Episode 131: Danielle Blackwood - A Lantern in The Dark

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.

#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.

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.

John Holland, world-renowned psychic medium, speaks with Banyen Books on Psychic Mediumship. John Holland, world-renowned psychic medium, has been helping people connect with their loved ones in the Spirit World for decades, bringing closure and healing, and has taught thousands of people how to develop and enhance their own natural psychic abilities. He is famous for his public psychic demonstrations and has starred in several TV specials, including A&E’s Mediums: We See Dead People and his own pilot, Psychic History, for the History Channel. He is the author of the best-selling books The Spirit Whisperer, Psychic Navigator, Power of the Soul, 101 Ways to Jump Start Your Intuition, and Born Knowing, as well as the oracle decks The Psychic Tarot, The Psychic Tarot for the Heart, and The Spirit Messages.

World-renowned meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg joins Banyen in conversation on her book, Love Your Enemies: How to Break the Anger Habit & Be a Whole Lot Happier. Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer and industry leader, a world-renowned teacher and New York Times bestselling author. As one of the first to bring meditation and mindfulness into mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, her relatable, demystifying approach has inspired generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of eleven books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Sharon’s secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings is sought after at schools, conferences and retreat centers around the world.

Renowned Jungian analyst James Hollis, PhD, joins Banyen for a deep conversation on the qualities that bring meaning to our human journey, and his new book A Life of Meaning. James Hollis, PhD, is a Zurich-trained Jungian Analyst practicing in Washington, D.C., and the bestselling author of 20 books including Living an Examined Life: Wisdom for the Second Half of the Journey, Hauntings: Dispelling the Ghosts Who Run Our Lives, What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life, and Why Good People Do Bad Things: Understanding Our Darker Selves. He has served as Executive Director of the Jung Educational Center in Houston, Executive Director of the Jung Society of Washington, Senior Training Analyst for the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, Director of Training of the Philadelphia Jung Institute, Vice-President of the Philemon Foundation, and Professor of Jungian Studies for Saybrook University of San Francisco/Houston.

Internationally renowned singer/songwriter Tara MacLean joins Banyen for a discussion on her powerful memoir Song of the Sparrow. Tara MacLean, Canadian singer/songwriter, has been an internationally renowned and award-winning recording and touring artist for over 25 years. She released her first album with the Nettwerk Music Group and Sony Music Publishing Canada in 1996. Since then, she has been signed with Capitol Records and EMI Canada with her JUNO-nominated band Shaye. She has written and recorded six solo albums and two with the band. Her first book, Song of the Sparrow, hit the Best Seller list the week it was released, and Tara quickly followed it up with “Sparrow” - the soundtrack for the book.

Bill Arnott discusses 'Gone Viking' and 'Gone Viking II', guiding us on an epic literary odyssey following history’s most feared and misunderstood voyageurs: the Vikings. Prepare yourself for an armchair adventure like no other! Bill Arnott is a songwriter, poet, and author of the bestselling travelogue 'Gone Viking: A Travel Saga' (Whistler Independent Book Awards Finalist and American Book Fest International Book Awards Finalist),' Gone Viking II: Beyond Boundaries', 'Dromomania', and 'Wonderful Magical Words'. His work has been published in literary journals in Canada, the US and UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and his column “Bill Arnott’s Beat” is a feature in several magazines. Bill has received awards for prose, poetry, and songwriting and is the creator of “Bill’s Artist Showcase.” For his eight-year Gone Viking expedition he was awarded a fellowship in London’s Royal Geographical Society. When not trekking the globe with a small pack and his journal, or showing off cooking skills as a culinary-school dropout, Bill can be found on Canada’s west coast, making friends and misbehaving.

Richard Rosen, renowned yoga teacher and author, discusses Yoga by the Numbers: The Sacred and Symbolic in Yoga Philosophy and Practice. Richard Rosen, one of America's most influential authors on yoga practice and philosohy, began his training in yoga in 1980 and graduated from the B.K.S Iyengar Institute in 1983. In 1987, together with Rodney Yee, he opened the Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, CA, which operated until 2012. Richard is a contributing editor at Yoga Journal magazine, to which he has contributed countless articles and columns over the pst quarter century. He serves as the President of the board of directors fo the Yoga Dana Foundation. He is the author of five influential books, four of them published by Shambhala: The Yoga of Breath, Pranayama: Beyond the Fundamentals, Original Yoga, Yoga FAQ, and Yoga by the Numbers

Neale Donald Walsch, bestselling author of the Conversations with God series, discusses his book The God Solution: The Power of Pure Love. Neale Donald Walsch has written 39 books on contemporary spirituality and its practical application in everyday life. Seven of the nine books in his Conversations with God series have made the New York Times Bestseller list, with Book One remaining on that list for 134 weeks. His titles have been translated into 37 languages. He is the creator of CWG Connect, a global online platform connecting people who wish to more deeply explore the messages in the CWG body of work. His latest book is The God Solution.