Rebooting Bhakti: The Plateau, the Reset, and the Hard Work | FRP #58 — Giri Govardhana 11/19/25

In this Free Radical Podcast episode, Hari-kirtan, a seasoned yoga and meditation teacher, author, and long-time practitioner whose work bridges traditional wisdom and contemporary inquiry, joins us for an engaging conversation. Our dialogue centers on the intersection of bhakti and activism, exploring how spiritual life can respond meaningfully to our social and political moment. Together we delve into themes such as ethical engagement, the dynamics of non-cooperation, the constructive role of anger, joy as a form of resistance, and the place of grieving within a dharmic life. Pull up a seat at the table. Let the dialogue deepen you. https://youtu.be/ZldFNFaACSc ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, we sit down with Kenneth (Harry) Oldmeadow—author, scholar, and lifelong explorer of the world’s wisdom traditions. Carried to India as a baby and raised there through his first decade, Oldmeadow’s early immersion in a tapestry of cultures and faiths helped shape a life devoted to understanding the world’s spiritual inheritances. His later studies in history, politics, literature, and cinema—along with extensive travel across Europe, North Africa, and the subcontinent—widened that horizon even further. With more than fifteen books, award-winning research, and decades of teaching behind him, he brings an entire library’s worth of perspective to the table. Together, we wander into the heart of perennialism: the possibility that an eternal, unchanging truth breathes through the world’s diverse spiritual forms. From the paradox of a reality that is at once timeless and ever-unfolding, to the role of myth, symbol, and art as gateways to the inner life, this conversation opens like a many-petaled mandala. We explore the dance between exoteric and esoteric knowing, the gifts and hazards of modernity, and the subtle places where traditions converge without losing their distinct contours. Underneath it all is a shared longing: to discover a common ground deep enough to honor real diversity. It’s a rich, warm, far-reaching dialogue—an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and rediscover the wisdom traditions as living companions. Pull up a chair. Join the conversation. https://youtu.be/msftlS8gISg ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, we continue our ongoing dialogue with reality—an ever-unfolding attempt to understand our place in the world and beyond it. Joining the conversation is Giri Govardhan Prabhu, whose journey in the Gaudiya tradition began in the early 1980s and has carried him through decades of service, reflection, and sincere inner search. In recent years, Giri Govardhan Prabhu has found himself in a familiar yet often unspoken space: a sense of spiritual stagnation. Rather than hiding it behind shame or guilt, he has taken it as an invitation for honest inquiry—a call to unlearn, relearn, and rediscover the heart of his practice. Together, we explore: • How to navigate spiritual plateaus without fear, shame, or self-blame• The hidden misconceptions that quietly shape our devotional lives• How to normalize experiences we often stigmatize• The art of rebooting our spiritual journey with clarity, humility, and purpose• Why deconstruction, when done with love, becomes an act of deeper construction Welcome to the conversation—an ongoing, never-ending dialogue with reality itself. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MgkcaXzFNZg ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, Swami Padmanabha sits down with Mike Petrow — Christian contemplative scholar, Jungian specialist, spiritual director, and close collaborator of Father Richard Rohr at the Center for Action and Contemplation. Together, they explore a living conversation where reality is not a conclusion but a continuous unfolding. Their dialogue weaves through: 🕊️ The contemplative Christian path and the legacy of Richard Rohr🌿 Everything belongs — embracing wholeness without losing discernment🔥 Risk-taking in love and the courage to live from our brightest potential🌓 Shadow work through a Jungian lens — befriending what we fear💫 The dance of union and separation with the Divine📚 The wisdom of Origen, Carl Jung, and mystical traditions✨ What it means to stay in dialogue when certainty tempts us to stop listening This is a conversation where questions illuminate more than answers, and transformation happens in the space between perspectives. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qzejhiWF_ls?si=_A5OXadwe2cgw1S9 ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, Swami Padmanabha sits down with Arjuna—devotee, podcaster, and creator of Theology Unleashed. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Arjuna has been practicing bhakti-yoga for 15 years, grew up in a Christian background, and brings a thoughtful, inclusivist lens to the world’s wisdom traditions. Together they explore a provocative question: Does “Hinduism” really exist?Where did the term come from? Does it actually reflect the richness and diversity of the Indian subcontinent’s traditions—ranging from atheism, skepticism, and logic to panentheism, polytheism, monotheism, impersonalism, and radical personalism? Or does it flatten this vast landscape into something misleadingly uniform? ✨ This conversation unpacks the nuances behind the term and searches for creative, universal ways to engage with India’s spiritual heritage—and beyond—in a manner that truly honors its depth and diversity. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXo_MpsMr20 ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

In this episode, Swami Padmanabha sits down with Francis X. Clooney, Jesuit priest, scholar, and Parkman Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School. A pioneer in comparative theology, Professor Clooney has spent decades engaging Hindu and Christian traditions through deep study of Sanskrit and Tamil classics, interreligious dialogue, and spiritual practice. Their conversation revolves around his newly published memoir, Hindu and Catholic, Priest and Scholar: A Love Story, and touches on themes of vocation, celibacy, academia and faith, Ramanuja and Gaudiya Vaishnavism, interspirituality, Ignatian spirituality, poetry, regret, choice, and the ever-evolving path of divine love. This enriching dialogue explores what it means to live faithfully and authentically at the crossroads of traditions, scholarship, and personal devotion. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jGFqVkFDMtc ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

In this episode, Swami Padmanabha is joined by Lily Seto, seasoned professional coach, mentor coach, and coaching supervisor with nearly two decades of global experience. Lily shares her profound insights on: * What coaching truly is and how it can transform lives* The skills of intentional presence, deep listening, and empathy* Empowering others to find their own answers and insights* How coaching can be a contemplative practice, creating space for attention, silence, and reflection* The importance of holding uncomfortable but safe spaces for growth and self-discovery Known for her ethical rigor, clarity, and depth, Lily has pioneered coaching programs for public, private, and nonprofit sectors, co-founded an ICF-accredited Indigenous coach training program, and continues to guide her own coaching school, Eighth Element Coaching. Her work has been recognized globally, including awards for excellence in coaching, mentoring, and supervision. This conversation is a rich exploration of coaching as both an art and a practice of presence, offering insights for coaches, leaders, and anyone seeking deeper engagement with themselves and others. ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, Swami Padmanabha sits down with Rick Archer, creator of Buddha at the Gas Pump and co-founder of the Association for Spiritual Integrity. A lifelong meditator with over 55 years of daily practice, Rick has interviewed more than 725 people on their journeys of awakening. Their conversation dives into spiritual integrity, the difference between holiness and wholeness, the role of feedback and accountability for teachers, and what students should look for in a guide—all woven together with Rick’s own life story as a practitioner and teacher. https://youtu.be/ZY4Ja6-KXTw?si=gJwlCE-jDxz5haKO ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

In this insightful and heartful episode, Swami Padmanabha welcomes Sri Radha Govinda Devi—Vaishnavi teacher, astrologer, author, and president of the Goa Academy. With experience spanning continents and disciplines, she brings a multidimensional approach to spiritual growth, guiding others through Vedic astrology, Anartha Nivritti, personality analysis, and bhakti-based relationship work. The conversation centers on the Enneagram as a tool for self-awareness within the path of Bhakti. Together, they explore how understanding our personality types can deepen compassion, enhance spiritual practice, and foster authentic connection with both ourselves and the Divine. Themes like spiritual bypassing, belonging vs. fitting in, and how ancient texts like the Mahabharata offer insights into human psychology are woven throughout. This episode is a dynamic exploration of identity, diversity, and the sacred work of showing up fully human on the path of devotion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q_lEXxTkp4 ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

In this rich interfaith episode, Swami Padmanabha sits down with Swami Medhananda, monk of the Ramakrishna Order and philosopher of religion, to explore whether the Absolute must be either personal or impersonal—or whether it can lovingly hold both. They trace Sri Ramakrishna’s Vijñāna Vedanta, Vivekananda’s pluralism, and the nuanced view of bhakti traditions like Gaudiya Vaishnavism. How do we honor diverse spiritual experiences without falling into hierarchy—or relativism? Can rasa and Brahman co-exist? What is lost when we flatten God into one single face? This is a deep dive into paradox, nonduality, devotional epistemology, and the mystical meeting point of impersonal reality and personal intimacy. Join us for a philosophical and devotional exchange that may soften your certainties and expand your faith. https://youtu.be/LRpmMT4dSeA ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE