from the University of Zurich in her native Switzerland. She is also a certified SQ21 Spiritual Intelligence coach and teaches meditation to veterans suffering from PTSD. We spoke mainly about the universality and nuances of goddess worship and its relevance in today’s world. Learn more about Isabella Price here: www.onetruth-manypaths.com

Isabella Price discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Francis (Fran) Bennett was a Trappist monk for a number of years, served as a pastoral care provider in hospitals and hospices, and is now a leading teacher of nonduality under the auspices of Finding Grace at the Center. This is our second interview with Francis. In the first we used masculine pronouns. We now shift to "she" and "her," as Francis has come out as transgender and lives openly in the female gender identity she always felt inside. This made for an especially interesting conversation about personal identity and nondual philosophy. In Francis's words, since leaving the monastery, "she has continued to emphasize the importance of returning to our personal bodies, minds and whole self while embracing the transformative power of the divine." We spoke of other issues around contemporary spirituality as well. Learn more about Francis (Fran) Bennett here: http://findinggraceatthecenter.com/abou

Francis Bennett discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Gabrielle Earnshaw is the founding archivist of the Henri J M. Nouwen Archives and Research Collection in Toronto, Canada. She has been the adviser to the Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust for sixteen years and is consulted throughout the world on Nouwen and his literary legacy. The coeditor of Turning the Wheel: Henri Nouwen and Our Search for God and editor of Love, Henri: Letters on the Spiritual Life, she compiled and edited the recently published book, You are the Beloved: Daily Meditations for Spiritual Living, a collection of 365 insights by Henri Nouwen, the Catholic priest, professor and pastor who gained international renown as the author of thirty-nine books on the spiritual life, including such classics as The Wounded Healer, The Inner Voice of Love, and The Return of the Prodigal Son. Nouwen’s books have sold upward of seven million copies worldwide, resonating with people across the religious, spiritual, cultural, and political spectrum. We spoke about Henri Nouwen and her work as his archivist and edit

Gabrielle Earnshaw discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Swami Asokananda interview by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Swami Asokananda discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Elizabeth Dabney Hochman is the Founding Editor and Executive Director of KidSpirit, a non-profit magazine and online community by and for youth around the world. KidSpirit enables 11-17 year-olds to explore life’s big questions in an open and inclusive context. It provides an outlet for diverse teenagers to discover the essential humanity transcending divergent points of view. Elizabeth has published a number of articles on spiritual development in youth and has presented at venues such as Yale Divinity School, Princeton University, the Religion Communicators Council, Columbia University, and the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Now in its tenth year of publication, KidSpirit is the only youth publication to win a first-place Religion News Association Award for Magazine Overall Excellence (2016). We spoke about KidSpirit and the spirituality of young people today. Learn more about KidSpirit and Elizabeth Dabney Hochman here: https://kidspiritonline.com

Elizabeth Dabney Hochman Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Dr. Anna Yusim is an award-winning, nationally recognized psychiatrist, speaker, and author with a private practice in New York City. A sought-after public speaker, Dr. Yusim has published over 60 academic articles, book chapters, scientific abstracts and book reviews, and has received numerous professional awards. After working as a neurobiology researcher with Dr. Robert Sapolsky and completing her studies at Stanford University, Yale Medical School, and the NYU Residency Training Program in Psychiatry, Dr. Yusim felt that something was missing from her life. In her quest to find it, she traveled, lived and worked in over 50 countries while studying Kabbalah, learning Buddhist meditation, and working with South American shamans and Indian gurus. Her new book, Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier More Meaningful Life, integrates the universal spiritual principles she learned in that journey with traditional psychiatry. Learn more about Anna Yusim here: https://www.annayusim.

Anna Yusim Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Danny Goldberg is the author of books Dispatches from the Culture War, Bumping Into Geniuses, and his latest, In Search of the Lost Chord: 1967 and the Hippie Idea. He also co-edited and wrote the introduction to the anthology It’s A Free Country: Civil Liberties After 9/11. A longtime music business executive, he ran Gold Mountain Entertainment, which managed the careers of Bonnie Raitt, Nirvana and others, was President of three major record companies—Atlantic, Warner Bros., and Mercury—as well as his own label, Artemis Records. He is currently President of the management company, Gold Village Entertainment. In 2015, Danny began hosting a podcast called Rock And Roles, whose theme is the connectivity between a spiritual and worldly viewpoints. We spoke about the significant spiritual developments that occurred throughout the culture in the pivotal year, 1967, which is the subject of his new book. Learn more about Danny Goldberg here: http://goldve.com/danny-goldberg/.

Danny Goldberg discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Mark Nepo is the author of 18 books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller The Book of Awakening. Beloved as a poet, teacher, and storyteller, Mark has been called "one of the finest spiritual guides of our time," "a consummate storyteller," and "an eloquent spiritual teacher." His books have been translated into more than 20 languages, and he has also recorded 13 audio projects. Recent work includesThe One Life We're Given; Inside the Miracle, named by Spirituality & Health Magazine as one of the top ten books of 2015; The Endless Practice, cited by Spirituality & Practice as one of the Best Spiritual Books of 2014; and the forthcoming (November, 2017) Things That Join the Sea and the Sky. Mark has appeared several times on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday program on OWN TV. He also offers readings, lectures, and retreats. Learn more about Mark Nepo at http://www.marknepo.com

Mark Nepo discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

David Robert Loy is a professor, writer, and Zen teacher in the Sanbo Kyodan tradition of Japanese Zen Buddhism. A prolific author, his essays and books have been translated into many languages and his articles appear regularly in Tikkun, scholarly journals and Buddhist magazines such as Tricycle, Turning Wheel, Shambhala Sun and Buddhadharma. David lectures internationally, focusing primarily on the encounter between Buddhism and modernity: what each can learn from the other. He is especially concerned about social and ecological issues, and offers a Buddhist perspective on our urgent “eco-crisis.” He has taught at many academic institutions and currently leads meditation retreats and workshops such as “Transforming Self, Transforming Society.” We spoke about the adaptation of Buddhism to the modern West and the relevance of Buddhist teachings to social issues, especially the environment. Learn more about David Loy here: http://www.davidloy.org/