The New Dimensions Café

Phil Cousineau is a freelance writer, filmmaker, photographer, art and literary tour leader, teacher of creativity, mythographer, storyteller, and an all-around Renaissance man. He's published over 40 books and has over 25 documentary film writing credits. He is also host and co-writer of "Global Spirit," a nationally broadcast television series. His books include Wordcatcher (Viva Editions, Cleis Press 2010), Beyond Forgiveness: Reflections On Atonement (Jossey-Bass 2011), Stoking The Creative Fires (Red (Wheel/Wiser 2008), Burning the Midnight Oil: Illuminating Words For the Long Night's Journey Into Day (Viva Editions 2014), The Book of Roads: Travel Stories from Michigan to Marrakech (Viva Editions 2015), The Art of Pilgrimage revised (Conari Press 2021), The Lost Notes of Sisyphus (Sisyphus Press 2021)Interview Date: 11/17/2021        Tags: Phil Cousineau, Joseph Campbell, Albert Camus, Greek mythology, Sisyphean task, struggle, metaphor, boredom, despair, rise of authoritarianism, The Great Gatsby, Rollo May, shame, Persephone, pandemic, Merope, Prometheus, Zeus, Mythology, Philosophy

Margaret Barkley is a teacher, poet, and curious observer of humans and nature. Her poetry has been published in the Redwood Writers poetry anthologies Beyond Distance, And Yet, and Crow, in which she was an Award of Merit poet. She holds an MA in Psychology with a focus on group facilitation and emotional intelligence and has taught for over twenty years, including at Sonoma State University and University of San Francisco. Her latest love is leading women’s retreats in the Tetons. She is the author of a book of poetry, Ribs (Finishing Line Press 2021)Interview Date: 11/4/2021  Tags: Margaret Barkley, poetry, poems, listening, Art & Creativity, Writing

Susan Campbell, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and the author of close to a dozen books on relationships and conflict resolution. She leads seminars internationally, is a couple’s therapist, relationship coach, trainer of professional coaches, and works with private clients through her relationship coaching practice. Her books include Getting Real: Ten Truth Skills You Need to Live an Authentic Life (H.J. Kramer 2001), Saying What’s Real : 7 Keys to Authentic Communication and Relationship Success (H.J. Kramer 2005), Five-Minute Relationship Repair: Quickly Heal Upsets, Deepen Intimacy, and Use Differences to Strengthen Love (John Gray) (H. J. Kramer 2015) and From Triggered to Tranquil: How Self-Compassion and Mindful Presence Can Transform Relationship Conflicts and Heal Childhood Wounds (New World Library 2021)Interview Date: 11/24/2021  Tags: Susan Campbell, brain, prefrontal cortex, primitive brain, triggered response, reactive brain, amygdala, signs of triggers, pause agreement, core fears, repairing triggered response, Relationship, Psychology, Health & Healing

Tim Zentetsu Burkett, Ph.D. is Guiding Teacher of the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is also a licensed psychologist and a former director of People Incorporated, a large mental health agency in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has been a student of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and later Katagiri Roshi, in whose linage he is a dharma heir. Suzuki Roshi’s book of talks, Zen Mind, Beginner Mind (Shambhala 2011), is a classic for all spiritual seekers. Tim Burkett is the author of Nothing Holy About It: The Zen of Being Just Who You Are (Shambhala 2015)Interview Date: 9/24/2015

Dean Sluyter has spent a lifetime learning authentic methods of natural meditation from eastern and western sages and making them accessible to thousands, including prisoners, tech innovators, filmmakers, high school students, and entrepreneurs. He has completed numerous retreats and pilgrimages in Tibet, India, Nepal, and Europe, and for decades has led workshops throughout the United States. He is the author of The Zen Commandments (Tarcher/Putnam 2001), Why the Chicken Crossed the Road and Other Hidden Enlightenment Teachings (Tarcher/Putnam 1998), Cinema Nirvana: Enlightenment Lessons From the Movies (Three Rivers Press 2005), Natural Meditation: A Guide to Effortless Meditative Practice (Tarcher/Penguin 2015)Interview Date: 4/23/2015  Tags: Dean Sluyter, Beingness, The Musk Deer Story, thoughts, Nature of Mind, enlightenment, Sri Mooji, Mickey Mouse, blank mind, Meditation, Buddhism

Richard Miller, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and host of the syndicated talk radio show Mind, Body, Health & Politics. He’s founder of Cokenders Alcohol and Drug Program and has been a faculty member at the University of Michigan and Stanford University. He also served as advisor on the President’s Commission on Mental Health and a founding board member of the Gestalt Institute of San Francisco as well as a member of the national board of directors for the Marijuana Policy Project. He also restored and reopened the Wilbur Hot Spring Retreat facility in Northern California. He is the Editor and author of the book Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca. (Park Street press 2021)   Interview Date: 9/30/2021    Tags: Richard Miller, Psychedelics, LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, Ayahuasca, PTSD, R. Buckminster Fuller, Bucky Fuller, Watson and Crick, DNA researchers, Carl Sagan, alcohol prohibition, Rick Doblin, psychedelics clinics, Ketamine therapy, politics of psychedelics, Health & Healing, Psychology, Social Change/Politics

Shugri Said Salh was born in Somali in 1974. And in 1992, she immigrated to North America after civil war broke out in her home country. She attended nursing school at Pacific Union College and graduated with honors. From her grandmother and the nomadic community in which she spent her early years, she heard stories and learned of their power to entertain, teach, and transform. She now lives in Northern California with her husband and three children and works as a post-operative nurse and infusion specialist. She is the author of The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert (Algonquin books 2021).Interview Date: 9/24/2021    Tags: MP3, Shugri Said Salh, Somalia, storytelling, refugee, making yogurt, camels, herding goats, infusion nursing, Personal Transformation, Global Culture, History, Women’s Studies

Robert Thurman, Ph.D. is the retired professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies at Columbia University as well as cofounder and president of Tibet House which is dedicated to the service of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet. He’s been a close friend of the Dalai Lama for over 50 years and is a passionate activist for the rights of the Tibetan people. He is a skilled translator of Buddhist texts and an inspiring writer of many popular Buddhist books, including: Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet (graphic novel co-creator) (Tibet House 2016), Love Your Enemies: How to Break the Anger Habit & Be a Whole Lot Happier (co-author Sharon Salzberg) (Hay House 2013) and Wisdom Is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life. (Hay House 2021)Interview Date: 8/20/2021  Tags: Robert Thurman, enlightened, enlightenment, awakened, inter-being, freedom from suffering, eightfold path, critical wisdom, Nicholas Negroponte, conversation, perception, relative truth, deep listening, dark matter, fake absolutes, the Buddha, Buddhism, Personal Transformation, Spirituality, Education

Brant Cortright is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies. His consulting practice specializes in cutting-edge brain health and neuroscience-informed depth therapy. He’s the author of Psychotherapy and Spirit: Theory and Practice in Transpersonal Psychotherapy (Suny Series, Philosophy of Psychology) (State University of New York Press 1997), Integral Psychology: Yoga, Growth, and Opening the Heart (Suny Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology) (State University of New York Press 2007) and The Neurogenesis Diet & Lifestyle: Upgrade Your Brain, Upgrade Your Life (Psychic Media 2015)Interview Date: 8/11/2015  Tags: Brant Cortright, Brain, neurogenesis, diet, oxidized cholesterol, oxidized fats, cooking oils, Alzheimers, memory loss, relationships, spiritual practice, meditation, exercise, changing habits, neurotoxic, Health & Healing, Relationships/Partnerships/Sexuality

Gail Brenner, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and blogger. She is the author of The End of Self-Help: Discovering Peace and Happiness Right at the Heart of Your Messy, Scary, Brilliant Life (Ananda Press 2015)Interview Date: 6/25/2015  Tags: Gail Brenner, happiness, thoughts and feelings, emotions, law of attraction, attention, negative thoughts, self-criticism, affirmations, we are not our stories, fully alive, suffering, direct experience, cognitive therapies, mindfulness therapies, Personal Transformation, psychology, Self Help