Tess Lampert is my guest today.
In addition to being my sister Tess is a food and beverage connoisseur, writer and the best cook I know (sorry, mom.)
Tess flips the script at the beginning of the episode by asking me questions.
This weeks book giveaway is Joseph Campbell's, "The Hero With a Thousand Faces"
Join the Synchronicity Community and you'll be entered in the weekly book giveaway FOREVER.
Topics Discussed
Steven Kampmann is my guest today. Steven is an all around cool guy and father of previous guest Mikey Kampmann.
In this episode Steven and I discuss the importance of dreams. Steven also recommended some excellent books as an addendum to the episode:
Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung
C.G. Jung and Hermann Hesse: A Record of Two Friendships by Miguel Serrano
The Wisdom of Your Dreams by Jeremy Taylor
The History of Last Night's Dreams by Roger Kamenetz
The book for this weeks giveaway is "The Tibetan Yogas Of Dream And Sleep." If you want a chance to win a brand new copy of that book all you do is join the Synchronicity Community.
Also, this week I'm launching the Synchronicity Generosity Experiment. Fore more information about that go here.
Don't forget to rate and review Synchronicity on iTunes. It helps me and costs you nothing.
Topics Discussed
Jay Weingarten is my most excellent guest this week.
Jay is a comedian. Jay is funny. Jay is cool. Jay is nice.
Find out more about Jay here.
Listen to Jay's comedy "album" "Big Laughs" here.
Check out Jay's episode of Weird Adults with Little Esther here.
This week's book giveaway is "Mind Beyond Death" by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Want a chance to get a book every week forever? Join the Synchronicity Community today and you'll get that chance.
Be sure to subscribe to Synchronicity on iTunes.
Topics Discussed
Toni Bernhard is my guest today. Toni has an incredible story that centers around how to bring awareness, mindfulness and compassion to issues surrounding chronic illness.
Easily one of the most inspiring and wisdom filled episodes of Synchronicity to date.
This weeks book giveaway is Hazrat Inayat Khan's, "The Mysticism of Sound and Music" which is one of my all time favorite reads. Want to be entered in every weekly book giveaway contest? Join the Synchronicity Community and you are entered FOREVER.
Don't forget to rate and review and subscribe to Synchronicity because that's what you do when you like something, right?
Allen St. Pierre is the Executive Director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), an American non-profit organization that wishes to remove the criminal penalties for and legalize cannabis. St. Pierre was hired by NORML's Board of Directors in 1991 when he worked as a Communications Director for the organization.
St. Pierre has been the Executive Director of NORML since January 2005. He is the seventh person to be NORML's Executive Director. He also serves on the Board of Directors of NORML and the NORML Foundation.
Topics Discussed
This weeks book giveaway is Hermann Hesse's, "Demian." Join the Synchronicity community and you're automatically entered in each weeks book giveaway.
My guest today is friend and creative professional, Miles Seiden.
Miles is about as authentic of a person you'll come across. Not only is he a talented professional, Miles is also one of the most honest and dedicated people I've met. In short, he's my soul bruva from the same cosmic motha and yes I'm sorry and I will never say that again.
This week I've partnered with Wisdom Publications and they've generously donated a new copy of Ajahn Brahm's "Kindfulness."
Join the Synchronicity Community by tapping/clicking this link and you're automatically entered in the giveaway FOREVER. That's a good deal if you ask me.
Also, Wisdom Publications is giving away an ebook on Happiness from the Dalai Lama. Get the Dalai Lama's ebook here because that's a smart thing to do and who doesn't want to be happy.
Finally, rate and review Synchronicity on iTunes if you're digging it. I know it's a pain to login to iTunes (which is terrible as a thing that exists) but it really helps the show and karmically it's a great thing to do.
Buddha spoke explicitly about rating and reviewing podcasts as a good thing to do and a path towards everlasting peace and happiness, and hey, he's a smart kind of guy.
Topics Discussed
My guest today is the adventurous, talented, hilarious and all around fun guy, Mikey Kampmann.
Mikey has done a lot of cool things in his life like traveling to the South Pole and working as one third of the excellent comedy group, 2 Wet Crew. But hey, those are just things he's done, not who he is, right?
Topics Discussed This Episode
Mikey recommended a book Starhawk's, "The Fifth Sacred Thing"
Subscribe/Rate/Review Synchronicity on iTunes if you're into that kind of thing.
My guest today is Kirtan singer and lovely person, Nina Rao.
Nina learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in south India when she nine years old. The chants quietly stayed with her until she rediscovered chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996.
Her childhood was spent living in and moving between many countries around the world and when she settled in New York her working life began in the banking world, switched to organizing and leading photographic wildlife safaris in Africa and India, and now for many years, is Krishna Das' business manager and assistant.
Topics Discussed
To find out more about Nina visit her website: ninaraochant.com
This week's book giveaway is Tom Robbins, "Skinny Legs and All." To enter the weekly book giveaway contests join the Synchronicity Community right here: eepurl.com/bSWrqT
And of course subscribe to Synchronicity today because it's a smart thing to do.
My guest today is artist, photographer, awesome person and host of the Artist Decoded podcast, Yoshino.
I got tuned into Yoshino and his podcast by Michael Donovan (who is an inter-dimensional networker and knows pretty much the coolest people you can know) and I'm very happy I did.
Yoshino and I only spoke a couple of times before the podcast but you'll hear we hit it off immediately.
Not only is Yoshino a creative powerhouse but his focus on intention, service and bringing value to people's lives is infectious.
Topics Discussed
Check out some of Yoshino's work on his website.
My guest today is holistic nutritionist and extremely advanced soul, Sah D'Simone.
You'll be hard pressed to find a more genuine and authentic spiritual seeker than Sah.
Also, if you're interested in nutrition and health for the mind/body/soul Sah is available for consults and sessions. Sah is incredibly awesome and I encourage you to learn more about him on his website http://sahdsimone.com.
This is a short episode post today because I just had a baby (well, technically my wife Alexis did) so my life is insane right now.
That said, enjoy the episode!
Be sure to subscribe to Synchronicity if you haven't already.
Oh yeah and this week's book giveaway is "Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism" by Chogyam Trungpa. Join the Synchronicity Community and you're automatically entered in each weeks book giveaway contest.
My guest today is Lama Tsomo who happens to be one of the most direct, down to earth, yet extremely wise and fun people I've had the pleasure of speaking with.
She's also a bonafide Lama (ordained by Tulku Sangak Rinpoche) in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. She's also an author and co-founder of the Namchak Foundation and Namchak Retreat Ranch in Missoula, Montana.
Her new book, "Why Is The Dalai Lama Always Smiling?" is absolutely incredible and I highly recommend picking up a copy. It's one of the best books on Buddhism for westerners that I've come across( and I've read a lot of books on Buddhism for westerners.)
I'll be giving away a copy of her book this week (May 3rd, 2016). To enter join the Synchronicity Community here.
Tashi Delek!
Topics Discussed
As always subscribe to Synchronicity which will be taken as a token of your undying and everlasting support. Thanks!
My guest today is the one and only Duncan Trussell.
I sat down with Duncan on his tres fancy bus after the Washington, D.C. stop of his "You Are God" tour.
Some podcasts need explanations. This one does not.
Also, rest in peace, Prince. Godspeed on your sweet and magical journey.
Subscribe to Synchronicity if you haven't already and rate and review on iTunes if you're into that kind of thing.
Shout out to Mikey Kampmann and Johnny Pemberton for being hilarious and Cora Keegan for being a most gracious tour bus host.
My guest today is holistic center pioneer and all around Dharma good guy, Ralph White.
Ralph was the first program director for the Omega Center up in Rhinebeck NY as well as one of the founding members of The Open Center in NYC.
We discuss a whole bunch of topics in this episode so here are some bullet points to make it easy for you:
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Ralph turned me onto Rudolf Steiner at the end of this episode and for that I'm eternally grateful.
Ralph just wrote a memoir, "The Jeweled Highway: On The Quest for A Life of Meaning" which is fantastic and I finished it in four days so maybe check that out why dontcha? Also, I'm giving away a copy of Ralph's book for this week's Synchronicity book giveaway contest.
Remember, all you need to do to enter the book giveaway contest is join the Synchronicity Community which you can do right here: eepurl.com/bSWrqT.
And as always be sure to Subscribe to Synchronicity and rate and review on iTunes and Stitcher.
My guest today is meditation teacher, musician and all around creatrix, Biet Simkin who's based out of NYC.
Biet is a wonderful example of someone who's let her inner life guide her external life (is there really a difference?) which is working out pretty pretty great for her. As you'll hear in the episode Biet is also an incredibly genuine and love-filled person. Coincidentally, my favorite type of person!
Biet is also leading guided sound meditations at Further Future a music and lifestyle festival taking place April 29 through Sunday May 1, 2016 at the Moapa River Indian Reservation near Las Vegas, Nevada. More details inside the episode but Further Future is going to be an amazing time and experience and if I didn't have a baby due right when it was taking place I'd be attending.
Find out more about Further Future here: http://www.furtherfuture.com/
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Closing song is "Si Do Hymn" from Biet's most recent album, "The Lunar"
As always, subscribe to Synchronicity on iTunes and Stitcher and rate and review if you haven't already.
Many thanks to Jordan from Further Future/Robot Heart for linking me and Biet. You rule Jordan!
My guest today is creative professional extraordinaire, Paul Jarvis.
Paul is founder and launcher of a plethora of online products for creative professionals including Creative Class, Chimp Essentials, Project Prescription, 4 Wordpress Themes and his weekly emails The Sunday Dispatches.
Paul also has his own podcast called, The Freelancer, which you 100% should check out because he drops wisdom bombs like they're going out of style on a regular basis.
Paul currently resides in the woods of Canada, on an island with his wife Lisa and their gang of pet rats. He rocks cheap beer toques and meditation beads (typically at the same time). He also has way more tattoos than you. (I ripped this little about part from his site so that's how I know he has more tattoos than you.)
I stumbled across Paul when a friend of mine recommended I check out his Chimp Essentials MailChimp course which was hands down one of the best courses I've ever taken. The course is on hiatus right now but will be back soon. I'll let you know when it's back because it is great.
Just from taking that course I got the sense that:
a) Paul really knew what he was talking about
b) he genuinely seemed to care about the people he was speaking to
c) he seemed like a really awesome person I'd like to talk with.
So, I hit him up and he responded and we set up a time to chat and this podcast is the fruit of that (very easy to do) labor.
Topics Discussed This Episode
In addition to being a creator par excellence Paul is also a musician and I asked him for a couple of music recommendations. At the time he was enjoying Side Data (a Canadian band) and the Kruder and Dorfmeister Sessions Volume 1 (which is one of my favorite mix compilations of all time).
Paul also recommended Oliver Burkeman's, "The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking".
I'm giving away a copy of "The Antidote" for this weeks Synchronicity giveaway. All you need to do to is join the Synchronicity Community and you are automatically entered in the contest.
Find Paul on Twitter and be sure to check out his very excellent website.
Be sure to subscribe to Synchronicity on iTunes, Stitcher and wherever else fine podcasts live. And of course rate and review and all that jazz.
Grazi!
My guest today is business owner and marijuana lifestyle advocate slash activist, Davis Clayton Kiyo.
Davis and I went to the same high school but didn't really know each other too well back then. Since ye olden days he's embarked on a new career centered around one of my favorite things in life: marijuana.
You may remember my last guest, Ben Kovacs, is a co-founder of a company called Myster. Well, Davis is the other co-founder.
You'll hear it in the episode but Davis has a creative and energetic spirit that is palpable and contagious. Davis also relays a very interesting story about a near death experience someone he knows had and how that altered his view of reality and death.
We talk about a whole host of topics including:
This was another in-person podcast and have I said how much I love these? Because I very much love them.
For this weeks book giveaway I'm giving away a brand new copy of Carl Jung's, "Man and His Symbols." If you want to enter the contest all you need to do is join the Synchronicity Community and you do that by clicking this.
Also, be sure to Subscribe to Synchronicity if you haven't already.
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ben Kovacs who I'm gonna call an actualizer-extraordinaire.
Ben is a good old-fashioned renaissance man. In addition to working his day job at Twitter, Ben just founded Guardian Gym which aims to help urban populations and at-risk youth via martial arts. Ben also is co-founder of a marijuana accessory and lifestyle company called Myster. How's that for diversity?
In addition to practical tips about how he's been able to cultivate success in his life, Ben has an especially refreshing perspective on work, life, helping others and synthesizing all of those thing together.
Things Discussed In This Episode
Follow Ben on Twitter here (@moobypong)
Subscribe to Synchronicity aqui. And don't forget to rate on iTunes and Stitcher.
This week's book giveaway is "Tribal Leadership" by Dave Logan, John King and Halee Fischer-Wright. To enter the contest join the Synchronicity community here. That's it!
Music Biz legend and all-around smart dude, Danny Goldberg returns to Synchronicity.
For those who caught the first episode with Danny you know the episode cut off at the end because the battery on my recorder died. For those of you who didn't listen to that episode, well, now you know too.
Danny is one of my favorite people to talk to not only because he's objectively cool and insightful but he's also got a real knack for presenting perspectives that I don't know anything about. Case in point, he makes a compelling case for Hillary Clinton for president (even though he's a Bernie Sanders supporter).
And yes, in case the title didn't give it away we get deep down in the muck to talk politics for this episode.
Topics Discussed In This Episode
I also announce the winner of last week's Synchronicity Book Giveaway (congrats Derek!). If you want to be entered in the next book giveaway all you have to do is join the Synchronicity Community which you do right here.
And if you haven't already be sure to Subscribe to Synchronicity on iTunes and Stitcher.
Also, Danny has his own podcast called "Rock and Roles" which I highly recommend you subscribe to as well.
My guest today is the uber-intelligent and incredibly cool, Jeremy Johnson.
Jeremy is an editor for Reality Sandwich and a polyphonic enthusiast of all things religion, science fiction, and philosophy (I wish I could take credit for the description but I shamelessly pulled it from his bio.) Let's just say Jeremy is interested in a lot of stuff.
One of the things Jeremy and I share a love for is literature and books. Exploring how books affect consciousness was one of my favorite threads of our conversation.
Speaking of books I'm giving away a brand new copy of the book we mention in this episode, Whitley Streiber and Jeffrey Kripal's, "The Super Natural." To enter the contest all you need to do is join the Synchronicity Community by clicking this link and entering your email. Good luck!
Things Discussed in This Episode
Literature and Consciousness
Transmedia
The Evolution of Consciousness
Jeremy's new project, "The Theory of Everybody"
"Mutants and Mystics" by Jeffrey Kripal
Psychedelics
Where to Find Jeremy Online
As always, subscribe to Synchronicity if you haven't already and rate and review on iTunes and Stitcher.
I'm joined today by one of the loveliest and sweetest people I've ever met, Mirabai Starr.
Mirabai writes, speaks and leads retreats on the inter-spiritual teachings of the mystics.
Known for her revolutionary translations of John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Julian of Norwich, Mirabai renders mystical masterpieces accessible, beautiful, and relevant to a contemporary circle of seekers. Her commentaries on the interconnected wisdom of all traditions are lyrical and evocative.
She builds bridges not only between religious traditions, but also between contemplative life and compassionate service, between cultivating an inner relationship with the Beloved and expressing that intimacy in community, between the transformational power of loss and longing for the sacred.
She's also experienced a good deal of tragedy and objective suffering in her life, but has come out of those experiences with one of the most refreshing takes on life I've ever witnessed.
Mirabai and I talk about the power of suffering, the true meaning of the phrase "dark night of the soul," spiritual crises and turning painful life experiences into powerful transformational experiences.
Mirabai has a new book out called, "The Caravan of No Despair: A Memoir of Loss and Transformation."
I'm also giving away a brand new copy of Mirabai's book on this episode so listen to the episode for full details. Enter that contest here: http://eepurl.com/bSWrqT
As always, Subscribe to Synchronicity on your favorite podcast channels.
Other stuff mentioned in the episode
Berning Down the House - Fundraiser
Berning Down the House is a grassroots fundraiser to raise some dollars for Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. #berningdowndc
The event will bring together a variety of artists, musicians, and advocates who all believe that Bernie Sanders' campaign represents real change in America; a departure from a society and government controlled by the financial elite. Bernie Sanders can help redirect American democracy to truly be in the hands of the people, while reducing economic inequality, empowering minorities and the impoverished, and saving the planet.
Doors open at 6pm
18+
**ADVANCE TICKETS**
https://
Recently I had the pleasure of sitting down with slash ingesting cannabis pixie sticks with filmmaker and highly tuned-in person, Sean Dunne at his apartment in Brooklyn.
Sean has made some truly incredible documentaries (Trump Rally, Oxyana, Florida Man, Cam Girlz, American Juggalo) which you can (and should) check out over on his website (FOR FREE): http://www.veryape.tv/
Sean and I met once last year but this time we really had a chance to connect and learn more about each other and am very glad we did. Credit to Michael Donovan for linking us up.
We talk about marijuana, DMT, psychedelics, veganism, Sean's super awesome films, Donald Trump and a whole bunch of other stuff.
Note: I am a big time potty mouth in this episode and basically every mind-altering substance is mentioned so now you've been warned.
Things Discussed in this episode
Hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.
As always be sure to subscribe, rate and review Synchronicity on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever else you consume your podcasts from.
On a recent trip back to NYC (my home from '08-'15) I sat down with the wise, insightful and all around cool guy, Danny Goldberg.
Currently, Danny Goldberg is President of GoldVE Entertainment. Danny has also worked in the music business as a personal manager, record company president, public relations man and journalist since the late sixties.
Goldberg is also a consultant to the newly released HBO series “Vinyl”. From 1983-1992, Goldberg was the founder and President of Gold Mountain Entertainment, an artist management firm whose clients included Nirvana, Hole, Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, Bonnie Raitt, The Allman Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones and more.
In addition to of all the worldly accolades Danny has maintained a keen interest in ethics and spirituality throughout his life.
Topics we discuss on this episode:
Danny has his own podcast called "Rock and Roles" which (shhh, don't tell anyone) is my favorite podcast on MindPod Network. Definitely check it out.
Danny also recommends Michael Moore's new film, "Where To Invade Next" and a book (which happens to be my all-time favorite spiritual text) "The Gospel of Ramakrishna."
Don't forget to subscribe to Synchronicity if you haven't already.
Also rate and review on iTunes and Stitcher.
THANK YOU!
My guest today is the delightful, funny and incredibly engaging, Kelly Carlin.
Kelly is the daughter of George Carlin (legendary comedian and counter-culture figure) and she's also pretty freaking rad. In addition to having just finished her autobiography, "A Carlin Home Companion," Kelly has a degree in Jungian Depth Psychology. But those are just roles right?
On top of all that (or maybe underneath it all) Kelly is one of the nicest and smartest people I've had the pleasure to speak with. Her thoughts on modern culture, being a spiritual seeker, balancing the dark and the light, investigating the shadow and bringing much needed equanimity to an anything but modern world are just a few examples of what Kelly's about.
Things Kelly and I discuss in this episode:
Episode Links
Kelly's book, "A Carlin Home Companion: Growing up with George"
Lucinda Williams' new album, "The Ghosts of Highway 20"
Genpo Roshi and Voice Dialogue
My guest today is the wonderful and wise and extremely lovely Sharon Salzberg.
We discuss a variety of Buddhist concepts including The Five Hindrances, The Paramitas and The Three Buddhist Personality Types.
We also discuss anger, the mindfulness movement,her teacher Dipa Ma (who encouraged her to teach meditation in the West) and– actually, you know what? Give it a listen if you want to hear what else is in there.
Episode Links
The book Sharon is reading right now: Always Smiling by Lama Tsomo
Sharon's 28-Day Meditation Challenge
Phil Jackson's book "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success"
And don't forget to Subscribe to Synchronicity.
Also, rate and review Synchronicity on iTunes. This helps and I'm bribing people to do it (details in episode)
Back from the mini-hiatus with a bang.
My guest today is musician, author and Dharma teacher, David Nichtern. David was a student of one of my favorite Buddhist teachers, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and continues to teach in the Shambhala tradition. David's also an accomplished composer, producer and guitarist – a four-time Emmy winner and a two-time Grammy nominee. He's the founder of Dharma Moon and 5 Points Records. David has recorded and played with Stevie Wonder, Jerry Garcia, Lana Del Rey, Maria Muldaur, Paul Simon and many others. Bonus fact: he's also been a lifelong (literally) friend of Christopher Guest.
David and I discuss a whole lot of stuff in this episode including the concepts of idiot compassion, right livelihood, spiritual materialism, relationships and the connection between music and Buddhism. I also reference a podcast David did with comedian Pete Holmes on Pete's podcast, "You Made it Weird." You can check that out here.
David also happens to be an extremely pleasant and fun guy to talk with.
Some cool things were mentioned in this episode which I'm sharing below. Enjoy!
Subscribe to Synchronicity here.
"Memories of Summer as a Child" on iTunes
"The Profound Treasury of Ocean of Dharma" by Chogyam Trungpa and Judith Lief
I also signed up for David's course, "Creativity, Spirituality and Making a Buck" which you'll hear us discuss in this episode. Check it out if it sounds interesting.