Sounds of SAND

Originally recorded at Science and Nonduality, 2021 Pat McCabe, also known as Woman Stands Shining, is a Diné elder, ceremonial prayer leader, and international speaker adopted into the Lakota spiritual way of life. In this conversation hosted by Lynn Murphy, Pat offers a profound invitation to examine the foundational assumptions of the modern world paradigm and consider what it might mean to live from a genuinely different understanding of what it is to be human. Drawing on teachings from her clan grandfather, her experience of intergenerational trauma and survival, and her deep inquiry into masculine and feminine principles, Pat maps the territory between the glittering world we are leaving and the green world we are entering. The conversation opens in ceremony and closes with a practice: a morning sunrise offering that anyone can begin today. Lynn Murphy is a strategic advisor for foundations and NGOs working in the geopolitical South. She was a senior fellow and program officer at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation where she focused on international education and global development. She resigned as a ”conscientious objector” to neocolonial philanthropy. She holds an MA and PhD in international comparative education from Stanford University. She is also a certified Laban/Bartenieff movement analyst. This episode is released in celebration of SAND’s new film featuring Pat McCabe, Little Singer, premiering online May 26-28, 2026, as part of the Eternal Song series. Timestamps 00:00:00 — Introduction  00:01:45 — Lynn Murphy introduces Pat McCabe: Diné nation, Lakota spiritual way, Defend the Sacred alliance 00:05:00 — Pat introduces herself through her clans — clan names as places on the earth, worlds more than this one 00:07:00 — Traveling through worlds: the flood, men and women, and the movement from the glittering world to the green world 00:15:00 — The two paradigms: indigenous versus modern world — "I am a human being, relative to all my relations" 00:34:00 — Trailer for Little Singer — premiering online May 26-28, 2026 — theeternalsong.org/littlesinger 00:35:00 — Masculine and feminine principles: power over versus power with, the sacred hoop, and right relations 00:52:00 — A practice for beginning: the morning sunrise offering and the teaching on consent, sovereignty, and honorable relationship with all beings Resources and Links Pat McCabe — Woman Stands Shining Website: patmccabe.net  Little Singer — Eternal Song Series Online premiere: May 26-28, 2026 Three-day event with Diné voices Mentioned in the episode Robin Wall Kimmerer — Braiding Sweetgrass (plant sovereignty, honorable harvest) Lakota spiritual traditions — Seven Generations teaching Diné (Navajo) Nation — Long Walk history, Bosque Redondo concentration camp, 1860s Residential boarding school history — US government and church collaboration Masculine and feminine principles in economics and right relations — ongoing inquiry in Pat's work Episode artwork “Woman Stands Shining” by Namita Contact SAND [email protected] Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Persian Poetry, Radical Love, and the Soul of Iran“The path to God goes through that most difficult of beings, the human being.” – Omid SafiRecorded live at a SAND Community Gathering (April 2026). Watch the full conversation on the SAND Website.   We are watching, once again, what empire does: not only to bodies, but to the long memory of a people; to the libraries and sacred sites; to art, language, and the ruins that hold the oldest threads of human spiritual inquiry. We are thinking of the civilization that gave us Rumi, Hafez, Omar Khayyam, Forough Farrokhzad — mystics and rebels and lovers of paradox who understood something about the human soul that we are still, centuries later, trying to catch up to. This gathering invited us to come together: to read poetry aloud, to hear from Iranian voices, to sit with grief and beauty together rather than alone. We work with political and moral vocabulary shaped by Iranian thinkers such as Ali Shariati, who wrote against domination, spiritual emptiness, and the violence of imposed power. We make space for what doesn’t fit into headlines or talking points—the complexity of empire, the difference between a government and its people, the authoritarian forces at work not only abroad but here at home. We also gather with the political inheritance of those who taught generations to resist domination and spiritual emptiness, including Ali Shariati. Guests Omid Safi is a scholar of the Islamic mystical tradition and professor of Islamic Studies at Duke University. He is the author of Memories of Muhammad and Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition, and teaches online courses on Muslim mysticism. He leads contemplative journeys to Turkey, Morocco, and Mecca/Medina through Illuminated Courses. Fatemeh Keshavarz is the Roshan Institute Chair in Persian Language and Literature and Director of the Roshan Institute Center for Persian Studies at the University of Maryland. A poet in Persian and English, she is the author of Reading Mystical Lyric, Recite in the Name of the Red Rose, Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran, and Lyrics of Life: Sa'di on Love, Cosmopolitanism and Care of the Self. She has spoken at the UN General Assembly and received the Peabody Award for her NPR program on Rumi. Mays Imad, PhD (facilitator) is a neuroscientist, educator, and associate professor at Connecticut College whose work bridges neuroscience, philosophy, and education. An Iraqi immigrant who lived through wars and displacement, she brings both personal and scholarly depth to the themes of trauma, remembrance, and repair through the embodied nervous system. Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome & framing 00:02 — Mays Imad opens: grief, urgency, and love 00:06 — Introducing Omid Safi & Fatemeh Keshavarz 00:07 — Saadi, Rumi, and the Persian tradition 00:12 — The war on Iran: what is being destroyed 00:21 — Don't bypass grief — the Persian mystics knew this 00:27 — Saadi on truth, power, and interconnection 00:32 — Fatemeh: togetherness, invisibilization, and Iranian resilience 00:38 — Poetry as the Silk Road of imagination 00:52 — War's corruption of language — and poetry as antidote 01:04 — Remembrance as ethical act 01:10 — Intergenerational love & closing Resources & Links Omid Safi Illuminated Courses — books, podcast, courses, tours Duke University faculty page Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition — Yale University Press Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters — HarperOne Podcast: Sufi Heart — Be Here Now Network The Heart of Rumi's Poetry — online course Upcoming events: Evening workshop in London, May 5th — "Islamic Spirituality in an Age of Conflict" Contemplative journey to Turkey, June 1–12 Rumi Retreat in Marrakech, November 22–28 Fatemeh Keshavarz Website Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran Lyrics of Life: Sa'di on Love, Cosmopolitanism and Care of the Self Cowboys and Iranians — poem by Fatemeh Keshavarz (video) Birds Without a Name — poem by Fatemeh Keshavarz, read at ARHU event on Hope & Home (video) Mays Imad Personal website Connecticut College faculty page Music featured Watan (وَطَن — "Homeland") performed by Shaghayegh Amiri, playing the Daf — the ancient Persian frame drum central to Sufi musical tradition Ali Ghamsari — solo on the Kamancheh (Persian bowed string instrument), taught by Hamidreza Afarideh, music teacher in Tehran Poets and texts referenced in depth Rumi (Jalal al-Din Rumi, 1207–1273) — Persian Sufi mystic and poet; his Masnavi opens with pain and grief; central throughout Sa'di Shirazi (1210–1291) — Iranian Sufi poet; his Golestan (Garden of Roses) is where Iranians learn to read and write; complete English translation by Thackston available; Fatemeh's Lyrics of Life goes deeper on Sa'di Hafez (14th century) — Persian lyric poet; Fatemeh discusses his use of the word hush as an example of how poetic language restores meaning Farid ud-Din Attar (born 1150) — author of Mantiq ut-Tayr (The Conference of the Birds / The Parliament of the Fowls) — referenced by Mays in her opening Abu Sa'id (Abu Sa'id Abi'l-Khayr, 967–1049) — Persian Sufi mystic referenced by Omid: "Don't just write down stories — become someone others want to write down what you say" Shams of Tabriz — Rumi's spiritual companion; Fatemeh discusses how Shams urged Rumi to live his knowledge Jamiluddin Aali — Urdu poet whose work was recited in the live chat Historical & contextual references Sharif University of Technology, Tehran — described as "the MIT of the Middle East," bombed during the war Leston Palace, Tehran — UNESCO World Heritage Site, bombed and referenced as a war crime The Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988) — Fatemeh's personal reference point for civilian life under bombardment George Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984 — referenced by Omid in discussion of the corruption of language Next SAND Community Gathering Voices of the Land: Resistance & Solidarity with Lebanon — April 28th Contact SAND [email protected] Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Recorded live at  SAND Community Gathering (April 2026). Watch the full conversion on the SAND Website. SAND has launched a special series on Artificial Intelligence. To premiere this series, we spoke with tech ethicist Tristan Harris—co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology. In this conversation, we explored his warnings about the impending age of AI. According to Harris, the current trajectory isn’t just menacing the economy, but fundamentally rewiring human relationships, altering parenting and mental health, potentially accelerating climate collapse, and even threatening the very fabric of society. We inquired into ways to remain human in an era where machines can simulate empathy, displace our labor, and potentially outmaneuver us.   Topics 00:00 Welcome and Context 00:42 Why This AI Talk 01:32 Introducing Tristan Harris 03:15 Setting the Basics 04:10 From Narrow to New AI 06:18 Rubber Band Reality Check 08:31 Transformers and Scaling 11:00 Infinity Upside and Risk 14:49 Defining AGI and ASI 18:18 Jagged Capabilities and Hype 21:33 Singularity and Anti Human Drift 23:26 Incentives Behind the Future 27:29 The Intelligence Curse 32:22 Devaluing Humans and Consensus 37:56 Planetary Costs of Data Centers 39:41 Why We Keep Building It 42:46 Extinction Risk and Safety Math 45:20 AI in War and Arms Race 47:36 Leaders Unaware of Runaway Signs 48:26 Leaders Fear AI Power 49:02 Nuclear War Game Theory 49:41 Infinite Games Mindset 51:11 AI as Extractive Empire 52:27 From Shadow to Action 53:55 Building the Human Movement 57:25 Four-Step Action Plan 59:44 Grassroots Wins and Bans 01:02:18 Nonprofit Progress and Lawsuits 01:07:51 Talking to Teens Effectively 01:10:05 Governance and Citizen Assemblies 01:12:19 Spiritual Hopes vs Incentives 01:15:12 Accelerationism and Choice 01:18:22 Policy Maker Ten Minute Brief 01:21:26 Countering Transhumanist Ideology 01:23:45 Changing Culture and Incentives 01:27:12 Final Reflections and Gratitude Resources Websites & Organizations Center for Humane Technology (Tristan Harris's website) The Human Movement AI Dialogue Prohuman AI Statement / Declaration Roadmap to How We Ensure AI is Serving Humanity Indigenous Perspectives on AI Course Metarelational AI Tech Workers Coalition Panel on AI + Embodiment Luma Invite Purge Palantir Action Links Purge Palantir Campaign Pledge   Articles & Documents Alibaba Security Paper The Intelligence Curse by Luke Drago and Rudolf Laine The Shape of AI Jaggedness Harvard Gazette: Why are Communities pushing back on data centers The Palantir Payroll PDF New York Times Opinion: Yuval Harari AI ChatGPT Archive Article on Billionaires' Brains New York Times Opinion: Anthropic’s Restraint Is a Terrifying Warning Sign   Videos & Films The Social Dilemma The AI Doc / How I Became an Apocalyptimist - Official Trailer Ghost in the Machine The Day After War Games Bernie vs. Claude (YouTube) Joanna Macy and the Great Turning How To Make AI Good For Humanity by Siliconversations (YouTube)   Books & Textbooks Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach by Peter Norvig and Stuart J. Russell (PDF) States of Denial by Stanley Cohen (PDF)  Finite and Infinite Games by James P. Carse (PDF) Hospicing Modernity by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira Outgrowing Modernity by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt IntraConnected: MWe (Me + We) as the Integration of Self, Identity, and Belonging by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.   Empire of AI By Karen Hao More Everything Forever by Adam Becker  Why Do We Tell Ourselves Scary Stories About AI? by Amanda Gefter     Podcasts & Audio Your Undivided Attention - Tristan Harris, Aza Raskin, and Daniel Barcay The Emerald - Joshua Michael Schrei The Great Simplification - Nate Hagens Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Simon Wickhamsmith is a Buddhist monk turned scholar, computer musician, and one of the only translators of Mongolian literature into English. He teaches in the Writing Program at Rutgers University and has been traveling back and forth to Mongolia since 2006. In this conversation he traces his spiritual path from Catholicism through Tibetan Buddhism and back to medieval Christian mysticism, introduces the Mongolian poet Mend-Ooyo, and takes us deep into the life and poetry of the 19th century Buddhist polymath Danzanravjaa — a figure Simon considers his primary teacher — including a live reading of the poem Twos, a stunning meditation on nonduality from the Mongolian steppe. Topics 00:00 — Introduction 00:02 — Simon's spiritual path: Catholicism, Opus Dei, the Desert Fathers, and Zen 00:04 — Discovering Tibetan Buddhism, Samye Ling monastery in Scotland, and ordaining as a monk 00:06 — The three-year retreat, his mother's illness, and returning to the world 00:07 — Returning to medieval Christian mysticism: Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart, The Cloud of Unknowing 00:10 — How SAND connected with Mend-Ooyo in Mongolia — and how Simon met him 00:12 — Teaching himself Mongolian by translating Danzanravjaa's complete works 00:13 — Introducing Mend-Ooyo: born 1952 into a nomadic herding family, poet and cultural guardian of Mongolia 00:16 — The underground literary group GAL (Fire) and Mend-Ooyo's role in Mongolian literary culture 00:18 — Mend-Ooyo's mission: reconnecting Mongolia to its nomadic heritage after Soviet collapse 00:19 — Mend-Ooyo's new novel The Solitary Tree: Robin Hood, shamanism, Buddhism, and falcons 00:23 — Who was Danzanravjaa? Born in the Gobi Desert, recognized as the fifth reincarnation of the Noyon Hutagt 00:26 — Danzanravjaa's approach: spontaneous, impromptu poetry as dharma teaching 00:28 — Mongolia's first traveling theater troupe and the poems as dictated teachings 00:31 — Live reading and analysis of Perfect Qualities — a love poem, a guru poem, and a poem of nonduality simultaneously 00:33 — The three levels of meaning in Danzanravjaa's poetry: outer, inner, and secret 00:38 — Bhakti yoga, Ram Dass, Maharaji, and the connection to direct transmission beyond doctrine 00:41 — Danzanravjaa and the land: the Shambhala vortex at Hamriin Hiid 00:44 — Horses, landscape, and the spiritual path in his poetry 00:45 — Simon's personal experience of the Shambhala site and animist relationship to land 00:49 — If Danzanravjaa were alive today: his anti-Manchu politics and primary focus on deepening practice 00:50 — Live reading of the poem Twos — nonduality in full 00:54 — On translation: humor, layers of meaning, and the paradox of the poem itself     Resources & Links   Simon Wickhamsmith   Rutgers University faculty page Suncranes and Other Stories: Modern Mongolian Short Fiction — Columbia University Press, 2021 Politics and Literature in Mongolia (1921–1948) — Amsterdam University Press, 2020 The Hidden Life of the Sixth Dalai Lama — Lexington Books, 2011   Mend-Ooyo Gombojav   Official website: mend-ooyo.mn Altan Ovoo (Golden Hill) — translated by Simon Wickhamsmith Gegeenten (The Holy One) — novel about Danzanravjaa The Solitary Tree — Mend-Ooyo's most recent novel, published 2025, translated by Simon Wickhamsmith Wikipedia: Mend-Ooyo Gombojav SAND Event — Nature of Mind and Mind of Nature: A Local Event with Mongolian Poet Mend-Ooyo Gombojav (2026)   Danzanravjaa (referenced poems)   Perfect Qualities (also known as The Five Senses / Five Offerings) Twos — read in full during the episode Mend-Ooyo's essay on Danzanravjaa: mend-ooyo.mn/content/86.html   Referenced spiritual figures & texts   The Cloud of Unknowing — anonymous 14th century medieval Christian mysticism text Julian of Norwich and Meister Eckhart — medieval mystics Simon returned to after Buddhism Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, Scotland — where Simon did his retreat Ram Dass and Maharaji — referenced in discussion of bhakti yoga and direct transmission John Cage — Simon's original entry point into Zen Buddhism   Connect with more talks and films from the SAND film Series The Eternal Song   Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member    

Recorded live at a SAND Community Gathering (April 2026) Hard times are here, we hunger for voices that can see beyond the fear, beyond the noise, beyond the technologies consuming our attention. We need poets and visionaries. People who remember freedom. Dr. Jaiya John (Mshkiki Odeh Inini, Medicine Heart Man), medicine poet, freedom worker, is one of those voices. He has spent his life gathering words that heal. In this conversation, we enter the beauty, the grief, and the medicine together. We sit with the devastation tearing our world, the sorrows cracking us open, the ancestors still holding us—and the radical insistence that collective freedom is not something we chase. It is something already alive in and between us, waiting to be birthed. Dr. Jaiya John (Mshkiki Odeh Inini, Medicine Heart Man) was orphan-born on ancient Indigenous Anasazi and Pueblo lands in the high desert of New Mexico. He is an ancestral Baba, freedom worker, medicine poet, and the founder of Soul Water Rising—a global mission to eradicate oppression through re-humanization, book donations, and grants to displaced youth. He is the author of numerous books including Freedom: Medicine Words for your Brave Revolution and Fragrance After Rain, and the creator of the podcast I Will Read for You. A former professor of social psychology at Howard University, he holds a doctorate from UC Santa Cruz and has spoken to over a million people worldwide. His Indigenous soul dreams of frybread, sweetgrass, bamboo in the breeze, and turtle lakes whose poetry is peace.   Watch the full video version of this conversation.   Topics   00:00 Welcome and Land Acknowledgment 02:31 Guest Bio and Introduction 03:51 Opening Blessing and Heart Question 05:10 Reclaiming Anger as Medicine 08:08 Libation Prayer for the World 15:57 Anger Rage and Lifted Veils 20:19 Rethinking War and Remembering Water 25:18 Gather Your People Reading 33:04 Grief Poetry and Inner Wars 36:13 War Wants Us Small 40:30 Soul Conditions That Grow War 42:14 Oxygen of War 44:12 Harvesting Clear Vision 47:05 Ferocious Grief Revival 49:38 How Grief Behaves 51:59 Poetry Against Silence 55:08 From Muteness to Voice 58:33 Artistry as Resurrection 01:03:42 Womanhood as Creativity 01:07:23 History as Sacred Hoop 01:12:45 Composting Harm into Healing 01:16:33 Intentional Living Practice 01:19:22 All These Rivers Choose Love 01:23:01 Blessings and Farewell   Dr. Jaiya John — Guest Website: jaiyajohn.com Soul Water Rising — global mission Podcast: I Will Read for You: The Voice and Writings of Jaiya John Freedom Medicine: Words for Your Brave Revolution — book Wildflowers Praying at Midnight — book We Birth Freedom at Dawn — book All These Rivers and You Chose Love — book Fragrance After Rain — book Dr. Jaiya John's YouTube channel — where his poem for the Martyred Poets of Gaza and Palestine is available Substack: jaiyajohn.substack.com Dr. Jennifer Mullan — Referenced Website: decolonizingtherapy.com — Dr. Mullan's "rage doctor" ministry and upcoming work Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice — book Therapy is Not Neutral:  Dr. Jennifer Mullan & Iya Affo (SAND Podcast episode) The Gaza Monologues — Referenced The Gaza Monologues — ASHTAR Theatre — the global project of 33 young people from Gaza, which Dr. Jaiya John contributed a poem to Support ASHTAR Theatre / Gaza Monologues writers — GlobalGiving Nikki Giovanni — Referenced Nikki Giovanni — Poetry Foundation — the poet whose performance broke Dr. Jaiya John open as a young man and birthed him as a poet nikki-giovanni.com Ancestors Referenced El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) — quoted: "Out of all our studies, history is most qualified to reward our research" Geronimo — Dr. Jaiya John's ancestral grandfather spirit, whose question "What is in your heart?" opens the gathering John Lewis — referenced for "good trouble" and getting in the way of harm Hopi Nation / Turtle Island The concept of Sipapu (the Hopi place of emergence/womb place) is discussed at length as a framework for understanding history as circular, not linear   Connect with more talks and films from the SAND film Series The Eternal Song Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Researcher, author, and PhD candidate Chiara Baldini has spent two decades tracing the roots of ecstatic culture in Europe — from the rituals of Dionysus all the way back to Bronze Age Crete and the ancient Minoans, a civilization that thrived for over a thousand years before classical Greece. In this conversation, Chiara makes a compelling case that the Minoans may have been the only advanced civilization of their era not built on domination — their palaces functioning as community spaces rather than elite residencies, their frescoes showing priestesses, dolphins, and bull-jumping athletes rather than kings and conquest. She explores what their art, architecture, and animist relationship to nature might offer us now — not as a culture to imitate, but as proof that patriarchy is not inevitable, and that a radically different set of values has thrived before. Chiara Baldini is a scholar, author, speaker and freelance curator from Florence (Italy). She investigates the evolution of the ecstatic cult in the West, particularly in Minoan Crete,  ancient Greece, and Rome, contributing to anthologies, psychedelic conferences, and festivals. She was a member of the Boom Festival team since 2010 and the curator of Boom’s cultural area Liminal Village from 2014 to 2023. She has co-curated the anthology “Psychedelic Mysteries of the Feminine.” She is currently a PhD candidate at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). She lives in Portugal and she expresses her deep love for music by playing as DJ Clandestina. Topics 00:00 Welcome 02:02 Reconnecting with Chiara and Recent Life Changes 03:31 Dionysus and Ecstatic Traditions 06:38 Going Back to the Minoans 10:07 Bronze Age Patriarchy and War 18:02 Minoan Palaces and Community Life 21:18 Frescoes Dolphins and Priestesses 26:34 Seal Rings and Undeciphered Script 32:18 Bull Jumping and Gender Fluidity 37:20 Why Minoans Matter Today 44:31 Modern Crete LARPing and Animism 49:30 Courses, Books and Closing Resources & Links Chiara Baldini Website & contact Instagram: @iamalwayschiara Academia Facebook Soundcloud Psychedelic Mysteries of the Feminine (co-edited with Maria Papaspyrou and David Luke) — available via Inner Traditions Dionysus: Rave, Ritual and Revolution — online course (advaya) Minoan Crete course — online course (advaya) Power Without Patriarchy: Minoan Crete — online course (Morbid Anatomy) Dionysus course — Morbid Anatomy Psychedelic Mysteries of the Feminine (co-edited with Maria Papaspyrou and David Luke) — available via Inner Traditions Chiara's earlier SAND talk (2019) Books mentioned The Chalice and the Blade — Riane Eisler — the foundational text on dominator vs. partnership societies, essential context for this conversation Key figures discussed Arthur Evans — Wikipedia — British archaeologist who excavated Knossos beginning in 1900, named the Minoan civilization, and controversially reconstructed the palace The Prince of the Lilies fresco — the contested Knossos fresco Chiara discusses as an example of Evans projecting masculine elite identity onto ambiguous fragments Knossos Palace, Crete — the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, centerpiece of Minoan culture Institutions mentioned CIIS — California Institute of Integral Studies — where Chiara is completing her PhD in Philosophy, Cosmology and Consciousness Boom Festival — transformational arts festival where Chiara curated the Liminal Village cultural area for over a decade Connect with more talks and films from the SAND film Series The Eternal SongSupport the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Recorded live at a SAND Community Gathering (March 2026). Something is cracking open in the spiritual and wellness world; and it has been for a while. Have wisdom traditions containing genuine gifts been composted into a product that only serves the very forces those traditions were born to resist? It is no news that some powerful spiritual leaders with devoted followers have, for a long time, abused that power for dominance and, in many cases, for sexual exploitation. The Epstein files are not an interruption to the pattern; they are the pattern, made suddenly impossible to scroll past. We want to reflect on the conditions—not just the men, not just the crimes, but the architecture of silence that held it all in place. What kind of spiritual culture produces that silence? What kind of spiritual culture makes it possible to look at harm and call it a lesson in perception? What has gone awry with our approach to spirituality when the latter can be used as a cover for abuse? How come much of the therapeutic and spiritual communities remain silent in the face of crimes witnessed by the entire world? To explore these and related issues, this discussion brought together mytho-poetic spiritual teacher Bayo Akomolafe Ph.D., writer & podcaster Matthew Remsiki, author & playwright V, spiritual teacher & psychologist Tara Brach and author & physician Gabor Maté in a wide-ranging discussion that will also invite audience participation. The intention is to leave participants encouraged to find the spiritual inner strength needed to pursue truth without losing discrimination in the process, without giving away their power; to discuss compassionately, without judgment but with clarity, what the Epstein revelations can tell us about who we are, about our culture, and about the nature of how we construct reality; to move beyond a so-called equanimity and “non-attachment” that is indistinguishable from numbness and passivity in the face of harm, in the face of evil. Topics:   00:00 Welcome and Intentions 01:30 Opening Prayer and Invocation 08:38 Ashe and Grace in the Fire 12:26 Guided Breath and Heart Presence 16:14 Moderator Sets the Context 18:44 Pat on Accountability and Betrayal 23:00 Bayo on Rage and Virtue 28:52 Tara on Cult Silence and Bystanders 35:46 V on Sacrifice and Reporting Systems 44:53 Matthew on Critique and Accountability Research 50:40 Key Question Abusive Teachers 52:50 Residential School Aftermath 54:51 Prep School Indoctrination 56:25 Deep Truth From Flaws 58:12 Tourettes And Moral Switch 01:01:01 Charisma And Inner Circles 01:04:34 Privilege Patriarchy Power 01:08:03 Architecture Of Silence 01:13:12 Anger Grief And Courage 01:18:08 Indigenous Survival And Trickster 01:22:56 Speaking Out And Fugitivity 01:27:09 Spirituality’s Inward Turn 01:32:52 Accountability And Healing 01:35:53 Closing Links: Gabor Maté – https://drgabormate.com/ Bayo Akomolafe – https://www.bayoakomolafe.net/ Pat McCabe – https://www.patmccabe.net/  Tara Brach – https://www.tarabrach.com V (formerly Eve Ensler) – https://www.eveensler.org Matthew Remski – https://matthewremski.com/ Watch the full video of this conversation – https://scienceandnonduality.com/event/the-architecture-of-silence-in-spiritual-culture/ Support the work of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Recorded live at SAND's Wisdom of the Ancestors event for the launch of the film series The Eternal Song, four powerful voices converge to address colonization, extractivism, and ecological injustice — and what it takes to move toward healing. Moderated by Rae Abileah, social change strategist, Jewish faith leader, and co-creator of the global Climate Ribbon art ritual. Abby Reyes, author of Truth Demands and Director of Community Resilience at UC Irvine, shares her harrowing personal story of the 1999 murders of her partner and colleagues near U'wa territory in Colombia, and a landmark recent Inter-American Court victory for Indigenous collective rights. Osprey Orielle Lake, founder of WECAN International and author of The Story Is in Our Bones, brings a worldview-shifting lens to the climate crisis as a justice and relational emergency. And Casey Camp-Horinek, elder, actress, and Hereditary Drumkeeper of the Ponca Nation, grounds the conversation in Indigenous sovereignty and the Rights of Nature. Together they call for community-rooted action, mutual aid, and what they name "post-traumatic growth." Topics: 00:00 Host Welcome and Land Acknowledgment 03:12 Session Theme and Intentions 04:48 Meet the Panelists 08:10 Why We Are Here 18:59 Indigenous Rights and Knowledge 25:14 Casey on Nature and Purification 34:29 Abby Story and Legal Victory 43:56 Meaningful Action and Getting Started 50:32 Community Practice and Post Traumatic Growth 57:58 Closing Reflections and Thanks Resources Rae Abileah CreateWell — Website Beautiful Trouble Bio Abby Reyes Website Truth Demands — Penguin Random House UC Irvine Community Resilience Osprey Orielle Lake WECAN International The Story Is in Our Bones — New Society Publishers Casey Camp-Horinek Movement Rights Bio SAND Feature Connect with more talks from The Wisdom of the Ancestors  in the SAND film Series The Eternal Song Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Patty Krawec is Ojibwe Anishinaabe, a retired social worker, and author of Becoming Kin and her new book Bad Indians Book Club. In this conversation she explores kinship beyond blood, land as ancestor, and why reading together — slowly, in community — might be one of the most quietly radical things we can do right now. Topics 00:00 Introduction 00:56 Meeting Patty Krawec 02:00 Land Lineage Roots 04:17 Becoming Kin Origins 06:43 Bad Indians Book Club 10:12 Reindigenizing The Future 14:55 Reclaiming The Word 20:28 Reading Together Power 25:06 Attention In The Feed 25:27 Relearning Deep Reading 26:10 Notebook Trick for Focus 26:54 Building a Genre Mosaic 29:00 Indigenous Horror and Futures 31:53 Read Widely Use Libraries 32:18 Curated Lists and Book Browsing 34:26 Bookstore Serendipity 36:30 AI Pushes Us Offline 38:18 Books as Time Alchemy 41:58 Ghost the System Together 44:10 Deep Time Reading Lineage 47:14 New Projects and Ojibwe Stories 49:59 Thanks and Farewell Resources a thousand worlds Medicine for the Resistance  Why We Are Both Oppressed and Oppressor: Patty Krawec   Becoming Kin Bad Indians Book Club       The Eternal Song   Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Recorded from a live SAND Gathering (February 2026). From Los Angeles to Minneapolis, communities are turning toward one another in a time of uncertainty, remembering that care begins close to home. Beyond public action, quieter networks of support are taking root: block-by-block relationships grounded in land, lineage, and love. This gathering explores how spiritual practice, trauma-aware care, and neighborhood organizing are being woven together as living traditions. We ask what it looks like to shift our energy from reactive mobilization toward steady, proactive organizing that can sustain us for the long haul. Drawing from Indigenous memory, Black freedom traditions, diasporic Jewish practices of care, and contemporary grassroots work, we reflect on how mutual care—feeding one another, tending grief, protecting children, honoring the dead—can be reclaimed as daily sacred practice. This is a conversation about blending spiritual practice and movement practice; about thinking smaller, closer, and more relational; and about learning from quiet, resilient forms of organizing that move people from isolation into coordinated courage. This conversation invites attunement: How do we stay grounded in grief without collapsing? How do we strengthen relationships across differences? How do small, steady acts of care help communities move from fear toward shared courage? This is an invitation to listen to the wisdom already alive in our histories, our bodies, and our neighborhoods. Topics 00:00 Welcome and Context 02:33 Grounding Breath Practice 03:22 Why We Gather Now 05:19 Meet the Speakers 07:36 Lyila June on Collapse 09:12 Chaco Canyon Lesson 12:36 Kaira Jewel on Flow 16:39 Rejoicing and Ancestors 20:04 Rabbi Jessica in Minneapolis 24:54 Sacred Geography and Duty 29:59 Lyla June on Forgiveness 36:22 Liberation for Everyone 37:32 Grace and Sobriety Story 39:06 Jewish Wisdom and Mutual Care 41:27 Feasting Fuels Mutual Aid 45:53 Spirituality Is Not Neutral 49:11 Sacred Criticism and Fierce Love 53:49 Mycelium and Small Acts 59:51 Resources and Community Questions 01:03:30 Heart Practice for Overwhelm 01:06:17 Reweaving Interdependence 01:08:46 Warrior Love Closing 01:14:31 Final Announcements and Farewell Decolonial Mental Health Practice: Clinical and Ethical Insights from Palestine with Dr. Samah Jabr (March 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2026 • 9:00 – 11:00am PST online with SAND) Please consider donating to Rabbi Jessica’s GoFundMe campaign in support of students at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. The students are using creative arts to process the trauma of recent encounters involving ICE and U.S. Border Patrol. In collaboration with local artists, they are developing an art installation intended to uplift and inspire both the school community and their neighbors, while continuing to advocate for justice and safety for all. This project offers a meaningful way to strengthen community bonds and foster collective healing. Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Dr. Liza J. Rankow, author of Soul Medicine for a Fractured World, explores healing justice in a time of social and ecological upheaval. She names oppositional dualism and domination as the root fracture of our world and invites a shift toward lived non-duality as the ground of lasting transformation. The conversation touches the “crucible of the in-between,” apocalypse as death and renewal, grief as medicine, and the movement from commodified self-care to soul care rooted in spirit, community, and nature. The conversation emphasized deep listening, silence, and relationship with the living world. Today’s episode closes with a simple guided breath practice for self, loved ones, and the world. Topics 00:00 Opening  01:20 Why This Book Now 03:41 What’s Fracturing Us 07:21 Crucible of the In Between 14:52 Medicine in the Wound 20:11 Grief as Collective Wisdom 26:28 Soul Care vs Self Care 32:02 Mystic Activism and Oneness 34:57 Breath And Service 35:59 No Spiritual Bypass 37:00 Oneness With Perpetrators 39:18 Mysticism And Justice 41:08 Nature As Practice 44:23 Purpose And Gifts 47:44 Deep Listening 53:25 Silence And Reckoning 56:13 Darkness As Source 58:20 Closing Practice And Book Resources LizaRankow.org Soul Medicine for a Fractured World     “Mysticism and Social Action” by Dr. Howard Thurman Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty - SAND Podcast with Francis Weller   Engaged Contemplation - SAND Podcast with Fr. Adam Bucko Glissando of Consciousness - SAND Podcast with Andrew Holecek Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Recorded live at a SAND Community Gathering (Feb 2026) Dr. Samah Jabr, a Palestinian psychiatrist and author of Radiance in Pain and Resilience, joins Dr. Mays Imad (with questions from the audience chat) for a conversation about what it means to stay human when the structures meant to protect people are the ones doing the harm. Drawing on decades of clinical work inside the occupation, Dr. Jabr moves past the “sanitized” versions of trauma to speak directly to the heart of colonial harm in Palestine. Central to this dialogue is an exploration of the deep ontological differences between Western psychiatric models and Palestinian lived experience. While Western frameworks often pathologize the individual through the lens of PTSD, Dr. Jabr introduces the concept of iptila—viewing tribulations through a framework of agency, faith, and collective endurance. She challenges the frequent romanticization of sumud (steadfastness), reframing it not as a poetic trope, but as a grueling relational practice and an ethical refusal to disappear when everything conspires toward Palestinian erasure. In a reality where the harm never ends, memory becomes a battlefield, grief a form of testimony, bearing witness an active refusal to normalize the unacceptable, and storytelling a vital survival infrastructure against the assassination of memory.Join Dr. Samah Jabr · March 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2026 • 9:00 – 11:00am PSTDecolonial Mental Health Practice: Clinical and Ethical Insights from PalestineA four-part webinar presented by SAND Topics 00:00 Welcome & Why We Need a New Framework for Trauma and Justice 02:15 “If I Must Die”: Carrying Memory, Refusing Normalization 03:13 Introducing Dr. Samah Jabr’s Work: Pain, Power, and a Counter-Narrative 07:55 A Childhood Lesson in Naming: Robinson Crusoe and Colonial Language 10:10 Clinic Stories: When Political Reality Shapes Symptoms 14:14 Beyond Western Psychiatry: Language, Resilience, and Context as the ‘Pathology’ 17:19 The ‘Fear of Dogs’ Case: History, Colonial Violence, and Clinical Meaning 20:40 When Systems Collapse: Gaza’s Crushed Mental-Health Response & Organic Community Care 25:04 Collective Healing & the Kite Intervention: Building Agency and Connection 29:31 From Mobilization to Organization: Global Solidarity and Liberation 34:31 How to Keep Working: Hope, Spirituality, and Protecting Health Workers 41:58 Meaning-Making in Crisis: The Palm Tree Story and Spiritual Grounding 45:22 Spirituality as Resilience: Listening for What Helps Each Person 47:13 Scaling Mental Health Support in Palestine: Training Community Helpers 49:00 Creating “Healing Spaces”: Group Support for Journalists, Youth & Displaced Women 53:22 Reporting Gaza From Afar: Citizen Journalism, Narrative Control & Ethical Witnessing 59:44 How to Support Palestine Sustainably: Remote Mental Health, Publishing & Advocacy 01:05:37 Colonialism, Patriarchy & Horizontal Violence: When Trauma Damages the Social Fabric 01:10:03 Meaning-Making Under Protracted Trauma: Tila, Agency & Shattered Belief Systems 01:15:16 Diaspora Palestinians: From Helping Family to Leading Global Political Solidarity 01:21:55 Closing Charge: Being Human After Mass Violence + Upcoming Webinars & Films Resources   Dr. Samah Jabr’s book Art by Fernando Martí and Jess X. Snow, inspired by Huda Suboh’s quote: “In the heart of Gaza, where the echoes of war reverberate through the streets… each day, glimmers of hope that dance across the sky—kites.” — Rafah, 2024 Support this conversation by donating to Sumud Network for Mental Health and Healing for Gaza   Where Olive Trees Weep (Film by SAND on Palestine (2024) with more Resources and a course on Palestine)

What if language was not a tool for naming things, but a vibration of relationship? What if intelligence wasn’t a human asset, but an ecological rhythm? What if consciousness is not what happens in our heads—but what happens between us, through us, with the land, with water, with wind?   Come gather for a conversation with Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Cheyenne River Lakota elder, host of First Voices Radio, master musician, and steward of relational ways of knowing. Rooted in the vibrational teachings of the old Lakota language, a language shaped by Earth and used to speak with, not about, Tiokasin invites us to unlearn the dominance of human-centered thought and listen again to Earth as consciousness.   First Voices Indigenous Radio   Butterfly Against the Wind   Topics   00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:48 Introducing Tiokasin Ghosthorse 01:28 Tiokasin's Background and Philosophy 04:36 The Concept of Land Acknowledgement 05:59 Relational Values and Indigenous Wisdom 08:02 Language and Consciousness 16:09 Mystery and Present Consciousness 27:54 Environmentalism and Connection to Earth 35:04 Understanding WIA and Innocence 36:34 The Role of Elders and Wisdom 37:58 Relational Intelligence vs. Western Education 39:14 Cultural Trauma and Language Suppression 45:41 Earth Consciousness and Modern Anxiety 50:04 The Illusion of Control and AI 58:38 Ceremony and Earth Cycles 01:03:32 Final Thoughts and Gratitude Connect with more with Tiokasin and dozens of other speakers and elders  in the SAND film Series The Eternal Song Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

In this conversation, Ellen Emmet reflects on her path into Jungian analysis and how the teachings of Carl Jung continue to shape her inner life, clinical work, and spiritual inquiry. Together, we explore what it means to hold depth psychology and nondual realization in the same field—without collapsing one into the other. The dialogue moves through questions of decolonizing therapy, the subtle dynamics of spiritual bypass, and the kind of deep listening required when working with the unconscious—both personal and collective. Ellen speaks to the body as a threshold into the psyche’s wilderness, and to the necessity of staying in relationship with what is unresolved, uncomfortable, and unfinished. Threaded throughout is a concern for the wider world: how collective trauma, ancestral memory, and the current socio-political moment ask to be included in spiritual and therapeutic work—not bypassed. This is a conversation about remembrance, embodiment, and the slow work of integration in times of upheaval. Ellen offers meetings and retreats through The Awakening Body, an experiential exploration rooted in nondual inquiry, Authentic Movement, and direct listening to lived experience. She also maintains a private psychotherapy practice and facilitates Authentic Movement groups. EllenEmmet.com Topics 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 01:05 Reflecting on Past Conversations 01:41 Journey into Jungian Analysis 02:50 Exploring Carl Jung's Theories 05:31 The Process of Individuation 13:17 Decolonizing Therapy 16:40 Spiritual Bypassing and Social Issues 20:48 Facing the Darkness: Confronting Fear and Avoidance 22:17 The Deadly Silence: Censorship in Spiritual Spaces 23:19 Heartbreak as a Spiritual Connection 26:09 The Power of Collective Healing 28:03 Listening with Reverence and Reverie 36:09 The Wildness of the Body: Embracing Natural Movement 39:39 Concluding Thoughts and Future Connections Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

From a SAND Community Gathering (December 2025), Francis Weller joins SAND co-founders Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo for a wide-ranging conversation on grief, initiation, and the sacred thresholds of a changing world.   They speak of rough passages and necessary descents—of what must burn away, and what endures. With Francis’s steady guidance, sorrow, longing, beauty, and vulnerability are reclaimed not as weaknesses, but as profound sources of strength, orientation, and soul knowledge.   Rooted in the soulcraft teachings of his book In the Absence of the Ordinary, the dialogue unfolds in a spirit of reverence and remembrance. Together, they explore the unraveling of the familiar as an invitation into deeper belonging—grief as a living portal, and beauty as a practice of staying close to what is sacred, even in times of descent.   Topics   00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgements 01:09 Guest Introduction: Francis Weller 02:02 Opening Reflections on Soul and Rhythm 03:17 The Modern Frenzy vs. Soul's Rhythm 05:32 Therapy and the Soul's Healing Process 12:09 The Role of Wounds in Soul Work 16:35 Confession and Community Healing 23:17 Collective Psyche and Modern Challenges 28:39 Historical Roots of Disconnection 31:25 Grief and Ancestral Memory 33:47 Understanding Grief in a Shallow Culture 35:06 The Three Layers of Experience 35:18 The Role of Ritual in Processing Grief 36:00 Fear and Control in Grief Expression 36:22 The Importance of Containment Fields 36:48 Cultural Rituals and Their Significance 40:21 Creating Personal Rituals 50:32 The Long Dark: Embracing Uncertainty 56:13 The Sacred in Everyday Life 59:13 The Role of Elders in a Fragmented World 01:03:12 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Blackfoot scholar Dr. Leroy Little Bear shares foundational Indigenous ways of knowing—revealing a worldview built on energy, motion, and relationship rather than matter, time, and separation.In this conversation, Little Bear illuminates how Blackfoot philosophy understands reality through "interpretive templates"—cultural lenses shaped by language, land, and cosmology. Where Western thought centers singularity and fixed answers, Blackfoot ways embrace flux, transformation, and "all my relations."Dr. Leroy Little Bear is a Blackfoot legal scholar, professor emeritus, and prominent Indigenous rights advocate from the Blood Tribe. He is a founding member of the Native American Studies Department at the University of Lethbridge, served as the director of the Harvard University Native American Program, and played a crucial role in shaping Canadian constitutional law to recognize Indigenous rights, including contributing to Section 35 of the Constitution Act. His work extends to international advocacy, advising the United Nations on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and he has received numerous honors, such as the Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence.Topics   00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:45 Guest Introduction: Dr. Leroy Little Bear 01:42 Blackfoot Tradition and Identity 02:59 Western vs. Blackfoot Worldview 10:15 Energy Forces and Relationships 27:39 Impact of Colonization 34:26 Language and Interpretive Templates 54:38 Closing Remarks and Gratitude Explore more in Indigenous Worldviews in the SAND film Series The Eternal SongSupport the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

This episode was recorded live at The Eternal Song Film Gathering in 2025.  Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo welcome Dr. (Uncle) Paul Gordon and Joe Williams, featured in the upcoming SAND Film In the Circle of Life premiering January 20, 2026. In this conversation they discuss the profound importance of connection to the land, cultural heritage, and traditional practices in achieving wellness. The conversation reveals how Indigenous wisdom can address modern societal woes and highlights the importance of respecting and maintaining a deep relationship with the natural world. Topics 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:47 Meet Uncle Paul Gordon 01:59 Language and Cultural Connections 03:01 Introducing Joe Williams 16:26 Joe Williams' Journey and Spiritual Awakening 22:07 Aboriginal Perspectives on Wellbeing and Grief 26:23 Understanding Time and Connection to Country 29:40 Ancient Knowledge and Star Stories 30:50 Connection to Country and Ancestral Wisdom 44:25 The Role of Ceremony and Responsibility 52:22 Healing Through Connection to Nature 57:55 Final Thoughts and Resources Resources In the Circle of Life The Living Country Community  Recorded live at The Eternal Song Seven Day Film Premiere summit with Indigenous voices Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

From a recent SAND Community Gathering (December 2025). This urgent conversation, facilitated by Ashira Darwish and rooted in Haidar Eid’s new book Banging on the Walls of the Tank, moves through the fractured present of Gaza, bringing forth a chorus of resistance, mourning, refusal, and clarity.   This is a dispatch from within the rubble, the classroom, the lull between airstrikes. Together. Eid and Darwish hold the line inside the unbearable: the grief of ongoing genocide and the insistence on liberation; the impossibility of hope and the necessity of imagining otherwise.   Their conversation refuses erasure, insists on dignity, and carries the clarity of those living under siege with purpose and memory intact.   This conversation carries the vibration of Gaza’s resistance outward, inviting listeners not just to witness, but to respond. Topics 00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks 00:58 Context of the Gaza Genocide 02:23 Introducing Haidar Eid and Ashira Darwish 02:32 Haidar Eid's Background and Experience 03:19 Ashira Darwish's Introduction and Role 05:42 Haidar Eid's Personal Account of the Genocide 07:17 The Impact of the Genocide on Haidar's Life 09:51 Tribute to Fallen Colleagues and Students 11:55 The Importance of Palestinian Narratives 14:57 Historical Context and Ongoing Genocide 27:34 The Human Cost and Personal Stories 29:00 Protecting Stories and Dignity 29:40 Understanding Israeli Society and Zionism 32:33 The Role of International Support 34:08 The BDS Movement and Palestinian Civil Society 35:47 The Call for Global Solidarity 43:18 Banging on the Walls of the Tank 53:12 A Shift in the Global Narrative 58:17 Final Thoughts and Call to Action Resources Project Hope Palestine Catharsis Holistic Healing Palestine BDS Movement Ashira Darwish’s Website   Where Olive Trees Weep   Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

This final episode of 2025 reflects on a year of transitions and healing, focusing on themes of intergenerational trauma, collective grief, and social justice, especially in the context of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Through diverse voices including Dr. Gabor Maté, Naomi Klein, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Ashira Darwish, Omid Safi, Kazu Haga, and others, the episode delves into personal and collective fields of healing. It emphasizes the importance of remembering, ritualizing healing, community action, indigenous knowledge, and a para-politics of grief and relationship. The episode also highlights the significance of interconnectedness, resilience, and the continuous effort towards justice and transformation. Topics and Speakers  00:00 Introduction and Year in Review 02:03 Minds Under Siege: Dr. Gabor Mate and Naomi Klein 17:38 We Will Not Look Away: Vigil for Gaza with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Ashira Darwish and Omid Safi 37:33 Fierce Vulnerability: Kazu Haga 46:16 Belonging Without Othering: john a. powell 50:51 The Limits of Solution-Driven Thinking: Bayo Akomolafe 55:47 Complexity and Phase Transitions: Jeremy Lent 01:02:03 Intergenerational Trauma and Healing: Jungwon Kim and Linda Thai  01:18:40 Generational Trauma and Community Healing: Dr. Thema Bryant 01:23:16 Decolonizing Therapy and Ancestral Healing: Dr. Jennifer Mullan 01:26:30 Indigenous Perspectives on Colonization and Wellbeing: Dr. Diana Kopua, Tina Ngata and Mark Kopua 01:40:30 Plant Medicine and Connection to Nature: Donna Kerridge 01:53:07 Grief, Ritual, and Communal Healing: Orland Bishop and Francis Weller 02:02:39 Presence and Receptive Awareness: John J. Prendergast 02:09:26 Conclusion and Membership Invitation  Links  Naomi Klein Dr. Gabor Maté Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb Omid Safi Kazu Haga john a. Powell Bayo Akomolafe Jeremy Lent Jungwon Kim Linda Thai Dr. Thema Bryant Dr. Jennifer Mullan Te Kurahuna (Mark and Dr. Diana Kopua) Tina Ngata Francis Weller Orland Bishop John Prendergast Where Olive Trees Weep  The Eternal Song (Film series and course) Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

In this episode of The Sounds of SAND podcast, host Michael Reiley speaks with Father Adam Bucko about his journey and the integration of Christian contemplative spirituality with social justice activism. Father Adam shares his formative experiences growing up in Poland during the resistance against totalitarian government, his work with marginalized youth in the United States and India, and his philosophy of engaged contemplation. He discusses the importance of heartbreak as a spiritual guide, the responsibility of acknowledging historical injustices perpetrated by the Christian church, and the practice of staying grounded through monastic rhythms of life. The episode highlights the need for a balanced approach to spirituality that embraces both love and grief, and explores reconciliation with the world's suffering through active, mindful presence. Topics 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 01:37 Father Adam Bucko's Early Life and Inspirations 04:50 Journey to the United States and Spiritual Exploration 08:13 Contemplative Practices and Activism 20:58 Challenges and Reflections on Modern Christianity 29:48 Navigating Institutional Harm and New Monasticism 32:16 Engaged Spirituality and Personal Practices 46:36 Final Thoughts and Ways to Connect Resources: FatherAdamBucko.com The Center for Spiritual Imagination "Let Heartbreak Be Your Guide" Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

A Decolonial Invitation to Remember, Relearn, and Resist   From a live SAND Community Gathering (November 2025) a live conversation with Dr. Jennifer Mullan & Iya Affo. Their discussion emphasizes the importance of ancestral wisdom, collective healing, and the decolonization of therapeutic practices. Dr. Mullan shares her personal journey of reconciling traditional healing methods with modern therapy and explores the impact of historical and intergenerational trauma. The conversation also highlights the significance of land, lineage, and community in the healing process, and addresses the ways in which therapy can be transformed to be more inclusive and effective for diverse populations. Dr. Mullan shares from her journey of calling therapists into a politicized practice—one rooted in responsibility, reverence, and collective liberation. The conversation challenges clinicians to confront their training, interrogate their privilege, and participate in the sacred labor of relearning. Topics 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:30 Honoring Ancestral Wisdom 01:54 Introducing Iya Affo 04:23 Meet Dr. Jennifer Mullan 05:22 The Non-Neutrality of Therapy 10:39 Decolonizing Therapy: A Deep Dive 14:33 Therapy and Boundaries 27:42 The Historical Impact on Therapy 31:24 Shining a Light on Hidden History 31:55 Finding Safe Spaces for Vulnerability 32:21 Therapeutic Contexts and Trauma 33:45 Bridging and Reciprocity in Healing 37:04 Colonial Soul Wound and Historical Trauma 39:39 Reclaiming Ancestral Pathways 42:25 Decolonizing Therapy for All 45:43 Healing Across Layered Dimensions 54:50 Embracing Sacred Rage and Grief 58:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

This episode, recorded live at The Eternal Song live gathering (June 2025), brings together a distinguished panel featuring Patricia June Vickers, Judy Atkinson, Dr. Diana Kopua, and Donald “Del” Lavedure, moderated by Dr. Gabor Maté. The discussion explores the integration of ancestral wisdom and modern therapeutic methods to address and heal trauma within Indigenous communities. The group share their personal and professional experiences, emphasizing the connection between land, ancestry, and healing. The conversation highlights the importance of storytelling, cultural practices, and the role of spirituality in fostering collective and individual healing, while addressing how individuals outside Indigenous cultures can support this crucial work. Topics: 00:00 Introduction of the Guests 02:14 Acknowledging Indigenous Lands and Realities 03:24 Exploring the Concept of Health and Ancestry 05:06 Understanding Ancestral Healing 08:08 Judy Atkinson on Ancestry and Healing 19:15 Patricia Vickers on Ancestry and Protection 21:23 Diana on Indigenous Knowledge and Connection 26:51 Defining Trauma and Its Impacts 32:23 Del Lavedure on Community-Based Healing 38:09 Judy Atkinson on the Power of Story in Healing 42:47 A Heartfelt Introduction 43:21 Exploring Trauma and Healing Modalities 44:32 Indigenous Perspectives on Trauma 48:17 Personal Stories of Healing 49:17 Concepts of Healing and Wholeness 53:23 Addressing Historical and Ongoing Trauma 57:23 The Role of Collective Memory in Healing 01:10:54 Connecting to Ancestral Practices 01:18:53 Final Reflections and Personal Insights Resources: Dr Gabor Maté   The Wisdom of Trauma (a SAND film)   Professor Judy Atkinson (We Al-li) Patricia June Vickers, PhD Diana Kopua (Mahi a Atua) Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member Recorded live at The Eternal Song Seven Day Film Premiere summit with Indigenous voices.

Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff discusses her work and the profound ideas in her book  Zazu Dreams: Between the Scarab and the Dung Beetle, A Cautionary Fable for the Anthropocene Era. She explores themes of dream consciousness, cultural and ecological extinction, radical symbiosis, and the concept of apocalyptic parenting as a strategy for social justice and ecological ethics, an antidote to petroleum parenting. The discussion digs into the interdisciplinary ties found in her stories, her collaborative projects, and the communal effort in creating sustainable futures. Dr. Alhadeff also shares her real-life experiences of living for almost a decade in a reclaimed school bus, 'The Love Bus', exemplifying the principles of radical mothering, reuse, collective creativity, and joy amidst systemic challenges. Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff is a professor and author of dozens of books and articles on art, philosophy, sexuality, climate justice, life-passion activism, and "petroleum parenting," including the critically-acclaimed Zazu Dreams: Between the Scarab and the Dung Beetle, A Cautionary Fable for the Anthropocene Era, and Viscous Expectations: Justice, Vulnerability, The Ob-scene. Alhadeff’s forthcoming book, Unlearning What We Think We Know (Vernon Press), will be performed during the World Affairs Conference. Her photographs/ performance videos are in private and public collection,s including San Francisco MoMA, MoMA Salzburg, Austria, the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, and include collaborations with international choreographers, composers, poets, sculptors, architects, and scientists. She has been interviewed by The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Pacifica Radio, NPR, and the New Art Examiner. Alongside Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Vandana Shiva, Alhadeff received the Random Kindness Community Resilience Leadership Award, 2020. In 2022, Alhadeff was nominated for a MacArthur Fellowship. Her theoretical and visual work is the subject of documentaries for international public television/ radio. A former professor of Critical Pedagogy & Performance at UC Santa Cruz and Founder of Radical Art in Action, Alhadeff teaches, performs, and parents a creative-zero-waste life. She and her family live and perform in their eco-art installation, a repurposed school bus. www.carajudeaalhadeff.com Topics 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff 01:35 Exploring 'Zazu Dreams' 04:01 Dreams and Cultural Extinction 06:08 Fractal Democracy and Radical Art 08:39 Sensory Consciousness and Neuroaesthetics 14:50 Interconnected Oppressions and Emancipation 28:05 Ancestral Lineage and Multiculturalism 34:00 Exploring Automatic Behaviors and Consciousness 34:50 Interbeing and Consumer Decisions 36:35 The Impact of Privilege and Capitalist Norms 38:06 Radical Symbiosis and Cultural Conditioning 39:21 Eco-Spirituality and Political Awareness 41:18 Apocalyptic Parenting and Deep Noticing 48:01 The Love Bus: A Journey of Reuse and Respect 54:40 Adapting to Change and Collective Creativity 57:55 Conclusion: Embracing Art and Language Resources: Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff’s Website ZAZU DREAMS: Between the Scarab and the Dung Beetle, A Cautionary Fable for the Anthropocene Era by Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff Zazu Dreams book-to-film animation adaptation Fractal Flourishing: Jeremy Lent (Sounds of SAND Podcast) Arab Jewish Mysticism: Hadar Cohen (Sounds of SAND Podcast) Quantum Listening: IONE (Sounds of SAND Podcast) Deep Listening: Pauline Oliveros 5Rhythms Dance Rural Studio: Samuel Mockbee and an architecture of decency Thrutopian Dreams: Manda Scott (Sounds of SAND Podcast) An Ecotopian Lexicon edited by Schneider-Mayerson and Bellamy Challenging Petroleum Parenting Decolonizing Motherhood Empire of Normality: Neurodiversity and Capitalism by Robert Chapman Viscous Expectations: Justice, Vulnerability, The Ob-scene by cara judea Alhadeff The Love Bus: Beauty & Waste In the Face of Climate Crisis Facing Apocalyspe by Catherine Keller Benjamin Lay: The first Revolutionary Quaker Abolitionist  Cara Judea Alhadeff, PhD, Promiscuous Crossings (Substack) Email Cara Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

What does it mean to stay tender in times of unraveling? In this live SAND Community Gathering (November 2025), SAND co-founders, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo spend the hour with activist and author Kazu Haga. This conversation invites us into a collective inquiry about healing, justice, and the radical courage of vulnerability. Drawing from his work on restorative justice and Kingian nonviolence, Haga explores how compassion can live alongside grief, anger, and collapse—not as escape or appeasement, but as a disciplined, relational practice of staying with the pain of the world. Topics: 00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Remarks 00:44 Introducing Kazu and His Work 04:08 Understanding Fierce Vulnerability 06:43 The Great Turning and Collective Healing 10:50 Non-Violence and Social Movements 17:13 Spiritual Practice and Activism 24:22 Anger, Rage, and Non-Violence 26:40 Personal Stories and Reflections 28:57 Sowing Seeds of Change 29:56 The Power of Vulnerability 31:33 Healing Through Non-Violence 38:55 The Concept of Negative Peace 47:48 Living in Community 49:45 Final Thoughts and Gratitude Resources: Kazu Haga's Website Fierce Vulnerability Canticle Farm The Eternal Song (film series by SAND)  Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Recorded live at The Eternal Song Seven Day Film Premiere Gathering.  In this episode, hosts Maurizio and Zaya engage in deep conversation with Yoruba philosopher and post-humanist thinker Bayo Akomolafe. In this episode, Bayo shares a Yoruba creation myth involving the Orishas, highlighting the importance of flow and memory. He reflects on his journey as a psychologist in Nigeria and critiques the political dimensions of healing. The dialogue also touches on the limits of modernity, the significance of wounds in creating new worlds, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Bayo’s insights invite listeners to reconsider traditional notions of clarity, identity, and safety, promoting a deeper, more fluid understanding of existence as it weaves into narratives of The Eternal Song. Watch this full conversation and 40+ more The Eternal Song film series and All-Access Pass with from our 7-day gathering with Elders and knowledge keepers  Topics 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:46 Introducing Bayo Akomolafe 02:13 A Yoruba Creation Story 06:50 Reflections on Healing 12:49 Decolonization and Human Ecology 20:32 The Complexity of Solutions 22:25 Chaos and Order: The Eternal Dance 22:41 The Illusion of Solutions 22:50 Climate Chaos and Moralities 23:34 The Exhaustion of Traditional Moralities 24:10 Para Politics: A New Approach 26:30 The Role of the Trickster in History 28:45 The Power of Wounds and Cracks 31:31 The Fluidity of Identity 36:52 The Origins and Evolution of Language 40:15 Christianity and Indigenous Faiths 44:15 Final Reflections and Gratitude Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Hosted by SAND’s Lisa Breschi Almond, this poignant discussion entitled 'War's Long Shadow Part Two: The Medicine of Story' was recorded live as a recent SAND Gathering. The show features two heartfelt stories of their first-hand accounts of post-war trauma shared by Linda Thai and Jungwon Kim. The conversation explores personal narratives of war trauma and generational grief, focusing on the Vietnam War and Korean War, respectively. Linda recounts her family’s harrowing escape from Vietnam and their struggle to resettle in Australia, while Jungwon explores her parents’ experiences and the enduring impact of the Korean War. Emphasizing the importance of storytelling, the session highlights the collective healing and emotional sobriety brought through sharing and listening to these deeply moving stories Topics 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:55 Land and Settler Acknowledgement 02:13 Introducing the Presenters 04:16 Linda's Story: A Journey of Survival 39:31 Jungwon's Story: Generational War Trauma 01:02:30 Reflections and Closing Remarks Resources War’s Long Shadow, Part 1 (the first part of this conversation from early 2025) Jung Won Kim’s Website Linda Thai’s Website Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

In this episode, SAND co-founders and hosts Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo welcome Dr. Thema Bryant, a tenured professor of psychology and former President of the American Psychological Association, to discuss holistic healing, ancestral wisdom, and collective liberation. Dr. Bryant emphasizes the importance of recognizing both individual and collective trauma, the power of storytelling, and the need for interdisciplinary approaches to wellness. The conversation explores the emotional and spiritual aspects of healing, the role of joy and grief, and the importance of community in fostering resilience and thriving. Dr. Bryant also provides practical advice on deepening relationships, finding like-minded communities, and maintaining emotional balance in the face of ongoing trauma. Topics   00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:53 Introducing Dr. Thema Bryant 01:20 Dr. Bryant's Background and Philosophy 03:11 Grounding Practice and Body Sovereignty 08:32 The Importance of Compassion and Presence 11:52 Intergenerational Trauma and Healing 17:15 Decolonizing and Indigenizing Healing Practices 27:00 Balancing Activism and Self-Care 34:15 Grief and Collective Healing 36:44 Cultural Differences in Grieving 37:59 The Interplay of Grief and Joy 38:28 Toxic Positivity and Spiritual Bypassing 41:07 Constructive vs. Destructive Anger 44:53 The Importance of Emotional Expression 47:03 Creating and Deepening Community Connections 51:00 Collective Healing and Liberation 01:03:13 Balancing Self-Care and Collective Care 01:11:14 Final Thoughts and Resources Resources Dr. Thema Bryant Dr. Thema Bryant is the author of the recently released book Matters of the Heart and the host of The Homecoming Podcast.Jaiya John Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Recorded live at The Eternal Song Seven Day Film Premiere summit with Indigenous voices.  Donna Kerridge, a Rongoā Māori practitioner from Waikato, Aotearoa New Zealand, shares insights into her journey bridging Māori traditional medicine and the Western healthcare system. Kerridge discusses the challenges and beauty of indigenous healing practices, emphasizing the significance of connection to nature, ancestral knowledge, and the balance between the physical and spiritual realms. She reflects on her experience watching the film Eternal Song and the necessity of truth in storytelling. Through her work and this conversation, Kerridge elucidates the importance of understanding one's place in nature and the universe to achieve true wellbeing. Hosted by Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo. Topics00:00 Introduction to Donna Kerridge 00:58 Reflecting on the Film's Impact 03:45 Understanding Rongoā Māori 06:10 The Concept of Wellbeing in Rongoā Māori 10:55 Healing Practices and Patterns of Disease 20:19 The Importance of Ancestry and Connection 22:37 Ancient Knowledge and Modern Science 29:47 Challenges of Being a Healer in Modern Times 32:18 Exploring the Pillars of Ru Māori 33:42 Connecting with the Spiritual Realm 36:30 Healing Through Nature 43:28 Respect and Indigenous Knowledge 45:41 Bridging Western and Indigenous Medicine 52:28 The Role of Ancestral Knowledge 56:25 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections Find out more about The Eternal Song film series and All-Access Pass and the SAND film Mauri which features all three guests from today’s show.Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

In this panel from the The Eternal Song 7-Day Global Gathering Schedule, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo speak with Dr. Diana Kopua, a  Māori psychiatrist, Mark Kopua, a cultural leader and master carver, and Tina Ngata, an advocate for indigenous and environmental rights. The conversation explores the significance of revitalizing indigenous knowledge, ancestral connections, and reindigenization. They explore the effects of colonialism, the doctrine of Christian discovery, and the urgency of collective wellbeing practices. The conversations weaves reconnection with ancestral stories, the environment, and indigenizing oneself as crucial steps towards collective healing and resilience. Find out more about The Eternal Song film series and All-Access Pass and the SAND film Mauri which features all three guests from today’s show. Topics 00:00 Introduction of Extraordinary Voices 01:50 Personal Introductions and Backgrounds 07:09 Current Issues in New Zealand 12:24 Colonial Impact on Māori Wellbeing 18:42 Traditional Māori Wellbeing and Ancestral Connections 33:29 Healing Through Ancestral Stories 34:56 Impact of Colonization on Indigenous Mindset 37:04 Reconnecting with Ancestral Wisdom 40:55 Understanding Racism and Education 44:26 The Role of Christianity and Wealth 52:51 Indigenizing vs. Decolonizing 53:35 Practical Steps to Re-Indigenize 56:38 Final Thoughts and Reflections Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Ancestral Bone Mapping & Healing: Reweaving the Soul Through Bone, Beauty, and Ancestral Nourishment with Iya AffoThrough rhythms of beauty, grief, and intergenerational wisdom, this presentation and conversation explored healing through the languages of somatic ritual, trauma-informed neurobiology, and ancestral remembering. Iya Affo is a Culturalist and Historical Trauma consultant. She earned Western certification as a Trauma Specialist and is a descendant of a long line of traditional healers from Bénin, West Africa. Iya serves as an Executive Board Member for the Arizona ACEs Consortium, is an Adjunct Faculty member at the Arizona Trauma Institute, and is the founder of Heal Historical Trauma Culture & Indigenous Wellness Academy. She has visited more than 30 countries; living in Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, Native American, and Yoruba communities, embracing aspects from each culture for personal evolution. She strives to transcend tolerance through cultivating love and respect in hopes of facilitating the decolonization and subsequent healing of indigenous people from all over the world. Iya advocates for the harmonization of Traditional Medicine and Western Medicine for true holistic healing. ALTÆR is a sacred invitation into ancestral medicine, where the body is honored as shrine, and the bones are read as living scrolls. Culturalist and Historical Trauma Consultant Iya Affo brings her deep-rooted knowledge and ceremonial practice to this space. As a featured presence in The Eternal Song film and founder of the Heal Historical Trauma Culture & Indigenous Wellness Academy, Iya carries experience across many Indigenous communities and advocates for the harmonization of Traditional and Western medicine as a path to collective wholeness. ALTÆR: The Bones Remember – Eight week course with Iya Affo Topics: 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:42 Introducing Iya Affo 01:44 Acknowledging Ancestral Lands and Ancestors 04:25 The Importance of Ancestral Healing 09:38 Understanding Coherence and Healing Practices 18:06 Exploring Bone Mapping 28:11 Personal Story: Ancestral Memory and Birth 32:45 A Difficult Labor and Ancestral Memory 34:33 The Impact of Historical Trauma on Black Women 38:47 Bone Mapping and Spiritual Genetics 43:57 Roles of Men and Women in Ancestral Healing 49:53 Healing Practices and Rituals 57:31 Integrating Indigenous Knowledge with Western Therapy 01:03:20 Closing Reflections and Future Courses Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Please join us along with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Ashira Darwish, Rae Abileah, Shahd Abusalama, Omid Safi, Reverend Michael Yoshii, and Iyas Sartawari for a reckoning. A collective refusal. A gathering of those who cannot stay silent while genocide is livestreamed. We do not come together to be informed. We come because we already know. We come because we refuse to normalize atrocity. We come to grieve every stolen Palestinian life—every child starved, every family erased. We come to grieve the collapse of our shared humanity—and to ignite what remains. This grief is not weakness. It is fire. It is clarity. It is a declaration: we will not look away.  Topics 00:00 Opening Remarks and Introductions 01:24 Shahd Abusalama's Testimony 07:46 Raif Ziada's Poem Recitation 19:53 Rabbi Lynn's Address 28:30 Omid Safi's Prayer and Reflections 40:03 Introduction and Greetings 40:07 Reverend Joshi's Reflections 42:10 Prayers and Songs for the Martyrs 46:09 Ashira's Call to Action 51:28 Rae Abileah's Contributions 52:12 Small Group Discussions 56:21 Project Hope Overview 01:03:59 Final Reflections and Call to Action 01:08:39 Closing Remarks SupportTogether, we call for the return of UNRWA and the shutting down of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Funds from the gathering will go to Project Hope, providing aid to Gaza. Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

In this live recording from The Eternal Song Seven Day Premier broadcast, hosts Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo engage in a deep discussion with guests Francis Weller, a psychotherapist and soul activist, and Orland Bishop, a spiritual teacher and founder of ShadeTree Foundation. Exploring themes such as indigenous wisdom, the impact of colonialism, communal grieving, and the necessity of reconnecting with ancestral roots. The dialogue also covers the significance of embracing grief as a communal and necessary process for healing and transformation, and reflects on what it means to enter a 'long dark' period — a time of significant societal and personal upheaval. We Explored grief as a sacred threshold, not a pathology, remembering the soul’s place in a world of fragmentation and reclaiming reverence, slowness, and deep belonging in troubled times. The Eternal Song film series and All-Access Pass Francis Weller ShadeTree Multicultural Foundation (Orland Bishop) Topics 00:00 Introduction to The Eternal Song and Today's Guests 02:05 Opening Invocation and Reflections on Grief 04:36 Historical Context and the Impact of Colonialism 07:37 The Role of Rituals and Ancestral Wisdom 14:38 Communal Grief and Healing Practices 26:06 Entering the Long Dark: A Time of Transformation 39:41 Connecting with Ancestors and Concluding Thoughts Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

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 The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors and 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 showing you how to heal and free yourself. Topics: 0:00 – Introduction 2:34 – Global Wars 6:29 – Self-Care at the End of the World 8:57 – Fierce Compassion 14:45 – Ma Tara 20:59 – New Saints 28:03 – Evangelism and Bodhisattva 41:05 – Do We Need Modern-Day Saints? 45:05 – Inclusivity 48:49 – Secular Buddhism and Liberation 55:29 – Prayer

In this episode we present excerpts from the recent conversation (June 2024) as part of SAND’s “Conversations on Palestine” around the premiere of the film Where Olive Trees Weep hosted by the directors of the film and co-founders of SAND, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo. You can watch this full conversation and 22 others. SAND has created a program with leading historians, spiritual teachers, trauma therapists, poets and performers to complement the themes explored in the film and provide a larger historical, cultural and social context to the plight of the Palestinian people. In this powerful interfaith gathering, renowned spiritual leaders from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist traditions came together to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people's struggle for freedom, equality, and human dignity. These esteemed visionaries modeled the powerful unity that can blossom when we recognize our shared humanity and inherent dignity. Their clarion call for peace with justice in Palestine stands as an inspiration for us all to embody the highest ethical and moral principles of our diverse spiritual traditions. Guests: Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, one of the first women to become a rabbi in Jewish history, is a pioneer Jewish feminist, human rights activist, writer, visual artist, ceremonialist, community educator and master storyteller.  Lynn has been a congregational rabbi since the fall of 1973, and founded the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM, in 1980. She engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles.  Currently, Lynn sits on the Rabbinic Council of Jewish Voice for Peace and is board chair of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. Rabbi Lynn is the author of several books, including Peace Primer II, She Who Dwells Within: A Feminist Vision of Renewed Judaism, World Beyond Borders Passover Haggadah and Trail Guide to the Torah of Nonviolence. Rabbi Lynn is a Shomeret Shalom, a practitioner of the Torah of nonviolence. Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, founder of Ligmincha International, is a rare master of the Bön Dzogchen tradition in the West. After completing an 11-year course at Menri Monastery in India, where he earned his Geshe degree, he established Ligmincha in 1992 to preserve and introduce Tibetan Bön Buddhist teachings to the West.  Fluent in English, Rinpoche is beloved for his clear, insightful teaching style that makes Tibetan practices accessible. He's highly respected across the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and Asia, with centers in the Americas, Europe, and India. Author of 10 books, including "Wonders of the Natural Mind" and "The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep," Rinpoche shares the profound wisdom of Bön Dzogchen. Rev. Deborah Lee, Executive Director of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity since 2018, brings over 30 years of experience in faith-based social justice. Her expertise spans popular education, community organizing, and advocacy, focusing on issues like race, gender, economic justice, LGBTQ inclusion, and immigrant rights.  Under her leadership, the organization has doubled in size and impact. They've closed detention centers, prevented deportations, supported immigrant youth, and established Sanctuary congregations. Notably, they're working to divest from carceral systems and invest in thriving communities. Rev. Lee envisions a world without harm, where every person is considered sacred across bars and borders. Pir Zia Inayat Khan, Ph.D., is a scholar of religion and teacher of Sufism in the universalist Sufi lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia is president of the Inayatiyya and founder of Sulūk Academy, a school of Sufi contemplative study and practice. He is author of Immortality: A Traveler’s Guide; Dream Flowers: The Collected Works of Noor Inayat Khan; Mingled Waters: Sufism and the Mystical Unity of Religions; and Saracen Chivalry: Counsels on Valor, Generosity and the Mystical Quest. He is editor of Caravan of Souls: An Introduction to the Sufi Path of Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia divides his time between Richmond, Virginia and Suresnes, France. Topics: 00:00 - Intro 06:00 - Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb 09:10 - Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche 12:34 - Rev. Deborah Lee 16:00 - Pir Zia Inayat Khan 18:36 - Hope in Dark Times 32:51 - WW2 Perspective 37:48 - Opening Up 47:02 - Silence in Spiritual Communities Resources: Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb's website Rabbi Lynn's collected writings Rev. Deborah Lee: Interfaith Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage  Interfaith Banner-raising for ceasefire: Have your congregation/synagogue/mosque/temple hang a permanent “ceasefire now” banner.   We Will Not Look Away: A Vigil for Grief, Kinship, & Refusal in the Face of Genocide A Community Gathering with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Ashira Darwish, Rae Abileah & FriendsSupport the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member.

Alixa García is a Colombian born, globally-raised, multi-disciplinary artist, activist, and cultural activator whose work is imbued in ritual, spirit, and deep reverence for our Great Mother, Great Lover, our Earth. She is an award-winning activist, poet, and filmmaker. She is also a professional writer, visual artist, musician, and facilitator. Her work has been published by Whit Press, AK Press, Hatchett, & Daraja Press.Instagram and Linktree Alixa’s upcoming course on A Course on the Imaginal: Cultivating the Visionary Self Mentioned in the Episode the late artist and performer Tigre Bailando Topics:   00:00:00 – Introduction 00:05:45 – Alixa’s Work  00:12:08 – Indigenous Resilience 00:27:36 – Enchantment 00:43:10 – Burning Man 2023 00:59:52 – Surrender 01:18:24 – A Course on the Imaginal 01:22:36 – “A Message from the Future”

Today on the show, we welcome Scott Kiloby and Toshi Matsunaga, authors of Awake But Sick, to explore the hidden emotional pain that can persist even after profound spiritual awakening. Their work challenges the common myths of nonduality and mindfulness, offering a deeper path through emotional repression, physical illness, and the illusion of immediate freedom. In this conversation, we explore the gap between awakening and true healing, the dangers of spiritual bypassing, and how to reconnect with the body’s wisdom to find lasting peace. Links  Kiloby.com Nondualship with Toshi Matsunaga Nonduality & KI Monthly Meeting with Toshi   Awake But Sick   Emotional Repression Test Inquiry Topics 00:00 Introduction to Guests and Their Work 01:34 Scott and Toshi's Journey to Collaboration 02:31 Understanding Kiloby Inquiries (KI) 03:12 The Dimensions of Spiritual Practice 04:54 Addressing Spiritual Bypassing 08:48 The Connection Between Awakening and Suffering 12:26 The Role of Repressed Emotions 15:28 Integrating Non-Dual Teachings with Modern Psychosis 25:49 The Iceberg Metaphor and Emotional Repression 29:13 The Role of Spiritual Practices in Repression 31:35 Identifying Patterns of Avoidance and Spiritual Bypassing 32:49 Signs of Repression in Meditation and Spiritual Practices 36:31 Understanding and Addressing Anger Repression 46:54 The Importance of Community in Spiritual Work 52:20 Connecting with the Speakers and Their Work Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen is a Historian of Religion, Ph.d from Uppsala University in Sweden. His research into Afro-diasporic strategies for maintaining animist reality in the modern world has lead him towards reading North European cultural history from the perspective of rejected animist knowledge and practice. The objective is to recover Euro-traditioanl forms of landconnectedness ecological knowledge and kinship with the greater community of beings. Rune has lived in a number of countries in Europe, Africa North- and South America and presently runs the platform “Nordic Animism”. Links: Nordic Animism YouTube Instagram Topics 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:49 Rune's Background and Nordic Animism03:13 Understanding Nordic Animism07:34 Decolonization and Animism11:45 Animism in Daily Life21:49 Relational Practices and Cultural Renewal37:10 Animism and Modern Challenges47:51 Resources and Upcoming Projects50:17 Conclusion and Farewell Join Rune for the free global premiere of The Eternal Song and a 7-day online gathering centered on Indigenous voices—part of the online SAND event, happening June 3–9. Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Wendy Elisheva Somerson (wes) is a non-binary Jewish somatic healer, writer, visual artist, and activist who helped found the Seattle chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace. They facilitate Ruach, body-based Jewish healing groups held in an anti-Zionist, anti-racist, and feminist framework. As part of a movement of anti-Zionist Jews, they support Jewish healing from historical trauma and promote a liberatory future for Judaism and Jewishness beyond Zionism that includes a free Palestine. Today on the show we discuss their new book An Anti-Zionist Path to Embodied Jewish Healing: Somatic Practices to Heal Historical Wounds, Unlearn Oppression, and Create a Liberated World to Come. https://wendysomerson.net/ Topics 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:09 Discussing the Book: An Anti-Zionist Path to Embodied Jewish Healing01:36 Genocide in Palestine: Context and Impact04:07 Zionism and Jewish Historical Trauma06:07 Embodied Jewish Healing: Concepts and Practices09:26 Technology and Disembodiment10:32 Anti-Zionism as a Path to Healing16:12 Spiritual and Ethical Responsibilities26:42 Activism and Jewish Faith30:05 Resources and Community for Anti-Zionism31:46 Somatic Healing Practices36:58 Hope and Solidarity for the Future40:07 Conclusion and Farewell Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member Join SAND June 3–9 for the FREE global film premiere of The Eternal Song and the 7-day online gathering with Indigenous voices

Join SAND co-founders Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo in conversation with Aboriginal elders and authors Uncle Paul Callaghan and Uncle Paul Gordon for a powerful SAND Community Gathering (2023), “The Dreaming Path,” where they explored some of the profound Aboriginal teachings. Connect with Uncle Paul Gordon and dozens of other Indigenous speakers at the 7-Day The Eternal Song Gathering hosted live by SAND June 3-9 2025.“Our stories are not myths or legends or fables, they aren’t about dreams either”—Uncle Paul Callaghan Topics 0:00 – Introduction 4:33 – Dreamtime 13:00 – Aboriginal Lore 20:26 – A Dreamtime Story 32:16 – Importance of Relationality 41:26 – 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice Referendum

Abigail Rose Clarke is a somatic educator, writer, and creator of The Embodied Life Method. Her new book, Returning Home to Our Bodies: Reimagining the Relationship Between Our Bodies and the World, challenges the dominant narratives that treat our bodies as machines. Instead, she invites readers into a deeper relationship with the body as part of the living world. In this conversation, we explore embodiment as a political and spiritual practice, embodiment  as  a framework for systemic change, and how returning to the wisdom of the body can help us imagine and build a more just, interconnected future. Topics 00:00 Introduction to Abigail Rose Clarke and Her Work01:08 Abigail's Journey to Becoming a Writer05:02 The Concept of Embodiment and Its Importance07:45 The Interconnectedness of Body and World13:49 The Radical Act of Returning Home to Our Bodies19:11 Expanding the Definition of Somatics26:24 Healthy Boundaries and Somatic Practices28:50 Exploring Community and Boundaries31:08 The Wellness Industry and Its Pitfalls32:27 Embracing the Complexity of Human Emotions33:52 The Body's Relationship with Pain and Healing39:47 Language and Its Impact on Perception46:54 Reframing Hope and Its Role in Our Lives51:20 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

This episode is a live recording from a recent SAND Community Gathering (April 2025) facilitated by Jungwon Kim. Join Buddhist scholars and activists Rev. Duncan Ryūken Williams, Ph.D. and Funie Hsu/Chhî, Ph.D. for an illuminating dialogue exploring the intersection of Buddhist practice and social transformation. This conversation weaves together Buddhism, remembrance, healing, and liberation, examining how the dharma offers both a path to personal awakening and Social-Spiritual Liberation. Our guests shared how Buddhist teachings help transform grief into connection, particularly in response to racially motivated violence against Asian American communities. The conversation challenged conventional Western Buddhist approaches to Secularization and Individual Awakening. Duncan Ryuken Williams is a Professor of Religion and the Director of the Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture at the University of Southern California; previously, Chairman of Japanese Buddhism at UC Berkeley, Director of Berkeley’s Center for Japanese Studies, and Buddhist chaplain at Harvard University where he received his Ph.D. An ordained priest since 1993 in the Soto Zen tradition, he received Dharma transmission in 2024 at Kotakuji Temple, Japan. His latest book, American Sutra: A Story of Faith and Freedom in the Second World War, an LA Times bestseller,  won the 2022 Grawemeyer Religion Award. He also wrote The Other Side of Zen . Funie Hsu/Chhî, Ph.D. is a transdisciplinary scholar from a working class, Taiwanese-American family, raised in a Taiwanese Humanistic Buddhist tradition. Her work melds American, Asian-American, Buddhist, and Taiwan Studies. Currently Associate Professor of American Studies at San Jose State University, she received a Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Women, Gender, and Sexuality from UC Berkeley. Aspects of her work explore issues of language, education and colonialism. She is a co-organizer of May We Gather, a national Buddhist memorial ceremony for Asian American ancestors and a former Board Member of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship where she advocated for the recognition of Asian American heritage Buddhist communities in the organization and beyond. Jungwon Kim is an award-winning writer and cultural worker. She is also a communications leader, organizational strategy consultant, and journalist who has dedicated her professional life to human rights and environmental advocacy. As Head of Creative & Editorial at the Rainforest Alliance, she directed a multimedia team of writers, videographers, and graphic designers. Earlier in her career, she served as the editor of Amnesty International USA’s human rights quarterly that featured the work of award-winning journalists and documentary photographers (circulation 300,000). She began her storytelling career as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, and on-air correspondent for nationally syndicated public radio programs. Topics 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:41 Introducing the Conversation Topic 01:36 Meet Jungwon Kim 03:20 Introducing the Guests: Funie Hsu/Chhî, and Duncan Ryuken Williams 06:30 Funie Hsu/Chhî’s Path to Buddhism 10:19 Duncan Ryuken Williams' Path to Buddhism 13:02 Buddhism as a Cultural Ecosystem 22:16 May We Gather: A Collective Healing Initiative 32:42 Decolonizing Buddhist Practice 37:07 Lessons from Japanese American Buddhists 44:48 Bridging the Gap in American Buddhism 58:02 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Elizabeth Philipose, PhD  has a lifelong passion for transformational arts and the expansion of consciousness. She has pursued this as an academic studying the causes and consequences of violence. Her focus is on healing relations between masculine and feminine, humans and nature, races, and nations. As a spiritual guide, she offers programs in decolonial wellness, spiritual principle, embodiment, meditation, and prayer. Elizabeth has been on her own journey to heal gender/racial traumas, old church wounds, and ancestral grief. She teaches from the experiential insights of this journey and the wisdom of her visionary teachers. Links Upcoming workshop with Elizabeth Philipose Instagram Linked In Academic.edu Topics 00:00 Introduction01:05 Understanding Decolonial Wellness02:32 Impact of Colonialism on Personal Wellness04:41 Embodiment and Structural Analysis07:37 Holistic Approach to Wellness14:27 Spirituality and Social Justice19:11 Challenges in Spiritual and Social Justice Communities32:39 Practical Applications and Offerings39:59 Conclusion and Upcoming Events Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member  

Today, we present a wild and flowering conversation between two poets, writers, philosophers, and theobiologians Bayo Akomalofe and Sophie Strand. This conversation is from a 2022 SAND Community Gathering. To hear the full conversation with Q&A from the live webinar you can view it here (with SAND Membership). In Greek Mythology, the Titan Kronos eats an indigestible stone and vomits up the new Olympic pantheon of gods. In our current time, people planted in stratigraphic layers of shared trauma find themselves uniquely ill – physically and mentally. We are unable to digest food and unable to digest violence. What if indigestion – practical and mythical – was a sign that a new world was threatening to be born? The very basis of our nucleated cells is an ancient botched bacterial cannibalism. What if our inability to digest certain injustices was an invitation to vomit up a new pantheon? And in an age when we are all threaded through with microplastics and blood pressure stabilizers, what does it mean to start to physically grow into new shapes around incursions we cannot properly assimilate or expel? Bayo Akomolafe (Ph.D.), rooted with the Yoruba people in a more-than-human world, is the father to Alethea and Kyah, the grateful life-partner to Ije, son and brother. A widely celebrated international speaker, posthumanist thinker, poet, teacher, public intellectual, essayist, and author of two books, These Wilds Beyond our Fences: Letters to My Daughter on Humanity’s Search for Home (North Atlantic Books) and We Will Tell our Own Story: The Lions of Africa Speak, Bayo Akomolafe is the Founder of The Emergence Network and host of the online postactivist course, ‘We Will Dance with Mountains’. He currently lectures at Pacifica Graduate Institute, California and University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont. He sits on the Board of many organizations including Science and Non-Duality (US) and Ancient Futures (Australia). In July 2022, Dr. Akomolafe was appointed the inaugural Global Senior Fellow of University of California’s (Berkeley) Othering and Belonging Institute. He has also been appointed Senior Fellow for The New Institute in Hamburg, Germany. He is the recipient of the New Thought Leadership Award 2021 and the Excellence in Ethnocultural Psychotherapy Award by the African Mental Health Summit 2022. Sophie Strand is a writer based in the Hudson Valley who focuses on the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology. Yet it would probably be more authentic to call her a neo-troubadour animist with a propensity to spin yarns that inevitably turn into love stories. Give her a salamander and a stone and she’ll write you a love story. Sophie was raised by house cats, puff balls, possums, raccoons, and an opinionated, crippled goose. She believes strongly that all thinking happens interstitially – between beings, ideas, differences, mythical gradients. She is the author of The Flowering Wand: Rewilding the Sacred Masculine and The Madonna Secret. She is also finishing a collection of essays about navigating an incurable genetic disease and early trauma through ecological storytelling. You can subscribe to her newsletter at sophiestrand.substack.com, and follow her work on Instagram: @cosmogyny and at www.sophiestrand.com. Topics 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:35 Introducing Dr. Bayo Akomolafe 04:11 Introducing Sophie Strand 06:35 Starting the Conversation: New Gods in Challenging Times 13:54 Exploring Mispronunciation and Evolution 27:27 Animist Perspectives on Trauma 28:17 Healing in Yoruba Culture 30:29 Bioelectric Signals and Embryogenesis 35:40 The Role of Trickster Gods 38:26 Invasive Species and Ecosystem Dynamics 47:25 Disability as an Invitation to Community 55:32 Concluding Thoughts on New Gods Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member  

From a recent SAND Community Gathering (March 2025) At a time when our world can feel increasingly divided, and many are retreating into isolation, civil rights scholar john a. powell offers a transformative approach to building connections across differences. Drawing from his groundbreaking work with the Othering & Belonging Institute and his own journey, john shows how to stop perceiving differences as threats and instead use them as opportunities for deeper understanding and collective growth. Through rich personal stories and documented study, he explains how bridging practices can help us heal ruptures in our families, workplaces, and communities. This conversation explores practical ways to overcome the ‘us versus them’ mindset that dominates our current discourse and create a world where everyone truly belongs. Whether we’re struggling with political divides, generational gaps, or cultural differences, powell’s insights offer concrete tools for building meaningful connections in an age of separation. john a. powell is a renowned scholar and advocate in civil rights, structural racism, constitutional law, housing, and belonging. As Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley, he holds the Robert D. Haas Chancellor’s Chair in Equity and Inclusion and is a Professor of Law, Ethnic Studies, and African American Studies. johnapowell.org The Power of Bridging: How To Build A World Where We All Belong by john a. powell Topics 00:00 Introduction  00:41 Meeting john a. powell 02:24 john's Early Life and Spiritual Journey 08:02 The Concept of Belonging and Breaking 17:48 Navigating Fear and Anxiety in Activism 27:44 The Concept of Belonging vs. Inclusion 29:52 Personal Stories of Pain and Resilience 33:59 The Danger of a Single Story 39:24 Bridging Divides in the Middle East 43:44 The Power of Recognition and DignitySupport the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

From a recent SAND Community Gathering (March 2025) Join mental health clinician Linda Thai and writer Jungwon Kim for an in-depth conversation on intergenerational trauma, historical grief, and healing in community. Together, they explored psychological, spiritual, and communal reverberations of historical violence, framed within the context of U.S. wars in Korea and Vietnam, yet deeply relevant to other conflicts, past and present. They shared their experiences and observations of the complex dynamics of remembering and forgetting—and how they play out across families and communities fragmented by political and militarized violence. Further, they explore modes of restoration that are often overlooked by Western therapeutic approaches: somatic and communal transmutation, cultural ritual, and narrative justice. The pathways they shared honor the deep connections between personal, historical, and communal dimensions of trauma. A vital conversation for anyone seeking to understand how the profound wisdom held within cultural memory can contribute to intergenerational healing. Jungwon Kim is an award-winning writer and cultural worker. She is also a communications leader, organizational strategy consultant, and journalist who has dedicated her professional life to human rights and environmental advocacy. As Head of Creative & Editorial at the Rainforest Alliance, she directed a multimedia team of writers, videographers, and graphic designers. Earlier in her career, she served as the editor of Amnesty International USA’s human rights quarterly that featured the work of award-winning journalists and documentary photographers (circulation 300,000). She began her storytelling career as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, and on-air correspondent for nationally syndicated public radio programs. Linda Thai, LMSW ERYT-200 is a trauma therapist and educator who specializes in brain and body-based modalities for addressing complex developmental trauma. Linda has worked with thousands of people from all over the world to promote mindfulness, recover from trauma, and tend to grief as a means of self care. Linda’s work centers on healing with a special focus on the experiences of adult children of refugees and immigrants. Her teaching is infused with empathy, storytelling, humor, research, practical tools, applied knowledge, and experiential wisdom. She has assisted internationally renowned psychiatrist and trauma expert, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, with his private small group psychotherapy workshops aimed at healing attachment trauma. She has a Master of Social Work with an emphasis on the neurobiology of attachment and trauma. Topics 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:38 Setting the Context: War and Generational Trauma 01:18 Introducing the Guests: Linda Thai and Jungwon Kim 02:17 Linda Thai's Story: A Journey of Healing 06:48 Jungwon Kim's Story: Bridging Generations 11:12 The Impact of War on Generations 13:08 Collective Trauma and Healing 29:39 Ritualizing Healing: The Concept of Han 34:41 The Role of Community in Healing 49:03 Conclusion and Future Conversations Resources Minds Under Seige (A SAND talk with Dr. Gabor Maté and Naomi Klein, facilitated by Cecilie Surasky). Podcast of this conversation. “Violent experiences alter the genome in ways that persist for generations” (Yale News) Han (Korean: 한), or haan, is a concept of an emotion, variously described as some form of grief or resentment, among others, that is said to be an essential element of Korean identity by some, and a modern post-colonial identity by others. –  Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

John J. Prendergast, PhD, is a spiritual teacher, author, retired psychotherapist, and retired adjunct professor of psychology who has taught at Esalen and Kripalu and online. He studied for many years with the sage Dr. Jean Klein as well as with the spiritual teacher Adyashanti. He is the author of the books In Touch, The Deep Heart and Your Deepest Ground: A Guide to Embodied Spirituality (SoundsTrue). Topics: 00:00 Introduction 02:25 The Origin of 'Listening from Silence' 04:48 Exploring the Trilogy of Books 08:55 The Deep Heart and Ground of Being 27:48 Opening the Root Chakra: A Journey into Pure Potentiality 28:25 Tapping into the Current of Life: A Universal Connection 29:59 Addressing Suffering: A Creative Response 32:09 Embodied Non-Dual Approach: Engaging with Life 47:15 The Power of Community in Spiritual Practice Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

From a recent SAND Community Gathering (Feb 2025) hosted by SAND co-founders, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo. Deep Medicine Circle (DMC), a collective of healers, farmers, artists, and storytellers, is challenging colonial structures by redefining health and wellbeing through practices that heal communities and restore connections to land. Led by Dr. Rupa Marya, Charlene Eigen-Vasquez, and Walter Riley, this visionary group is creating a holistic food and wellbeing model that nourishes both people and land, recognizing the profound interconnectedness of human health within social, environmental, and historical contexts. Dr. Rupa Marya  is a physician, activist, writer, mother, and a composer. She is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and a co-founder of the Do No Harm Coalition. Her work sits at the nexus of climate, health and racial justice. She is the co-author with Raj Patel of the book Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice. She works to decolonize food and medicine in partnership with communities in Lakhota territory at the Mni Wiconi Health Circle and in Ohlone Territory through the Deep Medicine Circle. She has toured twenty-nine countries with her band, Rupa and the April Fishes, whose music was described by the legend Gil Scott-Heron as “Liberation Music.” Charlene Eigen-Vasquez, J.D. is of Ohlone descent, from the village of Chitactac. She is dedicated to land back initiatives, land preservation, land restoration, cultural revitalization and environmental justice because she feels that these initiatives have a direct impact on physical and mental health. As a mother and grandmother, she completed a law degree so that she might better serve Indigenous communities. Today her focus is on regenerative leadership strategies, leveraging her legal skills, and mediation skills to advocate for Indigenous interests, negotiate agreements and build relational bridges. She is an acknowledged peacemaker, trained by Tribal Supreme Court Justices. Charlene is the former CEO and Director of Self-Governance for the Healing and Reconciliation Institute. Charlene also serves as Chairwoman of the Confederation of Ohlone People, Co-Chair of the Pajaro Valley Ohlone Indian Council and Board Vice President for the Santa Clara Valley Indian Health Center. Charlene was recently brought into the Planet Women’s 100 Women Pathway, a cohort designed to increase the number of diverse women leaders at the helm of the environmental movement. Walter Riley was born in 1944, number 9 of 11 children born to a farming family in Durham County, North Carolina. His family farmed until he was about 6 years old. He grew up in the Jim Crow south and in his early teens, Walter became active in the Civil Rights Movement organizing voter registration, sit-ins, jobs campaigns, and in his late teens became Field Secretary for CORE (Congress for Racial Equality), got married and became a father. He moved to the Bay Area in the 1960s where he became active in the political, social justice movements. Walter is a long-time community activist and civil rights attorney. Topics 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:47 Introducing Dr. Rupa Marya 01:46 Deep Medicine Circle and Board Members 02:36 Charlene's Introduction and Ancestral Tribute 07:33 Walter Riley's Introduction and Civil Rights Work 23:48 Connecting Food Systems and Colonial History 26:40 Healing Through Music and Cultural Awareness 27:43 Addressing Hunger and Malnutrition During COVID 28:06 Farming as a Path to Justice and Resilience 30:26 The Role of Historical Trauma in Land Restoration 30:51 Holistic Problem Solving and Cultural Stewardship 36:13 Youth and Community Engagement in Healing 41:28 The Importance of Ethnic Studies and Solidarity 43:08 Reflections on Historical Movements and Future Change 52:29 Concluding Thoughts on Healing and Unity Resources Farming is Medicine (film) Do No Harm Coalition Inflamed (Rupa Marya) Rupa and the April Fishes Boots Riley (Filmmaker and Musician)  “I’m a Virgo” (TV Series by Boots Riley)  “Sorry to Bother You” (Film by Boots Riley)  The Coup (Boots Riley’s Band) Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Today we present an anthology episode with SAND speaker, Dr. Elisabet Sahtouris (1936-2024) who passed in December 2024. Internationally known as a dynamic speaker, Dr. Sahtouris was an evolution biologist, futurist, professor, author and consultant on Living Systems Design. She taught the relevance of biological systems to organisational design in business, government and society. She was a Fellow of the World Business Academy, an advisor to EthicalMarkets.com and the Masters in Business program at Schumacher College, also affiliated with the Bainbridge Graduate Institute's MBA program for sustainable business. Dr. Sahtouris convened two International Symposia on the Foundations of Science and written about integral cosmologies. Her books include A Walk Through TIme: from Stardust to Us, Biology Revisioned, co-authored with Willis Harman, and EarthDance: Living Systems in Evolution. sahtouris.com Topics 00:00 Introduction to Elisabet Sahtouris 01:11 Indigenous Science and Wisdom 04:02 The Living Universe Concept 07:04 Western vs. Vedic Science 09:16 The Evolution of Scientific Assumptions 11:47 Mechanism vs. Organism in Biology 12:45 Genetic Engineering and Its Pitfalls 15:56 The Role of Consciousness in Evolution 17:33 Dying to Live: Evolution through Recycling 28:22 The Metaphor of the Butterfly 33:58 Advice for Future Generations 39:29 Closing Thoughts and Reflections Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

This is a recording from the 2022 Community Conversation between with guest Iya Affo and SAND co-founders Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo. Very few people are aware of the impact of historical trauma. Historical trauma is trauma so deeply rooted in the subconscious we may not even know it is there. It can leave us feeling anxious, irritable, sad, and hopeless… and we have no idea why. But once we begin to see the larger context of our trauma, then a more holistic healing can begin. Iya Affo is a Culturalist and Historical Trauma consultant. She earned Western certification as a Trauma Specialist and is a descendant of a long line of traditional healers from Bénin, West Africa. Iya serves as an Executive Board Member for the Arizona ACEs Consortium, is an Adjunct Faculty member at the Arizona Trauma Institute, and is the founder of Heal Historical Trauma Culture & Indigenous Wellness Academy. She has visited more than 30 countries; living in Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, Native American, and Yoruba communities, embracing aspects from each culture for personal evolution. She strives to transcend tolerance through cultivating love and respect in hopes of facilitating the decolonization and subsequent healing of indigenous people from all over the world. Iya advocates for the harmonization of Traditional Medicine and Western Medicine for true holistic healing. Iya's passion is to cultivate intergenerational healing by connecting intuitive ancestral practices with modern neurobiology. As we delve into leveraging our neurobiology to facilitate the healing process, we will also explore re-culturing and the creation of self-harmonizing communities. Iya Affo’s Website Topics   00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:51 Introducing Iya Affo 02:31 Iya's Personal Journey 05:57 Understanding Historical Trauma 10:14 Resilience and Cultural Connections 11:57 The Role of Names and Identity 16:25 Tools for Healing and Resilience 19:12 The Importance of Cultural Practices 24:35 Epigenetics and Generational Trauma 26:34 Storytelling and Historical Context 26:54 Ancestral Vigilance and Survival Instincts 29:05 Epigenetics and Generational Trauma 30:50 Impact of Historical Trauma on Modern Behavior 34:52 Challenges of Western Medicine in Indigenous Communities 43:51 Traditional Healing Practices and Neurological Regulation Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

In this episode, Isa Gucciardi discusses depth hypnosis, combining shamanic practices, Buddhist psychology, transpersonal psychology, and energy medicine to assist individuals in healing from issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and more. Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D. holds degrees in cultural and linguistic anthropology, comparative religion, and transpersonal psychology. She is the creator of Depth Hypnosis™, a groundbreaking therapeutic model that blends elements of ancient wisdom and contemporary psychological thought. It has won rave reviews from psychotherapeutic and spiritual counselors alike. She is also the author of three books, Coming to Peace, The New Return to the Great Mother, and Depth Hypnosis.  Topics 00:00 Introduction02:13 Exploring Depth Hypnosis02:42 Components of Depth Hypnosis05:29 Case Studies and Applications09:01 Acceptance of Alternative Healing Modalities14:29 Integration and Plant Medicine20:30 Applied Shamanism and Cultural Sensitivity28:40 Ancestral Healing and Intergenerational Trauma40:49 Learning and Practicing Depth Hypnosis Resources IsaGucciardi.org Sacred Stream Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member