The Courageous Life

Joshua Steinfeldt

Founded by coach and teacher Joshua Steinfeldt, The Courageous Life invites you into a deep conversation about finding the courage to pursue what matters most in life, work, and love.

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S6 · E192
Friday · 55 min
On the Power of Saying No to New | Eric Athas
New things are everywhere. And they keep pulling us away from what matters the most in our lives. In his revelatory book: Saying No to New, New York Times Editor, and celebrated journalist, Eric Athas shows us how to rewire our impulse to consume new things and reclaim control of our time, money and attention. Eric writes: “One of the biggest lies of modern times is that new is always better. An upgraded phone will always outshine the one from last year. A new pair of sunglasses is always better than the one you wore last summer. The new fitness app is the only thing that will finally motivate you to reach your goals. Influencers constantly promote the latest trends, while retailers make the check out process more seamless than ever. And for many of us, the next new product, trend, or fad is getting too good to resist. But instead of improving our lives, new things often drain our resources and distract us from achieving our goals. We're tricked into thinking that the only way for us to feel satisfied is by getting cheap dopamine spikes from the next new thing.” In today’s conversation we’ll explore some of the powerful insights Eric has gained through his experiences writing the book, doing original research, and conducting interviews with scientists, philosophers, tech insiders, happiness gurus, and decision-making experts. What Eric will share sheds light on: Why we like newness so much How we can get better at discerning when Newness is additive to our lives, When it isn’t, And how we can quiet the noise of consumerism and take a more intentional approach to the things we ultimately let into our lives. For more on Eric, his book, newsletter and other offerings please visit sayingnotonew.com Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On the Science of Mastering Your Intuition | Laura Huang On Presence, Community, and Flourishing | Daniel Coyle On Flourishing Despite Life's Challenges | Richard Davidson & Cortland Dahl Upcoming opportunities to learn with Joshua: Learn more about Joshua's new LIVE 6 week course: Unlocking Creativity. Limited spots are available. Course begins on October 11th, 2026. Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E191
September 10 · 1 hr 5 min
On Music, Meaning, and Love | Vijay Gupta
By age twenty-five, Vijay Gupta had lived several lifetimes: he played Carnegie Hall at eight, studied at Juilliard and Yale before most had finished high school, joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic at nineteen, gave a celebrated TED Talk seen by millions, and launched a nonprofit. But behind the accolades was estrangement, addiction, and a private unraveling. In his unflinching memoir: Restrung, Vijay describes, with breathtaking and heartfelt clarity, his journey of breaking apart and remaking a self. Today, we’ll explore some of that journey. Together, discussing what he’s learned about the possibility of moving from fear, emptiness, and isolation To love, meaning, and deep connection. These learnings haven’t come easy. As a boy, Vijay was raised between the strict devotion of Bengali immigrant parents and the ruthless demands of the conservatory. He grew up navigating the world of elite orchestras, Found himself in the depths of burnout, and ultimately experienced an unexpected reawakening—where he discovered that the music he’d spent his life studying was seen not as a curio of high culture or mere entertainment, but a lifeline of connection— most vividly in Skid Row, where people living through addiction, homelessness, and incarceration heard it as survival itself. When these audiences encountered the music Vijay would play, They often spoke to how they saw their own lives reflected in the stories of the composers: the rage of Beethoven, the fragility of Schumann’s mind, and the plight of Handel—who wrote Messiah bankrupt, ill, and broken, yet transformed despair into an enduring Hallelujah. Vijay’s writing, and the work he is doing in the world, Unsettles assumptions about success, And beautifully illuminates how art can restore not just audiences, but artists themselves. For more on Vijay, his music, memoir, non-profit Street Symphony, live events and other offerings please visit vijaygupta.com Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On Love, Storytelling, and Radical Curiosity | Baktash Ahadi On Why We Suffer and How We Heal | Dr. Suzan Song On How the Arts Transform Us | Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross Upcoming opportunities to learn with Joshua: Learn more about Joshua's new LIVE 6 week course: Unlocking Creativity. Limited spots are available. Course begins on October 11th, 2026. Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E190
September 3 · 54 min
On the Science of Second Chances | Jennifer Doleac
When criminal justice expert and Stanford-Trained economist, Jennifer Doleac thinks about reform, she’s not just hopeful, she’s optimistic that second chances are possible—for the justice-involved population and the system as a whole. In her eye opening new book: The Science of Second Chances, she reveals her powerful approach to reducing crime and incarceration. Today, we’ll take a deep dive into some of the cutting-edge economic research and real-world experiments she’s conducted and called upon in her work. Together exploring the possibility of approaching big, complex problems as scientists in a lab do. Carefully testing different approaches and following the data to maximize impact. Jennifer’s work points to an innovative path forward that harnesses practical, achievable solutions. As she invites us to consider the possibility that we can have both public safety and a smaller, less intrusive justice system— without waiting for big, structural reforms that might never come. And, that creating the society we ultimately want, and need, may actually come from shifting focus from the enormity of the problem to the power of small, evidence-based changes. For more on Jennifer, her new book, podcast, and other offerings please visit: https://jenniferdoleac.com/ and for her substack head to https://probablecausation.substack.com/ Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: The End of Violence | Dr. Gary Slutkin On How to Speak Up When it Matters | Dr. Sunita Sah On Science, Hope, and Humanity | Matt Kaplan Upcoming opportunities to learn with Joshua: Learn more about Joshua's new LIVE 6 week course: Unlocking Creativity. Limited spots are available. Course begins on October 11th, 2026. Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E189
August 27 · 57 min
On Tending to the Unfixable & Finding Beauty Anyway | Lisa Olivera
Emotional pain, of all kinds and magnitudes, is part of life. We’ll never be able to find ourselves free of it; no meditation or amount of therapy will cure us of the harder parts of being alive. Celebrated author and therapist, Lisa Olivera has confronted this reality for years, weaving her exploration of it throughout her popular SubStack, Human Stuff. She reminds us that the practice of turning toward the ache with care—reverence, even—might be one of the most meaningful gifts we can give ourselves. It might even save us. Through her work, Lisa offers questions and practices that invite us into this possibility. Questions such as: How do we confront and tend to the painful parts of being human without letting that pain entirely overtake us? How do we find joy even when depression visits, even when we lose someone we love, even when the hurt of the world is ever-present? How do we cultivate aliveness in the midst? Today we’ll engage with these questions alongside themes from her gorgeous new book: When the Ache Remains: Lessons on Tending to the Unfixable and Finding Beauty Anyway, All of which point to how what Lisa calls; the ache of being alive, shapes our lives, how we can alchemize pain into medicine, how presence is accessible, and how it’s possible to find beauty and joy even in the midst of some of our most harrowing experiences. For more on Lisa, her books, substack, events and other offerings, please visit lisaolivera.com Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On Curiosity, Presence, and Love | Dr. Jacob Ham On Listening and Attending to the Soul | James Hollis On Why We Suffer and How We Heal | Dr. Suzan Song Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E188
August 21 · 1 hr 34 min
On The Art of Living | Parker J. Palmer & Mark Nepo
Beloved Poet, spiritual teacher, and storyteller Mark Nepo, And Writer, speaker, activist, and founder of the Center for Courage and Renewal, Parker J. Palmer, Have touched the lives of millions of people around the globe seeking to live more courageously, authentically, and in ways that foster a more compassionate world. For some time I’ve dreamt of getting the two of them together for a conversation to explore some of the greatest lessons they’ve learned over the course of their lives and careers. Lessons about what it means to live well, To work well, And to relate to each other, and the world, in life-giving ways. We finally did. For more on Parker, his books, podcast and other offerings please visit newcomerpalmer.com. For more about the Center for Courage and Renewal visit couragerenewal.org And for more about Mark Nepo, his nearly 30 books, poetry, and live events please visit marknepo.com Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Looking for more inspiring conversations with Mark and Parker? We think you'll love these: On Wisdom and Love in Troubling Times | Mark Nepo & Elizabeth Lesser On Choosing Love | Mark Nepo On Honoring the Soul (Pt. 1) | Parker J. Palmer On Work, Friendship, and Embracing Impermanence | Parker J. Palmer & Jerry Colonna Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E187
August 11 · 1 hr 15 min
On Doing Work that Matters | Miroo Kim
Author and Leadership Coach, Miroo Kim, spent much of her life checking off every seemingly important box. From getting into the right schools, to a 20 year career in tech that spanned roles within some of the world’s most iconic companies, Places like Microsoft, Apple, and Meta. It was what some might call a dream career. And yet, instead of the meaning and fulfillment one might expect to find as a result, In the end, Miroo found herself: Burned out, Feeling depressed, And sitting with the experience of emptiness. So she started to wonder: “Is this the only way of working? Do I really have to suffer at work until I retire? Is there another way?” Her new book: The Placeholder: The Place to Go to Create Your Noble Work Explores these questions and traverses the territory of meaning, fulfillment, and vocation. In today’s conversation we’ll unpack many of the lessons contained within it’s pages. Including the hard-earned wisdom Miroo has gained over the years through: Research, Experimentation, Reflection, And the work she does coaching leaders on workplace culture. All of which point toward the possibility of a different experience of work. One where we don’t suffer. One where we get to do what matters deeply to us. And one that leaves us feeling fulfilled through the process. For more on Miroo, please visit peopleculture.co or follow her substack which you can find at placeholder.community Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On the Science of Mastering Your Intuition | Laura Huang On Work, Friendship, and Embracing Impermanence | Parker Palmer & Jerry Colonna On Curiosity, Presence, and Love | Dr. Jacob Ham Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E186
June 25 · 1 hr 11 min
The End of Violence | Dr. Gary Slutkin
Violence is often regarded as an unavoidable fact of life. The truth however is far more hopeful: violence is a disease that can be cured. Using a bold new approach, Epidemiologist and violence prevention specialist Dr. Gary Slutkin is reclassifying violence as a a disease: One that enters the brain and infects people, communities, and countries via the same process as other epidemics. Gary makes a compelling research-backed case that when: Shootings occur in a school or community, A political figure is assassinated, Or an authoritarian leader directs violence in his nation’s own cities, These are not just tragedies, but disease outbreaks that can (and must) be interrupted and contained. As a leading epidemiologist, Dr. Slutkin led teams to end epidemics of cholera and tuberculosis, then HIV/ AIDS in Africa and Asia with the World Health Organization. Upon returning to the US, he began to discover the invisible science of violence—and how to contain it using the very same epidemic control methods. Today, we will dive deep into the insights he’s gained over the years, a time-tested roadmap for recovery, And the playbook that has been used to dramatically reduce or eliminate violence in many of the most dangerous neighborhoods throughout the US and Latin America. It’s a playbook that has also been successfully adapted to curtail political violence, election violence, and gender-based violence in countries around the world. Whether it’s domestic violence, mass shootings, state tyranny, or war Gary argues that these are all syndromes of the exact same disease, And that they all require the same interventions. More importantly, he reminds us that we already have the tools to protect ourselves, heal our communities, and end violence in our lifetime. It is now up to us to use them. For more on Dr. Slutkin, his powerful new book: The End of Violence: Eliminating the World’s Most Dangerous Epidemic, as well as other resources and offerings. Please visit: garyslutkin.com Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On Choosing Love (No Matter What) | Deeyah Khan On Science, Hope, and Humanity | Matt Kaplan On How to Speak Up When It Matters | Dr. Sunita Sah Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E185
June 19 · 1 hr
On the New Science of Pain and How to Heal | Dr. Rachel Zoffness
Every one of us will experience pain, be it back pain, the pain of childbirth, or living in an aging body. Not a single one of us will escape. But what if everything you thought you knew about pain was ... wrong? Many of us have been told that pain is purely physical, something to do just with bones and body parts. In her revolutionary new book: Tell Me Where it Hurts: The New Science of Pain and How to Heal Leading global pain psychologist, pain scientist, and Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCSF School of Medicine, Dr. Rachel Zoffness is completely upending the myths we've been sold about pain. Through cutting edge neuroscience and the incredible work she’s done with her patients, Dr. Zoffness is shedding light on the fact is that chronic pain is treatable. And that the foundation for effective treatment happens when we focus on the whole person--not just a body part. It happens when we begin to reconnect physical and emotional pain, And it happens when we begin to uncover the often under-discussed truth: Pain is constructed by the brain--influenced not just by injuries, but also by emotions, expectations, and environment. In Rachel’s words: Pain is always biopsychosocial. And because of this, We have infinitely more control over pain than we might have ever imagined. This insight, and the pioneering work Dr. Zoffness is doing, Are offering what so many of us need in the face of pain: Greater agency, Hope, Possibility, And perhaps most importantly, A roadmap for healing. For more on Dr. Zoffness, her books, events, resources, and other offerings please visit zoffness.com Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On Why We Suffer and How We Heal | Dr. Suzan Song On Flourishing Despite Life's Challenges | Richard Davidson & Cortland Dahl On Presence, Community, and Flourishing | Daniel Coyle Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E184
June 11 · 1 hr 35 min
On Choosing Love (No Matter What) | Deeyah Khan
Two time Emmy and Peabody Award winning Documentary Filmmaker Deeyah Khan has dedicated over a decade of her life to making empathetic and unflinching films which deal with some of the most important and polarizing issues confronting our world today; extremism, violence against women, inequality, racism and social exclusion. Deeyah has filmed with: battle-hardened jihadis, members of armed militia groups, American domestic terrorists and white supremacists, And through these encounters she’s had illuminating and often surprising results. After spending a number of months filming with members of the United States’ largest neo-Nazi organization, three high-ranking figures, including the leader, left the movement and rejected its white supremacist ideology. All of them crediting their encounters with Deeyah as the catalyst for them to leave. Today we’ll engage in a deep and moving discussion about what Deeyah has learned from her unique and extraordinary experiences. Learnings that in essence come back to the power and potential of: Radical curiosity, Deep listening, Choosing Love, And having a fierce and unwavering commitment to center the inherent dignity of all human beings. This is the final conversation in our mini series on Love. A four letter word that is perhaps one of the most complicated in our culture, and yet simultaneously may be the most important practice for our time. This series, which has been years in the making ultimately brought together some of the world’s leading: Peace and reconciliation workers, Conflict transformation experts, Scholars on compassion, altruism, and generosity, Storytellers, Writers, Filmmakers And spiritual teachers To unpack how Love, as Deeyah so beautifully puts it, "Is, and has always been, the great interrupter." Love is what can help to break cycles of violence, hatred, and polarization. Love is what connects us. Love is what liberates. Love is what heals. Love is what brings us back to each other. And Choosing Love is exactly what these times are calling for. For more on Deeyah, her films, music, and other offerings please visit deeyah.com Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations from our mini-series on Love: On the Possibility of Meeting Hate with Love | Dr. Barbara Tint On Love and the Illusion of Separateness | Elias Amidon On Awakening, Belonging, and Love | Henry Shukman On Love, Storytelling, and Radical Curiosity | Baktash Ahadi On the Power of Love | Stephen G. Post Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E183
June 2 · 1 hr 13 min
On Love and The Illusion of Separateness | Elias Amidon
For decades globally renowned spiritual teacher Elias Amidon has been keenly interested in the possibility of awakening to our most enlightened nature. This fascination has led him to live a deeply engaged life. Serving as Spiritual Director (Pir) of the Sufi Way, Working for many years in peace and environmental activism, Helping to cofound several schools including the Boulder Institute for Nature and the Human Spirit, and the graduate program in Environmental Leadership at Naropa University. And authoring a wide array of books that often invite reflection and inquiry into the very nature of reality. Today we will continue our deep exploration of Love, in this penultimate episode of a mini-series that has featured some of the world's leading thinkers, researchers, teachers, storytellers, activists, and artists. In this conversation, we'll explore some of Elias's greatest insights into what it is that connects us all. A subject which he reflects on often, Writing the following in his book, Love’s Drum: Sufi Views, Practices, and Stories: "Whatever we call it, this-that-does-not-perish is what connects us with everything - each other, the trees, the mountains, the sky, the stars, and all beings who have ever appeared. We remain the unique beings we are, but we recognize we're not alone in our beingness, we are with the entirety. I think of this withness as love.” Elias’s work invites us all to open to the possibility of awakening and experiencing the beauty all around us, As we make our way home, to Love. A journey of return that he calls our birthright. To learn more about Elias, his retreats, courses, books, and other offerings please visit sufiway.org. Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations from our mini-series on Love: On the Possibility of Meeting Hate with Love | Dr. Barbara Tint On Awakening, Belonging, and Love | Henry Shukman On Love, Storytelling, and Radical Curiosity | Baktash Ahadi On the Power of Love | Stephen G. Post Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E182
May 22 · 1 hr
On the Possibility of Meeting Hate with Love | Dr. Barbara Tint
How can we find the courage to come back to love in perilous times? To meet hate with curiosity? And to see, with greater clarity, what connects us, rather divides us? These are the deep and challenging questions we’re continuing to explore in A mini-series on the podcast that has brought together leaders across disciplines to discuss the possibility of embracing impermanence, leaning into mystery & wonder, And is now turning the final conversations in the series toward love. Dr. Barbara Tint holds her PhD in International Conflict Resolution, Is a Professor of Conflict Transformation, Has been doing peace and reconciliation work around the world for decades, And is also an award winning story teller who has shared stories through The Moth and other renowned venues. Today we’ll dive deep into the possibility, and the courage it can take, to choose love in challenging times, Barb will share stories from her experiences facilitating constructive dialogue, Building bridges across differences as a peace psychologist, And what she’s learned about the power of improvisation, and curiosity, through her work. Barb offers us all a beautiful reminder. If we can find a way to suspend our judgments and assumptions, If we can find a way to get curious, To listen deeply, and in ways that lead to understanding each other, Then there’s hope that we might find our way through this, together. For more on Dr. Tint, her books, events, and other offerings, please visit barbaratint.com Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations from our mini-series on Love: On Awakening, Belonging, and Love | Henry Shukman On Love, Storytelling, and Radical Curiosity | Baktash Ahadi On the Power of Love | Stephen G. Post Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E181
May 14 · 1 hr 6 min
[Best of] On Awakening, Belonging, and Love | Henry Shukman
In his revelatory book Original Love, Zen meditation master, award winning author, poet, and renowned spiritual teacher Henry Shukman, offers a tantalizing proposition. At any moment there is a powerful possibility available to us. One that involves piercing the illusion of separateness, And experiencing a deeper and more expansive sense of connection. In these moments which are deemed by some as ‘awakening' it can seem as if a spell has been broken. It can feel as though are waking up from a sort of dream as we see, feel, and know that there is in fact no separation. There are no borders. There is no “other.” At some level, everything and everyone are connected. Henry argues that these experiences can be the single most healing, positively life-transforming events that can happen to us. Well documented for centuries, across different wisdom traditions, and now explored through scientific research, Experiences of 'waking up' to our interconnected nature often lead to large positive shifts in our priorities. These moments often marked by a move from self-protection and self-promotion toward a natural flow of compassion and concern for others and the world. This boundless experience is what Henry calls Original Love. Today we decided to re-release this episode as part of our mini series on love. In this conversation, (originally published at the beginning of 2025), Henry and I will explore the possibility of Original Love. An experience that Henry beautifully reminds us becomes more likely When we begin to: Allow whatever is arising in the moment to simply be as it is, Meet our lived experience with greater curiosity, presence, and love, And when we begin to loosen the grip of control as we learn to increasingly relax into uncertainty. For more on Henry, his books, teachings and live events, please visit henryshukman.com or check out The Way, his popular meditation app - which you can find at thewayapp.com Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations from our mini-series on Love: On Love, Storytelling, and Radical Curiosity | Baktash Ahadi On the Power of Love | Stephen G. Post Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E180
May 11 · 1 hr 1 min
On Love, Storytelling, and Radical Curiosity | Baktash Ahadi
What does it mean to choose love in the times we're in? What will help us to open our hearts again after they close? And see with greater clarity, what connects us, rather divides us? These are the deep and challenging questions we’re exploring in the final chapter of this trilogy. A mini series on the podcast that has brought together leaders across disciplines to discuss the possibilities of: Embracing impermanence, Leaning into mystery & wonder, And is now turning the conversation toward love. Emmy and Peabody Award Winning Filmmaker, Baktash Ahadi writes: “Growing up across cultures, languages, and histories shaped by conflict, I learned early that facts alone rarely move people. Stories do. They shape belonging, fear, loyalty, and identity. Long before I became a filmmaker, I was already paying attention to how narratives functioned beneath the surface of everyday life.” I wrote to Baktash and asked him: Could storytelling be part of the answer to these questions? Could storytelling be what helps us find our way back to each other? Today’s conversation will traverse this territory. Including the insights Baktash has gained through documentary work across conflict zones, classrooms, institutions, and intimate human spaces. The patterns he’s uncovered. The ways in which Narratives have structure, how they carry emotional momentum, And how ultimately they shape how people interpret themselves, each other, and the world. Baktash offers a powerful reminder: When mishandled, Narratives flatten complexity and deepen division. But when handled with care, they create space for dignity, curiosity, and connection. And ultimately the profoundly human practice of sharing, and listening to each others stories, may be what helps us to love again. For more on Baktash, his films, podcast, events, and other work please visit baktashahadi.org. For more on his recent documentary Champions of the Golden Valley, please visit: https://www.championsofthegoldenvalley.com/ Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Other conversations in the trilogy: Part One: Impermanence: Impermanence, Letting Go, and Finding Freedom | Sharon Salzberg & Sunita Puri On Work, Friendship, and Embracing Impermanence | Parker Palmer & Jerry Colonna On Love, Death, and Embracing Our Humanity | Roshi Joan Halifax & Frank Ostaseski Part Two: Mystery & Wonder On the Power of Wonder | Monica Parker On Ordinary Mysticism, Wonder, and Love | MIrabai Starr On Living a Life That Brings us Truly Alive | Lee Johnson Part Three: Love On the Power of Love | Stephen G. Post Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E179
April 30 · 1 hr 11 min
[Best of] On the Power of Love | Stephen G. Post
Professor Stephen G. Post, one of the world’s leading scholars on altruism, love, compassion, and the science of giving, has a beautiful new book out: Pure Unlimited Love: Science and the 7 Paths to Inner Peace. In it, he writes: When the happiness, security, and well-being of another feels as meaningful and real to us as our own, or perhaps more so, we love that person. This love, which Stephen has made a central focus through his life’s work across 4 decades, As a researcher, a writer, a professor of preventive medicine and founder of the Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love. Is the type of love that includes, but extends beyond, our nearest and dearest to all humanity. It’s love that is based on our shared dignity and interdependence with one another and with nature. In this conversation, which we are re releasing today we’ll dive deep into the topic of love as we kick off the third installment in this trilogy over the coming weeks. This trilogy began with a focus on embracing impermanence, Then in part two explored the power of mystery and wonder, and is now ending with (in Stephen’s words): A scientific and spiritual exploration of how the healing power of love can transform mind, body, and spirit in individuals and communities, even in times of chaos. This conversation serving as a hopeful reminder - When we choose love, it isn’t just a path to inner peace, It opens up the possibility of creating a better world. For more on Stephen, his books, research, and other resources please visit stephengpost.com and for more on the Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love check out: unlimitedloveinstitute.org Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Other conversations in the trilogy: Impermanence, Letting Go, and Finding Freedom | Sharon Salzberg & Sunita Puri On Work, Friendship, and Embracing Impermanence | Parker Palmer & Jerry Colonna On Love, Death, and Embracing Our Humanity | Roshi Joan Halifax & Frank Ostaseski On the Power of Wonder | Monica Parker On Ordinary Mysticism, Wonder, and Love | MIrabai Starr On Living a Life That Brings us Truly Alive | Lee Johnson Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E178
April 27 · 53 min
On Science, Hope, and Humanity | Matt Kaplan
For two decades, Matt Kaplan has covered science for The Economist. He’s seen breakthroughs often occur in spite of, rather than because of, the behavior of the research community, and how support can be withheld for those who don’t conform or have the right connections. In his latest book, I Told You So! Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled and Imprisoned… For Being Right, Matt shines a light on some of these cases, both past and present. From Galileo being threatened with torture To Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó being fired when on the brink of discovering how to wield mRNA–a finding that proved pivotal for the creation of the Covid-19 vaccine. In today’s conversation we’ll explore some of these stories, Why scientists have had to fight for their revolutionary ideas to be accepted, And reflections on how we can, and need to, do better. Matt’s work offers a poignant reminder: If we are going to solve the grand challenges we’re facing, From natural disasters to global pandemics, We need science. And, we need each other. The creativity, innovation, and scientific discovery That will help us find our way forward Will come from more humble ways of working together, Recognizing our shared humanity, And ultimately redesigning the systems scientists work in - to prioritize collaboration over cutthroat competition. For more on Matt, his books, writing, and other offerings please visit: somuchsciencesolittletime.com Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On the Remedy for a World on Fire | Dr. Joanna Cheek On How to Flourish After Leaving Religion | Dr. Daryl Van Tongeren On Unlocking Our Primal Intelligence | Angus Fletcher Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E177
April 17 · 59 min
On How to Speak Up When it Matters | Dr. Sunita Sah
Why is it so hard to speak up even when you know something's wrong? This is the question that physician, award-winning organizational psychologist, and tenured Professor at Cornell University, Dr. Sunita Sah has been obsessed with for decades. In her illuminating book: Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes She asks us: "How many times have you wanted to object, disagree, or opt out of something—but ended up swallowing your words, shaking your head, and just going along?" And then she invites us: To imagine the life we want to lead, not the one we’re willing to accept. In today's conversation we’ll dive deep into the topic of defiance, Why the pressure to comply and ‘go along to get along’ is a corrosive and often invisible force in our society, And, through an exploration of her revelatory research, How we can radically reframe defiance from a misunderstood negative trait into a crucial, positive force for personal and societal change. Sunita’s pioneering work couldn’t be more timely. In many ways it serves as a lantern for our times - Shining a much needed light on the path we can all take To stop people pleasing, To start living our truth, and to speak up when it matters most. For more on Dr. Sah, her book, speaking, and other offerings, please visit sunitasah.com Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On the Science of Mastering Your Intuition | Laura Huang On Saving Ourselves and the World | john a. powell On Honoring the Soul (Pt. 1) | Parker J. Palmer Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E176
April 2 · 59 min
On Flourishing Despite Life's Challenges | Richard Davidson & Cortland Dahl
In their powerful new book, Born to Flourish, Renowned neuroscientists and contemplative teachers Dr. Richard J. Davidson and Dr. Cortland Dahl offer a radical and hopeful idea: All of us come into the world with an innate capacity for kindness, compassion, and human flourishing. Through a powerful blend of storytelling, pioneering research, and ancient Buddhist wisdom, they reveal how reconnecting with our true nature can transform not only ourselves but also our divided world. In today’s conversation we’ll explore the landscape of human potential, and the possibility of flourishing in the face of life’s challenges. In many ways this exploration is rooted in one of the most important and hopeful scientific findings of our time. The fact that our brains are far more malleable than most of us assume, And that when we engage in practices which Richie and Cort have discovered take only minutes a day, we can profoundly reshape how we respond to stress, connect with others, understand ourselves, and ultimately infuse our lives with greater meaning and purpose. Named one of the most influential people in the world by Time, Richie has been a pioneer in contemplative science, and the domain of human flourishing for decades. Much of his work coming out of The Center for Healthy Minds. A center that he founded and where he serves as Director. It was at the Center where Richie and Cort first met - A chance encounter that in many ways felt more like it was destined to be. Since then they have collaborated closely together, and become good friends in the process. Today they’ll share more about this beautiful collaboration, and what’s come from it, including the four key skills of flourishing that they’ve identified through their research. What is so refreshing about their work is that it is (in many ways) a departure from the popular paradigms of quick fixes, and self improvement projects. Instead they argue that flourishing is about rediscovering something we already have. It’s about returning to our innate capacities for kindness, compassion, and basic goodness. And perhaps most importantly They remind us that these capacities can be strengthened by anyone — regardless of background, experience, or circumstance. For more on Richie and Cort, their new book Born to Flourish, the award winning Healthy Minds App which Richie and Cort created together, as well as other offerings including their podcast, and substack, Dharmlab please visit humin.org, or check out centerhealthyminds.org Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On Unwinding Anxiety and Finding Inner Peace | Dr. Jud Brewer Meditation, Awakening, and Original Love | Henry Shukman On the Transformative Power of Equanimity | Margaret Cullen Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E175
March 20 · 58 min
On Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty | Francis Weller
Over the course of his more than 40 year career, Renowned psychotherapist Francis Weller developed a unique style of practice. What he calls soul-centered psychotherapy. Francis writes: “When we listen to soul, to what is latent in the symptoms of depression, anxiety or addiction, we hear a more subtle voice calling out for attention. Only then do we come to understand the wisdom hidden in the suffering. Only then do we see what our soul has been asking of us all along. Once granted, the symptoms often abate, leaving us deepened by the encounter with soul.” In his moving and timely new book: In the Absence of the Ordinary Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty Francis generously offers many of the powerful insights gained from a lifetime spent navigating the territory of the soul. In doing so, he invites us back into alignment with the wider world of belonging. In today’s conversation we’ll dive deep into Francis’s beautiful approach. Together we'll explore: The possibility of approaching our experiences with reverence, Working skillfully with grief, Practicing self-compassion, And learning to slow down and move at the speed of the soul. Throughout our time together Francis will also offer a crucial reminder. We cannot engage this work alone. It is together that we can carry the anxieties, navigate the difficulties, and honor the sacred transitions of 21st-century life. Community is our way through. Like thousands of people around the world, I have found Francis to be a lantern in challenging times. His work, a shining source of guidance, clarity and wisdom. And perhaps you’ll leave this conversation feeling as I did, and as so many do after being in Francis’s company, More connected, present, And changed for the better. For more on Francis, his books including The Wild Edge of Sorrow, events, and other offerings please visit Francisweller.net Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On Listening and Attending to the Soul | James Hollis On Achieving the Transformation We Truly Seek | Ross Ellenhorn On Ordinary Mysticism, Wonder, and Love | Mirabai Starr Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E174
March 13 · 57 min
On a New Way to Thrive in Uncertainty | Elizabeth Weingarten
In his book Letters to a Young Poet Celebrated author and poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote: “Be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.” In 2025, with the publication of her beautiful book: How to Fall in Love with Questions: A New Way to Thrive in Times of Uncertainty Journalist and applied behavioral scientist, Elizabeth Weingarten carries Rilke’s work forward. Through contemporary research, powerful storytelling, and her beautifully written prose, Elizabeth charts a new path for personal growth— a way to embrace the questions of our lives instead of seeking fast, easy answers. She writes: “What do you do when faced with a big, important question that keeps you up at night? Many people, understandably, seize answers dispensed by "experts," influencers, gurus, and more. But these fast, easy, one-size-fits-all solutions often fail to satisfy, and can even cause more pain. What if our questions—the ones we ask about relationships, work, meaning, identity, and purpose—are not our tormentors, but our teachers?” In today’s conversation we’ll explore the fascinating possibility of living the questions. Elizabeth will share stories from her journey of discovering a fresh, evidence-based approach for navigating uncertainty. One inspired by Rilke’s 150-year-old advice, and the moving stories of many others, whose lives have transformed through a different, and better, relationship with uncertainty. Elizabeth’s work offers a powerful reminder: When we find the courage to love the questions of our lives It opens the door the kind of self-discovery that’s only possible when we feel most alive - That is, in the moments where don’t know what will happen next. For more on Elizabeth, her book, and other offerings please visit elizabethweingarten.com Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love: On the Science of Mastering Your Intuition | Laura Huang On the Power of Wonder | Monica Parker On Work, Friendship, and Embracing Impermanence | Parker Palmer & Jerry Colonna Thanks for listening! Support the show
S6 · E173
March 5 · 1 hr 12 min
[Best Of] On Expanding Our Window of Tolerance | Dr. David Treleaven
Dr. David Treleaven is a a writer, educator, and trauma professional whose work lies at the intersection of mindfulness and trauma. At the heart of David’s work is the notion that mindfulness is more powerful when combined with an understanding of trauma. Part of what’s behind this is the growing realization over the years that mindfulness meditation isn’t all good. There are a number of potential pitfalls that have been increasingly documented over time. One of which is that mindfulness can exacerbate symptoms of traumatic stress. As a result David has focused on offering mindfulness providers the knowledge and tools they require to meet the needs of those struggling with trauma. In this conversation (which was originally recorded during COVID and we are re releasing again) David and I will explore a few big questions: What is the relationship between increasing our capacity to be with discomfort and a meaningful and fulfilling life? How can we increase our capacity to tolerate distress and discomfort while staying regulated, and responsive in the process? When we are working at the edge of our comfort zone, or are working with the more difficult aspects of our experience how do we know when to keep going, and when to back off? This is one of my favorite conversations on the show over the years and Partly because David is such a skilled teacher, and partly because the framework we'll discuss together (called the window of tolerance) is one of the most practical I have come across for answering these big and nuanced questions about how to meet life from a more responsive and regulated place. For more on David, his book, courses and events please visit: davidtreleaven.com Note on re-releasing this episode: Every so often we will choose to re release an episode from earlier years. These conversations are often some of the best we've had on the show and you'll see [Best of] in the title. This conversation was originally recorded in 2021 during COVID, yet the themes, and what David offers feel just as timely and useful today as they did years ago. I hope you enjoy! Interested in taking David's flagship Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness Course? As a listener of The Courageous Life you can get $400 off. To receive the discount: 1. Head to: https://davidtreleaven.com/trauma-sensitive-mindfulness-complete/ 2. Upon checkout enter the coupon code: courage400 Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are more conversations we think you'll love: On Why We Suffer and How We Heal | Dr. Suzan Song On the Transformative Power of Equanimity | Margaret Cullen On the Power of Wonder | Monica Parker Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening! Support the show

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