82. Trust Your Life with Michael Gungor

In this episode of the Compromised to Alchemized podcast, I welcome back Grammy-nominated musician, composer, and host of the Loving This podcast, Michael Gungor. Fresh off his first-ever Mystic Hymnal Tour, Michael pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to transition from a "performer" to a "space holder." Together, we dive deep into the exhausting yet rewarding world of co-creative music, the intersection of comedy and liturgy, and how to stop trying to "conquer" our internal and external realities.Instead of forcing life into a cookie cutter, Michael shares how adopting a "bonsai mindset" allows us to cooperate with the natural aliveness of the moment.Michael Gungor is a creative mystic living in Pasadena, California. Primarily known for his music, Gungor is the co-founder and primary songwriter of the eclectic indie band Gungor. The group's acclaimed albums blend elements of folk, rock, electronic, and world music, with Gungor's thoughtful, introspective lyrics exploring the divinity of the human experience.Gungor began his musical career writing worship music for the church, inspired by his Christian upbringing. However, as his own spiritual perspective expanded and evolved, so too did his artistic experimentation. Aside from his work under his musical moniker, Gungor, Michael has also released three ambient instrumental albums with his friend and bandmate Tyler Chester as “On Earth”, as well as an experimental side project called “Weiwu.”Beyond his music, Gungor is also the co-founder of the popular The Liturgists podcast, which brings together diverse guests for honest, thought-provoking conversations about faith, science, art, and the nature of the divine. He also has a second podcast exclusively focused on non dual spirituality called “Loving This.”In addition to his musical and podcast endeavors, Gungor has co-written songs for other artists, produced records, and created music for film and television. He is also an author, having published a book in 2010 titled "THIS: Becoming Free."An acclaimed live performer, Gungor and his band have toured extensively, building a devoted fanbase around the world. His music has earned him multiple Grammy nominations and numerous other accolades, cementing his status as a unique and influential creative force.Time Stamp00:00:00 | Introduction00:06:53 | Start of the interview00:09:40 | Michael reflects on his first-ever Mystic Hymnal Tour00:20:16 | The importance of thinking multidimensionally with Michael’s music and work00:28:35 | Being connected to but not relying on connecting to others while holding space00:34:23 | Parenting challenges with allowing for them to expand fully into who they are00:42:00 | Michael’s “bonsai tree mindset” in comparison to a “cookie cutter mindset”01:03:56 | The importance of trusting what we truly want in life01:14:20 | The lens matters: how to not be colonial01:20:46 | Nonduality resolves the tension in a harmonious way01:31:50 | Michael’s upcoming bookConnect with MichaelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelgungor/Website: https://www.michaelgungor.com/The Liturgists podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liturgists-podcast/id903433534Loving This podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magnificat-smokeless-fire/id1448995509?i=1000726099164🎵 like the music? Check out Michael’s MusicThank you Toshi for the design work!🙋Sign up for updates on the Floor Four and for my System Reset Experience.Checkout my Substack📷 Follow me on Instagram for glimpses of my integrative practice and conversations I’m having with other practitioners @drneelbulchandani🎙️ Tune into my podcast via Apple or Spotify and watch on YouTube to engage in conversations around transformation and healing with the theme of Compromised to Alchemized🙋 Sign up for my Trainings and learn more about Functional Mandibular Diaphragmatic Integration HERE.