Brian Dana Akers, author of The Yoga Manifesto, talks with J about the intrinsically free and historically egalitarian nature of yoga. They discuss the appeal of little orange books, the yoga scene in Kalamazoo, his Great-Great-Great-Grandfather's infamous speech to Abraham Lincoln, his fathers ministry, studying and translating Sanskrit, Swami Vishnudevananda, science and religion, money, scenarios for the future, and why yoga matters.

Bobbi Misiti, founder of BeFit Body & Mind, talks with J about the course that yoga profession and industry has taken over the years. They discuss committing to ashtanga vinyasa with Beryl Bender Birch, 600 person classes, the good and bad of the yoga scene, Nancy Gilgoff and Manju Jois, forward bending with a rounded spine, hard adjustments, Patabhi Jois, Mysore-style, the internal aspects, and the beauty of unique people coming together.

Nischala Joy Devi and Kamala Rose, cohosts of the podcast and forthcoming book: A Woman’s Gita: A Contemporary Version of the Bhagavad Gita by and for Western Women, talk with J about translating ancient wisdom texts from a woman's perspective. They discuss Kamala's punk rock background, choosing a monastic life, the Gita, ethics of war, divine revelation, prejudice against woman, and bringing forth the elegance and truth of Yoga.

Manu Molina, founder of Yoga Biz Mentor, talks with J about marketing yoga classes and retreats. They discuss creating platforms before the pandemic, impacts of everything going online, working for yoga centers, transitioning roles and mentoring others, monetization and content, the fine line between sleazy techniques and fair trade, over-promising and scarcity mindset, how to come up with pricing, organizing retreats, and having soul in the game.

Sheela and Ravi Shankar, co-founders of Yoga Nidhi, talk with J about TKV Desikachar and the transformative power of yoga. They discuss the history of their relationship and how Ravi discovered TKV Desikachar, Sheela's religious upbringing, Desikachar in different contexts, chanting as prayer or meditation, defining Ishvara Pranidana, OM, Satva dominance in the mind, characteristics of a yogi, and the greater purpose behind practice.

John Heers, founder of First Things Foundation and host of Heavy Things Lightly, talks with J about fundamental principles of Orthodox Christianity and operating from faith. They discuss the wing and prayer that brought them together, John's religious background, lessons learned from Islam, distinguishing denominations, eastern mystical Christianity, communion, Georgian dinner rituals, and participating in a why that leads to beauty.

Geoffrey Dugue, MD, talks with J about actual Christianity and being humble in seeking for truth. They discuss the mutual friendship that brought them together, being trained as a medical doctor at esteemed institutions and the lack of meta narrative, indoctrination into the great laws, miracles, having a personal relationship with God, the hypocrisy of the church, giving Satan too much credit, the Holy Trinity, sin, and the love that gets you to heaven.

Todd Norian, author of Tantra Yoga: Journey to Unbreakable Wholeness, returns to talk with J about happiness, freedom, and opening to a bigger energy. They discuss what it means to be a yoga teacher in 2024, transmission, happiness and joy, Svatantrya, randomness and entanglement, creating healthy self boundaries, how to make a decision, being supported by spirit, and setting the sails to catch the winds of grace.

Stephen Cope, author of Yoga and the Quest for the True Selfand The Dharma in Difficult Times, talks with J about the crossovers and divergences in eastern and western spirituality. They discuss psychotherapy and contemplative pursuits, crazy wisdom teachers, discovering Kripalu, shaktiput from Amrit Desai, reinvention from ashram to retreat center, and slowly refining your capacity to know that still small voice within.

Nadine Watton, part of the Hillside Yoga Collective, talks with J about riding the wave and surviving the crash of yoga into the mainstream in both practice and profession. They discuss mutual friends and synchronicity, practicing in the late 90’s, teacher training certification becoming a thing, Dave Charlton and the British Wheel of Yoga, choosing yoga as a profession, yoga teacher collectives, and letting go of trying to fit into tired molds.

Katie Armstrong, founder of Inspired Living, talks with J about moving through different life stages and the healing power of building muscle. They discuss starting a yoga-related business in the early aughts, the festival circuit and the unseen backstage realities of presenters, hormone replacement therapy, muscle as medicine, diversity of embodiment practices, crisis of sedentary lifestyles, and resiliency in the face of entropy.

Susi Amendola, author of The Centered Heart, talks with J about the intersection of medicine and holistic health. They discuss suffering from debilitating anxiety, being saved by yoga and joining an ashram, reconciling fallen gurus, becoming part of the Dean Ornish Lifestyle Medicine Program, internal vs external locus of control, coexistence with allopathy, using imagery, and addressing the core process underlying our choice making.

Brad Wetzler, author of Into the Soul of the World, talks with J about overcoming addiction, spiritual interventions, and laying ourselves bare in order to heal. They discuss the pandemic period they met in, getting misdiagnosed as bipolar and becoming addicted to medication, mental health care, saints and gurus, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, receiving shaktipat, materialism, devotion, being softened by love, and real humanity.

Live from the Berkshire Yoga Festival 2024, J talks with Johanna Epps, Louise LeGouis, and Leslie Kaminoff about motivation, purpose, and the zeitgeist of the times. They discuss making sense of the scandals, hurting our bodies and student safety, what sells and presenting to the public, reasons to attend and benefits of presenting at a festival, eternal topics and breaking new ground, and not taking for granted the joy of being in person.

J departs from his usual format to reflect on how he lost hope in the viability of small intimate yoga centers and why he has decided to open one now. He discusses the dark night of the soul that many yoga teachers are facing, the events that have led to the crossroads he faces, a random opportunity or perhaps divine intervention that has changed everything, and the hard reality that has caused him to admit that he can’t do it alone.

Godfrey Devereux, author of The Little Book of the Bandhas, returns to talk with J about releasing somatic intelligence from learned habits and the story that bandhas tell us. They discuss varied ideas about bandhas, connection between Mulabandha and exhalation, spontaneous muscle events leading to energetic experience, bandha in the extremities, oojai breathing, and the irresistible invitation to surrender into the totality of life and being human.

David and Iana Lifar, founders of the Indra Devi Foundation in Argentina and creators of Indra Devi International Virtual Yoga School, talk with J about the legacy of Indra Devi with translation by Mariana Campos. They discuss being inspired to meet Indra, an experience that convinced David she was something special, the influence of Krishnamurti, Krishnamacharya and Sai Baba, and the gestures of love that characterize Indra's presence.

Michelle Thielen, founder of Yoga Faith, talks with J about utilizing yoga practice to strengthen a belief in Jesus Christ. They discuss yogis being OK with God but not Jesus, Christians thinking yoga is demonic, personal faith separate from institutionalized churches, historical roots of christian yoga, whether or not Jesus is cool with chanting, Satan and the battle for souls, and receiving guidance and blessings in the secret place of the most high.

Hari-kirtana das, author of Journey into the Bhagavad Gita: A Guide to Exploring Timeless Principles of Transcendental Knowledge and Integrating Them Into Your Life, talks with J about universal principles that lead to religious experience. They discuss origins and larger context of the Bhagavad Gita, divergence of faith and knowledge, reincarnation, acting in harmony with cosmic order, and seeing ourselves as we truly we are.

Tessa Hillman, author of Yoga Stories from Guru Guptananda and Memoir of a Skeptical Seeker, talks with J about opening up to spiritual realms and receiving guidance. They discus coming to yoga in the 70's and 80's, yearning for a deeper understanding, coming into communication with Guru Guptananda, messages from a North American Indian Chief, protection by your own goodness, and being helped along by guides and angels.