J. Brown Yoga Talks
Yoga teacher and writer J. Brown is leading the way in the Slow Yoga Revolution, advocating for more intimate, breath-centered, therapeutic yoga practices. J interviews guests from old-school yoga teachers to other yoga revolutionists about philosophy and the business of yoga.
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Josh Kane - "Home Studios, Commercial Leases, Authentic Yoga"
05/06/2024
Josh Kane - "Home Studios, Commercial Leases, Authentic Yoga"
Josh Kane, founder of Gandiva Yoga Center, talks with J about transitioning from independent contractor to center owner, the pursuit of deeper understanding, and the in's and out's of dedicated locations. They discuss how a blue-man group audition led to yoga, being a child actor, finding a teacher and lineage, John Friend's bowspring system, studying with Ragunath, falling out with studio owners, consistent schedules, challenges of creating a home studio, credibility of having a lease, and risking it all on the possibility of lasting joy. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Eddie Ellner - "Roads Less Traveled and Spaces To Gather"
04/29/2024
Eddie Ellner - "Roads Less Traveled and Spaces To Gather"
, founder of , talks with J about the trajectory of yoga into western culture, paradoxes in the human condition, and creating spaces for people to gather. They discuss the early 90's yoga scene via Yogaworks and Jivamukti, the influence of Brian Kest and Steve Ross, acceptance or manipulation of your body, charismatic teachers and the dangers of celebrity, discerning truth, creating Yoga Soup, sobering business realities, and penetrating the fear of what might happen to find joy in making a place for friends to come together. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Vijay Hassin, Sharada Thompson, and Kathleen Rosenberg - "Integral Yoga Exposed"
04/22/2024
Vijay Hassin, Sharada Thompson, and Kathleen Rosenberg - "Integral Yoga Exposed"
Vijay Hassin, Sharada Thompson and Kathleen Rosenberg talk with J about the underbelly of Swami Satchidananda and the Integral Yoga Institute. They discuss Vijay's history including his founding of the center in San Francisco, the meeting in the 1970's when were first made, more recent revelations and the Facebook group that Kathleen started, Sharada's story of mistreatment at the hands of Swami Satchidananda, and reconciling the hurt created by failed leaders and institutions. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Lizzie and Judith Lasater - "Menopause and Beyond"
04/15/2024
Lizzie and Judith Lasater - "Menopause and Beyond"
and return to catch up with J and talk about their latest offering, a free mini-course in . They discuss teaching during the last few years of transition, the genesis of their new course on menopause, generational differences, adapting practice, viewing body changes as a process vs treating a condition, menopause belly, exercise vs innercise, feeling rushed, places of refuge, positive aspects of aging, biopsychosocial self-care, and some keys to a long healthy life. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Hy Brown - "Aftermath of the American Dream"
04/08/2024
Hy Brown - "Aftermath of the American Dream"
Hy Brown is J's dad and they have a candid talk about the life he’s led, choices he’s made, and the lessons he's learned. They discuss growing up in Brooklyn, his involvement with the mob, becoming a civil engineer and vice president of Tishman Construction, working on famous building projects, understanding the system and the art of the con, the life-changing impact of having a heart attack at age 47, meeting J's mom and navigating her death, leading a dual life, fracturing of families, finding new purpose, and learning to care for others. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Bryan Kest - "Autobiography of an American Yogi"
04/01/2024
Bryan Kest - "Autobiography of an American Yogi"
, author of , talks with J about the trajectory of yoga into the mainstream and the role he played in it. They discuss the early LA yoga scene, class in Maui with David Williams, one-to-one with Pattabhi Jois, mentality of not being good enough, learning from India, before "power yoga" became a generic term, beefing with Maty Estaty, opening a donation based studio, systematization, controversy with his brother, doing away with adjustments, and the passion and commitment that fuels a life in yoga. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Esther Ekhart - "Devotion, Surrender, and Video Production"
03/25/2024
Esther Ekhart - "Devotion, Surrender, and Video Production"
, founder of , talks with J about the purpose and passion behind being an early pioneer of yoga video online. They discuss her mother's influence, witnessing healings in the Philippines, miracles of Satya Sai Baba, learning devotion and surrender, becoming a teacher and opening a studio, deciding to make videos and go online, YouTube, being the face of a company, the pandemic boom and slowdown, merging the business, relinquishing over to something bigger, and navigating from a place of love as a given. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Noah Mazé - "Downturns and Ambiguities in Yoga Profession"
03/18/2024
Noah Mazé - "Downturns and Ambiguities in Yoga Profession"
, founder of , talks with J about the stark realities that yoga professionals are facing. They discuss the "ecosystem" of the yoga world before lockdowns, Yoga Journal conferences and Wanderlust festivals, shortening of classes and workshops, going from DVD's to online with Yogaglo, impact of subscription-based services, intellectual property, sustainability of teacher training and the studio model, integration and strength instead of pushing the envelope, and finding meaning in uncertainty. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Cindy Lusk - "Making Sense of Contradictory Messages"
03/11/2024
Cindy Lusk - "Making Sense of Contradictory Messages"
, author of , talks with J about the continual refinement of intention and understanding. They discuss the renunciate path of Patanjali and householder purpose, Richard Freeman's influence, Patabhi Jois's adjustments, Anusara and the legacy of John Friend, Paul Muller-Ortega, certification and the role of asana through different life stages, grappling with questions of higher consciousness, Bhāvanā, and the iterative process of bringing out the best of who we are. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Ranju Roy - "Pilgrimage Into Sacred Inner Landscapes"
03/04/2024
Ranju Roy - "Pilgrimage Into Sacred Inner Landscapes"
, author of , talks with J about the ways in which practice and study become interwoven into one's life. They discuss the meaning of a pilgrimage, understanding the Samkhya terrain in relationship to the map of Patanjali, Prana and Apana, poetics and not limiting ourselves to secular materialism, respecting other viewpoints , honoring traditions, radical transparency, letting go appropriately, uncomplicated wholeness, and engaging in the creative act of learning and sharing knowledge. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Dr. Lauren Tober - "The Frontline of Mental Health Care"
02/26/2024
Dr. Lauren Tober - "The Frontline of Mental Health Care"
, creator and author of , talks with J about the intersection of psychology and yoga for mental health. They discuss the limitations of a clinical approach, the DSM5, doing an n=1 study, finding the right treatment methodology, differences in pedagogy, importance of relationship, supporting students, mental health integrating with the gunas, protocols for helping people feel safe, touch and consent, and staying within or widening our windows of tolerance to better cope with life. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Ryan Kurczak - "Stepping into a Samadhi State"
02/19/2024
Ryan Kurczak - "Stepping into a Samadhi State"
, host of , talks with j about understanding and appreciating what is real. They discuss being ordained into Kriya Yoga by Roy Eugene Davis, the history of Self Realization Fellowship, scalability and maintaining direct connection, vedic astrology, occultism, dramatizing your spiritual path, Ishvara Pranidhana, Samkhya, Jesus Christ, a universal principle of love, creating grooves in your consciousness, Samahdi, and learning to pay attention to the essence of what is divine rather than the manifestation of form. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Tara Stiles - "Online Influence and a Return to Creativity"
02/12/2024
Tara Stiles - "Online Influence and a Return to Creativity"
, co-founder of , returns to compare notes with J about the current state of the yoga world. They discuss the ray of humanity that brought them back together, letting go of brick and mortar spaces, online trends moving from brands to influence, opening up the conversations around spirituality, connecting across divides, gentle yoga becoming trauma informed, training the algorithms to curate your internet experience, the appropriate use of touch, and reacclimating to in person teaching and co-regulating together. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Jonathan FitzGordon - "Learning to Move and Be Well"
02/05/2024
Jonathan FitzGordon - "Learning to Move and Be Well"
, creator of , talks with J about learning how to move and be well. They discuss teaching people how to walk and stand, extreme sensitivity and hypermobility, Jonathan's three knee surgeries, alignment and choosing not to do certain poses, appropriate practice in group classes, core tone, strength that comes from balance, integrated conditioning, how we see ourselves in space, changing perspectives, and getting to know yourself and heal. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Paul JJ Alix - "Strict Protocols for Committed Students"
01/29/2024
Paul JJ Alix - "Strict Protocols for Committed Students"
, founder of , talks with J about his time during the formative years of yoga coming into the mainstream and the rifts between teaching and consumerism that emerged. They discuss the intersection of meditation and ballet, being an early adopter of pilates and choosing yoga as a focus, meeting TKV Desichackar, teaching in NY and setting conditions to attract only committed students, causing a raucous over start times at Ananda Ashram, the need for clarity, staying true to principles, and the enduring power of practice. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Nate Klemp - "Strategies for a Distracted and Polarized World"
01/22/2024
Nate Klemp - "Strategies for a Distracted and Polarized World"
, author of , talks with J about making your life your practice, digital realities, and political universes. They discuss the limitations of thinking to experiencing, the tradition of living philosophy, blogging about a life beyond logic, family life and yogic caves, the 80/80 marriage plan, a mindset of radical generosity, strategies for addressing screen cravings and addiction, lethal mass partisanship, and when surrendering to joy and possibility becomes your only best option. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Josh Thomas - "Being Expansive Amidst Deep Suffering"
01/15/2024
Josh Thomas - "Being Expansive Amidst Deep Suffering"
Josh Thomas is a friend of J's who joins the show to talk about intuitive facility and luminous darkness. They discuss transition states, being motivated by an undercurrent of "not good enough-ness," dissolving boundaries and destruction of ego structures, becoming somebody to become nobody, parapsychology proven real beyond probability, fear of being shunned by the culture, taking belief out of the equation, spiritual healing, radiating peacefulness in everyday life, and marking your intention to a guiding true north of love. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Weena Pauly - "Impulse Towards Aliveness"
01/08/2024
Weena Pauly - "Impulse Towards Aliveness"
, creator of and host of the , talks with J about reclaiming how your body wants to move and the focus of seeing and being seen. They discuss sturdy containers for letting the unknown be revealed, nothingness and staying with trembling discomfort, distinguishing impulse from being impulsive, attributing value, power dynamics and reciprocity of wisdom, hope for our children, and experience as a language of the divine. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Keith Parker - "Chakras and Auras are Real"
01/01/2024
Keith Parker - "Chakras and Auras are Real"
, co-founder of and host of the , talks with J about energy healing, the human aura, and infinity exploring the finite. They discuss transitioning from music to yoga, being tamed by India, striving for liberation or enlightenment, limits of a materialistic paradigm, seeing human auras, gross/subtle/causal relationships, the structure of a soul, Chakras and identity, palpating energy, magical realms, higher intelligence and serving a greater good, and helping to bring subtlety into the foreground of perception. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Year End Check in with J - "Standing at a Crossroads"
12/25/2023
Year End Check in with J - "Standing at a Crossroads"
J repeats his ritual of reflecting on where he’s at what he’s facing as the year comes to a close. He discusses his cat being diagnosed with diabetes, the Dalai Lama's twitter/x account, genetically modified butter, the feeling of not being able to say what you really think, trying to open a yoga center, predictions from the 2016 Yoga in America study, a changing internet, making ends meet, taking stock in the exchanges that make all the difficulties worthwhile, and somehow finding the resilience and fortitude needed to meet life's uncertainty. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Katie Hemphill - "Biomedical Engineering to Animistic Wonder"
12/18/2023
Katie Hemphill - "Biomedical Engineering to Animistic Wonder"
, author of , talks with J about expanding the scope of our understanding through embodied living and collective healing. They discuss why Katie decided to study biomedical engineering, discovering yoga and marathon running, programming a cell, a problem/solution perspective, corporate jobs, grey areas in risk analysis of medical devices, meaning making in scientific process, nutrition science, optimizing connection, balanced containers, and questioning the stories that shape our reality. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Radha Metro-Midkiff - "Gurus, Disciples, and Institutions"
12/11/2023
Radha Metro-Midkiff - "Gurus, Disciples, and Institutions"
Radha Metro-Midkiff, , talks with J about Swami Satchidananda, Integral Yoga, and the major shifts in the industry and culture that have taken place over the last few years. They discuss her childhood growing up at , her relationship to Swami Satchidananda, choosing faith or fear, teachings and the growth of institutions, the difference between the guru and the human being, authentic transmission of yoga, and making sense of life’s complexity through transparent dialogue. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Brett Larkin - "Youtube, Kundalini, and Yoga Industry"
12/04/2023
Brett Larkin - "Youtube, Kundalini, and Yoga Industry"
, founder of an award-winning l and , talks with J about building her platform and the state of yoga online. They discuss graduating from NYU, exploring different styles of practice, creating fitness and dance video games, starting to post on YouTube and gaining subscribers, leveraging social media, legitimizing online training, the influence of kundalini yoga and asking hard questions, working with Ayurveda, energy bodies, and learning from the past so we can proceed with integrity. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Diana May - "Having a Regulated Nervous System"
11/27/2023
Diana May - "Having a Regulated Nervous System"
talks with J about yoga for the nervous system and somatic experiencing. They discuss moving to a big city before leaving and being closer to nature, dissociation from our bodies, being with the full range of human emotion, somatic experiencing based on the work of Dr Peter Levine, resonance fields, lowering levels of activation, honoring the value of anxiety and becoming less defensive of our responses, making a nervous system supported class, tolerance for different views, and maximizing capacity for connection. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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John Stirk - "Awakening to the Unknown"
11/20/2023
John Stirk - "Awakening to the Unknown"
, author of , talks with J about formation, transformation, and the feeling of existence. They discuss changing expectations for careers in yoga, digging deeper to change your perspective, the condition of understanding, getting in touch with insightfulness, healing fragmentation by highlighting that which is indivisible, transformation instead of information, authentic intelligence, mental indigestion, becoming more sensitive, knowing through direct perception, and relating to the unknown in an intelligent way. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Philip Deslippe - "The Truth About Yogi Bhajan and 3HO"
11/13/2023
Philip Deslippe - "The Truth About Yogi Bhajan and 3HO"
, author of , talks with J about his research into the real story behind Yogi Bhajan and the yoga empire he created. They discuss Philip's time as a Kundalini teacher, 3HO, the role of students in editing and elevating teachers to master status, legitimizing something by deferring to a false antiquity, value calculations within corrupted traditions, the life and significance of William Atkinson, the paradox of benefiting from hucksters, and possibilities for what yoga teaching might look like in the future. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Ruth White - "Iyengar's UK Roots and the Essence of Yoga"
11/06/2023
Ruth White - "Iyengar's UK Roots and the Essence of Yoga"
, author of , talks with J about the earliest days of BKS Iyengar coming to the UK and developing a practice that endures. They discuss practicing in a living room with BKS Iyengar, the difference between classes in Pune compared to the UK, standardization and growth, whether or not Iyengar was an abusive teacher, starting a yoga prop company, why Iyengar focused primarily on postures, going inward, and the dropping away of ego identifications so we can see each other as one and the same. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Cristina & Diego - "Experiencing the World in Barefoot Shoes"
10/30/2023
Cristina & Diego - "Experiencing the World in Barefoot Shoes"
, founders of , talk with J about the philosophy behind barefoot shoes and our relationship to the natural world. They discuss the developmental issues their daughter faced and how that led to barefoot shoes, the detriment of conventional ideas about footwear, specifications that make a shoe barefoot, educating people about the benefits and making the appearance more accessible, doing business according to your values, embracing simple as better, and the benefits of slower living and a return to basic principles. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Joe Simek - "Goals and Trajectories for Yoga Centers"
10/23/2023
Joe Simek - "Goals and Trajectories for Yoga Centers"
, co-owner of and co-founder of , talks with J about coming back from the pandemic and moving forward with purpose. They discuss the reopening of his brick and mortar space, leases and sustainability, competition among centers, re-envisioning memberships and community, shifting from information to transformation, economics of surrender, issues of certification and accreditation, marketing with soul, and the changing dynamics by which we set roots and measure success. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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Mark Walsh - "Trauma, Embodiment, and Facebook Bombs"
10/16/2023
Mark Walsh - "Trauma, Embodiment, and Facebook Bombs"
, host of the and author of , talks with J about facilitating life skills and navigating the world around us. They discuss the emergence of coaching in the yoga world, embodiment as a practice and a principle, creating the largest online embodiment conference ever, trauma work and fads, early days of trolling online, political trends, decadence and the luxury of despair, overcoming grief, and the importance of finding ways to make sense and meaning. To subscribe and support the show… . Check out J's other podcast… .
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