Embodiment Matters Podcast

We had such a lovely and enlivening conversation with beautiful Brooke McNamara, who is a gifted poet, dance-theater artist, zen monk, teacher and mama, and whose poetry we ADORE. In this conversation, we talk about embodiment as a line between suffering and wellbeing. We explore many topics including ensoulment, the importance of creative process for its own sake, about parenting during this time of climate crisis, and so much more. And of course, we asked Brooke to read poetry from both of her books. It's stunning! Brooke has practiced intensively in the Integral Zen lineage of Diane Musho Hamilton, Roshi (who we interviewed in season one of our podcast) and she is empowered as a Dharma Holder. Brooke has also taught at Naropa University in Yoga Studies and at the University of Colorado, Boulder in Dance. She serves as co-director of Eunice Embodiment, an organization that offers cutting edge dance-theater performances, movement education, and creative practice labs and retreats for the community. Brooke's first book, Feed Your Vow, was published in 2015. Her brand new book of poems, Bury the Seed, is a book for anyone seeking connection. It will be released in February 2020. She lives with her huge-hearted husband, two adorable, wild sons, and Bengal kitty in Boulder, CO. Of her new book, Bury the Seed, Mirabai Starr writes, "This is feminine wisdom at its most luminous – radically accessible, urgently sensual, clear as snowmelt and grounded as a grandmother oak. Goddess save us from another self-important self-help book. Brooke McNamara's poetry is a bell: wake up; give thanks; leave nothing out." Don't miss this fabulous conversation! You can find out more about Brooke, purchase her books and sign up for her newsletter and more at http://www.brookemcnamara.com

Sharon Blackie, an award-winning writer and teacher, dives into the rich intersection of psychology, mythology, and ecology. She discusses her concept of 'bodyfulness,' promoting a deeper connection with the physical world. The conversation also emphasizes the power of ancestral wisdom in reconnecting with nature and crafting personal narratives. Blackie shares her unique calling and transformative storytelling, as well as her journey to overcome her fear of flying by learning to pilot a Cessna. Expect a blend of insightful reflections and captivating tales!

In this episode, Carl speaks with Erwan Le Corre. Erwan is the founder of MovNat, which is a system of movement and embodied learning that helps people to grow the movement skills, physiological preparedness, and mindsets for practical, adaptable participation in the world. In our conversation we explore what Natural Movement is, and why it is so valuable in these times. We look at the challenges that arise from the lack of movement in modern life, and the benefits of reclaiming some of the ways that humans have moved for tens of thousands of years. We also talk about Erwan's new book The Practice Of Natural Movement. For more information on Erwan, Movnat, or his book, please visit Movnat.com

In this episode, Erin speaks with three trainers of The Work That Reconnects: Mutima Imani, Molly Brown, and Constance Washburn. We explore an overview of this pioneering body of work that includes Deep Ecology, Systems Thinking, and Buddhist practices, developed by root teacher Joanna Macy. We explore the three stories of our times: Business as Usual, The Great Unravelling, and The Great Turning, and how we can choose which story we're carrying. We explore how spirituality and activism support one another (and in fact need one another.) We talk about how this work is helping these women and the world during the challenging times we're facing on our planet. I'm thrilled to be participating in their year-long training this year and delighted to share them and this work with you. You'll find abundant information, resources, practices, inspiration and more at http://workthatreconnects.org

In this episode I speak with my dear friend, Sunny Rose Healey, Ayurvedic practitioner and teacher. In this episode we talk about: • a basic introduction to Ayurveda • 4 wise questions to ask to know if a particular regimen is good for you • tuning into natural rhythms in our days and through the seasons • the importance of digesting not only our food and drink, but every experience that comes our way • the importance of tending the digestive fire, "the mother fire," and ways to do so • the essential practice of self massage with oil • self-regulation in a dis-regulated world • the essential practice: doing much more of nothing I loved this conversation so much and I know you will too. I especially love Sunny's life-giving style. She's not a fundamentalist but someone who understands the importance of weaving wisdom ways into a real, messy, everyday life. Sunny's experience of holistic healing began by necessity, when she suffered from digestive disturbances, headaches, cervical cancer and physical pain, and found no answers in conventional medicine. She studied Ayurvedic medicine with several wonderful teachers, and eventually found her main teacher, Dr. Vasant Lad, and his school the Ayurvedic Institute, where she was first a grateful student, and later a faculty member.Sunny has also been a student of life, birth and medicine under the tutelage of indigenous medicine teachers, and magnificent midwives.She has a private Ayurvedic Medicine practice and herbal medicine company in Santa Fe, New Mexico where she lives with her husband and two young children. Find Sunny's services at www.mamayurveda.com and find her herbal product company at www.mamayurvedamedicinals.com

In this episode we speak with Stephen Jenkinson. Stephen is a teacher, author, storyteller, spiritual activist, farmer and founder of the Orphan Wisdom School. He has written several books, including Die Wise: A Manifesto For Sanity and Soul, and Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in Times of Trouble. In this conversation we speak about Stephen's Nights Of Grief and Mystery tour that is coming to our home, Salt Lake City, November 16th, and is touring through North America during the fall of 2019. If your are close to one of the spots on the tour, we encourage you to attend this extraordinary event. Stephen speaks of how he and Gregory Hoskins were being faithful to what had not yet appeared in terms of a gathering, likening Nights of Grief and Mystery more to a ritual or ceremony, where everyone attending is a participant as opposed to having an audience and performance. Stephen speaks about what it is to be a deeply claimed person, and how to be faithful to what you are born into. Stephen unpacks the words "grief" and "mystery" and their importance in these times. We deeply enjoyed speaking with Stephen, and truly value the wisdom, and the challenging questions he offers. We hope you enjoy the conversation. If you would like to hear more, we had a previous interview with Stephen on our podcast last year entitled "A Case for Elderhood." For more about Stephen's work, his school and the tour, visit http://www.orphanwisdom.com

Francis Weller, a profound thinker on grief and soulful topics, dives deep into the importance of embracing sorrow in challenging times. He introduces the transformative 'Five Gates of Grief,' emphasizing how acknowledging grief can lead to healing and joy. The conversation pushes for personal engagement with global issues and the necessity of community support in processing loss. Weller shares his belief that grief, far from being a burden, can awaken our love and courage, ultimately guiding us to a more meaningful existence.

Oh, what a shimmering, gorgeous, living, and enlivening conversation with one of the great embodied thinkers of our time! We loved interviewing David Abram and know you'll enjoy this episode in which we explore, through David's unique and gorgeous way with language, ways to be embodied and fully alive in our over-civilized world. We explore ideas about our use of language and the possibilities for "wielding our words" in ways that hold our senses open rather than shutting them down. We speak about recovering the wisdom of our animal senses; "tickling forth a way of being" in the world that is sensory, intimate and alive. David treats us to a reading from Becoming Animal, and shares the invitation to slow down and have patience even during the emergency we find ourselves in. He addresses the importance of leaving space in our lives, pulling the plug on our gadgets regularly to encounter the living world, and he speaks about why not only embodiment matters, but matter matters. We hope you enjoy being under the sensuous spell of David's language and beautiful mind as much as we did! You can find more about him at http://wildethics.org. We highly recommend his beautiful books The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-than-Human World and Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology.

Loch Kelly, M.Div., LCSW, is an author, meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and founder of the non-profit, Open-Hearted Awareness Institute. Lochteaches in a non-sectarian human being lineage using an adult education style based in the earliest non-dual wisdom traditions, modern science and psychotherapy. He is the author of Shift Into Freedom, and most recently The Way of Effortless Mindfulness. In our conversation we explore the connection between embodiment and waking up in the world. We look at the at the distinctions between what Loch calls effortless mindfulness, and the forms of mindfulness that are more widely taught. We talk about spiritual awakening as a natural next stage of adult development, and how when we are both waking up and growing up, we are much more resourced to respond to the great challenges in the world today. Loch also guides us in a couple of powerful short glimpse practices to offer listeners the direct experience of the concepts we are exploring. We loved this conversation and hope you do too! For more information on Loch's books, teachings and retreats, you can visit lochkelly.org

In this episode we share a deeply nourishing conversation with Daniel Foor, PhD, author of Ancestral Medicine and creator of the Practical Animism course. We explore embodiment as inter-relationship and indebtedness to the other-than-human world, about the intimacy of eating other bodies (whether plant or animal.) He says there are no environmental problems only human behavior problems and we explore how an animist, embodied worldview can help heal many current issues, including racism, sexism, disconnection, environmental harm and more. We explore that it's not so important whether we can prove that ancestral healing or animism are "true," but what kind of results living with these perspectives offer to improve our lives. We talk about grief as part of the process of becoming reconnected; the importance of slowing down; and the beauty of making offerings; as well as Daniel's vision for his work in the world, which includes animist values becoming mainstream. (Yessss!) We're so delighted to share this conversation with you. Find more about Daniel at ancestralmedicine.org. You can join us in his Practical Animism course through mid-June, 2019.