The Spiritual Perspective

Latest Episodes:

20: Adriene Mishler: The Story Behind the World’s Biggest YouTube Yoga Platform, Yoga With Adriene Oct 07, 2020

Show notes

Online health platforms were already on the rise before the pandemic of 2020, but we have seen a sharp uptick in the utilization of video classes and communities since quarantines have kicked in. One such community was built by Adriene Mishler, and had humble beginnings as a yoga class hosted on YouTube in the early 2010s. 'Yoga with Adriene' grew steadily after a slow start, and by the time 2020 came around Adriene was the highest searched yoga content on the internet! She has built a huge community which she helps instruct from her living room. To give you an idea of her impact, she has been called 'the Mr. Rogers of yoga'! Having been born into a theatre family, Adriene has a lifelong passion for performance and connection to an audience. We hear from her about her earliest memories of the theatre, how this grew into a career in acting, and how this career led her to pursue teaching yoga. Constantly juggling a number of intense projects has kept Adriene on the go from a young age, and it is only through her consistency and a deep desire that she has made it through challenging times and reaped the rewards of the hard work. We see how her authenticity led to the videos she was publishing eventually catching fire, to the point where she now has 7 million subscribers on YouTube, with over 600 million views on her channel! This is a beautifully meandering conversation about this process of growth, the obstacles that Adriene encountered, and the lessons she learned along the way. Adriene talks about the role of her angels in the journey and what it means to contribute to the future of yoga! Listen in with us today for this amazing conversation!

Key Points From This Episode:

Adriene's childhood memories of the theatre — set creation, imaginary games, and more!
Looking back at Adriene's younger years; feelings of gratitude and being blessed.
Lessons from Adriene's parents — things she carries forward with her to this day.
The desire to create and perform and Adriene's aspirations at different times.
Early days working in a company and the experience of real nerves and fear.
The important relationships and settings for Adriene in her later teen years.
Spiritualism and religion among Adriene's family and peers.
The events and feelings that led to signing up at a yoga studio.
Hunger and poise; Adriene's mental state entering into adulthood.
Adriene's thoughts going into yoga teacher training — a side hustle amid a busy schedule.
The day that Adriene found a meaningful mentor for her yoga practice.
Lessons that Adriene learned spending time teaching yoga to children.
The parts of teaching adult yoga classes that Adriene enjoyed the most.
Maintaining acting work in plays and film; Adriene's dedication and hard work!
The Austin film scene — the beginnings of something special for Adriene.
Adriene's important relationship with Chris Sharpe and the fruits of this connection.
Thoughts on the sanctity of yoga and bringing this into an online space.
The first forays that Adriene and Chris made into filming for her YouTube channel.
Feelings of growth and watching the numbers go up after a quiet start.
Finding a voice in teaching and the stages of improvement Adriene experienced.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Light Watkins

Yoga with Adriene

Adriene Mishler on Twitter

FWFG Kula

Mr Rogers

SITI Company

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19: How Lt. Edwin Raymond Became the Change He Wanted to See as a Whistleblower in the NYC Police Department Sep 30, 2020

Show notes

Although the issue of police brutality and racial profiling has been prevalent for decades, in many ways, 2020 will be remembered as the year in which the levee broke. Here on the show with us today is Edwin Raymond, someone who is positioned better than anyone to speak on the systems of law enforcement, the problems we see, the limitations on officers, and the action that is needed on so many levels to course-correct. Having grown up in and around the most dangerous parts of New York City, Edwin was on the receiving end of police harassment and profiling, but when he encountered a family friend who was in the force, his strict moral compass implored him to try and fix the problems from the inside — he became a police officer himself. Edwin admits to a level of naïveté and hopefulness that was whittled down over time. From monthly quotas and the targeting of lower-income communities to the systemic racism that is deeply rooted in the history of policing, Edwin's efforts to combat injustice in the police department did more to ostracize him than change practices. In our conversation with Edwin, we hear the path that he took in response to what might have appeared a hopeless scenario, speaking out and publicizing the rampant problems facing society through policing practices. For all this and a vital story from a fearless warrior, be sure to listen in with us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Edwin's childhood love of drawing and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Experiences growing up in the projects, close to 'The Front Page'.
Family life for Edwin, the death of his mother at a young age, and his father's depression.
Edwin and his brother's fear of the weekend and the associated feelings of hunger.
The Abner Louima brutality case and how Edwin struggled to process this reality.
Getting work at a grocery store at the age of 12; staying out of gang activity and crime.
Edwin's internal moral compass from a young age and his conception of right and wrong.
Career aspirations, dreams of architecture, and increasing harassment by police during adolescence.
The impactful experience that Edwin had meeting a cop who he knew.
Reading material that Edwin started to consume at the end of his teenage years.
Edwin's thoughts on destiny, autonomy, and his personal mission.
Connecting with Eric Adams; how this relationship aided and supported Edwin's mission.
The resistance that Edwin encountered upon entering the police force.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Light Watkins

Edwin Raymond

PLOT

'A Black Police Officer's Fight Against the N.Y.P.D.'

'I Got Tired of Hunting Black and Hispanic People'

Edwin Raymond on Twitter

Edwin Raymond on Instagram

Destruction of Black Civilization

Autobiography of Malcolm X

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18: Ava DuVernay Switched Careers in Her 30’s, Became an Award-Winning Film Director, and Started a Distribution Collective to Help Others Do the Same Sep 23, 2020

Show notes

An amazing career path does not have a set shape or direction and the limitations that external expectations put on our hopes for ourselves can stunt the blossoming of the most unlikely of flowers. Ava DuVernay is a priceless example of this! She joins us on the podcast today to share her amazing and surprising story and all the twists and turns that have led her to the highly regarded position she currently occupies, and more importantly, where she is able to create her own definition of success — which looks quite different than it used to! In our inspiring and honest conversation, Ava unpacks the important family relationships that shaped her world view, the impact of her college years at UCLA, and the formative experiences she had in the hip hop scene centered around the Good Life Cafe. After carving out an enviable career in publicity and building an agency, Ava began work on a side-project, exploring her childhood passion for story-telling, and this foray into filmmaking grew and grew — in ways that even Ava could not have expected. With so many impressive and vital films under her belt already, we cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next, join us to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

Ava's love of playing with Barbies with her sisters and the early form of world-building this fostered.
Family dynamics growing up and Ava's role as the oldest sibling.
Ava's early thoughts on careers and the gift that reflected these aspirations.
Childhood associations with Hollywood and the importance of arts and culture.
The first movie and music group that Ava fell in love with!
Ava's early connection to U2 and the amazing meetings and communications she has shared with Bono!
Family traits that Ava has inherited; storytelling, hard work, and responsibility.
Neighborhood politics and the radical action that Ava witnessed from a young age.
Ava's college years, her decision to attend UCLA.
The post-college period and the steps that Ava took into publicity business.
The reputation that Ava built up and what she became known for in her work.
Ava's journey towards a healthier sense of balance in her life.
The effect of the terminal diagnosis that Ava's aunt Denise received.
Ava's moment of realization on the set of Michael Mann's Collateral.
The beginnings of Ava's filmmaking career and how she started small.

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17: How Diego Perez Created “Yung Pueblo” and Went Viral on Instagram by Writing a Poem a Day Sep 16, 2020

Show notes

The path to self-discovery and self-love is not often a straight one and the theme of our winding journeys as humans is a common one on this podcast. Today's episode underlines this idea, as we are joined by poet, Diego Perez, who is more commonly known as Yung Pueblo. He is the author of the widely acclaimed collection of poems, Inward, and has grown a notable online following, starting from humble beginnings to an Instagram account that is has amassed almost a million followers! In our conversation, we take the scenic route through Diego's life, looking at his childhood in Ecuador, his family's move to the US, and how his public schooling in Boston impacted his worldview. Diego then takes us through the difficulties he experienced during his early adult life, falling into bad habits and drug use while at college as a means to escape his feelings. It took some time, but after Diego hit what he felt was rock bottom, he began on a path to recovery, healthier practices, and a life filled with radical honesty. He talks about what this looked like for him and the important steps in the process, with a big emphasis on meditation. From there, we get into his writing process, how he started out as an online poet, and the way he published his first book. This conversation is truly not to be missed!

Key Points From This Episode:

Diego's younger years in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and his favorite toys that he remembers.
Family life for Diego growing up and the difficult experience of poverty.
Diego's schooling and the cultural richness of attending Boston public schools.
Interests that Diego fostered in high school and his ideas of getting out of poverty.
Spanish at home, English in public — how the family adapted to American culture.
Diego's college application process, hustling for vouchers, and eventually getting a scholarship.
The implicit values that were associated with Diego's martial arts practice.
How learned repression and avoidant tendencies led to unhealthy habits and drug abuse.
Difficult years post-graduation and the moment when Diego hit rock bottom.
Diego's adoption of healthier practices and a radically honest lifestyle.
The move to Portland and the steps that led up to Diego's first Vipassana course.
The fear that Diego experienced arriving and starting a ten-day meditation retreat.
Feelings that came up during the process that led to a breakthrough for Diego.
Diego's return to Boston and the changes that he began to implement in his life.
Moving to New York City and focussing on writing, while continuing important healing and learning.
Diego's first forays into posting poetry on Instagram and his thinking around this time.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Yung Pueblo on Instagram

Inward

Clarity and Connection

Yung Pueblo on Twitter

Youth Against Mass Incarceration

Michelle Alexander

R.M. Drake

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16: Max Lugavere Used Tragedy to Help Others Understand How Brain Health Creates a Genius Life Sep 09, 2020

Show notes

Brain disease often starts decades before the diagnosis, and if only people knew that the foods they put in their body can either make or break a healthy brain, they would make different choices. Today’s guest is Max Lugavere, author of Genius Foods and The Genius Life, here to talk about the journey that led him to his life’s purpose – helping people truly understand nutrition. Max had been on track to becoming a television star, yet little did he know, he was being divinely groomed to challenge the traditional healthcare system, where they treat symptoms more than the root of an illness. We hear about Max’s fascination with the idea of becoming superhuman, and he takes us through the manifestations of this interest in his early forays into health science. Max shares about his experiences at university, getting into film and documenting ‘peak experiences’, and how this led to him and his best friend working as Current TV presenters for six years. Around this time, Max’s mother was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative condition, and he left everything behind to find out all he could to help her. For an inspiring conversation about asking questions and realizing that everything in life is grooming you for your purpose, be sure to tune in.

Key Points From This Episode:

Max’s childhood fascination with Exosquad toys the themes that drew him to them.
Having a lifelong interest in the body and ideas of frailty and health optimization.
Eating a ‘healthy’ childhood diet restricted by the limits of Max’s mom’s idea of healthy food.
How Max discovered healthier eating and diet types as a teenager in chat groups.
Meeting Jason Silva, getting into filmmaking and spiritual hedonism; Max’s student days in Miami.
Making Textures of Selfhood and how Jason and Max got content creator jobs for Current TV.
Lessons learned about authenticity and storytelling while at Current TV for six years.
Max’s music practice, YouTube videos, and the idea of practicing to get better at something.
How Max shifted from film and music to wellness after his mom was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative condition.
The different elite health facilities Max and his family consulted to get a clear diagnosis.
The problem with doctors and how Max used his prior skills and knowledge to help his mom himself.
Max’s decision to make a documentary film about his experiences and process of researching for answers.
Big discoveries Max made in his research such as dementia beginning decades before its symptoms.

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15: Olympia Auset had No Money, and Was Still Able to Create an Oasis in a Los Angeles Food Desert Sep 02, 2020

Show notes

Food apartheid is different from a food desert because it is man-made, and the lack of availability of healthy food disproportionately affects communities of color. This week’s guest is somebody who's working toward eliminating what she calls the food apartheid. Olympia Auset has made it her mission to find solutions to America’s food deserts, which are communities that lack access to affordable, high-quality, fresh foods. Olympia was vegan and living in a food desert herself. Because she didn't have a car, she would find herself having to spend hours on the bus just to get to the grocery store on the other side of town that carried the higher quality produce. After taking several of these trips, Olympia realized that she was the change she was waiting for, and that was when she started working with local farmers to create an oasis in the middle of her own food desert, which she called Süprmarkt. Over the last five years, Süprmarkt has distributed more than 70,000 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables. What's remarkable is Olympia started without even having a table to sell the produce on. To date, she still doesn't have a car or a cellphone. After raising close to $90,000 in a crowdfunding campaign, she's now in escrow to purchase a brick and mortar location for Süprmarkt, which is going to help her create a centralized location for the community to gather and share in her mission of making healthy, fresh foods and meals available to all. Tune in to find out more about Olympia’s story today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Olympia describes her favorite game as a child, based on the TV show, Charmed.
What childhood was like for Olympia being an imaginative only child.
Olympia’s numerous dreams for what she wanted to be when she grew up.
How Olympia’s great teachers encouraged her and taught her about systemic racism.
Olympia’s relationship with plants, food, and urban agriculture started in university
How Olympia chose to attend Howard University and create her own application.
Olympia shares a bit about the Thursday night power study group she attended at Howard.
Going vegan in her freshman year at college and what it taught her about population control.
The biggest challenge of going vegan for Olympia: The options available in the cafeteria.
Olympia’s early concept of success: Sharing information and creating meaningful change.
Starting The GOYS Life as a one-stop shop for awakening.
Olympia’s experience of doing odd jobs while she built The GOYS Life and Süprmarkt.
From volunteering at The Shine to starting Süprmarkt – Olympia shares her inspiration.
A food desert versus a food apartheid – one is naturally occurring, the other is man-made.
Starting Süprmarkt with friends and having their first public event with just $100.
Olympia’s present definition of success including eradicating food apartheid by 2040.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Olympia Auset on LinkedIn

Süprmarkt

Süprmarkt on Twitter

Süprmarkt on Instagram

Süprmarkt on Facebook

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14: Robert “Brix” Glover Lost 140 lbs and Began Showing Others How to Regain Their Health with His Brix Fitness Youtube Channel Aug 26, 2020

Show notes

Deciding to change your life is difficult because it means you have to accept total responsibility for your actions and the situation you find yourself in. While this can feel frightening, it is equally as liberating because you know you have the power to turn things around. Today's guest, Robert Glover, known as Brix, is a health and fitness YouTuber, whose vulnerability and transparency about the difficult journey he is been on to better himself has inspired countless people. In this episode, we hear about Brix’s life, from childhood and some of the trauma he faced to going to college and gaining a lot of weight. He also shares the story of how a felony charge followed by the passing of a close friend finally caused him to take stock, which he had avoided for years. Despite having fallen off the weight loss wagon multiple times before, Brix knew that March 1st, 2013 was the day things would finally shift for good. We learn about the inner transformation the accompanied Brix’s physical one, and the realization that he had about the suffering he was inflicting on himself. Rather than beating himself up for the countless mistakes he’s made, Brix believes that he's faced these obstacles to get closer to his purpose of helping others and spreading the light. His story is not only incredibly motivational and hope-filled, but it’s an example of what happens when you show up for yourself day in and day out. To hear more, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Hear about Robert’s favorite childhood toys and growing up in Brownsville and Germany.
Memories from Brix’s childhood, including gang activity and his relationship to food.
What happened when Brix had unlimited access to food for the first time in his life in college.
The moment when Brix realized that he had gained 150 pounds.
How Brix overcompensated for his weight gain.
Brix’s relationship with his ex-wife and some of the insecurities he had in the marriage.
Hear more about Brix’s run-in with the law that happened outside a Foot Locker.
What happened on Brix’s sentencing day and the haunting words from the judge.
Brix’s confessional video before and after sentencing and his relationship with vlogging.
How the felony charge and the passing of a close friend caused Brix to change his life.
Why Brix decided to put his newfound energy into losing weight.
The strong vision that Brix had to share his weight loss story with others to help them.
The motivation behind recording ‘fat Brix’ shirtless at the start of his weight loss journey.

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13: MyIntent’s Chris Pan Discovered a Unique Way to Bring People Together One Hand-Stamped Bracelet at a Time Aug 19, 2020

Show notes

My Intent is a simple yet powerful initiative started by Chris Pan, and we are joined by Chris on the podcast today to talk about his journey and the steps in his path that led to starting this organization and what inspired his choices. With My Intent, Chris aims to create connection and alignment for people by identifying a specific intention and word which is then etched into a bracelet. It can be a reminder or motivation to stick to one's commitment or goal, or just a reinforcement of something to focus on. The bracelet is thus much more than just jewelry or a hip way to display your character, although since the business has grown in the last few years, it has definitely found some mainstream appeal! We hear from Chris about some of the difficulties of his younger years, moving around a lot and being alone for most of his time. He talks about his college years and how he embraced student leadership and community work in order to connect and build his resume, and from there we talk about his forays into business. Chris stands as a testament to the power of being able to bounce back as many of his initial projects and goals did not quite work out. It was only through an ongoing curiosity and determination that he was able to get closer to his calling and find his lane. We talk about the common threads through the years, what led him to leave a position at Facebook, and the chance encounters and serendipity that allowed him to dive into the My Intent project. So for this special story from a special friend, join us on the show today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Chris' favorite childhood toys and how he would occupy himself by playing alone.
The move from Taipei to the US and Chris' mental and emotional state at the time.
Taking up the opportunity to become a student leader during college.
Abandoning medical school and enrolling in business school classes.
The failure of Chris' first business and then taking up a job at McKinsey.
Moving from New York to Shanghai and taking up a position at PepsiCo.
Some tough times in Shanghai looking for new work after another failed startup.
Chris' move to Palo Alto and taking up a position in product marketing at Facebook!
Leaving San Fransisco and the encounter that inspired the beginnings of My Intent.
Hosting the first SpiritLab events in Los Angeles and connecting with new people.
Momentum starting around the bracelets that Chris was making.
The bracelets that Chris made for Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Kanye West.
A trip to Bali for yoga that did not go as planned and the Kanye TIME cover!
The My Intent feature on The Today Show and the immediate spike in sales as a result.
A special story about a 'Courage' bracelet and what it meant to someone going into surgery.

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12: Robert Hammond’s Unlikely Journey of Turning an Eyesore into The Highline, While Transforming New York City in the Process Aug 12, 2020

Show notes

The High Line is now one of New York City's most iconic landmarks. But there was a time when some considered it to be an eyesore. Rising above street level, the park is an accessible and beautiful space that has regenerated a historic and forgotten place for locals and visitors alike. Joining us on the show is one of the forces behind this amazing project, Robert Hammond. Robert has always had a number of things on the go in his life at any given time. He admits that it seems to suit him to not focus solely on one avenue and rather juggle a bunch of projects. We hear from Robert about his upbringing, his unconventional home life, and his mother's artistic and unusual activities. Robert maps out how this led into the later parts of his life; a teenage fascination with Russia, business ambitions with reservations, and a lively social life! We hear from our guest about his somewhat serendipitous connection to the 'the high line' and the seeds that became his big passion project. Join us to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

Robert's unconventional early childhood experiences and activities.
The feelings that Robert went through realizing how he and his mother were a bit different.
Robert's obsession with Russia and his visits during his teen years.
Aspirations for business and banking and the struggles that Robert faced finding a job after college.
Life in New York City, finding a community of gay friends, and partying a lot.
Resigning from Ernst & Young; considering business school and finding work at a startup.
How Robert found some meaning in his sales work and how these lessons applied to his social life.
Depression, anxiety, and therapy; Robert's coping mechanisms during his late 20s.
Robert's work for The Body and his desire to paint in the evenings as an outlet.
How Robert heard about the looming demolishment of The High Line and started thinking about it.
The part that Robert's determination and drive played in seeing through his interest in the project.
Falling in love with the High Line project and getting serious about seeing it through.
The continuous array of jobs and projects that Robert liked to do simultaneously.
Robert's partnership with Josh and how they stayed committed to the project through doubtful times.

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11: All of Lauren Singer’s Trash Fit in a Single Glass Mason Jar, and Now She Shows Others How to Live a Package-Free Life Aug 05, 2020

Show notes

Our guest today, Lauren Singer has an amazing story to tell, growing three separate projects and businesses out of her desire for discomfort and the need for a better world! Lauren is the brains behind Trash is for Tossers, Simply Co., and Package Free, three different prongs of the same idea; to reduce human waste and to build a healthier environment and brighter future. Lauren shares very honestly about her own journey and really digs deep on what it means to properly stand for a cause. She makes it her mission to get away from the hypocrisy of activism without a foundation of aligned action, and rather than preaching about it, uses her critical eye to keep improving her own practices and those of her business. Lauren believes that a sustainable future is a human right, a vision she has been molding and refining since her early years playing alone in the forest! We chat about her younger years, what it was like moving around a lot, and the different phases she went through during her time at school. We cover her college years and the way she fell in love with environmental science and how that soon aligned with the activist spirit she always seemed to possess. These formative years culminated with her founding the zero waste project, Trash is for Tossers and then subsequently, her business Simply Co., through which she sells items she was already making for herself. The success of these initiatives was a surprise to Lauren and she has not lost sight of her original goal of a world with truly sustainable and good products. For an insightful, honest, and inspiring chat with a great guest, make sure to join us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Lauren's favorite childhood activities; playing alone outside in the woods.
Moving around a lot from a young age and the adaptability this instilled in Lauren.
Lauren's life at school and how her abilities grew into more practical applications.
The activist spirit in Lauren; early memories of the feelings that inspired it.
Experiences of depression and the connection between these feelings and the practice of painting.
Lauren's early fundraisers and how she managed to fund her adventures and activism.
Mixed feelings over college and the benefits that Lauren did accrue through these years.
Falling in love with environmental science class and the group of people Lauren connected with.
The first practices that Lauren changed as she became involved in grassroots activism.

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