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Mindful U at Naropa University — Education
Mindful U at Naropa University

As the birthplace of the mindfulness movement in the United States, Naropa University has a unique perspective when it comes to higher education in the West. Founded in 1974 by renowned Tibetan Buddhist scholar and lineage holder Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Naropa was intended to be a place where students could study Eastern and Western religions, writing, psychology, science, and the arts, while also receiving contemplative and meditation training. Forty-three years later, Naropa is a leader in ‘contemplative education’, a pedagogical approach that blends rigorous academics, contemplative practice, and experiential learning. Naropa President Chuck Lief explains, “Mindfulness here is not a class. Mindfulness is basically the underpinning of what we do in all of our classes. That said, the flavor or the color of mindfulness from class to class is really completely up to the individual faculty member to work on—on their own. So, what happens in a poetry class is going to look very different from what happens in a research psychology class. But, one way or another the contemplative practices are brought into the mix.” This podcast is for those with an interest in mindfulness and a curiosity about its place in both higher education and the world at large. Hosted by Naropa alumnus and Multimedia Manager David DeVine, episodes feature Naropa faculty, alumni, and special guests on a wide variety of topics including compassion, permaculture, social justice, herbal healing, and green architecture—to name a few. Listen to explore the transformative possibilities of mindfulness, both in the classroom and beyond!

Latest Episodes:

103. Reexamining Imposter Syndrome and the Inner Critic Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Artist, author, and leadership development trainer, Rosi Greenberg, breaks down the concept of the inner critic and redefines imposter syndrome.

Our inner critic isn’t going anywhere, but it can become an ally when we come into relationship with the wisdom that underlies it. She also examines imposter syndrome as something that is often a product of systems of oppression and in recognizing this, how can we look at systems change while also applying compassion to ourselves and our current experience.

Special Guest: Rosi Greenberg.

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102. Healing the Whole Person with Gestalt Therapy Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Hear from Harmony Kwiker on the magic that is gestalt therapy.

Harmony is a visiting professor of Naropa’s master's program in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling. She shares about how the gestalt therapy model has helped her bridge her spiritual path with a practical way to help others and provides a framework to treat patients as equals who are empowered in their own healing journey to come into contact with the deepest parts of themselves.

Special Guest: Harmony Kwiker.

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101. Midlife Emergence: Free Your Inner Fire Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

Our latest podcast with Jen Berlingo, MA, LPC, ATR is out today!

Jen is a Naropa Alumnx of the MA Transpersonal Therapy program, a practicing coach, licensed therapist and author of her new book Midlife Emergence: Free Your Inner Fire.

In this episode you’ll hear about her Naropa experience and how getting a degree in counseling served her true calling of art, therapy and coaching after leaving the corporate world. She also shares her journey of coming out as queer in midlife and what it looked like to alchemize her midlife transition into a Midlife Emergence of true authentic living.

Special Guest: Jen Berlingo .

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100. Holistic Life Foundation: Let Your Light Shine Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

Ali Smith, Atman Smith, and Andres Gonzalez are inspiring examples of what it looks like to build a successful non-profit that utilizes yoga and mindfulness to empower communities. They are the founders of The Holistic Life Foundation, a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to nurturing the wellness of underserved communities—whether that’s in schools, detention centers, drug treatment centers, mental illness facilities, recreation centers, group homes, colleges, senior centers, and more. HLF is run by BiPOC and demonstrates a deep commitment to learning, community, and stewardship of the environment.

In this episode, they talk about the programs they run, the inspiration that fuels them, and their new book, Let Your Light Shine, that goes into their personal practices that led them to this work and inspires their own lives.

Check out this episode to get inspired about the possibilities that mindfulness and socially engaged entrepreneurship have in store for our world.

Special Guests: Ali Smith, Andres Gonzalez, and Atman Smith.

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99. Nova Han: Creating Immersive Spaces Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

In this episode we’re diving into the world of creative entrepreneurship with Nova Han. Nova is the Creative Director for Electric Forest Festival, String Cheese Incident, and much much more.

She discusses how she got started in the space, what her work looks to today, and how her creative vision keeps evolving.

Check out this episode to hear an inspiring conversation of what it looks like to follow your passions and gifts, even as you’re creating it as you go.

Special Guest: Nova Han.

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98. Stephanie Yuhas, PhD: Honoring the Earth: Climate, Ecology, and Ecopsychology Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Stephanie Yuhas, the chair of both Eco Psychology MA program and the environmental studies BA program at Naropa University.

Dr. Yuhas discusses the topics of climate grief, eco anxiety, and how to mobilize and ease these states into helpful action for our planet. She also talks about the various career paths available to students studying Ecopscyhcology and Environmental Studies and why these are needed in our world going forward.

Check out this episode to hear a rich conversation on climate, ecology, and psychology!

Special Guest: Stephanie Yuhas.

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97. DJ CAVEM: The Cross-Pollination of Art and Sustainability May 26, 2023

Show notes

In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Ietef aka “DJ CAVEM”, international eco-hip hop artist, chef, organic gardener, and food justice advocate.

DJ CAVEM shares about the important cross pollination of art and sustainability, and how food justice and ecological responsibility translate into equity for all.

He also talks about celebrating companies that go green and encouraging brands that listen when they’re called out, energizing our youth to be in contact with plants and soil, and building brave spaces in our communities that address the many inequities of modern society.

Check out this episode for an inspiring talk on the impact of art on our relationship to food, climate, justice, and nature!

Special Guest: DJ Cavem.

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96. Barbara Bash: Heaven, Earth and Humanity—What Calligraphy Can Teach Us About Each Moment May 10, 2023

Show notes

We are happy to have Spring 2023 Lenz Distinguished Lecturer Barbara Bash join us to discuss her creative journey as a calligraphic artist. In this episode, she discusses everything from Western calligraphy's precision to Big Brushstroke calligraphy's spontaneity and what unites them.

She also talks about the three primary principles of contemplative art: Heaven, Earth, and Humanity and how these become gateways that attune you into the aliveness of the moment.

Check out this episode to hear this rich conversation!

Bash's visit to Naropa was sponsored by the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism, and organization that promotes the benefits of Zen Buddhism, meditation, yoga, and related Buddhist practices in a manner complementary to modern American society. By developing and strengthening the emerging community of American Buddhist organizations, the Foundation seeks to give birth to an American society that reflects the universal Buddhist values of wisdom, compassion, mindfulness.

The annual Lenz Foundation Distinguished Guest Lecturer Program in Buddhist Studies and American Culture and Values promotes diversity of thought and practice at Naropa by inviting distinguished guest lecturers from communities, traditions and scholarship related to Buddhism in America to supplement existing university expertise. Past Lenz Foundation Distinguished Lecturers at Naropa University have included Sharon Salzberg, Meredith Monk, Gary Snyder, and Joanna Macy.

Special Guest: Barbara Bash.

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95. Valeria McCarroll, PhD: Somadelics, Pursuing Life with Psychedelic Support & Intentional Integration Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

Valeria McCarroll, PhD, joins us to discuss Somadelics, Pursuing Life with Psychedelic Support & Intentional Integration in this thought-provoking episode. Also discussed is being in 'right relationship' with the medicine, trauma responses, honoring the medicine's lineage, and transformational justice. After the episode, find more on ValeriaMcCarroll.com and Somadelics.com.

"I am deeply curious about, you know, there’s now studies that are emerging, or that have been emerging around using psychedelics to heal racial trauma and using psychedelics to address the impact of injustice in our society. I am particularly curious about because I like taking these frameworks and bringing them inside, what would it be to — to take principles and understandings of restorative justice and — and transformative justice and scaffold bodies of work so that people can do that work internally so that they can transform the parts of themselves that oppress and have been oppressed into right relationships so we can be in right relationship inside ourselves? Because I think that’s really, you know, if we sort of look at all of what’s happening in the world is the play of consciousness coming to know itself, we’re just projecting our own undigested stuff around power out there. And so if we can do that work internally, then maybe we can do that with other people in a good way." - Valeria McCarroll

"Somadelics is a contemporary path of spiritual awakening, a weaving that is inspired and informed by the traditions of classical nondual Tantra, modern psychedelic medicine, and somatic psychology. Somadelics synthesizes luminous practices for awakening radiant embodiment." -ValeriaMcCarroll.com

Special Guest: Valeria McCarroll.

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94. Dr. Jennifer Bacon: Sacred Activism and Educating the Whole Child Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Jennifer Bacon is a strong proponent of taking action in activism. That is why she created the course "Sacred Activism" at Naropa - to empower a community to make strides in equality, anti-racism, and social justice.

Her children's book, I Am an Antiracist Superhero! will be published by Bala Kids in 2023.

Pre-order her book HERE

Special Guest: Dr. Jennifer Bacon.

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