Spirit Matters - podcast cover

Spirit Matters

Mind Body Spirit.fm
Never before has the spiritual landscape been as diverse and abundant as it is today. The opportunities for learning and growth are enormous, and spiritual counselor, author, meditation teacher, and speaker Philip Goldberg will help you make sense of it all and apply it to your life. Here you’ll meet teachers, scholars, and other experts from a broad range of traditions (and some from no tradition). Some of our guests are well known; others should be well known. They all have wisdom and practical guidance to impart. The aim is to help you expand and deepen your spiritual practices and speed your progress on your chosen path.
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Episodes

The Spirituality of Literature and Aging With Kamla Kapur

Kamla K. Kapur was born and raised in India and studied in the United States. Her writing has included plays, novels, poetry, essays and re-imaged Indian and Mid-eastern spiritual writings. She is the author of 8 books, including: The Singing Guru, which is a novel about Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh tradition; Ganesha Goes to Lunch: Classics From Mystic India; Rumi’s Tales From the Silk Road; and her latest, The Privilege of Aging: Savoring the Fullness of Life. She is based in the seasid...

Jul 07, 20251 hr 4 minEp. 88

Reimagining Christianity With Robert K.C. Forman

Dr. Robert K.C. Forman had a distinguished, twenty-year career as a professor of comparative religion at the City University of New York, during which time he had a major influence on the study of mysticism and authored several books and more than forty academic articles. A writer, popular public speaker, and spiritual counselor, he has shared his insights in Sweden, Iran, Finland, Israel, England, and across the U.S. After retiring from academia, he founded and ran the Forge Institute for Spiri...

Jun 23, 20251 hr 14 minEp. 87

Come Home to Yourself With Sadhvi Bhagavati Saraswati

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is an American woman who was raised in Hollywood and educated at Stanford before her life was unexpectedly transformed by a journey to India. For the last 30 years, she has lived at Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh, the famously sacred city in the Himalayan foothills. At the direction of her guru, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, she serves as Parmarth’s international director and gives daily spiritual teachings to ashram residents and guests. A popular public speaker, s...

Jun 09, 20251 hr 8 minEp. 86

Embodied Spirituality With John Prendergast

John Prendergast Ph.D. is a nondual spiritual teacher who is now retired from psychotherapy practice and his role as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, where he taught masters level counseling students for twenty-three years. Among his major spiritual influences are Jean Klein and Adyashanti. John offers residential retreats with his wife, Christiane, at leading venues in the U.S. and Europe as well as online. He’s also an author. Hi...

May 26, 20251 hr 8 minEp. 85

Living Grace With Miranda Macpherson

Miranda Macpherson is a widely respected contemporary spiritual teacher who has been guiding others into the direct experience of the sacred for more than 30 years. Born and raised in Australia, she founded the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation in London, where she trained and ordained more than 600 ministers and spiritual counselors over the course of ten years. Now based in the San Francisco Bay area, she leads the Living Grace Global Sangha and offers retreats internationally and online. Among ...

May 12, 20251 hr 12 minEp. 84

The Kindness Within, With Leon Logothetis

Leon Logothetis had a highly successful career in London's financial industry, but he was deeply depressed. So he switched gears entirely and became a global adventurer, a TV host, a motivational speaker, and a bestselling author. All of which was fueled by an exploration of kindness – both the giving of it and the receiving of it – and shining a light on the best of the traits human beings have in common. This led to a hugely successful television series called The Kindness Diaries, and to othe...

Apr 28, 202559 min

The Seven Stone Path to Wisdom With Peter Bolland

Everyone wants to be wise. But what is wisdom, and how does one acquire it? We spoke about that and more with Peter Bolland, professor of philosophy and humanities at Southwestern College near San Diego, California. Peter has taught world religions, Asian philosophy, world mythology, and ethics there for the past 34 years. In addition to being an award-winning singer-songwriter and poet, he was a columnist for 15 years at both Unity Magazine and the Dan Diego Troubadour, and has given presentati...

Apr 07, 20251 hr 9 minEp. 82

Spiritual Aging With Carol Orsborn

Dr. Carol Orsborn received a master degree in theological studies from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University with a specialty in adult development. She has taught at Georgetown University. An internationally recognized thought leader on fulfilling human potential through all life stages, she is the guiding force behind the spiritual aging study and a support group movement that offers in-person and online gatherings of "old souls" worldwide. She’s also...

Mar 19, 20251 hr 7 minEp. 81

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 10 Mirabai Starr

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Mar 05, 202558 minEp. 76

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 9 Sally Kempton

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Mar 05, 202558 min

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 11 Swami Sarvapriyananda

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Mar 05, 202558 minEp. 79

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 12 Rabbi Rami Shapiro

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Mar 05, 202558 minEp. 78

Enlightenment in Dante's Divine Comedy with Frank Ambrosia

Everyone has heard of Dante Alighieri, the great Italian poet whose Divine Comedy is a staple of Western literature and religion. Some of us have read the monumental poem, or parts of it, while others have a vague idea of Dante's conception of sin and the afterlife. Frank Ambrosio, an associate professor of philosophy, emeritus, at Georgetown University, contends that Dante's great work of art is a guidepost for spiritual development and portrays spiritual transformation through metaphor and ima...

Feb 28, 20251 hr 16 minEp. 72

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 7 Jamal Rahman

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Feb 05, 202558 minEp. 74

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 5 Adam Bucko

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Feb 05, 202557 minEp. 72

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 6 Michael Bernard Beckwith

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Feb 05, 202558 minEp. 72

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 8 James Finley

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Feb 05, 202558 minEp. 75

Zen Minds and Jewish Minds with Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Rabbi Rami Shapiro is a self-proclaimed “Jewish practitioner of perennial wisdom,” who was ordained by Hebrew Union College and earned a Ph.D. in religion from Union Graduate School. He is the codirector of the One River Foundation, writes the Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler column for Spirituality and Health magazine and has written more than thirty books on religion and spirituality. His books include Holy Rascals – Advice for Spiritual Revolutionaries; The Tao of Solomon: Unloc...

Jan 31, 20251 hr 12 minEp. 71

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – EP 3 Andrew Harvey

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Jan 08, 202556 minEp. 70

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series- EP1 Mark Nepo

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Jan 08, 202558 minEp. 68

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series- EP 2 Sharon Salzberg

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Jan 08, 202558 minEp. 69

Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times Series – Ep 4 Barbara De Angelis

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We’re now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the mess...

Jan 08, 202558 minEp. 71

The Power of Music and the Spirituality of Songwriting With Beth Nielsen Chapman

Beth Nielsen Chapman is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter who has recorded hits of her own and written hits for a multitude of artists (to name a few, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler, Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings). She has won numerous awards and was nominated for a Grammy in 1999. Her most recent album, “Crazytown,” was released in 2022, and recently, a song from that album, Put a Woman in Charge, went viral. In addition, Beth is an inspirational speaker, a w...

Dec 28, 20241 hr 16 minEp. 66

Progressive Christianity With Rev. Nicole Lamarche and Rev. Jim Burklo

Just in time for Christmas 2024, we have two ministers who are associated with Progressive Christianity, a growing movement that runs counter to fundamentalism and the mainstream churches whose attendance continues to decline. Together, they present a vision of a different kind of Christianity. Rev. Nicole Lamarche has been an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ since 2005 and now serves as pastor of Community UCC in Boulder, Colorado. She believes that “communities of faith can be ...

Dec 18, 20241 hr 10 minEp. 65

The Yamas and Niyamas with Professor Christopher Chapple

Christopher Key Chapple is Doshi Professor of Indic and comparative theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and the founding director of the Master of Arts in Yoga Studies at the same school. He’s a specialist in the religions of India and the author of more than twenty books, most recently Living Landscapes: Meditations on the Elements in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain Yogas and The Samkhya System: Accounting for the Real. He serves as an advisor to multiple organizations including th...

Dec 05, 20241 hr 12 minEp. 64

Discovering Indian Philosophy With Dr. Jeffery Long

Jeffery D. Long is a professor of religion, philosophy, and Asian studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, where he has taught since receiving his Ph.D from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 2000. Both a practitioner and a scholar of Hinduism, his work focuses primarily on the religions and philosophies of India and themes such as nonviolence, pluralism, religion and popular culture, and the concept of rebirth. He has spoken three times at the United Nations and appears in do...

Nov 25, 20241 hr 12 minEp. 63

Trans-Traditional Marriage with Tadd and Carol Allman-Morton

Rev. Carol Allman-Morton is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire, and her husband, Rev. Tadd Allman-Morton, is the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Great Barrington, United Church of Christ. They met at Andover Newton Theological School, where Carol was awarded the James Luther Adams Award for excellence in the study of liberal theology” and Tadd was a member of the Jonathan Edwards Honors Society. We talked about their early spiritual experiences, th...

Nov 11, 20241 hr 9 minEp. 62

The Heart of Interfaith With Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan and Imam Jamal Rahman

With the Middle East aflame with violence, we explore the opposite with two of the three Interfaith Amigos. Laura Duhan-Kaplan is Rabbi Emerita of Shalom Synagogue in Vancouver and professor emerita of philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. The recipient of many awards for teaching excellence, she is a popular lecturer and retreat leader, and the author or editor of ten book, including The Infinity Inside: Jewish Spiritual Practice Through a Multi-Faith Lens; Encountering the...

Oct 28, 20241 hr 15 minEp. 61

Making Room For Spiritual Service With Carl Siciliano

Carl Siciliano is a nationally recognized advocate and provider for homeless LGBTQ youth. In 2002, he founded the Ali Forney Center (AFC) in New York City. AFC has grown to become the nation’s largest and most comprehensive housing program for homeless LGBTQ youth. His work has been featured by NPR, CNN, The Daily Show, and New York magazine. Now he’s told his compelling story in a new book, Making Room: Three Decades of Fighting for Beds, Belonging, and a Safe Place for LGBTQ Youth. We spoke ab...

Oct 14, 20241 hr 5 minEp. 60

Yoga Therapy and Yoga Research with Catherine Justice and Sat Bir Khalsa

A special episode on the growing discipline of yoga therapy and scientific research on the benefits of yoga practices. Two guests this time. Catherine Justice is an integrative physical therapist, certified yoga therapist, and the program manager for the Division of Integrative Medicine at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis. The associate editor of the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, she has conducted research on yoga for arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, and lower-back pain. Sat Bir Khalsa...

Sep 30, 20241 hr 12 minEp. 59
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