Mindrolling With Raghu Markus

Comedian & Podcaster, Jamie Kilstein joins Raghu to talk about honesty, vulnerability, f*cking up, atheism, suicide, psychedelics, and spirituality.Jamie Kilstein is a comedian, writer, musician, fighter, and podcaster who hosts, A F*ckup’s Guide to Self-Help, where he talks culture, self-improvement, drugs, mental health, and being an outcast. He describes it as a magical journey of self-discovery, self-loathing, f*cking up, and learning from those f*ck ups. Jamie made his debut tv appearance on Conan and has been seen on MSNBC’s Up with Chris Hayes, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Showtime, and BBC America. For more info visit JamieKilstein.com

Author and podcaster Daniele Bolelli drops by the Mindrolling podcast for a conversation around dealing with fear and suffering, facing loss, and balancing toughness and kindness as we go through life. Daniele Bolelli is a writer, martial artist, university professor, and podcaster. He was born in Italy and currently lives in Los Angeles. Learn more about Daniele at his website, follow him on Twitter, and check out his podcasts, The Drunken Taoist and History on Fire.

Alastair McIntosh rejoins to explore climate change through Ram Dass' lens of karma & grace, reframing it as a dangerous opportunity to cultivate a resilient, loving, interconnected future.Writer, speaker, and activist, Alastair McIntosh has been described by BBC TV as “one of the world’s leading environmental campaigners.” A pioneer of modern land reform in Scotland, he helped bring the Isle of Eigg into community ownership. His work focuses on advancement in human ecology, land reform, urban regeneration, and spiritual activism. He just released a new book, Riders on the Storm: The Climate Crisis and the Survival of Being. Learn more about Alastair’s work at AlastairMcIntosh.com

Daniel Goleman joins Raghu to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his paradigm-shifting book, Emotional Intelligence, and discuss the intersection of science and spirituality through the lens of Ram Dass, mindfulness, neuroplasticity, and intuition.Daniel is an internationally known psychologist and author. His New York Times bestselling book, Emotional Intelligence, was named one of the 25 “Most Influential Business Management Books” by TIME Magazine. Daniel is also a board member of the Mind & Life Institute, an organization that fosters dialogues and research collaborations among contemplative practitioners and scientists. Daniel has organized a series of intensive conversations between the Dalai Lama and scientists, and further merged Dharma and science, coauthoring Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body. Learn more about Daniel's work at danielgoleman.info

Marc Lesser joins Raghu to talk about bringing Zen Buddhism to Google, working with evolutionary fear, cultivating humor and courage, and reclaiming mindfulness as a warmhearted practice.Marc Lesser is a speaker, facilitator, workshop leader, and executive coach, known for his engaging, experiential presentations that integrate mindfulness and emotional intelligence practices and training. He is the author of four books, including his 2019 release, Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader: Lessons from Google and a Zen Monastery Kitchen. Marc was the co-founder and CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute, featuring a mindfulness program he helped develop within Google. Prior to his business and coaching career, he was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years, and director of Tassajara, Zen Mountain Center.

Mindrolling alumni, David Silver, rejoins to share epiphanies inspired by his upcoming book. From elephant parties with John Lennon, to mixtape requests from Gaddafi, to his friendship with Bob Marley, to meeting Malcolm X; David’s stories are truly ones of grace, humor, compassion, & wonder.

Comedian, actor, and writer, Pete Holmes, rejoins Raghu to reflect on his experiences with Ram Dass, sharing rare and hilarious stories exemplifying his deeply personal, spiritual transformation.This special episode of Mindrolling is part of a series of conversations for an upcoming book project on individual’s remarkable experiences with Ram Dass. Recorded just months after his Dec 22, 2019 passing on Maui, Raghu invites Pete to share about his personal spiritual journey with Baba Ram Dass. Diving into the cascading catalysts which led him to read Be Here Now, his travels alongside Duncan Trussell to the Love Serve Remember retreats, and his deeply loving and humorous relationship with Ram Dass on Maui, Pete elucidates the unique lilas (divine plays), in his life, which brought him to Ram Dass, Hanuman, and Maharajji.

Multidimensional artist, podcaster, and comedian, Ramin Nazer, joins Raghu to discuss his high-podcast diet, talk Frank Zappa’s idea of expanding through contrasting material, and dive into the topics of art, eternity, practice, creativity, & death.Ramin Nazer is a multitalented artist, podcaster, comedian, game-creator and musician based out of LA. He is best known for his consistent stream of unique, psychedelic-spiritual, bite-sized art for the social media age, as well as his eclectic podcast, The Rainbow Brainskull Hour, where he chats with guests about subjects like creativity, spirituality, psychedelics, music, meditation, and death. You can tap into Ramin’s steady flow of art on his Instagram, and peer into his myriad offerings at RaminNazer.com

Dr. Robert Roeser joins Raghu to explore how Buddhism and mindfulness practices merge with modern neuroscience and developmental psychology.As Penn State’s first-ever Professor of Caring and Compassion, Robert W. Roeser, PhD is tasked with designing classes that meld the ancient practices of mindfulness and meditation with modern neuroscience to help students become calmer, more focused, and more deeply engaged caring citizens of the world. With a Ph.D. from the Combined Program in Education and Psychology at the University of Michigan and masters degrees in religion and psychology, developmental psychology and clinical social work, Dr. Roeser has been a two-time US Fulbright Scholar in India; a WT Grant Faculty Scholar; and the Senior Program Coordinator for the Mind and Life Institute (Boulder, CO).

Race relations expert Daryl Davis joins Mindrolling to share the incredible story of his work engaging with Ku Klux Klan members and bringing down their walls of ignorance and fear.Daryl Davis is a musician, band leader, actor, author, and race relations expert. He is well known for his work with engaging Ku Klux Klan members, many of whom wind up leaving and denouncing the KKK. Learn more about Daryl and all of his work at daryldavis.com. 

Acclaimed musician SIMRIT joins Raghu to talk growing up adopted, her influences in music and yoga, the practicality of mantra, and trusting your intuition.Chart-topping and world-renowned musician and vocalist, SIMRIT, has been studying and working with the science of sound and consciousness for two decades. SIMRIT creates vibrationally powerful and healing music to impact both positive internal & external change. Decades of study and experimentation with the quantum technology of Naad Yoga (the ancient science of using sound to impact the brain’s neural pathways and chemicals, eliciting altered states of reality) deeply influences her music. Her highly acclaimed courses, including The Supreme Sound 2.0, are studied worldwide. For more information head over to SimritKaurMusic.com

Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye joins Mindrolling for a conversation around grief and gratitude, working with trauma, and the extraordinary healing power of listening.Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye is an integrative psychotherapist and founder of the Heart Nest Center for Peace and Healing in Baltimore. She is a student of the late Sufi Master Sidi Muhammad al-Jamal of Jerusalem, and incorporates Sufi healing into her work with individuals, families, and communities. Dr. Sabrina is also a proud faculty member of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, where she teaches the art of self-care to healthcare professionals around the globe. Learn more about her at drsabrinandiaye.com. 

Tezra and Koa from the I Am Not That Podcast join Raghu to share their spiritual catalysts, explore victimhood vs empowerment in allyship, and talk self-inquiry and forgiveness.Tezra and Koa are the hosts of the ‘I AM Not that’ podcast, an exploration of how to become liberated from our limiting thoughts, ideals and beliefs, and reclaim our unlimited power of potentiality. They join Raghu to share their own unique sparks of finding the spiritual path, along with their personal journeys in embodying this uncovered wisdom. After sharing their synchronistic story of falling in love, Tezra and Koa dive into the intention behind their podcast, explain the difference between a well-wisher and an ally, and offer advice for self-inquiry and spiritual liberation.

Devon and Craig Hase join Raghu to talk tangible mindfulness, authenticity in meditation, and dismantling racism in spiritual communities.Devon has been committed to meditation since 2000, spending years in retreat in the Insight and Vajrayana traditions, and has been mentored by Joseph Goldstein, Tara Brach, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Craig began intensive meditation training in 1994, living in a Zen monastery for six years before getting his PhD in counseling psychology. Together they are teachers and mentors in the spiritual community, and they just released their new book, How Not To Be A Hot Mess. You can find about more their offerings at DevonandCraigHase.com

Shaman, John Lockley, returns to talk the history of racism in South Africa, healing cultural wounds through listening, and decolonizing the mind.John Lockley began his journey as a young medic drafted into the South African military. He then trained under Zen master Su Bong from South Korea, and returned to post-Apartheid South Africa to spend 10 years in apprenticeship with MaMngwevu, a medicine woman from the Xhosa tribe. John now splits his time teaching in South Africa, Ireland, Europe, and the US. Find out more about John’s work learn more about his Mentoring, In-Person Divinations, Plant Healing and more at johnlockley.com.

Robert Thurman returns to share stories about Ram Dass, discuss his psychedelic years, and explore the topics of reincarnation, identity and activism.Robert Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University and President of the Tibet House U.S., and is the President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies. Keep up with Robert at bobthurman.com

Thanissara joins Raghu to discuss social action, unconscious racism, and the mystery of the collective bardo, before guiding a breathwork meditation.Thanissara, formerly a Buddhist nun for 12 years, has been teaching meditation retreats alongside her partner Kittisaro since 1992. Together they founded Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat in South Africa and co-authored Listening to the Heart, A Contemplative Guide to Engaged Buddhism. She is also author of Time To Stand Up, A Buddhist Manifesto for Our Earth, and several poetry books. Thanissara and Kittisaro recently launched Sacred Mountain Sangha, a California based Non Profit that hosts the Dharmapala Training, a two year, seven module training. Keep up to date with her offerings at dharmagiri.org and sacredmountiansangha.org

The Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi Rinpoche joins Raghu to discuss joyful effort, karma, first-hand experience, and his new book Running Toward Mystery.

Danny Goldberg returns to the Mindrolling Podcast to honor the life of civil-rights leader and former United States House Representative John Lewis.John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) was an American politician and civil-rights leader who served in the United States House of Representatives for Georgia’s 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death in 2020.John Lewis fulfilled many key roles in the civil rights movement and its actions to end legalized racial segregation in the United States. Lewis was one of the “Big Six” leaders of groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington. In 1965, Lewis led the Selma to Montgomery marches across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. In an incident that became known as Bloody Sunday, armed Alabama police attacked unarmed civil rights demonstrators, including Lewis, Hosea Williams, and Amelia Boynton.A member of the Democratic Party, Lewis was first elected to Congress in 1

Mehcad Brooks joins the Mindrolling Podcast for a conversation around how we can navigate the challenges of the world with inner work and raise our consciousness together.Mehcad Brooks is a multi-talented actor, musician and model. Featuring lead roles in many movies and television shows, Mehcad is most known for his roles in Super Girl, Desperate Housewives and True Blood. Look out for Mehcad in 2021 starring as Jax in the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie. You can keep up with Mehcad online on Instagram and Twitter @MehcadBrooks