Ep. 7: Sam Brandao

Welcome back, curious hearts — This week’s episode is a tender, smart, and surprisingly funny conversation with my longtime friend Sam Brandao — a law professor, musician, and someone I’ve known since we were awkward, opinionated teenagers trying to make sense of the world. (Spoiler alert: we're still trying.) Sam is one of those people who might surprise people with the depth of his spiritual life — which is exactly why I wanted to talk to him. On the surface, he’s a rational, level-headed law professor. He only goes to church so he can play the organ. But beneath that? He’s someone who has been asking the same questions we all are: What do I actually believe?Can anything be trusted?What does practice look like when life keeps pulling you off-center?What if everything I built to protect me is actually a cage? This episode moves between the philosophical and the deeply personal. We talk about grief, law school culture, non-duality, breath, the weirdness of spiritual practice, and why so many of us come back to it even when we try to run away. We also cover: * How Sam went from childhood atheist to weekly church organist * The deeply spiritual experience of not listening to the sermon * Why patriotism might have been our real “childhood religion” * Whether safety is real — or just another illusion * What happens when you stop trying to be right and start trying to be real * The spiritual roots of resistance (yes, including actual war) This is one of those conversations that surprised me as it was happening — where we followed the thread wherever it led, and wound up somewhere deeper than we expected. Did this conversation resonate? Here’s how to stay connected: 🌀 Subscribe (it’s free!) so you get new episodes in your inbox💬 Leave a comment or send me a message — I love hearing what lands for you🔗 Share this episode with a thoughtful friend🌿 Work with me: veralester.com — I offer spiritual coaching, work mentoring, and ceremony design for people on the edge of change Thank you, always, for listening. May you keep turning toward what matters. ---------------------------------------- 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:26 Meet Sam Brandao 03:22 Sam's Early Spiritual Life 05:38 Musical Journey in Church 09:54 Law School and Critical Thinking 18:23 Shifting Perspectives on Religion 25:30 Spirituality in Daily Life 33:52 Philosophical Reflections 36:10 Reflections on Patriotism and Impermanence 37:38 The Evolution of Patriotism in Modern Times 41:03 The Role of Law and Security in Society 43:33 Spirituality and Social Justice 53:39 Meditation and Spiritual Practices 56:16 The Paradox of Practice 01:01:53 Breath and Martial Arts 01:08:09 Final Thoughts and Farewell This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe