The Evolver

One year ago this week we launched The Evolver podcast. This week we're doing a little retrospective, a taster of past episodes, where we revisit some discussions that reward another listen. With Kim Krans, Alex Grey, Josh Radnor, Paul Selig, 3 people from ICEERS — Dennis McKenna, Ben DeLoenen, and Andrea Langlois — and Starhawk. Enjoy!  Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast. Our email is TheEvolver@evolver.net The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.  Our theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Devon White is weaving emerging brain technologies into a new kind of therapeutic practice at Field, which he describes as a cutting-edge brain optimization company specializing in personalized, precision-based neuroenhancement. The Field says that they're seeing benefits to clients who come with issues including  depression, stress, ADD and PTSD. They also offer therapies that support cognitive enhancement, deeper interpersonal connection, and relaxation. Devon approaches this territory not as a neuroscientist or technologist, though he has real knowledge in these areas. But he comes to this frontier an advanced meditator obsessed with the workings of consciousness. He has over 20 years of experience in performance coaching and human energy systems. He is a futurist, as well as a global speaker on the intersection of technology and wellness.  Learn more about Devon and Field at http://ExperienceTheField.com.  Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Our theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ken and Josh go deep in a fun, informative and freewheeling conversation about consciousness practices and how to integrate visionary experience into everyday life.  Josh Radnor is an actor, writer, director and musician. His album with Ben Lee, titled Radnor & Lee, was released in 2017.  You can follow Josh on IG and Twitter: @joshradnor. And sign up for his Museletter there.  Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Our theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Inspired by her own healing and growth journey, Jennifer Goldman created a line of aroma-therapeutic oils, Essential Rose Life, as a way of extending her personal mindfulness and restorative practices into daily body care. She has an inspiring story of deep depression, self-destructive behavior, and recovery. At times it was quite hair raising, but she came through. You'll find Jennifer to be a reflective and provocative advocate for women's empowerment and a reinvention of our culture's ideal of beauty.  Key for her was discovering meditation and yoga, which led to her becoming a 300-hour Advanced Clinical Aromatherapist, a three-times certified 200-hour yoga teacher trainer, a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, and a Reiki 1 and 2 energy healer. Jennifer describes the goal of Essential Rose Life as healing and growth through ritual. Learn more about Jennifer and Essential Rose Life at https://essentialroselife.com/ Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rythmia is the world's first licensed plant medicine resort. At first it might seem an unlikely place for a plant spirit journey. In the words of today’s guest, Gerard Powell, it was modeled "after the Club Med philosophy of an all-inclusive resort experience offering modalities, accommodations, organic meals, and first class amenities." The campus has 81 cabanas, a pool, spa, gym, and lovely restaurant. Is it possible to have a luxury ayahuasca experience? You'll be moved and impressed by Gerry's commitment to the healing of others.  Gerard Powell is the CEO of Rythmia life Advancement Center in Guanacoste, Costa Rica. Before Rythmia, he was a successful entrepreneur who made millions but was living the life of an addict. The details of his hard knocks story are told in the movie, The Reality of Truth, which can be found easily online -- and which led him to found Rythmia after his own slow, painful recovery.  Find out more about Rythmia here: https://www.rythmia.com Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We can learn a lot from artists who put their connection to the natural world at the center of their practice -- like David Rothenberg. David is a clarinetist famous for his live performance collaborations not only with other brilliant musicians, but also with birds, insects and whales. Few people have gone as deep into considering the meaning of animal sounds, or their musicality, as David. He is now releasing his latest endeavor, Nightingales in Berlin -- which includes a music recording, a book and a film. As Ken and David discuss on the show, the Nightingale's song has its own personality, volition, and temperament. They prove to be provocative collaborators, as you'll hear towards the end of the program, when we play a piece from the new album. It's wonderful stuff.  David Rothenberg has written and performed on the relationship between humanity and nature for many years. He is the author of Why Birds Sing, on making music with birds, which was turned into a documentary by the BBC. His next book, Thousand Mile Song, about making music with whales, became a film for French television. His book on insects and music, Bug Music, has been covered in the New Yorker, the Wall St Journal, the New York Times, on PBS News Hour and on Radiolab. As a composer and jazz clarinetist, Rothenberg has sixteen CDs out under his own name, including a record on ECM with Marilyn Crispell, called One Dark Night I Left My Silent House. And he is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Music at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.  You can find more about David at http://www.davidrothenberg.net.  Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr. Linda Lancaster, has developed a medical modality that is based on fundamental spiritual truths, presented in her new book, Harmonic Healing: Restore Your Vital Force for Lifelong Wellness. Her program addresses the toxic pollution that we're subjected to around the clock, and offer clear and doable practices for cleansing your system of the chemicals, heavy metals, radiation and parasites that weaken your defenses, slow you down, and open you to disease. Linda then goes further, integrating a rare spiritual insight with lab based western medicine techniques, and she's come up some fascinating innovations that point towards the medicine of the future. This is a powerful, thought provoking conversation about the territory where Western medicine and Eastern metaphysics converge.  Dr. Linda Lancaster is a Board Certified Naturopathic Physician and Homeopath. She has been in practice since 1981 and founded Light Harmonics Institute, an Energy Medicine Clinic and Educational Center based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her training includes Classical Homeopathy, Radionics, Medical Radiesthesia, Subtle Energy Healing, Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Ayurveda and Detoxification Methods. She has treated more than 10,000 patients in over 30 years of practice. Dr. Lancaster was Yogi Bhajan’s personal physician and remained by his side until his passing. He honored her with the Conscious Healer and Humanitarian Award in 2002. Learn more about Linda at: https://lightharmonics.com/ Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tarot, astrology, and palmistry — ancient technologies for hearing messages from spirit. Ellen Goldberg has been a deep student of these interpretive practices for decades. She talks with Ken about what's really going on when you get a reading, where the insight originates from. They also discuss what it's like to live a life in devotion to interpretive, mystical currents.  Ellen Goldberg is an internationally known teacher of palmistry and Tarot. She's the author of The Art and Science of Hand Reading, She is also founder and director of the School of Oracles, where she offers readings and in-depth professional trainings in palmistry and tarot. Ellen has been on the faculty of the New York Open Center since 1986, and is a psychotherapist with a private therapy practice in New York for more than 30 years. Learn more about Ellen at schooloforacles.com. Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The writer Darius James explores the terrain where art meets spirit, at the Crossroads where the full range of energies are present. In 1992, Darius published the novel, Negrophobia -- a caustic, hallucinatory, knife blade of a book that was probably about a quarter century ahead of its time. Punk novelist Kathy Acker called him a genius. The novel is being re-released in a new edition by the New York Review of Books, and has been getting high profile recognition as a classic of American satire. In more recent years, Darius had his own awakening experience, which he discusses with Ken. His insights about the connection between creativity and spirituality are so smart and provocative, they’ll get you thinking. Toward the end of the episode, he treats us to a powerful reading of new writing -- you won't want to miss it. You can follow Darius James on Facebook on his page, Dr Snakeskin.  Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Among the many gifted psychics, empaths and energy healers in the Evolver orbit, Adrian Taffinder’s empathic capabilities are particularly notable. He can tune into other people with remarkable precision. As he discusses with Ken, Adrian can pick up your somatic sense of knowing about what is true for you, at the most basic level — and use that information in a healing process he’s dubbed subconscious surgery, to help you remove deep blockages and connect to your higher self. In this episode, Adrian talks about how he developed this modality, including his story of studying empathic reading techniques with Dr. John, the man who trained Jack Kanfield, he of Chicken Soup of the Soul.  For more visit https://subconscioussurgery.com and Adrian Taffinder’s Facebook page.  Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Evolver backroom has always been a bit of mystery to those outside. Now we pull back the curtain. Today you get to meet members of the Evolver content team based in NY. They talk about what led them into seeing the world through consciousness lenses, and what it’s like to help convene this transformational community.  Ken is joined by Molly Suggs, Evolver’s General Manager, Faye Sakellaridis, the managing editor of Evolver content and Reality Sandwich, and Jose Alfaro, producer of this podcast.  Check out Evolver Awakening at http://www.evolverawakening.com Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As more people speak openly about their spiritual experiences, and the challenges that come with waking up, the discussion about how society can appropriately acknowledge and support this shift is attracting the attention of professionals. One such group is the American Center for the Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences, or ACISTE (pronounced like “assist”). ACISTE is an association of professional therapists dedicated to educating their field about spiritual emergence. As Ken discusses on today’s episode with 3 people from ACISTE, often people will seek therapeutic help when they’re having an opening, and the therapists they speak with will interpret their spiritual epiphanies as signs of mental illness. Rather than getting validation and support, they get medication and condemnation.  Ken is joined by: Katrina Michelle, PhD, LCSW, an holistic psychotherapist, and adjunct professor currently based in NYC. Katrina serves as the executive director for The ACISTE. Edy Nathan, MA, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience specializing in the integration of psychotherapy and the world of spirituality, and the author of It's Grief: The Dance of Self-Discovery through Trauma and Loss. Michael Garbe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializing in working with individuals who would like to have spirituality integrated into their therapeutic process. He is currently engaged in doctoral research on spiritual emergencies at Rutgers University. Learn more at aciste.org Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do our digital tools have encoded within them some of the most destructive and de-humanizing aspects of our society — the notion that a person is no more than what she buys, or how well he plays according the conventional rules of mainstream success? It’s a provocative point, which Douglas Rushkoff is well qualified to make. He’s the bestselling author of 20 books, many of them exploring the frontiers of computer culture — from Cyberia and Media Virus in the mid-90s, to the recent Throwing Rocks at The Google Bus. His new book, Team Human, is a manifesto for a post-digital society and a celebration of human connection.  Douglas Rushkoff’s website: https://rushkoff.com  Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is consciousness culture ready to repair the disfunction in Washington? Congressman Tim Ryan thinks it’s possible. Tim was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002 and is currently serving his 9th term representing Ohio's 13th Congressional district. He follows a daily mindfulness practice, and is an outspoken advocate for promoting mindfulness as a way to deal with a variety of complex problems facing the country. His book about meditation, Healing America, is now in its second edition, and he's also the author of The Real Food Revolution, a book about the joys, the health benefits, and the environmental advantages of growing and eating real food. Tim and Ken talk about what would happen if the consciousness community got involved in politics. Can the meditators be mobilized?  Follow Tim Ryan on both Instagram and Twitter: @reptimryan Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We’re seeing the emergence of a new kind of health care professional -- a healer who blends Western conventional medicine with Eastern and indigenous practices that look at your health through your whole being. Dr. Erica Matluck was trained in conventional medicine, as a nurse practitioner and Naturopathic Doctor. But her interest in healing, and a love of other cultures, led her to also study other unconventional approaches. She became a Reiki master, a massage therapist, a yoga and meditation teacher, and to develop her skills as a clairvoyant.  Erica works with a wide range of health conditions including digestive issues, thyroid dysfunction, hormone imbalances, chronic fatigue, autoimmune conditions, and anxiety. She addresses the physical, mental, emotional and energetic barriers to health, combining functional lab testing and conventional diagnostics with integrative treatment plans and mind-body techniques.  Currently with the Center for Integrative Therapies in New York, Erica spent 7 years practicing at One Medical in San Francisco. In 2015 she served as the interim director of integrative medicine for One Medical. Erica is a clear, articulate and knowledgeable speaker about what's happening at the forefront of our changing medical paradigm. Erica Matluck’s website: https://www.experiencesevensenses.com  Follow us on Instagram @TheEvolverPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theevolverpodcast The Evolver is sponsored by The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a botanical dispensary dedicated to the power of plants, where you can ask an herbalist to recommend the herbal remedy that’s most right for you. Visit https://www.thealchemistskitchen.com. For a 20% discount off any online purchase, use the code: podcast20.   Theme music is “Measure by Measure,” courtesy of DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller (@djspooky), from his album The Secret Song, and interstitial music are tracks by The Human Experience: "Sunu" from the album Soul Visions with Rising Appalachia, and Here for a Moment on the album Gone Gone Beyond.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.