Adam Schwartz, yoga teacher and podcast listener, talks with J about the dark underbelly of Yoga to the People NYC. They discuss the @yttpshadowwork Instagram account that started publishing anonymous testimony of manipulation and abuse at what was a premier yoga presence in the NY scene prior to covid, Adam’s first-hand experience of practice and training at YTTP, inner workings of studio policies, and lessons to be learned.

Lucie Vogel, Original Goat Yoga Mama and survivor of the Dahn Yoga cult, talks with J about holding institutions accountable and a defamation lawsuit filed by Matthew Remski. They discuss Dahn Yoga and her involvement in the organization, when the locust of control shifts in high-demand groups, legal barriers to accountability, why Lucie wrote an article exposing Remski’s lawsuit, and making sure our efforts to achieve justice are true to purpose.

Chris Preist, co-director of Bristol Zen Dojo, talks with J about the teachings of TKV Desikachar and collectivizing institutions of yoga. They discuss Chris’s history and study in both yoga and zen, the process of mind and ego, the role of oo-jai pranayama, going from gross to subtle awareness, deep commitment and teacher/student relationships, the failing of institutions to address abuse, and the power of sincere friendship and mutual bonds.

Heather Plett, author of The Art of Holding Space, talks with J the day after the 2020 election about what it means to hold space and learning to navigate in the dark. They discuss the liminal threshold of ambiguity and disorientation that occurs when we find ourselves transitioning, circles of trust and vulnerability, brave vs safe spaces, power and privilege, selective judgement, and creating new social contracts that foster equality and humility.

Jeff Krasno, author and host of the Commune Podcast, talks with J about the trajectory of yoga in our culture and its role in the larger collective fate of humanity. They discuss the origins of Wanderlust, downsides to turning yoga teachers into rock stars, the vital contribution that earnest teachers make in society, our current perilous moment, being open to learn from opposing viewpoints to counter polarization, and keeping faith in our institutions,

Hong Gwi-Seok, author of The Gift of Somatic Particularity in Iyengar Yoga and teacher at the Iyengar Yoga Detroit Cooperative, talks with J about evolving practice and bottom-up social change. They discuss her history with Iyengar Yoga, misconceptions about BKS Iyengar, the notion of somatic particularity, hierarchical power abuse, yoga and social change, and the spirit of inquiry at the heart of exploring interconnectedness with all things.

Judith Hanson Lasater, author of Yoga Myths: What You Need to Learn and Unlearn for a Safe and Healthy Yoga Practice, returns to the show and talks with J about letting go of the myths that once dominated yoga classes and embracing the spiritual underpinnings of practice. They discuss the genesis of her latest book, the inner workings of triangle pose, Mula Bandha as an energetic technique, and the heart space that really makes it all work.

Simon Borg-Olivier, co-founder and owner of Yoga Synergy, talks with J about both the science and metaphysics in his work uncovering the essence of yoga. They discuss his experience of studying with the gurus and pioneering yoga in the west, the influence of tradition in the process of innovation, energy in the human system, modern body vs traditional body, natural breathing, and recognition of our inherent interconnectedness.

Seane Corn, co-founder of Off the Mat, Into the World, talks with J about a PSA she posted regarding QAnon and the 2020 election. They discuss the recruitment of wellness influencers into the QAnon web of conspiracy theories, the co-option of legitimate causes, well financed social media used to manipulate and deceive, discerning truth, practicing radical accountability, and the hope that out of this mess will come a reckoning.

Amy Weintraub, author of Temple Dancer and Yoga for Depression, talks with J about old times and her new fiction work on sacred sexuality. They discuss her pioneering direction in yoga for mood management and mental health, getting caught up in admin and moving away from developing teacher trainings, her return to fiction writing, the story of the temple dancers, and embracing the spiritual power that is inherent in all of us.

Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor, coauthors of When Love Comes to Light: Bringing Wisdom from The Bhagavad Gita Into Modern Life, talk with J about their new translation and interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita. The conversation begins with a check-in on how things are going in the pandemic and then turns to the relevance of the Gita to our current situation. They discuss the text as a commentary on hierarchies…

Dr. Monea Tamara Abdul-Majeed, Racial Justice Educator and Yoga Teacher, talks with J about anti-racism and the need for all voices to be heard. They discuss having courageous conversations with family and friends, change making from top down and bottom up, radical viewpoints and self care, being resilient, performative allyship, the fraught polarization of our current politics and being forced to choose the lesser of evils in the coming election.

Carol Horton, author of 21st Century Yoga and Yoga PhD, returns to the show to provide a sober analysis of authoritarianism on both sides of the political aisle and perspective on the choices we all are facing. They discuss the erosion of dialogue and debate, the politics and social mores that are fueling the polarization, illiberalism and decentralized authoritarianism on the left, and finding ground for wisdom and hope.

Kishor Stein is a former student of Manouso Manos who talked with J at the end of last year about the abuse he witnessed, but it was never made public until now. Seven months later, they reconnect to introduce the episode by discussing why it was not originally released and why they are doing so now. The original conversation is about abuse that is commonplace in yoga classes and having a teacher you once admired but can no longer support.

Tias Little, author of The Practice is the Path and Yoga of the Subtle Body, talks with J about liminal spaces and subtle body healing. They discuss his background and evolution from rigorous physicality to somatic embodiment, mining dreams for messages from beyond, using slower movement and poetic language, delving deeply into emotional shadows, reconciling the imaginary realm, and learning to embrace the wonder of existence.

Max Strom, author of There Is No App For Happiness and A Life Worth Breathing, talks with J about emotional healing and fulfilling core human needs. They discuss influences that shaped Max’s work, the fundamental relationship between bodies and feeling, breath-work to heal emotional wounds, ethical causes, societal factors that present obstacles, and the ways in which we can overcome negative presets and have a meaningful life.

Nicola Belen is a long-time listener of the show who has reached out to J a few times and is currently living in Hong Kong, they discuss her story and what things look like there with the pandemic. Nicola shares her experience of being a “third culture kid,” the years she spent in New York and San Francisco, the evolution of her yoga through pregnancy, the yoga scene in Hong Kong, and the universal issues that people are facing everywhere.

Barbara Verrochi, co-owner and director of The Shala yoga studios in Manhattan and Brooklyn, talks with J about surviving all these years and so far in the pandemic. They discuss their parallel paths through the early NY scene, the evolution of practice and sustainability of independent centers, what has contributed to her longevity and fortitude, managing the shutdown orders, and the hope and faith that fuels a passion for yoga.

Amy Wheeler, Ph.D., former President of the Board of Directors at the International Association of Yoga Therapists, founder of Optimal State, talks with J about the current landscape of the “Industrial Yoga Complex” and embodying the principles of yoga. They discuss Amy’s work as a sports psychologist, training with TKV Desikachar, outcomes vs protocols, yoga therapy definitions, prospects for yoga teachers, and satvic purpose in yoga.

Leana Marie Marshall, founder of Elle Em Consulting and blackyogateachers365, talks with J about her time at Corepower Yoga and the need for more diversity and inclusion in the yoga industry. They discuss the reasons why POC don’t feel welcomed, working her way through the Corepower system, her attempts to reform inequities, harsh actions taken during the pandemic, and helping everyone feel valued and respected.