Sophie Grégoire Trudeau joins Banyen Books for an discussion on her book, Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other.

Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is a mental health advocate, public speaker, and mentor. Over the past twenty years, she has been an ambassador and champion for youth self-esteem, gender equality, emotional literacy, and physical activity. Sophie has received UN recognition awards for her humanitarian work and was named the first National Volunteer for the Canadian Mental Health Association in 2022. She also serves as Youth Leadership Global Ambassador for Plan International Canada. A mother of three, Sophie is a certified yoga instructor and an adventurous outdoor sportswoman.

Donna Eden and David Feinstein, PhD, co-authors of the New York Times bestseller Energy Medicine, join Banyen Books for a discussion on Tapping: Self-Healing with the Transformative Power of Energy Psychology.

Donna Eden is the author of Energy Medicine. One of the world's most sought after experts on Energy Medicine, she has treated over 10,000 individual clients and has taught hundreds of classes to standing-room-only audiences worldwide. Able from childhood to perceive the body's subtle energies, she works with those energies to heal others and to teach others how to work with them.

David Feinstein, PhD, a clinical psychologist, has served on the faculty of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and has received nine national awards for his books on consciousness and healing.

Judith Orloff, MD, New York Times bestselling author, shares wisdom and practices from her new book, The Genius of Empathy: Practical Skills to Heal Yourself, Your Relationships and the World.

Judith Orloff, MD, is a New York Times bestselling author with the upcoming book The Genius of Empathy: Practical Skills to Heal Yourself, Your Relationships and the World. She has also written The Empath’s Survival Guide and Thriving as an Empath, which offers daily self-care tools for sensitive people. She integrates the pearls of conventional medicine with cutting edge knowledge of intuition, empathy, energy medicine, and spirituality. Dr. Orloff specializes in treating empaths and highly sensitive people in her private practice and online internationally. Her work has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Oprah Magazine, the New York Times and USA Today.

National bestselling author and artist SARK speaks to Banyen Books & Sound about her book, Succulent Wild Woman. SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) is the bestselling author and artist of eighteen books, including national bestsellers Succulent Wild Woman, Eat Mangoes Naked, and Make Your Creative Dreams Real, which have sold over 2 million copies. Her art, programs, products, and services have been treasured around the world. She is an acclaimed teacher and mentor whose wisdom has touched and transformed the lives of millions. She is also the founder and Creative Fountain of Planet SARK, a thriving business that creates innovative products and services to support empowered living. She lives and creates joyfully in San Francisco with her beloved partner David. PlanetSARK.com

Internationally renowned historian of ideas and Booker Prize finalist Michael Ignatieff speaks to Banyen Books & Sound about his latest book, On Consolation. Michael Ignatieff is former head of Canada’s Liberal Party, director of the Carr Center for Human Rights at Harvard’s Kennedy School, President of Central European University, and current professor of History at CEU in Budapest. He has been named to the Order of Canada, is a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, delivered the Massey Lectures, and holds thirteen honorary degrees. Michael Ignatieff is the author of 20 books of fiction and non-fiction, translated into 20 languages. He is a Booker Prize finalist and winner of the Governor General's Literary Award as well as the British Royal Society of Literature's Heinemann Prize. He has received a Gemini Award for his BBC documentary work. He writes regularly for the New York Times, the New Yorker, the New York Review of Books, and the London Review of Books. michaelignatieff.ca

Respected teacher Dan Millman speaks to Banyen Books & Sound about the fruits of a decades-long spiritual journey that led to his book, Peaceful Heart Warrior Spirit. Dan Millman, a former world champion athlete, gymnastics coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor, has authored 18 books published in 29 languages. Way of the Peaceful Warrior was adapted to film in 2006. Dan also speaks worldwide. To learn more about his books, events, online courses, and free life-purpose calculator: www.PeacefulWarrior.com

Chief Clarence Louie shares to Banyen Books & Sound about the journey which led to his book, Rez Rules. Clarence Louie has been chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band, in the south Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, for over thirty-six years. In 2013, Maclean's named him one of the “Top 50 Canadians to Watch.” In 2003, Louie was chosen by the U.S. Department of State as one of six First Nations leaders to review economic development in American Indian communities. In 2008, he received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of British Columbia and Queen's University. In 2019 he was the first First Nations person ever inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

Celebrated yoga teacher and activist Seane Corn speaks to Banyen Books about her book, Revolution of the Soul. Seane Corn is an internationally acclaimed yoga teacher and public speaker known for her social activism, impassioned style of teaching, and raw, honest and inspired self-expression. Over her 25-year teaching career, Seane has created many instructional DVDs, including her groundbreaking series The Yoga of Awakening with Sounds True. Featured on over 40 magazine covers and countless media outlets, Seane has chosen to use her platform to bring awareness to global issues including social justice, sex trafficking, HIV/AIDS awareness, generational poverty, and animal rights. In 2005, she was named “National Yoga Ambassador” for YouthAIDS, and in 2013 received both the Global Green International Environmental Leadership Award and the Humanitarian Award by the Smithsonian Institute. Since 2007, she has been training leaders of activism through her co-founded organization Off the Mat, Into the World®. Seane also co-founded the Global Seva Challenge, which has raised over $3.5 million by activating communities of yoga and wellness in fund and awareness raising efforts. Revolution of the Soul has been praised by Jack Kornfield, Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Sally Field, Gabrielle Bernstein, Marianne Williamson, Valarie Kaur, Larry David, Stephen Cope, David Geffen, Katherine Woodward Thomas, Jeff Brown, Elizabeth Lesser and many others.

Psyche Unbound is an extraordinary compilation of 22 essays that honour the path-breaking lifework of Stanislav Grof, founder and chief theoretician of transpersonal psychology and the world’s leading researcher in psychedelic-assisted therapy, breathwork, and the exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness.

Martín Prechtel is widely recognized as a profound and beloved teacher for our times. Raised in the Tzutujil Maya shamanic tradition, he has dedicated his life to the preservation and promulgation of indigenous spirituality. Sharing his deep shamanic wisdom within a grand overview of human history, Prechtel shows us how we can reconnect with the unique and unsuspected manifestations of our own sacred selves. He is the author of several contemporary classics, including The Smell of Rain on Dust and Secrets of the Talking Jaguar. His work has been highly praised by the likes of Clarissa Pinkola Éstes, Coleman Barks, and Mary Oliver. In this first of two Banyen interview, Martín discusses his new book, The Mare and the Mouse.

Mark Epstein, M.D., speaks with Banyen Books about his new book, The Zen of Therapy. Mark Epstein, M.D. is a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City and the author of a number of books about the interface of Buddhism and psychotherapy, including Thoughts without a Thinker, Going to Pieces without Falling Apart, Going on Being, Open to Desire, Psychotherapy without the Self and The Trauma of Everyday Life. He is a contributing editor to Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Harvard University. The Zen of Therapy is available at https://www.banyen.com/ 

Stephen Cope speaks with Banyen on his new book. The Dharma in Difficult Times: Finding Your Calling in Times of Loss, Change, Struggle, and Doubt. How do we make sense of our lives when our world seems to be falling apart? In this beautifully written book, scholar and teacher Stephen Cope shows that crises don’t have to derail us from our purpose—they can actually help us to find our purpose and step forward as our best selves. In the spirit of Pema Chödrön’s When Things Fall Apart, The Dharma in Difficult Times is required reading for anyone forging a path through crisis. Stephen Cope is a bestselling author and scholar who specializes in the relationship between the Eastern contemplative traditions and Western depth psychology. Among his seminal works in this area are Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, The Wisdom of Yoga, The Great Work of Your Life, and Deep Human Connection. For almost 30 years, Stephen has been Scholar-in-Residence at the renowned Kripalu Center—the largest center for the study and practice of yoga in the Western world. Stephen is also the founder and former director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living—one of the world’s most influential research institutes examining the effects and mechanisms of yoga and meditation. In its 25th anniversary edition, “Yoga Journal” named him one of the most influential thinkers, writers, and teachers on the current American yoga scene.

Frances Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé discuss Diet for a Small Planet (Revised and Updated), 50th Anniversary Edition. The book is available here: https://www.banyen.com/ In 1971, Diet for a Small Planet revolutionized the meaning of our food choices. It broke new ground, revealing how our everyday acts are a form of power to create health for ourselves and our planet. The book sold more than 3 million copies and sparked a food revolution. Now in this revised and updated 50th-anniversary edition, Lappé goes even deeper: sharing her personal journey, and showing us how plant-centered eating can help restore our damaged ecology, address the climate crisis, and move us toward real democracy. Frances Moore Lappé is the author or co-author of twenty books about world hunger, living democracy, and the environment, beginning with the three-million-copy Diet for a Small Planet in 1971. She has been featured on the Today show, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, the CBC and BBC, and other news outlets. Frances is the cofounder of three organizations including the Oakland-based think tank Food First and the Small Planet Institute, which she leads with her daughter, Anna Lappé. The pair also cofounded the Small Planet Fund, which channels resources to democratic social movements worldwide.  Anna Lappé is a national bestselling author, a respected advocate for food justice and sustainability, and an advisor to funders investing in food system transformation. A recipient of the James Beard Leadership Award, Anna is the co-author or author of three books and the contributing author to fourteen others. Anna’s work has been translated internationally and featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Oprah Magazine, among many other outlets. She was named one of TIME’s “eco” Who’s-Who.

Gwynne Dyer, renowned historian, journalist, broadcaster, and author, joins Banyen for a discussion of his book Intervention Earth: Life-Saving Ideas from the World's Climate Engineers.

Gwynne Dyer is an internationally renowned historian, journalist, broadcaster, and author. He is a Member of the Order of Canada, and recipient of the The Southam Fellowship and Canadian Queen's Jubilee Medal. His 7-part documentary series War was nominated for an Academy Award, and his series The Human Race and Protection Force both won Gemini awards. He served in three navies and held academic appointments at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Oxford University before launching his twice-weekly column on international affairs, which is published by over 175 papers in some 45 countries. He is the author of several books including War: The Lethal Custom and Climate Wars, based on his CBC Ideas series of the same name.

Judith Orloff, MD, speaks with Banyen Books about The Empath's Empowerment Deck. Judith Orloff MD, is the New York Times bestselling author of The Empath’s Survival Guide, Thriving as an Empath, and Emotional Freedom. Dr. Orloff is a psychiatrist, an empath and intuitive healer, and is on the UCLA Psychiatric Clinical Faculty. She synthesizes the pearls of traditional medicine with leading-edge knowledge of intuition, energy, and spirituality. Dr. Orloff has been called the “Godmother of the Empath Movement.” Her work has been featured on the Today Show; CNN; O, The Oprah Magazine; The New York Times; and USA Today. She has spoken at the American Psychiatric Association, Fortune magazine's Most Powerful Women Summit, and Google. Dr. Orloff offers a limited number of Zoom or phone sessions for those wanting to awaken empathy and intuition.

Celebrated poet Jane Hirshfield joins Banyen Books for an hour of poetry and conversation on her new book, Ledger: Poems. Jane Hirshfield is one of our most celebrated contemporary poets. Her books have received the Poetry Center Book Award, the California Book Award, and the Donald Hall-Jane Kenyon Prize in American Poetry and have been finalists for The National Book Critics Circle Award and England’s T. S. Eliot Prize and long-listed for the National Book Award. Hirshfield has received fellowships from the Guggenheim and Rockefeller Foundations, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Academy of American Poets, and she presents her work at literary and interdisciplinary events worldwide. Her poems appear in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Review of Books, The Times Literary Supplement, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The New Republic, Harper’s Magazine, and Poetry, and have been selected for ten editions of The Best American Poetry. She is a 2019 elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a former chancellor of the Academy of American Poets.

Stephen Mitchell joins Banyen Books in conversation about The First Christmas: A Story of New Beginnings–an astonishingly beautiful re-imagining of the Nativity story, enchanting to readers of every background. Stephen Mitchell also shares spiritual insights, discusses the influence of Zen on his life & work, and speaks about his relationship with Byron Katie.Stephen Mitchell was born in Brooklyn in 1943, educated at Amherst, the Sorbonne, and Yale, and de-educated through intensive Zen practice. He is married to Byron Katie, founder of The Work, with whom he co-authored the bestsellers Loving What Is and A Thousand Names for Joy. A world renowned translator and scholar, he has brought to life a wide range of literary classics, including the Tao Te Ching, Gilgamesh, the Bhagavad Gita and the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke. His work has been praised by Anne Lamott, Billy Collins, Daniel Goleman, Jack Kornfield, and Elizabeth Gilbert.

Stephen Jenkinson shares wisdom from his new book, A Generation’s Worth: Spirit work while the crisis reigns. In this conversation, Stephen Jenkinson addresses questions about vaccines, mass hysteria and conspiracy thinking, ecology, aging and elderhood, hope and being hope free, and more. Stephen Jenkinson has described A Generation’s Worth as "something of a plague document... dispatches from the front lines of a strange occupation undeclared." What does a life’s work mean in a time of undoing? A Generation’s Worth sets out to learn liveable answers. Dying and death, love and matrimony, money and soul, aging and elderhood, drawn through the eye of a pestilential needle: this is the spirit work, and that is the crisis. Stephen Jenkinson, MTS, MSW is a spiritual activist, author, ceremonialist and farmer. Stephen teaches internationally and is the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School, founded in 2010. With Master’s degrees from Harvard University (Theology) and the University of Toronto (Social Work), he is the author of several books including the award-winning Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul and Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble. Stephen is the subject of the National Film Board of Canada feature length film documentary, Griefwalker.

Apela Colorado, PhD, discusses 'Woman Between the Worlds: A Call to Your Ancestral and Indigenous Wisdom. Apela Colorado of Oneida-Gaul ancestry, has dedicated her life’s work to bridging Western thought and indigenous worldviews. As a Ford Fellow, Dr. Colorado studied for her doctorate at both Harvard and Brandeis Universities and received her Ph.D. from Brandeis in Social Policy. She founded the Worldwide Indigenous Science Network (WISN) to: Foster the revitalization, growth, and worldwide exchange of traditional knowledge; Safeguard the lives and work of the world’s endangered indigenous culture practitioners; Develop an interface with Western science. Dr. Colorado was one of twelve women chosen from 52 countries by the State of the World Forum to be honoured for her role as a woman leader.

Martha Beck, Ph.D., discusses The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self. The author of several New York Times and international bestsellers including Finding Your Own North Star, Martha Beck has been a regular columnist for O: The Oprah Magazine since its inception. She has been described by USA Today as “the best-known life coach in America.” She holds three Harvard degrees in social science, has taught career development at the American Graduate School of International Management, and was research assistant to Dr. John Kotter at Harvard Business School.

Dr. Martin Shaw speaks about his new book, Smoke Hole: Looking to the Wild in the Time of the Spyglass. At a time when we are all confronted by not one, but many crossroads in our lives, Dr. Shaw delivers a work of literary tonic. In Smoke Hole, Martin shares three ancient stories that are metaphors for our world today, a world where we are losing our sense of direction. With extraordinary poignancy, Smoke Hole illuminates the complexities of contemporary life and–through story–a way forward. Martin Shaw is widely regarded as one of the most exciting teachers of the mythic imagination. Author of the award-winning Mythteller trilogy (A Branch from the Lightning Tree, Snowy Tower, Scatterlings), he founded the Oral Tradition and Mythic Life courses at Stanford University, and is director of the Westcountry School of Myth in the UK. He has introduced thousands of people to mythology, and for twenty years Shaw has been a wilderness rites of passage guide, working with at-risk youth, those who are unwell, returning veterans as well as many women and men seeking a deeper life. His translations of Gaelic poetry and folklore (with Tony Hoagland) have been published in Orion Magazine, Poetry International, and Poetry magazine. Dr. Shaw's work has received top praise from the likes of Malidoma Somé, Stephen Jenkinson, Coleman Barks, Robert Densmore, and Robert Bly. His essay and conversation with Ai Weiwei on myth and migration was released by the Marciano Arts foundation. 

Jesse Thistle joins Banyen in conversation about his award-winning book, From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way. In his extraordinary and inspiring memoir, Jesse Thistle chronicles his life on the streets and how he overcame trauma and addiction to discover the truth about who he is. An eloquent exploration of what it means to live in a world surrounded by prejudice and racism and to be cast adrift, From the Ashes is, in the end, about how love and support can help one find happiness despite the odds. Jesse Thistle is Métis-Cree, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He is an assistant professor in Métis Studies at York University in Toronto. He won a Governor General’s Academic Medal in 2016, and is a Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Scholar and a Vanier Scholar. He is the author of the #1 National Bestselling book, From the Ashes, a CBC Canada Reads finalist and recipient of multiple awards.

Martín Prechtel is widely recognized as a profound and beloved teacher for our times. Raised in the Tzutujil Maya shamanic tradition, he has dedicated his life to the preservation and promulgation of indigenous spirituality. Sharing his deep shamanic wisdom within a grand overview of human history, Prechtel shows us how we can reconnect with the unique and unsuspected manifestations of our own sacred selves. He is the author of several contemporary classics, including The Smell of Rain on Dust and Secrets of the Talking Jaguar. His work has been highly praised by the likes of Clarissa Pinkola Éstes, Coleman Barks, and Mary Oliver. In this first of two Banyen interview, Martín discusses his new book, Rescuing the Light.

Jill Bolte Taylor, bestselling author of My Stroke of Insight, discusses her new book, Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters that Drive Our Life. Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard-trained neuroanatomist. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, or recall any of her life. Her book, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery, spent 63 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Her TED talk has had over 26 million views, she has been a premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey's "Soul Series", and she has been named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World”. Her new book 'Whole Brain Living' blends neuroanatomy with psychology to show how we can short-circuit emotional reactivity and find our way to peace.

Sah D'Simone, author of Spiritually Sassy, joins Banyen Books for a conversation on his book Spiritually, We. Sah D’Simone is a spiritual revolutionary, artist, and the internationally bestselling author of Spiritually Sassy. He's known for hosting the top-rated Spiritually Sassy Show podcast and for creating the Somatic Activated Healing (SAH) Method™. Sah works in the Spiritual Care Department at Cedars-Sinai Hospital and is a guest lecturer at Columbia University. His remarkable contributions to homeless youth in Venice Beach, California earned him the CARE award from the city and county of Los Angeles.

Thomas Moore, bestselling author of Care of the Soul, discusses Soul Therapy: The Art and Craft of Caring Conversations. Thomas Moore, PhD, is the author of more than twenty books on spirituality and depth psychology that have been translated into thirty languages. He has been practising depth psychotherapy for thirty-five years. He lectures and gives workshops in several countries on depth spirituality, soulful medicine, and psychotherapy. He has been a monk and a university professor, and is a consultant for organizations and spiritual leaders. He has often been on television and radio, most recently on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday.

Renowned forest ecologist Suzanne Simard discusses her new book, Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest. Suzanne Simard, PhD, is a Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia and the author of the instant New York Times bestseller, Finding the Mother Tree. Suzanne is a pioneer on the frontier of plant communication and intelligence; she’s been compared to Rachel Carson, hailed as a scientist who conveys complex, technical ideas in a way that is dazzling and profound. Her discoveries have influenced filmmakers such as James Cameron, who drew from her work to create the Tree of Souls in Avatar, and her book Finding the Mother Tree is currently being adapted into a feature film produced by Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal. Simard's TED talks have been viewed by more than 10 million people worldwide.

Tara Brach, renowned meditation teacher, psychologist, and author shares wisdom & guided meditations from her book, Trusting the Gold: Uncovering Your Natural Goodness. Tara Brach, PhD has been practicing and teaching meditation since 1975, as well as leading workshops and meditation retreats at centers throughout North America and Europe. She has a PhD in clinical psychology, is the founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, and is the author of Radical Acceptance, True Refuge, and Radical Compassion. She and Jack Kornfield lead the Awareness Training Institute which offers online courses on mindfulness and compassion, as well as the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. 

Dr. Shefali, bestselling author and renowned clinical psychologist, discusses her new book, A Radical Awakening: Turn Pain into Power, Embrace Your Truth, Live Free. “A Radical Awakening will be of great help to anyone who is ready to transcend the limitations of their personal as well as cultural conditioning and awaken to their true nature as the eternal presence of consciousness itself.” ~ Eckhart TolleDr. Shefali’s ground-breaking approach to mindful living and parenting has taken her books to the top of the NY Times best-sellers list. Oprah has endorsed her work as revolutionary and life-changing. She is the author of several books, including The Conscious Parent, The Awakened Family, Out of Control, and A Radical Awakening.

Gary Zukav, bestselling author of Seat of the Soul, speaks about his new book Universal Human: Creating Authentic Power and the New Consciousness. Purchase Universal Human at https://www.banyen.com/products/unive.... Gary Zukav is the internationally acclaimed author of The Dancing Wu Li Masters, The Seat of the Soul, Soul Stories, and many others. The Seat of the Soul was a number one New York Times bestseller thirty-one times, and remained on the bestseller list for three years. Zukav's gentle presence, humour, and wisdom have endeared him to millions of viewers through his thirty-four appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Super Soul Sunday. Published in 30 languages, Zukav is a graduate of Harvard University and a former Green Beret officer. Gary Zukav is joined in the later part of the interview by Linda Francis. Linda Francis has been practicing the creation of authentic power since she read The Seat of the Soul in 1989. In 1993 she met Gary Zukav and they created a spiritual partnership. During this time, she co-authored two NY Times bestsellers with Gary Zukav, The Heart of the Soul: Emotional Awareness and The Mind of the Soul: Responsible Choice. They also co-authored Thoughts from the Heart of the Soul and Self-Empowerment Journal: A Companion to the Mind of the Soul. Linda Francis is a co-founder of the Seat of the Soul Institute.

Gregg Braden shares insights from his new book, The Wisdom Codes: Ancient Words to Rewire Our Brains and Heal Our Hearts. In The Wisdom Codes the cutting edge of neurolinguistics meets the spiritual wisdom of the ages in a handbook of key words that literally rewire our brains. Gregg Braden is a five-time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy and human potential. He is the author of several books including The Divine Matrix, Fractal Time, Science of Self-Empowerment, Spontaneous Healing of Belief, and The Wisdom Codes. To date his research has led to 15 film credits and 12 award-winning books now published in over 40 languages.

Russ Hudson is one of the world's foremost Enneagram scholars today. He is the co-founder of the Enneagram Institute, as well as a founding director and former vice-president of the International Enneagram Association. He has coauthored several international bestselling books, including The Wisdom of the Enneagram and Personality Types. Russ is a popular speaker at conferences and retreat centres worldwide including the Esalen Institute, the Wisdom 2.0 Conference, and the Science and Non-Duality Conference. Here he discusses Russ Hudson discusses The Enneagram: Nine Gateways to Presence.

Anita Moorjani, New York Times bestselling author of Dying to Be Me, speaks about her new book Sensitive is the New Strong: The Power of Empaths in an Increasingly Harsh World. Moorjani offers inspiration and guidance for sensitive people looking to fully harness their gifts of intuition and empathy in today’s harsh world.

Elizabeth Lesser discusses her new book, Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes. What story would Eve have told about picking the apple? Why is Pandora blamed for opening the box? And what about the fate of Cassandra, who was blessed with knowing the future but cursed so that no one believed her? What if women had also told our guiding origin tales, spiritual parables, and hero myths? Elizabeth Lesser is the co-founder of Omega Institute, the renowned conference and retreat center in Rhinebeck, New York. She is the New York Times bestselling author of several books including Marrow, The Seeker's Guide, and Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow, which has been translated into more than 20 languages. Elizabeth Lesser has given two popular TED talks, and is one of Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul 100, a collection of a hundred leaders who are using their voices and talent to elevate humanity.

Derrick Jensen, Lierre Keith & Max Wilbert discuss Bright Green Lies: How the Environmental Movement Lost Its Way and What We Can Do About It. "Bright Green Lies exposes the hypocrisy of leading environmental groups. It asks the questions most refuse to ask, and in that questioning, uncovers profound truths.” ―Chris Hedges "This disturbing but very important book makes clear we must dig deeper than the normal solutions we are offered." ―Yvon Chouinard “Derrick Jensen is a rare and original voice of sanity in a chaotic world. ”⁠ ―Howard Zinn Derrick Jensen is an American author, ecophilosopher and radical environmentalist living in Crescent City, California. Democracy Now! has described him as the "poet-philosopher of the ecological movement." He is the author of more than 25 acclaimed books, including A Language Older Than Words, The Culture of Make Believe, and Endgame. Lierre Keith is a writer, small farmer, and radical feminist activist. She is the author of six books, including The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability, which has been called “the most important ecological book of this generation.” She is also coauthor of Deep Green Resistance: Strategy to Save the Planet. Max Wilbert is an author, organizer, and wilderness guide. A third-generation dissident, Max has been part of grassroots political work for nearly 20 years. Max serves on the Board of Directors of Deep Green Resistance and Fertile Ground Institute for Social and Ecological Justice.

#1 bestselling author Dr. Jen Gunter discusses her galvanizing book Blood, dispelling the shame, mythology, and misinformation around menstruation with scientific facts, medical expertise, and a fierce feminist perspective.

Dr. Jen Gunter is board certified in OB/GYN and pain medicine. She writes about the intersection of women's health, sex, science, and pop culture for The New York Times. She has been called a fierce advocate for women's health, Twitter's gynecologist, and "strangely confident" by GOOP.com. She believes an empowered patient requires facts and she is here to fix the medical Internet and smash the patriarchy. She is the author of The Menopause Manifesto, The Vagina Bible, The Preemie Primer, and Blood.

Bill Plotkin, author of Soulcraft, discusses The Journey of Soul Initiation. In this conversation, Plotkin provides guidance for the descent to soul - the dissolution of current identity; the encounter with the mythopoetic mysteries of soul; and the metamorphosis of the ego into a cocreator of life-enhancing culture. He illustrates each phase of this riveting and sometimes hazardous odyssey and speaks about his innovative exploration of Carl Jung's Red Book. Bill Plotkin, PhD, is a depth psychologist, wilderness guide, and agent of cultural evolution. As founder of western Colorado’s Animas Valley Institute in 1981, he has guided thousands of seekers through nature-based initiatory passages, including a contemporary, Western adaptation of the pan-cultural vision quest. Previously, he has been a research psychologist (studying non-ordinary states of consciousness), professor of psychology, psychotherapist, rock musician, and whitewater river guide. Bill has a doctorate in psychology from the University of Colorado. He is the author of Soulcraft, Wild Mind, Nature and the Human Soul, and the new release, The Journey of Soul Initiation.

Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, discusses The Listening Path: The Creative Art of Attention. Julia Cameron is credited with starting a movement that has brought creativity into the mainstream. She is the bestselling author of more than fourty books of fiction and nonfiction; a poet, songwriter, filmmaker, and playwright. The Artist's Way has been translated into fourty languages and has sold over five million copies to date. Her new book is The Listening Path: The Creative Art of Attention. In this conversation with her longtime publisher and friend Joel Fontinos, Julia Cameron discusses morning pages, artist dates, the path of deep listening, and more.

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, renowned Buddhist teacher, shares wisdom for the cultivation of patience and an open heart. In the Buddhist tradition, “patience” is our mind’s ability to work positively with anything that bothers us. In his new book Peaceful Heart: The Buddhist Practice of Patience, Dzigar Kongtrul expands on ancient teachings that contain powerful methods for preventing our minds from becoming consumed and overwhelmed.

Red Hawk discusses his latest book of poems, The Law of the Land, which is a heartfelt cry to humanity to reconnect with our sacred Mother Earth through three moral codes of life. He also touches on themes from his classic books on spiritual practice, Self Observation and Self Remembering. In the course of the conversation, Red Hawk describes how he received his Earth name, and shares about his own spiritual influences. Red Hawk was the Hodder Fellow in the Humanities at Princeton University in 1991-92, and is currently professor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He is an award-winning author of eight poetry collections and two nonfiction spiritual books. His poems have also appeared in The Atlantic, Kenyon Review, Shenandoah, Tampa Review, and many others.

Award-winning writer Michael Posner speaks with Banyen Books & Sound about his new biography, Leonard Cohen: Untold Stories. From his groundbreaking and bestselling novels, The Favourite Game and Beautiful Losers, to timeless songs such as “Suzanne,” “Dance Me to the End of Love,” and “Hallelujah,” Leonard Cohen is a cherished artist. Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories draws on hundreds of interviews to reach beyond the Cohen of myth and reveal the unique, complex, and compelling figure of the real man. Michael Posner is a writer, playwright, journalist, and the author of seven books. These include the Mordecai Richler biography, The Last Honest Man, and the Anne Murray biography, All of Me, both of which were national bestsellers. He was Washington Bureau Chief for Maclean’s magazine, and later served as its national, foreign, and assistant managing editor. He was also managing editor of the Financial Times of Canada for three years. He later spent sixteen years as a senior writer with The Globe and Mail.

Thomas Hübl, spiritual teacher and Sounds True author, shares wisdom for healing individual and personal trauma. His new book is Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds.

Wade Davis discusses his new book Magdalena: River of Dreams. Davis vividly brings to life the story of the great Rio Magdalena, illuminating Colombia's complex past, present, and future. Wade Davis is a multi award-winning, bestselling author, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence for more than a decade, and a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2018 he became an Honorary Citizen of Colombia.

Lorie Eve Dechar discusses her alchemical approach to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. An approach that integrates psychology and spiritual insight. Lorie Dechar is a senior faculty member at the Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City and has spent many years teaching at institutes and retreat centres throughout the world. She is the author of the influential class, Five Spirits, and the co-author together with Benjamin Fox, of Kigo and The Alchemy of Inner Work. Lorie Dechar and Benjamin Fox are co-founders of the healing and learning collaborative, A New Possibility.

Merlin Sheldrake discusses his new book Entangled Life, a mind-bending journey into the hidden universe of fungi. Merlin Sheldrake is a biologist and a writer. He received a Ph.D. in tropical ecology from the University of Cambridge for his work on underground fungal networks in tropical forests in Panama, where he was a predoctoral research fellow of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He is a musician and keen fermenter. He is the author of How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures. Interview Host: Ross McKeachie Project Manager & Editor: Jacob Steele Music: Samuel Romero

Dr. Robert Svoboda discusses Ayurveda, Tantra, and Jyotish Astrology. Dr. Robert Svoboda is the first Westerner ever to graduate from a college of Ayurveda and be licensed to practice Ayurveda in India. During and after his formal Ayurvedic training he was tutored in Ayurveda, Yoga, Jyotish, Tantra and other forms of classical Indian lore by his mentor, the Aghori Vimalananda. Dr. Svoboda has served as Adjunct Faculty at the Ayurvedic Institute, NM, and Bastyr University, WA. He is the author of several books including Prakriti and the Aghora series. Interview Host: Ross McKeachie Project Manager & Editor: Jacob Steele Music: Samuel Romero

Daniel Goleman, world renowned psychologist and international bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence, joins Banyen Books for a conversation on his book Optimal: How to Sustain Excellence Every Day.

Daniel Goleman is an internationally esteemed psychologist and author. His book Emotional Intelligence was on The New York Times bestseller list for a year-and-a-half, and has been a bestseller in many countries with over 5 million copies in print. Emotional Intelligence was named one of the 25 “Most Influential Business Management Books” by TIME Magazine. The Financial Times and Wall Street Journal have listed Goleman among the most influential business thinkers. As a science journalist Goleman reported on the brain and behavioural sciences for The New York Times for many years. He is a co-founder of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, at the University of Illinois Chicago. He currently co-directs the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations at Rutgers University. He is a board member of the Mind & Life Institute, which fosters dialogues and research collaborations among contemplative practitioners and scientists. Goleman has organized a series of intensive conversations between the Dalai Lama and scientists, which resulted in the books Healing Emotions and Destructive Emotions.

Julie Daniluk – Nutritionist, “Healthy Gourmet” host, and award-winning author of Meals That Heal Inflammation, Slimming Meals That Heal, and Hot Detox – shares anti-inflammatory tips & wisdom for health, happiness, and longevity.

Jungian Analyst and author James Hollis, PhD, speaks with Banyen's podcast host Ross McKeachie on the themes explored in his book, 'Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Times of Change'. Dr. Hollis shares wisdom on finding our inner compass in shifting times, attending to the psyche’s inner guidance, discovering ourselves anew through the different stages of life, and living a life of meaning. James Hollis, Ph.D., is a Zurich-trained Jungian Analyst and the author of numerous books including Living an Examined Life, Middle Passage, The Eden Project, and What Matters Most. www.jameshollis.net IN CONVERSATION is a production of Banyen Books & Sound, Canada’s spiritual and healing resource since 1970. www.banyen.com Podcast Host: Ross McKeachie Project Manager & Sound Editor: Jacob Steele Music: Samuel Romero This conversation was recorded with a live online audience, July 2020.

In this episode of In Conversation, Lalitha speaks candidly, and with humour, about the fiery path of Guru Yoga and what it takes to cultivate spiritual maturity. Lalitha is a lineage holder in the Western Baul tradition, and has been a disciple of Khepa Lee Lozowick for nearly 40 years. She is the author of several books published by Hohm Press, including 10 Essential Herbs, 10 Essential Foods, Travel Healthy, Waking to Ordinary Life, Inspirations from the Subcontinent, and Cultivating Spiritual Maturity. She goes by the name “Lalitha Thomas” on her book covers. In Conversation is a production of Banyen Books & Sound, Canada’s spiritual and healing resource since 1970. www.banyen.com Podcast Host: Ross McKeachie Project Manager & Podcast Editor: Jacob Steele Music: Samuel Romero Recorded June, 2020