John Friend - "Rise and Fall of Mainstreaming"

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John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga and Bowspring, talks with J about the history of Anusara Yoga, its collapse, and the aftermath. They discuss the reason for having John on now, 60's generation of free love, consciousness expansion, business backgrounds in the 80's, studying with Iyengar and Gurumayi, founding Anusara in 97, standardization, the scandal and collapse, wicca and tantra, ethical codes, power differentials, universal principles of alignment, Bowspring, optimizing spirit, changing the world, making a living, and market trajectories.

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J. Brown

J. Brown is a yoga teacher, writer, and founder of Abhyasa Yoga Center in Brooklyn, New York. A teacher for 15 years, he is known for his pragmatic approach to teaching personal, breath-centered therapeutic yoga that adapt to individual needs. His writing has been featured in Yoga Therapy Today, the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, Elephant Journal and Yogadork.

David Singleton - "Slower and Longer Inward Looking"

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David Singleton - "Slower and Longer Inward Looking"

David Singleton is a long-time listener and friend of the show and he joins J to talk about relationship to our environment and ourselves. They discuss finding yoga during his wife's illness, discovering the podcast and following along with J's journey, love of the outdoors, motorcycles, becoming a fire ranger, big agriculture, healthy soil, regenerative farming, organic labeling, permaculture, defining success, and truly caring for land and people

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Elisa Malinverni - "Messages We No Longer Believe In"

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Elisa Malinverni - "Messages We No Longer Believe In"

Elisa Malinverni returns to touch base with J about making pragmatic choices in the face of a collapsing industry. They discuss the contraction of 2025, part-time work in communications, backlashes from physical practice, warrior 2 and triangle, yin repertoire, longer holds and repetition, unfounded claims, business coaching for teachers, whether the heyday is over, false promises, technology, and remaining curious about our future.

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Check in with J - "I Closed the Yoga Center, Now What?"

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Check in with J - "I Closed the Yoga Center, Now What?"

J takes the moment to check in with listeners and reflect on the closing of his yoga center, the state of his professional career, and his plans for the future. He discusses the factors that led to letting go of his commercial space and moving his classes into his living room, personal brands and business marketing, contradictions between career pursuits and paternal responsibilities, faith in God, and remaining rooted in the wonder.

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Todd Norian - "The Disease of Worldliness, Radical Nirvana"

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Todd Norian - "The Disease of Worldliness, Radical Nirvana"

Todd Norian, author of Tantra Yoga: Journey to Unbreakable Wholeness, returns to talk with J about the impact of different philosophical viewpoints on living in the word and what it means to be liberated. They discuss renunciation, gurus, kundalini awakening and psychotic breaks, the collapse of Kripalu and Anusara, authentic tantra, ethical codes and power, wisdom and divinity, discernment and evil, and the vulnerability required to heal.

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Christopher Wallis - "Rooted in But Not Bound by Tradition"

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Christopher Wallis - "Rooted in But Not Bound by Tradition"

Christopher Wallis, author of Tantra Illuminated and creator of Tantra Illuminated Online and the Tantra 112 app, returns to talk with J about the defining characteristics and sources for authentic tantra, They discuss origin narratives, lineage and initiation, institutionalized gatekeeping, divine revelation, Vedanta, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini, consciousness, devotion, morality, psychology and spirit, and the embodiment of one's true nature.

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Amy Landry - "Teachings, Traditions, and Practice"

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Amy Landry - "Teachings, Traditions, and Practice"

Amy Landry, author of The Ocean of Yoga, talks with J about honoring the history, philosophies, and purpose behind yogic inquiry. They discuss the impulse towards deeper study, grasping historical context, discerning the vedas, asceticism and tantra, classical Hatha Yoga, energy bodies and subtle anatomy, pranayama, inaccurate claims, alignment of values, devotion and God, knowing what we are doing and why, and trusting a chosen direction.

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Lizzie Lasater - "AI, Marketing, Envisioning a Healthy Future"

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Lizzie Lasater - "AI, Marketing, Envisioning a Healthy Future"

Lizzie Lasater returns to the show to talk with J about using AI technology and creating social media campaigns. They discuss the rumor that her mom is retiring, showing up consistently, being declarative vs provocative, doing Savasana wrong, a legacy of patriarchal rules, collaborating with language models, popularity and outrage, yin yoga, AI anatomy chat bots, setting boundaries around technology, and a holistic vision of the future.

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Chris Preist - "Zen, Meditation, Devotion, and Divinity"

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Chris Preist - "Zen, Meditation, Devotion, and Divinity"

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.

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Rachel Morarjee - "Generational Shifts, Anchoring to Grace"

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Rachel Morarjee - "Generational Shifts, Anchoring to Grace"

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.

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Bernie Clark - "History, Myth, Energy, and Spirit"

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Bernie Clark - "History, Myth, Energy, and Spirit"

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.

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Joanne Spence - "Trauma-Informed Care, Straightforward Faith"

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Joanne Spence - "Trauma-Informed Care, Straightforward Faith"

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.

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Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen - "Between Breath and Death"

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Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen - "Between Breath and Death"

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.

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David Procyshyn - "Line Between Authenticity and Manipulation"

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David Procyshyn - "Line Between Authenticity and Manipulation"

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.

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Jim Bennitt - "Camaraderie, Careers, and Jiu-Jitsu"

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Jim Bennitt - "Camaraderie, Careers, and Jiu-Jitsu"

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.

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Sharon Molloy - "Nonduality, Jesus, and the World of Man"

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Sharon Molloy - "Nonduality, Jesus, and the World of Man"

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.

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Adam Rumack - "Rights of Passage and Ways of Existing"

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Adam Rumack - "Rights of Passage and Ways of Existing"

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.

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Year End Check In with J - "The Age of Professional Yoga is Over"

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Year End Check In with J - "The Age of Professional Yoga is Over"

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.

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Danny Mintz - "Busting Myths and Questioning Teachers"

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Danny Mintz - "Busting Myths and Questioning Teachers"

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.

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Donna Farhi - "Conscious Pedagogic Models for Change"

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Donna Farhi - "Conscious Pedagogic Models for Change"

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.

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