Mind Body Health & Politics

This week I have the pleasure of speaking with Paulita Pappel – a Madrid/Berlin-based filmmaker and feminist pornographer. Paulita works as a producer, director and intimacy coordinator, and is an advocate for a sex-positive, consent-based culture.‍After studying comparative literature in Berlin, Paulita decided to follow her passion for both cinema and sexuality. She started working as an adult performer, and soon explored many different roles. Her knowledge of film counts now over 10 years of experience balancing work between the mainstream film and adult film industry. She has worked as producer, director, casting director, scriptwriter and performer. She has produced feature-length films that were shown and awarded internationally in festivals and she has produced, directed and performed many short films.‍She is the co-founder of Lustery, a platform dedicated to the sex lives of real-life couples from around the world. She is one half of HardWerk, an independent studio creating cinematic

Carlos has been studying the science of ayahuasca and plant medicine in the Amazon Rainforest since 2003. He currently works as the program director for the Ayahuasca Foundation, a non-profit organization he began in 2009 based out of Iquitos, Peru. He organizes healing retreats and educational courses with authentic indigenous healers, called curanderos, to help people in need of healing anything from depression to cancer or who are interested in learning the indigenous healing traditions of the Amazon Rainforest.In 2017 Carlos opened the Riosbo Ayahuasca Research Center. The research there was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry demonstrating that attending an ayahuasca retreat can produce epigenetic changes and significantly reduce depression and anxiety. Research continues at the center and will now include studying chronic pain, PTSD, and changes to the gut biome. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visi

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In this week's program, I continue my series on Sexual Medicine in a conversation with Dr. Stella Resnick – Clinical Psychologist, Gestalt therapist, certified sex therapist and developer of the Embodied Relational Sex Therapy (ERST) process and therapist training. Stella's holistic approach recognizes sexual health, and capacity for pleasure and play as intertwined with self-development throughout life, and as basic elements in emotional, physical, and relational health and happiness.She developed this "full-spectrum" approach over many years of experience. It is a body-based, present-centered, experiential method for individuals and couples, centered on personal and relational healing and growth and focused on enhancing the capacity to enjoy greater physical, emotional and sexual pleasure. The process involves looking into early programming, not as an intellectual process of mere understanding but as felt-sense memories that are locked in the body through chronic physical tension, withheld breathing,

Dear Neighbors,In this week's program, I speak with Sheryn Hildebrand about the serious problem of child sex trafficking in Mendocino County. As painful as it may be to hear her words, we must listen. In this gut-wrenching interview, we will hear about how children in Mendocino county California are courted, drugged, groomed, and put out to the public as child prostitutes. They are coerced, psychologically and physically abused, extorted, and blackmailed, in order to keep them in virtual captivity.Authorities are understaffed and the public is so horrified, by the topic itself, that it does not receive the public outcry needed.Sheryn Hildebrand is the Director of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program in Lake & Mendocino County. Sheryn has served as director for 21 years and also works with neighboring counties (Lake, Humboldt, Del Norte) facilitating Child Abuse Prevention opportunities. She sits on both Mendocino and Lake Counties' child abuse prevention councils as well as participates at

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On this week's episode we talk with Deborah Bowes, a licensed Feldenkrais instructor, on how she uses this method to bring about healing and growth in her life and the lives of her clients. She works with people with ongoing, complex medical conditions to foster hope and improve function. Her expertise and experience includes Feldenkrais Method, Chi Kung, Tai Chi, and other awareness based movement and health practices. She co-founded this group private practice in 1988. They specialize in teaching Feldenkrais Method and work with individuals who would like to improve how they move and function. She has success with people who have not been helped by more traditional therapy, who may have been injured by a health care provider, people dealing with pain, people with brain injuries, and people with complex health needs or conditions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyhealth.substack.com

On this week's episode we talk with Diana Richardson on the power of mindful sex.Diana Richardson is known as the pioneer of the Slow Sex movement and, along with her partner, Michael Richardson, is the creator of the life-changing weeklong Making Love Retreat, which they have been offering in Europe since 1995. She wrote her first book in 1996, published as The Love Keys in 1999, and then later republished as The Heart of Tantric Sex, a best seller. Since then has written a further 7 books on the tantric approach to love and sex. These are translated into German, Spanish, French, with certain books translated in Russian, Korean, Czech, and Estonian.Diana is now based in Switzerland with Michael, where they continue to guide couples in the art of slow, conscious sex in their highly successful Making Love Retreats. For more information about their backgrounds, retreats, books, please visit their websites:www.livinglove.com or www.love4couples.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with

Based out of New York, Evacheska is the founder of Temple Sotto Luce, a community project designed to be a gateway to a higher state of being through the use of both traditional methods and approaches, and more esoteric tools. Evacheska is a former Executive Leader, having spent over a decade working in corporate America where she held positions as Vice President of Marketing and Strategy and Executive Director at multi-million-dollar businesses such as Avon, Rodan + Fields, Stella & Dot, and TYRA Beauty. In 2019, she decided to make a career shift to be in service of others and return to school to expand her expertise and skill set. Since then, Evacheska has dedicated her life’s work and energy to creating and holding space for healing and expansion. She leverages her unique background abilities to create distinctive experiences focused on supporting each participant’s internal work. She is a certified Mindfulness and Meditation facilitator, Integrative Coach, and Trauma and Somatics Practiti

On this week's episode we talk with the wonderful Faith Jones, a summa cum laude graduate from Georgetown and who was raised in the "Children of God" cult, about her book "Sex Cult Nun".Faith was raised in and escaped from the infamous cult, the Children of God. It was founded by her paternal grandfather. The group was notorious for its radical practices, which required members to become full-time missionaries, forgo income and formal education, and submit to the “Law of Love,” a doctrine which encouraged spouse sharing and (for a time) sexual relations with children, and used female disciples as sex “bait” to gain followers and supporters."I was able to emancipate myself at 23 and, through self-taught study, was later accepted into Berkeley Law school. I give an intimate description of life inside a secretive cult, and most importantly, the framework of how to set oneself free of mental and spiritual manipulation in hopes of helping others stand up for themselves.” Faith says."B

On this week's episode, we talk with Maeve Moon - a former sex worker turned trauma recovery coach as she shares with us her story of recovery and victory. Maeve goes through her heartbreaking yet harrowing journey as a young woman in the sex industry, and what it took for her to find her true self and escape. She is now using her story to enlighten other women in the industry, and to provide hope. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyhealth.substack.com

"The woman who can create her own job is the woman who will win fame and fortune." – Amelia Earhart Though she isn't a professional therapist, Maggie McNeill's decades of studying human sexuality from very close up has given her a remarkable degree of insight into sexuality, relationships, and many other related topics; people have therefore long sought out her advice on such topics.Maggie McNeill was a librarian in suburban New Orleans, but after divorce economic necessity spurred her to take up sex work; from 1997 to 2006 she worked first as a stripper, then as a call girl and madam. She eventually married her favorite client, retired, and moved to a ranch in the rural Upper South. There she writes a daily blog called “The Honest Courtesan” which examines the realities, myths, history, lore, science, philosophy, art, and every other aspect of prostitution; she also reports sex work news, critiques the way her profession is treated in the media and by governments, and is frequently consult

Despite the increasing visibility of LGBTQ people in American culture, our understanding of bisexuality remains superficial, at best. Our guest, Ritch Savin-Williams PhD provides an important new understanding of bisexuality as an orientation, behavior, and identity in his book titled, "Bi". Bi shows us that bisexuality is seen and embraced as a valid sexual identity more than ever before, giving us timely and much-needed insight into the complex, fascinating experiences of bisexual youth themselves.This episode features Professor Emeritus Ritch Savin-Williams. Savin-Williams teaches developmental psychology at Cornell University and specializes in gay, lesbian, and bisexual research. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyhealth.substack.com

On this next episode of Mind, Body, Health, and Politics I speak with the team from the Grass Roots Institute. We will hear from the insightful Peter McNamee, Carrie Durkee, and Jim Tarbell.The Grassroots Institute: A progressive solutions group for the Common Good (GRI) is confronting our deteriorating political, economic and environmental systems. GRI looks at the systemic problems created by wealthy corporate elites instituting public policies benefiting their own good rather than the common good. GRI also promotes citizen-based solutions that are creating a vibrant future.GRI offers two free study guides. One for the Grassroots Solutions and Corporate Power course, and the other for the Building the Economy for the Common Good course. Their study guides educate concerned citizens on corporations, democracy and building an economy for our common good. The solutions to our sustainable future are already at work in our communities. We just have to recognize them, bring them together and support them. This is

On today's episode I speak with author, Tibetan Lama, Elder, and Polymath Mike Crowley. Mike began studying Buddhism with a Tibetan lama in 1966, becoming an upasaka of the Kagyud lineage in 1970. In order to augment his Buddhist studies, he acquainted himself with Sanskrit, Tibetan and Mandarin Chinese. Mike has lectured at the Jagellonian University, Cracow, the Museum of Asia and the Pacific, Warsaw, the California Institute for Integral Studies, San Francisco, and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His work has been published in Fortean Studies, Time & Mind, the Journal of Archeology, Consciousness and Culture, Psychedelic American, and Psychedelic Press UK.He is the author of, "Secret Drugs of Buddhism". Drawing on a wide range of disciplines (including pharmacology, iconography, botany, and scriptural sources), this book calls attention to the central role which psychedelics played in Indian religions, tracing their history from the soma of the Vedic period to amrita, the sacramental drink of V

Sumati has been a personal and spiritual growth junkie her entire life. Her training includes having attended over 40 workshops with the Human Awareness Institute, also known as HAI, is a trained Zegg Forum Facilitator and part of the Network for a New Culture, has studied Non-Violent Communication (or NVC) with Marshall Rosenberg, has been practicing 12-step work in the areas of relationship and addiction since 1985, is a trained PSYCH-K Facilitator (a process used to remove limiting beliefs), has a Yoga & Meditation teacher certification through the Sivananda school, and has studied sacred sexuality with Evalena Rose, Baba Dez and other prominent teachers.Sumati Sparks’ first name was given to her by the great living saint, Amma (Mata Amritananda Mayi). Sumati means pure essence. She is a relationship coach with a life PhD! Since 2000, she has been coaching people in the areas of relationship and sexuality and now specializes in helping people create successful open relationships. This is a public

Veronica Monet is an American author and activist for sex worker rights. Her early activism focused on debunking stereotypes about sex workers and advocating for the decriminalization of all sex work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyhealth.substack.com

Dear Neighbors,We want to end this year thanking you, our listeners, and by wrapping up with some of our most cherished moments from the podcast. With the Confessions series a huge hit with all of you, we wanted to pull key moments to look back on. We also have sections from Dean Edell, Dennis McKenna, Tim Scully, and more. You will find the links to all of the full episodes in the show notes of tomorrows broadcast.Again, it has been a wonderful year with all of you. We have even more stimulating and insightful conversations on the horizon for 2022. If this show has impacted you in any way, please be sure to share with you loved ones. If you have any questions or comments please reach out to us - we would love to hear from you.Tally Ho! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyhealth.substack.com

Letha Hadady is one of the nation's leading experts on natural Chinese remedies and author of books on health and beauty. She has lead stress management workshops and acted as natural product consultant for Sony Entertainment Inc., Dreyfus, Ogilvy & Mather, and Consumer Eyes, Inc. in New York.In 1980 Letha became involved with novelist Michael Foster and librarian and poet Barbara Foster in a work-oriented menage a trois of writers. Together they researched and the Fosters wrote two biographies of Alexandra David-Neel: Forbidden Journey and The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel. Their book Three in Love: Menages a Trois from Ancient to Modern Times has been called "racy and engaging" by Entertainment Weekly. The three have been featured in television and radio interviews and a European documentary "Menage a Trois" in 2008 by Catherina Klusemann. She has also authored "Tea for Three: The Other Woman by Letha Hadady", as well as co-authored "Outlaws of Love: A History of Forbidden Desire". Please be sure

Link to the Flash Technique Video: https://youtu.be/f-QNuzTdJVYLewis is a licensed psychologist and has been practicing in San Francisco and Marin County for over 40 years. His approach to therapy is interactive and he seeks to understand his clients’ struggles and collaboratively develop a process to resolve their difficulties.Currently, his area of specialization is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR is an effective and well researched therapy originally developed for the treatment of the aftereffects of severe trauma such as combat, physical and sexual abuse, sexual assault, traffic accidents and natural disasters.In 2017, he assisted Philip Manfield, Ph.D. in the development of a revolutionary new technique, the Flash Technique, which combined with EMDR allows for the rapid and painless resolution of traumatic memories. EMDR and Flash are also successful in effectively treating anxiety, depression, avoidance, phobias and panic. These symptoms can arise eit