Teaching us to relax back into being held by spaciousness, Lama Rod Owens discusses the forces that help us remember real love, awakened freedom, and who we truly are. In this episode of the Indie Spiritualist Podcast, Chris and Lama Rod explore:The practice and embodiment of real love as revolutionaryTranscending violence and harm and the yearning for all to be freeHolding brokenheartedness with a lot of care and viewing it as a teaching Continued practice even as an awakened being Returning to a space of fluidity and opennessRiding the middle line between form and emptiness Cultivating a stronger relationship with Earth, even in an urban environment Mystical breakthroughs and navigating mental health through the lens of spirituality Getting distracted by euphoria / believing we are hyper-special instead of taking spiritual experiences as an opportunity to connect more deeply with humanity Meditative experiences that can be found in daily life and in our pre-existing hobbiesAllowing space for Western medicine when it is needed Untangling the notion that we have to like something or someone in order to love Returning agency back to community and the enduring spiritual traditions that will aid in our survival This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp & Dharma Seed:Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.Join Krishna Das, the most well-known voice of Bhakti chanting (Kirtan) in the West, and David Nichtern - a senior Buddhist teacher, founder of Dharma Moon, guitarist in Krishna Das’ band, and producer of several of his albums - for a warm and engaging conversation about these two paths, their shared roots, and how they intersect in contemporary spiritual practice. Learn more about this FREE online gathering - THE HEART & MIND OF PRACTICE: BUDDHISM & BHAKTIAbout Lama Rod Owens:Lama Rod Owens is a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. An international influencer with a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on the intersection of social change, identity, and spiritual practice. Author of Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger and co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation, his teachings center on freedom, self-expression, and radical self-care. Highly sought after for talks, retreats, and workshops, his mission is to show you how to heal and free yourself. A leading voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers with over 11 years of experience, Lama Rod is highly respected among his peers and the communities that he serves. From these intersections, he creates a platform that’s very natural, engaging, and inclusive. Check out Lama Rod’s most recent publication, The New Saints, and his podcast on the Be Here Now Network, The Spirit Underground.For current offerings and programs, click here.“Is it taking you out of this moment, out of relationship with others around you? Are you having thoughts of being special and extraordinary? Is it helping you to be more human, or is it leading you towards this idealized state that seems to take you out of the messiness of humanity? I think that the real spiritual breakthrough brings us deeper into the experience of being human, of empathy." – Lama Rod OwensSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 136 - Wetiko: Understanding Our Collective Malady with Paul Levy
Paul Levy, a pioneer in spiritual emergence, chats with Chris Grosso about the concept of Wetiko and healing our collective malady.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Chris and Paul explore:The diagnosis of our collective malady and defining WetikoWaking up through the darkness Life as a collective dream we are all manifesting The mind virus we are all suffering from and what it can reveal to us The primary importance of the psyche in creating world eventsAccessing our divine inheritance and divine power Psychologist and Dream Analyst Carl Jung’s exploration of Wetiko The danger of turning a blind eye to our shadowsQuantum physics as a dreaming phenomena Shedding light into our unconscious mind Compassion as the ultimate dissolver of Wetiko About Paul Levy:Paul Levy is an author, speaker, and facilitator who describes himself as “a wounded healer in private practice, assisting others who are also awakening to the dreamlike nature of reality.” Paul brilliantly synthesizes wisdom streams from quantum physics, Carl Jung, Buddhism, alchemy, shamanism, Kabbalah, mystical Christianity, and the work of science fiction author Philip K. Dick. He has been a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner for over 35 years, was the coordinator for the Portland Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, and is the founder of the “Awakening in the Dream Community.” Paul’s books include The Quantum Revelation: A Radical Synthesis of Science and Spirituality, Dispelling Wetiko: Breaking the Curse of Evil, and Awakened By Darkness. Learn more about Paul on his website. "Wetiko is a Native American term but every spiritual tradition talks about it, just in different languages. This is the diagnosis. We've made a huge breakthrough. There's been a diagnosis of what's at the bottom of our collective malady. We're in the middle of a collective psychosis of titanic proportions, that is what Wetiko is.” – Paul LevySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 135 - Freedom Through Sound Healing with Kelvin Young
Certified sound healer Kelvin Young joins Chris Grosso to discuss how to find freedom within institutions and systems.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This time on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Kelvin explore:Kelvin’s first encounter with holistic healing in the prison systemHow Kelvin became inspired to change his life and get sober for himself and his daughterBecoming anchored through sound healingHow we at the subatomic level, we are vibration and soundHaving spiritual experiences at concerts regardless of genreIntegrating holistic practice into hospitals and other facilitiesMoving from hypervigilance to relaxation through sound healingMeeting people where they are at on their healing journeyThe science of sound and rituals around the world that utilize soundThe power of humming and using our own voice as a toolThe gong as an instrument of interconnection12-step healing as integral piece for many people in recoveryAbout Kelvin Young:Kelvin Young is a Certified Sound Healer and Owner of Kelvin Young, LLC. He is also a person in sustained recovery which means Kelvin hasn’t used alcohol or any other drug to cope with his mental and emotional distress since March, 6th 2009. Kelvin received his recovery coaching training at CT Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) and Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) certification at Recovery University. Kelvin has presented around the country in diverse settings, including CCAR Multiple Pathways to Recovery Conference, Alternatives Conference, Yoga Reaches Out, Newtown Yoga Festival, The Shift Network, Indie Yoga in San Francisco, CA, Alex Grey’s Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, Copper Beech Institute, CT Women’s Consortium, yoga studios, retreat centers, conferences, high schools, colleges, prisons, addiction treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals and mental health agencies. Today, he publicly speaks on addiction recovery to people from all walks of life. Kelvin also facilitates private and group sound healing sessions at different locations throughout the United States. Keep up with Kelvin HERE.“Sound has been that foundation for me to explore and understand that sound itself is life itself. It humbles me to be in awe of what all of sound is, the vibrations. Down to the subatomic level, we are vibration, we are sound, we are energy, we are frequency.” – Kelvin YoungSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 134 - Unraveling Inner Landscapes with Tori Olds
Psychologist Tori Olds helps listeners unravel inner landscapes by examining emotions, identity, and the patterns in our lives.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Chris and Tori explore:Tori’s early interest in emotions and psychologyInterfacing with our emotional reactionsHow experiences shape identityIrrational and self-defeating behaviorsHow what we learn as a child influences how we protect ourselves as an adultEmotional knowing versus logical knowingImplicit memory and fear conditioningHow witnessing new evidence can help us unlearn negative patternsMindfulness for regulation of the nervous systemThe importance of working with a trained professionalThe potential within psychedelic-assisted therapyIf you are unable to work with a therapist but feel therapy may be helpful, check out this book recommendation from Tori: Self TherapyAbout Tori Olds:Tori Olds, PhD is a psychologist and a mother, but there is much more to her identity. Songwriting, meditation, and teaching are also important aspects of her life. She helped start Deep Eddy Psychotherapy alongside her sister Charlotte, her husband Glenn, and both her parents, which has provided her with numerous opportunities to train and supervise aspiring therapists. Ten years ago, she began leading a 6-month training group called “Minding the Heart,” offering a deep dive into experiential methods of therapy. She is drawn to these approaches because she believes the most profound transformation occurs when we connect with the deepest parts of ourselves—those that can only be reached through direct, experiential contact. Keep up with Tori on her website.“Making a prediction and seeing that what is happening is not what we predicted makes the memory labile…it’s in a state where it can change. If we introduce new knowing in two seconds the whole neural network can be rearranged or dissolved.” – Tori OldsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 133 – Unlocking Unconscious Desires with Carolyn Lovewell
Diving into the meaning of existential kink, Dr. Carolyn Lovewell joins Chris Grosso to discuss unlocking our unconscious desires.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This time on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Dr. Lovewell discuss:The meaning of existential kinkThe practice of orgasmic meditationHow vulnerability and truth can lead to more sensationConsidering what our unconscious desires may bePracticing enjoying what is already happeningRealizing the darkness / pain we may be attracted to subconsciouslyThemes within the myth of PersephoneThe power addictions hold over us and admitting powerlessnessA guided meditation from Dr. CarolynLiving as characters in God’s dreamBecoming aware of our own wholeness and non-dualismSleep Over Mystery School and the heart of western mysteriesAbout Dr. Carolyn LovewellDr. Carolyn Lovewell (formarlly Elliott) is an American scholar, author, and occultist. She is the author of the book Existential Kink which focuses on shadow integration as a means for creating positive change in the self. She obtained a doctorate in Critical and Cultural Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Check out Dr. Lovewell’s podcast, Sleep Over and learn more on her website.If you are interested in integrating the opposites in the psyche, join the 9 month program with Dr. Lovewell at the Sleep Over Mystery School“Existential kink is the idea that pretty much all of us human beings have an unconscious attraction to painful things. We’re all kinky, we’re all in a sadomasochistic relationship with the universe. The universe, God, whatever we want to call it is a dom that has no safe words. It just keeps coming, all the time. We can learn to make those unconscious attractions to painful or negative patterns conscious. When we do that, we liberate all sorts of energy that had been unconsciously stuck. Existential Kink is a deep tool for change.” – Dr. LovewellSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chris Grosso is a public speaker, writer, musician, recovery coach, and author of several books, including Indie Spiritualist, Everything Mind, Dead Set On Living, and Necessary Death. His work blends raw honesty with deep spiritual insight, offering readers and listeners a down-to-earth approach to healing and growth. Chris has contributed to Revolver Magazine, FANGORIA, and Huffington Post, and has spoken at major events like Wanderlust Festival, Yoga Journal Conference, Kripalu, Sun Valley Wellness Festival, the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, and more.Chris’s passion for helping others extends beyond writing and speaking—he’s also a recovery coach with Make It Mean Something Coaching, a service offered through Action Creates Change LLC. He works with teens and adults navigating mental health struggles, addiction, and life transitions, offering personalized guidance that empowers clients to find meaning in their challenges and reclaim their lives.From leading groups in detox centers and rehabs to youth centers and yoga studios, Chris has spent years on the front lines of healing, helping individuals move beyond suffering and into transformation. His dedication to fostering connection and resilience earned him a place as a member of the Evolutionary Leaders.The Indie Spiritualist podcast brings raw truth and real talk, featuring interviews with musicians, artists, spiritual teachers, skateboarders, and actors. It’s an open invitation to explore life’s messiness and meaning—no pretense, no fluff, just real conversations with real people.Stay connected with Chris Grosso on Instagram and Facebook for more updates, insights, and ragged truth-telling.
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