21st Century Vitalism

A podcast where we explore cultivating vitality while dealing with 21st century stressors. We do this by investigating various body-mind integrating practices such as bodywork, fitness, yoga, meditation; as well as embodied routine creation with diet, spirituality, art making, and relationship building. The theme is that in order to be whole, we need to balance our inner and outer worlds to be in harmony. So lets get to it, shall we?

Courting the Muse with Carisa Holmes

“The ‘Muse’ is not an artistic mystery, but a mathematical equation. The gift are those ideas you think of as you drift to sleep. The giver is that one you think of when you first awake.” ― Roman Payne In this week's episode, we sit down with Carisa Holmes, creative coach, holistic healthcare practitioner, musician, and author. If each episode represents a theme, this one is 'Creativity'. We talk the process of building a relationship with the muse, unblocking ourselves when it's just not flowing, overcoming stage fright, the relationship between bodywork and creativity, the function of electronic music, and how creativity flows through all things. This is a powerhouse of a conversation and if you wish to take on the work of refining your creative impulses, I encourage you to get involved with Carisa's platform.  Links! https://carisacreates.com/ https://www.facebook.com/CarisaCreates https://soundcloud.com/user-810480368 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWEbphEM6sdPynC_r033qAw/featured

12-02
01:25:12

ICE: 21st Century Gestapo with Jose Guadalupe Jimenez Jr.

Today's episode is very special as we're introducing one of the key pillars of the show, social activism! To launch this boat we sit down with documentarian and videographer Jose Guadalupe Jimenez Jr to talk about his newest work, Citizen: The Jilmar Ramos-Gomez Story which is a disheartening tale of a United States veteran being arrested and threatened with deportation. We also talk about his bi-lingual news publication startup, the nature of being undocumented, the psychology of Latinx communities under the Trump era, the evolution of immigration policy, and the sordid way that ICE is operating in the United States today.  Check out Jose's bi-lingual journalism startup: https://www.candormedia.org/ for some top of the line reporting. Citizen's Indiegogo campaign: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/citizen-the-jilmar-ramos-gomez-story/coming_soon (Even a dollar goes a long way to bring this important vision into focus)

11-25
01:25:00

Corrective Fitness with David Ippel

This week we have David Ippel joining us for a solid conversation on all things fitness. As a corrective exercise specialist and physical trainer, David has been pouring his heart and soul into developing a practice that meets his clients unique needs. In this episode we talk about getting started with fitness for those who don't have a practice, the importance of healthy lifestyle in managing emotional wellbeing, living with chronic pain, and creating sustainable habits that will last your entire life.  If you wish to contact David for a consultation or training session, reach out to him via email davidippelfitness@gmail.com or his social media @davidippelfitness 

11-04
01:23:59

Poetry for Mental Health with Fable the Poet

This week's offering is a conversation I recently shared with Fable the Poet! Fable is Grand Rapids (MI) poet laureate, founder of The Diatribe organization, as well as one of the initiators of The Drunken Retort here in West Michigan. In this episode we talk about the power of poetry from both writer and listeners perspective, as well as his community engagement projects and interacting with the youth through the written word. This was a real treat to have an hour of his time so I trust that those of you listening will enjoy :)  You can find Fable and his projects at https://thediatribe.org/ http://mindoffable.com/ https://www.facebook.com/FableThePoet

10-21
01:16:32

Navigating the Art Market with Randi Ford

In this episode we sit down with visual artist, Randi Ford to talk about the aspect of art that many try to avoid, BUSINESS. Amongst creativity, flow state, inspiration, and our recent trek to the upper peninsula of Michigan, Randi distills some essential wisdom on cultivating success while pursuing your passion. This episode introduces another pillar of the shows premise, being that in order to find harmony in life, we need to bring our inner and outer world into alignment. Right livelihood is essential and Randi's path has creatively done just that!  You can connect with her over at https://randifordart.com/ to commission custom work, order tees and mugs, or buy prints of all shapes and sizes.  Or alternatively you can follow her over on social media over at https://www.facebook.com/RandiFordFlowPaintings and https://www.instagram.com/Randi_Ford_Flow_Paintings/

10-14
01:35:32

Epigenetics and the Endocannabinoid System with David Krantz

Welcome David Krantz to 21st Century Vitalism! David is an epigenetics coach, musician, and bio harmonizing practitioner out of Asheville, North Carolina. In this episode we talk about his epigenetic coaching program where he helps people develop healthy routines that are optimized on an individual basis from information gathered through genetic testing. He recently created a proprietary test that analyzes the unique characteristics of a client's endocannabinoid system and helps them make informed decisions about how to cultivate a healthy relationship with cannabis and it's wonderful medicinal properties.  You can connect with David through his website: https://david-krantz.com/  Or through instagram/facebook: @DavidKrantzEpigeneticCoach OR through his musical endeavor, Futexture on all major streaming platforms.

10-07
01:42:07

Ruptures in the River of Being with Nicholas Bolton

Hello and welcome to episode three of 21st Century Vitalism! This week we sit down with Nicholas Bolton, a community mental health counselor and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner located in Colombus, Ohio. In this episode we take a deep dive into the science of trauma and explore how body based approaches may actually hold the key to resolving difficult experiences as well as open the door to expanded states of awareness.  Nicholas is a provisional teacher for the Community Resiliency Model and offers online and in-person workshops for groups, families, communities and organizations throughout the United States. The aim of this model is to teach¬¬ simple biologically based skills, based on upon current science, to help individuals and communities get back into balance in body, mind and spirit and to educate about common reactions resulting from individual or communal traumas such as poverty, racism, family violence, natural and human-made disasters. Nicholas is very passionate in cultivating “trauma-informed” and “resiliency-informed” individuals and communities. He is currently being trained in Transforming Touch and Transforming Intentional Touch, the work of Stephen Terrell, PsyD, SEP, where the focus is on healing Developmental Trauma and working with the Primitive Reflexes. Join his email list at www.NicholasBoltonCounseling.com to stay up-to-date with events and offerings.

09-30
02:01:00

Ayurveda 101 with Samantha Mee

In this episode we sit down with Samantha Mee (Paramdev Kaur), a Detroit based Ayurvedic counsellor and massage practitioner. Samantha uses a mixture of modalities including sound healing, reiki, reflexology, and more to assist clients in navigating anxiety, stress, PTSD, digestive disorders, and insomnia. In this conversation we cover many of these practices as well as the importance of solitude, balancing the masculine and feminine principles, and sustainable usage of plant medicines. You can stay connected with her at paramdev-kaur.com as well as following her on instagram and facebook! 

09-23
01:31:00

Cultivating Flow with Mike Chang

In the inaugural episode of 21st Century Vitalism, we sit down with fitness guru Mike Chang to talk about his daily flow practice and the flow tribe wellness group. The daily flow practice is a combination of exercises, stretches, energy work, and breathwork which harmonizes the body, mind, and spirit. We explore the philosophy underpinning it and the radical transformations in consciousness that accompany each of the movements. We talk about processing difficult emotions through qi gong, yoga, and meditation, and a whole lot more. Welcome, to 21st Century Vitalism.

09-16
01:32:00

The Role of Movement in the Search for Meaning with Rafe Kelley

Joining us on the show this week is the parkour teacher, martial artist, and founder of Evolve, Move, Play - Rafe Kelley. Having spent 20 years exploring diverse movement practices, Rafe has gone on to create a system which combines parkour, connecting with the natural world, and building community through intentional interactions. In this conversation, we explore how we can create a deeper sense of embodied living through movement. You can check out Rafe’s work by heading over to evolvemoveplay.com or following his socials @evolve.move.play     Show Topics: - History of Parkour and How it Changes Us - Risk Vs. Danger - The Importance of Play - The Pros and Cons of Devices - Learning from Rejection and Friction - Apprenticeship - How Ideologies Colonize Us - Building Somatic Resiliency - Sensory Desensitization and Political Extremism - Parkour Helps Us Establish Faith in Reality

09-24
01:24:25

Storytelling and Rediscovering What's Real with Tyson Yunkaporta

Joining us on the show for this episode is the Australian academic, author, and Indigenous thinker, Tyson Yunkaporta. His work explores Indigenous knowledge systems and their relevance to contemporary global challenges, including sustainability, education, and systems thinking. In this conversation we explore the central themes of his book, ‘Right Story, Wrong Story: How to Have Fearless Conversations in Hell’. If you want to plug into Tyson’s work, you can order his books wherever you typically shop! His newest work, ‘Snake Talk: How The World’s Ancient Serpent Stories Can Guide Us’ is now available on all platforms. Show Topics - What is the Importance of Storytelling? - What Makes a Story Right or Wrong? - Origins of Wrong Story - Community Responses to Wrong Story - Contrasting What’s Real with What’s True - How to Connect With What’s Real - The Pairing of Wellness Culture and Fascism - The Commodification of Indigenous Thinking

09-11
01:10:08

The Four Enlightened Actions to Help in Troubled Times with David Nichtern

This weeks episode of 21st Century Vitalism is with the one and only, David Nichtern! David is a senior meditation teacher in the lineage of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, founder of online mindfulness education platform, Dharma Moon, and a Grammy nominated musician. For this conversation, we explore how to effectively make change in the world by investigating Buddhism’s Four Karmas teaching, navigating hopelessness, and the importance of maintaining a joyful heart. To stay connected with David, check out dharmamoon.com to see their extensive list of upcoming mindfulness courses including their 100 hour Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training starting on October 10th. He also has the ‘Creativity, Spirituality, and Making a Buck Podcast’ available wherever you tune into your podcasts. To support this show: head on over to Patreon.com/21stcenturyvitalism and consider becoming a member. Also subscribe over on YouTube, follow us on Instagram, or like us on Facebook. Show Topics - Bodhisattva Intention and Action - Emptiness and Compassion - The Four Karmas - The Near Enemies of the Four Karmas - Habituated Actions - Do Countries Have Karmic Signatures? - Turning Hopelessness into a Resource - Maintaining a Joyful Heart

08-21
01:16:41

Connection, Community, and the Art of Somatic Listening with Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

Joining us on the show this week is American composer, performer, and producer, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith. In this conversation we explore the connections created from interacting with art, somatic listening, and discovering your own authentic voice. Kaitlyn is a classically trained creative force who uses an array of rare synthesizers to generate unique and immersive pieces that transport you to different spaces. Kaitlyn’s new album ‘GUSH’ is set to be released on August 22nd and can be listened to on all streaming platforms.  https://kaitlynaureliasmith.com/ Show Topics - Music and Connection - Exploring Unheard Sonic Territories - Ambient Music as a Space - Creating Live Shows - Signs of Connecting with an Audience - The Changing Meaning of Art - Body Based Practice and Music - Somatic Listening - The Beauty of Musical Preference - Listening More Deeply

08-06
01:02:05

Shared Awe and the Importance of Visionary Communities with Amanda Sage

New Episode of the 21st Century Vitalism Podcast is out now! This week's offering is with the incredible American Visionary Artist and educator, Amanda Sage. In this conversation we explore the importance of visionary communities, teasing out our unique offerings to the world, and the notion that we’re all inherently creative. Amanda is a lifelong artist who’s dedicated a majority of her career to creating works of transformation, interconnectedness, and regenerative practices. She spent over a decade living in Vienna studying with the founder of Fantastic Realism, Ernst Fuchs and is currently serving on the Board of Directors at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. Her global community, The Vision Train can be found over at visiontrain.org. You can check out some of her work while listening to this episode over at amandasage.com Show Topics Maintaining Connection to the Creative Impulse Celebrity and Its Shadow The Visionary Component of Festivals Importance of Community and Elders The Function of Visionary Art We’re All Uniquely Creative Bringing Festival Energy Into the Mundane  The Vision Train Shared Awe  

07-15
01:03:47

Choosing a Creative Response to the Polycrisis with Anthony Thogmartin

Joining us on the show this week is musician and educator, Anthony Thogmartin (@earthcrymusic). Most known for his work in the American livetronic band, Papadosio, and his side project Earthcry. Anthony is also the founder of the online education platform Seed To Stage, where he teaches a global community how to produce music using the Ableton software. In this conversation, we explore the interconnected nature of the polycrisis that our shared world is facing. With topics ranging from A.I technology, world economic systems, and utilizing art to create lasting change; we delicately weave a thread through many of the day’s issues as well as their respective antidotes. Oh yeah, and we talk about Papadosio and their impending hiatus. If you want to stay plugged in with Anthony’s work moving forward, head on over to seedtostage.com. Show Topics - Is The World Too Dangerous for Our Children? - Is A.I Good or Bad? - Seeing Complexity as a Superpower - Being Comfortable with Unsureness - Moving Beyond Black and White Thinking - The Main Issue of the U.S is an Economic One - New Ways of Organizing - Seed to Stage/ Earthcry - Papadosio Hiatus - Effects of Lacking Capital - Getting Activated

07-03
02:01:35

The Intersection of Attachment Theory and Meditation with George Haas

This week's episode of the 21st Century Vitalism podcast is with the founding teacher of the Metta Group, George Haas. In this conversation we explore his work of combining Buddhist meditation practice with cutting edge attachment strategy repair protocols. Drawing on over 40 years of teaching this material, George’s approach to helping students heal from their attachment injuries has been clinically proven to be effective and deeply transformational. Outside of his full schedule of one on one sessions and weekly classes, he’s also the host of a podcast called, ‘I Love You, Keep Going’, which explores these topics in great detail. If you want to study with George, head on over to mettagroup.org or consider checking out his show wherever you tune into your podcasts. Show Topics - What’s the Difference Between Attachment Styles and Strategies? - Organized Attachment Vs. Disorganized - What Determines Our Attachment Strategy? - How Views Shape Our Reality - Working With Our Strategies - Intimacy and Communication - Vipassana and Attachment - How Emotions Change Perception - What is Authenticity? - Attachment and Spiritual Practice

06-11
01:04:05

Why We Hurt and What We Can Do About It with Lorimer Moseley

Joining us on the show for this episode is one of the world’s leading pain researchers, Lorimer Moseley, PhD. Having spent thirty plus years in his pursuit of understanding pain through the studies of neuroscience, physiotherapy, and pain science, Lorimer is currently a Professor of Clinical Neurosciences and the Foundation Chair in Physiotherapy at the University of South Australia. He’s recently launched his non-profit grassroots movement called ‘Pain Revolution’ which is ensuring that all Australians have access to the knowledge, skills, and local support to prevent and overcome persistent pain. For this conversation, we explore some of the key principles of his updated model of pain which draws from 50 years of research and data. It’s deeply transformational work that has the potential to dramatically shift our relationship to what makes us hurt. If you wish to continue your journey into the world of pain science, head over to painrevolution.org or check out some of his lectures and Ted Talks over on YouTube. Show Topics - Lorimers Background - Central Sensitization - Pain Variability Between People - Making the Case Against the Structural Explanations of Pain - Pain is a Protective Mechanism, Not Injury Detection - Four Essential Pain Facts - Manual Therapy and Pain - Pain Revolution and Community Building - Challenging Modality Empires - Evidence Based Practice - The Social Element of Healing - What Can Those In Pain Do Right Now?

05-29
01:08:19

Influencers, Algorithms, and The Importance of Touching Grass with Jason Pargin

Joining us on the 21st Century Vitalism podcast is former executive editor of Cracked.com and New York Times Bestselling author, Jason Pargin. In this conversation we explore the themes of his newest book, 'I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom'. Namely how the internet is changing the way we connect with other people, perceive reality, and process incoming information. You can order 'I'm Starting To Worry About This Black Box of Doom' wherever you get your books. You can also follow Jason on Tik Tok and Instagram to see his entertaining daily reels about culture, entertainment, and society over at @jasonkpargin. Show Topics - What Happens When A Culture Promotes The Need to Be Special? - Needing To Be An Influencer To Maintain a Career - The Psychological Implications of Algorithms - Parasocial Relationships and the Need for Real Community - Importance of Discomfort and Awkwardness - The Illusory Nature of Division - Choosing Our Media Diet - Tech Companies Taking Advantage of Negativity Bias - Technology and Developing Brains - How The Internet Exaggerates Reality - The Necessity of Pushing Boundaries

05-07
01:30:04

Inexplicable Joy and the Heart Sutra with Susan Piver

Joining us on the show this week is author, meditation teacher, and founder of the Open Heart Project, Susan Piver! For this conversation we explore the the most famous Sutra in Buddhism, The Heart Sutra. This is the focus of her newest book, 'Inexplicable Joy' in which she details how to turn this incredible and mysterious teaching into a workable practice that can transform your life.  You can stay in touch with Susan's offerings by checking out openheartproject.com or following her on all of the social media channels.  Show Topics  - Brett's Reading of the Heart Sutra  - What is the Heart Sutra?  - Exploring the Setting of the Heart Sutra  - The Practice of Buddhist Chanting  - What are the Skandhas?   - The Mantra That Calms All Suffering  - Trust and Devotion  - Emptiness in Buddhism  - Engaging With the World

04-24
01:00:17

Wild Magic and the Reclamation of Your Attention with Sean and Cass

Joining us on the show today are independent filmmakers, community builders, and fellow podcasters Sean Dunne and Cass Greener. In this conversation, we explore their recent film, Wild Magic as well as how we can best show up to the rapidly changing socio-political landscape of the United States.  You can watch Sean and Cass's films over at veryape.tv and tune into their 'Very Ape' podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts. They also have a sweet online community you can join over on their website for just $2!  Show Topics - What is Wild Magic?  - The Importance of Listening to Reality - Unplugging from Media Narratives - Dialing In On Your Offering - Illumination and New Avenues of Resistance - The Reallocation of Our Attention - The Power of Attention and Attention Vampires - Maintaining Your Own Frequency

04-10
01:05:51

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