Spirit Matters Talk

Kim Harris is the Assistant Professor of African American Thought and Practice in the Department of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University. In addition to teaching courses on Black liberation and Womanist theologies, Dr. Harris leads music in a variety of liturgical and academic settings. Harris earned a PhD in worship and the arts from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. In fulfillment of her degree, she composed Welcome Table: A Mass of Spirituals. She lectures on the music of the Black Catholic experience, the spirituals of the Underground Railroad and the freedom songs of the Civil Rights Movement. Harris is a member of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium and the North American Academy of Liturgy. She is an academic member of the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as well as a liturgical consultant for the Archdiocese of New York Office of Black Ministry. We spoke about the role of music in spirituality historically and in the c

KIm Harris by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

This is the second interview with Spirit Matters cohost Philip Goldberg about his new book, Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times; Powerful Tools to Cultivate Calm, Clarity and Courage, which was just released as a paperback and audiobook. Phil has been studying the world’s spiritual traditions for 50 years, as a practitioner, teacher, and writer. He is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including Roadsigns on the Spiritual Path, the award-winning American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the West, and the only full-scale biography of Paramahansa Yogananda, The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi who Became the First Modern Guru. An Interfaith Minister and spiritual counselor, he was trained as a teacher of Transcendental Meditation by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and has lectured in a wide range of venues throughout the U.S. and India. He blogs on Elephant Journal and Spirituality & Health magazine, cohosts this podcast, and conducts American Veda T

Jeffery Martin is the founder of the Center for the Study of Non-Symbolic Consciousness and co-founder of the Transformative Technology lab in Silicon Valley. A serial entrepreneur and a social scientist who researches personal transformation and the highest forms of human wellbeing, for the last 15 years he has conducted a scientific study on Fundamental Wellbeing, which includes states commonly called enlightenment, nonduality, and other terms. This resulted in the first cross-cultural, pan-tradition classification system for these types of experience. More recently, Jeffery has used this research to help people obtain profound benefits in a rapid, secular, reliable, and safe way. His programs included the Finders Course experiments (a 4-month protocol) and more recently the 45 Days to Awakening Challenge and Experiment, (a 6-week protocol). His research is dedicated to helping people integrate Fundamental Wellbeing into their lives so they can maximally thrive. Jeffery's also researches the use of direct b

Jeffery Martin by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Jac O’Keeffe is a spiritual teacher whose teachings cultivate wisdom, honesty and integrity. She exposes taboos that are usually avoided in spiritual circles and encourages conversations around issues fundamental to human experience, such as money, sex, and power. She emphasizes the need to make spirituality relevant and applicable to regular life, and empowers students in their own inner exploration, helping them to cultivate inner autonomy and responsibility for their spiritual and human evolution. Jac is also a founder of the Association for Spiritual Integrity (ASI), a charitable organization that encourages and supports spiritual leaders of all traditions to engage in their own ongoing personal and professional growth. ASI strives to promote ethical standards and transparency among spiritual teachers. Her books include Born to Be Free and How to Be a Spiritual Rebel. We spoke about her own remarkable path, her work with students, and the Association for Spiritual Integrity. Learn more about Jac O’Keeffe

Jac O'Keeffe by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Rita D. Sherma is founding Director and Associate Professor at the Mira & Ajay Shingal Center for Dharma Studies; Core Doctoral Faculty; and Co-Chair of the Sustainability 360 Initiative at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. Formerly, she was the Swami Vivekananda Visiting Professor in Hindu Studies at USC. She holds an MA in Women’s Studies in Religion, and a PhD in Theology & Ethics from Claremont Graduate University. She also co-founded the American Academy of Religion’s Hinduism Program Unit and is the founding Vice President of DANAM (Dharma Academy of North America)—a scholarly society for research on Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religious & interreligious studies. Dr. Sherma has authored, edited or co-edited several books and is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dharma Studies. We spoke about the unique Hindu Chaplaincy program she recently started at GTU, as well as other subjects related to Hinduism, India and academia. Learn more about Rita Sherma here: www.gtu.edu/academics/rita

Rita Sherma 2 by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Jai Uttal is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Hailed as a world music pioneer, his powerful voice and panoramic musical vision have been at the core of the yoga community’s embrace of kirtan—India’s traditional call-and-response devotional chanting. Having studied for years with the sarod master Ali Akbar Khan, Jai’s music is deeply rooted in the Indian classical tradition, but is also imbued with other influences, including reggae, rock, folk, Brazilian music and Bollywood. His latest release, Gauri’s Lullaby: Music for Healing and Other Joys, is his first instrumental album. Jai has also held Kirtan Camps in Northern California and international locations for almost 20 years, and this year he’s offering the camp online. We spoke mainly about his newest album, kirtan, bhakti yoga, and life in the pandemic. Learn more about Jai Uttal here. http://jaiuttal.com/

Jai Uttal by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Rick Hanson, PhD, is a psychologist and senior fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. A New York Times bestselling author, his books have sold more than 900,000 copies in English and have been published in 28 languages. They include Resilient; Hardwiring Happiness; Just One Thing; Buddha’s Brain; Mother Nurture; and his latest work Neurodharma. Dr. Hanson is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom. He has been an invited speaker at Google, NASA, Oxford, and Harvard, and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He has several online offerings, including the Neurodharma experiential program, and his free weekly newsletter is read by more than 150,000 people. We spoke about the evolving intersection of science and spirituality and the key insights to be gleaned from his latest book, Neurodharma. Learn more about Rick Hanson here: https://www.rickhanson.net/.

Rick Hanson by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Christopher Stevenson has a bachelor’s degree in applied physics and masters degrees in teaching physics and agricultural engineering. He taught high school math and physics and was a systems engineer and scientist for the Navy and the Department of Homeland Security. Since 2004, he has helped build an R&D and Data Science consulting company into an industry leader with more than seventy employees and $20M in annual sales. His overriding interest is buttressing civil society, founding the non-profit Community Levee Association, which championed the indispensability of virtue to the American experiment in self-government, and writing Letters from an American Husband and Father: Championing Virtue as the Most Durable Empire. Christopher was also the founder of America’s Quilt of Faith, which championed religious freedom as essential to American democracy. He currently serves as president of the National Museum of American Religion project. We spoke about his vision for that proposed museum in Washington, D.C. a

Christopher Stevenson 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. He has been called "one of the finest spiritual guides of our time," "a consummate storyteller," and "an eloquent spiritual teacher." Mark has appeared several times on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday program on OWN TV. He also offers readings, lectures, and retreats. His books, which have been translated into more than 20 languages, include The One Life We're Given; Inside the Miracle, named by Spirituality & Health Magazine as one of the top ten books of 2015; Things That Join the Sea and the Sky, and his latest, The Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living What Matters. On this, his second visit to Spirit Matters, we spoke about his new book, life during the pandemic, and his new webinar series, The One Life We’re Given. Learn more about Mark Nepo here: http://www.marknepo.com

Mark Nepo Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Miranda Macpherson is a spiritual teacher, modern mystic and author. Originally from Australia and now living in Northern California, she is internationally recognized as a guide into direct experience of the Sacred. Miranda’s holistic approach to spiritual surrender and non-dual realization is based on the practice of Ego Relaxation. She invites others to become more graceful human beings, deepening through inquiry, meditation, devotion and psychological integration. Grounded in extensive study of the world’s wisdom traditions, Miranda is inspired by Ramana Maharshi, A Course in Miracles, and more recently, the Diamond Approach. In her twenties, she founded the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation in London, where she trained and ordained over 600 ministers. Today she leads the Living Grace sanghas in Northern California, teaches retreats across the USA and Europe, and global online courses through The Shift Network. Her latest book is The Way of Grace: The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation. We spoke about her

Miranda Macpherson Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Dr. Barbara De Angelis is a best-selling author, popular TV personality and sought-after motivational speaker who has inspired tens of millions of people over more than 35 years. The author of 16 books that have sold more than ten million copies in 25 languages, her expertise in personal transformation and spiritual development is recognized worldwide. One of only five women to win the Toastmasters International Golden Gavel Award, she hosted a daily TV show for CBS and a popular radio talk show in Los Angeles. She has been a frequent guest on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The View, and other popular shows. This is Barbara's second visit to Spirit Matters. On the first occasion, we spoke about her latest book, The Choice for Love: Entering into a New, Enlightened Relationship with Yourself, Others and the World. This interview was recorded during the covid-19 pandemic, and we focused on her observations and advice about the crisis, and her new webinar, Walking the Illuminated Path. Learn more a