Stuart Alve Olson | Tai Chi, Taoist Alchemy, Buddhist Chanting, and a Bowing Pilgrimage
Transformations with Mark V. Wiley
Release Date: 11/28/2023
Yoga, Addiction & Kundalini: The Truth About Real Transformation - Swami Kripananda
Transformations with Mark V. Wiley
What does real transformation look like—not in theory, but lived through the body, mind, and spirit? In this powerful conversation, Swami Kripananda shares his journey from addiction and recovery to deep immersion in yoga, meditation, and spiritual practice. Drawing from decades of experience—including training with masters such as B.K.S. Iyengar—he offers a raw and unfiltered look at what it means to truly change. This is not a discussion of surface-level wellness or technique. It is a direct exploration of discipline, addiction, embodiment, and the realities of spiritual awakening....
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GM Phil Matedne | A Deep Dive into Malay Combat Systems
Transformations with Mark V. Wiley
Phil Matedne was born and raised in the city of Stockton, California. As a teenager, he began his martial arts training in the Kajukenbo style of Karate under Sifu John Valdez. As a young adult Guro Phil began his extensive training in the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) with many of the West Coast teachers since 1983 and now has close to thirty years of experience. The teacher primarily responsible for Phil’s foundation in the FMA is the late Grandmaster of Bahala Na Escrima International, Leo M. Giron. Phil trained exclusively with Grandmaster Giron for seven years; after which Giron certified...
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Eskrima, the Filipino martial art. From his humble beginnings as a six-year-old enthusiast in 1979 to his present-day endeavors, Jason's journey has been one of relentless pursuit, unwavering commitment, and remarkable accomplishments. With over 40 years of experience in Eskrima, Jason is the inheritor of the esteemed Inayan System of Eskrima. Following in the footsteps of his father, Mangisursuro Mike Inay (GM Mike Inay or Suro Mike Inay), Jason proudly carries forward the legacy of this system, perpetuating its teachings and principles. Jason's martial arts prowess extends far beyond...
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Derek Notman | Embodied Wisdom, Inner Traditions, Physical Culture
Transformations with Mark V. Wiley
For over 30 years, Derek Notman has dedicated himself to the study of physical culture and philosophy. This pursuit has led him all over the world including time living in China and Southeast Asia, studying with traditional masters of martial, movement, and healing arts. Derek has always sought to extract the essence of the traditions while connecting the common elements. Despite the uniqueness of each art and human form, there is a commonality to being in a body and so themes emerge. Derek has made it his life’s work, to investigate and understand these themes and share them with others in...
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GM Rene Navarro | Tai Chi Secrets, Lohan Kungfu, Internal Alchemy, Forging the Dan Tian
Transformations with Mark V. Wiley
For over six decades, Grandmaster Rene J. Navarro has been on a mission, traveling the globe to learn from extraordinary masters of impossible skills, and to then develop those skills within himself. From the depth of Yang family Tai Chi Chuan to the refined and arcane techniques of Internal Alchemy, from poetry and music to deadly kung-fu, from meditation to discovering the Great Dao, brings alive the astonishing travels, discipleship, teachings, and commentaries on life of a man traversing the lonely and difficult path of energetic, cultural and spiritual self-cultivation. Through...
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Sensei Antonio Aloia | Aikido's Rise and Fall from Japan to America
Transformations with Mark V. Wiley
Antonio Aloia has been training a mixture of aikido, judo, and Olympic Fencing since 2002. He also holds a Master’s degree in history from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. In 2020, he published his Aikido Comes to America, a history of aikido in the United States. Antonio runs the online martial arts chronicle Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, where it houses many interviews with martial artists and historical essays. Currently, Antonio is writing a biography of a judo pioneer and researching the answers to aikido’s modern questions. Antonio’s Links ...
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Datu Shishir Inocalla | Yoga Meditation, Filipino Martial Arts, Ninja Turtle
Transformations with Mark V. Wiley
Datu Shishir Inocalla is a pioneer of wellness and the creator of the BMST (body mind spirit training and living system). He is a grandmaster of Arnis Maharlika, a Filipino martial art, and master of Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditation and natural healing. He was the wellness trainer at the World HQ at David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Champions Gate, FL. He started martial arts training at the age eight and become a Yogic monk in India at age 15. He was persecuted for his spiritual belief and was detained in Tihar, Jail, India during 1975 Martial Law for 1 year at age 18. From 1980 he moved to...
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Sifu Hal Mosher | Tai Chi's Internal Power Essense - Peng Jin
Transformations with Mark V. Wiley
Tai Chi teacher Hal Mosher discusses his journey in studying Tai Chi, including his time with Robert Smith and his experiences in Taiwan. He shares insights into his conversations with Robert Smith about the CIA and the importance of not trusting everything on TV. Mosher also highlights the evolution of his training methods and the emphasis on song gong and syncing in Tai Chi. He concludes by discussing his book on peng lu ji an and the significance of yielding in the practice of Tai Chi. In this conversation, Hal Mosher discusses the creation of peng jin and its importance in Tai Chi. He...
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Dr. Anthony Feinstein| Emotional Trauma, Mental Illness, Impaired Cognition Among Frontline Journalist and MS Patients
Transformations with Mark V. Wiley
Dr. Anthony Feinstein is a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto and a neuropsychiatrist. His research and clinical work focus on people with multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and Conversion Disorder. He has undertaken a number of studies investigating how front-line journalists are affected by their work covering war and man-made and natural disasters. Our discussion focuses on his two books: Moral Courage: 19 Profiles of Investigative Journalists and Mind, Mood, and Memory: The Neurobehavioral Consequences of Multiple Sclerosis… as the subject relates to the mind,...
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Josh Paynter and Jack Schaefer | Taoist Philosophy, Medicine, Talismans, and Rituals
Transformations with Mark V. Wiley
Josh Paynter and Jack Shaefer are both ordained 22nd generation Daoist Priest in the Quanzhen, Longmen tradition at the Jian Fu Gong on Qingcheng Mountain, and ordained 25th generation Daoist Priest in the Quanzhen, Longmen tradition at the Qingyun Daoguan. Jack and Josh are the Co-abbots of Parting Clouds, a formally recognized as a temple organization by Zhang Mingxin the Abess at the Jian Fu Gong on Qing Cheng Mountain. 0:54 Josh’s Early Exposure to Asian Culture 5:13 The Experience of “Chinese” in America 7:37 Josh’s Early Exposure to Asian Culture 13:59 Issues...
info_outlineFor over 40 years, Stuart Alve Olson has been studying Taoist and Buddhist philosophy and Chinese language while practicing Taoist meditation and ceremony, Qigong, Taijiquan, Praying Mantis Kung Fu, and Internal Alchemy.
He is the founder, director, and head teacher of the Sanctuary of Tao. Born in the year of the White Tiger (1950) in Minnesota, he is an author/translator of nearly 40 works on Taoist Philosophy, Taijiquan, Qigong, and Taoist internal practices. In his late 20s and early 30s, Stuart began learning from teachers such as Chan Master Hsuan Hua, under whom, on Christmas day 1979, he took refuge as a disciple at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Stuart became the disciple of the renown Tai Chi Master T.T. Liang, and learned under many other notable teachers, including Kung fu and healing master Oei Khong-hwei and Dharma Master Cheng Yi.
In the spring of 1982 through 1984, Stuart undertook a Buddhist bowing pilgrimage, “Nine Steps One Bow,” from the Minnesota Zen Center to the border of Nebraska, traveling along state and county roads during the spring, summer, and autumn months. During the winter months, he stayed at Master Liang’s home and bowed in his garage.
Our discussion went deep into many of these areas, as well as others and, as always, Stuart is the consummate gentleman and scholar.
0:00 Introduction
2:12 A Love for His Work, The Taoist Immortal, A Backward Lived Life
11:55 Considering Misfortune and Good Fortune, Hit By A Train In 1988,
16:00 A View on Mortality and So-Called Immortality, Buddhist Suffering and Daoist Appreciation
19:44 A Two-Year Bowing Pilgrimage
45:36 Fish Out of Water and Cultural Appropriation
49:51 T.T. Liang, Minnesota Zen Center, Tai Chi, Losing to Win
1:11:09 Art of Living, Dying Well, Immortality, First World Arrogance, Food and Longevity
1:24:22 Theravada, Mahayana, Celibacy, Vegetarianism
1:27:19 Stuart’s Embrace of Asian Culture
1:30:45 Xu Yun, Hsuan Hua, City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
1:42:38 Mentors and Teachers, Taoist Alchemy, Dao De Jing, Prof. Wu Yi, T.T. Liang
1:45:45 Stuart’s Books In China, Teaching In Indonesia
1:53:58 Remembering Ven. Hsuan Hua, Chanting In China
1:59:26 Do What You Can, Try Your Best
2:01:23 A Dislike for New Age, Limits of Mindfulness
2:06:28 Clean Up Your Retribution
Stuart’s Links