Alma Duran, PhD, is a cultural anthropologist, yoga teacher, and friend of J's who joins the show to talk about the migration of yoga over time and the cultivation of discernment. They discuss the early days of yoga in the eighties and Alma's time as a tv and film producer, Yogaworks in LA in the nineties, being inspired by TKV Desikachar, cultural anthropology, and the progression of yoga from the forest to the palace to the mall to the internet.

Lauren Walker, founder of Energy Medicine Yoga and author of The Energy To Heal, returns again to further convince J that we are electromagnetic beings with the capacity to heal. They discuss ways to feel your own energy, the nine energy systems, bringing principles from one-to-one Energy Medicine to group Yoga, democratizing energy practices, difference between healing and curing, and moving from a field of trauma to a field of magic.

Monica Voss, co-owner and director of Esther Myers Yoga Studio, talks with J about her studies with Vanda Scaravelli and Esther Myers. They discuss her discovery of yoga through Esther and transition from Iyengar to Vanda's approach, structure and freedom, individual agency, fundamental principles behind Vanda's teaching, elongating with wavelike pulsations, tapping into outer realms through poetry, and staying true to your convictions.

Bari Gratton, coauthor of an Open Letter To Yoga Alliance along with collaborators Meghan Maris, Courtney Ng, Gayatri Sehgal, and Shuo Wang, talks with J about the possibility for change in the yoga profession. They discuss the Masters of Arts in Yoga Studies program at Loyola Marymount University, problems with the Yoga Alliance, whether yoga teaching ought to be regulated, appropriation and racism, and engaging in good faith dialogue.

Blake Tedder, host of Inner Explorations with Angela and Victor: A Yoga Podcast, talks with J about healing trauma and going deeper in personal practice. They discuss Blake's process of recovery after being in a plane crash, discovering yoga and the influence of his teachers, disassociation and ways to embodiment, his evolution in personal practice of listening to the body, and being directed by the intelligent Life Force that flows through us.

Karin Lynn Carlson, author of the substack Gristle and bone, talks with J about leaving the yoga profession and the power of prayer. They discuss the pitfalls of a group yoga class context, her decision to wind down her teaching, importance of mentorship, a cultural moment defined by repressed futility, her turn to writing and most recent post, acknowledging a higher power, and how prayer renders us responsibility for our humanity.

Nick Beem, co-founder of Grateful Yoga, talks with J about the implications of yoga as ritual vs technology. They discuss the contrast between Nicks training in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy and ParaYoga, why framing yoga as a set of tools for self improvement is lacking, intention empowering practice, recognizing our animistic ancestry and a More Than Human world, and riding the slippery edge where doing and surrender blend together.

Kat Rosenfield, author of No One Will Miss Her and co-host of the Feminine Chaos Podcast, talks with J about her recent article on politics in the yoga space. They discuss Kat's evolution as a freelance pop culture and political writer, her separate life in yoga practice and teaching, the merging of those worlds in her article regarding infighting in online yoga communities, and reserving the right to let yoga remain a neutral ground in the culture wars.

Sophie Strand, author of The Flowering Wand: Rewilding the Sacred Masculine and facilitator of the online course, Myth & Mycelium: Rerooting & Rewilding the Gospels, talks with J about summoning enchantment and healing beyond hope. They discuss Sophie's health journey and the medical industrial complex, epiphanies around fungi organisms, cultural stories vs lived experience, "the animate everything," and alchemical storytelling.

Nischala Joy Devi, author of The Secret Power of Yoga: A Woman's Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras, returns to talk with J about her revised interpretation of Patanjali's last two padas. They discuss what led to doing a revision on Yoga Sutras, the criticism she has received, why so little consideration is given to the third and fourth padas, going beyond mind, intuitive wisdom, and relinquishing efforts to effortlessly reside in our heart.

Leslie Kaminoff, founder of The Breathing Project and coauthor of Yoga Anatomy, returns to talk with J about the changing professional landscape and deeper inquiries into the nature of healing. They discuss Leslie's bout with long covid, the third edition of Yoga Anatomy, TKV Desikachar and teachings on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, Leslie's coming show, having faith, surrendering to dharma, intuition, and forever continuing to learn.

Dr. Shamini Jain, Founder and Director of the Consciousness and Healing Initiative and author of Healing Ourselves: Biofield Science and the Future of Health, talks with J about how there need be no divide between science and spirituality. They discuss healing as the absence of disease (pathogenesis) vs a reflection of harmony (salutagenisous,) what placebo research tells us, Jainism, and how the biggest aura (nature) always wins.

Amy Matthews, co-founder of Babies Project and Program Director for the Somatic Movement Educator (SME) at Sonder Movement Project, returns to talk with J about redefining what it is to be human and reimagining educational models. They discuss the jarring stop to being a traveling teacher, the third edition of Yoga Anatomy, yoga and somatics, embodiment, ourselves as more than individuals, and pedagogy based in curiosity.

Lorin Roche, author of the Radiance Sutras and creator of the Radiance Sutras School of Meditation, talks with J about instinctive meditation and the Vijñāna-bhairava-tantra. They discuss the natural unfolding of meditative experience, formalities and spiritual cosplay, distrust and ethics in meditation teachings, unpacking sanskrit texts and the language of spirit, and that which captures our attention and brings delight.

Harmony Slater, host of the Finding Harmony Podcast, talks with J about reconciling the past and moving forward with grace. They discuss a recent podcast episode with Eddie Stern, if there is such as thing a 'yoga community,' rigidity in form, hierarchies of power, eastern and western faiths, radical vs qualified nonduality, and keeping ones mind on God without religion through an understanding of divine consciousness.

Indu Arora talks with J about the history and philosophies of yoga. They discuss the traditions she grew up with, being curious about the origins of yoga and respectful of its culture, sun salutations and utilizing sanskrit words to understand root ideas, distinguishing between yoga nidra and meditation, going from 'external thrill to internal still,' duality and oneness, making nature your guru, and the co-creation of knowledge to empower.

Frey Faust, creator of The Axis Syllabus and author of 101 USELESS EXERCISES...and what to do instead, talks with J about increasing awareness through an exploration of physiological or biological principles. They discuss his departure from the NY dance scene, standardization and funding, compiling information about the body that ended up contradicting conventional notions, form, fractals, and checking our own perceptions.

Daniel Simpson, author of The Truth of Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide to Yoga’s History, Texts, Philosophy, and Practices, talks with J about the origins of physical practice and what connects modern yoga to its ancient roots. They discuss the tendency of historical figures to invent things, influences that led to a modern postural approach, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, tantra, Nivritti and Pravritti, and questioning the how and why more than the what.

Kathryn Bruni-Young, creator of Mindful Strength, talks with J about her mother's legacy and the adaptability of human bodies. They discuss turning grief into a handstand club, when Kathryn's mom, Diane Bruni, came to J's class, the alarm her mom sounded and the infamous Facebook page, feeling uncomfortable about social media outpourings, and understanding biopsychosocial purpose behind strength training for resilience.

Steve James, creator of the Movement Koan Method® and founder of the Guru Viking Podcast, joins J for a comparative inquiry into spiritual traditions and philosophical viewpoints. They discuss living on a boat, the value of survival training, some of Steve's influences, working with Michaela Boehm and The Non-Linear Movement Method®, the purpose of long-sitting meditation, and appreciation for a multiplicity of contemplative disciplines.