CZ 095: Gross National Happiness and Thinking about Death 5 times a day with Author Linda Leaming

Thanks for everyone's patience while I was VERY delayed in uploading this episode.  There is no other guest I'd rather have on for my last episode then with the man that started it all with me, Zach Darmon.  The comradre picked up right where we left off and we reflected on what the podcast and what meditation has done for us in our lives, talking about some of our favorite guests and riffing on lifes biggest questions.   Thanks to everyone who tuned in over the 5 years of this podcast.  If you'd like to connect with me in the future for any reason you can reach me at [email protected].  Love you all! 

Shauna Shapiro, PhD, is a professor, author, and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and compassion. Nearly one million people have watched her 2017 TEDx talk "The Power of Mindfulness," rated one of the top 10 talks on mindfulness. Dr. Shapiro has published over 150 journal articles and coauthored two critically acclaimed books translated into 14 languages: The Art and Science of Mindfulness, and Mindful Discipline. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Mashable, Wired, USA Today, the Dr. Oz Show, HuffPost, Yoga Journal, and the American Psychologist. Dr. Shapiro has been an invited speaker for the King of Thailand, the Danish Government, Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Summit, and the World Council for Psychotherapy, as well as for Fortune 100 companies including Google, Cisco Systems, Procter & Gamble, and Genentech. Dr. Shapiro is a summa  laude graduate of Duke University and a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute, co-founded by the Dalai Lama. Shauna and I chat about:  How having spinal fusion surgery at age 17 got her into mindfulness "Hippie" Dad introducing her to the practices Mindfulness and pain management Happiness research Researching mindfulness in the 90s “What you practice grows stronger” Her latest book Good Morning I love you  The resistance of self-love Choosing self compassion over shame Much more! https://drshaunashapiro.com

Dr. Greyson’s interest in near-death experiences began just a few months after graduating from medical school, when he treated an unconscious patient in the emergency room who stunned him the next morning with an account of leaving her body. That event challenged his beliefs about the mind and the brain, and ultimately led him on a journey to study near-death experiences scientifically, leading to more than a hundred publications in medical journals. He co-founded the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS), an organization to support and promote research into these experiences, and for 27 years edited the Journal of Near-Death Studies, the only scholarly journal dedicated to near-death research. Through his research, he has discovered common and universal themes in near-death experiences that go beyond neurophysiological or cultural interpretations, as well as patterns of consistent aftereffects on individuals’ attitudes, beliefs, values, and personalities. We chat about:  His interest in Near Death Experiences (NDEs) Common themes across NDEs Are psychedelic experiences similar to NDEs?  The brain during a NDE What happens after a person has an NDE?  Lesson to be learned from NDEs What is Consciousness and where does it arise from?  His book After Much more! https://www.brucegreyson.com/  

I had to get JP back on the show for my 100th Episode.  At 96 years young, he emanates wisdom with every word.  I let him guide the conversation and he wanted to share a couple of mantras and then we have a chat in between each of the chants.  It was a true delight and we really get in the weeds on this one.  Mantras chanted:  Shanti Mantra Gayatri mantra Adi shankaracharya morning mantra Self-written song - Pilgrims of light A Jainism mantra  Heart Sutra Topics we weave in: Attachment Accepting death and what continues on Embodying religion or spiritual practices Eternal Love What is the soul? Check out the first interviews with JP here: Part 1 Part 2 JP's website    

As a sought-after speaker, event facilitator and executive coach, Finnian has been dubbed “the Business Mystic” because of his unique ability to put consciousness into business and inspire leaders to find new levels of meaning and purpose through their creative endeavours.  This approach flowed through his term as President of the Colorado Chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) - the largest and most influential community of entrepreneurs in the world.  Finnian helps people ‘love their path’ so they can feel content with a life lived in the now. As an entrepreneur, Finnian built and exited two multi-million dollar companies in the financial industry.  He’s the Creator and Chief Visionary Officer of Intentionality.com. Through the four paths of the Intentionality framework, Finnian guides people to be purposeful and aligned in their belief, thoughts and behaviors so they can feel more love in their life.  We talked about:  Getting into meditation after a divorce  How can you give yourself grace in tough times Pattern interrupting  Viewing his divorce as a wonderful thing How we can let go of our past traumas  The process of emotional clearing Equipping us with the tools to look inward at an early age Being intentional as a core value Harnessing the ego   https://www.finniankelly.com/

Alex was at a point in his life where he was throwing up his breakfast because he was so stressed and burnt out from his job.   He ventured off to Australia to get away from this and find himself.  His father passed away and this caused him to re-evaluate his life, turning to meditation.  He went and got certified to teach meditation and has been doing it ever since.  More recently, he dove into cryptocurrency and feels that it complements his spiritual practice and can provide financial freedom to those it was previously unavailable to. Alex and I chat about:  Traveling to Australia to escape burnout from work The impact his father passing away had on him Getting certified to teach Meditation Mystical experience that connected him deeper   His experience with going on 2 ayahuasca retreats Getting into crypto How he views spirituality and crypto complement each other Our roles as individuals in the crypto movement Enlighten with Alex  February 22nd Crypto Webinar Enlighten with Alex website Alex's Crypto community PROMO CODES: 33% off promotion. Use code EC22 for monthly payment of £22 per month (usual price £33) or EC222 for annual payment of £222 (usual price £333) at the checkout   Aura Health 30 day free pass Alex on Insight Timer

Hey everybody, this is my annual year in review where I reflect on the  year that was.  This was a year of a lot of growth mixed with a lot of pain.  Such is life!  I hope you enjoy my ramblings about my experiences and that they prove to be supportive to you in some way.  I talk about:  Being more consistent with posting episodes and where I want the podcast to go My 5th year of doing this podcast!  How difficult parenting is Punching a wall and how that was a catalyst for a lot of growth Starting therapy and leaning into who I am Accepting and allowing Self righteouness Doing less

When Cesare was recommended to me by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche's team,  I immediately knew it was going to be a special time with him.  The depth by which he can articulate the many nuances of life was fascinating.   We talked about:  How he got into contemplative practice through Christian Mysticism  Finding a new way to look at life Getting introduced to Buddhism Influence after reading the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying Finding out more about what already existed within you Following the Spiritual path How he relates to death   Cesare's website Run Zen Bodicharya Kent

Amanda Gilbert is a meditation teacher, lecturer of mindfulness at the University of Southern California, speaker, and author. She leads meditation for top companies like NBC, Paramount Pictures, W Hotels, Merrill Lynch, Macy’s, and YouTube. Before dedicating herself to teaching full-time, Amanda was the center director for the Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Center at the University of California, San Francisco, a world-renowned health psychology laboratory conducting scientific research and publishing investigations on the biological and psychological effects of mindfulness, meditation, and stress resilience. Her formal meditation training has been with UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, Deepak Chopra, and in the Insight Meditation tradition. She lives in Los Angeles, CA. Amanda's new book, "Kindness Now" introduces her 28-day guided meditation program aimed at helping you become a kinder, more compassionate, and radically loving person. With each daily practice, you will learn how to be more resilient in the face of common stressors, including anxiety, feelings of depression, "imposter" syndrome, and social media comparison effects, and ultimately make meditation an essential part of your life and self-care practice. I talked with Amanda about:  Getting into meditation in high school Feeling at home during meditation How she describes "the mind" Being more heart centered The power of Love Honoring your identity Using your practice for the benefit of all beings How she chose Kindness for the topic of her book, "Kindness Now" The power of the heart practices or brahma viharas Living our truths What if we don't like the word Kindness? https://www.amandagilbertmeditation.com/

Linda Leaming first traveled to Bhutan in 1994, and moved there three years later. This tiny Buddhist country hidden away in the Himalayas is a very happy place for many. Its king believes in Gross National Happiness instead of Gross National Product. Leaming has written two books about her life in Bhutan and how she learned to live more simply, how she laughs at herself instead of getting mad at others, and how she slows down to look for magic-- because it's everywhere. In Bhutan, she's known for using a salad spinner instead of a washing machine, and her village man makeovers.  I had a great time talking with Linda as we explored:  Being introduced to mindfulness through Bhutanese culture Going to Bhutan originally 4 pillars of gross national happiness in Bhutan Thinking about death 5 times a day Why thinking about death is constructive Being happy where you are Much more! https://www.lindaleaming.com/ 4 Pillars of Gross National Happiness Maker Mind Newsletter where I discovered Linda