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CHITHEADS with Jacob Kyle (Embodied Philosophy) — Religion & Spirituality
CHITHEADS with Jacob Kyle (Embodied Philosophy)

Chitheads is a smorgasbord of contemplative education. Each episode is like a mini masterclass, exploring the diverse landscapes of spiritual practice, philosophy, and the transformative power of embodied knowledge. Each episode is crafted with the curious and open heart in mind, aiming to illuminate the path of self-inquiry and empowerment for yoga teachers, scholar-practitioners, meditators and other spiritual seekers and contemplative folks from around the world. From the profound teachings of Yoga and Buddhism to the sometimes complex theories of contemplative psychology and the vibrant tapestry of indigenous wisdom, our guests share insights that awaken, challenge, and inspire. With every episode, we dive into discussions that matter, exploring questions that guide us closer to our true selves and to a deeper understanding of the world around us. Our mission is to create a space where wisdom (and not fame, power, or money) is the center of gravity and what we are most concerned about cultivating in this lifetime. Join us on Chitheads as we explore the liminal spaces of consciousness, embrace the complexities of the human experience without dogma or self-righteousness, and discover the beauty again and again of the interconnectedness of all things. Subscribe to Chitheads on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and please consider leaving us a positive review on one iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. Come dive into these in-depth conversations that illuminate our path of contemplative discovery. If you’ve felt like you’re the only one full of chit – full of consciousness or awareness ˀ– welcome home. This community of listeners, seekers, and scholar-practitioners is for you.

Latest Episodes:

Change Your Breath to Change Your Life with Jacob Kyle Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jacob Kyle shares an excerpt from the first session of the Winter Sādhana School course — exploring the fundamentals of Yoga Philosophy to help situate us in the conversation of prāṇa, and why the extension of prāṇa is both a physical and energetic practice that expresses part of the trajectory of tantric sādhana. Jacob invites you to join him in the Sādhana School as the Winter quarter (January 2025) commences this week. Recordings are available to watch on-demand at your own pace.
To learn more about the comprehensive contemplative curriculum in Sādhana School, and to use coupon code CHITHEADS250 go here: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/sadhana-school-list or learn more and enroll in the Tantric Breath Winter Sādhana only - https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/winter-2025-sadhana-school-list.
Interested in the greater 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training? Learn more here: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/ytt-2025.
To deepen your knowledge of yoga philosophy, grab our Yoga Philosophy Reading List, a curated PDF of all the books that will give you a comprehensive overview of the yoga philosophical traditions. GET YOUR LIST HERE: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/yp-list
30-DAY SĀDHANA: 30 Days of Practices to help refine the nervous system, alleviate negative patterns, and foster a contemplative and spiritually-informed life.
MANTRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/30-day-sadhana
CHAKRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/chakra-sadhana
WISDOM SCHOOL: Over 100 courses (1000+ hours) in yoga, meditation, somatics, and dharma studies for spiritual seekers, yoga teachers and, body workers, healers and therapists.
Features:
→ A new course every month on a variety of topics
→ Learning pathways that help you digest the content
→ Wisdom study emails
→ Interactive member space
Start your 7-Day Free Trial: enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/wisdom-school

Abhinavagupta, A.I., and the Matter of Wonder with Loriliai Biernacki Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

Loriliai Biernacki is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her research interests include Hinduism, gender, New Materialism, and the interface between religion and science. Her first book, Renowned Goddess of Desire: Women, Sex and Speech in Tantra (2007) won the Kayden Award in 2008. She is co-editor of God’s Body: Panentheism across the World’s Religious Traditions (2013). Her most recent book is The Matter of Wonder: Abhinavagupta’s Panentheism and the New Materialism (2023).
In this episode, Loriliai and Jacob spoke about:

Artificial intelligence and whether or not AI can become conscious.
How Abhinavagupta’s work responds to the mind-body problem.
What the modern understanding is of matter and how Abhinavagupta’s matter is one that includes subjectivity, “I-ness”.
How looking at Abhinavagupta’s work as “religious” misunderstands the philosophical significance of his ideas.
How the deities referenced throughout the Tantrik tradition are a way of understanding the different “voices” or “personalities” of consciousness manifest in our seemingly singular embodiment.
The continental and analytic philosophy tradition, and why the continental tradition is a better home for Abhinavagupta.

Links mentioned in the episode:

CYBER MONDAY! https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/cyber-monday-2024
Jacob’s Substack, “Into the Void”: jacobkyle.com
Sādhana School: enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/sadhana-school-list

Wisdom School (Free Trial): enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/wisdom-school

Anxiety from a Philosophical Perspective with Samir Chopra Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

Jacob Kyle interviews Samir Chopra about anxiety from a philosophical perspective. In Samir's new book Anxiety: A Philosophical Guide, Samir explores the therapeutic value of anxiety from traditions of Buddhism, existentialism, psychoanalysis and critical theory.
To deepen your knowledge of yoga philosophy, grab our Yoga Philosophy Reading List, a curated PDF of all the books that will give you a comprehensive overview of the yoga philosophical traditions. GET YOUR LIST HERE: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com...
To learn more about the comprehensive contemplative curriculum in Sādhana School, and to use coupon code CHITHEADS250 go here: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/sadhana-school-list
30-DAY SĀDHANA: 30 Days of Practices to help refine the nervous system, alleviate negative patterns, and foster a contemplative and spiritually-informed life.
MANTRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com...
CHAKRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com...
WISDOM SCHOOL: Over 100 courses (1000+ hours) in yoga, meditation, somatics, and dharma studies for spiritual seekers, yoga teachers and, body workers, healers and therapists.
Features:
→ A new course every month on a variety of topics
→ Learning pathways that help you digest the content
→ Weekly study emails
→ Interactive member space
Start your 7-Day Free Trial: enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/wisdom-school

Jain Philosophy Through its Primary Concepts with Shree Nahata Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

Jacob Kyle interviews Shree Nahata about the fundamental principles of Jain philosophy and how these principles are incredibly timely and insightful for modern times.
To deepen your knowledge of yoga philosophy, grab our Yoga Philosophy Reading List, a curated PDF of all the books that will give you a comprehensive overview of the yoga philosophical traditions. GET YOUR LIST HERE: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com...
30-DAY SĀDHANA: 30 Days of Practices to help refine the nervous system, alleviate negative patterns, and foster a contemplative and spiritually-informed life.
MANTRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com...
CHAKRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com...
WISDOM SCHOOL: Over 100 courses (1000+ hours) in yoga, meditation, somatics, and dharma studies for spiritual seekers, yoga teachers and, body workers, healers and therapists.
Features:
→ A new course every month on a variety of topics
→ Learning pathways that help you digest the content
→ Weekly study emails
→ Interactive member space
Start your 7-Day Free Trial: enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/wisdom-school

Bhāva: A Theory of Imagination Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the podcast, we share an excerpt from the 30-Day Sādhana on the topic of bhāva, a Sanskrit word which has a number of different meanings, including emotion, being, becoming, and denotes a state of things that we bring into being through practice. It grounds a theory of imagination that is both illuminating and empowering. It grounds our understanding of how and why visualization practices are effective. It is a central theoretical concept that we're exploring as we investigate the yoga text, the Matsyendrasaṃhitā, throughout the 30 days of the challenge. If you're interested in the 30-Day Sādhana, you can find more information here: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/chakra-sadhanaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lineage of Immortals with Jason Birch Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Jason Birch is a scholar of medieval haṭha yoga and a founding member of SOAS's Centre for Yoga Studies. His research includes locating and translating early yoga manuscripts, and preparing critical editions, such as of the Amaraugha. In this episode, Jason and Jacob discuss:

what inspired Jason to pursue the study of Sanskrit texts
the historical importance of the Amaraugha, a 12th century text attributed to Gorakṣanātha
the account of 4 yogas discussed in the text
what mantra, laya, haṭha and rāja yoga practices looked like for the yoga tradition associated with the Amaraugha
the relationship between Buddhist and Śaiva yogas
what this corpus of haṭha yoga texts might mean for modern practitioners
how the forthcoming translations of haṭha yoga texts could enrich the landscape of yoga study

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Crack in Time with Shambhavi Sarasvati Apr 19, 2024

Show notes

Shambhavi Sarasvati is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula, a nonprofit community in Portland, Oregon. Her principle training is in the View and practices of Trika Shaivism—also called Kashmir Shaivism—and the Dzogchen tradition of Tibet. Shambhavi is known for her humor and for making complex teachings about the nature of the self and reality understandable, practical, and always relevant to our lived experience. Her teachings are grounded in forty years of study, daily practice, and personal retreats. Shambhavi holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Mills College and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University. She is the author of six books about spiritual life and practice. In this episode, Shambhavi and Jacob discuss:

how the war on Gaza amounts to a crack in time that is fundamentally reorienting us in this moment
our relationship with the "other"
how the nature of reality is a dynamic play of "wisdom-virtue"
what the Mahabharata has to teach us about the war in Gaza
how we each can connect to our own unique impulse to be of service in this moment
the obstacles people encounter that keep them from speaking up, and how to move through those obstacles
how to embody the "wisdom of the heart"

Shambhavi has created a reading list as a resource for those interested in deepening their understanding around the historical and political circumstances between Isreal and Palestine. You can find that reading list here: https://jayakula.craft.me/palestine-learning Shambhavi and the Jaya Kula community gather for satsang and kirtan every Sunday at 3:30pm Pacific. Satsang is live in Portland Oregon and live-streamed. Visit jayakula.org for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ancient Greek Wisdom with Athena Potari Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

Athena Potari is a philosopher, spiritual teacher, and lineage holder of the Hellenic
spiritual tradition. She is the founder of Athenoa – an Academy for Hellenic Wisdom in
Greece, where Hellenism is approached as a living wisdom tradition whose core
consists in the inextricable synthesis of scientific reason, self-inquiry and spirituality.
Her work aims to revive the deeper spiritual and experiential dimensions of Hellenic
Philosophy as a living spiritual lineage, combining discursive rigor, embodied
meditative practices, and ancient spiritual practices with the aim of awakening to the
ever-present mystery of being – our true Self. She received her PhD from the University
of Oxford, specializing in Political Philosophy, and her MA in Political Theory with
Distinction from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She was
Fellow at the Center for Hellenic Studies at Harvard University, exploring possibilities
for an expanded practice of Philosophy by re-integrating elements and histories of the
feminine. She is recipient of the Academy of Athens Award of Philosophy (2020),
author of “A Call for a Renaissance of the Spirit in the Humanities” published by the
Galileo Commission, and Member of the Galileo Commission Steering Committee. In this episode, Athena and Jacob discuss:

How engaging with the Indian yogic traditions can clarify our ability to find wisdom in our own indigenous traditions.
The unique energetic “field” of Oxford and how it nurtured her academic and philosophical development.
The basics of the Hellenic worldview, and how it frames a spiritual path that sees the All as both One and Many.
The inherently political nature of Being.
The ways in which the modern university does not satisfy the deepest impulses toward eudaemonia – happiness, or fulfillment.
A view of ethics not as “morality” but as “habits of energy.”
Philosophy not as an “intellectual” but an “embodied” endeavor.
The teachings of various ancient Greek philosophers, including Plato, Heraclitus, Plotinus, and Pythagoras.
The holistic synergy between consciousness and matter.
The nature of Being.

Follow Athena on the Following Channels:

Facebook: facebook.com/athenapotari ; facebook.com/athenoa
YouTube: @athenoa
Instagram: @athena_potari
Webpage (finished soon): philathenea.wixsite.com/athenoa-academy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wisdom of Zero with Jacob Kyle Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Embodied Philosophy Founder Jacob Kyle is interviewed by Kelly Blaser for the 2024 Power of Meditation Summit. They discussed the role of the scholar-practitioner, the philosophical significance of "zero," the important synergy of knowledge and experience, "reappropriating God," and the necessary role of spirituality in the lives of queer people. Jacob Kyle is a meditation teacher, writer, philosophy educator, and the Founding Director of Embodied Philosophy. He holds an MPhil in Classical Indian Religions from the University of Oxford, an MA in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research in New York City, and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Jacob is a student of Kashmir Śaivism scholar-practitioner Paul Muller-Ortega and is a devoted practitioner of the Śaiva-Śākta Darśana. Kelly Blaser is the founder of DharmaBridge and SomaPsychotherapy, and is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with an emphasis in Buddhism, Shaiva and Shakta Tantra, and Somatic Psychology. Her background in feminist movements and Latin American Studies and experience living in Central America opened her up to the extent that our inner struggles are reflective of systemic structures that promote domination and disassociation. Her work is to help others experience the infinite compassion beneath the chaos of life and to remind them of their true nature. Her programs and courses focus largely on the power of applying the dharma to one's relationship with oneself and others. She helps people train themselves in meditation, mindfulness practices, and compassionate self-inquiry, so they can gain freedom from conditioned mind and open up to possibility. Explore the many upcoming offerings and follow Kelly's work at www.kellyblaser.com. In this episode, Jacob and Kelly discuss:

how the history of "zero" as a mathematical disruptive discovery reflects the way our contemplative sādhana both disrupts and inspires different forms of knowledge
the importance of studying yoga philosophy as a way to empower embodied experience
how scholarship should take seriously and employ experientially the embodied epistemologies of ancient wisdom traditions
what it means to let your subjective experience inform your practice without rejecting the knowledge systems of the tradition
the symbolism of Nataraja (the dancing Shiva) and how it represents the five universe functions of reality
the dance of revelation and concealment according to the Tantrik tradition
how organized religions have rejected gay and queer people, and how this necessitates a "re-appropriation" of God in queer-inclusive theologies and philosophies that are simultaneously informed by an understanding of wisdom traditions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yoga Teacher Travails & Transformations with Leslie Kaminoff Feb 21, 2024

Show notes

Leslie Kaminoff is a yoga educator inspired by the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar. He is an internationally recognized specialist with four decades’ experience in the fields of yoga and breath anatomy. He leads workshops for many of the leading yoga associations, schools and training programs in the world. Leslie’s book Yoga Anatomy, (co-authored with Amy Matthews), sold out its first print run of 19,000 within one month of its June 2007 release, and has been a top-selling yoga book on Amazon ever since. The book went into 12 printings before the newly-revised third edition of Yoga Anatomy was released on October 31, 2011, now with well over half a million copies in print and translations into 23 languages. Leslie also helped to organize international yoga conferences while serving as Vice-President of Unity in Yoga, and was part of the ad-hoc committee that established national standards for yoga teacher training. Prior to the formation of The Yoga Alliance, Leslie was a strong voice in the ensuing national debate regarding the application of those certification standards. This dialogue resulted in the creation of e-Sutra, an influential e-mail list and blog that has an active worldwide membership. Leslie is the founder of The Breathing Project, a New York City based non-profit educational corporation which ran highly respected year-long courses in yoga anatomy from 2003 to 2017. Leslie Kaminoff founded The Breathing Project in 2001 as a non-profit dedicated to the sharing of educational, community-based programming related to yoga, anatomy and health enrichment. From 2003 until mid-2017 the main vehicle for this mission was the physical studio we ran in New York City. The Breathing Project continues its mission of community service by producing and co-sponsoring workshops, immersions, symposia and publications featuring thought leaders from the fields of yoga, anatomy, somatics and other allied fields. The courses Leslie taught at The Breathing Project in New York City have been available online to a worldwide audience at yogaanatomy.net since 2011, with thousands of students worldwide participating in this growing online community. In this episode, Jacob & Leslie discussed:

three tiers of yoga education: instructor, teacher, educator (and therapist?)
the yoga teaching landscape post-Covid
the historical arc of yoga's popularity
the psychology of the classroom & student/teacher dynamics
studying the anatomy of the mouth through Sanskrit

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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