Attachment Theory, Zen, Waking Up & Growing Up with the Reverend Bunan Brown

In this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, host Julian Royce continues his dialogue with Zen priest, martial arts lineage holder, and developmental coach Keith Martin Smith to explore a vital question: How do we disagree without dehumanizing each other?From immigration and ICE enforcement to DEI, identity politics, gun rights, and charismatic political leadership, this episode moves beyond partisan talking points into deeper developmental insight. Keith and Julian examine how contempt fuels polarization, how cultural overcorrections create backlash, and why compassion — not agreement — may be the only viable path forward.If you’re tired of outrage culture and looking for grounded, adult conversation about power, justice, and democracy, this episode offers clarity over chaos.Main Topics CoveredImmigration enforcement, local resistance, and competing narrativesContempt, polarization, and the psychology of public discourseHistorical lessons: post–World War I vs. post–World War II reconstructionInstitutions, judicial process, and limits on charismatic leadershipIdentity politics, DEI overreach, and political backlashMasculinity, self-censorship, gun rights, and cultural pendulum swingsThe “middle path” as a civic and developmental necessityKey TakeawaysContempt destroys dialogue; dignity keeps it possible.Compassion doesn’t require agreement.Cultural overcorrections often fuel backlash and counter-movements.Strong institutions help stabilize polarized systems.Memorable Moments“The minute you throw the punch, you’ve lost the fight.” — applying martial arts ethics to politicsThe comparison between the Treaty of Versailles and post-WWII reconstructionWhy “believe all women” and “silence is violence” lost nuance in public discourseThe idea that development sometimes “goes down a blind alley” and must backtrackTending your own garden — inspired by Voltaire’s CandideFinal ReflectionPolarization thrives on outrage. But strength — whether in martial arts, democracy, or personal character — is restraint, clarity, and compassion under pressure.As Keith reminds us:You can disagree with someone’s beliefs while still treating them with dignity. And if we want to change hearts and minds, that’s where we must begin.Connect with Keith Martin SmithWhite Tiger Academy (Northern Shaolin & Praying Mantis Lineage)Developmental Coaching & WritingSomatic trauma informed therapy, Psychedelic assisted Therapy, Meditation training & more with Julian Royce:www.astateofmindtherapy.comSupport the show:www.patreon.com/astateofmindDonate with Venmo:@Julian-RoyceInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/julianoceann/Find Julian on SoundCloud at:https://soundcloud.com/julian-ocean-1Please Visit Our Sponsors:KA! Empathogenics — offering high quality Kanna products. Kanna is a legal South African herb that boosts mood, with scientific studies demonstrating measurable increases in empathy and compassion after taking it. Consult your health care providers before trying this or any supplements.Use this code for a discount and to support the podcast:https://kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCEHigh quality, science-backed blue light blocking glasses and other healing light products.Use this link to support the podcast and receive a discount:https://www.emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864Order premium quality Shilajit from the sacred Ural Mountains of Russia.Message Julian for 20% off your order:www.astateofmindpodcast.com

What if your imagination holds memories from other lifetimes? What if humanity is being quietly guided through a massive evolutionary transition — one that includes free energy, advanced physics, and contact beyond Earth?In this expansive conversation, we explore past life memory research, suppressed scientific breakthroughs, zero-point energy, extraterrestrial contact, and why mainstream institutions resist paradigm-shifting ideas. This episode challenges materialism, invites curiosity, and offers a hopeful vision of where humanity may be headed next.This episode is for thinkers, seekers, scientists-at-heart, and anyone feeling the tension between skepticism and spiritual knowing — and wondering what comes after the current world model breaks.Main Topics CoveredChildhood imagination as a doorway to past life memoryScientific research into reincarnation (Dr. Ian Stevenson, James Leininger case)Why psychic phenomena and past lives remain outside mainstream academiaAcademic incentives, tenure, and resistance to paradigm shiftsUnified physics, spacetime as a structured energetic field, and challenges to the Standard ModelCERN, black-box research, and suppressed discoveriesZero-point energy, free energy systems, and why open-sourcing is essentialAlleged silencing of disruptive energy researchersExtraterrestrial contact, drone encounters, and nuclear deactivation eventsHumanity’s transition toward abundance, free energy, and galactic civilizationAI, free energy, and the coming singularityKey TakeawaysImagination may not be fantasy — it may be memoryThere is substantial research supporting past life recall in childrenParadigm-shifting science is often delayed by institutional self-preservationFree energy and gravity-based technologies could radically reshape civilizationIf disruptive technology exists, openness is the safest path forwardHumanity may already be protected from self-destruction by non-human intelligenceHope, curiosity, and openness are essential during times of global transitionOne-Liner Quotes“Imagination might be memory — our brains just haven’t caught up yet.”“If Independence Day was going to happen, it would have happened already.”“Open-source your breakthrough — that’s your safety net.”“The darkest moments in history often precede the greatest awakenings.”“We are standing at the threshold of becoming a galactic civilization.”Connect with Adam ApolloInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/adam_apollo/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/master.adam.apollo/Connect with Julian RoyceSomatic trauma informed therapy, Psychedelic assisted Therapy, Meditation training & more with Julian Royce: www.astateofmindtherapy.comSupport the show: www.patreon.com/astateofmindDonate with Venmo: @Julian-RoyceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianoceann/Find Julian on SoundCloud at: https://soundcloud.com/julian-ocean-1Order Premium quality Shilajit from the sacred Ural Mountains of Russia.Message Julian for 20% off your order: www.astateofmindpodcast.comExplore deeper conversations, expanded episodes, and transformational dialogues by following and supporting the show.Stay connected for future episodes that challenge consensus reality and explore what’s emerging next for humanity.

In this urgent and deeply moving episode, Julian Royce speaks with D, an anonymous Iranian PhD student living in the U.S., who shares why staying silent has sometimes been the only way to survive. From firsthand experiences with Iran’s morality police to witnessing how academic institutions in the West can erase lived realities, D offers a rare, unfiltered perspective on power, fear, and human rights.This episode is for listeners who care about truth beyond political narratives, the global struggle for women’s rights, and the cost of speaking out. It matters because real lives—and voices—are still being silenced, both abroad and closer to home. Main Topics CoveredWhy the guest remains anonymous and the real risks of speaking publiclyLife as an Iranian woman under the morality policeThe ongoing protests in Iran and mass human rights violationsFear of deportation and ICE from the perspective of a student immigrantSilencing of Iranian voices within Western academic institutionsIdeology vs. human rights in global and campus politicsHistorical context: foreign intervention, revolution, and the Iranian regimeThe psychological toll of living between multiple systems of powerKey TakeawaysSilence is often a survival strategy, not a lack of courageHuman rights abuses can be ignored when they conflict with ideologyPower is not only exercised by governments, but also by institutions and individualsLived experience should never be erased in the name of political narrativesSupporting human rights requires consistency, nuance, and moral clarityConnect with Julian RoyceSomatic trauma informed therapy, Psychedelic assisted Therapy, Meditation training & more with Julian Royce: www.astateofmindtherapy.comSupport the show: www.patreon.com/astateofmindDonate with Venmo: @Julian-RoyceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianoceann/Find Julian on SoundCloud at: https://soundcloud.com/julian-ocean-1Order Premium quality Shilajit from the sacred Ural Mountains of Russia.Message Julian for 20% off your order: www.astateofmindpodcast.comIf this episode moved you, please follow, like, and share A State of Mind with Julian Royce. Conversations like this depend on listeners who are willing to amplify voices that are often forced into silence.

What happens when spiritual practices designed to liberate instead become tools of control? In this episode of A State of Mind, Julian sits down with educator, researcher, and ritualist Rayann Gordon to explore spiritual abuse, cult dynamics, and the hidden risks of coercive meditation environments. Together, they unpack how teachings around “no self,” thought dissolution, and surrender can undermine discernment, memory, and agency—and how healing begins by reclaiming choice, body wisdom, and an organic relationship with the sacred. This episode is for seekers, therapists, spiritual practitioners, creatives, and anyone navigating or recovering from high-demand spiritual groups. Why it matters: understanding these dynamics reduces shame, prevents harm, and helps people find their way back to themselves.Main Topics CoveredWhat defines spiritual abuse and cult dynamics (beyond belief systems)How coercive control operates in spiritual and meditation settingsThe shadow side of “no self,” oneness teachings, and thought-stopping techniquesWhy meditation retreats can create conditions where abuse goes unnoticed or unreportedThe role of memory, discernment, and healthy ego in spiritual lifeHealing after spiritual abuse and reclaiming personal authorityRebuilding spirituality after leaving a high-demand groupThe importance of body care, creativity, awe, and beauty in recovery Key TakeawaysCults are defined by patterns of control and harm, not strange beliefsHealthy spirituality supports autonomy, discernment, and the freedom to chooseDissolving thoughts without balance can weaken decision-making and self-trustHealing often involves grief, creativity, and reconnecting with the bodyAuthentic spiritual practice expands life—it doesn’t compress it Key TakeawaysCults are defined by patterns of control and harm, not strange beliefsHealthy spirituality supports autonomy, discernment, and the freedom to chooseDissolving thoughts without balance can weaken decision-making and self-trustHealing often involves grief, creativity, and reconnecting with the bodyAuthentic spiritual practice expands life—it doesn’t compress itConnect with Rayann GordonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayanngordon_/?hl=enWebsite: https://rayanngordon.com/Connect with Julian RoyceSomatic trauma informed therapy, Psychedelic assisted Therapy, Meditation training & more with Julian Royce: www.astateofmindtherapy.comSupport the show: www.patreon.com/astateofmindDonate with Venmo: @Julian-RoyceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianoceann/Find Julian on SoundCloud at: https://soundcloud.com/julian-ocean-1Order Premium quality Shilajit from the sacred Ural Mountains of Russia.Message Julian for 20% off your order: www.astateofmindpodcast.comIf this episode resonated with you, follow the podcast, like the episode, and share it with someone who may need this conversation. These stories help bring awareness, accountability, and healing to spiritual spaces.

In this episode of A State of Mind, Julian sits down with Dr. Christine, a holistic functional medicine practitioner with a background in cognitive neuroscience, for a wide-ranging conversation on what real healing actually requires.Dr. Christine shares her unconventional path into healthcare and why she ultimately chose a model rooted in collaboration, nervous system regulation, and whole-person care rather than prescription-based treatment. Together, they explore the limits of credentialism, the failures of the industrialized healthcare system, and the quiet truth most people resist: sustainable healing requires participation, not outsourcing.They discuss why nervous system regulation and sleep must come before gut protocols, supplements, or hormone interventions; how trauma, stress, and emotional states directly affect cellular health and energy; and why so many people feel like they’re “doing everything right” yet still feel exhausted or stuck.The conversation also moves into somatic healing, parts work, and the importance of engaging the body—not just the story—when working with trauma and mental health. Dr. Christine shares how helping people understand their own physiology empowers them to take ownership of their health rather than remaining dependent on practitioners.They also touch on food systems, reading labels, taking responsibility without shame, and how small, consistent lifestyle changes can restore agency in a culture that often undermines it.This is a grounded, honest conversation about health, responsibility, and the deeper work of listening to the body before it has to scream.Learn more about Dr. Christine Smith: https://wellnessevolutioncommunity.com/

A deep, unfiltered conversation on men’s vitality, sexual energy, emotional integration, and why conscious embodiment—not repression—is the path to healing, intimacy, and leadership.Main Topics Covered:Sexual energy as life force, creativity, and vitality—not just sexSacred masculinity vs. toxic masculinityEmotional repression, trauma, and men’s disconnection from feelingDaily embodiment practices: breath, movement, self-inquiry, and sexual transmutationPorn, outsourcing intimacy, and the cost to relationships and presenceConsent as a healing force for individuals and the collectiveCommunity, men’s groups, and the necessity of being witnessedIntegrating biology, spirituality, and consciousness without bypassing realityConnect with John Paul:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpkexperience/John Paul is starting his own podcast soon! Be on the lookout.To explore therapy, men’s work, and embodiment practices with Julian Royce, visit:👉 www.astateofmind.comA State of Mind Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astateofmindpodcast/Follow for weekly podcasts with your host Julian Royce.

Dr. Stephinity joins Julian Royce for this far reaching conversation About Stephinity:Stephinity is a bioenergetic and natural medicine doctor with a focus on biophysics and frequency medicine.  She has a private practice, Your Body Electric, and is an adjunctive professor at IBEM school in Denver.  She has two original polymathic theories, both based around the subjects of sovereignty, health and unified physics and additionally loves to share wisdom on other related subjects.  She is a retired performing artist and producer of transformational events, has many hobbies, and a voracious appetite for all that life has to offer. Find Stephinity at:YourBodyElectric.comSovereignLiaison.com Order Premium quality Shilajit from the sacred Ural Mountains of Russia.Message Julian for 20% off your order: www.astateofmindpodcast.com Somatic trauma informed therapy, Psychedelic assisted Therapy, Meditation training & more with Julian Royce: www.astateofmindcounseling.org Support the show: www.patreon.com/astateofmindDonate with Venmo: @Julian-Royce Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianoceann/ Find Julian on SoundCloud at: https://soundcloud.com/julian-ocean-1

Julian Royce talks with Clayton Ickes about the state of legal psychedelic therapy and natural plant medicines in the state of Colorado.Topics include cutting edge psychedelic science specifically on psylocibin and mental health and well being, current laws and regulations, ways in which psychedelic therapy differs from traditional therapy and psychiatric approaches, Clay's journey to being the first licensed psychedelic therapist in Colorado and more 0:00 - 11:07 Intro11:08 - End Conversation with Clay Ickes References:Learn more about Clay Ickes: https://www.kykeonwellness.comhttps://www.instagram.com/themushroomtherapist Order Premium quality Shilajit from the sacred Ural Mountains of Russia.Message Julian for 20% off your order: www.astateofmindpodcast.com Somatic trauma informed therapy, Psychedelic assisted Therapy, Meditation training & more with Julian Royce: www.astateofmindcounseling.org Support the show: www.patreon.com/astateofmindDonate with Venmo: @Julian-Royce Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianoceann/ Find Julian on SoundCloud at: https://soundcloud.com/julian-ocean-1 Scientific Studies:•        Griffiths, R. R., et al. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer. Journal of Psychopharmacology.•        Davis, A. K., et al. (2020). Effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on major depressive disorder. JAMA Psychiatry.•        Carhart-Harris, R., et al. (2021). Trial of psilocybin versus escitalopram for depression. The New England Journal of Medicine.•        Griffiths, R. R., et al. (2006). Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences. Psychopharmacology.•        MacLean, K. A., et al. (2011). Increased openness following psilocybin. Journal of Psychopharmacology.- Laws and Regulations and the Natural Medicine Health Act in Colorado: https://dpo.colorado.gov/NaturalMedicine

Christian Mendoza of Nizhoni Music talks to Julian from the wilds of New Zealand and shares about his life's journey, his creative process and his new work which he is called 'Culture Codes'July 26th Embodied Connection Day Long Retreat (moved from July 19th) https://www.facebook.com/events/1064322429010854 Find Christian at:https://www.instagram.com/nizhoni.music/https://open.spotify.com/artist/0zfGz5kMT2Y4ZJF1NSUHOD?si=DYNS7_wWTPSJ7ygoC_lfOQhttps://soundcloud.com/nizhonimusic Topics Covered (Partial List):Culture as a Way of LifeHow to create a culture that supports and honors the health and regulation of our Nervous SystemHow to practice authentic ManifestationThe importance of knowing what you truly wantThe importance of knowing that it is so  Order Premium quality Shilajit from the sacred Ural Mountains of Russia.Message Julian for 20% off your order: www.astateofmindpodcast.com Somatic trauma informed therapy, Psychedelic assisted Therapy, Meditation training & more with Julian Royce: www.astateofmindcounseling.org Support the show: www.patreon.com/astateofmindDonate with Venmo: @Julian-Royce Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianoceann/ Find Julian on SoundCloud at: https://soundcloud.com/julian-ocean-1 

Julian talks with Sudakra. Sudakra is a musician, DJ, yogi & healer.  Learn more about Sudakra:https://linktr.ee/sudakrahttps://tr.ee/8YTKdCFvPahttps://open.spotify.com/artist/0BKQ82IMMgyoCzoEaxi0hwhttps://www.instagram.com/sudakrahttps://tr.ee/WpBd6z3Qsm Order Premium quality Shilajit from the sacred Ural Mountains of Russia.Message Julian for 20% off your order: www.astateofmindpodcast.com Somatic trauma informed therapy, Psychedelic assisted Therapy, Meditation training & more with Julian Royce: www.astateofmindcounseling.org Support the show: www.patreon.com/astateofmindDonate with Venmo: @Julian-Royce Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianoceann/ Find Julian on SoundCloud at: https://soundcloud.com/julian-ocean-1