The Unplug Podcast: Activated Living for Truth Seekers and Critical Thinkers in a Collapsing World http://www.debozarko.com Live with passion. Live with purpose. Change the world. Wed, 05 Oct 2016 16:07:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 The Unplug podcast explores the tough conversations so skillfully silenced by our world in collapse. It’s an inspirational show created for listeners who are fed up with the status quo paradigm of conformity, consumption, compliance, judgement, fear, denial, and indifference. The Unplug podcast evolves beyond magical thinking, hope and the illusion of a better world by inspiring a profound state of activated presence. It strips away the ties that bind us to our collective separation from the web of life to reveal the truth that lives within the authentic human heart. Through bi-weekly, long-format, free-flow conversations with passionate truth-seekers, the Unplug podcast delves into the depths of our planetary crisis and provides an island of sanity in an insane world. It’s an audio show created for all who are disenchanted with our hyper-paced, consumptive world, who denounce what we’re doing to animals and the Earth, and who feel the tug of the soul to live more, give more, be more, and love more—even if it’s too late. The Unplug podcast is all about evolutionary activism, personal transformation, planetary hospice, and living a deeply connected life in a collapsing world. No sound bites, no life hacks, no b.s. Check out debozarko.com. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. deb@debozarko.com deb@debozarko.com (Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life.) Unplug Podcast 2016 Unplug from status quo and shift the paradigm from head to heart by co-creating a more passionate, compassionate, loving and interconnected world. Live with passion. Live with purpose. Change the world. The Unplug Podcast: Activated Living for Truth Seekers and Critical Thinkers in a Collapsing World http://www.debozarko.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Unpluggraphicitunes-100.jpg http://www.debozarko.com deb.ozarko@gmail.com The Unplug podcast explores the tough conversations so skillfully silenced by our world in collapse. It’s an inspirational show created for listeners who are fed up with the status quo paradigm of conformity, consumption, compliance, judgement, fear, denial, and indifference. The Unplug podcast evolves beyond magical thinking, hope and the illusion of a better world by inspiring a profound state of activated presence. It strips away the ties that bind us to our collective separation from the web of life to reveal the truth that lives within the authentic human heart. Through bi-weekly, long-format, free-flow conversations with passionate truth-seekers, the Unplug podcast delves into the depths of our planetary crisis and provides an island of sanity in an insane world. It’s an audio show created for all who are disenchanted with our hyper-paced, consumptive world, who denounce what we’re doing to animals and the Earth, and who feel the tug of the soul to live more, give more, be more, and love more—even if it’s too late. The Unplug podcast is all about evolutionary activism, personal transformation, planetary hospice, and living a deeply connected life in a collapsing world. No sound bites, no life hacks, no b.s. Check out debozarko.com. TV-G Bi-weekly Become a Patreon UP #111: The Courage to Live Courageously with The Deb’s http://www.debozarko.com/111/ Wed, 28 Sep 2016 00:50:21 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=17472 http://www.debozarko.com/111/#view_comments http://www.debozarko.com/111/feed/ 4 This week, my partner Deb Gleason and I speak about what it means to live courageously with deep trust; how we manifest what we need when we take the required action... This week, my partner Deb Gleason and I speak about our intuitively guided move away from the Sunshine Coast to a new location that feels more aligned with where we now need to go. Our conversation explores the depths of what it means to live courageously with deep trust; how we manifest what we need when we take the required action.

We also speak about the accelerating Earth changes and how they’re affecting our ability to discern our internal cues with more clarity.

We also explore topics of conversation such as:

  • Living simply.
  • Living from essence in our collapsing world.
  • How the body never lies.
  • The power of (wo)manifesting (i.e. thought, choice, action).
  • Trusting our internal cues.
  • What is deep courage?
  • How grief and pain transform us.
  • How acceptance liberates us.
  • Living passionately in a collapsing world.
  • The connection between joy and gratitude.
  • The isolation of living an aware and awakened life.
  • The fire of compassion.

Yet another conversation that will rock your world!

SHOW NOTES:

Inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

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This week, my partner Deb Gleason and I speak about what it means to live courageously with deep trust; how we manifest what we need when we take the required action... We also speak about the accelerating Earth changes and how they’re affecting our ability to discern our internal cues with more clarity.
We also explore topics of conversation such as:

* Living simply.
* Living from essence in our collapsing world.
* How the body never lies.
* The power of (wo)manifesting (i.e. thought, choice, action).
* Trusting our internal cues.
* What is deep courage?
* How grief and pain transform us.
* How acceptance liberates us.
* Living passionately in a collapsing world.
* The connection between joy and gratitude.
* The isolation of living an aware and awakened life.
* The fire of compassion.

Yet another conversation that will rock your world!
SHOW NOTES:

*  Unprecedented Green Ocean: Feeling Homesick at Home blog post.
*  The Illusion and Truth of Courage blog post.
* Navigating an Altered Planet with Grace podcast with Deb Gleason and Gigi Hoeller.
* Beyond Vegan: An Awakened Exploration of Conscious Eating online program.

Inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.
You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.
3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!
As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!
]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life.
UP #110: Human Extinction, Right Action, and Living Fully Now with Guy McPherson http://www.debozarko.com/110-2/ Wed, 14 Sep 2016 06:01:57 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=17452 http://www.debozarko.com/110-2/#view_comments http://www.debozarko.com/110-2/feed/ 3 This week’s guest is Dr. Guy McPherson: author, activist, grief recovery specialist, and award-winning professor emeritus of Natural Resources, and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona... When I first started the Unplug podcast in the fall of 2013, I believed we still had time to create a better story for the world. I knew the odds were slim and that the will of the collective were against me, but my passionate love for the Earth combined with my stubborn persona encouraged me to do everything in my power to try.

Three years have since passed and things are exponentially worse. We’ve crossed tipping points that don’t bode well for humanity—or any species for that matter. Because I’m a fighter by nature, I’ve had difficulty making peace with this fact. But in my grief, my rage, my despair, and my pain, I’ve found a release that has brought me to a profound state of acceptance that has been nothing short of liberating. This doesn’t mean that I’m exempt from the pain of bearing witness to a collapsing world. It also doesn’t mean that I no longer care. Quite the opposite actually. It does mean that I’m now willing to explore conversations that I previously thought would not be needed.

This week’s guest is Dr. Guy McPherson: author, activist, grief recovery specialist, and award-winning professor emeritus of Natural Resources, and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona. He’s also the only person who openly speaks about the extinction of species homo sapien—not in some distant timeline, but in our lifetime. That’s not only a stark reality, it’s a massive pattern interrupt.

Homo sapien has proven to be an exceedingly destructive species skilled at causing the extinction of 150 to 200 species daily…daily! That’s a sickening legacy. With the arrogant destruction of the natural world for greed and profit, relentless, unconscious consumption to feed our selfish egos, and our predatory addiction to the animal flesh and secretions of billions of sentient beings every single year, we are killing machines. The blood soaks our hands with every choice we make that promotes the destruction of life.

This stomach-turning reality has prompted me to ask: “If we’re proficient enough to cause the extinction of so many others on such a monumental scale, how can we possibly be delusional enough to believe that we’re exempt from bringing about our own extinction?”

When you look at the overall picture of the collective reality we’ve created, there’s little working in our favor for a rosy future. We’re destructive. We’re separate. We’re infected with fear. And we’re disconnected from our own souls. Not a pretty picture.

Do I believe humans will become extinct in my lifetime? Let’s just say that I don’t doubt this very real possibility.

I discovered Guy McPherson’s work when I was writing my essay. I’ve since explored his message and there’s a resonance with our respective work. Although his background is scientific and mine is intuitive, we unite in the sense of urgency we believe is necessary to inspire in these very dark times.

His recent Cascadia tour included a stop in Vancouver. When I discovered this fact, I felt compelled to invite him to the Sunshine Coast. Much to my surprise, he accepted the offer. My partner and I had the honor of hosting his stay, and despite his whirlwind visit, we had the opportunity for some wonderful intimate time with him. This week’s podcast was birthed in our living room. It’s a conversation that will alter your worldview. If you’re new to this information, it may bring up shock, numbness, denial, anger, grief and a host of other emotions. I implore you to stay with it because even if you disagree with the content, I think we can all agree that we are collectively on a crash course for collapse.

This week we explore topics such as:

  • What is near-term human extinction?
  • What is anthropogenic climate change?
  • What is abrupt climate change?
  • In depth knowledge about positive self-reinforcing feedback loops.
  • How humans are driven by short-term thinking at the expense of the future.
  • How we are all born into captivity.
  • The dreaded “D” word: denial.
  • The link between hope, fear and denial.
  • Living with a sense of urgency.
  • Living fully until the end.
  • What we see is not always reality.
  • Living as a societal walk-out.
  • Integrity and courage in the face of impossible odds.
  • An important conversation about grief and love.

Brace yourself for a powerful conversation that will forever alter your world.

SHOW NOTES:

Inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
This week’s guest is Dr. Guy McPherson: author, activist, grief recovery specialist, and award-winning professor emeritus of Natural Resources, and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona... This week’s guest is Dr. Guy McPherson: author, activist, grief recovery specialist, and award-winning professor emeritus of Natural Resources, and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona. He’s also the only person who openly speaks about the extinction of species homo sapien—not in some distant timeline, but in our lifetime. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:45:40
UP #109: Giving Voice to the Whispers from Within with Louise LeBrun http://www.debozarko.com/109/ Wed, 31 Aug 2016 03:23:50 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=17159 http://www.debozarko.com/109/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/109/feed/ 0 From the moment we’re no more than an idea in our parents heads, we’re being groomed to search outside of ourselves for cues on how to live our lives. By the time we’re birthed into flesh, we’re taught to conform to the culture... From the moment we’re no more than an idea in our parents heads, we’re being groomed to search outside of ourselves for cues on how to live our lives. By the time we’re birthed into flesh, we’re taught to conform to the culture. Essentially, our domestication (read: enslavement) consists of: birth, conformity, compliance, consumption, ignorance, denial, and death. We’re not taught that we matter. We’re not told that what differentiates us is who we are. We’re not taught to think critically or question anything. We’re not told that our voices are worthy. We’re not taught that what lives within us—our truth—is our compass for deep authenticity. We’re not told that our lives are finite and that we must live fully now.

I’ve been thinking a lot of death lately. It’s been a constant source of inspiration since my fathers death in 1999 and even more so since the untimely death of my mother in 2010. The ever present shadow of death is what prompts me to live fully now. I believe that many people fear death because they fear life. I also believe that many people fear death because they fear their own evolution. On a deeper level, I believe that we all know that we’re here to evolve and grow and expand into always more. But we’re culturally conditioned by our parents, relatives, friends, teachers, authority figures, etc. who were culturally conditioned by their parents, relatives, friends, teachers, authority figures and so on and so on to serve the system rather than our own truth. And so we never fully live. And in never fully living, we fear our own demise because we unconsciously know the regret it will bring up. This keeps us trapped in a perpetual state of ignorance and denial to ourselves—and also to life.

My motto is as follows: “Evolve as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die tomorrow.” Because of this, I’m exceedingly selective with who I invite into my life.

I’m honored to call Louise LeBrun friend. She’s a paradigm-altering powerhouse who continually shatters my perceptions and feeds my hunger to be so much more.

Earlier this month, Louise invited me to participate in her life-altering 10-day writing experience called, “Whispers From Within”. It’s a small group experience for women who are hungry to know more of themselves. Without revealing too much in these show notes, I will let you know that the experience is deeply personal and profoundly transformative. We speak at great length about what came up for us in this week’s lengthy podcast.

As always with Louise, we go deep and wide exploring topics such as:

  • The feeling of agitation that comes from living in a “holding pattern”.
  • How agitation is often an indicator of change.
  • What is real anymore?
  • The suppression and hatred of the feminine.
  • The roots of misogyny and how they prevent wholeness (personally and collectively).
  • The power of conversation to move energy into matter.
  • A different take on patriarchy.
  • The power of language to nurture or destroy.
  • How we’re deeply conditioned to self-edit.
  • How conversation expands in the safety and presence of others.
  • How most limitations live in our minds.
  • A conversation about privilege.
  • How parenting safeguards the status quo.
  • How self awareness is dangerous to the status quo.
  • How life lives in the questions, not the answers.
  • Exploring death as a new beginning.

This conversation is raw, fierce, edgy, and provocative. It’s everything that ignites the fire that feeds an insatiable hunger for infinite expansion.

As always with Louise LeBrun, prepare for liftoff!

SHOW NOTES:

Inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
From the moment we’re no more than an idea in our parents heads, we’re being groomed to search outside of ourselves for cues on how to live our lives. By the time we’re birthed into flesh, we’re taught to conform to the culture... Earlier this month, Louise LeBrun invited me to participate in her life-altering 10-day writing experience called, “Whispers From Within”. It’s a small group experience for women who are hungry to know more of themselves. Without revealing too much in these show notes, I will let you know that the experience is deeply personal and profoundly transformative. We speak at great length about what came up for us in this week’s lengthy podcast. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 2:45:54
UP #108: Creating an Island of Sanity in a Sea of Global Chaos with Carolyn Baker http://www.debozarko.com/108-2/ Wed, 17 Aug 2016 00:14:37 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=16991 http://www.debozarko.com/108-2/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/108-2/feed/ 0 Carolyn Baker is the author of several books about our chaotic and collapsing times. She’s a truth-teller extraordinaire. Her background includes: adjunct professor of history and psychology.. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: our world is in a massive state of collapse. As a result, we’re living in very uncertain times. One would have to have their head firmly planted in the sand to not understand how dire things are on all levels: social, cultural, ecological and with our biosphere. The collapse is accelerating at a rate that’s impossible to keep up with, and it’s not pretty.

This spring, I released an 18-page essay that exposed a deep inner knowing that has been with me all my life. It changed my life in ways that I’m still adjusting to. It liberated me in ways I didn’t know I was still bound to. And it connected me to amazing people like this week’s guest.

Carolyn Baker is the author of several books about our chaotic and collapsing times. She’s a truth-teller extraordinaire. Her background includes: adjunct professor of history and psychology for more than 10 years, psychotherapist in private practice for 17 years and she’s also a student of ritual and mythology with a personal meditation practice that spans more than 30 years. She offers life coaching both locally in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado and also internationally. She’s a prolific author with 11 books to her name, and she’s also the host of the New Lifeboat Hour podcast.

Carolyn is passionate about creating islands of sanity in a sea of global chaos. This is where our work aligns. Carolyn and I both share a passion for inspiring passion, purpose, love and presence in these turbulent and uncertain times. We both expose hidden truths and engage in difficult conversations normally swept under the rug in out denial-infected, pain-phobic world. Where my work is primarily about critical thought and consciousness in our flat-lined culture, Carolyn gets to the roots of our global crisis by exposing the toxicity of our culture: economically, ecologically, politically, and in every shape and form that it presents itself. In that exposé, she inspires people to live fully now.

As always, this is an expansive and unapologetic conversation that goes to great depths. Some of the topics we explore are:

  • Emotional/spiritual connection in collapsing times.
  • Death, denial and human extinction.
  • What is initiation/rite of passage?
  • Grief is the absolute crux of what we should all be feeling in today’s collapsing world.
  • How denial of initiation is denial of awakening.
  • How we are living in planetary hospice.
  • The sacredness of grief and how it opens a portal to our love.
  • How we are born into separation and the lifelong trauma that ensues.
  • What is the shadow and how it manifests.
  • The seductive, toxic nature of new-age thinking.
  • The cultural addiction to happiness that prevents us from joy.
  • The peril of “hope” and how it prevents us from presence.
  • How grief and love are inseparable.
  • The importance of grief for effective activism.
  • Re-learning our connection to nature.
  • Practicing kindness.

As always, this is an expansive and unapologetic conversation that goes to great depths. Be prepared to be activated by Carolyn Baker.

SHOW NOTES:

Inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Carolyn Baker is the author of several books about our chaotic and collapsing times. She’s a truth-teller extraordinaire. Her background includes: adjunct professor of history and psychology.. Carolyn Baker is the author of several books about our chaotic and collapsing times. She’s a truth-teller extraordinaire. Her background includes: adjunct professor of history and psychology for more than 10 years, psychotherapist in private practice for 17 years and she’s also a student of ritual and mythology with a personal meditation practice that spans more than 30 years. She offers life coaching both locally in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado and also internationally. She’s a prolific author with 11 books to her name, and she’s also the host of the New Lifeboat Hour podcast. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:32:37
UP #107: Ground Truth Trekking in an Altered Climate with Erin McKittrick http://www.debozarko.com/107/ Wed, 03 Aug 2016 01:19:58 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=16879 http://www.debozarko.com/107/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/107/feed/ 0 This week’s guest is adventurer, writer and biologist, Erin McKittrick. Originally from Seattle, Erin now lives in the North American epicentre of it all—Alaska—with her husband and two children in their yurt... With abrupt climate change becoming an increasingly hot topic these days—both literally and figuratively—it’s becoming more clear that our altered planet is a source of great concern for many. We have now crossed many tipping points of no return.

One of the most profound tipping points relates to accelerated Arctic sea ice melt. Why is a lack of Arctic sea ice a concern? In simple terms, the white of the ice reflects the sun back into the atmosphere maintaining a cooler ocean and thus a cooler Earth. A lack of sea ice means a lack of albedo, otherwise known as “whiteness”. A lack of albedo means that things are darker. No Arctic sea ice means more dark water to absorb the heat of the sun and create a warming effect. Think of a hot summer day. Does it make more sense to wear a white t-shirt or a dark t-shirt? The warmer the water, the more things melt, which means even less albedo. This positive feedback loop becomes self-reinforcing with no way to stop it, and thus the ocean continues to warm.

Warming oceans also mean acidification, deoxygenation and expansion. Yes, warm water expands. This means sea level rise, altered ocean current patterns, methane release and many other feedback loops that spiral out of control. As feedback loops compound, the planet becomes less habitable for many plant and animal species…and eventually for us. A lack of Arctic sea ice is a very serious problem for our entire life-support system.

This week’s guest is adventurer, writer and biologist, Erin McKittrick. Originally from Seattle, Erin now lives in the North American epicentre of it all—Alaska—with her husband and two children in their yurt. Erin and her husband, Hig, have been trekking for over a decade, logging over 8000 miles of wilderness travel. On their website, they write that their human-powered trekking expeditions across Alaska give them the “ground truth” of everything from mine proposals to climate change, through observation and conversation with locals. They then combine this “ground truth” with “researched truth,” using their respective scientific backgrounds to create comprehensive and accurate articles on key issues across the state.

Their mission is to provide people with the knowledge they need to make smart decisions about the issues they uncover, now and into the future.

This week we talk about:

  • The gratitude that comes from simple living.
  • How so much of our lives are tied to the electric grid.
  • How sea ice is a controlling factor in our global climate.
  • What is albedo and why it matters.
  • What is a self-reinforcing positive feedback loop and why it is a concern.
  • The variability of weather in relation to climate change.
  • Sea bird die-offs and climate change.

This is an important conversation that will both inspire and open your mind to the experiential truth of climate change to be found on the ground.

SHOW NOTES:

Inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
This week’s guest is adventurer, writer and biologist, Erin McKittrick. Originally from Seattle, Erin now lives in the North American epicentre of it all—Alaska—with her husband and two children in their yurt... One of the most profound tipping points relates to accelerated Arctic sea ice melt. Why is a lack of Arctic sea ice a concern? In simple terms, the white of the ice reflects the sun back into the atmosphere maintaining a cooler ocean and thus a cooler Earth. A lack of sea ice means a lack of albedo, otherwise known as “whiteness”. A lack of albedo means that things are darker. No Arctic sea ice means more dark water to absorb the heat of the sun and create a warming effect. Think of a hot summer day. Does it make more sense to wear a white t-shirt or a dark t-shirt? The warmer the water, the more things melt, which means even less albedo. This positive feedback loop becomes self-reinforcing with no way to stop it, and thus the ocean continues to warm.
Warming oceans also mean acidification, deoxygenation and expansion. Yes, warm water expands. This means sea level rise, altered ocean current patterns, methane release and many other feedback loops that spiral out of control. As feedback loops compound, the planet becomes less habitable for many plant and animal species…and eventually for us. A lack of Arctic sea ice is a very serious problem for our entire life-support system.
This week’s guest is adventurer, writer and biologist, Erin McKittrick. Originally from Seattle, Erin now lives in the North American epicentre of it all—Alaska—with her husband and two children in their yurt. Erin and her husband, Hig, have been trekking for over a decade, logging over 8000 miles of wilderness travel. On their website, they write that their human-powered trekking expeditions across Alaska give them the “ground truth” of everything from mine proposals to climate change, through observation and conversation with locals. They then combine this “ground truth” with “researched truth,” using their respective scientific backgrounds to create comprehensive and accurate articles on key issues across the state.
Their mission is to provide people with the knowledge they need to make smart decisions about the issues they uncover, now and into the future.
This week we talk about:

* The gratitude that comes from simple living.
* How so much of our lives are tied to the electric grid.
* How sea ice is a controlling factor in our global climate.
* What is albedo and why it matters.
* What is a self-reinforcing positive feedback loop and why it is a concern.
* The variability of weather in relation to climate change.
* Sea bird die-offs and climate change.

This is an important conversation that will both inspire and open your mind to the experiential truth of climate change to be found on the ground.
SHOW NOTES:

* Ground Truth Trekking website.

Inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.
You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.
3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!
As always,]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:09:33
UP #106: Walking Out of Dominant Culture, Walking On to Truth with Deborah Frieze http://www.debozarko.com/106/ Wed, 20 Jul 2016 00:32:05 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=16841 http://www.debozarko.com/106/#view_comments http://www.debozarko.com/106/feed/ 5 Deborah Frieze is this week’s guest. She’s an author, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and activist committed to strengthening local economies. Her TEDx talk explores the underlying cultural beliefs that prop up the global mindset of separation... A few months ago, I received a link to a TEDx talk by a friend who knew the message would resonate. It did. So much so that I immediately reached out to the speaker to invite her on to the show. After numerous email exchanges, we finally connected for a powerful conversation about walking out of the dominant culture and walking on to the truth that lives in our hearts—a truth that lives for the present moment in community and service.

Deborah Frieze is this week’s guest. She’s an author, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and activist committed to strengthening local economies. Her award-winning book, co-authored with Margaret Wheatley, Walk Out Walk On: A Learning Journey into Communities Daring to Live the Future Now, profiles pioneering leaders who walked out of organizations failing to contribute to the common good—and walked on to build resilient communities. She is a founding partner of the Boston Impact Initiative and founder of the Old Oak Dojo, an urban learning center in Jamaica Plain where neighbors gather to rediscover how to create healthy and resilient communities.

What struck me most about Deborah’s TEDx talk is how bold she was about telling it like it is, meaning how our dominant systems—education, healthcare, government, business, etc.—are failing communities, the Earth and ourselves. Deborah clearly articulates how it’s not possible to change big systems and how we can only abandon them and start over, or offer hospice to what’s dying. Her talk and her work explores the underlying cultural beliefs that prop up the global mindset of separation. She also shares a radical theory of change that reveals how localism has a critical role to play in whatever future we may have.

In this week’s conversation, we also go into great depths about a number of topics including:

  • Walking out of the status quo and into our heart’s calling.
  • How the world is made of living systems.
  • Seeing beyond the dominant culture.
  • How systems thinking reconnects us to life.
  • The difference between the linear Newtonian worldview and quantum physics.
  • How the human worldview is based on machines, not life.
  • How rugged individualism isolates us from our community nature.
  • How community nurtures our sense of belonging.
  • The amplification of collapsing energies in today’s world.
  • Doing our work in the face of uncertainty.
  • Beyond hope and hopelessness.
  • How we cannot change the system because of how deeply entrenched it is within the human psyche.
  • Why most activism and non-violent actions don’t work and why play is more effective.
  • Fostering critical connections over critical mass.

This is a powerful conversation that I know will activate, inspire and elicit deep thought.

SHOW NOTES:

Inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Deborah Frieze is this week’s guest. She’s an author, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and activist committed to strengthening local economies. Her TEDx talk explores the underlying cultural beliefs that prop up the global mindset of separation... TEDx talk by a friend who knew the message would resonate. It did. So much so that I immediately reached out to the speaker to invite her on to the show. After numerous email exchanges, we finally connected for a powerful conversation about walking out of the dominant culture and walking on to the truth that lives in our hearts—a truth that lives for the present moment in community and service.
Deborah Frieze is this week’s guest. She’s an author, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and activist committed to strengthening local economies. Her award-winning book, co-authored with Margaret Wheatley, Walk Out Walk On: A Learning Journey into Communities Daring to Live the Future Now, profiles pioneering leaders who walked out of organizations failing to contribute to the common good—and walked on to build resilient communities. She is a founding partner of the Boston Impact Initiative and founder of the Old Oak Dojo, an urban learning center in Jamaica Plain where neighbors gather to rediscover how to create healthy and resilient communities.
What struck me most about Deborah’s TEDx talk is how bold she was about telling it like it is, meaning how our dominant systems—education, healthcare, government, business, etc.—are failing communities, the Earth and ourselves. Deborah clearly articulates how it’s not possible to change big systems and how we can only abandon them and start over, or offer hospice to what’s dying. Her talk and her work explores the underlying cultural beliefs that prop up the global mindset of separation. She also shares a radical theory of change that reveals how localism has a critical role to play in whatever future we may have.
In this week’s conversation, we also go into great depths about a number of topics including:

* Walking out of the status quo and into our heart’s calling.
* How the world is made of living systems.
* Seeing beyond the dominant culture.
* How systems thinking reconnects us to life.
* The difference between the linear Newtonian worldview and quantum physics.
* How the human worldview is based on machines, not life.
* How rugged individualism isolates us from our community nature.
* How community nurtures our sense of belonging.
* The amplification of collapsing energies in today’s world.
* Doing our work in the face of uncertainty.
* Beyond hope and hopelessness.
* How we cannot change the system because of how deeply entrenched it is within the human psyche.
* Why most activism and non-violent actions don’t work and why play is more effective.
* Fostering critical connections over critical mass.

This is a powerful conversation that I know will activate, inspire and elicit deep thought.
SHOW NOTES:

* Deborah Frieze’s main website.
* Walk Out Walk On book website.

Inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.
You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.
3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!
As always,]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:18:43
UP #105: Letting Go of Our Collapsing World with Deb Ozarko http://www.debozarko.com/105/ Wed, 06 Jul 2016 01:12:46 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=16742 http://www.debozarko.com/105/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/105/feed/ 0 There’s no doubt that our entire world is in collapse in every aspect of our lives—from the micro of our personal lives to the macro of our collective lives. We’re living in dire times of great crisis. The consciousness of humanity is at an all-time low. Yes, there are wonderful people doing wonderful things to elevate consciousness, but it’s no longer enough as darkness rapidly descends on the planet.

“This is a dark time, filled with suffering and uncertainty. Like living cells in a larger body, it is natural that we feel the trauma of our world. So don’t be afraid of the anguish you feel, or the anger or fear, because these responses arise from the depth of your caring and the truth of your interconnectedness with all beings.” —Joanna Macy

It’s becoming glaringly evident that we’re living in increasingly frightening and uncertain times.

Despite that fact, many people either fail to comprehend, sluff-off with indifference, or downright deny the fact that our planet is being altered at a pace and magnitude that is rapidly steering us into uncharted territory.

With what’s playing out environmentally with unprecedented wildfires, droughts, tropical storms, heatwaves, floods, sinkholes, red tides, coral bleaching, epidemic animal die-offs, and the accelerating speed at which the Arctic sea ice is melting, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stay grounded as everything unravels around us.

Our oceans now contain more spilled oil and plastic than sea life. One of the great natural wonders of the world that fascinated me as a child, The Great Barrier Reef, is rapidly dying.

Profound economic collapse is unfolding in Venezuela, with South Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Russia in hot pursuit. Closer to home, areas of northern British Columbia are also in free fall.

Planet-wide toxification, rampant overpopulation, rapacious consumption, and staggering willful ignorance are driving the crisis that much deeper.

Discussions about collapse wouldn’t be complete without speaking of Donald Trump and his penchant for inciting hatred, xenophobia, sexism, bigotry, aggression, violence, narcissism, and fear in the lowest common denominator in the United States. One man has single-handedly inspired the emergence of the ugliest parts of humanity by giving permission to the remorseless expression of a violent shadow.

With the US presidential election only months away, the candidate choices for the most domineering country in the world are bleak: Patriarchy from a megalomaniac blowhard, or patriarchy in a conniving pantsuit.

Sad, sad, sad.

Of course we can’t forget the violent shooting rampage in Orlando that destroyed the lives of 49 innocent people and also brought to light (yet again) the entitled lunacy of the National Rifle Association and the American right to bear arms.

And if that’s not enough, Britain regressed into the dark ages with the recent Brexit vote—a vote that ensures the burgeoning far right psychosis that has gripped the collective psyche.

Sadly, this brief synopsis barely scratches the surface of our dire global predicament.

To quote Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

The world I once knew is now a distant memory—a memory that I cherish, and one I am deeply grateful for. The future however, brings a knot to my stomach that refuses to leave.

There’s no doubt that the entire world is in collapse in every aspect of our lives—from the micro stresses of our personal lives to the macro stresses of our collective lives. We’re living in dire times of great crisis, and no amount of denial, ignorance, or new-age magical thinking will make it go away. The consciousness of humanity is at an all-time low. Yes, there are wonderful people doing wonderful things to make the world a better place. I’ve brought the voices and hearts of many of these people to you over the past few years. But it’s no longer enough as darkness rapidly envelops the planet.

The word, apocolypse means, “a lifting of the veil” or a “revelation”. While ‘business as usual’ creaks and groans under the weight of its own lies, many are choosing to no longer wear the blinders of denial, drink the kool-aid of hopium, or choke down the blue pill of ignorance. This makes for an apocolyptic reality check, and what lurks behind the veil isn’t pretty.

We’re living in a time in human history where the near-term habitability of the Earth is in question. Homo sapien is single handedly destroying the web of life with no intention of stopping. Ninety-seven percent of scientists (with the exception of those employed by destructive industries) now agree that we’re in a state of abrupt/catastrophic climate change. This means that we’re well past the 11th hour and living on borrowed time. We’re officially on a runaway train with no brakes.

This year has been an emotionally tumultuous one for me. I’ve been struck with relentless premonitions about the state of our world—particularly the ocean. This has resulted in many sleepless nights. I’ve been navigating the profound emotions that have accompanied these premonitions by writing about my experience. What emerged stunned me. It was painful and healing at the same time. I moved through intense inertia to write an 18 page essay that was also released as a 3-part blog series.

When I first released the essay, I was terrified. I thought readers would unsubscribe in droves and I’d receive angry emails from the few people who actually read it. I was wrong—really, really wrong. The post went viral. Readers started sharing it everywhere and my in-box was flooded with messages thanking me for putting words to challenging feelings. I was both shocked and heartbroken. Shocked that so many felt the same way, and heartbroken that so many felt the same way.

The essay is essentially an exposé of the spiritual sickness of our world, and my internal process for learning to live with this dire reality with love and grace.

Now more than ever, I feel that it’s incumbent upon us to reclaim our wholeness so that we have a stronger connection to ourselves as we make our way through the uncertainty that will only increase in severity as abrupt climate change alters the habitability of this planet. The closer the connection with our souls, the more solid we will stand in the face of uncertainty.

With encouragement from many people who’ve already read my essay, I’ve been inspired to expand it into a podcast. This episode will also mark a shift in my message.

You may be wondering what will be changing about the Unplug podcast? Well, for starters, I’ll no longer be drinking from the fountain of hopium, which means that the Unplug message will go much deeper. I will continue to bring inspirational conversations with paradigm shifting status quo crushers and cultural revolutionaries. The difference now is that the message is no longer about creating a new world paradigm. Instead, it’s even more powerful. It will be about living with more presence, more activation, more engagement, and more love than ever before—right now!

My premonitions have cracked me open to a deeper truth that can no longer hide in the shadows. I can’t pretend anymore—to myself or to anyone that the times we’re living in are not as bad as they are. Because they are. I feel like we all know this on some level and it’s time to bring this conversation into the light.

So with an open heart and an open mind, I give you the voice of my soul as I share with you my essay, Letting Go of a World in Collapse: The Conversation We’re Too Afraid to Have.

SHOW NOTES:

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
There’s no doubt that our entire world is in collapse in every aspect of our lives—from the micro of our personal lives to the macro of our collective lives. We’re living in dire times of great crisis. The consciousness of humanity is at an all-time lo... It’s becoming glaringly evident that we’re living in increasingly frightening and uncertain times.
Despite that fact, many people either fail to comprehend, sluff-off with indifference, or downright deny the fact that our planet is being altered at a pace and magnitude that is rapidly steering us into uncharted territory.
With what’s playing out environmentally with unprecedented wildfires, droughts, tropical storms, heatwaves, floods, sinkholes, red tides, coral bleaching, epidemic animal die-offs, and the accelerating speed at which the Arctic sea ice is melting, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stay grounded as everything unravels around us.
Our oceans now contain more spilled oil and plastic than sea life. One of the great natural wonders of the world that fascinated me as a child, The Great Barrier Reef, is rapidly dying.
Profound economic collapse is unfolding in Venezuela, with South Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Russia in hot pursuit. Closer to home, areas of northern British Columbia are also in free fall.
Planet-wide toxification, rampant overpopulation, rapacious consumption, and staggering willful ignorance are driving the crisis that much deeper.
Discussions about collapse wouldn’t be complete without speaking of Donald Trump and his penchant for inciting hatred, xenophobia, sexism, bigotry, aggression, violence, narcissism, and fear in the lowest common denominator in the United States. One man has single-handedly inspired the emergence of the ugliest parts of humanity by giving permission to the remorseless expression of a violent shadow.
With the US presidential election only months away, the candidate choices for the most domineering country in the world are bleak: Patriarchy from a megalomaniac blowhard, or patriarchy in a conniving pantsuit.
Sad, sad, sad.
Of course we can’t forget the violent shooting rampage in Orlando that destroyed the lives of 49 innocent people and also brought to light (yet again) the entitled lunacy of the National Rifle Association and the American right to bear arms.
And if that’s not enough, Britain regressed into the dark ages with the recent Brexit vote—a vote that ensures the burgeoning far right psychosis that has gripped the collective psyche.
Sadly, this brief synopsis barely scratches the surface of our dire global predicament.
To quote Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
The world I once knew is now a distant memory—a memory that I cherish, and one I am deeply grateful for. The future however, brings a knot to my stomach that refuses to leave.
There’s no doubt that the entire world is in collapse in every aspect of our lives—from the micro stresses of our personal lives to the macro stresses of our collective lives. We’re living in dire times of great crisis, and no amount of denial, ignorance, or new-age magical thinking will make it go away. The consciousness of humanity is at an all-time low. Yes, there are wonderful people doing wonderful things to make the world a better place. I’ve brought the voices and hearts of many of these people to you over the past few years. But it’s no longer enough as darkness rapidly envelops the planet.
The word, apocolypse means, “a lifting of the veil” or a “revelation”. While ‘business as usual’ creaks and groans under the weight of its own lies, many are choosing to no longer wear the blinders of denial, drink the kool-aid of hopium, or choke down the blue pill of ignorance. This makes for an apocolyptic reality check,]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:35:25
UP #104: Embracing Dreams and Living Out Loud with Sarah Smith http://www.debozarko.com/104/ Wed, 22 Jun 2016 00:58:11 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=16648 http://www.debozarko.com/104/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/104/feed/ 0 Sarah Smith is a full-time independent musician based in London, Ontario with a voice that’s often compared to Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. Her songs are based on personal experiences about triumphing over tragedy and claiming your best self. She firmly believes that our vulnerabilities are what strengthen us. Her story is one of growing up in a small town as a “farm girl”, as she puts it. Growing up naive to the world, she set off at a young age to find herself. Her path was a circuitous one that led her to places and spaces that would eventually take their toll on her psyche. Music was a gateway to her soul and the healing salve required to liberate herself from the addiction that led her astray. Because of her past personal experiences, Sarah has a strong connection to mental health issues and she uses her voice to create awareness about mental health and addictions. She readily admits to the struggles of her own own inner demons, but with conscious awareness, she’s always striving to be better. She works diligently on her body, mind and soul to keep herself grounded in solidarity for her true self. Sarah is a person who follows her heart and listens to her inner voice. This is a topic we speak about in great detail in this week’s show. As an independent musician, it takes a lot of courage to do what she’s doing by running her own career without an agent, manager, or record label. She’s a true inspiration for anyone willing to follow their dreams. In this week’s conversation we explore: The hunger to find yourself. Music as a gateway to the soul. Breaking free from the lone wolf syndrome and asking for help. Reawakening the community mindset. How spirituality keeps us grounded in ourselves. The powerful force of creative energy. Expressing our vulnerabilities through our creative outlets and claiming our inner power. How our heart never leads us astray. The importance of self-care to remain grounded. Living label-free as your authentic self. Coming out without the stigma. Redefining love. Consciously working through triggers. Navigating the inner critic. Enjoy this week’s conversation with one of the hardest working people in music.

“Follow your dreams, believe in yourself and don’t give up.” —Rachel Corrie

Sarah Smith is a full-time independent musician based in London, Ontario with a voice that’s often compared to Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. Her songs are based on personal experiences about triumphing over tragedy and claiming your best self. She firmly believes that our vulnerabilities are what strengthen us.

Her story is one of growing up in a small town as a “farm girl”, as she puts it. Growing up naive to the world, she set off at a young age to find herself. Her path was a circuitous one that led her to places and spaces that would eventually take their toll on her psyche. Music was a gateway to her soul and the healing salve required to liberate herself from the addiction that led her astray.

Because of her past personal experiences, Sarah has a strong connection to mental health issues and she uses her voice to create awareness about mental health and addictions. She readily admits to the struggles of her own own inner demons, but with conscious awareness, she’s always striving to be better. She works diligently on her body, mind and soul to keep herself grounded in solidarity for her true self.

Sarah is a person who follows her heart and listens to her inner voice. This is a topic we speak about in great detail in this week’s show.

As an independent musician, it takes a lot of courage to do what she’s doing by running her own career without an agent, manager, or record label. She’s a true inspiration for anyone willing to follow their dreams.

In this week’s conversation we explore:

  • The hunger to find yourself.
  • Music as a gateway to the soul.
  • Breaking free from the lone wolf syndrome and asking for help.
  • Reawakening the community mindset.
  • How spirituality keeps us grounded in ourselves.
  • The powerful force of creative energy.
  • Expressing our vulnerabilities through our creative outlets and claiming  our inner power.
  • How our heart never leads us astray.
  • The importance of self-care to remain grounded.
  • Living label-free as your authentic self.
  • Coming out without the stigma.
  • Redefining love.
  • Consciously working through triggers.
  • Navigating the inner critic.

Enjoy this week’s conversation with one of the hardest working people in music.

SHOW NOTES:

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Sarah Smith is a full-time independent musician based in London, Ontario with a voice that’s often compared to Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. Her songs are based on personal experiences about triumphing over tragedy and claiming your... Sarah Smith is a full-time independent musician based in London, Ontario with a voice that’s often compared to Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. Her songs are based on personal experiences about triumphing over tragedy and claiming your best self. She firmly believes that our vulnerabilities are what strengthen us.
Her story is one of growing up in a small town as a “farm girl”, as she puts it. Growing up naive to the world, she set off at a young age to find herself. Her path was a circuitous one that led her to places and spaces that would eventually take their toll on her psyche. Music was a gateway to her soul and the healing salve required to liberate herself from the addiction that led her astray.
Because of her past personal experiences, Sarah has a strong connection to mental health issues and she uses her voice to create awareness about mental health and addictions. She readily admits to the struggles of her own own inner demons, but with conscious awareness, she’s always striving to be better. She works diligently on her body, mind and soul to keep herself grounded in solidarity for her true self.
Sarah is a person who follows her heart and listens to her inner voice. This is a topic we speak about in great detail in this week’s show.
As an independent musician, it takes a lot of courage to do what she’s doing by running her own career without an agent, manager, or record label. She’s a true inspiration for anyone willing to follow their dreams.
In this week’s conversation we explore:

* The hunger to find yourself.
* Music as a gateway to the soul.
* Breaking free from the lone wolf syndrome and asking for help.
* Reawakening the community mindset.
* How spirituality keeps us grounded in ourselves.
* The powerful force of creative energy.
* Expressing our vulnerabilities through our creative outlets and claiming  our inner power.
* How our heart never leads us astray.
* The importance of self-care to remain grounded.
* Living label-free as your authentic self.
* Coming out without the stigma.
* Redefining love.
* Consciously working through triggers.
* Navigating the inner critic.

Enjoy this week’s conversation with one of the hardest working people in music.
SHOW NOTES:

* Sarah Smith’s website.
* A Course in Miracles on Amazon.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.
You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.
3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!
As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!
]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:14:19
UP #103: Living Yoga, Practicing Life with Maurice McCann http://www.debozarko.com/103/ Wed, 08 Jun 2016 00:10:07 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=16580 http://www.debozarko.com/103/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/103/feed/ 0 There are many things that keeps me grounded in sanity in today’s increasingly insane world. Time in nature, time with like-hearted community, creative expression, service to the Earth, and the physical movement of swimming, cycling, kayaking and hiking are lifelines to my soul. The main philosophy that encompasses all of this for me, is yoga. Although I confess to an irregular asana practice, I live the essence of yoga on a daily basis through my conscious choices, intentional actions and deep connection to ahimsa. As is the case with most of us however, I’m an ongoing work in progress with some days better than others. The bottom line for me though, is an aspiration and a hunger to live as close to my essence as possible at every given moment. This week’s guest is no different in his hunger for “better”. Maurice McCann is a devoted yogi living on the Gold Coast of Australia where he practices and teaches the yogic philosophy of B.K.S. Iyengar, otherwise known as the Iyengar method. If you’re familiar with the physical aspect of yoga, you’re most likely familiar with the practice of Hatha, which is taught in most mainstream yoga centers. Although the Iyengar method is yoga in the traditional sense, Iyengar asana differs in that it emphasizes precision and alignment in all postures. Because of this, the Iyengar method relies heavily on the use of props such as wooden gadgets, blocks, pillows and cushions, chairs, belts ropes and other props to aid the body in proper alignment. Although my experience with the Iyengar method is limited, what strikes me the most is how we place limits on our mobility, but with the proper use of props, those limitations can quickly dissolve. This can then facilitate greater self confidence. My conversation this week with Maurice delves into a deeper explanation of what Iyengar yoga is all about … and so much more. This week we explore: Yoga as a connection to spirituality. How disembodied we are as a culture and how this contributes to our disconnect from the Earth and ourselves. How yoga brings us back into an embodied state. How the best teachers are also the best students. How yoga fills us from the inside out. What is the Iyengar yoga method? How asana can be a gateway into the deeper philosophy of yoga. What is yoga? The commoditization of yoga. A conversation about ahimsa and how it relates to body acceptance. Personal growth through yoga. How yoga can expand our compassion and kindness and connect us to our deepest essence. One of the many things that struck me about Maurice is his gentle joy. You can easily hear it in his voice as we chat. He exudes tremendous passion for his chosen work as a yoga instructor after leaving a high paying corporate position at a mining company—a profound paradigm shift! Maurice has been on the yoga path long before it was cool, so he not only practices it, he lives it, and today’s conversation delves deeply into what it is to live yoga and practice life. Without further adieu, I give to you my conversation with passionate yogi from down under, Maurice McCann.

“Healthy plants and trees yield abundant flowers and fruits. Similarly, from a healthy person, smiles and happiness shine forth like the rays of the sun.” —B. K. S. Iyengar

There are many things that keeps me grounded in sanity in today’s increasingly insane world. Time in nature, time with like-hearted community, creative expression, service to the Earth, and the physical movement of swimming, cycling, kayaking and hiking are lifelines to my soul. The main philosophy that encompasses all of this for me, is yoga. Although I confess to an irregular asana practice, I live the essence of yoga on a daily basis through my conscious choices, intentional actions and deep connection to ahimsa. As is the case with most of us however, I’m an ongoing work in progress with some days better than others. The bottom line for me though, is an aspiration and a hunger to live as close to my essence as possible at every given moment.

This week’s guest is no different in his hunger for “better”. Maurice McCann is a devoted yogi living on the Gold Coast of Australia where he practices and teaches the yogic philosophy of B.K.S. Iyengar, otherwise known as the Iyengar method. If you’re familiar with the physical aspect of yoga, you’re most likely familiar with the practice of Hatha, which is taught in most mainstream yoga centers.

Although the Iyengar method is yoga in the traditional sense, Iyengar asana differs in that it emphasizes precision and alignment in all postures. Because of this, the Iyengar method relies heavily on the use of props such as wooden gadgets, blocks, pillows and cushions, chairs, belts ropes and other props to aid the body in proper alignment. Although my experience with the Iyengar method is limited, what strikes me the most is how we place limits on our mobility, but with the proper use of props, those limitations can quickly dissolve. This can then facilitate greater self confidence.

My conversation this week with Maurice delves into a deeper explanation of what Iyengar yoga is all about … and so much more.

This week we explore:

  • Yoga as a connection to spirituality.
  • How disembodied we are as a culture and how this contributes to our disconnect from the Earth and ourselves.
  • How yoga brings us back into an embodied state.
  • How the best teachers are also the best students.
  • How yoga fills us from the inside out.
  • What is the Iyengar yoga method?
  • How asana can be a gateway into the deeper philosophy of yoga.
  • What is yoga?
  • The commoditization of yoga.
  • A conversation about ahimsa and how it relates to body acceptance.
  • Personal growth through yoga.
  • How yoga can expand our compassion and kindness and connect us to our deepest essence.

One of the many things that struck me about Maurice is his gentle joy. You can easily hear it in his voice as we chat. He exudes tremendous passion for his chosen work as a yoga instructor after leaving a high paying corporate position at a mining company—a profound paradigm shift!

Maurice has been on the yoga path long before it was cool, so he not only practices it, he lives it, and today’s conversation delves deeply into what it is to live yoga and practice life.

Without further adieu, I give to you my conversation with passionate yogi from down under, Maurice McCann.

NOTE: Maurice is putting on a yoga retreat in Bali from June 13-25. If you live in that part of the world or you’re into last minute adventure, you can find out more at this link.

SHOW NOTES:

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
There are many things that keeps me grounded in sanity in today’s increasingly insane world. Time in nature, time with like-hearted community, creative expression, service to the Earth, and the physical movement of swimming, cycling, There are many things that keeps me grounded in sanity in today’s increasingly insane world. Time in nature, time with like-hearted community, creative expression, service to the Earth, and the physical movement of swimming, cycling, kayaking and hiking are lifelines to my soul. The main philosophy that encompasses all of this for me, is yoga. Although I confess to an irregular asana practice, I live the essence of yoga on a daily basis through my conscious choices, intentional actions and deep connection to ahimsa. As is the case with most of us however, I’m an ongoing work in progress with some days better than others. The bottom line for me though, is an aspiration and a hunger to live as close to my essence as possible at every given moment.
This week’s guest is no different in his hunger for “better”. Maurice McCann is a devoted yogi living on the Gold Coast of Australia where he practices and teaches the yogic philosophy of B.K.S. Iyengar, otherwise known as the Iyengar method. If you’re familiar with the physical aspect of yoga, you’re most likely familiar with the practice of Hatha, which is taught in most mainstream yoga centers.
Although the Iyengar method is yoga in the traditional sense, Iyengar asana differs in that it emphasizes precision and alignment in all postures. Because of this, the Iyengar method relies heavily on the use of props such as wooden gadgets, blocks, pillows and cushions, chairs, belts ropes and other props to aid the body in proper alignment. Although my experience with the Iyengar method is limited, what strikes me the most is how we place limits on our mobility, but with the proper use of props, those limitations can quickly dissolve. This can then facilitate greater self confidence.
My conversation this week with Maurice delves into a deeper explanation of what Iyengar yoga is all about … and so much more.
This week we explore:

* Yoga as a connection to spirituality.
* How disembodied we are as a culture and how this contributes to our disconnect from the Earth and ourselves.
* How yoga brings us back into an embodied state.
* How the best teachers are also the best students.
* How yoga fills us from the inside out.
* What is the Iyengar yoga method?
* How asana can be a gateway into the deeper philosophy of yoga.
* What is yoga?
* The commoditization of yoga.
* A conversation about ahimsa and how it relates to body acceptance.
* Personal growth through yoga.
* How yoga can expand our compassion and kindness and connect us to our deepest essence.

One of the many things that struck me about Maurice is his gentle joy. You can easily hear it in his voice as we chat. He exudes tremendous passion for his chosen work as a yoga instructor after leaving a high paying corporate position at a mining company—a profound paradigm shift!
Maurice has been on the yoga path long before it was cool, so he not only practices it, he lives it, and today’s conversation delves deeply into what it is to live yoga and practice life.
Without further adieu, I give to you my conversation with passionate yogi from down under, Maurice McCann.
NOTE: Maurice is putting on a yoga retreat in Bali from June 13-25. If you live in that part of the world or you’re into last minute adventure, you can find out more at this link.
SHOW NOTES:

* The Yoga Room website.
* Yoga Room Bali retreat.
* Official Iyengar website.

]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:15:04
UP #102: Creating Beauty Out of Trash with Martin Smyczek http://www.debozarko.com/102-2/ Wed, 25 May 2016 00:10:44 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=16496 http://www.debozarko.com/102-2/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/102-2/feed/ 0 Everywhere we look, we see trash. It’s ugly, ubiquitous, and overwhelming. We overuse, abuse, and discard our world without a care, and our consumptive ways are hurting the Earth in every possible way. The problem is so immense that it’s easy to fall into the pit of despair. But there’s a pinprick of light shining in an endless sea of garbage. Martin Smyzcek is a reuse artist who utilizes used, discarded, and un-recyclable items normally considered “trash”. In his work, trash is the medium for artistic expression. Martin transforms ugliness into beauty by highlighting the idea that nothing created should be wasted or discarded after use. As he states on his website, “Putting something in a bag, a can, or a hole in the ground, and walking away, is not an answer. It simply creates a whole new set of problems.” By reusing what others unconsciously discard, he is reframing trash. Martin also inspires us to live fully and creatively right now. His battle with advanced glaucoma and the threat of immanent blindness, is one of his main driving forces. The disease has been with him since birth and there is no cure. As he writes on his website, “For me, being an artist and observing my progressing vision loss is frightening, and sometimes it gets the best of me. However, the drive it instills into me to push farther, go faster, be better — not just in art, but in everyday life — and create, create, create… is powerful. This week we chat about: What is reuse art? Reframing trash. Critical thinking skills: want or need? The power of example. Reclaiming simplicity. How our collective consumption is like a widespread mental illness. We don’t need to change the world, we need to change ourselves to inspire others. How our culture is set up for consumption and destruction, not for life. Keep moving in the direction of “better”. Living with glaucoma. Ultimately, Martin’s work is about inspiring us to re-think how we live, use, and reuse; and through his art and the power of example, he’s doing just that. Everywhere we look, we see trash. It’s ugly, ubiquitous, and overwhelming. We overuse, abuse, and discard our world without a care, and our consumptive ways are hurting the Earth in every possible way. The problem is so immense that it’s easy to fall into the pit of despair.

But there’s a pinprick of light shining in an endless sea of garbage. Martin Smyzcek is a reuse artist who utilizes used, discarded, and un-recyclable items normally considered “trash”. In his work, trash is the medium for artistic expression. Martin transforms ugliness into beauty by highlighting the idea that nothing created should be wasted or discarded after use. As he states on his website, “Putting something in a bag, a can, or a hole in the ground, and walking away, is not an answer. It simply creates a whole new set of problems.” By reusing what others unconsciously discard, he is reframing trash.

Martin also inspires us to live fully and creatively right now. His battle with advanced glaucoma and the threat of immanent blindness, is one of his main driving forces. The disease has been with him since birth and there is no cure. As he writes on his website, “For me, being an artist and observing my progressing vision loss is frightening, and sometimes it gets the best of me. However, the drive it instills into me to push farther, go faster, be better — not just in art, but in everyday life — and create, create, create… is powerful.

This week we chat about:

  • What is reuse art?
  • Reframing trash.
  • Critical thinking skills: want or need?
  • The power of example.
  • Reclaiming simplicity.
  • How our collective consumption is like a widespread mental illness.
  • We don’t need to change the world, we need to change ourselves to inspire others.
  • How our culture is set up for consumption and destruction, not for life.
  • Keep moving in the direction of “better”.
  • Living with glaucoma.

Ultimately, Martin’s work is about inspiring us to re-think how we live, use, and reuse; and through his art and the power of example, he’s doing just that.

SHOW NOTES:

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Everywhere we look, we see trash. It’s ugly, ubiquitous, and overwhelming. We overuse, abuse, and discard our world without a care, and our consumptive ways are hurting the Earth in every possible way. The problem is so immense that it’s easy to fall i... But there’s a pinprick of light shining in an endless sea of garbage. Martin Smyzcek is a reuse artist who utilizes used, discarded, and un-recyclable items normally considered “trash”. In his work, trash is the medium for artistic expression. Martin transforms ugliness into beauty by highlighting the idea that nothing created should be wasted or discarded after use. As he states on his website, “Putting something in a bag, a can, or a hole in the ground, and walking away, is not an answer. It simply creates a whole new set of problems.” By reusing what others unconsciously discard, he is reframing trash.
Martin also inspires us to live fully and creatively right now. His battle with advanced glaucoma and the threat of immanent blindness, is one of his main driving forces. The disease has been with him since birth and there is no cure. As he writes on his website, “For me, being an artist and observing my progressing vision loss is frightening, and sometimes it gets the best of me. However, the drive it instills into me to push farther, go faster, be better — not just in art, but in everyday life — and create, create, create… is powerful.
This week we chat about:

* What is reuse art?
* Reframing trash.
* Critical thinking skills: want or need?
* The power of example.
* Reclaiming simplicity.
* How our collective consumption is like a widespread mental illness.
* We don’t need to change the world, we need to change ourselves to inspire others.
* How our culture is set up for consumption and destruction, not for life.
* Keep moving in the direction of “better”.
* Living with glaucoma.

Ultimately, Martin’s work is about inspiring us to re-think how we live, use, and reuse; and through his art and the power of example, he’s doing just that.
SHOW NOTES:

* Martin’s website website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.
You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.
3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!
As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!
]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:37:56
UP #101: Finding Yourself and Stumbling Along the Way with Rebekah Nemethy http://www.debozarko.com/101-2/ Wed, 11 May 2016 00:33:48 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=16383 http://www.debozarko.com/101-2/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/101-2/feed/ 0 Cultural rebel, fellow creative and podcast host, Rebekah Nemethy joins me this week for a conversation about … life. Unlike most episodes, this one flows with no initial theme in mind. What emerged was a transparent conversation about finding yourself within the cultural maze, stumbling along the way, and opening yourself to life, love and truth. Its a raw conversation that exposes insecurities, passions, fears, and a desire for ongoing self exploration. Many of us can relate to the quandary that arises from the need to pay the bills while expressing the voice of our hearts—our calling. It’s a question I repeatedly mull around with no real answer other than dedicated perseverance. This week, Rebekah shares her own struggles of working a j-o-b while pursuing her evolving dream to serve a kinder world for animals. I’m sure many listeners will be able to relate. One of the many things I love about Rebekah, other than her kindness, compassion, generosity, humor, and honesty, is how open she is about not having it all figured out. Her hunger for living a life more aligned with her essence is contagious and she willingly shares her stumbles along the way. Rebekah is a photographer with a passion for animals, and she’s also the host of the My Rescue Rocks podcast, a heartwarming show that shares animal rescue stories about love, tragedy, and survival told by the rescuers themselves. Her narrative podcast style gets to the essence of individual animal stories which has the profound effect of flinging the doors wide open on our hearts. It’s a great reminder of what really matters—love. This week we cover a lot of ground, exploring topics such as: • The absurdity of the educational system and how it kills creativity. • How the media is run by money and corporations, not truth. • Moving through introversion. • How the complication of money tends to diminish our sense of purpose. • A conversation about marrying passion and purpose with a sustainable income. • The deeper truth behind the words “earn a living”. • How purpose is always morphing and changing. • The struggles and liberation of the cultural rebel. • How creativity is a direct link to our hearts. • When we believe we’re not creative, it’s because we’re trapped in our heads. • When everyone zigs, zag. • How critical thinking is about questioning the common thought. • How our conditioning traps us in denial. • Moving beyond the vegan label. • Living simply and liberating yourself along the way. Rebekah’s radical honesty and wide open heart will help you feel like you’re not so alone in navigating the confusion of our cultural maze. Her stories will bring you laughter and her passion will ignite your own. Enjoy! Cultural rebel, fellow creative and podcast host, Rebekah Nemethy joins me this week for a conversation about … life. Unlike most episodes, this one flows with no initial theme in mind. What emerged was a transparent conversation about finding yourself within the cultural maze, stumbling along the way, and opening yourself to life, love and truth. Its a raw conversation that exposes insecurities, passions, fears, and a desire for ongoing self exploration.

Many of us can relate to the quandary that arises from the need to pay the bills while expressing the voice of our hearts—our calling. It’s a question I repeatedly mull around with no real answer other than dedicated perseverance. This week, Rebekah shares her own struggles of working a j-o-b while pursuing her evolving dream to serve a kinder world for animals. I’m sure many listeners will be able to relate.

One of the many things I love about Rebekah, other than her kindness, compassion, generosity, humor, and honesty, is how open she is about not having it all figured out. Her hunger for living a life more aligned with her essence is contagious and she willingly shares her stumbles along the way.

Rebekah is a photographer with a passion for animals. She’s also the host of the My Rescue Rocks podcast, a heartwarming show that shares animal rescue stories about love, tragedy, and survival told by the rescuers themselves. Her narrative podcast style gets to the essence of individual animal stories which has the profound effect of flinging the doors wide open on our hearts. It’s a great reminder of what really matters—love.

This week we cover a lot of ground, exploring topics such as:

  • The absurdity of the educational system and how it kills creativity.
  • How the media is run by money and corporations, not truth.
  • Moving through introversion.
  • How the complication of money tends to diminish our sense of purpose.
  • A conversation about marrying passion and purpose with a sustainable income.
  • The deeper truth behind the words “earn a living”.
  • How purpose is always morphing and changing.
  • The struggles and liberation of the cultural rebel.
  • How creativity is a direct link to our hearts.
  • When we believe we’re not creative, it’s because we’re trapped in our heads.
  • When everyone zigs, zag.
  • How critical thinking is about questioning the common thought.
  • How our conditioning traps us in denial.
  • Moving beyond the vegan label.
  • Living simply and liberating yourself along the way.

Rebekah’s radical honesty and wide open heart will help you feel like you’re not so alone in navigating the confusion of our cultural maze. Her stories will bring you laughter and her passion will ignite your own. Enjoy!

SHOW NOTES:

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Cultural rebel, fellow creative and podcast host, Rebekah Nemethy joins me this week for a conversation about … life. Unlike most episodes, this one flows with no initial theme in mind. What emerged was a transparent conversation about finding yourself... Cultural rebel, fellow creative and podcast host, Rebekah Nemethy joins me this week for a conversation about … life. Unlike most episodes, this one flows with no initial theme in mind. What emerged was a transparent conversation about finding yourself within the cultural maze, stumbling along the way, and opening yourself to life, love and truth. Its a raw conversation that exposes insecurities, passions, fears, and a desire for ongoing self exploration. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life.
UP #100: Beyond Vegan: An Exploration of Consciousness with Louise LeBrun and Deb Gleason http://www.debozarko.com/100-2/ Wed, 27 Apr 2016 02:35:50 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=16297 http://www.debozarko.com/100-2/#view_comments http://www.debozarko.com/100-2/feed/ 3 “When you feel the suffering of every living thing in your own heart, that is consciousness” —Bhagavad Gita Episode #100 is a pivotal conversation that plummets to depths not yet explored on this show. It exposes the rotting, hidden-from-view cracks…

“When you feel the suffering of every living thing in your own heart, that is consciousness” —Bhagavad Gita

Episode #100 is a pivotal conversation that plummets to depths not yet explored on this show. It exposes the rotting, hidden-from-view cracks in our cultural machine that cause immense destruction to the Earth, and devastating blind spots in our psyche.

We are at a critical time in the history of the planet and our own lives where the impact of our choices is rising to the surface of our awareness. Many of us are waking up from the cultural coma that has created massive destruction to our biosphere, our bodies, and to the lives of billions of sentient beings. This wake up call is an invitation to honor our deep intuition and consciously explore the food choices that have the great potential to reconnect us to the web of life.

Examining what we ingest as a metaphor for how we choose to live offers us the opportunity to expand into a more authentic version of ourselves that is no longer bound by the cultural conditioning of the predominant food system.

This week I speak with my partner, Deb Gleason and my paradigm-altering mentor and friend, Louise LeBrun about reclaiming wholeness, expanding consciousness and reconnecting to our deepest core essence through the food choices that can become a portal to our soul. Beyond vegan is an exploration of consciousness through food by making the invisible, visible so that we can make choices that align with our inherent compassion for life.

This conversation is immense. Some of the topics we explore are:

  • How we’re the only species on the planet who has no clue how to intuitively feed ourselves.
  • How vegan is a potential gateway to a deeper sense of self.
  • Moving beyond vegan as an identity or strategy.
  • How our identity labels confine us.
  • What we eat is what we become. Are we predators?
  • How our conditioned choices perpetuate a disconnect from our true self.
  • How humans have unconsciously adopted a predatory nature at the peril of the world and our souls.
  • How dairy and eggs are the ultimate violation of the feminine.
  • Every choice we make has a massive impact on this planet and whether we ultimately have a future.
  • How we are indoctrinated into a system of violence that is perpetuated with our choices.
  • How we are unconscious to our true selves and how this causes immense destruction.
  • How parenting is at the root of our cultural dysfunction.
  • How dairy is a potent contributor to the numbing out of who we authentically are.
  • How our palettes change as our awareness changes.

This is an aggressive, raw, honest, intense, vulnerable, profound, and powerful heart and mind expanding conversation. I guarantee that you will not look at the world the same way after listening to this one.

SHOW NOTES:

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
“When you feel the suffering of every living thing in your own heart, that is consciousness” —Bhagavad Gita Episode #100 is a pivotal conversation that plummets to depths not yet explored on this show. It exposes the rotting, hidden-from-view cracks… This week I speak with my partner, Deb Gleason and my paradigm-altering mentor and friend, Louise LeBrun about reclaiming wholeness, expanding consciousness and reconnecting to our deepest core essence through the food choices that can become a portal to our soul. Beyond vegan is an exploration of consciousness through food by making the invisible, visible so that we can make choices that align with our inherent compassion for life. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 2:36:54
UP #99: Our Plasticized Oceans and How We’re Now Eating Our Own Trash with Alice Forrest http://www.debozarko.com/99/ Tue, 12 Apr 2016 05:39:18 +0000 http://www.newwebsite.debozarko.com/?p=15711 http://www.debozarko.com/99/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/99/feed/ 0 Alice Forrest is a passionate about healing our world. She has a Bachelor of Science in biodiversity and conservation...

“Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, shall we be saved.” —Jane Goodall

Spread over an area of 360 million square kilometers, the worlds oceans cover more than 70% of planet Earth.

Because the volume is so immense, almost all of the Earths available living space consists of water.

One of the great contradictions of the oceans is that despite the fact that they make up the bulk our planet, they remain the most mysterious of the Earth’s ecosystems.

According to historians and archaeologists, humans evolved from the ocean. But the very ocean that we evolved from is far removed from us today. In less than 200 years, we’ve violently disrupted four billion years of natural history. Our collective separation from the web of life is destroying every inch of the Earth…and the very soul of who we are. Everything around us suffers from our existence. We leave dirty footprints everywhere we go. No matter what we do, our consumptive cultural mindset is destroying the natural world around us. We spit out polluting materials into all directions: the air, the soil, the rivers, streams, lakes, and the ocean.

The oceans are the support system for all life on earth and if we don’t care about the oceans, we don’t care about life on Earth. As marine biologist and ocean explorer Sylvia Earle says, “No water, no life. No blue, no green.”

With a rapidly increasing human population indoctrinated into the same paradigm of separation and consumption, the future looks very bleak, if there is a future to be had at all.

So how do we live fully and lovingly in a world that is becoming increasingly uninhabitable? How do we stay sane in a dying world? It’s easy to become overwhelmed and disengaged when we look at the overall grim picture. Combine this with how few people actually give a damn, and it’s a perfect recipe for immovable grief, denial, ignorance, and despair. But what does this do? Even if it is too late, why would we choose to remain trapped in the inertia of despair, ignorance and denial over the ignition of engagement, presence, and activation?

This week, I speak with Alice Forrest, an engaged, present and activated ocean activist and eco warrior living down under.

Alice is a passionate about healing our world. She has a Bachelor of Science in biodiversity and conservation and is involved in a wide range of organizations and conservation activities dealing with the plight of our oceans. She combines her education with her activism uniting head with heart in the most engaged way.

Alice’s primary focus is the plasticization of our oceans and how this dire situation is affecting life on Earth. With youth and optimism on her side, Alice will not go down easily. She chooses to be an eco-warrior over an eco-worrier, a noble pursuit in today’s rapidly collapsing world.

This week, we delve into important topics such as:

• Falling in love with the Earth.
• The more you love something, the more inclined you are to protect it.
• What we don’t understand, we become fearful of.
• The resilience of nature.
• How starfish are a keystone species for indicating the health of the oceans. No starfish = ecosystem collapse.
• How half of the air we breaths originates from the ocean.
• How the oceans are now choking in plastic.
• How every piece of plastic ever produced still exists today.
• The 40-year lag time between our actions and the effects of our actions.
• What is Gaia grief?
• How to navigate the dire state of the planet and remain engaged and grounded in action.
• Focusing on what we can do rather than what we can’t.
• The importance of transcendent moments to remember our connection with life.
• Why is there so much plastic in the oceans?
• Earth is the ultimate closed loop system. We are now eating our own trash.
• Critical thought: Once we know, we cannot unknow.
• There is no such thing as sustainable seafood.
• Living fully and loving hard in a world in collapse.

We explore many other important topics relating to the failing health of our oceans in this week’s show, making this a conversation that everyone should listen to, at the very least, to show that they do care about what happens to life on planet earth.

Please enjoy the inspiring and activated Alice Forrest as she shares with us her passion for a healthy, living ocean.

SHOW NOTES:

• Alice Forrest’s website.
Saving Our Oceans podcast with Nicole McLachlan.
• The Cove documentary on YouTube.
Reviving Ourselves in Our Capsized Culture podcast with Mary Pipher.
Healing the Earth podcast with Sailesh Rao.
• Joanna Macy website.
• Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond on Amazon.
• Boyan Slat and the Ocean Cleanup project website.
• Boomerang Bags website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Alice Forrest is a passionate about healing our world. She has a Bachelor of Science in biodiversity and conservation... Alice Forrest is a passionate about healing our world. She has a Bachelor of Science in biodiversity and conservation and is involved in a wide range of organizations and conservation activities dealing with the plight of our oceans. She combines her education with her activism uniting head with heart in the most engaged way. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:54:50
UP #98: Creating a Morally Just World for Animals with Camille Labchuk http://www.debozarko.com/98-2/ Wed, 30 Mar 2016 01:27:35 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=14505 http://www.debozarko.com/98-2/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/98-2/feed/ 0 “The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men.” —Alice Walker This week, we explore the burgeoning new world…

“The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men.” —Alice Walker

This week, we explore the burgeoning new world of animal law.

As old patriarchal systems continue to collapse, its becoming increasingly evident that legal systems worldwide are designed to protect the perpetrators of the destruction of life. We only need to look at how frequently those who perpetuate violence and destruction against animals, women and the earth either get off scott-free or with a token slap on the wrist. This is no longer cutting it!

It takes someone with an immense amount of integrity to immerse themselves into a corrupt system to create change. This week’s conversation is with an amazing truth-seeker who is courageously venturing into the dysfunctional abyss of today’s legal system to create transformation from the inside out.

Camille Labchuk is a warrior of truth on the front lines of change who is working diligently to hold old systems accountable to truth and life.

Camille is the executive director of Canada’s legal voice for animals, Animal Justice. She’s worked to advance the interests of animals for well over a decade. As a lawyer, Camille represents individuals and organizations in animal law cases, defends animal advocates, and seeks out litigation that enhances the interests of animals. As an advocate, Camille’s work includes documenting the commercial seal kill on Canada’s East Coast, exposing cruelty in farming, and campaigns against trophy hunting, circuses, zoos, aquariums, shark finning, puppy mills, and more. She is a frequent lecturer and media commentator on animal issues.

In this week’s show we explore:

• What is animal law?
• Species discrimination within the legal system.
• How society is more compassionate than our system will acknowledge.
• Exposing Canada’s annual seal slaughter.
• Inspiring critical thought for cultural transformation.
• How law doesn’t lead society, society leads law.
• Bringing darkness into the light with animal agriculture.
• Ag-gag laws: silencing truth and criminalizing compassion.
• The accelerating momentum of animal law.

Many of the conversations on this podcast are with change-makers who are creating a better world from outside of the cultural system. Few are with change-makers working within the cultural system. But we need it all.

I’m honoured to bring to you this week’s conversation with my inspirational friend, Camille Labchuck.

SHOW NOTES:

• Animal Justice website.
• Animal charter website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
“The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men.” —Alice Walker This week, we explore the burgeoning new world… This week, we explore the burgeoning new world of animal law.
As old patriarchal systems continue to collapse, its becoming increasingly evident that legal systems worldwide are designed to protect the perpetrators of the destruction of life. We only need to look at how frequently those who perpetuate violence and destruction against animals, women and the earth either get off scott-free or with a token slap on the wrist. This is no longer cutting it!
It takes someone with an immense amount of integrity to immerse themselves into a corrupt system to create change. This week’s conversation is with an amazing truth-seeker who is courageously venturing into the dysfunctional abyss of today’s legal system to create transformation from the inside out.
Camille Labchuk is a warrior of truth on the front lines of change who is working diligently to hold old systems accountable to truth and life.
Camille is the executive director of Canada’s legal voice for animals, Animal Justice. She’s worked to advance the interests of animals for well over a decade. As a lawyer, Camille represents individuals and organizations in animal law cases, defends animal advocates, and seeks out litigation that enhances the interests of animals. As an advocate, Camille’s work includes documenting the commercial seal kill on Canada’s East Coast, exposing cruelty in farming, and campaigns against trophy hunting, circuses, zoos, aquariums, shark finning, puppy mills, and more. She is a frequent lecturer and media commentator on animal issues.
In this week’s show we explore:
• What is animal law?

• Species discrimination within the legal system.

• How society is more compassionate than our system will acknowledge.

• Exposing Canada’s annual seal slaughter.

• Inspiring critical thought for cultural transformation.

• How law doesn’t lead society, society leads law.

• Bringing darkness into the light with animal agriculture.

• Ag-gag laws: silencing truth and criminalizing compassion.

• The accelerating momentum of animal law.
Many of the conversations on this podcast are with change-makers who are creating a better world from outside of the cultural system. Few are with change-makers working within the cultural system. But we need it all.
I’m honoured to bring to you this week’s conversation with my inspirational friend, Camille Labchuck.
SHOW NOTES:
• Animal Justice website.

• Animal charter website.
Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.
You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.
3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!
As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!
]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:01:43
UP #97: Navigating the Inner Critic and Honoring Your Muse with Lowry Olafson http://www.debozarko.com/97-2/ Wed, 16 Mar 2016 01:00:58 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=14344 http://www.debozarko.com/97-2/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/97-2/feed/ 0 This week’s podcast shines a light on one of the dark corners of our mind—the inner critic—whose lone purpose is to keep us “safe” at the expense of our soul. In this engaging, inspiring, spontaneous, and fun conversation with Sunshine Coast musician and keynote speaker, Lowry Olafson, we also explore the creative impulse within and how to honor our inner muse. In this week’s show we cover a lot of ground including: • The internal judgement that often flares up when we finally accomplish our dreams. • How to navigate the voice of the inner critic. • How action and movement is often the spark for creative flow. • The non-linear aspects of creativity and inspiration. • How comparison diminishes our self-worth. • What is the essence of courage. • The power of gratitude. • What is true success? • Finishing what you start. • How creativity fills us from the inside. Lowry is all about living your truth. His stories, songs and beautiful voice take us by the hand as we accompany him on a journey of overcoming obstacles. He inspires each of us to live as though we mean it. Enjoy this week’s conversation with Lowry Olafson about navigating the inner critic, honoring your creative muse, and living a deeply authentic life.

“If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” —Vincent van Gogh

This week’s podcast shines a light on one of the dark corners of our mind—the inner critic, whose lone purpose is to keep us “safe”…at the expense of our soul. In this engaging, inspiring, spontaneous, and fun conversation with Sunshine Coast musician and keynote speaker, Lowry Olafson, we also explore the creative impulse within and how to honor our inner muse.

In this week’s show we cover a lot of ground including:

• The internal judgement that often flares up when we finally accomplish our dreams.
• How to navigate the voice of the inner critic.
• How action and movement is often the spark for creative flow.
• The non-linear aspects of creativity and inspiration.
• How comparison diminishes our self-worth.
• What is the essence of courage.
• The power of gratitude.
• What is true success?
• Finishing what you start.
• How creativity fills us from the inside.

Lowry is all about living your truth. His stories, songs and beautiful voice take us by the hand as we accompany him on a journey of overcoming obstacles. He inspires each of us to live as though we mean it.

Enjoy this week’s conversation with Lowry Olafson about navigating the inner critic, honoring your creative muse, and living a deeply authentic life.

SHOW NOTES:

• Lowry Olafson’s website for his music, keynote presentations and workshops.
• Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way on Amazon.
Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott on Amazon.
War of Art by Steven Pressfield on Amazon.
Walking in This World by Julia Cameron on Amazon.
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert on Amazon.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
This week’s podcast shines a light on one of the dark corners of our mind—the inner critic—whose lone purpose is to keep us “safe” at the expense of our soul. In this engaging, inspiring, spontaneous, and fun conversation with Sunshine Coast musician a... This week’s podcast shines a light on one of the dark corners of our mind—the inner critic, whose lone purpose is to keep us “safe”…at the expense of our soul. In this engaging, inspiring, spontaneous, and fun conversation with Sunshine Coast musician and keynote speaker, Lowry Olafson, we also explore the creative impulse within and how to honor our inner muse.
In this week’s show we cover a lot of ground including:
• The internal judgement that often flares up when we finally accomplish our dreams.

• How to navigate the voice of the inner critic.

• How action and movement is often the spark for creative flow.

• The non-linear aspects of creativity and inspiration.

• How comparison diminishes our self-worth.

• What is the essence of courage.

• The power of gratitude.

• What is true success?

• Finishing what you start.

• How creativity fills us from the inside.
Lowry is all about living your truth. His stories, songs and beautiful voice take us by the hand as we accompany him on a journey of overcoming obstacles. He inspires each of us to live as though we mean it.
Enjoy this week’s conversation with Lowry Olafson about navigating the inner critic, honoring your creative muse, and living a deeply authentic life.
SHOW NOTES:
• Lowry Olafson’s website for his music, keynote presentations and workshops.

• Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way on Amazon.

• Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott on Amazon.

• War of Art by Steven Pressfield on Amazon.

• Walking in This World by Julia Cameron on Amazon.

• Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert on Amazon.
Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.
You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.
3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!
As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!
]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:10:43
UP #96: Saving Our Oceans: The Undersea World of Nicole McLachlan http://www.debozarko.com/96/ Wed, 02 Mar 2016 01:00:21 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=14291 http://www.debozarko.com/96/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/96/feed/ 0 Nicole McLachlan is a passionate 25 year old ocean advocate living down under in the Gold Coast of Australia. Nicole’s greatest passion is to bring awareness to marine conservation issues into the hearts and minds of the masses. She’s also passionate about teaching an appreciation for our wild oceans and marine ecosystems to the youth of the world. Nicole has spent countless hours above and underwater bearing witness to the plight of sea life in our oceans. She’s worked with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society documenting and exposing the brutality of the Japanese dolphin and whale slaughter. She’s been an active advocate for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. She’s attended meetings of the International Whaling Commission meeting to give voice for young people around the globe against the slaughter of marine mammals. Nicole has also been an active ambassador for the ocean with her tireless speaking gigs that include educational talks at schools, universities, and events. And, if that’s not enough, she’s also in the process of creating a teen marine conservation documentary titled, “In Our Hands”. Nicole’s most recent campaign project has been to raise awareness about the damage caused to marine life by shark nets and drum lines (which we speak about in this show). Because of the antiquated mentality of the Queensland government, indiscriminate lethal methods are used for shark control along Queensland beaches that not only kill sharks, but also dolphins, sea turtles and a plethora of other marine life. After repeated frustrating attempts to speak with political representatives about non-lethal methods for dealing with sharks only to be shut down, silenced and ignored, Nicole decided to up the ante. On February 6, 2016, she went on a hunger strike, with the ultimate goal of increasing the protection for both humans and marine life off the coast of Queensland. The purpose of the strike, was to: • Mobilize the Queensland and Australia-wide general public to urge the Queensland State Government to invest in non lethal alternatives to shark mitigation efforts within the state as well as phasing out lethal shark control methods. • Raise public awareness of and highlight the destruction caused by lethal shark control programs to both marine life and humans. • Encourage public support for non lethal alternatives to the current shark control program in Queensland. A big mission, but one that could easily be handled with Nicole’s passion-filled heart. In this week’s show we discuss: • The Japanese dolphin slaughter. • Inspiring critical thought in children for transformative action. • The true nature of sustainability. • The dire state of our oceans. • Living simply and close to nature for an abundant life of love and meaning. • Why coral is such an important part of our ecosystem. • What is ahimsa and how it supports Nicole’s campaign. • What are shark nets and drum lines and why they are so damaging to marine life. Nicole’s passion is palpable. She also exudes a zen-like wisdom that is far beyond her years. Enjoy this enlightening conversation with ocean warrior, Nicole McLachlan.

“No water, no life. No blue, no green.” —Sylvia Earle

Nicole McLachlan is a passionate 25 year old ocean advocate living down under in the Gold Coast of Australia.

Nicole’s greatest passion is to bring awareness to marine conservation issues into the hearts and minds of the masses. She’s also passionate about teaching an appreciation for our wild oceans and marine ecosystems to the youth of the world.

Nicole has spent countless hours above and underwater bearing witness to the plight of sea life in our oceans. She’s worked with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society documenting and exposing the brutality of the Japanese dolphin and whale slaughter. She’s been an active advocate for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. She’s attended meetings of the International Whaling Commission meeting to give voice for young people around the globe against the slaughter of marine mammals.

Nicole has also been an active ambassador for the ocean with her tireless speaking gigs that include educational talks at schools, universities, and events. And, if that’s not enough, she’s also in the process of creating a teen marine conservation documentary titled, “In Our Hands”.

Nicole’s most recent campaign project has been to raise awareness about the damage caused to marine life by shark nets and drum lines (which we speak about in this show). Because of the antiquated mentality of the Queensland government, indiscriminate lethal methods are used for shark control along Queensland beaches that not only kill sharks, but also dolphins, sea turtles and a plethora of other marine life.

After repeated frustrating attempts to speak with political representatives about non-lethal methods for dealing with sharks only to be shut down, silenced and ignored, Nicole decided to up the ante. On February 6, 2016, she went on a hunger strike, with the ultimate goal of increasing the protection for both humans and marine life off the coast of Queensland.

The purpose of the strike, was to:
• Mobilize the Queensland and Australia-wide general public to urge the Queensland State Government to invest in non lethal alternatives to shark mitigation efforts within the state as well as phasing out lethal shark control methods.
• Raise public awareness of and highlight the destruction caused by lethal shark control programs to both marine life and humans.
• Encourage public support for non lethal alternatives to the current shark control program in Queensland.

A big mission, but one that could easily be handled with Nicole’s passion-filled heart.
In this week’s show we discuss:

• The Japanese dolphin slaughter.
• Inspiring critical thought in children for transformative action.
• The true nature of sustainability.
• The dire state of our oceans.
• Living simply and close to nature for an abundant life of love and meaning.
• Why coral is such an important part of our ecosystem.
• What is ahimsa and how it supports Nicole’s campaign.
• What are shark nets and drum lines and why they are so damaging to marine life.
Nicole’s passion is palpable. She also exudes a zen-like wisdom that is far beyond her years. Enjoy this enlightening conversation with ocean warrior, Nicole McLachlan.

SHOW NOTES:

• Nicole’s hunger strike website.
• Nicole’s petition to protect marine life and humans along the Queensland Coast.
• The Cove documentary on Youtube.
• Blackfish documentary.
Sea Sick by Alanna Mitchell.
• Boomerang Bags website.
• Breaking the Habits that Bind with Len Goldsmith (episode #44) podcast.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Nicole McLachlan is a passionate 25 year old ocean advocate living down under in the Gold Coast of Australia. - Nicole’s greatest passion is to bring awareness to marine conservation issues into the hearts and minds of the masses. Nicole McLachlan is a passionate 25 year old ocean advocate living down under in the Gold Coast of Australia.
Nicole’s greatest passion is to bring awareness to marine conservation issues into the hearts and minds of the masses. She’s also passionate about teaching an appreciation for our wild oceans and marine ecosystems to the youth of the world.
Nicole has spent countless hours above and underwater bearing witness to the plight of sea life in our oceans. She’s worked with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society documenting and exposing the brutality of the Japanese dolphin and whale slaughter. She’s been an active advocate for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. She’s attended meetings of the International Whaling Commission meeting to give voice for young people around the globe against the slaughter of marine mammals.
Nicole has also been an active ambassador for the ocean with her tireless speaking gigs that include educational talks at schools, universities, and events. And, if that’s not enough, she’s also in the process of creating a teen marine conservation documentary titled, “In Our Hands”.
Nicole’s most recent campaign project has been to raise awareness about the damage caused to marine life by shark nets and drum lines (which we speak about in this show). Because of the antiquated mentality of the Queensland government, indiscriminate lethal methods are used for shark control along Queensland beaches that not only kill sharks, but also dolphins, sea turtles and a plethora of other marine life.
After repeated frustrating attempts to speak with political representatives about non-lethal methods for dealing with sharks only to be shut down, silenced and ignored, Nicole decided to up the ante. On February 6, 2016, she went on a hunger strike, with the ultimate goal of increasing the protection for both humans and marine life off the coast of Queensland.
The purpose of the strike, was to:

• Mobilize the Queensland and Australia-wide general public to urge the Queensland State Government to invest in non lethal alternatives to shark mitigation efforts within the state as well as phasing out lethal shark control methods.

• Raise public awareness of and highlight the destruction caused by lethal shark control programs to both marine life and humans.

• Encourage public support for non lethal alternatives to the current shark control program in Queensland.
A big mission, but one that could easily be handled with Nicole’s passion-filled heart.

In this week’s show we discuss:
• The Japanese dolphin slaughter.

• Inspiring critical thought in children for transformative action.

• The true nature of sustainability.

• The dire state of our oceans.

• Living simply and close to nature for an abundant life of love and meaning.

• Why coral is such an important part of our ecosystem.

• What is ahimsa and how it supports Nicole’s campaign.

• What are shark nets and drum lines and why they are so damaging to marine life.

Nicole’s passion is palpable. She also exudes a zen-like wisdom that is far beyond her years. Enjoy this enlightening conversation with ocean warrior, Nicole McLachlan.
SHOW NOTES:
• Nicole’s hunger strike website.

• Nicole’s petition to protect marine life and humans along the Queensland Coast.

• The Cove documentary on Youtube.

• Blackfish documentary.

1:48:41
UP #95: Rewilding Ourselves and Falling in Love With the Earth with Clare Dakin http://www.debozarko.com/95-2/ Wed, 17 Feb 2016 11:59:54 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=14105 http://www.debozarko.com/95-2/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/95-2/feed/ 0 It’s been said that the Earth has existed for more than 4.5 billion years. In this unfathomable time frame, human beings, in their modern form, have been in existence a mere 200,000 years. The patriarchal civilization that we’re familiar with has been around for 6,000 years. And the industrialization of the world commenced in the 19th Century. Historical authorities tell us that the beginning of industrialization, along with the domestication of animals and agriculture, was the pivotal time period that set humanity on a course of self-destruction. In the relatively short history of our species, we’ve now arrived at a critical juncture where the separation-based mindset of humanity from the natural world poses an alarming threat to continued life on this planet. The wounds of this conflict run deep and are a reflection of our individual and collective disconnect from the very source of all life—Gaia—Mother Earth…home. After thousands of years of patriarchal rule, our selfish, abusive, destructive, and consumptive ways are now deeply entrenched in the human psyche. According to Carol P. Christ, “Patriarchy is a system of male dominance, rooted in the ethos of war which legitimates violence, sanctified by religious symbols, in which men dominate women through the control of female sexuality, with the intent of passing property to male heirs, and in which men who are heroes of war are told to kill men, and are permitted to rape women, to seize land and treasures, to exploit resources, and to own or otherwise dominate conquered people.” Is it any wonder why we stand where we do today? Integral to our collective healing is the remembrance of our sacred feminine essence. This has nothing to do with woman/man gender, and everything to do with energy and principle. The sacred feminine principle is the source of our connection to love, life, truth, and creation. It is the embodiment of our deep unity with Gaia—the very force of love, life, truth, and creation. Gaia is who we are in our deepest core essence. We are not separate. And yet we’ve been living a collective illusion where we believe that we are. What we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves. What we do to ourselves, we do to the Earth. By silencing our sacred feminine essence, we’ve forgotten who we are and have thus forgotten our connection to life…to Gaia. Patriarchy is a system of belief created by man, for man. It is steeped in fear and separation and is therefore not aligned with life. Any living force existing in a polarized, imbalanced state, ultimately becomes a force of destruction. The greatest destruction of the patriarchal mindset is the destruction of the true Self through the ongoing perpetuation of fear. The effects of patriarchy have hurt us all. However women have been particularly impacted by being stripped of all value and significance. We have been censored, ridiculed, silenced, mocked and judged for our emotional intelligence, intuition, and feminine wisdom. We’ve been raped, tortured, abused, sexualized, objectified, diminished, and discarded. We’ve been subjected to genital mutilation, child marriage, enslavement, sex-trafficking, stoning, burned at the stake, and drowned as witches. The consequences of this deeply entrenched collective experience over thousands of years is encoded in the psyche of women worldwide. As a result, we’ve forgotten who we are, and patriarchy wants to keep it that way. But what if we break free from the cultural enslavement of patriarchy? What if we, as women, choose to remember who and what we are. What if we direct our own healing toward the healing of the Earth? This is the work of Clare Dakin, passionate Earth warrior and founder of TreeSisters, a campaign created to build a global network of women to help crowdfund the reforestation of the tropics by 2022. As Clare states in her homepage video, “TreeSisters is also a spotlight on the value of women, feminine energy and leadership,

“We’ve all been given a gift, the gift of life. What we do with our lives is our gift back.” —Edo

It’s been said that the Earth has existed for more than 4.5 billion years. In this unfathomable time frame, human beings, in their modern form, have been in existence a mere 200,000 years. The patriarchal civilization that we’re familiar with has been around for 6,000 years. And the industrialization of the world commenced in the 19th Century.

Historical authorities tell us that the beginning of industrialization, along with the domestication of animals and agriculture, was the pivotal time period that set humanity on a course of self-destruction.

In the relatively short history of our species, we’ve now arrived at a critical juncture where the separation-based mindset of humanity from the natural world poses an alarming threat to continued life on this planet. The wounds of this conflict run deep and are a reflection of our individual and collective disconnect from the very source of all life—Gaia—Mother Earth…home.

After thousands of years of patriarchal rule, our selfish, abusive, destructive, and consumptive ways are now deeply entrenched in the human psyche. According to Carol P. Christ, “Patriarchy is a system of male dominance, rooted in the ethos of war which legitimates violence, sanctified by religious symbols, in which men dominate women through the control of female sexuality, with the intent of passing property to male heirs, and in which men who are heroes of war are told to kill men, and are permitted to rape women, to seize land and treasures, to exploit resources, and to own or otherwise dominate conquered people.”

Is it any wonder why we stand where we do today?

Integral to our collective healing is the remembrance of our sacred feminine essence. This has nothing to do with woman/man gender, and everything to do with energy and principle. The sacred feminine principle is the source of our connection to love, life, truth, and creation. It is the embodiment of our deep unity with Gaia—the very force of love, life, truth, and creation.

Gaia is who we are in our deepest core essence. We are not separate. And yet we’ve been living a collective illusion where we believe that we are. What we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves. What we do to ourselves, we do to the Earth. By silencing our sacred feminine essence, we’ve forgotten who we are and have thus forgotten our connection to life…to Gaia.

Patriarchy is a system of belief created by man, for man. It is steeped in fear and separation and is therefore not aligned with life. Any living force existing in a polarized, imbalanced state, ultimately becomes a force of destruction. The greatest destruction of the patriarchal mindset is the destruction of the true Self through the ongoing perpetuation of fear.

The effects of patriarchy have hurt us all. However women have been particularly impacted by being stripped of all value and significance. We have been censored, ridiculed, silenced, mocked and judged for our emotional intelligence, intuition, and feminine wisdom. We’ve been raped, tortured, abused, sexualized, objectified, diminished, and discarded. We’ve been subjected to genital mutilation, child marriage, enslavement, sex-trafficking, female infanticide, stoning, burning at the stake, and drowned as witches.

The consequences of this deeply entrenched collective experience over thousands of years is encoded in the psyche of women worldwide. As a result, we’ve forgotten who we are, and patriarchy wants to keep it that way.

But what if we break free from the cultural enslavement of patriarchy? What if we, as women, choose to remember who and what we are. What if we direct our own healing toward the healing of the Earth?

This is the work of Clare Dakin, passionate Earth warrior and founder of TreeSisters, a campaign created to build a global network of women to help crowdfund the reforestation of the tropics by 2022. As Clare states in her homepage video, “TreeSisters is also a spotlight on the value of women, feminine energy and leadership, the unacceptable degradation of women and the natural world as a norm, and the vital role that women can play in helping to restore balance in this world.”

Clare boldly declares that the aim of TreeSisters is to make it normal for every single person to start giving money every month toward the planting and protection of trees. She wants TreeSisters to inspire millions of people to move away from consumption, and instead toward the action required to replenish our forests to kickstart the cooling of our atmosphere.

After discovering her calling in a powerful message that was delivered after a car crash, Clare knew that there was no way to play small anymore. After 9 months of internal resistance (an incubation period perhaps?), the calling finally took over and TreeSisters was born.

This week we deep dive into a powerful conversation about overcoming fear, re-wilding ourselves, and fully stepping into who we are so that we unabashedly reconnect with the Earth and share our gifts with the world.

This week’s conversation is paradigm altering. We explore powerful topics such as:

• How our fears keep us small and prevent us from acting for a better world.
• How we can’t fail an experiment.
• How our longing to contribute to the world is often crippled by fear.
• Do we choose to be an apology all our life or are we willing to step into our greatness?
• The power of women to transition our world from fear to life.
• The reclamation of our bodies to heal ourselves and the Earth.
• What it really means to be a woman.
• What would it be like if we stopped living linear lives and lived cyclical lives instead?
• How enlightenment is our embodied merging with nature.
• The profound link between love and grief.
• Balancing being with doing.
• How the repression of the feminine involves the shaming of our emotions (regardless of gender).
• We can choose to live as if life matters, or we can choose to live as if life is meant to be trashed, consumed, destroyed, and commoditized.
• How love returns us to our purest nature.
• The power of community for empowering and nurturing inner strength and resilience.
• What is nature-based feminine leadership?

Clare’s passion for a better world is contagious. So get ready for a kick-ass conversation that will radically alter your world!

SHOW NOTES:

Women Embracing the Wild online event (February 17, 2016).
• TreeSisters website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]> It’s been said that the Earth has existed for more than 4.5 billion years. In this unfathomable time frame, human beings, in their modern form, have been in existence a mere 200,000 years. The patriarchal civilization that we’re familiar with has been ... It’s been said that the Earth has existed for more than 4.5 billion years. In this unfathomable time frame, human beings, in their modern form, have been in existence a mere 200,000 years. The patriarchal civilization that we’re familiar with has been around for 6,000 years. And the industrialization of the world commenced in the 19th Century.
Historical authorities tell us that the beginning of industrialization, along with the domestication of animals and agriculture, was the pivotal time period that set humanity on a course of self-destruction.
In the relatively short history of our species, we’ve now arrived at a critical juncture where the separation-based mindset of humanity from the natural world poses an alarming threat to continued life on this planet. The wounds of this conflict run deep and are a reflection of our individual and collective disconnect from the very source of all life—Gaia—Mother Earth…home.
After thousands of years of patriarchal rule, our selfish, abusive, destructive, and consumptive ways are now deeply entrenched in the human psyche. According to Carol P. Christ, “Patriarchy is a system of male dominance, rooted in the ethos of war which legitimates violence, sanctified by religious symbols, in which men dominate women through the control of female sexuality, with the intent of passing property to male heirs, and in which men who are heroes of war are told to kill men, and are permitted to rape women, to seize land and treasures, to exploit resources, and to own or otherwise dominate conquered people.”
Is it any wonder why we stand where we do today?
Integral to our collective healing is the remembrance of our sacred feminine essence. This has nothing to do with woman/man gender, and everything to do with energy and principle. The sacred feminine principle is the source of our connection to love, life, truth, and creation. It is the embodiment of our deep unity with Gaia—the very force of love, life, truth, and creation.
Gaia is who we are in our deepest core essence. We are not separate. And yet we’ve been living a collective illusion where we believe that we are. What we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves. What we do to ourselves, we do to the Earth. By silencing our sacred feminine essence, we’ve forgotten who we are and have thus forgotten our connection to life…to Gaia.
Patriarchy is a system of belief created by man, for man. It is steeped in fear and separation and is therefore not aligned with life. Any living force existing in a polarized, imbalanced state, ultimately becomes a force of destruction. The greatest destruction of the patriarchal mindset is the destruction of the true Self through the ongoing perpetuation of fear.
The effects of patriarchy have hurt us all. However women have been particularly impacted by being stripped of all value and significance. We have been censored, ridiculed, silenced, mocked and judged for our emotional intelligence, intuition, and feminine wisdom. We’ve been raped, tortured, abused, sexualized, objectified, diminished, and discarded. We’ve been subjected to genital mutilation, child marriage, enslavement, sex-trafficking, female infanticide, stoning, burning at the stake, and drowned as witches.
The consequences of this deeply entrenched collective experience over thousands of years is encoded in the psyche of women worldwide. As a result, we’ve forgotten who we are, and patriarchy wants to keep it that way.
But what if we break free from the cultural enslavement of patriarchy? What if we, as women, choose to remember who and what we are. What if we direct our own healing toward the healing of the Earth?
This is the work of Clare Dakin, passionate Earth warrior and founder of TreeSisters, a campaign created to build a global network of women to help...]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 2:02:47 UP #94: Overcoming Addiction and Reclaiming Your Self with Katherine Maas http://www.debozarko.com/94/ Wed, 03 Feb 2016 01:09:33 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=14057 http://www.debozarko.com/94/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/94/feed/ 0 I have a confession, I love speaking with people on the path of self-exploration; people who are hungry to live authentically from their purest essence. This week I have the honor of speaking with Katherine Maas, a long-time Unplug podcast listener living in the beautiful country of Switzerland. Katherine’s story is one that so many can relate to. She grew up feeling lost, confused, and not understanding her place in the world. She felt disconnected from herself and found solace in food and alcohol. At the age of 19, her father died and the grief she denied removed her further from her core. Katherine suffered from a wide range of conditions including: depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Like so many in today’s culture, she lacked the necessary awareness for healthy self-expression. Her decision to numb out became her coping mechanism in a world that was too dark and difficult to navigate. After 10 years of battling food and alcohol addiction, she had an internal epiphany that demanded she stop her self-sabotaging ways. Many past attempts to break free from the grips of her addictions were unsuccessful, but in that one pivotal moment, everything changed. After years of deluding herself, she decided to live authentically with full transparency. She’s since been on an extensive journey of healing and self-exploration that has empowered her to be more of who she’s always been meant to be. She’s now sober, anxiety-free, and hungry for self-expansion. At its simplest, addiction is attachment. Attachment comes from the denial of truth fueled by the mind’s habitual tendency towards distraction from the authentic self. This is what creates the spiritual bankruptcy that Katherine once struggled with. This week’s Unplug podcast is an exploration of our culture of addiction and how we’re taught to disconnect from our inner world at the expense of our souls. When we feel lost and afraid, we often search outside of ourselves for something to fill the void: food, alcohol, drugs, exercise, shopping, gambling, sex, and the list goes on and on and on. But as many of us know, these behaviors only lead to a greater internal disconnect. They not only hurt ourselves, they hurt our world. This week’s conversation is raw, candid, open, and vulnerable. We delve into a wide range of topics including: • The lost, invisible child syndrome. • Seeking safety and control through addictive behaviors to fill internal vacancies. • Eating disorders as a tool for emotional release. • Stopping the binge/purge cycle. • The cultural theft of our souls. • The cultural coma of self-disconnect. • Seizing the threshold moment of change. • What is spiritual bankruptcy? • How breath and meditation can eliminate anxiety. • What is authentic intimacy? • The transformative power of sharing our truth. • The empowering space of awareness between reactivity. • How changing your thoughts changes your world. • Following the breadcrumbs of life and saying yes to yourself (repeatedly). • Breaking through fear and creating more expansive comfort zones. • The quiet presence of courage. • What is GOYADI and how it can change your life. This week we speak openly about being lost and found, and how the road to our authentic Self—our capital “S” Self—is expansive, deeply fulfilling, and unending. Enjoy this authentic and open-hearted conversation with a beautiful young woman who had the courage to say yes to her Self!

 “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” —Martin Luther King Jr.

I have a confession, I love speaking with people on the path of self-exploration; people who are hungry to live authentically from their purest essence. This week I have the honor of speaking with Katherine Maas, a long-time Unplug podcast listener living in the beautiful country of Switzerland.

Katherine’s story is one that so many can relate to. She grew up feeling lost, confused, and not understanding her place in the world. She felt disconnected from herself and found solace in food and alcohol. At the age of 19, her father died and the grief she denied removed her further from her core.

Katherine suffered from a wide range of conditions including: depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Like so many in today’s culture, she lacked the necessary awareness for healthy self-expression. Her decision to numb out became her coping mechanism in a world that was too dark and difficult to navigate.

After 10 years of battling food and alcohol addiction, she had an internal epiphany that demanded she stop her self-sabotaging ways. Many past attempts to break free from the grips of her addictions were unsuccessful, but in that one pivotal moment, everything changed.

After years of deluding herself, she decided to live authentically with full transparency. She’s since been on an extensive journey of healing and self-exploration that has empowered her to be more of who she’s always been meant to be. She’s now sober, anxiety-free, and hungry for self-expansion.

At its simplest, addiction is attachment. Attachment comes from the denial of truth fueled by the mind’s habitual tendency towards distraction from the authentic self. This is what creates the spiritual bankruptcy that Katherine once struggled with.

This week’s Unplug podcast is an exploration of our culture of addiction and how we’re taught to disconnect from our inner world at the expense of our souls. When we feel lost and afraid, we often search outside of ourselves for something to fill the void: food, alcohol, drugs, exercise, shopping, gambling, sex, and the list goes on and on and on. But as many of us know, these behaviors only lead to a greater internal disconnect. They not only hurt ourselves, they hurt our world.

This week’s conversation is raw, candid, open, and vulnerable. We delve into a wide range of topics including:

• The lost, invisible child syndrome.
• Seeking safety and control through addictive behaviors to fill internal vacancies.
• Eating disorders as a tool for emotional release.
• Stopping the binge/purge cycle.
• The cultural theft of our souls.
• The cultural coma of self-disconnect.
• Seizing the threshold moment of change.
• What is spiritual bankruptcy?
• How breath and meditation can eliminate anxiety.
• What is authentic intimacy?
• The transformative power of sharing our truth.
• The empowering space of awareness between reactivity.
• How changing your thoughts changes your world.
• Following the breadcrumbs of life and saying yes to yourself (repeatedly).
• Breaking through fear and creating more expansive comfort zones.
• The quiet presence of courage.
• What is GOYADI and how it can change your life.

This week we speak openly about being lost and found, and how the road to our authentic Self—our capital “S” Self—is expansive, deeply fulfilling, and unending.

Enjoy this authentic and open-hearted conversation with a beautiful young woman who had the courage to say yes to her Self!

SHOW NOTES:

• Within the Flow Yoga. Katherine’s website.
• Louise LeBrun’s WEL-Systems website.
• Decloaking and Living Authentically transformational experience for women.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
I have a confession, I love speaking with people on the path of self-exploration; people who are hungry to live authentically from their purest essence. This week I have the honor of speaking with Katherine Maas, I have a confession, I love speaking with people on the path of self-exploration; people who are hungry to live authentically from their purest essence. This week I have the honor of speaking with Katherine Maas, a long-time Unplug podcast listener living in the beautiful country of Switzerland.
Katherine’s story is one that so many can relate to. She grew up feeling lost, confused, and not understanding her place in the world. She felt disconnected from herself and found solace in food and alcohol. At the age of 19, her father died and the grief she denied removed her further from her core.
Katherine suffered from a wide range of conditions including: depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Like so many in today’s culture, she lacked the necessary awareness for healthy self-expression. Her decision to numb out became her coping mechanism in a world that was too dark and difficult to navigate.
After 10 years of battling food and alcohol addiction, she had an internal epiphany that demanded she stop her self-sabotaging ways. Many past attempts to break free from the grips of her addictions were unsuccessful, but in that one pivotal moment, everything changed.
After years of deluding herself, she decided to live authentically with full transparency. She’s since been on an extensive journey of healing and self-exploration that has empowered her to be more of who she’s always been meant to be. She’s now sober, anxiety-free, and hungry for self-expansion.
At its simplest, addiction is attachment. Attachment comes from the denial of truth fueled by the mind’s habitual tendency towards distraction from the authentic self. This is what creates the spiritual bankruptcy that Katherine once struggled with.
This week’s Unplug podcast is an exploration of our culture of addiction and how we’re taught to disconnect from our inner world at the expense of our souls. When we feel lost and afraid, we often search outside of ourselves for something to fill the void: food, alcohol, drugs, exercise, shopping, gambling, sex, and the list goes on and on and on. But as many of us know, these behaviors only lead to a greater internal disconnect. They not only hurt ourselves, they hurt our world.
This week’s conversation is raw, candid, open, and vulnerable. We delve into a wide range of topics including:
• The lost, invisible child syndrome.

• Seeking safety and control through addictive behaviors to fill internal vacancies.

• Eating disorders as a tool for emotional release.

• Stopping the binge/purge cycle.

• The cultural theft of our souls.

• The cultural coma of self-disconnect.

• Seizing the threshold moment of change.

• What is spiritual bankruptcy?

• How breath and meditation can eliminate anxiety.

• What is authentic intimacy?

• The transformative power of sharing our truth.

• The empowering space of awareness between reactivity.

• How changing your thoughts changes your world.

• Following the breadcrumbs of life and saying yes to yourself (repeatedly).

• Breaking through fear and creating more expansive comfort zones.

• The quiet presence of courage.

• What is GOYADI and how it can change your life.
This week we speak openly about being lost and found, and how the road to our authentic Self—our capital “S” Self—is expansive, deeply fulfilling, and unending.
Enjoy this authentic and open-hearted conversation with a beautiful young woman who had the courage to say yes to her Self!
SHOW NOTES:
• Within the Flow Yoga. Katherine’s website.

• Louise LeBrun’s WEL-Systems clean 1:26:21
UP #93: Taking Ownership of Life with Lisa Ireland http://www.debozarko.com/93/ Wed, 20 Jan 2016 01:00:30 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13956 http://www.debozarko.com/93/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/93/feed/ 0 This week’s episode is a deep dive look at the chemically laden world of today along with its impact on our personal and global health. Multiple chemical sensitivity is a common ailment affecting millions of people daily. Web MD defines multiple chemical sensitivity as follows: “Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is also called “environmental illness” or “sick building syndrome.” It refers to a variety of non-specific symptoms reported by some people after possible exposure to chemical, biologic, or physical agents.” In my own life, I can attest to experiencing unpleasant reactions when subjected to perfumes and other unnatural scents, commercial cleaning products, cigarette smoke, painting materials, bleach, and a variety of other unnatural chemical odors found in today’s society. MCS is considered “controversial” by the status quo medical profession, quite possibly because of their inability to prove the impact on those who experience it. Strange don’t you think? It seems like an obvious no-brainer that ingesting unnatural chemicals through our nose or skin would impact our health. But leave it to “science” to create a gray zone where common sense should prevail. In this week’s episode, I speak with Lisa Ireland, founder of Pure Body Care, a British Columbia company dedicated to creating chemical-free, Earth-kind body, home, and pet care products. Lisa’s story is an inspiring one. An unexpected diagnosis of an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis in 2008 prompted her to determinedly explore ways to defy her bleak prognosis. Medical professionals predicted that by now, she would be confined to a wheelchair, “drooling and in diapers”. But her dedication to researching alternatives, along with her stubborn persona (her words) have empowered her in ways that have not only defied her prognosis, but have also surprised the medical community. Through her plethora of research, she discovered how the chemicals used with unconscious abandon in our everyday lifestyle, plague us with a variety of frightening autoimmune issues and other ailments including MS, ALS, various cancers, Chrohn’s disease, and arthritis to name just a few. Lisa made the decision to become her own research subject and vowed to reduce the chemicals in her own household and life. Because of her perseverant nature, along with her dedication to reducing chemical use, she’s altered the course of her disease. Despite the odds, Lisa is still driving, walking, and through her own inspiring discoveries, working hard to make a better world for many others. Lisa is passionate about a better world. Through her own journey of exploration—both inner and outer—she’s now helping many others wean themselves from chemical dependency so that they not only feel better, they also leave a lesser footprint on the Earth. We explore a wide range of topics in this week’s conversation, including: • The link between chemicals and autoimmune disorders. • Living with multiple sclerosis. • How we become addicted to our emotions if we don’t properly express them. • Emotional maturity. • Taking ownership for life and empowering ourselves along the way. • When we calibrate for the behavior of others, we compromise our authenticity. • When we own our triggers, we empower ourselves. • The 80/20 rule. • How the man-made chemical revolution is harming our health. • The power of critical thought for making empowered choices. • How chemical toxicity builds up through our skin. • The power of individual choices for shifting the paradigm. • Every dollar spent is a vote for how we wish to see the world. • How we blindly accept status quo at the expense of life. • The toxic cycle of “easy”. • The green-washing of “natural” in a mass produced consumer society. • How all commercial products are designed to make you buy more. • The accelerating paradigm shift at a grassroots level. As always, this conversation both enlightens and inspires. Enjoy!

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” —Confucius

Multiple chemical sensitivity is a common ailment affecting millions of people daily. Web MD defines multiple chemical sensitivity as follows: “Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is also called “environmental illness” or “sick building syndrome.” It refers to a variety of non-specific symptoms reported by some people after possible exposure to chemical, biologic, or physical agents.”

In my own life, I can attest to experiencing unpleasant reactions when subjected to perfumes and other unnatural scents, commercial cleaning products, cigarette smoke, painting materials, bleach, and a variety of other unnatural chemical odors found in today’s society. MCS is considered “controversial” by the status quo medical profession, quite possibly because of their inability to prove the impact on those who experience it. Strange don’t you think? It seems like an obvious no-brainer that ingesting unnatural chemicals through our nose or skin would impact our health. But leave it to “science” to create a gray zone where common sense should prevail.

In this week’s episode, I speak with Lisa Ireland, founder of Pure Body Care, a British Columbia company dedicated to creating chemical-free, Earth-kind body, home, and pet care products.

Lisa’s story is an inspiring one. An unexpected diagnosis of an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis in 2008 prompted her to determinedly explore ways to defy her bleak prognosis. Medical professionals predicted that by now, she would be confined to a wheelchair, “drooling and in diapers”. But her dedication to researching alternatives, along with her stubborn persona (her words) have empowered her in ways that have not only defied her prognosis, but have also surprised the medical community.

Through her plethora of research, she discovered how the chemicals used with unconscious abandon in our everyday lifestyle, plague us with a variety of frightening autoimmune issues and other ailments including MS, ALS, various cancers, Chrohn’s disease, and arthritis to name just a few.

Lisa made the decision to become her own research subject and vowed to reduce the chemicals in her own household and life. Because of her perseverant nature, along with her dedication to reducing chemical use, she’s altered the course of her disease. Despite the odds, Lisa is still driving, walking, and through her own inspiring discoveries, working hard to make a better world for many others.

Lisa is passionate about a better world. Through her own journey of exploration—both inner and outer—she’s now helping many others wean themselves from chemical dependency so that they not only feel better, they also leave a lesser footprint on the Earth.

We explore a wide range of topics in this week’s conversation, including:

• The link between chemicals and autoimmune disorders.
• Living with multiple sclerosis.
• How we become addicted to our emotions if we don’t properly express them.
• Emotional maturity.
• Taking ownership for life and empowering ourselves along the way.
• When we calibrate for the behavior of others, we compromise our authenticity.
• When we own our triggers, we empower ourselves.
• The 80/20 rule.
• How the man-made chemical revolution is harming our health.
• The power of critical thought for making empowered choices.
• How chemical toxicity builds up through our skin.
• The power of individual choices for shifting the paradigm.
• Every dollar spent is a vote for how we wish to see the world.
• How we blindly accept status quo at the expense of life.
• The toxic cycle of “easy”.
• The green-washing of “natural” in a mass produced consumer society.
• How all commercial products are designed to make you buy more.
• The accelerating paradigm shift at a grassroots level.

As always, this conversation both enlightens and inspires. Enjoy!

SHOW NOTES:

• Pure Body Care website.

<

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]> This week’s episode is a deep dive look at the chemically laden world of today along with its impact on our personal and global health. - Multiple chemical sensitivity is a common ailment affecting millions of people daily. Multiple chemical sensitivity is a common ailment affecting millions of people daily. Web MD defines multiple chemical sensitivity as follows: “Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is also called “environmental illness” or “sick building syndrome.” It refers to a variety of non-specific symptoms reported by some people after possible exposure to chemical, biologic, or physical agents.”
In my own life, I can attest to experiencing unpleasant reactions when subjected to perfumes and other unnatural scents, commercial cleaning products, cigarette smoke, painting materials, bleach, and a variety of other unnatural chemical odors found in today’s society. MCS is considered “controversial” by the status quo medical profession, quite possibly because of their inability to prove the impact on those who experience it. Strange don’t you think? It seems like an obvious no-brainer that ingesting unnatural chemicals through our nose or skin would impact our health. But leave it to “science” to create a gray zone where common sense should prevail.
In this week’s episode, I speak with Lisa Ireland, founder of Pure Body Care, a British Columbia company dedicated to creating chemical-free, Earth-kind body, home, and pet care products.
Lisa’s story is an inspiring one. An unexpected diagnosis of an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis in 2008 prompted her to determinedly explore ways to defy her bleak prognosis. Medical professionals predicted that by now, she would be confined to a wheelchair, “drooling and in diapers”. But her dedication to researching alternatives, along with her stubborn persona (her words) have empowered her in ways that have not only defied her prognosis, but have also surprised the medical community.
Through her plethora of research, she discovered how the chemicals used with unconscious abandon in our everyday lifestyle, plague us with a variety of frightening autoimmune issues and other ailments including MS, ALS, various cancers, Chrohn’s disease, and arthritis to name just a few.
Lisa made the decision to become her own research subject and vowed to reduce the chemicals in her own household and life. Because of her perseverant nature, along with her dedication to reducing chemical use, she’s altered the course of her disease. Despite the odds, Lisa is still driving, walking, and through her own inspiring discoveries, working hard to make a better world for many others.
Lisa is passionate about a better world. Through her own journey of exploration—both inner and outer—she’s now helping many others wean themselves from chemical dependency so that they not only feel better, they also leave a lesser footprint on the Earth.
We explore a wide range of topics in this week’s conversation, including:
• The link between chemicals and autoimmune disorders.

• Living with multiple sclerosis.

• How we become addicted to our emotions if we don’t properly express them.

• Emotional maturity.

• Taking ownership for life and empowering ourselves along the way.

• When we calibrate for the behavior of others, we compromise our authenticity.

• When we own our triggers, we empower ourselves.

• The 80/20 rule.

• How the man-made chemical revolution is harming our health.

• The power of critical thought for making empowered choices.

• How chemical toxicity builds up through our skin.

• The power of individual choices for shifting the paradigm.

• Every dollar spent is a vote for how we wish to see the world.

• How we blindly accept status quo at the expense of life.]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:53:36 UP #92: Transparent Authenticity and Breaking Up with Unworthy with Janne Robinson http://www.debozarko.com/92-2/ Wed, 13 Jan 2016 05:16:43 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13865 http://www.debozarko.com/92-2/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/92-2/feed/ 0 The dictionary defines self-worth as, “the sense of one’s own value or worth as a person.” In a world that teaches us to play small, is it any wonder that self-worth is one of the biggest issues to plague our personal and collective consciousness. Respecting oneself is one of the most crucial aspect of life. How can we expect others to respect and appreciates us if we can’t even do this for ourselves? So many people remain in crappy relationships and meaningless jobs because they simply don’t believe they deserve better. The issue: self worth. When self-worth is compromised, resignation and complacency prevail and life becomes nothing more than a humdrum, status-quo existence. Robert Tew once said, “Respect yourself enough to walk away from anyone or anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.” I couldn’t agree more. Self-worth is an inside job. As this week’s Unplug podcast guest, Janne Robinson writes, “When we act in alignment with ourselves, and with truth and fire and love and authenticity, we will never fail” Janne is a freelance writer, poet, speaker, animal activist, and powerful voice for female empowerment. She’s a fellow Canuck—living in Victoria, BC—who writes for a plethora of inspirational online journals including: Elephant Journal, Huffington Post, Yogi Approved, Red Flag.org, Meraki, Folk Rebellion, Careerhearted, and Wild Woman Do. Janne’s work empowers people to live authentically from their truths. Transparency is how she walks her talk. At 26 years young, she packs a heck-uv-alot of wisdom into her worldly offerings! This week, we organically explore a wide range of topics including: • The power of manifestation—for better or worse. • We are all worthy! • How we need to face our sh*t head on to reduce its power over us. • You are what you love and not what loves you. • Dealing with reactions and criticism. • Dealing with the inner critic and the crowd of gremlins in our head. • Expanding our comfort zone. • Self-worth is only damaging when we give it away. • Knowledge comes from words, wisdom comes from experience. • Being willing to play big and come alive! • Scarcity is an excuse to play small. • “No” is a complete sentence. • Breaking up with friends who don’t support and align with our purpose. • What is true feminism? • Empowered activism. • Finding passion in our pain. Janne is voice to be reckoned with and an inspiration for us all. Enjoy this week’s empowering conversation!

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

The dictionary defines self-worth as, “the sense of one’s own value or worth as a person.” In a world that teaches us to play small, is it any wonder that self-worth is one of the biggest issues to plague our personal and collective consciousness.

Respecting oneself is one of the most crucial aspect of life. How can we expect others to respect and appreciates us if we can’t even do this for ourselves?

So many people remain in crappy relationships and meaningless jobs because they simply don’t believe they deserve better. The issue: self worth. When self-worth is compromised, resignation and complacency prevail and life becomes nothing more than a humdrum, status-quo existence.

Robert Tew once said, “Respect yourself enough to walk away from anyone or anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.” I couldn’t agree more.

Self-worth is an inside job. As this week’s Unplug podcast guest, Janne Robinson writes, “When we act in alignment with ourselves, and with truth and fire and love and authenticity, we will never fail”

Janne is a freelance writer, poet, speaker, animal activist, and powerful voice for female empowerment. She’s a fellow Canuck—living in Victoria, BC—who writes for a plethora of inspirational online journals including: Elephant Journal, Huffington Post, Yogi Approved, Red Flag.org, Meraki, Folk Rebellion, Careerhearted, and Wild Woman Do.

Janne’s work empowers people to live authentically from their truths. Transparency is how she walks her talk. At 26 years young, she packs a heck-uv-alot of wisdom into her worldly offerings!

This week, we organically explore a wide range of topics including:

• The power of manifestation—for better or worse.
• We are all worthy!
• How we need to face our sh*t head on to reduce its power over us.
• You are what you love and not what loves you.
• Dealing with reactions and criticism.
• Dealing with the inner critic and the crowd of gremlins in our head.
• Expanding our comfort zone.
• Self-worth is only damaging when we give it away.
• Knowledge comes from words, wisdom comes from experience.
• Being willing to play big and come alive!
• Scarcity is an excuse to play small.
• “No” is a complete sentence.
• Breaking up with friends who don’t support and align with our purpose.
• What is true feminism?
• Empowered activism.
• Finding passion in our pain.

Janne is voice to be reckoned with and an inspiration for us all. Enjoy this week’s empowering conversation!

SHOW NOTES:

• Janne Robinson website.
• I’m Breaking Up with Unworthy blog post.
• Screw Finding Your Passion post by Mark Manson.
• Unschooling/Living School podcast with Ange Arbuckle and Naomi Irons.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
The dictionary defines self-worth as, “the sense of one’s own value or worth as a person.” In a world that teaches us to play small, is it any wonder that self-worth is one of the biggest issues to plague our personal and collective consciousness. - The dictionary defines self-worth as, “the sense of one’s own value or worth as a person.” In a world that teaches us to play small, is it any wonder that self-worth is one of the biggest issues to plague our personal and collective consciousness.
Respecting oneself is one of the most crucial aspect of life. How can we expect others to respect and appreciates us if we can’t even do this for ourselves?
So many people remain in crappy relationships and meaningless jobs because they simply don’t believe they deserve better. The issue: self worth. When self-worth is compromised, resignation and complacency prevail and life becomes nothing more than a humdrum, status-quo existence.
Robert Tew once said, “Respect yourself enough to walk away from anyone or anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.” I couldn’t agree more.
Self-worth is an inside job. As this week’s Unplug podcast guest, Janne Robinson writes, “When we act in alignment with ourselves, and with truth and fire and love and authenticity, we will never fail”
Janne is a freelance writer, poet, speaker, animal activist, and powerful voice for female empowerment. She’s a fellow Canuck—living in Victoria, BC—who writes for a plethora of inspirational online journals including: Elephant Journal, Huffington Post, Yogi Approved, Red Flag.org, Meraki, Folk Rebellion, Careerhearted, and Wild Woman Do.
Janne’s work empowers people to live authentically from their truths. Transparency is how she walks her talk. At 26 years young, she packs a heck-uv-alot of wisdom into her worldly offerings!
This week, we organically explore a wide range of topics including:
• The power of manifestation—for better or worse.

• We are all worthy!

• How we need to face our sh*t head on to reduce its power over us.

• You are what you love and not what loves you.

• Dealing with reactions and criticism.

• Dealing with the inner critic and the crowd of gremlins in our head.

• Expanding our comfort zone.

• Self-worth is only damaging when we give it away.

• Knowledge comes from words, wisdom comes from experience.

• Being willing to play big and come alive!

• Scarcity is an excuse to play small.

• “No” is a complete sentence.

• Breaking up with friends who don’t support and align with our purpose.

• What is true feminism?

• Empowered activism.

• Finding passion in our pain.
Janne is voice to be reckoned with and an inspiration for us all. Enjoy this week’s empowering conversation!
SHOW NOTES:
• Janne Robinson website.

• I’m Breaking Up with Unworthy blog post.

• Screw Finding Your Passion post by Mark Manson.

• Unschooling/Living School podcast with Ange Arbuckle and Naomi Irons.
Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.
You can also now subscribe to the show clean 1:34:58
UP #91: Putting Passion into Action and Changing Lives Along the Way with Jan Ditchfield http://www.debozarko.com/91/ Wed, 06 Jan 2016 00:35:05 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13842 http://www.debozarko.com/91/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/91/feed/ 0 Passion is the fire that drives us to express who we really are. It is the voice of the heart pleading for expression. To deny passion, is to deny life-force. To acknowledge passion is to come alive! The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines passion as, “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something.” Passion in action is what changes the world. Jan Ditchfield is the founder of The Tandem Project (formerly known as Won with One), an organization created to support people who are blind and visually impaired realize their dreams as athletes in the sport of triathlon. But the Tandem Project is about so much more than triathlon. It’s about healing, empowerment, community, compassion, and caring. Inspired by a tragic event that altered the course of her life, Jan uncovered a passion that drives her to this day: to break down the labels that define our humanity and empower the essence that unites us all. Triathlon is the catalyst used to empower people who are blind, visually impaired, and sighted. But the work that Jan and her team do with the Tandem Project far exceeds any outcome on a race course. It translates directly into the lives of the people they serve—empowered lives with a renewed sense of meaning. This is an inspirational conversation with a women who was deeply affected by a sudden event that led to the birth of an idea (initially conceived a scribbled napkin), and the eventual manifestation of a full-blown organization that is now empowering and healing so many lives once lost. This week, we explore topics such as: • How we are not our labels. • Creating safety for authenticity. • Empowering people to help remember their essence. • How pain is a powerful gateway to purpose. • Bridging the gap between “different”. • Creating allies through community. • How labels shroud our essence. • Breaking down barriers to our humanity. • Who are we without our labels? • How being driven by passion means being equally fueled by fear. • People are looking for inspiration rather than information. • How “playing it safe” is a life of status quo. The bigger we become, the more we affect others. The more we affect others in a positive way, the more we feel fulfilled. The greatest gift we can give to ourselves and to others is to be passionate and bold. Enjoy this week’s episode and allow Jan Ditchfield to light up the way.

“Passion is the love of turning being into action. It fuels the engine of creation. It changes concepts to experience…. Never deny passion, for that is to deny Who You Are, and Who You Truly Want To Be.” —Neale Donald Walsch

Passion is the fire that drives us to express who we really are. It is the voice of the heart pleading for expression. To deny passion, is to deny life-force. To acknowledge passion is to come alive! The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines passion as, “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something.”

Passion in action is what changes the world.

Jan Ditchfield is the founder of The Tandem Project (formerly known as Won with One), an organization created to support people who are blind and visually impaired realize their dreams as athletes in the sport of triathlon. But the Tandem Project is about so much more than triathlon. It’s about healing, empowerment, community, compassion, and caring.

Inspired by a tragic event that altered the course of her life, Jan uncovered a passion that drives her to this day: to break down the labels that define our humanity and empower the essence that unites us all.

Triathlon is the catalyst used to empower people who are blind, visually impaired, and sighted. But the work that Jan and her team do with the Tandem Project far exceeds any outcome on a race course. It translates directly into the lives of the people they serve—empowered lives with a renewed sense of meaning.

This is an inspirational conversation with a women who was deeply affected by a sudden event that led to the birth of an idea (initially conceived a scribbled napkin), and the eventual manifestation of a full-blown organization that is now empowering and healing so many lives once lost.

This week, we explore topics such as:

• How we are not our labels.
• Creating safety for authenticity.
• Empowering people to help remember their essence.
• How pain is a powerful gateway to purpose.
• Bridging the gap between “different”.
• Creating allies through community.
• How labels shroud our essence.
• Breaking down barriers to our humanity.
• Who are we without our labels?
• How being driven by passion means being equally fueled by fear.
• People are looking for inspiration rather than information.
• How “playing it safe” is a life of status quo.

The bigger we become, the more we affect others. The more we affect others in a positive way, the more we feel fulfilled. The greatest gift we can give to ourselves and to others is to be passionate and bold.

Enjoy this week’s episode and allow Jan Ditchfield to light up the way.

SHOW NOTES:

• The Tandem Project website.
• Won with One website.
• Learning to Listen blog post.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]> Passion is the fire that drives us to express who we really are. It is the voice of the heart pleading for expression. To deny passion, is to deny life-force. To acknowledge passion is to come alive! The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines passion as, Passion is the fire that drives us to express who we really are. It is the voice of the heart pleading for expression. To deny passion, is to deny life-force. To acknowledge passion is to come alive! The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines passion as, “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something.”
Passion in action is what changes the world.
Jan Ditchfield is the founder of The Tandem Project (formerly known as Won with One), an organization created to support people who are blind and visually impaired realize their dreams as athletes in the sport of triathlon. But the Tandem Project is about so much more than triathlon. It’s about healing, empowerment, community, compassion, and caring.
Inspired by a tragic event that altered the course of her life, Jan uncovered a passion that drives her to this day: to break down the labels that define our humanity and empower the essence that unites us all.
Triathlon is the catalyst used to empower people who are blind, visually impaired, and sighted. But the work that Jan and her team do with the Tandem Project far exceeds any outcome on a race course. It translates directly into the lives of the people they serve—empowered lives with a renewed sense of meaning.
This is an inspirational conversation with a women who was deeply affected by a sudden event that led to the birth of an idea (initially conceived a scribbled napkin), and the eventual manifestation of a full-blown organization that is now empowering and healing so many lives once lost.
This week, we explore topics such as:
• How we are not our labels.

• Creating safety for authenticity.

• Empowering people to help remember their essence.

• How pain is a powerful gateway to purpose.

• Bridging the gap between “different”.

• Creating allies through community.

• How labels shroud our essence.

• Breaking down barriers to our humanity.

• Who are we without our labels?

• How being driven by passion means being equally fueled by fear.

• People are looking for inspiration rather than information.

• How “playing it safe” is a life of status quo.
The bigger we become, the more we affect others. The more we affect others in a positive way, the more we feel fulfilled. The greatest gift we can give to ourselves and to others is to be passionate and bold.
Enjoy this week’s episode and allow Jan Ditchfield to light up the way.
SHOW NOTES:
• The Tandem Project website.

• Won with One website.

• Learning to Listen blog post.
Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.
You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and,]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:39:14 UP #90: A New Conversation About Money, Reciprocity, and Resiliency with Mandy Sandbach http://www.debozarko.com/90/ Wed, 23 Dec 2015 01:00:38 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13759 http://www.debozarko.com/90/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/90/feed/ 0 There’s a commonly held belief that money is at the root of all evil. Until recently, there was a large part of me that believed this to be true. But I now know that money can also be at the root of immense good in this world. The problem with our cultural machine is that it doesn’t support life. As a result, the bulk of the world’s monetary wealth belongs to systems that inculcate, suppress, control, and numb our minds while transmuting, pillaging, sickening, and destroying life. The greatest world riches belong to the corporate players in destructive systems such as animal agriculture (i.e. Tyson, Perdue, Cargill), biotechnology/GMO’s (i.e. Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenta), pharmaceutical giants (i.e. Novartis, Pfizer, Proctor and Gamble), mainstream media moguls (i.e. Time Warner, Viacom, News Corp.), junk food giants (i.e. Pepsico, Nestle, ConAgra), chemical/pesticide companies (BASF, Bayer, Dow), environmental rapists (BP, Exxon, Koch Industries, ), banks (where to even begin…), and politicians (all of them—bought and sold by corporations). These are just a few in the endless list of players who reap the financial benefits of our culture of death. At great expense to the Earth, the profiting puppeteers of this dysfunctional cultural machine go to great lengths to ensure its survival. As a result, the concept of money often gets a bad rap. To make matters worse, our hand-me-down belief systems create notions of money scarcity that prey on the survival fears of our primitive reptilian brains. It’s absolute lunacy! But you see, this entire mess is not the fault of “money”, because money is no more than a nominalization. It isn’t real. The paper and metal that represents “money” is real, but money itself, is a mere concept that we attach great meaning to. And oh, the dysfunctional relationship we’ve created around this ridiculous concept. You see, money is not at the root of all evil. Consciousness is. And what is evil anyways? Simply a label for the separation from one’s true self. The consciousness attached to what we label, “money” is at the root of so much suffering. Money could be sticks, stones, or garbage from the street. Instead, it’s usually no more than fluctuating numbers on a computer screen, or occasionally, metal and paper. The relationship we’ve been taught is real is often what creates so much angst around money. In essence, our collective consciousness around money is yet another metaphor for our separation from truth and life. Because of our death-affirming culture however, we often feel as though our hands are tied. Ironically, because of the deeply entrenched modern cultural system, we must support the death culture in order to survive—at least to some degree—unless we live in a self-sustaining cabin in the woods where we can’t be found by the moguls who “own” vast swaths of the Earth. In order to meet our basic needs, we need money to buy the food locked up by grocery corporations (unless we grow our own or have year-round access to farmers markets). We need money to pay rent to the landlord or bank (aka “mortgage”). We need money to pay for water, hydro, internet, and transportation. The hypocrisy of the human experience is enough to make anyone who cares about life want to act out in rebellion. No wonder our collective relationship with money is so painful. But what if we reframed our relationship with money? What if we mindfully live our lives in the kindest way possible—where our choices align as closely as possible with life? What if we do work that leans towards life, or better yet, honours the life-affirming cry of the soul? What if we actively engage with like-minded, consciousness raising community to create an entirely new life-affirming paradigm? What if, rather than judging and competing from a consciousness of scarcity, we celebrate our diversity and build a collective resilience that overgrows the culture of death? You see, with a simple shift in behaviour, choices,

“Of all the things that human beings make and do for each other, it is the unquantifiable ones that contribute most to human happiness.” —Charles Eisenstein

There’s a commonly held belief that money is at the root of all evil. Until recently, there was a large part of me that believed this to be true. But I now know that money can also be at the root of immense good in this world.

The problem with our cultural machine is that it doesn’t support life. As a result, the bulk of the world’s monetary wealth belongs to people in systems that inculcate, suppress, control, and numb our minds while transmuting, pillaging, sickening, and destroying life. The greatest world riches belong to the corporate players in destructive systems such as animal agriculture (i.e. Tyson, Perdue, Cargill), biotechnology/GMO’s (i.e. Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenta), pharmaceutical giants (i.e. Novartis, Pfizer, Proctor and Gamble), mainstream media moguls (i.e. Time Warner, Viacom, News Corp.), junk food giants (i.e. Pepsico, Nestle, ConAgra), chemical/pesticide companies (BASF, Bayer, Dow), environmental rapists (BP, Exxon, Koch Industries, ), banks (where to even begin…), and politicians (all of them—bought and sold by corporations). These are just a few in the endless list of players who reap the financial benefits of our culture of death.

At great expense to the Earth, the profiting puppetmasters of this dysfunctional cultural machine go to great lengths to ensure its survival. As a result, the concept of money often gets a bad rap. To make matters worse, our hand-me-down belief systems create notions of scarcity that prey on the survival fears of our primitive reptilian brains. It’s lunacy!

But you see, this entire mess is not the fault of “money”, because money is simply a nominalization. It isn’t real. The paper and metal that represents “money” is real, but money itself is a mere concept that we attach significant meaning to. And oh, the dysfunctional, stress-filled relationship we’ve created around this crazy concept.

You see, money is not at the root of all evil. Consciousness is. And what is evil anyways? In my world, it’s simply a label for the separation from one’s true Self.

If we get real with ourselves, we can see that the consciousness we attach to “money” is at the root of so much suffering. Money could be sticks, stones, or garbage from the street. Instead, it’s become little more than fluctuating numbers on a computer screen, or occasionally, metal and paper. The relationship we’ve been taught is real is often what creates so much angst around money. In essence, our collective consciousness around money is yet another metaphor for our separation from truth and life.

Because of our death-affirming culture however, we often feel as though our hands are tied. Ironically, because of the deeply entrenched modern cultural system, we must support the death culture in order to survive—at least to some degree—unless we live in a self-sustaining cabin in the woods where we can’t be found by the moguls who “own” vast swaths of the Earth. In order to meet our basic needs, we need money to buy the food locked up by grocery corporations (unless we grow our own or have year-round access to farmers markets). We need money to pay rent to the landlord or bank (aka “mortgage”). We need money to pay for water, hydro, internet, and transportation. The hypocrisy of the human experience is enough to make anyone who cares about life want to act out in rebellion (guilty as charged). No wonder our collective relationship with money is so painful.

But what if we reframed our relationship with money? What if we mindfully live our lives in the kindest way possible—where our choices align as closely as possible with life? What if we do work that leans towards life, or better yet, honours the life-affirming cry of the soul? What if we actively engage with like-minded, consciousness raising community to create an entirely new life-affirming paradigm? What if, rather than judging and competing from a consciousness of scarcity, we celebrate our diversity and build a collective resilience that overgrows the culture of death?

You see, with a simple shift in behaviour, choices, actions, and perception, anything is possible.

Just like a lush green forest springs out of a few simple seeds, so too does a new worldview. Once the seed of a paradigm-shifting idea catches on, it pollinates, it grows, and it spreads. It all begins with the seed of imagination—imaging the world as it should be, not as it currently is.

This week, I have the honor of speaking with Mandy Sandbach, an Earth loving warrior of truth and visionary for a new chapter in humanity.

As Mandy says herself, her bio is always evolving. The constants in her life include partner, mother, permaculturist, steward of soil, farmer of diversity, co-creator of the Rural Consciousness Project and lover of all things alive. Needless to say, Mandy has an expansive perspective on life.

This week we dig into a paradigm altering conversation about the loaded topic of money. We also explore the topics of scarcity, abundance, diversity, relationships, and resilience—necessary topics for reframing our culturally conditioned worldview around money.

Some of the nuggets of wisdom explored this week include:

• The taboo topic of money.
• How money is a relationship with ourselves and others.
• How money is an extension of how we engage with the world.
• How culture perpetuates scarcity consciousness in our early family systems.
• How we connect money to safety and self-worth.
• The shame and guilt of debt.
• The power of reciprocity.
• Redefining abundance through relationship.
• What is resilience?
• How we are not responsible for the reactions of others.
• The richness and chaos of deep authenticity.

Mandy is here to be an invitation for diversity and growth and I promise that your worldview around money (and so much more) will be altered after this week’s powerful conversation.

SHOW NOTES:

• Mandy Sandbach website.
• The Currency of Consciousness blog post.
• Money, Currency, and a New Relationship blog post.
• FLOURISH blog post.
• Rural Consciousness Project website.
• WEL-Systems website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
There’s a commonly held belief that money is at the root of all evil. Until recently, there was a large part of me that believed this to be true. But I now know that money can also be at the root of immense good in this world. - There’s a commonly held belief that money is at the root of all evil. Until recently, there was a large part of me that believed this to be true. But I now know that money can also be at the root of immense good in this world.
The problem with our cultural machine is that it doesn’t support life. As a result, the bulk of the world’s monetary wealth belongs to people in systems that inculcate, suppress, control, and numb our minds while transmuting, pillaging, sickening, and destroying life. The greatest world riches belong to the corporate players in destructive systems such as animal agriculture (i.e. Tyson, Perdue, Cargill), biotechnology/GMO’s (i.e. Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenta), pharmaceutical giants (i.e. Novartis, Pfizer, Proctor and Gamble), mainstream media moguls (i.e. Time Warner, Viacom, News Corp.), junk food giants (i.e. Pepsico, Nestle, ConAgra), chemical/pesticide companies (BASF, Bayer, Dow), environmental rapists (BP, Exxon, Koch Industries, ), banks (where to even begin…), and politicians (all of them—bought and sold by corporations). These are just a few in the endless list of players who reap the financial benefits of our culture of death.
At great expense to the Earth, the profiting puppetmasters of this dysfunctional cultural machine go to great lengths to ensure its survival. As a result, the concept of money often gets a bad rap. To make matters worse, our hand-me-down belief systems create notions of scarcity that prey on the survival fears of our primitive reptilian brains. It’s lunacy!
But you see, this entire mess is not the fault of “money”, because money is simply a nominalization. It isn’t real. The paper and metal that represents “money” is real, but money itself is a mere concept that we attach significant meaning to. And oh, the dysfunctional, stress-filled relationship we’ve created around this crazy concept.
You see, money is not at the root of all evil. Consciousness is. And what is evil anyways? In my world, it’s simply a label for the separation from one’s true Self.
If we get real with ourselves, we can see that the consciousness we attach to “money” is at the root of so much suffering. Money could be sticks, stones, or garbage from the street. Instead, it’s become little more than fluctuating numbers on a computer screen, or occasionally, metal and paper. The relationship we’ve been taught is real is often what creates so much angst around money. In essence, our collective consciousness around money is yet another metaphor for our separation from truth and life.
Because of our death-affirming culture however, we often feel as though our hands are tied. Ironically, because of the deeply entrenched modern cultural system, we must support the death culture in order to survive—at least to some degree—unless we live in a self-sustaining cabin in the woods where we can’t be found by the moguls who “own” vast swaths of the Earth. In order to meet our basic needs, we need money to buy the food locked up by grocery corporations (unless we grow our own or have year-round access to farmers markets). We need money to pay rent to the landlord or bank (aka “mortgage”). We need money to pay for water, hydro, internet, and transportation. The hypocrisy of the human experience is enough to make anyone who cares about life want to act out in rebellion (guilty as charged). No wonder our collective relationship with money is so painful.
But what if we reframed our relationship with money? What if we mindfully live our lives in the kindest way possible—where our choices align as closely as possible with life? What if we do work that leans towards life, or better yet, honours the life-affirming cry of the soul? What if we actively engage with like-minded,]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:43:14
UP #89: The Butterfly, the Caterpillar, Compassion, and Healing the Earth with Sailesh Rao http://www.debozarko.com/89/ Wed, 16 Dec 2015 05:49:30 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13559 http://www.debozarko.com/89/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/89/feed/ 0 There is little doubt in the minds of the masses that an acceleration is occurring on planet Earth. What exactly this means is difficult to articulate. In a world teetering on the brink of economic collapse, war-driven holocaust, and ecological catastrophe, we are collectively being challenged to examine who we are. We’ve reached a time in our evolutionary history where we’re being forced to ask ourselves what we’ve allowed ourselves to become to arrive at such a dangerous impasse. In order to honestly answer this question, we must turn inward. This inward journey brings us closer to the truth in our own soul and awakens us to the potential of who we’re meant to be. Many people can feel that humanity is undergoing a process of change. The final outcome is uncertain, but the prevailing feeling is that a new humanity—an upgrade so to speak—is currently being birthed. As the tired old story of patriarchal domination continues to implode on itself, many people are now questioning their concept of self and of reality. In order for us to transform individually within this growing collective movement, it is imperative to be sourcing our own truth from within. The answers for the changes that this world needs don’t exist somewhere outside of ourselves, but deep within the framework of our own essential being. The transformation of caterpillar to butterfly is a powerful metaphor that accurately describes the process of change we are now experiencing as a sepcies. As Anodea Judith writes in her book, Waking the Global Heart (p.35): “When a caterpillar nears its transformation time, it begins to eat ravenously, consuming everything in sight. The caterpillar body then becomes heavy, outgrowing its own skin many times, until it is too bloated to move. Attaching to a branch (upside down, where everything is turned on its head), it forms a chrysalis—an enclosing shell that limits the caterpillar’s freedom for the duration of the transformation. Within the chrysalis a miracle occurs. Tiny cells, that biologists call “imaginal cells,” begin to appear. These cells are wholly different from caterpillar cells, carrying different information, vibrating to a different frequency—the frequency of the emerging butterfly. At first, the caterpillar’s immune system perceives these new cells as enemies, and attacks them, much as new ideas in science, medicine, politics, and social behavior are viciously denounced by the powers now considered mainstream. But the imaginal cells are not deterred. They continue to appear, in even greater numbers, recognizing each other, bonding together, until the new cells are numerous enough to organize into clumps. When enough cells have formed to make structures along the new organizational lines, the caterpillar’s immune system is overwhelmed. The caterpillar body then becomes a nutritious soup for the growth of the butterfly. When the butterfly is ready to hatch, the chrysalis becomes transparent. The need for restriction has been outgrown. Yet the struggle toward freedom has an organic timing.” According to this week’s Unplug podcast guest, Sailesh Rao, humanity has reached the end of the caterpillar stage and is deep in the midst of a powerful transformation. This is very good news! Sailesh is the founder and Executive Director of the environmental organization, Climate Healers, an organization dedicated to healing the Earth through simplicity and compassion. As stated on the Climate Healers website, “A truly compassionate lifestyle leads to conscious simplicity and restores equity in human societies.” Climate Healers core guiding principle states that, “Compassion for all creation is infinitely sustainable.” It goes on to say that, “A global adoption of a simple vegan lifestyle exemplifies compassion for all creation in all our actions.” I couldn’t agree more. In this week’s empowering show, we discuss many paradigm-altering topics such as:

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” —Richard Bach

There is little doubt in the minds of the masses that an acceleration is occurring on planet Earth. What exactly this means is difficult to articulate.

In a world teetering on the brink of economic collapse, war-driven holocaust, and ecological catastrophe, we are collectively being challenged to examine who we are. We’ve reached a time in our evolutionary history where we’re being forced to ask ourselves what we’ve allowed ourselves to become to arrive at such a dangerous impasse.

In order to honestly answer this question, we must turn inward. This inward journey brings us closer to the truth in our own soul and awakens us to the potential of who we’re meant to be.

Many people can feel that humanity is undergoing a process of change. The final outcome is uncertain, but the prevailing feeling is that a new humanity—an upgrade so to speak—is currently being birthed. As the tired old story of patriarchal domination continues to implode on itself, many people are now questioning their concept of self and of reality.

In order for us to transform individually within this growing collective movement, it is imperative to be sourcing our own truth from within. The answers for the changes that this world needs don’t exist somewhere outside of ourselves, but deep within the framework of our own essential being.

The transformation of caterpillar to butterfly is a powerful metaphor that accurately describes the process of change we are now experiencing as a species. As Anodea Judith writes in her book, Waking the Global Heart (p.35):

“When a caterpillar nears its transformation time, it begins to eat ravenously, consuming everything in sight. The caterpillar body then becomes heavy, outgrowing its own skin many times, until it is too bloated to move. Attaching to a branch (upside down, where everything is turned on its head), it forms a chrysalis—an enclosing shell that limits the caterpillar’s freedom for the duration of the transformation.

Within the chrysalis a miracle occurs. Tiny cells, that biologists call “imaginal cells,” begin to appear. These cells are wholly different from caterpillar cells, carrying different information, vibrating to a different frequency—the frequency of the emerging butterfly. At first, the caterpillar’s immune system perceives these new cells as enemies, and attacks them, much as new ideas in science, medicine, politics, and social behavior are viciously denounced by the powers now considered mainstream. But the imaginal cells are not deterred. They continue to appear, in even greater numbers, recognizing each other, bonding together, until the new cells are numerous enough to organize into clumps. When enough cells have formed to make structures along the new organizational lines, the caterpillar’s immune system is overwhelmed. The caterpillar body then becomes a nutritious soup for the growth of the butterfly.

When the butterfly is ready to hatch, the chrysalis becomes transparent. The need for restriction has been outgrown. Yet the struggle toward freedom has an organic timing.”

According to this week’s Unplug podcast guest, Sailesh Rao, humanity has reached the end of the caterpillar stage and is deep in the midst of a powerful transformation. This is very good news!

Sailesh is the founder and Executive Director of the environmental organization, Climate Healers, an organization dedicated to healing the Earth through simplicity and compassion. As stated on the Climate Healers website, “A truly compassionate lifestyle leads to conscious simplicity and restores equity in human societies.”

Climate Healers core guiding principle states that, “Compassion for all creation is infinitely sustainable.” It goes on to say that, “A global adoption of a simple vegan lifestyle exemplifies compassion for all creation in all our actions.” I couldn’t agree more.

In this week’s empowering show, we discuss many paradigm-altering topics such as:

• How humanity is at the end of the caterpillar state of growth.
• How people tend to fear transformation, so we as change-makers must make transformation familiar.
• How the transformation of our world depends on the women of the world.
• How the women of the developed world have the power today to change this world very quickly!
• What is ahimsa?
• How veganism is a deeply spiritual act that connects us to the web of life.
• How we don’t fear the unknown, we fear the loss of the known.
• We have the power to change the world just by choosing differently.
• The liberation of simplicity.
• What is true abundance?

Sailesh is a deeply compassionate man who has dedicated his life to making the world a better place through love, joy, and truth.

Enjoy this week’s transformative conversation.

SHOW NOTES:

• Climate Healers website.
Carbon Dharma, by Sailesh Rao on Amazon.
Cowspiracy, the movie by Kip Anderson and Keegan Kuhn.
The World Without Us, by Alan Wiesmann on Amazon.
Awareness, by Anthony De Mello.
Zero Waste Home, by Bea Johnston on Amazon.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
There is little doubt in the minds of the masses that an acceleration is occurring on planet Earth. What exactly this means is difficult to articulate. - In a world teetering on the brink of economic collapse, war-driven holocaust, There is little doubt in the minds of the masses that an acceleration is occurring on planet Earth. What exactly this means is difficult to articulate.
In a world teetering on the brink of economic collapse, war-driven holocaust, and ecological catastrophe, we are collectively being challenged to examine who we are. We’ve reached a time in our evolutionary history where we’re being forced to ask ourselves what we’ve allowed ourselves to become to arrive at such a dangerous impasse.
In order to honestly answer this question, we must turn inward. This inward journey brings us closer to the truth in our own soul and awakens us to the potential of who we’re meant to be.
Many people can feel that humanity is undergoing a process of change. The final outcome is uncertain, but the prevailing feeling is that a new humanity—an upgrade so to speak—is currently being birthed. As the tired old story of patriarchal domination continues to implode on itself, many people are now questioning their concept of self and of reality.
In order for us to transform individually within this growing collective movement, it is imperative to be sourcing our own truth from within. The answers for the changes that this world needs don’t exist somewhere outside of ourselves, but deep within the framework of our own essential being.
The transformation of caterpillar to butterfly is a powerful metaphor that accurately describes the process of change we are now experiencing as a species. As Anodea Judith writes in her book, Waking the Global Heart (p.35):
“When a caterpillar nears its transformation time, it begins to eat ravenously, consuming everything in sight. The caterpillar body then becomes heavy, outgrowing its own skin many times, until it is too bloated to move. Attaching to a branch (upside down, where everything is turned on its head), it forms a chrysalis—an enclosing shell that limits the caterpillar’s freedom for the duration of the transformation.
Within the chrysalis a miracle occurs. Tiny cells, that biologists call “imaginal cells,” begin to appear. These cells are wholly different from caterpillar cells, carrying different information, vibrating to a different frequency—the frequency of the emerging butterfly. At first, the caterpillar’s immune system perceives these new cells as enemies, and attacks them, much as new ideas in science, medicine, politics, and social behavior are viciously denounced by the powers now considered mainstream. But the imaginal cells are not deterred. They continue to appear, in even greater numbers, recognizing each other, bonding together, until the new cells are numerous enough to organize into clumps. When enough cells have formed to make structures along the new organizational lines, the caterpillar’s immune system is overwhelmed. The caterpillar body then becomes a nutritious soup for the growth of the butterfly.
When the butterfly is ready to hatch, the chrysalis becomes transparent. The need for restriction has been outgrown. Yet the struggle toward freedom has an organic timing.”
According to this week’s Unplug podcast guest, Sailesh Rao, humanity has reached the end of the caterpillar stage and is deep in the midst of a powerful transformation. This is very good news!
Sailesh is the founder and Executive Director of the environmental organization, Climate Healers, an organization dedicated to healing the Earth through simplicity and compassion. As stated on the Climate Healers website, “A truly compassionate lifestyle leads to conscious simplicity and restores equity in human societies.”
Climate Healers core guiding principle states that, “Compassion for all creation is infinitely sustainable.” It goes on to say that, “A global adoption of a simple vegan lifestyle exemplifies compassion for all creation in all ou...]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:54:41
UP #88: Reviving Ourselves in Our Capsized Culture with Mary Pipher http://www.debozarko.com/88-2/ Tue, 08 Dec 2015 05:44:00 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13261 http://www.debozarko.com/88-2/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/88-2/feed/ 0 There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on in the world lately. Between our altered planet, repetitive mass shootings in the United States, global terrorism, heightened racism, misogyny, and xenophobia, it appears that species homo sapien is being flushed down the toilet. In a time when the planet needs us most, the violent events on the world stage are in many cases, causing more division. But you know the old saying, “united we stand, divided we fall”. My belief is that our collective unity will be instrumental in birthing a radically new world … but not without a whole lot of chaos along the way. Gaia is awakening with greater force. This cannot be denied. She’s awakening outside in the natural world, and she’s stirring a deep awakening inside – a sacred, primal awakening that has been silenced by an oppressive and violent patriarchy for thousands and thousands of years. We are all wounded by it: women, men, animals, and nature. We have all been deeply hurt, and my feeling is that to find our way back, we need the powerful force of Gaia to lead us. Because we’ve collectively severed our ties to her, we’ve severed our ties to ourselves and all those we label as “other”. But Gaia is forcing us back into the web of life and we have the choice to answer the call … or to fall. When we reconnect to Gaia, to ourselves, and to each other, we reclaim the power of our voices. Our actions then become more potent in their life-affirming nature. This week’s Unplug podcast guest, author Mary Pipher, speaks very well to this. Mary is the author of, The Green Boat: Reviving Ourselves in Our Capsized Culture, a book about facing the reality of the mess we’ve collectively created on this planet, owning our deepest feelings of grief and despair, becoming more whole in the process, connecting with like-minded community, and uniting for paradigm-altering action. Abuse of power thrives in our silence, but it dissolves in our light. Mary’s experience opposing the Transcanada Keystone pipeline in her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska is a perfect testament to this. This week, we discuss a number of inspiring topics such as: • How if we act as if we have power, we create it out of thin air. • How action is the antidote for despair. • How action ignites hope. • How willful ignorance is about both knowing and not knowing (i.e. knowing that something is wrong, but refusing to acknowledge it). • What is the transcendent response. • The difference between distractional intelligence and actionable intelligence. • How we are the change we’ve been waiting for in the world. • How we must own our despair and grief in order to allow the process of transformation to morph into action. • How like-minded community is the terracycle for social change. • How we must find ways to regularly experience bliss to counterbalance all of the grief in the world. • How the healthiest human reaction to stress and pain is to be present to the beauty of the world. As Mary writes in her The Green Boat, “Neuroscientists have discovered that the human mind functions best when it acts as if there is hope and organizes itself to make good things happen. We can never fully know the significance and impact of our individual actions, but we can behave as though our actions have significance. That will create only good on the earth and will allow us to function in a sane and intelligent way.” Enjoy this week’s inspiring conversation.

“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” —Benjamin Disraeli

There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on in the world lately. Between our altered planet, repetitive mass shootings in the United States, global terrorism, heightened racism, misogyny, and xenophobia, it appears that species homo sapien is being flushed down the toilet.

In a time when the planet needs us most, the violent events on the world stage are in many cases, causing more division. But you know the old saying, “united we stand, divided we fall”. My belief is that our collective unity will be instrumental in birthing a radically new world … but not without a whole lot of chaos along the way.

Gaia is awakening with greater force. This cannot be denied. She’s awakening outside in the natural world, and she’s stirring a deep awakening inside – a sacred, primal awakening that has been silenced by an oppressive and violent patriarchy for thousands and thousands of years. We are all wounded by it: women, men, animals, and nature. We have all been deeply hurt, and my feeling is that to find our way back, we need the powerful force of Gaia to lead us. Because we’ve collectively severed our ties to her, we’ve severed our ties to ourselves and all those we label as “other”. But Gaia is forcing us back into the web of life and we have the choice to answer the call … or to fall.

When we reconnect to Gaia, to ourselves, and to each other, we reclaim the power of our voices. Our actions then become more potent in their life-affirming nature.

This week’s Unplug podcast guest, author Mary Pipher, speaks very well to this. Mary is the author of, The Green Boat: Reviving Ourselves in Our Capsized Culture, a book about facing the reality of the mess we’ve collectively created on this planet, owning our deepest feelings of grief and despair, becoming more whole in the process, connecting with like-minded community, and uniting for paradigm-altering action.

Abuse of power thrives in our silence, but it dissolves in our light. Mary’s experience opposing the Transcanada Keystone pipeline in her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska is a perfect testament to this.

This week, we discuss a number of inspiring topics such as:

• How if we act as if we have power, we create it out of thin air.
• How action is the antidote for despair.
• How action ignites hope.
• How willful ignorance is about both knowing and not knowing (i.e. knowing that something is wrong, but refusing to acknowledge it).
• What is the transcendent response.
• The difference between distractional intelligence and actionable intelligence.
• How we are the change we’ve been waiting for in the world.
• How we must own our despair and grief in order to allow the process of transformation to morph into action.
• How like-minded community is the terracycle for social change.
• How we must find ways to regularly experience bliss to counterbalance all of the grief in the world.
• How the healthiest human reaction to stress and pain is to be present to the beauty of the world.
As Mary writes in her The Green Boat, “Neuroscientists have discovered that the human mind functions best when it acts as if there is hope and organizes itself to make good things happen. We can never fully know the significance and impact of our individual actions, but we can behave as though our actions have significance. That will create only good on the earth and will allow us to function in a sane and intelligent way.”

Enjoy this week’s inspiring conversation.

SHOW NOTES:

• Mary Pipher’s website.
The Green Boat: Reviving Ourselves in Our Capsized Culture on Amazon.
Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet by Bill Mcibbon on Amazon.
States of Denial: Knowing about Atrocities and Suffering by Stanley Cohen on Amazon.
This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein on Amazon.
Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History Is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beauty to the World by Paul Hawken on Amazon.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on in the world lately. Between our altered planet, repetitive mass shootings in the United States, global terrorism, heightened racism, misogyny, and xenophobia, it appears that species homo sapien is being flushed d... There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on in the world lately. Between our altered planet, repetitive mass shootings in the United States, global terrorism, heightened racism, misogyny, and xenophobia, it appears that species homo sapien is being flushed down the toilet.
In a time when the planet needs us most, the violent events on the world stage are in many cases, causing more division. But you know the old saying, “united we stand, divided we fall”. My belief is that our collective unity will be instrumental in birthing a radically new world … but not without a whole lot of chaos along the way.
Gaia is awakening with greater force. This cannot be denied. She’s awakening outside in the natural world, and she’s stirring a deep awakening inside – a sacred, primal awakening that has been silenced by an oppressive and violent patriarchy for thousands and thousands of years. We are all wounded by it: women, men, animals, and nature. We have all been deeply hurt, and my feeling is that to find our way back, we need the powerful force of Gaia to lead us. Because we’ve collectively severed our ties to her, we’ve severed our ties to ourselves and all those we label as “other”. But Gaia is forcing us back into the web of life and we have the choice to answer the call … or to fall.
When we reconnect to Gaia, to ourselves, and to each other, we reclaim the power of our voices. Our actions then become more potent in their life-affirming nature.
This week’s Unplug podcast guest, author Mary Pipher, speaks very well to this. Mary is the author of, The Green Boat: Reviving Ourselves in Our Capsized Culture, a book about facing the reality of the mess we’ve collectively created on this planet, owning our deepest feelings of grief and despair, becoming more whole in the process, connecting with like-minded community, and uniting for paradigm-altering action.
Abuse of power thrives in our silence, but it dissolves in our light. Mary’s experience opposing the Transcanada Keystone pipeline in her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska is a perfect testament to this.
This week, we discuss a number of inspiring topics such as:
• How if we act as if we have power, we create it out of thin air.

• How action is the antidote for despair.

• How action ignites hope.

• How willful ignorance is about both knowing and not knowing (i.e. knowing that something is wrong, but refusing to acknowledge it).

• What is the transcendent response.

• The difference between distractional intelligence and actionable intelligence.

• How we are the change we’ve been waiting for in the world.

• How we must own our despair and grief in order to allow the process of transformation to morph into action.

• How like-minded community is the terracycle for social change.

• How we must find ways to regularly experience bliss to counterbalance all of the grief in the world.

• How the healthiest human reaction to stress and pain is to be present to the beauty of the world.

As Mary writes in her The Green Boat, “Neuroscientists have discovered that the human mind functions best when it acts as if there is hope and organizes itself to make good things happen. We can never fully know the significance and impact of our individual actions, but we can behave as though our actions have significance. That will create only good on the earth and will allow us to function in a sane and intelligent way.”
Enjoy this week’s inspiring conversation.
SHOW NOTES:
• Mary Pipher’s website.

]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 58:13
UP #87: Navigating an Altered Planet with Grace with Deb Gleason and Gigi Hoeller http://www.debozarko.com/87/ Wed, 25 Nov 2015 06:06:04 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13544 http://www.debozarko.com/87/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/87/feed/ 0 Escalating problems in today’s‚ world are cause for great concern. From war and terrorism to factory farming and heart disease. There’s no question that something has gone seriously awry with species homo sapien. But perhaps the most frightening problem threatening the very fabric of life on planet Earth is climate change. Decades of warnings have fallen on deaf ears and what was once totally avoidable, is no more. The stark reality is that we now live on a very sick planet. Sadly, this dismal reality gains little media traction because it can’t seem to hold it’s weight against Canada’s “sexy” new Prime Minister or Donald Trump’s latest xenophobic slur. So what is this really telling us? It’s telling us that the greatest crisis of our time is the crisis of consciousness that has separated us from the web of life. Author Mary Pipher writes in her book The Green Boat, “Humans have spent 95% of our history as hunter-gatherers and we are still hardwired for this life. We are built to find food and shelter, reproduce, spot nearby dangers, and enjoy being with others. It’s almost impossible for us to grasp problems on a global scale with our Neolithic brains.” In other words, with the Neolithic consciousness perpetuated by the status quo, ignorance and denial are so much easier than facing up to the collective transformation required to get us out of this mess. But here’s the deal, we can’t solve a problem that we refuse to discuss. We must break the spell of silence, feel the overwhelming grief that comes from losing what we love, and wake up to the radical actions required to transform this world. Buddhist scholar and environmental activist Joanna Macy speaks of three cultural stories currently playing out: 1) The Story of Separation: This is the story that has removed humanity from the web of life. It’s a story of great ignorance that has us blindly carrying on with our consumptive, destructive ways. 2) The Great Unravelling: This is the story of breakdown that we are witnessing as antiquated cultural systems break apart. It is also the story of mass species extinction, ecosystem failure, and runaway climate change. 3) The Great Turning: This is the story that will transform our world. It is the shift in consciousness that is happening at an accelerated grassroots level where the patriarchal love of power is being transformed by the power of love. This love is balanced in wholeness and fueled by soulful activism, passion, resilience, simplicity, compassion, community, collaboration, creativity, and cocreation. It is the recognition that the time of the lone wolf is over and that we must work together in unity to create the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible. The Great Turning is a powerful grassroots movement that is eluding the radar of mainstream culture because it has no leader and it isn’t visible as a single identifiable entity. Yet it’s laying the foundation for a new cultural nervous system based on our sacred connection to life. To plug ourselves back into the web of life, we must remember that we are not humanity protecting the animals, the rainforest, the ocean, and the earth. We are the animals, the rainforest, the ocean, and the earth protecting themselves through our unique piece of autonomous humanity. By falling deeply in love with the Earth, we reclaim our primal, nurturing instinct and become the force of nature that this world so desperately needs. By choosing the story of The Great Turning, we become integral players in a grassroots revolution that will revive the pulse of the Earth. And as Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. With our every word, choice, thought, and action, we have the power to heal or harm the world. We become Earth ambassadors every time we pick up litter from the beach, wear t-shirts with empowering messages, Escalating problems in today’s‚ world are cause for great concern. From war and terrorism to factory farming and heart disease. There’s no question that something has gone seriously awry with species homo sapien. But perhaps the most frightening problem threatening the very fabric of life on planet Earth is climate change. Decades of warnings have fallen on deaf ears and what was once totally avoidable, is no more. The stark reality is that we now live on a very sick planet. Sadly, this dismal reality gains little media traction because it can’t seem to hold it’s weight against Canada’s “sexy” new Prime Minister or Donald Trump’s latest xenophobic slur.

So what is this really telling us? It’s telling us that the greatest crisis of our time is the crisis of consciousness that has separated us from the web of life.

Author Mary Pipher writes in her book The Green Boat, “Humans have spent 95% of our history as hunter-gatherers and we are still hardwired for this life. We are built to find food and shelter, reproduce, spot nearby dangers, and enjoy being with others. It’s almost impossible for us to grasp problems on a global scale with our Neolithic brains.” In other words, with the Neolithic consciousness perpetuated by the status quo, ignorance and denial are so much easier than facing up to the collective transformation required to get us out of this mess.

But here’s the deal, we can’t solve a problem that we refuse to discuss. We must break the spell of silence, feel the overwhelming grief that comes from losing what we love, and wake up to the radical actions required to transform this world.

Buddhist scholar and environmental activist Joanna Macy speaks of three cultural stories currently playing out:

1) The Story of Separation: This is the story that has removed humanity from the web of life. It’s a story of great ignorance that has us blindly carrying on with our consumptive, destructive ways.

2) The Great Unravelling: This is the story of breakdown that we are witnessing as antiquated cultural systems break apart. It is also the story of mass species extinction, ecosystem failure, and runaway climate change.

3) The Great Turning: This is the story that will transform our world. It is the shift in consciousness that is happening at an accelerated grassroots level where the patriarchal love of power is being transformed by the power of love. This love is balanced in wholeness and fueled by soulful activism, passion, resilience, simplicity, compassion, community, collaboration, creativity, and cocreation. It is the recognition that the time of the lone wolf is over and that we must work together in unity to create the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.

The Great Turning is a powerful grassroots movement that is eluding the radar of mainstream culture because it has no leader and it isn’t visible as a single identifiable entity. Yet it’s laying the foundation for a new cultural nervous system based on our sacred connection to life.

To plug ourselves back into the web of life, we must remember that we are not humanity protecting the animals, the rainforest, the ocean, and the earth. We are the animals, the rainforest, the ocean, and the earth protecting themselves through our unique piece of autonomous humanity.

By falling deeply in love with the Earth, we reclaim our primal, nurturing instinct and become the force of nature that this world so desperately needs.

By choosing the story of The Great Turning, we become integral players in a grassroots revolution that will revive the pulse of the Earth. And as Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

With our every word, choice, thought, and action, we have the power to heal or harm the world. We become Earth ambassadors every time we pick up litter from the beach, wear t-shirts with empowering messages, plant flowers in urban spaces, or request vegan meals in non-vegan restaurants. Our seemingly inconsequential actions are instrumental in changing our world.

As Paul Hawkin states in his book, Blessed Unrest, “The world seems to be looking for the big solution, which in itself is part of the problem since the most effective solutions are both local and systemic.” In other words, transformation begins with each and every single one of us.

The wildfires, drought, and obvious evidence of ocean imbalance in coastal British Columbia this past summer have left a permanent scar on my heart. With climate change in my front yard, I’m now fueled by a deeper hunger for transformation. Despite the pain I feel for the loss of the world I once knew, the events of this summer have shown me a level of resilience that I didn’t know I had. I’ve also connected with amazing like-minded people whose love for the Earth trumps all else.

In this week’s Unplug podcast I speak with my wonderful partner, Deb Gleason and local artist, fellow vegan, and passionate Earth lover, Gigi Hoeller. This week’s conversation is a frank, raw, open, and empowering conversation with three women learning to navigate an altered planet with resilience, hope, and grace.

We share our thoughts on topics such as:

• Navigating the deep grief that comes from an altered planet.
• The way through planetary grief is activism and service work.
• The greatest crisis of all is the crisis in consciousness.
• The three stories currently playing out in today’s world according to Joanna Macy.
• How consumption drives the bulk of our separation from the web of life.
• How pain catapults us into a more authentic direction.
• How we live in a culture that sets us up for addiction to prevent us from facing up to who we are.
• How we’re not killing the planet, we’re rendering it uninhabitable.
• How the time of the lone wolf is over and how we must surround ourselves with like-minded community.
• The transformative power of our vulnerability.
• How authenticity is contagious.
• The importance of like-minded community for safety and authentic emotional release.
• Daring to care and passionately living out loud.
• The truth about living simply.
• How uncertainty is the new normal.
• The healing power of presence.

Humans are the cancer, but we are also the cure. We can easily lay the foundation for an entirely new system based on the progressive ideas already created. We need only put our love for this planet – for all life – ahead of everything else. When we act from this place, miracles can happen. And what is a miracle? It’s quite simply an outcome outside of the realm of the mind, but readily available in our hearts.

Nobody can predict what the final outcome will be or whether we can even pull a miracle off at this 11th hour, but unless we act like it’s possible, we’ll never know. I know that I won’t go down without knowing that I gave it my all. I hope that you will join me!

Enjoy this week’s powerful conversation.

SHOW NOTES:

• Gigi Hoeller’s website.
• Deb Gleason’s website.
• Deb Gleason podcast: Burgers are More Deadly than Bullets.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Escalating problems in today’s‚ world are cause for great concern. From war and terrorism to factory farming and heart disease. There’s no question that something has gone seriously awry with species homo sapien. So what is this really telling us? It’s telling us that the greatest crisis of our time is the crisis of consciousness that has separated us from the web of life.
Author Mary Pipher writes in her book The Green Boat, “Humans have spent 95% of our history as hunter-gatherers and we are still hardwired for this life. We are built to find food and shelter, reproduce, spot nearby dangers, and enjoy being with others. It’s almost impossible for us to grasp problems on a global scale with our Neolithic brains.” In other words, with the Neolithic consciousness perpetuated by the status quo, ignorance and denial are so much easier than facing up to the collective transformation required to get us out of this mess.
But here’s the deal, we can’t solve a problem that we refuse to discuss. We must break the spell of silence, feel the overwhelming grief that comes from losing what we love, and wake up to the radical actions required to transform this world.
Buddhist scholar and environmental activist Joanna Macy speaks of three cultural stories currently playing out:
1) The Story of Separation: This is the story that has removed humanity from the web of life. It’s a story of great ignorance that has us blindly carrying on with our consumptive, destructive ways.
2) The Great Unravelling: This is the story of breakdown that we are witnessing as antiquated cultural systems break apart. It is also the story of mass species extinction, ecosystem failure, and runaway climate change.
3) The Great Turning: This is the story that will transform our world. It is the shift in consciousness that is happening at an accelerated grassroots level where the patriarchal love of power is being transformed by the power of love. This love is balanced in wholeness and fueled by soulful activism, passion, resilience, simplicity, compassion, community, collaboration, creativity, and cocreation. It is the recognition that the time of the lone wolf is over and that we must work together in unity to create the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.
The Great Turning is a powerful grassroots movement that is eluding the radar of mainstream culture because it has no leader and it isn’t visible as a single identifiable entity. Yet it’s laying the foundation for a new cultural nervous system based on our sacred connection to life.
To plug ourselves back into the web of life, we must remember that we are not humanity protecting the animals, the rainforest, the ocean, and the earth. We are the animals, the rainforest, the ocean, and the earth protecting themselves through our unique piece of autonomous humanity.
By falling deeply in love with the Earth, we reclaim our primal, nurturing instinct and become the force of nature that this world so desperately needs.
By choosing the story of The Great Turning, we become integral players in a grassroots revolution that will revive the pulse of the Earth. And as Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
With our every word, choice, thought, and action, we have the power to heal or harm the world.]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 2:02:20
UP #86: Activating the Global Heart with Howard Martin http://www.debozarko.com/howard/ Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:01:23 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13231 http://www.debozarko.com/howard/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/howard/feed/ 0 We are all made of physical material. Our bodies can be seen, felt, moved, and touched. Yet there is so much more to who we are. We are energy. We are soul, spirit, heart, conscience, mind and emotions. Physically, the heart is the most powerful muscle in the body. Non-physically — from a spiritual perspective — the heart is where soul, spirit and consciousness reside. Spiritual heart refers to the core of our being. In the Far East, its been said that the innermost channel of the heart is the non-dual channel – the seat of our essential nature. Non-duality is the philosophical, spiritual, and scientific understanding of non-separation and the fundamental oneness with all living beings. When our hearts connect, we are joined as one in unity regardless of race, gender, age, or species. This is who we truly are at our core. Qualities of our essential nature include pure love (without conditions), compassion, kindness, joy, courage, strength, truth, wisdom, freedom and peace. These pure essential qualities manifest personally as authenticity, integrity, autonomy, joie-de-vivre, caring, empathy, competence, harmony and dignity. In our fast-paced, hyper-distracted, technologically addicted, and spiritually disconnected world, many people have closed off their hearts. As a result, the prevailing cause of death in today’s world is heart disease. Ironic don’t you think? The solution to this dire crisis of heart disconnect is utterly simple. Breathe. Relax. Feel. Unplug from the race and reconnect to life. Since 1991, the HeartMath Institute has been sharing a similar message with millions of people around the globe. Bridging spirituality with science, the HeartMath Institute has researched and developed reliable, scientifically based tools to help people bridge the connection between heart and mind, and also to deepen their connection with the hearts of others. The HeartMath Institute has scientifically proven what Eastern spiritual traditions have known for centuries: that the heart is the source of our greatest, most expansive life-affirming intelligence. Through HeartMath’s extensive body of work, they have irrefutable proof that the heart is so much more than a physical pump, it’s our true spiritual powerhouse. This week, I have the honor of speaking with HeartMath’s Executive Vice President, Howard Martin. Howard has been instrumental in assisting Doc Childre, founder of HeartMath, in the development and teaching of HeartMath’s programs since its inception. Along with Doc Childre, Howard is the co-author of the popular book, The HeartMath Solution. Howard is also a key spokesperson for HeartMath and has conducted hundreds of news media and documentary film interviews including CNN Headline News, ABC Good Morning America, and ABC World New Tonight. This week, we speak about many things heart-related, including: • How life is about continuous growth. • Bridging science with spirituality. • Redefining the heart: How the heart is so much more than a physical pump. • How the heart is the strongest source of bio-electricity in the body (40-60 times more powerful than the brain). • What are electromagnetic fields and why they’re so import for our emotional health. • How our collective thoughts and emotions can alter reality. • What is the Global Coherence Initiative. • The importance of the energetic ecology of the earth. • Energetic sensitivity and staying grounded in turbulent times. • The importance of patience to remain centered. • How the heart can create miracles if the mind doesn’t interfere. • How intuition is our greatest intelligence in the emerging new paradigm. Howard Martin and The HeartMath Institute show us ways to remake our world. They provide tools to connect us with our inner guidance and technologies (ironic, I realize) to help us be still enough to listen. HeartMath’s research shows us how we can be empowered to become masters of ourselves and caretakers for our plan...

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” —Helen Keller

We are all made of physical material. Our bodies can be seen, felt, moved, and touched. Yet there is so much more to who we are. We are energy. We are soul, spirit, heart, conscience, mind and emotions.

Physically, the heart is the most powerful muscle in the body. Non-physically — from a spiritual perspective — the heart is where soul, spirit and consciousness reside. Spiritual heart refers to the core of our being.

In the Far East, its been said that the innermost channel of the heart is the non-dual channel – the seat of our essential nature. Non-duality is the philosophical, spiritual, and scientific understanding of non-separation and the fundamental oneness with all living beings. When our hearts connect, we are joined as one in unity regardless of race, gender, age, or species. This is who we truly are at our core.

Qualities of our essential nature include pure love (without conditions), compassion, kindness, joy, courage, strength, truth, wisdom, freedom and peace. These pure essential qualities manifest personally as authenticity, integrity, autonomy, joie-de-vivre, caring, empathy, competence, harmony and dignity.

In our fast-paced, hyper-distracted, technologically addicted, and spiritually disconnected world, many people have closed off their hearts. As a result, the prevailing cause of death in today’s world is heart disease. Ironic don’t you think?

The solution to this dire crisis of heart disconnect is utterly simple. Breathe. Relax. Feel. Unplug from the race and reconnect to life.

Since 1991, the HeartMath Institute has been sharing a similar message with millions of people around the globe. Bridging spirituality with science, the HeartMath Institute has researched and developed reliable, scientifically based tools to help people bridge the connection between heart and mind, and also to deepen their connection with the hearts of others.

The HeartMath Institute has scientifically proven what Eastern spiritual traditions have known for centuries: that the heart is the source of our greatest, most expansive life-affirming intelligence. Through HeartMath’s extensive body of work, they have irrefutable proof that the heart is so much more than a physical pump, it’s our true spiritual powerhouse.

This week, I have the honor of speaking with HeartMath’s Executive Vice President, Howard Martin. Howard has been instrumental in assisting Doc Childre, founder of HeartMath, in the development and teaching of HeartMath’s programs since its inception.

Along with Doc Childre, Howard is the co-author of the popular book, The HeartMath Solution. Howard is also a key spokesperson for HeartMath and has conducted hundreds of news media and documentary film interviews including CNN Headline News, ABC Good Morning America, and ABC World New Tonight.

This week, we speak about many things heart-related, including:

• How life is about continuous growth.
• Bridging science with spirituality.
• Redefining the heart: How the heart is so much more than a physical pump.
• How the heart is the strongest source of bio-electricity in the body (40-60 times more powerful than the brain).
• What are electromagnetic fields and why they’re so import for our emotional health.
• How our collective thoughts and emotions can alter reality.
• What is the Global Coherence Initiative?
• The importance of the energetic ecology of the earth.
• Energetic sensitivity and staying grounded in turbulent times.
• The importance of patience to remain centered.
• How the heart can create miracles if the mind doesn’t interfere.
• How intuition is our greatest intelligence in the emerging new paradigm.

Howard Martin and The HeartMath Institute show us ways to remake our world. They provide tools to connect us with our inner guidance and technologies (ironic, I realize) to help us be still enough to listen. HeartMath’s research shows us how we can be empowered to become masters of ourselves and caretakers for our planet for generations to come.

In a world gone crazy, I’m all for that!

SHOW NOTES:

• HeartMath Institute main website.
• Global Coherence Initiative website.
• The HeartMath Solution on Amazon.
• Mentioned in Introduction, The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism by Andrew Harvey.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
We are all made of physical material. Our bodies can be seen, felt, moved, and touched. Yet there is so much more to who we are. We are energy. We are soul, spirit, heart, conscience, mind and emotions. - Physically, We are all made of physical material. Our bodies can be seen, felt, moved, and touched. Yet there is so much more to who we are. We are energy. We are soul, spirit, heart, conscience, mind and emotions.
Physically, the heart is the most powerful muscle in the body. Non-physically — from a spiritual perspective — the heart is where soul, spirit and consciousness reside. Spiritual heart refers to the core of our being.
In the Far East, its been said that the innermost channel of the heart is the non-dual channel – the seat of our essential nature. Non-duality is the philosophical, spiritual, and scientific understanding of non-separation and the fundamental oneness with all living beings. When our hearts connect, we are joined as one in unity regardless of race, gender, age, or species. This is who we truly are at our core.
Qualities of our essential nature include pure love (without conditions), compassion, kindness, joy, courage, strength, truth, wisdom, freedom and peace. These pure essential qualities manifest personally as authenticity, integrity, autonomy, joie-de-vivre, caring, empathy, competence, harmony and dignity.
In our fast-paced, hyper-distracted, technologically addicted, and spiritually disconnected world, many people have closed off their hearts. As a result, the prevailing cause of death in today’s world is heart disease. Ironic don’t you think?
The solution to this dire crisis of heart disconnect is utterly simple. Breathe. Relax. Feel. Unplug from the race and reconnect to life.
Since 1991, the HeartMath Institute has been sharing a similar message with millions of people around the globe. Bridging spirituality with science, the HeartMath Institute has researched and developed reliable, scientifically based tools to help people bridge the connection between heart and mind, and also to deepen their connection with the hearts of others.
The HeartMath Institute has scientifically proven what Eastern spiritual traditions have known for centuries: that the heart is the source of our greatest, most expansive life-affirming intelligence. Through HeartMath’s extensive body of work, they have irrefutable proof that the heart is so much more than a physical pump, it’s our true spiritual powerhouse.
This week, I have the honor of speaking with HeartMath’s Executive Vice President, Howard Martin. Howard has been instrumental in assisting Doc Childre, founder of HeartMath, in the development and teaching of HeartMath’s programs since its inception.
Along with Doc Childre, Howard is the co-author of the popular book, The HeartMath Solution. Howard is also a key spokesperson for HeartMath and has conducted hundreds of news media and documentary film interviews including CNN Headline News, ABC Good Morning America, and ABC World New Tonight.
This week, we speak about many things heart-related, including:
• How life is about continuous growth.

• Bridging science with spirituality.

• Redefining the heart: How the heart is so much more than a physical pump.

• How the heart is the strongest source of bio-electricity in the body (40-60 times more powerful than the brain).

• What are electromagnetic fields and why they’re so import for our emotional health.

• How our collective thoughts and emotions can alter reality.

• What is the Global Coherence Initiative?

• The importance of the energetic ecology of the earth.

• Energetic sensitivity and staying grounded in turbulent times.

• The importance of patience to remain centered.

• How the heart can create miracles if the mind doesn’t interfere.

• How intuition is our greatest intelligence in the emergin...]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:33:05
UP #85: Calling Out Scarcity and Redefining Abundance with Nancy Hanlon http://www.debozarko.com/nancyhanlon/ Wed, 11 Nov 2015 06:12:02 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13139 http://www.debozarko.com/nancyhanlon/#view_comments http://www.debozarko.com/nancyhanlon/feed/ 1 Scarcity consciousness is a ubiquitous cultural belief that implies that we are not enough. It plays out in ways that wreak havoc with our psyche and our lives...
“Life in abundance comes only through great love.” —Elbert Hubbard

Scarcity consciousness is a ubiquitous cultural belief that implies that we are not enough. It plays out in ways that wreak havoc with our psyche and our lives. We don’t have enough money, time, love, self-control, passion, happiness, or education. The list is endless. Scarcity consciousness is a pervasive mental illness that binds us to the illusion of lack.

Let’s face it, we live in a fear-based culture that perpetuates scarcity. We’re repeatedly told that we are less than we know ourselves to be. We aren’t taught that we are a force of nature: that we are the sun, the wind, the fire, and the water. That we are not separate from the power of the natural world, because we ARE the natural world. We’re not taught that we were born to make a difference in the world; that we are meant to create, live, laugh, and love. We’re not taught that our voices matter. Instead, we’re taught to conform, consume, and comply. We’re taught to play small and shrink. Yet every time we say yes to shrinkage, a piece of us dies, and a piece of the earth dies. This is the scarcity mindset of status quo.

Status quo preys on our deeply rooted insecurities and feeds the mindset of scarcity. Scarcity consciousness is a self-created invisible prison that prevents us from being who we authentically are. No amount of money, love, time, self-control, happiness, or education can release the grip of scarcity consciousness in a mind that believes it to be true.

Most of us are so deeply entrenched in scarcity consciousness that we’re completely oblivious to it’s poison. Scarcity’s pervasive tentacles wrap around us, suffocating the free expression of who we were born to be. Scarcity consciousness has many ways of confining us, but perhaps it’s deepest roots lies in security, safety, trust…and the taboo word known as money.

Scarcity consciousness plays out in fear, judgement, indifference, addiction, violence, war, anxiety, depression, burn-out…you get the picture. When we believe in lack (there’s not enough, or we’re not enough), we lash out in self-preservation. We abuse ourselves, we abuse others, we abuse the animals and the earth. Scarcity consciousness is devoid of soul. It’s empty, unsatisfied, unhappy, and unfulfilled. Scarcity consciousness is like trying to fill a sink with no plug. The emptiness remains despite how much water runs through.

As long as we look outside of ourselves for what we ache for inside, we will always feel lack.

This week, I dive into a powerful conversation with CODE Model coach and Nia Dance Instructor, Nancy Hanlon about the cultural brainwashing of scarcity and how we must reclaim our bodies and our authentic Selves to discover true and lasting abundance.

This week, we cover a lot of ground including:

  • What is scarcity and how does it play out in our minds and, more importantly, in our bodies.
  • How when we connect with our authentic truth, scarcity dissolves from our lives.
  • How the feeling of always needing more is a scarcity mindset based on fear and a disconnect from the true self.
  • How we can often tell the stories of what we don’t have with ease, but we struggle to speak about what we’re grateful for and why we get out of bed every morning.
  • How by living from the neck up and negating the wisdom of our bodies, we feed the monster of scarcity consciousness.
  • How scarcity consciousness plays out every time we don’t fully show up because we fear the reaction of others.
  • The importance of self-trust to dissolve the scarcity mindset.
  • How we must reclaim the wisdom of the body to connect to our inner abundance and resilience.
  • How our notion of scarcity is dependent on the context of how we live.

The biggest problem in today’s world has nothing to do with dwindling resources, it has everything to do with the unbridled sickness of separation that feeds the mindset of scarcity. We do not live in a world of “not enough”. We live in a world of endless possibility, love, and joy. We need only remember this simple truth.

Nancy Hanlon passionately speaks to the soul. She’s a dedicated activist for the accelerated evolution in consciousness who knows the power of the body to activate the abundance consciousness that leads us home. Brace yourself for a truly paradigm-altering conversation!

SHOW NOTES:

• Nancy Hanlon’s website.
• WEL-Systems Institute website.
• Rural Consciousness Project website.
Reclaiming Wholeness podcast with Nancy Hanlon and Naomi Irons.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Scarcity consciousness is a ubiquitous cultural belief that implies that we are not enough. It plays out in ways that wreak havoc with our psyche and our lives... This week, I dive into a powerful conversation with CODE Model coach and Nia Dance Instructor, Nancy Hanlon about the cultural brainwashing of scarcity and how we must reclaim our bodies and our authentic Selves to discover true and lasting abundance. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:43:54
UP #84: Changing Perceptions, Changing Lives: Love at Second Sight with David Roche and Marlena Blavin http://www.debozarko.com/davidandmarlena/ Wed, 28 Oct 2015 01:00:36 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13040 http://www.debozarko.com/davidandmarlena/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/davidandmarlena/feed/ 0 Many of us know the expression, love at first sight. Whether we experience it with a partner, a friend, an animal, even a natural location, we feel it…we know it. But what about love at second sight? How many of us discount someone, someplace, or something because we refuse to take a closer look? It’s no secret that we live in an intolerant, judgmental culture. My belief is that most judgment and intolerance stems from a severed relationship with oneself. Underneath the hard shell of intolerance is a truckload of self loathing. We all need to feel worthy: to be heard, to be seen, and to be loved. When these basic soul needs are unmet, we feel unsafe. When we feel unsafe, we often lash out. Self-sabotage, hurtful words, damaging behaviors, and mindless actions towards others are typical manifestations of unmet soul needs. Our culture preys on this and seduces us with meaningless ways to fill the void. “Buy X and you will become Y”, we’re told. We consume. We conform. We give ourselves away. A quick hit of externally sourced self worth…only to feel more worthless in the end. But what if we’ve always been Y, and X is just a distraction from our greatness? You see, Y is very simple: be everything that you’re meant to be. Stop searching outside, claim yourself and shine. End of story. Episode #84 is a powerful conversation with David Roach and Marlena Blavin, the co-creators of Love at Second Sight, an empowering story-based experiential school program that transforms attitudes about appearance, and encourages students to accept themselves and others. Love at Second Sight inspires tolerance, kindness, and compassion. It also empowers self-worth. David Roche was born with a severe facial disfigurement. On the left side of his face is an extensive cavernous hemangioma, a benign tumor consisting of blood vessels. As a child, he underwent many facial surgeries and heavy radiation therapy which left radiation burns on his temple and eyelid. As David says, “Having a facial difference has taught me a valuable life lesson because I was forced to find my inner beauty. My passion is to share my experiences and inspire people, especially kids, to appreciate what is unique in themselves and others.” David clearly shows us that beauty is an inside job. Marlena Blavin is David’s wife. Marlena’s first reaction to David’s appearance was revulsion, but there was something much deeper that inspired their eventual relationship: something well beyond the physical appearance that culturally, we get so hung up on. Marlena’s story is one of following her heart by connecting to David’s inner light. It’s a story of a dramatic perceptual shift…a story of love at second sight. Marlena and David, through the power of their stories, are radically changing perceptions for thousands of children and adults throughout Canada and the US. This dynamic and passionate duo empowers participants of all ages to love themselves…exactly as they are. This week, we dive into a powerful discussion about: • How our differences are our gifts. • How true beauty runs so much deeper than our physical body. • Confidence: Know it, grow it, and show it. • The importance of safety for self-worth. • How all social justice movements are connected. • How the more we talk about important issues and bring them out of the shadows, the more they disappear. • How perceptual shifts go well beyond our five senses. • What is soul safety? • How we all have a place where fear and shame reside. Dealing with that place keeps the predators away. • The beauty of passion! David and Marlena show us that every one of us is beautiful and that we all matter. They show us that true beauty has little to do with what we see in the mirror and everything to do with what we don’t see in the mirror.

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” —Kahlil Gibran

Many of us know the expression, love at first sight. Whether we experience it with a partner, a friend, an animal, even a natural location, we feel it…we know it.

But what about love at second sight? How many of us discount someone, someplace, or something because we refuse to take a closer look?

It’s no secret that we live in an intolerant, judgmental culture. My belief is that most judgment and intolerance stems from a severed relationship with oneself. Underneath the hard shell of intolerance is a truckload of self loathing.

We all need to feel worthy: to be heard, to be seen, and to be loved. When these basic soul needs are unmet, we feel unsafe. When we feel unsafe, we often lash out. Self-sabotage, hurtful words, damaging behaviors, and mindless actions towards others are typical manifestations of unmet soul needs.

Our culture preys on this and seduces us with meaningless ways to fill the void. “Buy X and you will become Y”, we’re told. We consume. We conform. We give ourselves away. A quick hit of externally sourced self worth…only to feel more worthless in the end.

But what if we’ve always been Y, and X is just a distraction from our greatness?

You see, Y is very simple: be everything that you’re meant to be. Stop searching outside, claim yourself and shine. End of story.

Episode #84 is a powerful conversation with David Roach and Marlena Blavin, the co-creators of Love at Second Sight, an empowering story-based experiential school program that transforms attitudes about appearance, and encourages students to accept themselves and others. Love at Second Sight inspires tolerance, kindness, and compassion. It also empowers self-worth.

David Roche was born with a severe facial disfigurement. On the left side of his face is an extensive cavernous hemangioma, a benign tumor consisting of blood vessels. As a child, he underwent many facial surgeries and heavy radiation therapy which left radiation burns on his temple and eyelid. As David says, “Having a facial difference has taught me a valuable life lesson because I was forced to find my inner beauty. My passion is to share my experiences and inspire people, especially kids, to appreciate what is unique in themselves and others.”

David clearly shows us that beauty is an inside job.

Marlena Blavin is David’s wife. Marlena’s first reaction to David’s appearance was revulsion, but there was something much deeper that inspired their eventual relationship: something well beyond the physical appearance that culturally, we get so hung up on. Marlena’s story is one of following her heart by connecting to David’s inner light. It’s a story of a dramatic perceptual shift…a story of love at second sight.

Marlena and David, through the power of their stories, are radically changing perceptions for thousands of children and adults throughout Canada and the US. This dynamic and passionate duo empowers participants of all ages to love themselves…exactly as they are.

This week, we dive into a powerful discussion about:

  • How our differences are our gifts.
  • How true beauty runs so much deeper than our physical body.
  • Confidence: Know it, grow it, and show it.
  • The importance of safety for self-worth.
  • How all social justice movements are connected.
  • How the more we talk about important issues and bring them out of the shadows, the more they disappear.
  • How perceptual shifts go well beyond our five senses.
  • What is soul safety?
  • How we all have a place where fear and shame reside. Dealing with that place keeps the predators away.
  • The beauty of passion!

David and Marlena show us that every one of us is beautiful and that we all matter. They show us that true beauty has little to do with what we see in the mirror and everything to do with what we don’t see in the mirror.

SHOW NOTES:

• Love at Second Sight Kickstarter Campaign website.
• Love at Second Sight website.
• David Roche’s personal website.
• Marlena Blavin’s personal website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Many of us know the expression, love at first sight. Whether we experience it with a partner, a friend, an animal, even a natural location, we feel it…we know it. - But what about love at second sight? How many of us discount someone, someplace, Many of us know the expression, love at first sight. Whether we experience it with a partner, a friend, an animal, even a natural location, we feel it…we know it.
But what about love at second sight? How many of us discount someone, someplace, or something because we refuse to take a closer look?
It’s no secret that we live in an intolerant, judgmental culture. My belief is that most judgment and intolerance stems from a severed relationship with oneself. Underneath the hard shell of intolerance is a truckload of self loathing.
We all need to feel worthy: to be heard, to be seen, and to be loved. When these basic soul needs are unmet, we feel unsafe. When we feel unsafe, we often lash out. Self-sabotage, hurtful words, damaging behaviors, and mindless actions towards others are typical manifestations of unmet soul needs.
Our culture preys on this and seduces us with meaningless ways to fill the void. “Buy X and you will become Y”, we’re told. We consume. We conform. We give ourselves away. A quick hit of externally sourced self worth…only to feel more worthless in the end.
But what if we’ve always been Y, and X is just a distraction from our greatness?
You see, Y is very simple: be everything that you’re meant to be. Stop searching outside, claim yourself and shine. End of story.
Episode #84 is a powerful conversation with David Roach and Marlena Blavin, the co-creators of Love at Second Sight, an empowering story-based experiential school program that transforms attitudes about appearance, and encourages students to accept themselves and others. Love at Second Sight inspires tolerance, kindness, and compassion. It also empowers self-worth.
David Roche was born with a severe facial disfigurement. On the left side of his face is an extensive cavernous hemangioma, a benign tumor consisting of blood vessels. As a child, he underwent many facial surgeries and heavy radiation therapy which left radiation burns on his temple and eyelid. As David says, “Having a facial difference has taught me a valuable life lesson because I was forced to find my inner beauty. My passion is to share my experiences and inspire people, especially kids, to appreciate what is unique in themselves and others.”
David clearly shows us that beauty is an inside job.
Marlena Blavin is David’s wife. Marlena’s first reaction to David’s appearance was revulsion, but there was something much deeper that inspired their eventual relationship: something well beyond the physical appearance that culturally, we get so hung up on. Marlena’s story is one of following her heart by connecting to David’s inner light. It’s a story of a dramatic perceptual shift…a story of love at second sight.
Marlena and David, through the power of their stories, are radically changing perceptions for thousands of children and adults throughout Canada and the US. This dynamic and passionate duo empowers participants of all ages to love themselves…exactly as they are.
This week, we dive into a powerful discussion about:

* How our differences are our gifts.
* How true beauty runs so much deeper than our physical body.
* Confidence: Know it, grow it, and show it.
* The importance of safety for self-worth.
* How all social justice movements are connected.
* How the more we talk about important issues and bring them out of the shadows, the more they disappear.
* How perceptual shifts go well beyond our five senses.
* What is soul safety?
* How we all have a place where fear and shame reside. Dealing with that place keeps the predators away.
* The beauty of passion!

David and Marlena show us that every one of us is beautiful and that we all matter. They show us that true beauty has little to do with what we see in the mirr...]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:44:31
UP #83: Saying Yes to Yourself with Jake Ducey http://www.debozarko.com/jake/ Tue, 20 Oct 2015 00:05:04 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=13016 http://www.debozarko.com/jake/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/jake/feed/ 0 Life is a series of one-time only moments never to be replicated. Small signs, synchronicities, and pivotal experiences are often the bread crumbs that show us the way — our way. How many of us disregard these moments as…nothing? How many of us rationalize our way into the same old, same old? Don’t rock the boat. Follow the rules. Stay the course. What if we shifted our gaze however? What if we took heed of the inner cues that are always tugging on our hearts? What if by paying attention and following the signs, our purpose would become more clear? While sitting in a college economics class, 19-year old Jake Ducey followed a sign. Unhappy with a classroom conversation about the Federal Reserve, he asked a simple, yet challenging question. It was shut down…silenced. A louder sign. Get out. Now. That’s exactly what he did. In that moment, Jake realized that the American Dream of happiness, success, and fulfillment would not be his path. He left behind a collegiate basketball scholarship, dropped out of school, and set out on a worldwide adventure. Inspired by the movie, Into the Wild, he documented his journey and released his first book titled, Into the Wind. Without a publisher or any significant budget, Jake managed to self-promote his book to Amazon’s top 300. Considering Amazon’s vast database, this is no small feat. Spring-boarding off the success of Into the Wind, Jake was invited to speak on the TEDx stage. He’s since built a loyal on-line following. Jake also piqued the interest and subsequent mentorship of superstar Chicken Soup for the Soul author, Jack Canfield. At 23, Jake has since become the youngest author to score a motivational book publishing deal at a major publishing house with his most recent book, The Purpose Principles. One of the most beautiful parts of Jake’s story is what he considers his greatest accomplishment. With some of the money he’s since earned with his books, he’s helped build an orphanage in Guatemala. Not only does Jake follow his heart, he acts from it. After watching Jake’s TEDx talk, I was hooked. I knew that I had to have him on the show. He’s wise beyond his years and has an infinite plethora of wisdom to share. This week, we explore topics such as: • Paying attention to the signs that lead us to purpose. • Asking questions rather than regurgitating information. • Internal alignment vs. external conditioning. • Saying yes to yourself. • How it’s better to appear strange to others than to be a stranger to yourself. • The power of curiosity. • Seizing pivotal moments. • What is happiness? • The simplicity of life in a complex world. • Showing up as a leader in our lives…and in the world. • The things we fear the most are often the things that will set us free. • The freedom of forgiveness. • The foundation of social justice is spirituality. • The link between purpose and activism. • How fear can either paralyze us or make us stronger. • Purpose is not what you do, it’s how you show up in the world. As Jack Canfield said to Jake, “Jake considers me his mentor – a role I relish, but just as important, I consider Jake an inspiration in my life.” I can honestly say that I feel exactly the same way. Enjoy this week’s powerful conversation with Jake Ducey. Note: I feel it fair to mention that the audio for today’s conversation is a bit spotty. Jake and I tried to make Skype work, but it was funky that day, so we opted for his cell phone. I did my best to clean up the audio and it’s definitely better. My unsolicited invitation is to stay with it. Once your ears attune to the audio, you’ll be blown away by what he has to say.

“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” —John Milton

Life is a series of one-time only moments never to be replicated. Small signs, synchronicities, and pivotal experiences are often the bread crumbs that show us the way — our way. How many of us disregard these moments as…nothing? How many of us rationalize our way into the same old, same old? Don’t rock the boat. Follow the rules. Stay the course.

What if we shifted our gaze however? What if we took heed of the inner cues that are always tugging on our hearts? What if by paying attention and following the signs, our purpose would become more clear?

While sitting in a college economics class, 19-year old Jake Ducey followed a sign. Unhappy with a classroom conversation about the Federal Reserve, he asked a simple, yet challenging question. It was shut down…silenced. A louder sign. Get out. Now.

That’s exactly what he did. In that moment, Jake realized that the American Dream of happiness, success, and fulfillment would not be his path. He left behind a collegiate basketball scholarship, dropped out of school, and set out on a worldwide adventure.

Inspired by the movie, Into the Wild, he documented his journey and released his first book titled, Into the Wind. Without a publisher or any significant budget, Jake managed to self-promote his book to Amazon’s top 300. Considering Amazon’s vast database, this is no small feat.

Spring-boarding off the success of Into the Wind, Jake was invited to speak on the TEDx stage. He’s since built a loyal on-line following. Jake also piqued the interest and subsequent mentorship of superstar Chicken Soup for the Soul author, Jack Canfield. At 23, Jake has since become the youngest author to score a motivational book publishing deal at a major publishing house with his most recent book, The Purpose Principles.

One of the most beautiful parts of Jake’s story is what he considers his greatest accomplishment. With some of the money he’s since earned with his books, he’s helped build an orphanage in Guatemala. Not only does Jake follow his heart, he acts from it.

After watching Jake’s TEDx talk, I was hooked. I knew that I had to have him on the show. He’s wise beyond his years and has an infinite plethora of wisdom to share.

This week, we explore topics such as:

• Paying attention to the signs that lead us to purpose.
• Asking questions rather than regurgitating information.
• Internal alignment vs. external conditioning.
• Saying yes to yourself.
• How it’s better to appear strange to others than to be a stranger to yourself.
• The power of curiosity.
• Seizing pivotal moments.
• What is happiness?
• The simplicity of life in a complex world.
• Showing up as a leader in our lives…and in the world.
• The things we fear the most are often the things that will set us free.
• The freedom of forgiveness.
• The foundation of social justice is spirituality.
• The link between purpose and activism.
• How fear can either paralyze us or make us stronger.
• Purpose is not what you do, it’s how you show up in the world.

As Jack Canfield said to Jake, “Jake considers me his mentor – a role I relish, but just as important, I consider Jake an inspiration in my life.”

I can honestly say that I feel exactly the same way. Enjoy this week’s powerful conversation with Jake Ducey.

Note: I feel it fair to mention that the audio for today’s conversation is a bit spotty. Jake and I tried to make Skype work, but it was funky that day, so we opted for his cell phone. I did my best to clean up the audio and it’s definitely better. My unsolicited invitation is to stay with it. Once your ears attune to the audio, you’ll be blown away by what he has to say.

SHOW NOTES:

• Jake Ducey’s website.
• The Purpose Principles on Amazon.
• Into the Wind on Amazon.
• Jake Ducey on Twitter.
• Jake on Facebook.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Life is a series of one-time only moments never to be replicated. Small signs, synchronicities, and pivotal experiences are often the bread crumbs that show us the way — our way. How many of us disregard these moments as…nothing? Life is a series of one-time only moments never to be replicated. Small signs, synchronicities, and pivotal experiences are often the bread crumbs that show us the way — our way. How many of us disregard these moments as…nothing? How many of us rationalize our way into the same old, same old? Don’t rock the boat. Follow the rules. Stay the course.
What if we shifted our gaze however? What if we took heed of the inner cues that are always tugging on our hearts? What if by paying attention and following the signs, our purpose would become more clear?
While sitting in a college economics class, 19-year old Jake Ducey followed a sign. Unhappy with a classroom conversation about the Federal Reserve, he asked a simple, yet challenging question. It was shut down…silenced. A louder sign. Get out. Now.
That’s exactly what he did. In that moment, Jake realized that the American Dream of happiness, success, and fulfillment would not be his path. He left behind a collegiate basketball scholarship, dropped out of school, and set out on a worldwide adventure.
Inspired by the movie, Into the Wild, he documented his journey and released his first book titled, Into the Wind. Without a publisher or any significant budget, Jake managed to self-promote his book to Amazon’s top 300. Considering Amazon’s vast database, this is no small feat.
Spring-boarding off the success of Into the Wind, Jake was invited to speak on the TEDx stage. He’s since built a loyal on-line following. Jake also piqued the interest and subsequent mentorship of superstar Chicken Soup for the Soul author, Jack Canfield. At 23, Jake has since become the youngest author to score a motivational book publishing deal at a major publishing house with his most recent book, The Purpose Principles.
One of the most beautiful parts of Jake’s story is what he considers his greatest accomplishment. With some of the money he’s since earned with his books, he’s helped build an orphanage in Guatemala. Not only does Jake follow his heart, he acts from it.
After watching Jake’s TEDx talk, I was hooked. I knew that I had to have him on the show. He’s wise beyond his years and has an infinite plethora of wisdom to share.
This week, we explore topics such as:
• Paying attention to the signs that lead us to purpose.

• Asking questions rather than regurgitating information.

• Internal alignment vs. external conditioning.

• Saying yes to yourself.

• How it’s better to appear strange to others than to be a stranger to yourself.

• The power of curiosity.

• Seizing pivotal moments.

• What is happiness?

• The simplicity of life in a complex world.

• Showing up as a leader in our lives…and in the world.

• The things we fear the most are often the things that will set us free.

• The freedom of forgiveness.

• The foundation of social justice is spirituality.

• The link between purpose and activism.

• How fear can either paralyze us or make us stronger.

• Purpose is not what you do, it’s how you show up in the world.
As Jack Canfield said to Jake, “Jake considers me his mentor – a role I relish, but just as important, I consider Jake an inspiration in my life.”
I can honestly say that I feel exactly the same way. Enjoy this week’s powerful conversation with Jake Ducey.
Note: I feel it fair to mention that the audio for today’s conversation is a bit spotty. Jake and I tried to make Skype work, but it was funky that day, so we opted for his cell phone. I did my best to clean up the audio and it’s definitely better. My unsolicited invitation is to stay with it.]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:11:38
UP #82: Taming the Addictive Brain with Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson http://www.debozarko.com/susan/ Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:17:32 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=12952 http://www.debozarko.com/susan/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/susan/feed/ 0 We live in a culture that has set us up for addiction. From iPhones, alcohol, drugs, shopping, television, Youtube, and Facebook, to fossil fuels, techno-gadgets, gambling, exercise, and pharmaceuticals. The opportunities for self-distraction (aka addiction) are endless. In a domesticated culture that has lost its instinctive ability to properly care for itself, perhaps one of the most damaging addictions is the one that impacts us every time we sit down to eat. Our “food” system has become more of a burdened beast than a liberated source of wellness. Our dysfunctional, highly engineered culture ensures our domesticated compliance – and we perpetuate it with every choice, action…and bite that we take. Why is that? As author and psychologist Mary Pipher states, “We have paleolithic arousal systems, neolithic brains, medieval institutions, and 21st Century technology.” (Note: I’m getting a lot of mileage out of this quote lately. It says it all!). Between our troglodyte brains and our 21st Century culture, the deck is really stacked against us. But what if there’s more to it? What if some of us are just more susceptible to addiction – especially with food? Susan Peirce Thompson knows a thing or two about addiction. At the young age of 14, she developed an intimate relationship with drugs. Six years later, she found her way out. But in doing so, she found her way in to another form of addiction — this time with food. Unable to control her cravings, she packed on the pounds as she binged her way to obesity. As a woman with a Ph.D in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, one would think that she’d have it all together. Sadly, that’s not the case. Our labels may define our outer world, but they often neglect our inner world. Such was the case in Susan’s life. On the outside, everything appeared great. On the inside, a battle raged on. Weight gain, depression, therapy, and large doses of antidepressants led to an eventual threshold where she reclaimed herself. In the process, she discovered a method that helped her deal with her addiction once and for all. Over the years, she’s refined this method and is now empowering others to heal the food addict within. This week’s conversation delves deep into Susan’s story of personal transformation as well as her personal and professional research on the psychology of addiction. Highlights of our conversation include: • The threshold of change. • Moments of grace. • Transcendent moments and how they must be seized in the moment. • What is the susceptibility scale? • How refined foods are engineered for addiction. • How the brain demands what it needs — whether we like it or not. • How consciousness is generated by individual parts of the brain in relation to their activities. • Food addiction and its relation to the brain. • How our society is set up for addiction. • The willpower gap. • The psychology behind food cravings. • The passion behind Bright Line Eating. Susan shares her story of struggle with authentic transparency (and a generous dose of good humor), and I’m thrilled to now share our compelling conversation.

“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” —John Milton

We live in a culture that has set us up for addiction. From iPhones, alcohol, drugs, shopping, television, Youtube, and Facebook, to fossil fuels, techno-gadgets, gambling, exercise, and pharmaceuticals. The opportunities for self-distraction (aka addiction) are endless.

In a domesticated culture that has lost its instinctive ability to properly care for itself, perhaps one of the most damaging addictions is the one that impacts us every time we sit down to eat. Our “food” system has become more of a burdened beast than a liberated source of wellness. Our dysfunctional, highly engineered culture ensures our domesticated compliance – and we perpetuate it with every choice, action…and bite that we take.

Why is that? As author and psychologist Mary Pipher states, “We have paleolithic arousal systems, neolithic brains, medieval institutions, and 21st Century technology.” (Note: I’m getting a lot of mileage out of this quote lately. It says it all!).

Between our troglodyte brains and our 21st Century culture, the deck is really stacked against us.

But what if there’s more to it? What if some of us are just more susceptible to addiction – especially with food?

Susan Peirce Thompson knows a thing or two about addiction. At the young age of 14, she developed an intimate relationship with drugs. Six years later, she found her way out. But in doing so, she found her way in to another form of addiction — this time with food. Unable to control her cravings, she packed on the pounds as she binged her way to obesity.

As a woman with a Ph.D in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, one would think that she’d have it all together. Sadly, that’s not the case. Our labels may define our outer world, but they often neglect our inner world. Such was the case in Susan’s life. On the outside, everything appeared great. On the inside, a battle raged on.

Weight gain, depression, therapy, and large doses of antidepressants led to an eventual threshold where she reclaimed herself. In the process, she discovered a method that helped her deal with her addiction once and for all. Over the years, she’s refined this method and is now empowering others to heal the food addict within.

This week’s conversation delves deep into Susan’s story of personal transformation as well as her personal and professional research on the psychology of addiction. Highlights of our conversation include:

• The threshold of change.
• Moments of grace.
• Transcendent moments and how they must be seized in the moment.
• What is the susceptibility scale?
• How refined foods are engineered for addiction.
• How the brain demands what it needs — whether we like it or not.
• How consciousness is generated by individual parts of the brain in relation to their activities.
• Food addiction and its relation to the brain.
• How our society is set up for addiction.
• The willpower gap.
• The psychology behind food cravings.
• The passion behind Bright Line Eating.

Susan shares her story of struggle with authentic transparency (and a generous dose of good humor), and I’m thrilled to now share our compelling conversation.

SHOW NOTES:

• Susan’s main website.
• Happy, Thin and Free website.
• Bright Line Eating Boot Camp website.
• Ellyn Satter Institute website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
We live in a culture that has set us up for addiction. From iPhones, alcohol, drugs, shopping, television, Youtube, and Facebook, to fossil fuels, techno-gadgets, gambling, exercise, and pharmaceuticals. The opportunities for self-distraction (aka addi... We live in a culture that has set us up for addiction. From iPhones, alcohol, drugs, shopping, television, Youtube, and Facebook, to fossil fuels, techno-gadgets, gambling, exercise, and pharmaceuticals. The opportunities for self-distraction (aka addiction) are endless.
In a domesticated culture that has lost its instinctive ability to properly care for itself, perhaps one of the most damaging addictions is the one that impacts us every time we sit down to eat. Our “food” system has become more of a burdened beast than a liberated source of wellness. Our dysfunctional, highly engineered culture ensures our domesticated compliance – and we perpetuate it with every choice, action…and bite that we take.
Why is that? As author and psychologist Mary Pipher states, “We have paleolithic arousal systems, neolithic brains, medieval institutions, and 21st Century technology.” (Note: I’m getting a lot of mileage out of this quote lately. It says it all!).
Between our troglodyte brains and our 21st Century culture, the deck is really stacked against us.
But what if there’s more to it? What if some of us are just more susceptible to addiction – especially with food?
Susan Peirce Thompson knows a thing or two about addiction. At the young age of 14, she developed an intimate relationship with drugs. Six years later, she found her way out. But in doing so, she found her way in to another form of addiction — this time with food. Unable to control her cravings, she packed on the pounds as she binged her way to obesity.
As a woman with a Ph.D in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, one would think that she’d have it all together. Sadly, that’s not the case. Our labels may define our outer world, but they often neglect our inner world. Such was the case in Susan’s life. On the outside, everything appeared great. On the inside, a battle raged on.
Weight gain, depression, therapy, and large doses of antidepressants led to an eventual threshold where she reclaimed herself. In the process, she discovered a method that helped her deal with her addiction once and for all. Over the years, she’s refined this method and is now empowering others to heal the food addict within.
This week’s conversation delves deep into Susan’s story of personal transformation as well as her personal and professional research on the psychology of addiction. Highlights of our conversation include:
• The threshold of change.

• Moments of grace.

• Transcendent moments and how they must be seized in the moment.

• What is the susceptibility scale?

• How refined foods are engineered for addiction.

• How the brain demands what it needs — whether we like it or not.

• How consciousness is generated by individual parts of the brain in relation to their activities.

• Food addiction and its relation to the brain.

• How our society is set up for addiction.

• The willpower gap.

• The psychology behind food cravings.

• The passion behind Bright Line Eating.
Susan shares her story of struggle with authentic transparency (and a generous dose of good humor), and I’m thrilled to now share our compelling conversation.
SHOW NOTES:
• Susan’s main website.

• Happy, Thin and Free website.

• Bright Line Eating Boot Camp website.

• Ellyn Satter Institute website.
Are you inspired by this podcast? If so,]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:34:25
UP #81: Making Compassion Cool with Gene Baur http://www.debozarko.com/gene-3/ Thu, 01 Oct 2015 01:24:29 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=12946 http://www.debozarko.com/gene-3/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/gene-3/feed/ 0 As we move through life conditioned by parents, teachers, authority figures, and culture, our compassion is squelched, fragmented, and compartmentalized...

“Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”—Albert Einstein

As we move through life conditioned by parents, teachers, authority figures, and culture, our compassion is squelched, fragmented, and compartmentalized. We’re taught to hear but not listen; speak but not act; think but not feel. We’re taught to conform, consume, comply. We label, we fear, we judge…we separate. But the seed of compassion resides permanently in our hearts as a reminder that we are all connected. Compassion is the greatest expression of love.

The human heart has the capacity to hold an enormous amount of love and compassion. By our very nature, we are compassionate. Anything less that that is the lie we’ve bought into to separate us from life. The reason we do what we do to those we perceive as other is because we’re asleep at the wheel.

But we are not separate. We’re autonomous expressions of a greater whole in an interconnected world. We have the choice to live the lie or not. We’re the ones who created it. We’re the ones who can un-create it. Just as we’ve chosen ignorance, so too can we choose truth. The most important thing that we can do in our lifetime is to dare to care about the sacredness of life for all living beings. By realigning with what was conditioned out of us since birth, we reconnect with our core essence of compassion. Radical compassion.

What is radical compassion? Radical means, “at the root of”. Compassion means, “to feel with”. Radical compassion is the deepest core of our capacity to feel with others. It is the essence of who we are – our non-separate soul; the purest fabric of love within. Radical compassion lives in the heart of each and every one of us. For many, it’s a dormant seed. For the change makers in today’s world, it’s a tree in blossom. Nobody is exempt from radical compassion however.

Gene Baur is a man who exemplifies radical compassion. He’s a compelling reminder of who we all can be should we choose to live from the depths of compassion in our hearts.

Gene is the president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. He’s also a best-selling author, activist, environmentalist, humanitarian, and a talented runner and Ironman triathlete to boot.

If you haven’t yet listened to my conversation with Gene in episode #8, it’s definitely worth checking out. Since that first conversation, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Sunshine Coast VegFest with Gene this past summer. We also had the opportunity to share dinner, walks along the beach, and a beautiful afternoon paddle/picnic in the Sechelt inlet with my partner among the jumping salmon, playful harbor seals, and the stunning mountain views in this beautiful part of the world. I can shamelessly say that Gene is a beautiful man who truly makes compassion cool!

Earlier this year, Gene released his newest book, Living the Farm Sanctuary Life: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Mindfully, Living Longer, and Feeling Better Every Day. It’s a powerful guide for compassionate living. It’s part recipe book, part story book, part lifestyle guide, and it’s also filled with tips and tools to ensure that compassion is not only cool, it’s easy.
Gene is a man on a mission; a mission of compassion and love. He’s a man who is deeply connected to his calling. As a result, he’s had a tremendous impact on the lives of human and non-human animals alike.

In this week’s conversation, we explore:

• The grassroots shift of consciousness.
• Living well (the Farm Sanctuary way).
• Food is our most intimate connection to the earth.
• Exploring the roots of change.
• The myth of “feel good labels” such as “free-range” and “grass-fed”.
• How the label, “natural” is often anything but.
• How the words, “humane” and “slaughter” don’t fit.
• How our culture tends to normalize the abnormal.
• How our misaligned values rationalize what we intuitively know is wrong.
• Changing the face of activism.
• How vegan is a lifestyle transformation that weaves us back in to the web of life.
• Creating mutually beneficial relationships that support compassion.
• The 5 tenets of Farm Sanctuary Living.
• Making caring cool!

In a culture that teaches love and radical compassion out of us, it takes courage to care in a uncaring world. This is why the most powerful expression of radical compassion is daring to care in an uncaring world.

We all know that we can be better. We all know that we can live more, give more, be more, and love more. So why wouldn’t we? Gene Baur shows us how easy it can be!

SHOW NOTES:

Living the Farm Sanctuary Way, Gene’s new book.
• Farm Sanctuary website.
• Gene Baur on Twitter.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
As we move through life conditioned by parents, teachers, authority figures, and culture, our compassion is squelched, fragmented, and compartmentalized... Gene Baur is a man who exemplifies radical compassion. He’s a compelling reminder of who we all can be should we choose to live from the depths of compassion in our hearts. Gene is the president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. He’s also a best-selling author, activist, environmentalist, humanitarian, and a talented runner and Ironman triathlete to boot. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 59:58
UP #80: Defying the Odds, Embracing the Muse with Charlotte Eriksson http://www.debozarko.com/charlotte/ Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:34:23 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=12723 http://www.debozarko.com/charlotte/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/charlotte/feed/ 0 We were born to create. We are creation itself – a sperm and an egg united to miraculously create…YOU. We are creative beings. To believe otherwise is a disservice to the soul. “Creativity is God’s gift to us. Expressing our creativity is our gift back to God”, states Julia Cameron, author of the bestselling book, The Artist’s Way. Creativity and authenticity are essentially one in the same. Creativity feeds the soul…because it comes from the soul. The creative muse lives within every of us. The question is, do you starve her, or do you feed her? Is she dormant, or is she awake? She is your life-force, your authentic voice. She is the purest essence of you Throughout history, every cultural tradition links creativity with spirituality. Dancing, singing, music, poetry, writing, and painting are common avenues for creative expression. Creativity appears in our humor, our play, and our story-telling. It aids us in times of need, helps with our relation to others, and inspires innovative solutions for the problems of today’s world. Creativity is at the core of our being. We live in a cultural paradigm where our capacity for creative expression is thwarted by an endless barrage of distraction. The ceaseless busyness of our minds encourages the disconnection from our life-force. We’ve become mindless consumers rather than engaged creators. In a culture that worships the frenzied pace of “doing”, our imaginations are dulled into passivity. The disease of “busy” is destroying our overall well-being. It is depleting our ability to think critically, act compassionately, and express creatively. We must remember; we are human beings, not human doings. We are not the helpless automatons with endless to-do lists that we’ve come to believe we are. Life is a delicate balance between being and doing. Creativity is prompted through our being and implemented through our doing. It is this synergistic relationship that leads towards our greatest authentic expression. Albert Einstein once said that, “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” Our imaginations are fundamental for personal and global transformation. Imagination is the driving force behind creativity. It allows us to see possibilities where none once existed. It inspires, uplifts, and empowers. Imagination expands our hearts and opens our minds. When we flow with the creative process, our mind relaxes, intuition awakens, and we shift ourselves out of “doing” consciousness. Creativity is transcendent in nature. It moves us beyond our small sense of self and connects us with our expansive authentic self. “I want my life to be the greatest story. My very existence will be the greatest poem.” These are the words of Charlotte Eriksson, songwriter, author, wanderer, dreamer, and creator. At the age of 18, Charlotte left her home in Sweden and moved to London to pursue her calling and, as she says, “to create the life I wanted to live and find the person I wanted to be.” After a year in solitude with her mind and her music, she packed light and spent a year homeless on the road, dedicating her life to her art and music, determined to tell the world about it. She learned how to build her home in her music and her art. She defied the criticism, the judgement and the odds. She embraced the muse. Through pure grit, determination, perseverance, and truckloads of passion, she’s since released 5 critically acclaimed albums. Her single, “I Will Lead You Home,” reached #2 on the Swedish iTunes-chart. All of the money from that single went directly to the Swedish non-profit organization, Ung Cancer, to support young victims of the disease, and as she says, to “let them know that they’re not alone.” Charlotte was also as named ”Breakthrough Indie Artist Of The Year” by Lemonade Magazine. Charlotte packs a lot of wisdom in her youth and I’m honored to bring this moving conversation to you this week.

“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” —Sylvia Plath

We were born to create. We are creation itself – a sperm and an egg united to miraculously create…YOU. We are creative beings. To believe otherwise is a disservice to the soul.

“Creativity is God’s gift to us. Expressing our creativity is our gift back to God”, states Julia Cameron, author of the bestselling book, The Artist’s Way. Creativity and authenticity are essentially one in the same. Creativity feeds the soul…because it comes from the soul.

The creative muse lives within every of us. The question is, do you starve her, or do you feed her? Is she dormant, or is she awake? She is your life-force, your authentic voice. She is the purest essence of you

Throughout history, every cultural tradition links creativity with spirituality. Dancing, singing, music, poetry, writing, and painting are common avenues for creative expression. Creativity appears in our humor, our play, and our story-telling. It aids us in times of need, helps with our relation to others, and inspires innovative solutions for the problems of today’s world. Creativity is at the core of our being.

We live in a cultural paradigm where our capacity for creative expression is thwarted by an endless barrage of distraction. The ceaseless busyness of our minds encourages the disconnection from our life-force. We’ve become mindless consumers rather than engaged creators.

In a culture that worships the frenzied pace of “doing”, our imaginations are dulled into passivity. The disease of “busy” is destroying our overall well-being. It is depleting our ability to think critically, act compassionately, and express creatively. We must remember; we are human beings, not human doings. We are not the helpless automatons with endless to-do lists that we’ve come to believe we are.

Life is a delicate balance between being and doing. Creativity is prompted through our being and implemented through our doing. It is this synergistic relationship that leads towards our greatest authentic expression.

Albert Einstein once said that, “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” Our imaginations are fundamental for personal and global transformation. Imagination is the driving force behind creativity. It allows us to see possibilities where none once existed. It inspires, uplifts, and empowers. Imagination expands our hearts and opens our minds.

When we flow with the creative process, our mind relaxes, intuition awakens, and we shift ourselves out of “doing” consciousness. Creativity is transcendent in nature. It moves us beyond our small sense of self and connects us with our expansive authentic self.

“I want my life to be the greatest story. My very existence will be the greatest poem.” These are the words of Charlotte Eriksson, songwriter, author, wanderer, dreamer, and creator.

At the age of 18, Charlotte left her home in Sweden and moved to London to pursue her calling and, as she says, “to create the life I wanted to live and find the person I wanted to be.”

After a year in solitude with her mind and her music, she packed light and spent a year homeless on the road, dedicating her life to her art and music, determined to tell the world about it. She learned how to build her home in her music and her art. She defied the criticism, the judgement and the odds. She embraced the muse.

Through pure grit, determination, perseverance, and truckloads of passion, she’s since released 5 critically acclaimed albums. Her single, “I Will Lead You Home,” reached #2 on the Swedish iTunes-chart. All of the money from that single went directly to the Swedish non-profit organization, Ung Cancer, to support young victims of the disease, and as she says, to “let them know that they’re not alone.” Charlotte was also as named ”Breakthrough Indie Artist Of The Year” by Lemonade Magazine.

Charlotte packs a lot of wisdom in her youth and I’m honored to bring this moving conversation to you this week. It’s young people like Charlotte who give me so much hope for the millennial generation – embracing their calling and living their truth.

This week, we explore:

• Going with the flow…for real.
• The power of belief to drive purpose.
• How purpose appears in our bodies, and how it shows up when we ignore it.
• Failure only happens when we give up.
• Struggle in life are the dots that connect us to our path.
• How struggle often equals opportunity.
• If you really want something, don’t have a plan B.
• The difference between Resistance and burnout.
• Our calling is internally driven, not externally motivated.
• Balancing doing with being.
• Powerful productivity emerges from “being”.
• Listening to your own rhythm.
• Creativity emerges from an experiential life (aka breaking the mundane of routine).
• How a regular personal practice establishes a solid connection to the authentic self.
• How flow feeds life-force.
• Being self-sufficient and empowering yourself along the way.
• Balancing art and business.
Within each of us lives a creative seed for transformation – for ourselves and for the world. Ultimately, the greatest creative act is how we choose to live our daily lives. We have within us everything we need to live more consciously, claim our truth, and live our purpose. Creativity expands our consciousness and allows us to see the world through more expansive eyes. This is how we change the world. Like Charlotte Eriksson, we need only say yes to the creator within.

SHOW NOTES:

• Charlotte Eriksson’s official website.
Empty Roads & Broken Bottles; in search for The Great Perhaps, Charlotte’s recent book.
• Charlotte on Twitter.
• Charlotte on Instagram.
• Steven Pressfield’s War of Art (when we spoke about Resistance).
The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer.
• Sean Howard, Taking the Leap podcast.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

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We were born to create. We are creation itself – a sperm and an egg united to miraculously create…YOU. We are creative beings. To believe otherwise is a disservice to the soul. - “Creativity is God’s gift to us. Charlotte packs a lot of wisdom in her youth and I’m honored to bring this moving conversation to you this week. It’s young people like Charlotte who give me so much hope for the millennial generation – embracing their calling and living their truth. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 1:35:39
UP #79: Spiritual Bypassing and When Our Honeymoon with Spirituality is Over with Robert Masters http://www.debozarko.com/robertmasters/ Tue, 15 Sep 2015 21:58:59 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=12638 http://www.debozarko.com/robertmasters/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/robertmasters/feed/ 0 A few years back, I had a powerful awakening that forever changed my life. It was catalyzed by a tragic death, an Ironman triathlon, a dark night of the soul, and a glimmer of light that led me on a deeply personal journey of self exploration. It was a pivotal time in my life that led me to the discovery of more of I was meant to be. As I progressed along the path of healing, I took an unexpected detour that led me to question who I was becoming. As I morphed and expanded, I fed my mind with an endless supply of personal growth, self-development and spiritual books that initially seemed to help me become…”better”. As I pressed on with my voracious reading binge however, I started feeling confused. Why was it so hard to remain in a perpetual state of positivity? Why could I not tame my inner fire? Why did I feel so ashamed with my judgements? Why were the coveted states of bliss and joy so evasive? The more confused I felt, the more confined I felt. The more confined I felt, the more frustrated I became. I was struggling to fit into the spiritual and growth models that so many ascended “gurus” have written about. Eventually, I reached a threshold where I felt a deeply uncomfortable misalignment with my authentic self. I needed to return to the real me. On pure impulse one morning, I packed up my books (boxes and boxes of them) and donated them to the local library. In the process, I liberated myself and accepted me…for me. Warts and all. In that moment, I stopped judging myself for not being the perfect specimen of spiritual evolution. I realized that the journey of self evolution has no finish line. It’s organic, non linear, and profoundly personal. I also noticed that I wasn’t alone in my misaligned perception of spirituality. I found myself irritated with the many people who so deftly spoke the spiritual lingo, but who lacked congruence with their behaviors and actions. I wondered what it was all about…and how did I fall prey to it? I discovered the answer in two words – spiritual bypassing – an eloquent way of avoiding who we authentically are. A subtle, yet pervasive mindset that infiltrates consciousness in ways that lead to the avoidance of the painful and “socially unacceptable” parts of who we are. Spiritual bypassing gives us the illusion that we are more whole than we actually are. No wonder I didn’t feel authentic. I was trying to be something that I’m not. I realized that it’s ok to not be all love and light all of the time. It’s just not realistic. Anyone who claims to be so is a liar (or on heavy drugs). For crying out loud, even the Dalai Llama gets pissed off! The key though, is how we cope with our feelings; emotional literacy. This led me on a deeper exploration into the psychic fabric of spiritual bypassing. And this is how I discovered the work of this week’s Unplug podcast guest. Robert Masters is the author of Spiritual Bypassing: When Spirituality Disconnects Us from What Really Matters. He’s also an integral psychotherapist, relationship expert, trainer of healing professionals, and author of many other profoundly transformative books. His work blends the psychological and emotional with the spiritual. When I read his book, Spiritual Bypassing, it all made sense. I felt a greater sense of liberation. I felt a deeper connection to my true self…including all of my unpleasant bits. When I completed the book, I knew that I had to reach out to Robert for this show. I was excited to share his message of pure authenticity – permission to be who we truly are. Here’s the deal, if you can talk the spiritual talk, but the spiritual walk still fills you with pain, there’s a strong likelihood that you’re spiritually bypassing. Don’t worry though, there’s a way out…and that’s in. This week, we explore many fascinating topics such as: • How trusting intuition brings flow to life. • What is spiritual bypassing? • What is the shadow? • What is shadow work?

“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.” —May Sarton

A few years back, I had a powerful awakening that forever changed my life. It was catalyzed by a tragic death, an Ironman triathlon, a dark night of the soul, and a glimmer of light that led me on a deeply personal journey of self exploration. It was a pivotal time in my life that led me to the discovery of more of I was meant to be.

As I progressed along the path of healing, I took an unexpected detour that led me to question who I was becoming. As I morphed and expanded, I fed my mind with an endless supply of personal growth, self-development and spiritual books that initially seemed to help me become…”better”. As I pressed on with my voracious reading binge however, I started feeling confused. Why was it so hard to remain in a perpetual state of positivity? Why could I not tame my inner fire? Why did I feel so ashamed with my judgements? Why were the coveted states of bliss and joy so evasive?

The more confused I felt, the more confined I felt. The more confined I felt, the more frustrated I became. I was struggling to fit into the spiritual and growth models that so many ascended “gurus” have written about.

Eventually, I reached a threshold where I felt a deeply uncomfortable misalignment with my authentic self. I needed to return to the real me.

On pure impulse one morning, I packed up my books (boxes and boxes of them) and donated them to the local library. In the process, I liberated myself and accepted me…for me. Warts and all. In that moment, I stopped judging myself for not being the perfect specimen of spiritual evolution.

I realized that the journey of self evolution has no finish line. It’s organic, non linear, and profoundly personal. I also noticed that I wasn’t alone in my misaligned perception of spirituality. I found myself irritated with the many people who so deftly spoke the spiritual lingo, but who lacked congruence with their behaviors and actions. I wondered what it was all about…and how did I fall prey to it?

I discovered the answer in two words – spiritual bypassing – an eloquent way of avoiding who we authentically are. A subtle, yet pervasive mindset that infiltrates consciousness in ways that lead to the avoidance of the painful and “socially unacceptable” parts of who we are. Spiritual bypassing gives us the illusion that we are more whole than we actually are.

No wonder I didn’t feel authentic. I was trying to be something that I’m not.

I realized that it’s ok to not be all love and light all of the time. It’s just not realistic. Anyone who claims to be so is a liar (or on heavy drugs). For crying out loud, even the Dalai Llama gets pissed off! The key though, is how we cope with our feelings; emotional literacy.

This led me on a deeper exploration into the psychic fabric of spiritual bypassing. And this is how I discovered the work of this week’s Unplug podcast guest.

Robert Masters is the author of Spiritual Bypassing: When Spirituality Disconnects Us from What Really Matters. He’s also an integral psychotherapist, relationship expert, trainer of healing professionals, and author of many other profoundly transformative books. His work blends the psychological and emotional with the spiritual.

When I read his book, Spiritual Bypassing, it all made sense. I felt a greater sense of liberation. I felt a deeper connection to my true self…including all of my unpleasant bits. When I completed the book, I knew that I had to reach out to Robert for this show. I was excited to share his message of pure authenticity – permission to be who we truly are.

Here’s the deal, if you can talk the spiritual talk, but the spiritual walk still fills you with pain, there’s a strong likelihood that you’re spiritually bypassing. Don’t worry though, there’s a way out…and that’s in.

This week, we explore many fascinating topics such as:

• How trusting intuition brings flow to life.
• What is spiritual bypassing?
• What is the shadow?
• What is shadow work?
• Why there’s no such thing as a negative emotion.
• What is clean anger?
• What is pure grief?
• The difference between spiritual and intellectual bypassing.
• Becoming intimate with shame.
• What defines an authentic man?
• The difference between pain and suffering.
• The importance of full embodiment for healing.
• Emotional literacy.
• Radical trust.
• What is a healthy relationship.
• The toxicity of blind compassion.
• What is healthy confrontation?
• Critical thinking to avoid spiritual gullibility.
• What is enlightenment…and why it doesn’t matter anyways?

Like it or not, our shadowy bits are part of who we are. If we disown them, they own us. If we suppress them, they own us. If we ignore them, they own us. But if we accept all of who we are – shadowy bits and all – we reclaim our true selves and develop the symbiotic relationship with light and dark that makes us more whole.

Anger can move mountains and grief reveals love. Stop thinking, start feeling, and allow the wisdom of Robert Masters lead you home.

SHOW NOTES:

• Robert Masters main website.
Masters Mens Work: Bringing Head, Heart, and Guts into Full-Blooded Alignment 5-day experiences.
• Spiritual Bypassing: When Spirituality Disconnects Us from What Really Matters book on Amazon.
• To Be A Man: A Guide to True Masculine Power book on Amazon.
Masters Couples Intensive.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
A few years back, I had a powerful awakening that forever changed my life. It was catalyzed by a tragic death, an Ironman triathlon, a dark night of the soul, and a glimmer of light that led me on a deeply personal journey of self exploration. A few years back, I had a powerful awakening that forever changed my life. It was catalyzed by a tragic death, an Ironman triathlon, a dark night of the soul, and a glimmer of light that led me on a deeply personal journey of self exploration. It was a pivotal time in my life that led me to the discovery of more of I was meant to be.<br /> <br /> As I progressed along the path of healing, I took an unexpected detour that led me to question who I was becoming. As I morphed and expanded, I fed my mind with an endless supply of personal growth, self-development and spiritual books that initially seemed to help me become…”better”. As I pressed on with my voracious reading binge however, I started feeling confused. Why was it so hard to remain in a perpetual state of positivity? Why could I not tame my inner fire? Why did I feel so ashamed with my judgements? Why were the coveted states of bliss and joy so evasive?<br /> <br /> The more confused I felt, the more confined I felt. The more confined I felt, the more frustrated I became. I was struggling to fit into the spiritual and growth models that so many ascended “gurus” have written about.<br /> <br /> Eventually, I reached a threshold where I felt a deeply uncomfortable misalignment with my authentic self. I needed to return to the real me.<br /> <br /> On pure impulse one morning, I packed up my books (boxes and boxes of them) and donated them to the local library. In the process, I liberated myself and accepted me…for me. Warts and all. In that moment, I stopped judging myself for not being the perfect specimen of spiritual evolution.<br /> <br /> I realized that the journey of self evolution has no finish line. It’s organic, non linear, and profoundly personal. I also noticed that I wasn’t alone in my misaligned perception of spirituality. I found myself irritated with the many people who so deftly spoke the spiritual lingo, but who lacked congruence with their behaviors and actions. I wondered what it was all about…and how did I fall prey to it?<br /> <br /> I discovered the answer in two words – spiritual bypassing – an eloquent way of avoiding who we authentically are. A subtle, yet pervasive mindset that infiltrates consciousness in ways that lead to the avoidance of the painful and “socially unacceptable” parts of who we are. Spiritual bypassing gives us the illusion that we are more whole than we actually are.<br /> <br /> No wonder I didn’t feel authentic. I was trying to be something that I’m not.<br /> <br /> I realized that it’s ok to not be all love and light all of the time. It’s just not realistic. Anyone who claims to be so is a liar (or on heavy drugs). For crying out loud, even the Dalai Llama gets pissed off! The key though, is how we cope with our feelings; emotional literacy.<br /> <br /> This led me on a deeper exploration into the psychic fabric of spiritual bypassing. And this is how I discovered the work of this week’s Unplug podcast guest.<br /> <br /> Robert Masters is the author of Spiritual Bypassing: When Spirituality Disconnects Us from What Really Matters. He’s also an integral psychotherapist, relationship expert, trainer of healing professionals, and author of many other profoundly transformative books. His work blends the psychological and emotional with the spiritual.<br /> <br /> When I read his book, Spiritual Bypassing, it all made sense. I felt a greater sense of liberation. I felt a deeper connection to my true self…including all of my unpleasant bits. When I completed the book, I knew that I had to reach out to Robert for this show. I was excited to share his message of pure authenticity – permission to be who we truly are.<br /> <br /> Here’s the deal, if you can talk the spiritual talk, but the spiritual walk still fills you with pain, there’s a strong likelihood that you’re spiritually bypassing. Don’t worry though, there’s a way out…and that’s in.<br /> <br /> This week, Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:27:29
UP #78: Passion + Courage + Action = Transformation with Roz Savage http://www.debozarko.com/rozsavage78/ Wed, 02 Sep 2015 00:32:59 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=12215 http://www.debozarko.com/rozsavage78/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/rozsavage78/feed/ 0 One of the most powerful acts of paradigm-shifting rebellion is to think for ourselves. For thousands of years, oppressive cultural systems (religion, education, media, family, politics, economy, and culture) have held the collective hostage to smallness. Designed to ensure a compliant method of thought, these antiquated systems have succeeded in nothing more than destroying the soul. The cumulative effects of this separation-based consciousness have not been pretty. On a personal level, abnormal ailments such as: obesity, anxiety, depression, addiction, selfishness, low self-worth, narcissism, greed, judgement, and fear plague our consciousness. On a collective level, we witness the ongoing lunacy of: climate change, war, rape, misogyny, sexism, racism, speciesism, dying oceans, over-consumption, environmental destruction, and the gluttonous destruction of billions of animals to feed nothing more than a deeply rooted cultural addiction. The low level of patriarchal consciousness that has trapped us in separation (competition, fear, consumption, conformity, judgement, and indifference) for far too long, is growing weary however. As dissatisfaction with personal and global circumstances awakens the hearts of people around the globe, patriarchal consciousness is losing its grip on the human psyche. Within every one of us lies a dormant seed of awakening; an expression of infinite, expansive potential. What will it take to awaken the giant from within? The answer lies in one powerful word. Courage. The embodied union of head and heart with action. As author Brené Brown says that, “Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences — good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as “ordinary courage.” Courage is the unwavering passion that drives us towards the voice of our heart. It is the willingness to take action towards a greater purpose despite uncertainty, risk, pain, and fear. It is the compulsion to persevere in the face of adversity. It is speaking out and taking a stand for what is life-affirming, true and right. Courage is the power of spirit animating flesh for the creation of a better you, and a better world. Enter Roz Savage, author, speaker, life-coach, adventurer, and earth warrior. Roz is best known as the first woman to row solo three oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian. While confined to a 23-foot rowboat, she’s rowed 15,000 miles, spent over 500 days of her life at sea, and taken more than 5 millions oar strokes. She capsized three times in a 24-hour period, faced death by dehydration, encountered endless sea life, and was graced by the breathtaking beauty of untarnished sunrises, sunsets, and star-filled skies. She’s spoken on the TEDx stage and has written two powerful books about her experiences, “Rowing the Atlantic”, and “Stop Drifting, Start Rowing”. Roz is a self-admitted “evolution junkie” on an endless quest for expansion and redefinition. With her ocean rowing days now behind her, Roz’ latest incarnation is that of life coach. With the recent completion of an intense program of study, along with her plethora of wisdom, life-experience, and courage, she now guides others towards their hopes, dreams, and greater potential. Who better to speak to courage than one who lives it herself? Roz shared her journey from unhappy, materialistic management consultant to passionate environmental advocate and ocean adventurer in episode #30. If you haven’t yet listened to it, I invite you to check it out.

“The opposite for courage is not cowardice, it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.” —Jim Hightower

One of the most powerful acts of paradigm-shifting rebellion is to think for ourselves.

For thousands of years, oppressive cultural systems (religion, education, media, family, politics, economy, and culture) have held the collective hostage to smallness. Designed to ensure a compliant method of thought, these antiquated systems have succeeded in nothing more than destroying the soul. The cumulative effects of this separation-based consciousness have not been pretty. On a personal level, abnormal ailments such as: obesity, anxiety, depression, addiction, selfishness, low self-worth, narcissism, greed, judgement, and fear plague our consciousness.

On a collective level, we witness the ongoing lunacy of: climate change, war, rape, misogyny, sexism, racism, speciesism, dying oceans, over-consumption, environmental destruction, and the gluttonous destruction of billions of animals to feed nothing more than a deeply rooted cultural addiction.

The low level of patriarchal consciousness that has trapped us in separation (competition, fear, consumption, conformity, judgement, and indifference) for far too long, is growing weary however. As dissatisfaction with personal and global circumstances awakens the hearts of people around the globe, patriarchal consciousness is losing its grip on the human psyche.

Within every one of us lies a dormant seed of awakening; an expression of infinite, expansive potential. What will it take to awaken the giant from within?

The answer lies in one powerful word. Courage. The embodied union of head and heart with action.

As author Brené Brown says that, “Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences — good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as “ordinary courage.”

Courage is the unwavering passion that drives us towards the voice of our heart. It is the willingness to take action towards a greater purpose despite uncertainty, risk, pain, and fear. It is the compulsion to persevere in the face of adversity. It is speaking out and taking a stand for what is life-affirming, true and right. Courage is the power of spirit animating flesh for the creation of a better you, and a better world.

Enter Roz Savage, author, speaker, life-coach, adventurer, and earth warrior. Roz is best known as the first woman to row solo three oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian. While confined to a 23-foot rowboat, she’s rowed 15,000 miles, spent over 500 days of her life at sea, and taken more than 5 millions oar strokes. She capsized three times in a 24-hour period, faced death by dehydration, encountered endless sea life, and was graced by the breathtaking beauty of untarnished sunrises, sunsets, and star-filled skies. She’s spoken on the TEDx stage and has written two powerful books about her experiences, “Rowing the Atlantic”, and “Stop Drifting, Start Rowing”. Roz is a self-admitted “evolution junkie” on an endless quest for expansion and redefinition.

With her ocean rowing days now behind her, Roz’ latest incarnation is that of life coach. With the recent completion of an intense program of study, along with her plethora of wisdom, life-experience, and courage, she now guides others towards their hopes, dreams, and greater potential. Who better to speak to courage than one who lives it herself?

Roz shared her journey from unhappy, materialistic management consultant to passionate environmental advocate and ocean adventurer in episode #30. If you haven’t yet listened to it, I invite you to check it out.

Roz’ life transformation was prompted by a simple personal development exercise that involved writing two versions of an obituary. Version one would be the obituary of her dreams. Version two reflected the direction she was heading.

Obituary one revealed the life of an adventurer, a risk-taker, a woman who lived out loud, guided by the passion and courage in her heart. Obituary two revealed a conventional life of normalcy trapped within the boring confines of perceived safety. The differences were startling. Something had to change. This was the realization that inspired an entirely new direction in life. As Roz mentions in this week’s conversation, the differences between her old life and her new life are like night and day.

This week, we explore:

• The ongoing process of reinvention.
• The many versions of our authentic self.
• Fearlessly embracing life.
• Becoming an evolution junkie.
• How heart wisdom and body wisdom are intricately intertwined.
• The differences between female and male power.
• The power in community.
• The 100th monkey effect.
• How the ocean is our connection to life.
• How anger moves mountains.
• Passion is the gateway to courage.
• Action is what leads us out of despair.
• Morning pages (inspired by Julia Cameron).
• How life is best lived with self trust.
• The courage to be different.
• Question everything: the power of critical thought.
• Saying yes to life!

The greatest block to courage is fear; the “what if” stories we create in our heads that imprison our souls. But “what if” always has two sides. “What if we fail” is easily flipped to, “what if we succeed”. Head or heart. Do we let fear define us or fuel us?

Roz Savage will show us the way.

SHOW NOTES:

• Roz Savage Coaching website.
• Roz Savage Adventurer website.
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
One of the most powerful acts of paradigm-shifting rebellion is to think for ourselves. - For thousands of years, oppressive cultural systems (religion, education, media, family, politics, economy, and culture) have held the collective hostage to smal... One of the most powerful acts of paradigm-shifting rebellion is to think for ourselves.<br /> <br /> For thousands of years, oppressive cultural systems (religion, education, media, family, politics, economy, and culture) have held the collective hostage to smallness. Designed to ensure a compliant method of thought, these antiquated systems have succeeded in nothing more than destroying the soul. The cumulative effects of this separation-based consciousness have not been pretty. On a personal level, abnormal ailments such as: obesity, anxiety, depression, addiction, selfishness, low self-worth, narcissism, greed, judgement, and fear plague our consciousness.<br /> <br /> On a collective level, we witness the ongoing lunacy of: climate change, war, rape, misogyny, sexism, racism, speciesism, dying oceans, over-consumption, environmental destruction, and the gluttonous destruction of billions of animals to feed nothing more than a deeply rooted cultural addiction.<br /> <br /> The low level of patriarchal consciousness that has trapped us in separation (competition, fear, consumption, conformity, judgement, and indifference) for far too long, is growing weary however. As dissatisfaction with personal and global circumstances awakens the hearts of people around the globe, patriarchal consciousness is losing its grip on the human psyche.<br /> <br /> Within every one of us lies a dormant seed of awakening; an expression of infinite, expansive potential. What will it take to awaken the giant from within?<br /> <br /> The answer lies in one powerful word. Courage. The embodied union of head and heart with action.<br /> <br /> As author Brené Brown says that, “Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences — good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as “ordinary courage.”<br /> <br /> Courage is the unwavering passion that drives us towards the voice of our heart. It is the willingness to take action towards a greater purpose despite uncertainty, risk, pain, and fear. It is the compulsion to persevere in the face of adversity. It is speaking out and taking a stand for what is life-affirming, true and right. Courage is the power of spirit animating flesh for the creation of a better you, and a better world.<br /> <br /> Enter Roz Savage, author, speaker, life-coach, adventurer, and earth warrior. Roz is best known as the first woman to row solo three oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian. While confined to a 23-foot rowboat, she’s rowed 15,000 miles, spent over 500 days of her life at sea, and taken more than 5 millions oar strokes. She capsized three times in a 24-hour period, faced death by dehydration, encountered endless sea life, and was graced by the breathtaking beauty of untarnished sunrises, sunsets, and star-filled skies. She’s spoken on the TEDx stage and has written two powerful books about her experiences, “Rowing the Atlantic”, and “Stop Drifting, Start Rowing”. Roz is a self-admitted “evolution junkie” on an endless quest for expansion and redefinition.<br /> <br /> With her ocean rowing days now behind her, Roz’ latest incarnation is that of life coach. With the recent completion of an intense program of study, along with her plethora of wisdom, life-experience, and courage, she now guides others towards their hopes, dreams, and greater potential. Who better to speak to courage than one who lives it herself?<br /> <br /> Roz shared her journey from unhappy, materialistic management consultant to passionate environmental advocate and o... Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:45:14
UP #77: Reclaiming Wholeness with Nancy Hanlon and Naomi Irons http://www.debozarko.com/nancynaomi/ Wed, 26 Aug 2015 18:27:56 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=12190 http://www.debozarko.com/nancynaomi/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/nancynaomi/feed/ 0 We’re born to the world as pure potential – expansive, innocent, untarnished. A blank slate; ready to learn what it means to be human. Without the awareness to fend for ourselves, the next several years are shaped by an external world of hand-me-down belief systems based on the notions of conformity, consumption, compliance, judgment, fear, and indifference. We’re adulterated by beliefs that isolate us from all that matters. We’re taught to run with the pack, think like the herd, conform to cultural expectations, consume like there’s no tomorrow, and believe everything we’re told by those who perpetuate the status quo. It’s been said that the indoctrination process is complete by the tender age of five. The unexamined belief systems of a culture in a trance so deeply installed that we become nothing more than the by-products of a consumptive machine. This is the cultural mindset that we’ve collectively normalized. This is status quo. Status quo is a ruthless predator that destroys our souls. The blind acceptance of what we know in our hearts to be untrue has caused wanton violence, global oppression, rampant greed, rapacious consumption, runaway climate change, dying oceans, and widespread unhappiness. As we move through life conditioned by parents, teachers, authority figures, religion, media, politics, and culture, our essence is squelched, fragmented, and compartmentalized. We’re taught to hear but not listen; speak but not act; think but not feel. We’re taught to conform, consume, comply. We label, we fear, we judge…we separate. In a culture with deeply rooted systems that are hell bent on squashing our potential, our greatest life challenge is returning to who we authentically are. But what if the return to wholeness is easy saying, “no more”? What if, by standing firmly in our truth, we’ve already returned home? We’re inculcated to believe that life is complex; that we must search for, and create complicated solutions for simple problems. This ensures our demise as we spin around in circles aimlessly searching outside of ourselves for what is desperate to emerge from within. But what if by connecting to our bodies, feeling what is real, telling ourselves the truth, and the simple act of breathing, we’ve made the quantum leap of consciousness that leads us on the path to wholeness? This week I speak with Naomi Irons and Nancy Hanlon, two powerful women who are passionate about awakening the giant from within each and every one of us. They are both Certified WEL-Systems® CODE Model Coaches™ with a hunger for ongoing expansion. This week’s conversation is intimate, authentic, wise, and raw. We go deep. Highlights of this week’s conversation include: • What is wholeness? • The systems that remove us from wholeness. • How religion removes us from our sacredness. • The organic state of slow that comes from authenticity. • How higher order conversations change our lives. • How culture has separated us from our deep inner truth. • Redefining body intelligence. • Integrating thought and body. • How reclaiming the body is essential to wholeness. • How asking bigger questions leads to a bigger life. • How fear keeps a collective in check. • The importance of trust and safety for returning to wholeness. • How the awakening of sacredness awakens the depth of our caring. • The importance of like-minded community in an altered world. We are already whole. We need not search anymore. Instead, we need to stop long enough to be found.

We’re born to the world as pure potential – expansive, innocent, untarnished. A blank slate; ready to learn what it means to be human. Without the awareness to fend for ourselves, the next several years are shaped by an external world of hand-me-down belief systems based on the notions of conformity, consumption, compliance, judgment, fear, and indifference. We’re adulterated by beliefs that isolate us from all that matters.

We’re taught to run with the pack, think like the herd, conform to cultural expectations, consume like there’s no tomorrow, and believe everything we’re told by those who perpetuate the status quo.

It’s been said that the indoctrination process is complete by the tender age of five. The unexamined belief systems of a culture in a trance so deeply installed that we become nothing more than the by-products of a consumptive machine. This is the cultural mindset that we’ve collectively normalized. This is status quo. Status quo is a ruthless predator that destroys our souls.

The blind acceptance of what we know in our hearts to be untrue has caused wanton violence, global oppression, rampant greed, rapacious consumption, runaway climate change, dying oceans, and widespread unhappiness.

As we move through life conditioned by parents, teachers, authority figures, religion, media, politics, and culture, our essence is squelched, fragmented, and compartmentalized. We’re taught to hear but not listen; speak but not act; think but not feel. We’re taught to conform, consume, comply. We label, we fear, we judge…we separate.

In a culture with deeply rooted systems that are hell bent on squashing our potential, our greatest life challenge is returning to who we authentically are.

But what if the return to wholeness is easy saying, “no more”? What if, by standing firmly in our truth, we’ve already returned home?

We’re inculcated to believe that life is complex; that we must search for, and create complicated solutions for simple problems. This ensures our demise as we spin around in circles aimlessly searching outside of ourselves for what is desperate to emerge from within. But what if by connecting to our bodies, feeling what is real, telling ourselves the truth, and the simple act of breathing, we’ve made the quantum leap of consciousness that leads us on the path to wholeness?

This week I speak with Naomi Irons and Nancy Hanlon, two powerful women who are passionate about awakening the giant from within each and every one of us. They are both Certified WEL-Systems® CODE Model Coaches™ with a hunger for ongoing expansion.

This week’s conversation is intimate, authentic, wise, and raw. We go deep.

Highlights of this week’s conversation include:

• What is wholeness?
• The systems that remove us from wholeness.
• How religion removes us from our sacredness.
• The organic state of slow that comes from authenticity.
• How higher order conversations change our lives.
• How culture has separated us from our deep inner truth.
• Redefining body intelligence.
• Integrating thought and body.
• How reclaiming the body is essential to wholeness.
• How asking bigger questions leads to a bigger life.
• How fear keeps a collective in check.
• The importance of trust and safety for returning to wholeness.
• How the awakening of sacredness awakens the depth of our caring.
• The importance of like-minded community in an altered world.

We are already whole. We need not search anymore. Instead, we need to stop long enough to be found.

SHOW NOTES:

• Naomi Irons website.
• Nancy Hanlon website.
• WEL-Systems website.
• Rural Consciousness Project website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
We’re born to the world as pure potential – expansive, innocent, untarnished. A blank slate; ready to learn what it means to be human. Without the awareness to fend for ourselves, the next several years are shaped by an external world of hand-me-down b... We’re born to the world as pure potential – expansive, innocent, untarnished. A blank slate; ready to learn what it means to be human. Without the awareness to fend for ourselves, the next several years are shaped by an external world of hand-me-down belief systems based on the notions of conformity, consumption, compliance, judgment, fear, and indifference. We’re adulterated by beliefs that isolate us from all that matters.<br /> <br /> We’re taught to run with the pack, think like the herd, conform to cultural expectations, consume like there’s no tomorrow, and believe everything we’re told by those who perpetuate the status quo.<br /> <br /> It’s been said that the indoctrination process is complete by the tender age of five. The unexamined belief systems of a culture in a trance so deeply installed that we become nothing more than the by-products of a consumptive machine. This is the cultural mindset that we’ve collectively normalized. This is status quo. Status quo is a ruthless predator that destroys our souls.<br /> <br /> The blind acceptance of what we know in our hearts to be untrue has caused wanton violence, global oppression, rampant greed, rapacious consumption, runaway climate change, dying oceans, and widespread unhappiness.<br /> <br /> As we move through life conditioned by parents, teachers, authority figures, religion, media, politics, and culture, our essence is squelched, fragmented, and compartmentalized. We’re taught to hear but not listen; speak but not act; think but not feel. We’re taught to conform, consume, comply. We label, we fear, we judge…we separate.<br /> <br /> In a culture with deeply rooted systems that are hell bent on squashing our potential, our greatest life challenge is returning to who we authentically are.<br /> <br /> But what if the return to wholeness is easy saying, “no more”? What if, by standing firmly in our truth, we’ve already returned home?<br /> <br /> We’re inculcated to believe that life is complex; that we must search for, and create complicated solutions for simple problems. This ensures our demise as we spin around in circles aimlessly searching outside of ourselves for what is desperate to emerge from within. But what if by connecting to our bodies, feeling what is real, telling ourselves the truth, and the simple act of breathing, we’ve made the quantum leap of consciousness that leads us on the path to wholeness?<br /> <br /> This week I speak with Naomi Irons and Nancy Hanlon, two powerful women who are passionate about awakening the giant from within each and every one of us. They are both Certified WEL-Systems® CODE Model Coaches™ with a hunger for ongoing expansion.<br /> <br /> This week’s conversation is intimate, authentic, wise, and raw. We go deep.<br /> <br /> Highlights of this week’s conversation include:<br /> • What is wholeness?<br /> • The systems that remove us from wholeness.<br /> • How religion removes us from our sacredness.<br /> • The organic state of slow that comes from authenticity.<br /> • How higher order conversations change our lives.<br /> • How culture has separated us from our deep inner truth.<br /> • Redefining body intelligence.<br /> • Integrating thought and body.<br /> • How reclaiming the body is essential to wholeness.<br /> • How asking bigger questions leads to a bigger life.<br /> • How fear keeps a collective in check.<br /> • The importance of trust and safety for returning to wholeness.<br /> • How the awakening of sacredness awakens the depth of our caring.<br /> • The importance of like-minded community in an altered world.<br /> <br /> We are already whole. We need not search anymore. Instead, we need to stop long enough to be found. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:50:16
UP #76: You’ve Got to Move it! with Ryan Grant http://www.debozarko.com/ryangrant/ Thu, 20 Aug 2015 13:23:16 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=12155 http://www.debozarko.com/ryangrant/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/ryangrant/feed/ 0 The sedentary cultural mindset of today is hurting us – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Collectively, we spend more time on our heinies than we do on our feet. In our cars, at our desks, in front of the computer, and the tv. We sit from sunup until sundown. We sleep, we wake up…and we sit all over again. Sleep, eat, sit, repeat. “More than one-half of an average person’s day is spent being sedentary — sitting, watching television or working at a computer,” says Dr. David Alter, senior scientist at the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto. According to a recent study by Dr. Alter, people who sit too much have an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and shorter life spans. The bottom line? Humans were meant to move. It’s really that simple. Not only does movement help us feel better physically, it enhances self-esteem and self-awareness, it reduces anxiety and depression, it enhances the mind-body connection (which tunes us into intuition), and it facilitates learning on a deeper, more experiential level. The body is intimately involved in our emotions, inspiration, intuitive hits, and our inner truth. Despite what we’ve been taught by culture, mind and body are not separate. The body is our true brain. Movement instigates a higher level of critical thought. Think about it. When you contrast sedentary thought processes with those that arrive when you’re out hiking, dancing, running, kayaking, or whatever feeds your soul, how do they compare? Often our greatest inspiration, creativity, and problem-solving occurs through movement. Movement connects head with heart; body with soul. This week I speak with a man who is passionate about movement. By breaking down paradigms that trap us in limiting beliefs, Ryan Grant empowers us to move. Ryan is a former professional triathlete, competitive runner (who runs a sub 30 minute 10K), adventure racer, and ultra expedition runner. He’s also the co-owner (with his sister, Cassandra) of SoleFit Inc., an Ottawa, Ontario based business that is passionate about inspiring activity – whether it’s through high-level sport, or just getting out for daily walks. Ryan recently completed a 21 day epic adventure running across the Patagonia desert in support of the Impossible2Possible Foundation. Along with Impossible2Possible founder, Ray Zahab and Stephano Gregoretti, the trio set out to inspire, educate, and empower the global community of youth to reach beyond their perceived limits. By using adventure to inspire interactive learning about remote parts of the world, other cultures, and also to show that there are no limits to what we can do when we set our minds to something, hearts and minds are opened, and positive change happens. Ryan is a gifted athlete with a massive heart. Do not let his athletic prowess intimidate however. Ryan’s accomplishments are not for show. They’re for the simple reason that he just loves to move. This is what he inspires in all of us. It makes no difference if it’s lawn bowling, walking the dog, running, or triathlon. Ryan is passionate about inspiring a culture that reclaims its birthright to move. This week’s conversation explores so many great topics including: • The importance of movement. • What would it be like if age didn’t matter? • The stigma of age. • Leveraging our passions for health and wellness. • How willpower is finite, but passion burns indefinitely. • The difference between health and performance. • Learning to listen to body wisdom. • Why we strive to fill every moment with “busy”. • How mindful practices such as meditation and grounding bring us more into balance. • Saying yes to the adventure of life. Ryan’s ultimate message for everyone is this: move, don’t accept status quo, you are not defined by your age, honor your passions, and there are no limits to what we are capable of. Ryan Grant exemplifies it all with humble gratitude. The sedentary cultural mindset of today is hurting us – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Collectively, we spend more time on our heinies than we do on our feet. In our cars, at our desks, in front of the computer, and the tv. We sit from sunup until sundown. We sleep, we wake up…and we sit all over again. Sleep, eat, sit, repeat.

“More than one-half of an average person’s day is spent being sedentary — sitting, watching television or working at a computer,” says Dr. David Alter, senior scientist at the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto. According to a recent study by Dr. Alter, people who sit too much have an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and shorter life spans. The bottom line? Humans were meant to move. It’s really that simple.

Not only does movement help us feel better physically, it enhances self-esteem and self-awareness, it reduces anxiety and depression, it enhances the mind-body connection (which tunes us into intuition), and it facilitates learning on a deeper, more experiential level. The body is intimately involved in our emotions, inspiration, intuitive hits, and our inner truth. Despite what we’ve been taught by culture, mind and body are not separate. The body is our true brain. Movement instigates a higher level of critical thought.

Think about it. When you contrast sedentary thought processes with those that arrive when you’re out hiking, dancing, running, kayaking, or whatever feeds your soul, how do they compare? Often our greatest inspiration, creativity, and problem-solving occurs through movement. Movement connects head with heart; body with soul.

This week I speak with a man who is passionate about movement. By breaking down paradigms that trap us in limiting beliefs, Ryan Grant empowers us to move.

Ryan is a former professional triathlete, competitive runner (who runs a sub 30 minute 10K), adventure racer, and ultra expedition runner. He’s also the co-owner (with his sister, Cassandra) of SoleFit Inc., an Ottawa, Ontario based business that is passionate about inspiring activity – whether it’s through high-level sport, or just getting out for daily walks.

Ryan recently completed a 21 day epic adventure running across the Patagonia desert in support of the Impossible2Possible Foundation. Along with Impossible2Possible founder, Ray Zahab and Stephano Gregoretti, the trio set out to inspire, educate, and empower the global community of youth to reach beyond their perceived limits. By using adventure to inspire interactive learning about remote parts of the world, other cultures, and also to show that there are no limits to what we can do when we set our minds to something, hearts and minds are opened, and positive change happens.

Ryan is a gifted athlete with a massive heart. Do not let his athletic prowess intimidate however. Ryan’s accomplishments are not for show. They’re for the simple reason that he just loves to move. This is what he inspires in all of us. It makes no difference if it’s lawn bowling, walking the dog, running, or triathlon. Ryan is passionate about inspiring a culture that reclaims its birthright to move.

This week’s conversation explores so many great topics including:

• The importance of movement.
• What would it be like if age didn’t matter?
• The stigma of age.
• Leveraging our passions for health and wellness.
• How willpower is finite, but passion burns indefinitely.
• The difference between health and performance.
• Learning to listen to body wisdom.
• Why we strive to fill every moment with “busy”.
• How mindful practices such as meditation and grounding bring us more into balance.
• Saying yes to the adventure of life.

Ryan’s ultimate message for everyone is this: move, don’t accept status quo, you are not defined by your age, honor your passions, and there are no limits to what we are capable of. Ryan Grant exemplifies it all with humble gratitude.

SHOW NOTES:

• SoleFit Inc. website.
• 2015 Expedition Patagonia website.
• 2014 Baffin Island Expedition website.
• Impossible2Possible website.
• Running the Sahara movie trailer.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
The sedentary cultural mindset of today is hurting us – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Collectively, we spend more time on our heinies than we do on our feet. In our cars, at our desks, in front of the computer, and the tv. “More than one-half of an average person’s day is spent being sedentary — sitting, watching television or working at a computer,” says Dr. David Alter, senior scientist at the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto. According to a recent study by Dr. Alter, people who sit too much have an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and shorter life spans. The bottom line? Humans were meant to move. It’s really that simple.
Not only does movement help us feel better physically, it enhances self-esteem and self-awareness, it reduces anxiety and depression, it enhances the mind-body connection (which tunes us into intuition), and it facilitates learning on a deeper, more experiential level. The body is intimately involved in our emotions, inspiration, intuitive hits, and our inner truth. Despite what we’ve been taught by culture, mind and body are not separate. The body is our true brain. Movement instigates a higher level of critical thought.
Think about it. When you contrast sedentary thought processes with those that arrive when you’re out hiking, dancing, running, kayaking, or whatever feeds your soul, how do they compare? Often our greatest inspiration, creativity, and problem-solving occurs through movement. Movement connects head with heart; body with soul.
This week I speak with a man who is passionate about movement. By breaking down paradigms that trap us in limiting beliefs, Ryan Grant empowers us to move.
Ryan is a former professional triathlete, competitive runner (who runs a sub 30 minute 10K), adventure racer, and ultra expedition runner. He’s also the co-owner (with his sister, Cassandra) of SoleFit Inc., an Ottawa, Ontario based business that is passionate about inspiring activity – whether it’s through high-level sport, or just getting out for daily walks.
Ryan recently completed a 21 day epic adventure running across the Patagonia desert in support of the Impossible2Possible Foundation. Along with Impossible2Possible founder, Ray Zahab and Stephano Gregoretti, the trio set out to inspire, educate, and empower the global community of youth to reach beyond their perceived limits. By using adventure to inspire interactive learning about remote parts of the world, other cultures, and also to show that there are no limits to what we can do when we set our minds to something, hearts and minds are opened, and positive change happens.
Ryan is a gifted athlete with a massive heart. Do not let his athletic prowess intimidate however. Ryan’s accomplishments are not for show. They’re for the simple reason that he just loves to move. This is what he inspires in all of us. It makes no difference if it’s lawn bowling, walking the dog, running, or triathlon. Ryan is passionate about inspiring a culture that reclaims its birthright to move.
This week’s conversation explores so many great topics including:
• The importance of movement.

• What would it be like if age didn’t matter?

• The stigma of age.

• Leveraging our passions for health and wellness.

• How willpower is finite, but passion burns indefinitely.

• The difference between health and performance.

• Learning to listen to body wisdom.

• Why we strive to fill every moment with “busy”.

• How mindful practices such as meditation and grounding bring us more into balance.

• Saying yes to the adventure of life.
]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:36:29
UP #75: Boundaries and Beyond with Louise LeBrun http://www.debozarko.com/boundaries/ Thu, 06 Aug 2015 13:04:13 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=12117 http://www.debozarko.com/boundaries/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/boundaries/feed/ 0 According to the American Heritage dictionary, boundaries are defined as an “indicated border or limit.” When we think of personal boundaries, we often reference the imaginary borders that indicate where we begin and another person ends. When our boundaries are healthy, we’re rooted in our authentic Selves. When our boundaries are healthy, we have well developed identities that are distinct from others. We’re no longer dependant on the beliefs, opinions and judgements of others to nurture and define our personal worth. Without healthy boundaries, we find ourselves enmeshed in the emotional lives of others. We all know that this sucks! But there us so much more to boundaries than meets the eye. The word “boundary” implies something that exists outside of ourselves. True boundaries aren’t defined externally however. They exist within. And if we take this even further, they’re not really “boundaries at all; they’re the voice of our intuition, or authentic self. When we experience a boundary violation, it’s because we’ve derailed from our inner truth. Of course, there are boundary violations that can be extremely violent, but for the sake of this conversation, we’ll remain within the realm of everyday experiences. Our culture conditions us to dishonor ourselves. As a result, we’re overworked, exhausted, frustrated, anxious, depressed, resentful, and, in many cases, abused. By not honoring our internal truths, we not only compromise ourselves, we separate from the essence of who we authentically are. As we set clear boundaries based on what lives within, we discover a clearer sense of our spiritual presence in the world. We’re also keenly aware of boundary violations. When we’re plugged in to our authentic self, our inner strength carries us through life and boundary creation is no longer a necessity But before I get too carried away, this week’s conversation is about so much more than boundaries. Louise LeBrun is gifted with her ability to demolish old paradigms with her simple, yet profound wisdom. I invite you to listen in and prepare to have your reality altered in ways that will no only inspire, they will empower. This week, we explore: • What is a boundary? • Who we are influences what we know. • Paying attention to our inner cues. • How we often violate ourselves when we don’t honor our truth. • Awakening to internal referencing (and how this will change the world). • How we become adept at silencing the screams inside ourselves so that we only hear the commands of the external world. • When we live externally references lives, we are less likely to have solid boundaries. • When someone ignores a boundary, that is their response (and it requires no more engagement). • Permission to change your mind! • Be yourself and tell the truth – the secret to an authentic life! • What is a nomimalization? • How our lives are intended to be fluid. Louise LeBrun consistently alters my world in ways that create expansion. I’m confident that this week’s conversation will do the same for you. According to the American Heritage dictionary, boundaries are defined as an “indicated border or limit.”

When we think of personal boundaries, we often reference the imaginary borders that indicate where we begin and another person ends. When our boundaries are solid, we’re rooted in our authentic Selves. When our boundaries are healthy, we have well developed identities that are distinct from others – the way it should be. We’re no longer dependant on the beliefs, opinions and judgements of others to define our personal worth.

Without healthy boundaries, we find ourselves enmeshed in the emotional lives of others. Yuck!

But there’s so much more to boundaries than meets the eye. The word “boundary” implies something that exists outside of ourselves. True boundaries aren’t defined externally however. They exist within. If we take this even further, they’re not really “boundaries at all; they’re the voice of our intuition, or authentic self. When we experience a boundary violation, it’s because we’ve derailed from our inner truth.

Our culture conditions us to dishonor ourselves. As a result, we’re overworked, exhausted, frustrated, anxious, depressed, resentful, and, in many cases, abused. By not honoring our internal truths, we not only compromise ourselves, we separate from the essence of who we authentically are.

As we set clear boundaries based on what lives within, we discover a clearer sense of our spiritual presence in the world. We’re also keenly aware of boundary violations. When we’re plugged in to our authentic self, our inner strength carries us through life and boundary creation is no longer a necessity

This week’s conversation is a powerful exploration of boundaries…and so much more. This week I speak with the force of nature known as Louise LeBrun. Louise is gifted in her ability to demolish old paradigms with her simple, yet profound wisdom.

This week, we explore:

• What is a boundary?
• Who we are influences what we know.
• Paying attention to our inner cues.
• How we often violate ourselves when we don’t honor our truth.
• Awakening to internal referencing (and how this will change the world).
• How we become adept at silencing the screams inside ourselves so that we only hear the commands of the external world.
• When we live externally references lives, we are less likely to have solid boundaries.
• When someone ignores a boundary, that is their response (and it requires no more engagement).
• Permission to change your mind!
• Be yourself and tell the truth – the secret to an authentic life!
• What is a nomimalization?
• How our lives are intended to be fluid.

Louise LeBrun consistently alters my world in ways that create expansion. I’m confident that this week’s conversation will do the same for you.

SHOW NOTES:

• WEL-Systems website.
• New Paradigm – New World! Louise’s game-changing multi-media e-book on iTunes. Get it!
Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis by Alanna Mitchell.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
According to the American Heritage dictionary, boundaries are defined as an “indicated border or limit.” - When we think of personal boundaries, we often reference the imaginary borders that indicate where we begin and another person ends. When we think of personal boundaries, we often reference the imaginary borders that indicate where we begin and another person ends. When our boundaries are solid, we’re rooted in our authentic Selves. When our boundaries are healthy, we have well developed identities that are distinct from others – the way it should be. We’re no longer dependant on the beliefs, opinions and judgements of others to define our personal worth.
Without healthy boundaries, we find ourselves enmeshed in the emotional lives of others. Yuck!
But there’s so much more to boundaries than meets the eye. The word “boundary” implies something that exists outside of ourselves. True boundaries aren’t defined externally however. They exist within. If we take this even further, they’re not really “boundaries at all; they’re the voice of our intuition, or authentic self. When we experience a boundary violation, it’s because we’ve derailed from our inner truth.
Our culture conditions us to dishonor ourselves. As a result, we’re overworked, exhausted, frustrated, anxious, depressed, resentful, and, in many cases, abused. By not honoring our internal truths, we not only compromise ourselves, we separate from the essence of who we authentically are.
As we set clear boundaries based on what lives within, we discover a clearer sense of our spiritual presence in the world. We’re also keenly aware of boundary violations. When we’re plugged in to our authentic self, our inner strength carries us through life and boundary creation is no longer a necessity
This week’s conversation is a powerful exploration of boundaries…and so much more. This week I speak with the force of nature known as Louise LeBrun. Louise is gifted in her ability to demolish old paradigms with her simple, yet profound wisdom.
This week, we explore:
• What is a boundary?

• Who we are influences what we know.

• Paying attention to our inner cues.

• How we often violate ourselves when we don’t honor our truth.

• Awakening to internal referencing (and how this will change the world).

• How we become adept at silencing the screams inside ourselves so that we only hear the commands of the external world.

• When we live externally references lives, we are less likely to have solid boundaries.

• When someone ignores a boundary, that is their response (and it requires no more engagement).

• Permission to change your mind!

• Be yourself and tell the truth – the secret to an authentic life!

• What is a nomimalization?

• How our lives are intended to be fluid.
Louise LeBrun consistently alters my world in ways that create expansion. I’m confident that this week’s conversation will do the same for you.
SHOW NOTES:
• WEL-Systems website.

• New Paradigm – New World! Louise’s game-changing multi-media e-book on iTunes. Get it!

Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis by Alanna Mitchell.
Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
1:48:31
UP #74: The Future of Meat is No Meat with Ethan Brown http://www.debozarko.com/ethan/ Sat, 01 Aug 2015 01:00:09 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=12110 http://www.debozarko.com/ethan/#view_comments http://www.debozarko.com/ethan/feed/ 1 Can you imagine a world where human beings evolved beyond meat? I certainly can. And so can this week’s Unplug podcast guest. Ethan Brown is the founder and CEO of the paradigm altering company, Beyond Meat. Ethan’s vision for a better world is inspired by the calling in his heart to render the meat industry obsolete. How? By creating something better. Something more delicious, more health giving, and entirely cruelty free. Beyond Meat is changing the face of food at a time in our planetary history where radical transformation is our only option. Unless you live with your head in the drought-created sand dunes, or flood inspired mud pits of the world, you know what I mean. Outside Magazine journalist, Rowan Jacobsen writes in an article about Beyond Meat, “I dumped meat a few weeks ago, and it was not an easy breakup. Some of my most treasured moments have involved a deck, a beer, and a cheeseburger. But the more I learned, the more I understood that the relationship wasn’t good for either of us. I knew that with every burger I consumed, I was helping to suck America’s rivers dry, munching on a fecal casserole seasoned liberally with E. coli, passively condoning an orgy of torture that would make Hannibal Lecter blanch, and accelerating global warming as surely as if I’d plowed my Hummer into a solar installation. We all needed to kick the meat habit, starting with me.” Climate change is altering the face of the world and it’s waking us up to a new reality. It ain’t pretty. As Naomi Klein writes in the cover sleeve of her recent book, This Changes Everything, “Climate change is a civilizational wake-up call, a powerful message delivered in the language of fires, floods, storms, and droughts. Confronting it is no longer about changing the light bulbs. It’s about changing the world – before the world changes so drastically that no one is safe. Either we leap – or we sink.” This week, we leap…far into a new reality. The only hurdle – the biggest hurdle – the human mind. But Ethan has it covered. His products are so innovative – and delicious – that even the toughest meat eater cocks his head in disbelief. Beyond Meat’s blend of soy and pea protein isolates, fiber, and a few other ingredients has more protein than beef. More omegas than salmon. Ample calcium, vitamin B, and antioxidants. In their southern California headquarters, the scientists at Beyond Meat have created plant-protein-based meat alternatives that deliver the texture, taste, and juiciness of animal flesh without the cruelty and environmental degradation. It’s a win for all involved – the animals, the planet, and humanity. Beyond Meat has the backing of big guns like Bill Gates and Twitter co-founder, Biz Stone. That alone, speaks volumes. In this week’s conversation, Ethan and I speak about: • Following your calling (and how it never leaves). • The number one inefficiency with meat creation, is the animal itself. • Aligning the parts within ourselves to live more consciously an congruently with truth. • The changing face of food in desperate times. • The power of transparency. • The biggest obstacle to change is cultural conditioning. • How culture conditions us to shut down our internal truth. • Changing the world through food. Sometimes it’s necessary to live a bad situation to its fullest before we’re ready to step into transformation. Our altered climate is no longer a future worry. It’s here now. We’ve remorselessly consumed everything good, true, and beautiful and the results speak for themselves. It’s ugly. We all know it’s going to take a miracle to turn things around on this planet. But we can never let our current reality define our future reality. Our minds doubt that things will ever be much different from what we see and know. Our hearts tell us differently. Ethan Brown’s heart tells him that change can happen…it is happening. He’s plugged in to a kinder, more compassionate paradigm. We can too. Easily. Can you imagine a world where human beings evolved beyond meat? I certainly can. And so can this week’s Unplug podcast guest. Ethan Brown is the founder and CEO of the paradigm altering company, Beyond Meat.

Ethan’s vision for a better world is inspired by the calling in his heart to render the meat industry obsolete. How? By creating something better. Something more delicious, more health giving, and entirely cruelty free. Beyond Meat is changing the face of food at a time in our planetary history where radical transformation is our only option. Unless you live with your head in the drought-created sand dunes, or flood inspired mud pits of the world, you know what I mean.

Outside Magazine journalist, Rowan Jacobsen writes in an article about Beyond Meat, “I dumped meat a few weeks ago, and it was not an easy breakup. Some of my most treasured moments have involved a deck, a beer, and a cheeseburger. But the more I learned, the more I understood that the relationship wasn’t good for either of us. I knew that with every burger I consumed, I was helping to suck America’s rivers dry, munching on a fecal casserole seasoned liberally with E. coli, passively condoning an orgy of torture that would make Hannibal Lecter blanch, and accelerating global warming as surely as if I’d plowed my Hummer into a solar installation. We all needed to kick the meat habit, starting with me.”

Climate change is altering the face of the world and it’s waking us up to a new reality. It ain’t pretty. As Naomi Klein writes in the cover sleeve of her recent book, This Changes Everything, “Climate change is a civilizational wake-up call, a powerful message delivered in the language of fires, floods, storms, and droughts. Confronting it is no longer about changing the light bulbs. It’s about changing the world – before the world changes so drastically that no one is safe. Either we leap – or we sink.”

This week, we leap…far into a new reality. The only hurdle – the biggest hurdle – the human mind. But Ethan has it covered. His products are so innovative – and delicious – that even the toughest meat eater cocks his head in disbelief.

Beyond Meat’s blend of soy and pea protein isolates, fiber, and a few other ingredients has more protein than beef. More omegas than salmon. Ample calcium, vitamin B, and antioxidants. In their southern California headquarters, the scientists at Beyond Meat have created plant-protein-based meat alternatives that deliver the texture, taste, and juiciness of animal flesh without the cruelty and environmental degradation. It’s a win for all involved – the animals, the planet, and humanity.

Beyond Meat has the backing of big guns like Bill Gates and Twitter co-founder, Biz Stone. That alone, speaks volumes.

In this week’s conversation, Ethan and I speak about:

• Following your calling (and how it never leaves).
• The number one inefficiency with meat creation, is the animal itself.
• Aligning the parts within ourselves to live more consciously an congruently with truth.
• The changing face of food in desperate times.
• The power of transparency.
• The biggest obstacle to change is cultural conditioning.
• How culture conditions us to shut down our internal truth.
• Changing the world through food.

Sometimes it’s necessary to live a bad situation to its fullest before we’re ready to step into transformation. Our altered climate is no longer a future worry. It’s here now. We’ve remorselessly consumed everything good, true, and beautiful and the results speak for themselves. It’s ugly.

We all know it’s going to take a miracle to turn things around on this planet. But we can never let our current reality define our future reality. Our minds doubt that things will ever be much different from what we see and know. Our hearts tell us differently. Ethan Brown’s heart tells him that change can happen…it is happening. He’s plugged in to a kinder, more compassionate paradigm. We can too. Easily. All we have to do is choose differently. Beyond Meat makes it easy.

Victor Hugo once said, “There’s nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” The time has come. It’s now.

SHOW NOTES:

• Beyond Meat website.
• Cowspiracy, the movie.
This Top Secret Food will Change the Way You Eat. By Rowan Jacobsen, Outside Magazine.
A Chicken Without Guilt. By Mark Bittman, New York Times.
Tastier, Healthier, And Animal-Free: Can Ethan Brown Reinvent Meat? By Jonathan Ringen, Fast Company
• Sunshine Coast Vegfest website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]> Can you imagine a world where human beings evolved beyond meat? I certainly can. And so can this week’s Unplug podcast guest. Ethan Brown is the founder and CEO of the paradigm altering company, Beyond Meat. - Ethan’s vision for a better world is inspired by the calling in his heart to render the meat industry obsolete. How? By creating something better. Something more delicious, more health giving, and entirely cruelty free. Beyond Meat is changing the face of food at a time in our planetary history where radical transformation is our only option. Unless you live with your head in the drought-created sand dunes, or flood inspired mud pits of the world, you know what I mean.
Outside Magazine journalist, Rowan Jacobsen writes in an article about Beyond Meat, “I dumped meat a few weeks ago, and it was not an easy breakup. Some of my most treasured moments have involved a deck, a beer, and a cheeseburger. But the more I learned, the more I understood that the relationship wasn’t good for either of us. I knew that with every burger I consumed, I was helping to suck America’s rivers dry, munching on a fecal casserole seasoned liberally with E. coli, passively condoning an orgy of torture that would make Hannibal Lecter blanch, and accelerating global warming as surely as if I’d plowed my Hummer into a solar installation. We all needed to kick the meat habit, starting with me.”
Climate change is altering the face of the world and it’s waking us up to a new reality. It ain’t pretty. As Naomi Klein writes in the cover sleeve of her recent book, This Changes Everything, “Climate change is a civilizational wake-up call, a powerful message delivered in the language of fires, floods, storms, and droughts. Confronting it is no longer about changing the light bulbs. It’s about changing the world – before the world changes so drastically that no one is safe. Either we leap – or we sink.”
This week, we leap…far into a new reality. The only hurdle – the biggest hurdle – the human mind. But Ethan has it covered. His products are so innovative – and delicious – that even the toughest meat eater cocks his head in disbelief.
Beyond Meat’s blend of soy and pea protein isolates, fiber, and a few other ingredients has more protein than beef. More omegas than salmon. Ample calcium, vitamin B, and antioxidants. In their southern California headquarters, the scientists at Beyond Meat have created plant-protein-based meat alternatives that deliver the texture, taste, and juiciness of animal flesh without the cruelty and environmental degradation. It’s a win for all involved – the animals, the planet, and humanity.
Beyond Meat has the backing of big guns like Bill Gates and Twitter co-founder, Biz Stone. That alone, speaks volumes.
In this week’s conversation, Ethan and I speak about:
• Following your calling (and how it never leaves).

• The number one inefficiency with meat creation, is the animal itself.

• Aligning the parts within ourselves to live more consciously an congruently with truth.

• The changing face of food in desperate times.

• The power of transparency.

• The biggest obstacle to change is cultural conditioning.

• How culture conditions us to shut down our internal truth.

• Changing the world through food.
Sometimes it’s necessary to live a bad situation to its fullest before we’re ready to step into transformation. Our altered climate is no longer a future worry. It’s here now. We’ve remorselessly consumed everything good, true, and beautiful and the results speak for themselves. It’s ugly.
We all know it’s going to take a miracle to turn things around on this planet. But we can never let our current reality define our future reality. Our minds doubt that things will ever be much different ...]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:16:32 UP #73: Unschooling/Living School: Creating a New Paradigm for Education with Angela Arbuckle and Naomi Irons http://www.debozarko.com/unschooling/ Wed, 22 Jul 2015 20:07:45 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=12089 http://www.debozarko.com/unschooling/#view_comments http://www.debozarko.com/unschooling/feed/ 2 That past several decades have seen rapid transformation in many areas of modern life. From the internet to social media to crowdfunding, nearly every sector in the western world uses new technologies to innovate, create, and communicate in ways that were previously unimaginable. The merits and drawbacks are arguable, but the accelerated momentum is undeniable. There is one sector, however, that remains virtually unchanged. Created in the mid-nineteenth century, the factory-model of education prevails to this day. Conformity, compliance and competition supplant creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. It is a stark reminder of an antiquated model designed to perpetuate the hypnotic trance that defines the consumptive paradigm of separation. With its rigid bell schedules and age-based grade levels, the factory-model of education was designed to produce assembly line workers for repetitive tasks without the need for problem solving, analysis, creativity, or critical thought. By monotonously teaching the same curriculum at the same pace year after year, compliant thought is ensured. The Dalai Lama recently said that, “Education is in crisis the world over. There is unprecedented literacy, yet this universal education does not seem to have fostered goodness, but only mental restlessness and discontent instead.” With few opportunities for engaging conversations and creative problem solving, students are unable to make important connections that lead them to self discovery, goodness, and truth. Critical thought is one of the greatest assets in a conscious, awakening mind. In a cultural paradigm that promotes sameness, critical thought challenges the status quo and inspires authentic expression, compassion, creativity, and truth. It is in our biological nature to think, yet much of our thinking is externally sourced. The blind acceptance of the status quo ensures mindless choices, behaviours, and actions that perpetuate the consumptive patterns responsible for alarming planetary destruction. A mental realm devoid of critical thought is judgmental, uninformed, biased, and outright distorted. When we deaden critical thought, we deaden wisdom. When we deaden creativity, we deaden the soul. When we run on knowledge alone, we destroy the earth. Author Thomas Berry states that, “Most of the destruction of the planet is being accomplished by people with PhDs.” Mahatma Gandhi’s greatest fear for his country after its freedom was realized was, “The cold hearts of the educated citizens.” What is critical thought? The basic definition implies the ability to make one’s own decisions along with the willingness to continually challenge one’s own thinking. It also implies the non-acceptance of beliefs, opinions, facts, and statements as valid without first considering a more expansive worldview directed by internal truth. Critical thought is self-directed, self-monitored, and self-corrective. It inspires, enlightens, and empowers. Critical thinking unites head with heart. The cultivation of critical thought inspires compassion. Compassion elevates consciousness. Compassion in action transforms the world. Enter unschooling, an innovative educational philosophy that eliminates the institutionalized, “one size fits all” approach of the factory model of education. Peter Gray, psychology professor at Boston College and author of Free To Learn, states that “children come into this world burning to learn, equipped with the curiosity, playfulness, and sociability to direct their own education. Yet we have squelched such instincts in a school model originally developed to indoctrinate, not to promote intellectual growth.” Unschooling accommodates a child’s natural passion for learning by nurturing curiosity, creativity, and critical thought. In a world where self-confidence has reached all-time lows, unschooling fosters self-expression, self-esteem, and empowered learning through self-initiated activities and natur... The past several decades have seen rapid transformation in many areas of modern life. From the internet to social media to crowdfunding, nearly every sector in the western world uses new technologies to innovate, create, and communicate in ways that were previously unimaginable. The merits and drawbacks are arguable, but the accelerated momentum is undeniable.

There is one sector, however, that remains virtually unchanged.

Created in the mid-nineteenth century, the factory-model of education prevails to this day. Conformity, compliance and competition supplant creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. It is a stark reminder of an antiquated model designed to perpetuate the hypnotic trance that defines the consumptive paradigm of separation.

With its rigid bell schedules and age-based grade levels, the factory-model of education was designed to produce assembly line workers for repetitive tasks without the need for problem solving, analysis, creativity, or critical thought. By monotonously teaching the same curriculum at the same pace year after year, compliant thought is ensured.

The Dalai Lama recently said that, “Education is in crisis the world over. There is unprecedented literacy, yet this universal education does not seem to have fostered goodness, but only mental restlessness and discontent instead.”

With few opportunities for engaging conversations and creative problem solving, students are unable to make important connections that lead them to self discovery, goodness, and truth.

Critical thought is one of the greatest assets in a conscious, awakening mind. In a cultural paradigm that promotes sameness, critical thought challenges the status quo and inspires authentic expression, compassion, creativity, and truth.

It is in our biological nature to think, yet much of our thinking is externally sourced. The blind acceptance of the status quo ensures mindless choices, behaviours, and actions that perpetuate the consumptive patterns responsible for alarming planetary destruction. A mental realm devoid of critical thought is judgmental, uninformed, biased, and outright distorted.

When we deaden critical thought, we deaden wisdom. When we deaden creativity, we deaden the soul. When we run on knowledge alone, we destroy the earth. Author Thomas Berry states that, “Most of the destruction of the planet is being accomplished by people with PhDs.” Mahatma Gandhi’s greatest fear for his country after its freedom was realized was, “The cold hearts of the educated citizens.”

What is critical thought? The basic definition implies the ability to make one’s own decisions along with the willingness to continually challenge one’s own thinking. It also implies the non-acceptance of beliefs, opinions, facts, and statements as valid without first considering a more expansive worldview directed by internal truth. Critical thought is self-directed, self-monitored, and self-corrective. It inspires, enlightens, and empowers.

Critical thinking unites head with heart.

The cultivation of critical thought inspires compassion. Compassion elevates consciousness. Compassion in action transforms the world.

Enter unschooling, an innovative educational philosophy that eliminates the institutionalized, “one size fits all” approach of the factory model of education. Peter Gray, psychology professor at Boston College and author of Free To Learn, states that “children come into this world burning to learn, equipped with the curiosity, playfulness, and sociability to direct their own education. Yet we have squelched such instincts in a school model originally developed to indoctrinate, not to promote intellectual growth.”

Unschooling accommodates a child’s natural passion for learning by nurturing curiosity, creativity, and critical thought. In a world where self-confidence has reached all-time lows, unschooling fosters self-expression, self-esteem, and empowered learning through self-initiated activities and natural life experiences. Unschooling feeds the soul.

This week’s episode is a challenging exploration of the collective view on education. Angela Arbuckle and Naomi Irons are two powerful women living conscious and awakened lives. They’re challenging the status quo through the essence of their children and the reclamation of their own authentic Selves. By experimenting with alternatives to an antiquated paradigm, they’re discovering an expansive world well beyond the one that we’ve all been taught to accept as true.

This has inspired some interesting questions for me. What if our culture has it wrong and kids are meant to teach us? Because we come into the world already knowing, what if our job is not to be taught, but instead, to remember who we already are? What if children are meant to guide us back to wholeness?

What if the greatest disservice for children is the antiquated institutionalized thought system we call “education”?

Unschooling pioneer John Holt once said that, “Children learn from anything and everything they see. They learn wherever they are, not just in special learning places.”

Angela and Naomi are pioneering new terrain under the guidance of their children. The results are astounding. Unschooling works. The proof is in the kids – creative, curious, and compassionate critical thinkers with self esteem intact.

This week we explore:

• The difference between homeschooling and unschooling.
• The evolution that comes from living and learning at the same time.
• The sanitation of the true self within the educational system.
• How children are not vessels to be filled. They are meant to be ignited.
• How we can nurture environments for children to come alive to what they already know within themselves.
• How people who can’t think for themselves keep the status quo in check.
• How school is a code word for mind share.
• The predictable structure of thought that negates the question “why”.
• How we are so much more than what we’ve been taught to believe we are.
• The importance of critical thought to change our world.
• Awakening within our bodies and the importance of feeling.
• How the root of education is conformity.
• How parents are the biggest wall of resistance to a child’s authentic expression.
• Awakening to the inner force that shapes an authentic life.

In a world that is begging for more creativity, critical thought, and authentic expression, unschooling delivers. With faith, trust, and love in their hearts, Angela and Naomi are inspiring catalysts for the radical change this planet so desperately needs.

SHOW NOTES:

• The Rural Consciousness Project website.
• Naomi Irons website.
• Logan LaPlante Hackschooling TEDx talk.
• WEL-Systems Body of knowledge website.
• Astra Taylor on the Unschooled Life video.
• Raising Awake Children in a Broken School System blog post.
• A Talk About Unschooling from an Unschooler. Check this out!

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
That past several decades have seen rapid transformation in many areas of modern life. From the internet to social media to crowdfunding, nearly every sector in the western world uses new technologies to innovate, create, There is one sector, however, that remains virtually unchanged.
Created in the mid-nineteenth century, the factory-model of education prevails to this day. Conformity, compliance and competition supplant creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. It is a stark reminder of an antiquated model designed to perpetuate the hypnotic trance that defines the consumptive paradigm of separation.
With its rigid bell schedules and age-based grade levels, the factory-model of education was designed to produce assembly line workers for repetitive tasks without the need for problem solving, analysis, creativity, or critical thought. By monotonously teaching the same curriculum at the same pace year after year, compliant thought is ensured.
The Dalai Lama recently said that, “Education is in crisis the world over. There is unprecedented literacy, yet this universal education does not seem to have fostered goodness, but only mental restlessness and discontent instead.”
With few opportunities for engaging conversations and creative problem solving, students are unable to make important connections that lead them to self discovery, goodness, and truth.
Critical thought is one of the greatest assets in a conscious, awakening mind. In a cultural paradigm that promotes sameness, critical thought challenges the status quo and inspires authentic expression, compassion, creativity, and truth.
It is in our biological nature to think, yet much of our thinking is externally sourced. The blind acceptance of the status quo ensures mindless choices, behaviours, and actions that perpetuate the consumptive patterns responsible for alarming planetary destruction. A mental realm devoid of critical thought is judgmental, uninformed, biased, and outright distorted.
When we deaden critical thought, we deaden wisdom. When we deaden creativity, we deaden the soul. When we run on knowledge alone, we destroy the earth. Author Thomas Berry states that, “Most of the destruction of the planet is being accomplished by people with PhDs.” Mahatma Gandhi’s greatest fear for his country after its freedom was realized was, “The cold hearts of the educated citizens.”
What is critical thought? The basic definition implies the ability to make one’s own decisions along with the willingness to continually challenge one’s own thinking. It also implies the non-acceptance of beliefs, opinions, facts, and statements as valid without first considering a more expansive worldview directed by internal truth. Critical thought is self-directed, self-monitored, and self-corrective. It inspires, enlightens, and empowers.
Critical thinking unites head with heart.
The cultivation of critical thought inspires compassion. Compassion elevates consciousness. Compassion in action transforms the world.
Enter unschooling, an innovative educational philosophy that eliminates the institutionalized, “one size fits all” approach of the factory model of education. Peter Gray, psychology professor at Boston College and author of Free To Learn, states that “children come into this world burning to learn, equipped with the curiosity, playfulness, and sociability to direct their own education. Yet we have squelched such instincts in a school model originally developed to indoctrinate, not to promote intellectual growth.”
Unschooling accommodates a child’s natural passion for learning by nurturing curiosity, creativity, and critical thought. In a world where self-confidence has reached all-time lows, unschooling fosters self-expression, self-esteem,]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 2:24:54
UP #72: Embracing the Healer Within with Dr. Radhika Rajagopal, DVM http://www.debozarko.com/drraj/ Wed, 08 Jul 2015 00:01:02 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=11967 http://www.debozarko.com/drraj/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/drraj/feed/ 0 Dr. Radhika Rajagopal (Radica Raj) is a woman with a hunger for expansion. Inspired by the words of veterinarian/author James Herriot, Radica knew at an early age that she’d discovered her calling. Growing up in India, her passion for helping animals led her to study veterinary medicine in Canada where she graduated with the traditional Western knowledge typically found in the veterinary clinics of today. After practicing for a few years, she found herself disillusioned with the routine procedures and lack of challenges found in a typical general practice. She shook things up by embarking on a career transition that led her into veterinary emergency medicine and critical care. With the ongoing challenges and continual adrenalin rush, she was inspired to start her own emergency facility while living in the bustling metropolis of Toronto. As the owner of two clinics (a general practice and the critical care clinic), she was pushed to work long hours and night shifts to accommodate the steady flow of animals in need. While this transition provided the challenges she craved, she became increasingly frustrated with the limitations of Western medicine to provide quality of life solutions for terminally ill patients and animals suffering from osteo-arthritis and paralysis. Frustration often precedes growth and it was this frustration that led Radica on yet another journey into the expansive world of holistic medicine. Radica’s life changed when she said yes to this path. She connected to the healer within and embraced the fullness of her calling. She’s since completed her post-graduate diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine with the Chi Institute in Florida. This fueled her hunger for more and she continues to expand her healing repertoire. She now offers chiropractic, prolotherapy, and platelet rich plasma therapy…and I suspect that there will be more to come. More importantly however, Radica leads with her heart. Her kindness and compassion are a breath of fresh air in a commoditized profession that often chooses profit over prevention. Radica cares. When I’m in her presence, I feel safe. But the bigger testament to her gift for healing is the ease displayed by the animals in her care. The love in her heart is palpable by all. There’s nothing more inspiring than being in the presence of someone who truly loves what they do – someone who is fulfilling a calling rather than just doing d job. This is Dr Radica Raj, integrative veterinarian, healer, and passionate lover of life. This week we discuss: • The importance of creating safety for healthy relationships – regardless of species. • The multi-sensory art of integrative medicine. • The power of example to facilitate change. • The exciting possibilities of prolotherapy and platelet rich plasma therapy for tissue repair. • What are stem cells and why stem cell therapy is so exciting. • How health care should be about prevention, support, and facilitating the body’s natural healing mechanisms. • The body’s innate capacity to heal itself. • A frank discussion about the danger of vaccines and how they suppress the body’s innate intelligence. • The importance of a natural diet for optimal health. • Balancing diagnostics with intuition. • Navigating burnout and knowing when to slow down. • The power of belief to heal. Dr. Radica Raj is creating a paradigm shift in veterinary medicine, not through exclusion, but by opening herself to the endless possibilities for healing body, mind, and soul. Enjoy this inspirational show. Dr. Radhika Rajagopal (Radica Raj) is a woman with a hunger for expansion. Inspired by the words of veterinarian/author James Herriot, Radica knew at an early age that she’d discovered her calling.

Growing up in India, her passion for helping animals led her to study veterinary medicine in Canada where she graduated with the traditional Western knowledge typically found in the veterinary clinics of today. After practicing for a few years, she found herself disillusioned with the routine procedures and lack of challenges found in a typical general practice.

She shook things up by embarking on a career transition that led her into veterinary emergency medicine and critical care. With the ongoing challenges and continual adrenalin rush, she was inspired to start her own emergency facility while living in the bustling metropolis of Toronto.

As the owner of two clinics (a general practice and the critical care clinic), she was pushed to work long hours and night shifts to accommodate the steady flow of animals in need. While this transition provided the challenges she craved, she became increasingly frustrated with the limitations of Western medicine to provide quality of life solutions for terminally ill patients and animals suffering from osteo-arthritis and paralysis. Frustration often precedes growth and it was this frustration that led Radica on yet another journey into the expansive world of holistic medicine. Radica’s life changed when she said yes to this path. She connected to the healer within and embraced the fullness of her calling.

She’s since completed her post-graduate diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine with the Chi Institute in Florida. This fueled her hunger for more and she continues to expand her healing repertoire. She now offers chiropractic, prolotherapy, and platelet rich plasma therapy…and I suspect that there will be more to come. More importantly however, Radica leads with her heart. Her kindness and compassion are a breath of fresh air in a commoditized profession that often chooses profit over prevention. Radica cares. When I’m in her presence, I feel safe. But the bigger testament to her gift for healing is the ease displayed by the animals in her care. The love in her heart is palpable by all. There’s nothing more inspiring than being in the presence of someone who truly loves what they do – someone who is fulfilling a calling rather than just doing d job. This is Dr Radica Raj, integrative veterinarian, healer, and passionate lover of all life.

This week we discuss:

• The importance of creating safety for healthy relationships – regardless of species.
• The multi-sensory art of integrative medicine.
• The power of example to facilitate change.
• The exciting possibilities of prolotherapy and platelet rich plasma therapy for tissue repair.
• What are stem cells and why stem cell therapy is so exciting.
• How health care should be about prevention, support, and facilitating the body’s natural healing mechanisms.
• The body’s innate capacity to heal itself.
• A frank discussion about the danger of vaccines and how they suppress the body’s innate intelligence.
• The importance of a natural diet for optimal health.
• Balancing diagnostics with intuition.
• Navigating burnout and knowing when to slow down.
• The power of belief to heal.

Dr. Radica Raj is creating a paradigm shift in veterinary medicine, not through exclusion, but by opening herself to the endless possibilities for healing body, mind, and soul. Enjoy this inspirational show.

SHOW NOTES:

• Phoenix Rising Veterinary Care website.
• Marlene Smith, “Life Lessons Learned from Animals” podcast.
God’s Hotel: A Doctor, a Hospital, and a Pilgrimage to the Heart of Medicine on Amazon.
• Google album of Sechelt wildfire.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Dr. Radhika Rajagopal (Radica Raj) is a woman with a hunger for expansion. Inspired by the words of veterinarian/author James Herriot, Radica knew at an early age that she’d discovered her calling. - Growing up in India, Growing up in India, her passion for helping animals led her to study veterinary medicine in Canada where she graduated with the traditional Western knowledge typically found in the veterinary clinics of today. After practicing for a few years, she found herself disillusioned with the routine procedures and lack of challenges found in a typical general practice.
She shook things up by embarking on a career transition that led her into veterinary emergency medicine and critical care. With the ongoing challenges and continual adrenalin rush, she was inspired to start her own emergency facility while living in the bustling metropolis of Toronto.
As the owner of two clinics (a general practice and the critical care clinic), she was pushed to work long hours and night shifts to accommodate the steady flow of animals in need. While this transition provided the challenges she craved, she became increasingly frustrated with the limitations of Western medicine to provide quality of life solutions for terminally ill patients and animals suffering from osteo-arthritis and paralysis. Frustration often precedes growth and it was this frustration that led Radica on yet another journey into the expansive world of holistic medicine. Radica’s life changed when she said yes to this path. She connected to the healer within and embraced the fullness of her calling.
She’s since completed her post-graduate diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine with the Chi Institute in Florida. This fueled her hunger for more and she continues to expand her healing repertoire. She now offers chiropractic, prolotherapy, and platelet rich plasma therapy…and I suspect that there will be more to come. More importantly however, Radica leads with her heart. Her kindness and compassion are a breath of fresh air in a commoditized profession that often chooses profit over prevention. Radica cares. When I’m in her presence, I feel safe. But the bigger testament to her gift for healing is the ease displayed by the animals in her care. The love in her heart is palpable by all. There’s nothing more inspiring than being in the presence of someone who truly loves what they do – someone who is fulfilling a calling rather than just doing d job. This is Dr Radica Raj, integrative veterinarian, healer, and passionate lover of all life.
This week we discuss:
• The importance of creating safety for healthy relationships – regardless of species.

• The multi-sensory art of integrative medicine.

• The power of example to facilitate change.

• The exciting possibilities of prolotherapy and platelet rich plasma therapy for tissue repair.

• What are stem cells and why stem cell therapy is so exciting.

• How health care should be about prevention, support, and facilitating the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

• The body’s innate capacity to heal itself.

• A frank discussion about the danger of vaccines and how they suppress the body’s innate intelligence.

• The importance of a natural diet for optimal health.

• Balancing diagnostics with intuition.

• Navigating burnout and knowing when to slow down.

• The power of belief to heal.
Dr. Radica Raj is creating a paradigm shift in veterinary medicine, not through exclusion, but by opening herself to the endless possibilities for healing body, mind, and soul. Enjoy this inspirational show.
SHOW NOTES:
• Phoenix Rising Veterinary Care website.

• Marlene Smith, clean 1:57:22
UP #71: Burnout, Depression, Activism and the Return to Wholeness with Lesley Fox http://www.debozarko.com/lesleyfox/ Wed, 01 Jul 2015 00:22:42 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=11883 http://www.debozarko.com/lesleyfox/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/lesleyfox/feed/ 0 As a critical thinking, soul-expressed status quo crusher, I see the world through a more expansive lens; the lens of the heart. Where society sees one thing, I see many others. I believe in accountability, which means that I’m willing to say things that many are unwilling to hear. It’s often easier to remain a victim to circumstances than it is to own it. But that’s a cop out from life and I refuse to accept anything less than the admission that we can all be and do so much better. The purpose of this post is to redefine mental illness/depression and tell it like it is. Depression is the mind’s response to a short-circuit from the soul; a cry from the heart to wake up! Depression is a psychosomatic response to a closed heart and the separation from who we authentically are. In a world where humanity has strayed so far from its core essence, it’s not surprising that depression, anxiety, and addiction are commonplace. The paradigm that we call “reality” is not set up for life, truth, presence, authenticity, integrity, compassion, and love. This world is not designed to nurture the essence of who we are. As a result, our inner disconnect manifests “mental” ailments that have been normalized…but are anything but natural. In the past 10 years, the use of anti-depressants has doubled. The farther we stray from the truth of who we are, the greater the likelihood of experiencing depression/spiritual disconnect. We live in a spiritually vacant paradigm and the repercussions are ugly. The more we conform to a culture gone sideways, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The more we believe the dysfunctional thought loops in our heads, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The more unworthy we believe we are, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The less time spend honoring our souls, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. Depression/spiritual disconnect is an invitation to turn inward and rediscover the truth of who we are. I believe that we are all born connected and whole. But we’re taught to disconnect and separate. When life brings us pain and discomfort, we don’t know how to cope. Heartbreak happens. Death happens. Money struggles happen. Stress happens. It can often feel impossible to remain present and connected when life is filled with pain. Sometimes it’s easier to just check out…but this comes at a great expense. We all know on a deep spiritual level that we are so much more than who we’ve been conditioned to be. We all know that we’re meant to live more, give more, be more, and love more. But in a world where we don’t feel safe expressing who we authentically are, many of us separate from our true selves in order to shield ourselves from the judgement we so deeply fear. This separation leads to a loss of direction, vitality, meaning, purpose, identity, compassion, and love. Culturally, we’ve normalized unhappiness by medicating it rather than owning it. We’re not taught emotional maturity. We’re taught to judge, label, and suppress our emotions. We’re taught to think and not feel – a dangerous recipe for depression/spiritual disconnect. When we ignore our emotions, we ignore our soul. In a world that covets the mind and negates the heart, it’s easier to “blame the brain”, swallow a pill, and carry on with the “same old, same old” than it is to look deep within. When we reclaim the truth of who we are, depression is rendered null and void. It becomes a non-issue. We don’t need medication, we need ruthless self care. We need to feel what is real so that we can heal and reclaim our wholeness. We need to “be” as much we “do”. In a culture that perpetuates an endless cacophony of distraction, we must consciously slow ourselves down and unplug from the techno-trance that short circuits our minds from our hearts. We need to realize that we are so much more than our thoughts. We need to remember the essence of who we are – love, compassion, courage, joy, As a critical thinking, soul-expressed status quo crusher, I see the world through a more expansive lens; the lens of the heart. Where society sees one thing, I see many others. I believe in accountability, which means that I’m willing to say things that many are unwilling to hear. It’s often easier to remain a victim to circumstances than it is to own it. But that’s a cop out from life and I refuse to accept anything less than the admission that we can all be and do so much better.

The purpose of this post is to redefine mental illness/depression and tell it like it is. Depression is the mind’s response to a short-circuit from the soul; a cry from the heart to wake up! Depression is a psychosomatic response to a closed heart and the subsequent separation from who we authentically are.

In a world where humanity has strayed so far from its core essence, it’s not surprising that depression, anxiety, and addiction are commonplace. The paradigm that we call “reality” is not set up for life, truth, presence, authenticity, integrity, compassion, and love. This world is not designed to nurture the essence of who we are. As a result, our inner disconnect manifests mental ailments such as depression and anxiety. These afflictions may be considered “normal”, but normal is not natural.

In the past 10 years, the use of anti-depressants has doubled. The farther we stray from the truth of who we are, the greater the likelihood of experiencing depression (herein called, spiritual disconnect). We live in a spiritually vacant paradigm and the repercussions are ugly. The more we conform to a culture gone sideways, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The more we believe the dysfunctional thought loops in our heads, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The more unworthy we believe we are, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The more time we spend spinning our wheels “doing”, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The more time we spend in fear, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The less time we spend honoring our souls, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect.

Spiritual disconnect is a powerful invitation to turn inward and rediscover the truth of who we are.

I believe that we are all born connected and whole. But we’re taught to disconnect and separate. When life brings us pain and discomfort, we don’t know how to cope. Heartbreak happens. Death happens. Money struggles happen. Stress happens. Life happens. It can often feel impossible to remain present and connected when life presents us with so much pain. Sometimes it’s easier to just check out, but this comes at great expense. We are not our pain, yet so many of us identify with just that…unconscious victims to our own emotional immaturity.

On a deep spiritual level we all know that we are so much more than who we’ve been conditioned to be. We all know that we’re meant to live more, give more, be more, and love more. But in a world where we don’t feel safe expressing who we authentically are, many of us separate from our true selves in order to shield our hearts from the judgement we so deeply fear. This separation leads to a loss of direction, vitality, meaning, purpose, identity, compassion, and love. Culturally, we’ve normalized unhappiness by medicating it rather than owning it. We’re not taught to be emotionally mature beings. We’re taught to judge, label, and suppress our emotions while attaching to the fictitious stories we create in our heads. We’re taught to think and not feel – a dangerous recipe for depression/spiritual disconnect.

When we ignore our emotions, we ignore our souls.

A quote by George Brown in the book, The Noonday Demon says it all, “Depression is a response to past loss, and anxiety is a response to future loss.” Depression and anxiety are the soul’s direct responses to an unchecked lack of presence.

In a world that covets the mind and negates the heart, it’s easier to “blame the brain”, swallow a pill, and carry on with the “same old, same old” than it is to look deep within. When we reclaim the truth of who we are, depression is rendered null and void. We don’t need medication, we need ruthless self care. This is a bold statement in a cultural paradigm that chooses pills over pain. Accountability is the first step towards wholeness. I know. I’ve been there…and sometimes I still fall flat. Consciousness is a ongoing practice.

We need to feel what is real so we can heal and reclaim our wholeness. We need to “be” as much we “do”. In a culture that perpetuates an endless cacophony of distraction, we must consciously slow ourselves down and unplug from the techno-trance that short circuits our minds from our hearts. We need to realize that we are so much more than our thoughts. We need to remember the essence of who we are – love, compassion, courage, joy, strength, power, and truth. This is the paradigm-altering shift from head to heart.

The truth of who we are lives in our hearts; in the stillness of meditation, in the presence of nature, in the flow of creative expression, in the joy of time spent with animals or children, in random acts of kindness, in compassionate vegan meals, in the power of movement, and in service to a higher calling. In order to maintain the connection to our soul, it’s imperative to establish a solid, non-negotiable daily practice that feeds our sense of Self and keeps us grounded in truth and internal alignment. It’s only then that we can more consciously navigate the external world in a way that doesn’t bring us down.

In this week’s Unplug podcast, I speak with Lesley Fox, animal activist, and executive director of The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals. Our candid conversation openly exposes our respective personal struggles with spiritual disconnect, how we found our way back, ruthless self-care, and healthy activism. Living consciously in an unconscious world is a vigorous practice, but it is doable when we remember the truth – the soul – of who we are.

This week we discuss:

• How being moved by injustice drives a passion for change.
• The necessity for self expression and a supportive, nurturing environment to foster authenticity.
• How expectations lead to disappointment.
• The importance of like-minded community to inspire expansion and positive action.
• How anger can fuel positive transformative action.
• Underneath all grief is love.
• The necessity for ruthless self-care to preserve a connection to our hearts.
• How we all need a personal practice for balance.
• Learning how to ask for help.
• The power of service and random acts of kindness to “bring us home”.
• Consciously “powering down” for greater productivity.
• Navigating burnout and depression.
• How a conscious life is an ongoing practice.

Spiritual disconnect is one of the greatest problems facing humanity today. The repercussions of our spiritual vacancy are playing out in frightening ways – from rampant depression to runaway climate change. The greatest act of service that we can do for this world is to dare to care about the truth within our hearts. When we return to wholeness, there are no limits to the transformation we can affect.

SHOW NOTES:

• Fur Bearer Defenders website.
• “The Art of Asking” – Amanda Palmer TEDx talk mentioned in our conversation.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]> As a critical thinking, soul-expressed status quo crusher, I see the world through a more expansive lens; the lens of the heart. Where society sees one thing, I see many others. I believe in accountability, The purpose of this post is to redefine mental illness/depression and tell it like it is. Depression is the mind’s response to a short-circuit from the soul; a cry from the heart to wake up! Depression is a psychosomatic response to a closed heart and the subsequent separation from who we authentically are.
In a world where humanity has strayed so far from its core essence, it’s not surprising that depression, anxiety, and addiction are commonplace. The paradigm that we call “reality” is not set up for life, truth, presence, authenticity, integrity, compassion, and love. This world is not designed to nurture the essence of who we are. As a result, our inner disconnect manifests mental ailments such as depression and anxiety. These afflictions may be considered “normal”, but normal is not natural.
In the past 10 years, the use of anti-depressants has doubled. The farther we stray from the truth of who we are, the greater the likelihood of experiencing depression (herein called, spiritual disconnect). We live in a spiritually vacant paradigm and the repercussions are ugly. The more we conform to a culture gone sideways, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The more we believe the dysfunctional thought loops in our heads, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The more unworthy we believe we are, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The more time we spend spinning our wheels “doing”, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The more time we spend in fear, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect. The less time we spend honoring our souls, the greater the likelihood of spiritual disconnect.
Spiritual disconnect is a powerful invitation to turn inward and rediscover the truth of who we are.
I believe that we are all born connected and whole. But we’re taught to disconnect and separate. When life brings us pain and discomfort, we don’t know how to cope. Heartbreak happens. Death happens. Money struggles happen. Stress happens. Life happens. It can often feel impossible to remain present and connected when life presents us with so much pain. Sometimes it’s easier to just check out, but this comes at great expense. We are not our pain, yet so many of us identify with just that…unconscious victims to our own emotional immaturity.
On a deep spiritual level we all know that we are so much more than who we’ve been conditioned to be. We all know that we’re meant to live more, give more, be more, and love more. But in a world where we don’t feel safe expressing who we authentically are, many of us separate from our true selves in order to shield our hearts from the judgement we so deeply fear. This separation leads to a loss of direction, vitality, meaning, purpose, identity, compassion, and love. Culturally, we’ve normalized unhappiness by medicating it rather than owning it. We’re not taught to be emotionally mature beings. We’re taught to judge, label, and suppress our emotions while attaching to the fictitious stories we create in our heads. We’re taught to think and not feel – a dangerous recipe for depression/spiritual disconnect.
When we ignore our emotions, we ignore our souls.
A quote by George Brown in the book, The Noonday Demon says it all, “Depression is a response to past loss, and anxiety is a response to future loss.” Depression and anxiety are the soul’s direct responses to an u...]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 2:05:46 UP #70: Personal Development for Smart (and Compassionate) People with Steve Pavlina http://www.debozarko.com/stevepavlina/ Wed, 24 Jun 2015 01:34:46 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=11873 http://www.debozarko.com/stevepavlina/#view_comments http://www.debozarko.com/stevepavlina/feed/ 2 As a passionate advocate for living each day from a higher sense of calling, I’m always eager when I meet like-minded souls. Most people just exist, doing what it takes to get through each monochrome day. Yawn. This is not why we were birthed into this world. What does it take to awaken the dormant potential within? For many people, a tragic circumstance is often the catalyst for change; when the comfort zone is smashed to reveal the possibility of so much more. The conditioning of the prevailing culture of ignorance loosens it’s grip on the psyche exposing expansive depths for endless possibility. We’re not meant to blindly accept what we’ve been told. We’re meant to choose. Does it feel right or not? Does it bring us closer to love and truth or not? Does it bring us closer to life-affirming behaviors and actions or not? Life is a choice – moment by moment, day by day. Who we are is who we choose to be. Until we intimately know this, we are unconscious hostages to the conditioning that perpetuates the consumptive, destructive nature of status quo. How do we consciously grow as human beings and how do we intelligently guide this process? Enter Steve Pavlina, author, speaker, and creator of one of the most popular personal development websites in the world. With over 700 thought-provoking posts, Steve has risen to the top by freely sharing his plethora of wisdom, his paradigm-altering world view, and his willingness to care. This recipe of generosity has attracted more than two million readers to his site. Steve’s tagline is to “live life consciously”, and it is obvious that he does not hold back. Steve’s life began conservatively – the humdrum existence that entraps us all. Once freed from the limitations and expectations of his family structure, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction. In 1991, Steve was arrested for grand felony theft. It was a pivotal moment in a jail cell that sparked his internal revolution. Steve’s life has been tumultuous. Is there anyone who cannot relate? From jail cell to bankrupt business owner and everything between, Steve is proof positive that anyone can change, that anyone can be better, and that anyone can awaken the dormant potential within. As he states on his website, “Personal development is hard work. It takes time, consistency, and patience.” I’d like to add that it also takes the willingness to accept that you are worth it. Personal development is alignment with truth and love. In this week’s conversation, we delve into the essence of topics such as: • How to become a conscious participant in growth. • Choosing what kind of person you want to be. • What is intelligent fearlessness? • The scarcity mindset and the abundance mindset. • How asking ourselves powerful questions empowers our growth. • How failure can lead us to great personal expansion. • The transformative power of embodied gratitude. • Daring to care! • How a greater sense of purpose serves the collective consciousness while creating flow and alignment. • When we serve a higher calling, we no longer need motivation. It is internally driven with ease. • Redefining goal setting. • If our values and choices are not aligned, we don’t value ourselves. • How vegan is the way to love, unity, and wholeness. • How our hearts radiate an elevated level of thought. Personal development is the willingness to say yes to what lives in the soul. It’s the willingness to embrace a higher calling that serves the collective good of Planet Earth. Personal development is saying yes to life, love, courage, and truth. All we are is always changing. Do we shrink or expand. Therein lies the ultimate life choice. As a passionate advocate for living each day from a higher sense of calling, I’m always eager when I meet like-minded souls. Most people just exist, doing what it takes to get through each monochrome day. Yawn. This is not why we were birthed into this world.

What does it take to awaken the dormant potential within? For many people, a tragic circumstance is often the catalyst for change; when the comfort zone is smashed to reveal the possibility of so much more. The conditioning of the prevailing culture of ignorance loosens it’s grip on the psyche exposing expansive depths for endless possibility.

We’re not meant to blindly accept what we’ve been told. We’re meant to choose. Does it feel right or not? Does it bring us closer to love and truth or not? Does it bring us closer to life-affirming behaviors and actions or not? Life is a choice – moment by moment, day by day. Who we are is who we choose to be. Until we intimately know this, we are unconscious hostages to the conditioning that perpetuates the consumptive, destructive nature of status quo.

How do we consciously grow as human beings and how do we intelligently guide this process?

Enter Steve Pavlina, author, speaker, and creator of one of the most popular personal development websites in the world. With over 700 thought-provoking posts, Steve has risen to the top by freely sharing his plethora of wisdom, his paradigm-altering world view, and his willingness to care. This recipe of generosity has attracted more than two million readers to his site. Steve’s tagline is to “live life consciously”, and it is obvious that he does not hold back.

Steve’s life began conservatively – the humdrum existence that entraps us all. Once freed from the limitations and expectations of his family structure, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction. In 1991, Steve was arrested for grand felony theft. It was a pivotal moment in a jail cell that sparked his internal revolution.

Steve’s life has been tumultuous. Is there anyone who cannot relate? From jail cell to bankrupt business owner and everything between, Steve is proof positive that anyone can change, that anyone can be better, and that anyone can awaken the dormant potential within.

As he states on his website, “Personal development is hard work. It takes time, consistency, and patience.” I’d like to add that it also takes the willingness to accept that you are worth it. Personal development is alignment with truth and love.

In this week’s conversation, we delve into the essence of topics such as:

• How to become a conscious participant in growth.
• Choosing what kind of person you want to be.
• What is intelligent fearlessness?
• The scarcity mindset and the abundance mindset.
• How asking ourselves powerful questions empowers our growth.
• How failure can lead us to great personal expansion.
• The transformative power of embodied gratitude.
• Daring to care!
• How a greater sense of purpose serves the collective consciousness while creating flow and alignment.
• When we serve a higher calling, we no longer need motivation. It is internally driven with ease.
• Redefining goal setting.
• If our values and choices are not aligned, we don’t value ourselves.
• How vegan is the way to love, unity, and wholeness.
• How our hearts radiate an elevated level of thought.

Personal development is the willingness to say yes to what lives in the soul. It’s the willingness to embrace a higher calling that serves the collective good of Planet Earth. Personal development is saying yes to life, love, courage, and truth. All we are is always changing. Do we shrink or expand. Therein lies the ultimate life choice.

SHOW NOTES:

• Steve’s inspirational website.
• Steve on Twitter.
• Steve on Facebook.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
As a passionate advocate for living each day from a higher sense of calling, I’m always eager when I meet like-minded souls. Most people just exist, doing what it takes to get through each monochrome day. Yawn. What does it take to awaken the dormant potential within? For many people, a tragic circumstance is often the catalyst for change; when the comfort zone is smashed to reveal the possibility of so much more. The conditioning of the prevailing culture of ignorance loosens it’s grip on the psyche exposing expansive depths for endless possibility.
We’re not meant to blindly accept what we’ve been told. We’re meant to choose. Does it feel right or not? Does it bring us closer to love and truth or not? Does it bring us closer to life-affirming behaviors and actions or not? Life is a choice – moment by moment, day by day. Who we are is who we choose to be. Until we intimately know this, we are unconscious hostages to the conditioning that perpetuates the consumptive, destructive nature of status quo.
How do we consciously grow as human beings and how do we intelligently guide this process?
Enter Steve Pavlina, author, speaker, and creator of one of the most popular personal development websites in the world. With over 700 thought-provoking posts, Steve has risen to the top by freely sharing his plethora of wisdom, his paradigm-altering world view, and his willingness to care. This recipe of generosity has attracted more than two million readers to his site. Steve’s tagline is to “live life consciously”, and it is obvious that he does not hold back.
Steve’s life began conservatively – the humdrum existence that entraps us all. Once freed from the limitations and expectations of his family structure, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction. In 1991, Steve was arrested for grand felony theft. It was a pivotal moment in a jail cell that sparked his internal revolution.
Steve’s life has been tumultuous. Is there anyone who cannot relate? From jail cell to bankrupt business owner and everything between, Steve is proof positive that anyone can change, that anyone can be better, and that anyone can awaken the dormant potential within.
As he states on his website, “Personal development is hard work. It takes time, consistency, and patience.” I’d like to add that it also takes the willingness to accept that you are worth it. Personal development is alignment with truth and love.
In this week’s conversation, we delve into the essence of topics such as:
• How to become a conscious participant in growth.

• Choosing what kind of person you want to be.

• What is intelligent fearlessness?

• The scarcity mindset and the abundance mindset.

• How asking ourselves powerful questions empowers our growth.

• How failure can lead us to great personal expansion.

• The transformative power of embodied gratitude.

• Daring to care!

• How a greater sense of purpose serves the collective consciousness while creating flow and alignment.

• When we serve a higher calling, we no longer need motivation. It is internally driven with ease.

• Redefining goal setting.

• If our values and choices are not aligned, we don’t value ourselves.

• How vegan is the way to love, unity, and wholeness.

• How our hearts radiate an elevated level of thought.
Personal development is the willingness to say yes to what lives in the soul. It’s the willingness to embrace a higher calling that serves the collective good of Planet Earth. Personal development is saying yes to life, love, courage, and truth. All we are is always changing. Do we shrink or expand. Therein lies the ultimate life choice.
]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 2:53:17
UP #69: Sensitivity, Soul Contracts and Animal Communication with Danielle MacKinnon http://www.debozarko.com/danielle/ Wed, 03 Jun 2015 00:10:23 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=11851 http://www.debozarko.com/danielle/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/danielle/feed/ 0 Let’s face it, we live in an insensitive world. We’re taught to think but not feel, speak but not act, and hear but not listen. Factory farming, climate change, war, poverty, climate change, poisoned oceans, and decimated rainforests are some of the dire consequences of an insensitive world. I believe that we are all born sensitive. We are all born to love and to care. But our natural tendencies are counterproductive in the status quo world that awaits – ready to swallow us whole. In order to perpetuate the consumptive profit machine, our natural sensitivities must be eliminated. And so it goes, indoctrination into the beliefs, institutions, systems, and workflow that ensures our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual slavery. But for some of us, our natural sensitivities prevail through it all. We are highly sensitive people. This sensitivity is cause for celebration in a world crying out for love. The concept of the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) was discovered by psychotherapist Elaine N. Aron who authored the book, The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You. According to Aron, HSPs comprise 15-20% the population. I would surmise that there are far more of us as we wake up to the irreversible problems on this planet. HSPs are easily overwhelmed by stimuli, are extremely perceptive and intuitive, are agitated by strong smells and loud noises, are sensitive to sugar, caffeine, drugs, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals, are overwhelmed in crowds, have rich internal lives, are highly compassionate and creative, have a deep love for animals and nature, and need ample alone and quiet time to maintain their sanity and equilibrium. An HSP himself, Carl Jung observed that our innate sensitivity, “teaches the other possibility: the interior life which is so wanting in our civilization.” With such deep compassion and empathy, HSPs are visionaries who see the world in a more expansive way – noticing what most others miss. Many HSPs are healers, intuitive’s, artists, therapists, writers, philosophers and spiritual seekers. Sadly, in an insensitive culture, many HSPs grew up with little understanding or appreciation for the loving, compassionate, and intuitive gifts they bring to the world. Fortunately, this is slowly changing. With yoga and meditation as mainstream pursuits, many people are rediscovering their kind, sensitive selves. This week’s Unplug podcast guest, Danielle MacKinnon, is a sensitive woman who understands the challenge of embracing sensitivity in an insensitive world. As she writes on her website: For as long as she could remember, Danielle MacKinnon felt different. She could walk into a room and “feel” negativity, she could sense when someone was secretly upset and she could even tell what animals were thinking. Unfortunately, growing up in a small Midwest town with a family that was afraid to draw attention to themselves, she was not in an environment that supported these differences. And like so many others, instead of exploring her differences, she tried to become as “normal” as possible. Years later, with her BA in English and MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing in hand, Danielle lived a highly successful life in corporate America. However, something always seemed “off.” No matter how well she did, how successfully she managed her projects or how much praise she received, she still never felt completely satisfied with herself or with what she was doing with her life. It took the illness of her family pet to bring her the insight she needed to finally embrace her passion. To a chorus of disbelief from her family and friends, she walked away from the corporate life and opted to create her own version of “normal”…which was using her intuitive abilities to assist others. Danielle is a testament to redefining “normal” – the courage to embrace what has always been natural. This week we explore: • The only reason animals need our help is because they exi... Let’s face it, we live in an insensitive world. We’re taught to think but not feel, speak but not act, and hear but not listen. Factory farming, climate change, war, poverty, climate change, poisoned oceans, and decimated rainforests are some of the dire consequences of an insensitive world.

I believe that we are all born sensitive. We are all born to love and to care. But our natural tendencies are counterproductive in the status quo world that awaits – ready to swallow us whole. In order to perpetuate the consumptive profit machine, our natural sensitivities must be eliminated. And so it goes, indoctrination into the beliefs, institutions, systems, and workflow that ensures our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual slavery.

But for some of us, our natural sensitivities prevail through it all. We are highly sensitive people. This sensitivity is cause for celebration in a world crying out for love.

The concept of the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) was discovered by psychotherapist Elaine N. Aron who authored the book, The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You. According to Aron, HSPs comprise 15-20% the population. I would surmise that there are far more of us as we wake up to the irreversible problems on this planet.

HSPs are easily overwhelmed by stimuli, are extremely perceptive and intuitive, are agitated by strong smells and loud noises, are sensitive to sugar, caffeine, drugs, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals, are overwhelmed in crowds, have rich internal lives, are highly compassionate and creative, have a deep love for animals and nature, and need ample alone and quiet time to maintain their sanity and equilibrium.

An HSP himself, Carl Jung observed that our innate sensitivity, “teaches the other possibility: the interior life which is so wanting in our civilization.” With such deep compassion and empathy, HSPs are visionaries who see the world in a more expansive way – noticing what most others miss. Many HSPs are healers, intuitive’s, artists, therapists, writers, philosophers and spiritual seekers.

Sadly, in an insensitive culture, many HSPs grew up with little understanding or appreciation for the loving, compassionate, and intuitive gifts they bring to the world. Fortunately, this is slowly changing. With yoga and meditation as mainstream pursuits, many people are rediscovering their kind, sensitive selves.

This week’s Unplug podcast guest, Danielle MacKinnon, is a sensitive woman who understands the challenge of embracing sensitivity in an insensitive world. As she writes on her website:

For as long as she could remember, Danielle MacKinnon felt different. She could walk into a room and “feel” negativity, she could sense when someone was secretly upset and she could even tell what animals were thinking. Unfortunately, growing up in a small Midwest town with a family that was afraid to draw attention to themselves, she was not in an environment that supported these differences. And like so many others, instead of exploring her differences, she tried to become as “normal” as possible.

Years later, with her BA in English and MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing in hand, Danielle lived a highly successful life in corporate America. However, something always seemed “off.” No matter how well she did, how successfully she managed her projects or how much praise she received, she still never felt completely satisfied with herself or with what she was doing with her life. It took the illness of her family pet to bring her the insight she needed to finally embrace her passion. To a chorus of disbelief from her family and friends, she walked away from the corporate life and opted to create her own version of “normal”…which was using her intuitive abilities to assist others.

Danielle is a testament to redefining “normal” – the courage to embrace what has always been natural.

This week we explore:

• The only reason animals need our help is because they exist in a human world.
• How animals are our greatest teachers.
• How we can learn about love from animals.
• The life altering choice of answering your calling.
• What is animal communication?
• What is a soul contract?
• The reality of the consciousness shift.
• Staying grounded as a highly sensitive person.

In a world that is desperately crying out for love, we should never be ashamed of who we truly are. As Danielle has done, it’s time to embrace your true self and shine like never before. We all need YOU!

SHOW NOTES:

• Danielle’s website.
• 16-week Soul-level Animal Communication program.
• Danielle at the Omega Institute.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Let’s face it, we live in an insensitive world. We’re taught to think but not feel, speak but not act, and hear but not listen. Factory farming, climate change, war, poverty, climate change, poisoned oceans, I believe that we are all born sensitive. We are all born to love and to care. But our natural tendencies are counterproductive in the status quo world that awaits – ready to swallow us whole. In order to perpetuate the consumptive profit machine, our natural sensitivities must be eliminated. And so it goes, indoctrination into the beliefs, institutions, systems, and workflow that ensures our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual slavery.
But for some of us, our natural sensitivities prevail through it all. We are highly sensitive people. This sensitivity is cause for celebration in a world crying out for love.
The concept of the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) was discovered by psychotherapist Elaine N. Aron who authored the book, The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You. According to Aron, HSPs comprise 15-20% the population. I would surmise that there are far more of us as we wake up to the irreversible problems on this planet.
HSPs are easily overwhelmed by stimuli, are extremely perceptive and intuitive, are agitated by strong smells and loud noises, are sensitive to sugar, caffeine, drugs, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals, are overwhelmed in crowds, have rich internal lives, are highly compassionate and creative, have a deep love for animals and nature, and need ample alone and quiet time to maintain their sanity and equilibrium.
An HSP himself, Carl Jung observed that our innate sensitivity, “teaches the other possibility: the interior life which is so wanting in our civilization.” With such deep compassion and empathy, HSPs are visionaries who see the world in a more expansive way – noticing what most others miss. Many HSPs are healers, intuitive’s, artists, therapists, writers, philosophers and spiritual seekers.
Sadly, in an insensitive culture, many HSPs grew up with little understanding or appreciation for the loving, compassionate, and intuitive gifts they bring to the world. Fortunately, this is slowly changing. With yoga and meditation as mainstream pursuits, many people are rediscovering their kind, sensitive selves.
This week’s Unplug podcast guest, Danielle MacKinnon, is a sensitive woman who understands the challenge of embracing sensitivity in an insensitive world. As she writes on her website:
For as long as she could remember, Danielle MacKinnon felt different. She could walk into a room and “feel” negativity, she could sense when someone was secretly upset and she could even tell what animals were thinking. Unfortunately, growing up in a small Midwest town with a family that was afraid to draw attention to themselves, she was not in an environment that supported these differences. And like so many others, instead of exploring her differences, she tried to become as “normal” as possible.
Years later, with her BA in English and MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing in hand, Danielle lived a highly successful life in corporate America. However, something always seemed “off.” No matter how well she did, how successfully she managed her projects or how much praise she received, she still never felt completely satisfied with herself or with what she was doing with her life. It took the illness of her family pet to bring her the insight she needed to finally embrace her passion. To a chorus of disbelief from her family and friends, she walked away from the corporate life and opted to create her own version of “normal”…which was using her intuitive abilities to assist others.
]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:12:02
UP #68: Living in Service to Compassion with Ashley Fruno http://www.debozarko.com/ashleyfruno/ Wed, 27 May 2015 01:00:26 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=11731 http://www.debozarko.com/ashleyfruno/#view_comments http://www.debozarko.com/ashleyfruno/feed/ 2 Compassion is the ability to put ourselves into the shoes, paws, wings, or hoofs of another. Compassion means “to feel with”. With the exception of sociopaths, compassion is an innate emotion that we all experience. Compassion is frequently identified as the most important core human quality. We are all born compassionate. The seed of compassion resides permanently in our hearts as a reminder that we are all connected. Compassion is the greatest expression of love. As we move through life conditioned by parents, teachers, authority figures, and culture, compassion is squelched, fragmented, and compartmentalized. We’re taught to hear but not listen; speak but not act; think but not feel. We’re taught to conform, consume, comply. We label, we fear, we judge…we separate. This is not who we are. The human heart has the capacity to hold an enormous amount of love and compassion. By our very nature, we are compassionate. Anything less that that is the lie we’ve bought into to separate us from life. The reason we do what we do to those we perceive as other is because we’re asleep at the wheel. But we are not separate. We’re autonomous expressions of a greater whole in an interconnected world. We have the choice to live the lie or not. We’re the ones who created it. We’re the ones who can un-create it. Just as we’ve chosen ignorance, so too can we choose truth. The most important thing that we can do in our lifetime is to dare to care about the sacredness of life for all living beings. This week’s Unplug podcast conversation is all about daring to care in an uncaring world by putting compassion into action. Ashley Fruno has dedicated her life to being a voice for the voiceless. Her commitment to the creation of a better world for animals is steadfast. Her commitment to truth unwavering. For the past eight years, Ashley has worked as a senior campaigner for PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Asia-Pacific office in Manila, Philippines. She’s no stranger to the plight of animals. From educating people about the benefits of a compassionate vegan lifestyle to rescuing animals in the aftermath of environmental disaster, Ashley has been there. In 28 years of life, Ashley’s been witness to both the worst and best in humanity. Her heart remains strong and pure throughout. This is the transformative power of compassion. There is so much more to Ashley Fruno than her work with PETA however. This week’s conversation explores passion, courage, compassion, love and purpose. It touches the very essence of what it means to be a human being with a calling that makes the world a better place. This week we speak about: • Love them or hate them, how PETA doesn’t exist to make friends. They exist to make people think in a more compassionate way. • How we should never hesitate to give back to the world to make it better. • Inspiring compassion through the power of example. • The single most effective choice we can make to help animals is to choose vegan. • The power of the word NO. • The importance of focusing on small victories for greater change. • Remaining grounded in sanity through ruthless self care. • How relationships with dogs make us better people. • How we have the ability to make the world a better place with every choice we make in every day of life. • How living in fear of judgment perpetuates the destruction of our world. I love powerful quotes and I found the perfect quote that epitomizes Ashley as follows: “Say how you feel, leave the job you hate, find your passion, love with every ounce of your bones, stand up for the things that matter, don’t settle, don’t apologize for who you are. Be brave.” Enjoy this week’s show with Ashley Fruno, my soul sister in compassion, my friend, a friend to animals, humanity, and the earth, and an inspiration for us all.

Compassion is the ability to put ourselves into the shoes, paws, wings, or hoofs of another. Compassion means “to feel with”. With the exception of sociopaths, compassion is an innate emotion that we all experience. Compassion is frequently identified as the most important core human quality.

We are all born compassionate. The seed of compassion resides permanently in our hearts as a reminder that we are all connected. Compassion is the greatest expression of love.

As we move through life conditioned by parents, teachers, authority figures, and culture, compassion is squelched, fragmented, and compartmentalized. We’re taught to hear but not listen; speak but not act; think but not feel. We’re taught to conform, consume, comply. We label, we fear, we judge…we separate.

This is not who we are.

The human heart has the capacity to hold an enormous amount of love and compassion. By our very nature, we are compassionate. Anything less that that is the lie we’ve bought into to separate us from life. The reason we do what we do to those we perceive as other is because we’re asleep at the wheel.

But we are not separate. We’re autonomous expressions of a greater whole in an interconnected world. We have the choice to live the lie or not. We’re the ones who created it. We’re the ones who can un-create it. Just as we’ve chosen ignorance, so too can we choose truth. The most important thing that we can do in our lifetime is to dare to care about the sacredness of life for all living beings.

This week’s Unplug podcast conversation is all about daring to care in an uncaring world by putting compassion into action.

Ashley Fruno has dedicated her life to being a voice for the voiceless. Her commitment to the creation of a better world for animals is steadfast. Her commitment to truth unwavering.

For the past eight years, Ashley has worked as a senior campaigner for PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Asia-Pacific office in Manila, Philippines. She’s no stranger to the plight of animals. From educating people about the benefits of a compassionate vegan lifestyle to rescuing animals in the aftermath of environmental disaster, Ashley has been there. In 28 years of life, Ashley’s been witness to both the worst and best in humanity. Her heart remains strong and pure throughout. This is the transformative power of compassion.

There is so much more to Ashley Fruno than her work with PETA however. This week’s conversation explores passion, courage, compassion, love and purpose. It touches the very essence of what it means to be a human being with a calling that makes the world a better place.

This week we speak about:

• Love them or hate them, how PETA doesn’t exist to make friends. They exist to make people think in a more compassionate way.
• How we should never hesitate to give back to the world to make it better.
• Inspiring compassion through the power of example.
• The single most effective choice we can make to help animals is to choose vegan.
• The power of the word NO.
• The importance of focusing on small victories for greater change.
• Remaining grounded in sanity through ruthless self care.
• How dogs make us better people.
• How we have the ability to make the world a better place with every choice we make in every day of life.
• How living in fear of judgment perpetuates the destruction of our world.

I love powerful quotes and I found the perfect quote that epitomizes Ashley as follows:

“Say how you feel, leave the job you hate, find your passion, love with every ounce of your bones, stand up for the things that matter, don’t settle, don’t apologize for who you are. Be brave.” – Author unknown

Enjoy this week’s show with Ashley Fruno, my soul sister in compassion, my friend, a friend to animals, humanity, and the earth, and an inspiration for us all.

SHOW NOTES:

• PETA’s website.
• Free Mali the Elephant campaign website.
• Pasay Pups Facebook page.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Compassion is the ability to put ourselves into the shoes, paws, wings, or hoofs of another. Compassion means “to feel with”. With the exception of sociopaths, compassion is an innate emotion that we all experience. Compassion is the ability to put ourselves into the shoes, paws, wings, or hoofs of another. Compassion means “to feel with”. With the exception of sociopaths, compassion is an innate emotion that we all experience. Compassion is frequently identified as the most important core human quality.<br /> <br /> We are all born compassionate. The seed of compassion resides permanently in our hearts as a reminder that we are all connected. Compassion is the greatest expression of love.<br /> <br /> As we move through life conditioned by parents, teachers, authority figures, and culture, compassion is squelched, fragmented, and compartmentalized. We’re taught to hear but not listen; speak but not act; think but not feel. We’re taught to conform, consume, comply. We label, we fear, we judge…we separate.<br /> <br /> This is not who we are.<br /> <br /> The human heart has the capacity to hold an enormous amount of love and compassion. By our very nature, we are compassionate. Anything less that that is the lie we’ve bought into to separate us from life. The reason we do what we do to those we perceive as other is because we’re asleep at the wheel.<br /> <br /> But we are not separate. We’re autonomous expressions of a greater whole in an interconnected world. We have the choice to live the lie or not. We’re the ones who created it. We’re the ones who can un-create it. Just as we’ve chosen ignorance, so too can we choose truth. The most important thing that we can do in our lifetime is to dare to care about the sacredness of life for all living beings.<br /> <br /> This week’s Unplug podcast conversation is all about daring to care in an uncaring world by putting compassion into action.<br /> <br /> Ashley Fruno has dedicated her life to being a voice for the voiceless. Her commitment to the creation of a better world for animals is steadfast. Her commitment to truth unwavering.<br /> <br /> For the past eight years, Ashley has worked as a senior campaigner for PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Asia-Pacific office in Manila, Philippines. She’s no stranger to the plight of animals. From educating people about the benefits of a compassionate vegan lifestyle to rescuing animals in the aftermath of environmental disaster, Ashley has been there. In 28 years of life, Ashley’s been witness to both the worst and best in humanity. Her heart remains strong and pure throughout. This is the transformative power of compassion.<br /> <br /> There is so much more to Ashley Fruno than her work with PETA however. This week’s conversation explores passion, courage, compassion, love and purpose. It touches the very essence of what it means to be a human being with a calling that makes the world a better place.<br /> This week we speak about:<br /> <br /> • Love them or hate them, how PETA doesn’t exist to make friends. They exist to make people think in a more compassionate way.<br /> • How we should never hesitate to give back to the world to make it better.<br /> • Inspiring compassion through the power of example.<br /> • The single most effective choice we can make to help animals is to choose vegan.<br /> • The power of the word NO.<br /> • The importance of focusing on small victories for greater change.<br /> • Remaining grounded in sanity through ruthless self care.<br /> • How relationships with dogs make us better people.<br /> • How we have the ability to make the world a better place with every choice we make in every day of life.<br /> • How living in fear of judgment perpetuates the destruction of our world.<br /> <br /> I love powerful quotes and I found the perfect quote that epitomizes Ashley as follows:<br /> <br /> “Say how you feel, leave the job you hate, find your passion, love with every ounce of your bones, stand up for the things that matter, don’t settle, don’t apologize for who you are. Be brave.”<br /> <br /> Enjoy this week’s show with Ashley Fruno, Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:07:44
UP #67: Animals and the Afterlife with Kim Sheridan http://www.debozarko.com/kimsheridan/ Wed, 20 May 2015 01:00:35 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=11690 http://www.debozarko.com/kimsheridan/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/kimsheridan/feed/ 0 The death of Jessie, my canine soul-mate, has had a profound effect on me. Saying goodbye is never easy, but losing someone we have a deep connection with affects the heart in indescribable ways. Soul-mates appear in various “body-suits” with various labels. They may wear the label of partner, mother, father, friend, dog, cat, budgie, guinea pig; it really makes no difference. When two souls connect, labels are meaningless. For 13 years, my life revolved around Jessie. This was a choice I made that enhanced my life beyond words. I’ve had many relationships with many different beings – non-human and human alike. Every relationship is different. When we say goodbye to a soul-mate relationship though, the impact is devastating. It hurts more. The grief is deeper – more intense, more debilitating. When Jessie left, I was demolished. I felt incomplete without her. My heart was halved. The pain was unbearable. Every death gives me a greater appreciation for the beauty and frailty of life – but only after the acute grieving ends. In the beginning phases of grief, there is so much confusion and pain. It was this confusion and pain that led me on a search for comfort. Kim Sheridan is the author of Animals and the Afterlife: True Stories of Our Best Friends’ Journey Beyond Death. Kim’s book was exactly the comfort I needed to not only ease my pain, but to also expand my worldview in significant ways. On her website it states: Kim Sheridan grew up with animals as her constant companions. Each time she faced the death of a beloved animal, along with the pain came the same questions, to which she could find no answers. Then, mysterious things began to happen which she could not explain. Unable to dismiss these mysterious events, Kim embarked upon what became an incredible journey to uncover the truth. Along with her own experiences, she compiled the extraordinary experiences of ordinary people from around the world. She discovered overwhelming evidence that forever erased her own doubts of an afterlife for animals. Kim’s journey is one from open-minded child to grieving skeptic, and ultimately, to comforted believer. It’s through the courage of her journey that we may all become comforted believers. This week’s Unplug podcast conversation dives into uncharted waters and crushes status quo in profound ways. This week, we expand the paradigm well beyond the limitations of our 5 physical senses. Our paradigm-altering conversation includes topics such as: • What is Earth, Health, Compassion? • The power of grief to inspire a higher calling. • How we are more open to afterlife experiences when our logical minds are quiet. • How the logical mind blocks truth. • The importance of supportive community during times of grief. • The problems with unexpressed grief and how it manifests physically if continually suppressed. • The importance of safe space to feel, heal, and be real. • The illusory hierarchy of grief. • How guilt complicates grief. • What is the afterlife and how do we know we’re experiencing it? • What are afterdeath visitations? • How the intellect interferes with afterdeath visitations. • Trusting that there is so much more beyond our perceptual senses. • The necessity for acknowledging our emotions and how our emotions are intertwined with our intuition. Jessie’s departure opened up a new realm of possibility for me. It’s often in the depth of our deepest pain that we open to possibilities we may not normally consider. I invite you to open your mind and heart to animals and the afterlife – a moving testament to love – the powerful force that never dies.

The death of Jessie, my canine soul-mate, has had a profound effect on me. Saying goodbye is never easy, but losing someone we have a deep connection with affects the heart in indescribable ways.

Soul-mates appear in various “body-suits” with various labels. They may wear the label of partner, mother, father, friend, dog, cat, budgie, guinea pig; it really makes no difference. When two souls connect, labels are meaningless.

For 13 years, my life revolved around Jessie. This was a choice I made that enhanced my life beyond words. I’ve had many relationships with many different beings – non-human and human alike. Every relationship is different. When we say goodbye to a soul-mate relationship though, the impact is devastating. It hurts more. The grief is deeper – more intense, more debilitating.

When Jessie left, I was demolished. I felt incomplete without her. My heart was halved. The pain was unbearable.

Every death gives me a greater appreciation for the beauty and frailty of life – but only after the acute grieving ends. In the beginning phases of grief, there is so much confusion and pain. It was this confusion and pain that led me on a search for comfort.

Kim Sheridan is the author of Animals and the Afterlife: True Stories of Our Best Friends’ Journey Beyond Death. Kim’s book was exactly the comfort I needed to not only ease my pain, but to also expand my worldview in significant ways.

On her website it states:

Kim Sheridan grew up with animals as her constant companions. Each time she faced the death of a beloved animal, along with the pain came the same questions, to which she could find no answers. Then, mysterious things began to happen which she could not explain.

Unable to dismiss these mysterious events, Kim embarked upon what became an incredible journey to uncover the truth. Along with her own experiences, she compiled the extraordinary experiences of ordinary people from around the world. She discovered overwhelming evidence that forever erased her own doubts of an afterlife for animals.

Kim’s journey is one from open-minded child to grieving skeptic, and ultimately, to comforted believer. It’s through the courage of her journey that we may all become comforted believers.

This week’s Unplug podcast conversation dives into uncharted waters and crushes status quo in profound ways. This week, we expand the paradigm well beyond the limitations of our 5 physical senses.

Our paradigm-altering conversation includes topics such as:

• What is Earth, Health, Compassion?
• The power of grief to inspire a higher calling.
• How we are more open to afterlife experiences when our logical minds are quiet.
• How the logical mind blocks truth.
• The importance of supportive community during times of grief.
• The problems with unexpressed grief and how it manifests physically if continually suppressed.
• The importance of safe space to feel, heal, and be real.
• The illusory hierarchy of grief.
• How guilt complicates grief.
• What is the afterlife and how do we know we’re experiencing it?
• What are afterdeath visitations?
• How the intellect interferes with afterdeath visitations.
• Trusting that there is so much more beyond our perceptual senses.
• The necessity for acknowledging our emotions and how our emotions are intertwined with our intuition.

Jessie’s departure opened up a new realm of possibility for me. It’s often in the depth of our deepest pain that we open to possibilities we may not normally consider.

I invite you to open your mind and heart to animals and the afterlife – a moving testament to love – the powerful force that never dies.

SHOW NOTES:

• Kim Sheridan’s personal website.
• Compassion Circle website. Purchase Vegepet here.
• EnLighthouse Entertainment website.
• Sharon Callahan’s website. The animal communicator mentioned on our conversation.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

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The death of Jessie, my canine soul-mate, has had a profound effect on me. Saying goodbye is never easy, but losing someone we have a deep connection with affects the heart in indescribable ways. - Soul-mates appear in various “body-suits” with variou... The death of Jessie, my canine soul-mate, has had a profound effect on me. Saying goodbye is never easy, but losing someone we have a deep connection with affects the heart in indescribable ways.<br /> <br /> Soul-mates appear in various “body-suits” with various labels. They may wear the label of partner, mother, father, friend, dog, cat, budgie, guinea pig; it really makes no difference. When two souls connect, labels are meaningless.<br /> <br /> For 13 years, my life revolved around Jessie. This was a choice I made that enhanced my life beyond words. I’ve had many relationships with many different beings – non-human and human alike. Every relationship is different. When we say goodbye to a soul-mate relationship though, the impact is devastating. It hurts more. The grief is deeper – more intense, more debilitating.<br /> <br /> When Jessie left, I was demolished. I felt incomplete without her. My heart was halved. The pain was unbearable.<br /> <br /> Every death gives me a greater appreciation for the beauty and frailty of life – but only after the acute grieving ends. In the beginning phases of grief, there is so much confusion and pain. It was this confusion and pain that led me on a search for comfort.<br /> <br /> Kim Sheridan is the author of Animals and the Afterlife: True Stories of Our Best Friends’ Journey Beyond Death. Kim’s book was exactly the comfort I needed to not only ease my pain, but to also expand my worldview in significant ways.<br /> <br /> On her website it states:<br /> <br /> Kim Sheridan grew up with animals as her constant companions. Each time she faced the death of a beloved animal, along with the pain came the same questions, to which she could find no answers. Then, mysterious things began to happen which she could not explain.<br /> <br /> Unable to dismiss these mysterious events, Kim embarked upon what became an incredible journey to uncover the truth. Along with her own experiences, she compiled the extraordinary experiences of ordinary people from around the world. She discovered overwhelming evidence that forever erased her own doubts of an afterlife for animals.<br /> <br /> Kim’s journey is one from open-minded child to grieving skeptic, and ultimately, to comforted believer. It’s through the courage of her journey that we may all become comforted believers.<br /> <br /> This week’s Unplug podcast conversation dives into uncharted waters and crushes status quo in profound ways. This week, we expand the paradigm well beyond the limitations of our 5 physical senses.<br /> <br /> Our paradigm-altering conversation includes topics such as:<br /> <br /> • What is Earth, Health, Compassion?<br /> • The power of grief to inspire a higher calling.<br /> • How we are more open to afterlife experiences when our logical minds are quiet.<br /> • How the logical mind blocks truth.<br /> • The importance of supportive community during times of grief.<br /> • The problems with unexpressed grief and how it manifests physically if continually suppressed.<br /> • The importance of safe space to feel, heal, and be real.<br /> • The illusory hierarchy of grief.<br /> • How guilt complicates grief.<br /> • What is the afterlife and how do we know we’re experiencing it?<br /> • What are afterdeath visitations?<br /> • How the intellect interferes with afterdeath visitations.<br /> • Trusting that there is so much more beyond our perceptual senses.<br /> • The necessity for acknowledging our emotions and how our emotions are intertwined with our intuition.<br /> <br /> Jessie’s departure opened up a new realm of possibility for me. It’s often in the depth of our deepest pain that we open to possibilities we may not normally consider.<br /> <br /> I invite you to open your mind and heart to animals and the afterlife – a moving testament to love – the powerful force that never dies. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:56:59
UP #66: Taking the Leap and Living from Purpose with Sean Howard http://www.debozarko.com/seanhoward/ Wed, 06 May 2015 12:00:29 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=11130 http://www.debozarko.com/seanhoward/#view_comments http://www.debozarko.com/seanhoward/feed/ 4 Sean Howard is a man on a mission to change the world – one heart at a time. Sean has been a regular listener of the Unplug podcast for quite some time. When he reached out with an invitation to join him on his own podcast, Taking the Leap!, I was both honored and intrigued. I said yes. The rest is history. Since then, Sean and I connected in person for an inspiring day on the Sunshine Coast laughing, exploring, and engaging in meaningful conversations about how to remain compassionate in a world that is often challenging. His transparent authenticity made for a fast friendship and I’m delighted to now have his loving presence in my circle of compassion. Sean’s journey of self exploration led to a plethora of professional experiences including dog trainer, juggler, 3D artist, digital strategist, brand consultant, and more. There was one constant however – he knew that something was missing. Sean’s creative spirit was desperate for self expression. This inner awakening inspired the pursuit of what was truly meaningful in life. This is the direction for today’s very moving Unplug conversation. This week, with raw authenticity, we dig into topics such as: • The fear of success. • How we need to feel safe to be real. • Why presence is the greatest form of service. • How opinions and advice are judgment in drag. • The inherent power of sharing our stories. • The necessity for like-minded community. • How inspiration can be found everywhere. • How creative expression serves ourselves and the world. • Why there is nothing more powerful than our vulnerability to facilitate connection. • What is talent? • How purpose is alignment with our true self. • How pain and purpose are intricately intertwined. • Gratitude is the gateway to an abundant mindset. • The power of silence. I’m thrilled to share a deeply intimate conversation with podcast host, author, photographer, creator, and fellow traveller on the path of self discovery, Sean Howard.

Sean Howard is a man on a mission to change the world – one heart at a time.

Sean has been a regular listener of the Unplug podcast, so when he reached out with an invitation to join him on his own podcast, Taking the Leap!, I was both honored and intrigued. I said yes. The rest is history.

Since then, Sean and I connected in person for an inspiring day on the Sunshine Coast laughing, exploring, and engaging in meaningful conversations about how to remain compassionate in a world that is often challenging. His transparent authenticity made for a fast friendship and I’m delighted to now have his loving presence in my circle of compassion.

Sean’s journey of self exploration led to a plethora of professional experiences including dog trainer, juggler, 3D artist, digital strategist, brand consultant, and more. There was one lingering constant however – something was missing. Sean’s creative spirit was desperate for self expression.

It was this inner awakening that inspired the pursuit of what is truly meaningful in life. This is the direction for today’s moving Unplug conversation.

This week, with raw authenticity, we dig into topics such as:

• The fear of success.
• How we need to feel safe to be real.
• Why presence is the greatest form of service.
• How opinions and advice are judgment in drag.
• The inherent power of sharing our stories.
• The necessity for like-minded community.
• How inspiration can be found everywhere.
• How creative expression serves ourselves and the world.
• Why there is nothing more powerful than our vulnerability to facilitate connection.
• What is talent?
• How purpose is alignment with our true self.
• How pain and purpose are intricately intertwined.
• Gratitude is the gateway to an abundant mindset.
• The power of silence.

I’m thrilled to share a deeply intimate conversation with podcast host, author, photographer, creator, and fellow traveller on the path of self discovery, Sean Howard.

SHOW NOTES:

• Sean’s book, Creators 2.0: How to find your purpose, build sustainable growth and change the world.
• Sean’s website.
• Taking the Leap? podcast on iTunes.
• Sean on Twitter.
• Sean on Facebook.
• My conversation with Sean. Taking the Leap! Episode 10: Dropping Into Our Hearts with Deb Ozarko.
Fat Ideas in Thin Spaces blog post mentioned in our conversation.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
Sean Howard is a man on a mission to change the world – one heart at a time. - Sean has been a regular listener of the Unplug podcast for quite some time. When he reached out with an invitation to join him on his own podcast, Taking the Leap!, Sean Howard is a man on a mission to change the world – one heart at a time.<br /> <br /> Sean has been a regular listener of the Unplug podcast for quite some time. When he reached out with an invitation to join him on his own podcast, Taking the Leap!, I was both honored and intrigued. I said yes. The rest is history.<br /> <br /> Since then, Sean and I connected in person for an inspiring day on the Sunshine Coast laughing, exploring, and engaging in meaningful conversations about how to remain compassionate in a world that is often challenging. His transparent authenticity made for a fast friendship and I’m delighted to now have his loving presence in my circle of compassion.<br /> <br /> Sean’s journey of self exploration led to a plethora of professional experiences including dog trainer, juggler, 3D artist, digital strategist, brand consultant, and more. There was one constant however – he knew that something was missing. Sean’s creative spirit was desperate for self expression.<br /> <br /> This inner awakening inspired the pursuit of what was truly meaningful in life. This is the direction for today’s very moving Unplug conversation.<br /> <br /> This week, with raw authenticity, we dig into topics such as:<br /> <br /> • The fear of success.<br /> • How we need to feel safe to be real.<br /> • Why presence is the greatest form of service.<br /> • How opinions and advice are judgment in drag.<br /> • The inherent power of sharing our stories.<br /> • The necessity for like-minded community.<br /> • How inspiration can be found everywhere.<br /> • How creative expression serves ourselves and the world.<br /> • Why there is nothing more powerful than our vulnerability to facilitate connection.<br /> • What is talent?<br /> • How purpose is alignment with our true self.<br /> • How pain and purpose are intricately intertwined.<br /> • Gratitude is the gateway to an abundant mindset.<br /> • The power of silence.<br /> <br /> I’m thrilled to share a deeply intimate conversation with podcast host, author, photographer, creator, and fellow traveller on the path of self discovery, Sean Howard. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:47:55
UP #65: An Evolution Revolution, the Plantpower Way with Julie Piatt http://www.debozarko.com/plantpowerway/ Tue, 28 Apr 2015 02:11:22 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=11080 http://www.debozarko.com/plantpowerway/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/plantpowerway/feed/ 0 There’s an exciting revolution underway – a revolution in consciousness that begins with…plants! Yep, you read that right. Plants as in Mother Nature’s miraculous culinary offerings that energize and inspire wellness – for body, mind, and soul. Julie Piatt sums it up in one powerful sentence, “food is the first portal to discovering who you are.” I couldn’t agree more. Potential isn’t found in Slurpees, donuts, and bacon. Plants are where it’s at. Living foods. High vibrational foods. Energizing foods. This is the Plantpower Way. The plantpower wayThis week I speak with Julie Piatt about the soon to be released, The Plantpower Way – part cookbook, part lifestyle guide, and a whole lot of inspiration. Co-authored with her powerhouse husband, ultra athlete, Rich Roll, this book is sure to please the toughest crowd. I say this with authority as I savor the design, photography, content, and recipes in my coveted copy of the pre-released book. Julie and I have…a “thing”; a like-minded spiritual connection that defies physical proximity and geographical boundaries. We click. We connect. We open our hearts to inspire a better way of being. If you think that today’s conversation is just about a book, think again. It’s about a way of life that unlocks the limitless potential of who you are – from deep within your heart. This week we explore topics such as: • What is the Plantpower Way? • How your health is in your hands. • Living creatively in alignment with your heart. • How food is the first portal into discovering who you are. • What is divine love? • How eating higher vibrational food aligns with your heart. • The difference between diet and lifestyle. • What is extreme faith? • The warrior path for transformation. • The “four-month” rule for focusing on what is important for your soul. • Do you worship the system or what really matters? • Living your life in alignment with your mission every day. • What is neutral loving compassion? • How creative energy is spiritual energy. • How creativity is the language of the Gods. If you haven’t yet heard my conversation with Julie on episode #55, I implore you to check it out. It’s worth it. In the meantime, enjoy this enlightening and entertaining conversation. I promise that you will feel uplifted and inspired, ready to embrace The Plantpower Way.

There’s an exciting revolution underway – a revolution in consciousness that begins with…plants! Yep, you read that right. Plants as in Mother Nature’s miraculous culinary offerings that energize and inspire wellness – for body, mind, and soul. Julie Piatt sums it up in one powerful sentence, “food is the first portal into discovering who you are.” I couldn’t agree more.

Potential isn’t found in Slurpees, donuts, and bacon. Plants are where it’s at. Living foods. High vibrational foods. Energizing foods. This is the Plantpower Way.

This week I speak with Julie Piatt about the soon to be released, The Plantpower Way: part cookbook, part lifestyle guide, and a whole lot of inspiration. Co-authored with her powerhouse husband, ultra athlete, Rich Roll, this book is sure to please the toughest crowd. I say this with authority as I savor the design, photography, content, and recipes in my coveted copy of the pre-released book.
Julie and I have…a “thing”; a like-minded connection that defies physical proximity and geographical boundaries. We click. We connect. We open our hearts to inspire a better way of being. If you think that today’s conversation is just about a book, think again. It’s about a way of life that unlocks the limitless potential of who you are – from deep within your heart.

This week we explore topics such as:

• What is the Plantpower Way?
• How your health is in your hands.
• Living creatively in alignment with your heart.
• How food is the first portal into discovering who you are.
• What is divine love?
• How eating higher vibrational food aligns with your heart.
• The difference between diet and lifestyle.
• What is extreme faith?
• The warrior path for transformation.
• The “four-month” rule for focusing on what is important for your soul.
• Do you worship the system or what really matters?
• Living your life in alignment with your mission every day.
• What is neutral loving compassion?
• How creative energy is spiritual energy.
• How creativity is the language of the Gods.

If you haven’t yet heard my conversation with Julie on episode #55, I implore you to check it out. It’s worth it.

In the meantime, enjoy this enlightening and entertaining conversation. I promise that you will feel uplifted and inspired, ready to embrace The Plantpower Way.

SHOW NOTES:

• Rich Roll and the Plantpower Way.
• Julie Piatt’s website.
• Find Julie’s music at this link.
• Julie and Rich’s short film, “Down Dog”.
• Cowspiracy, the movie.
Diviana Alchemy raw organic treats (mentioned at the beginning of the conversation)
• MacLay Heriot photography website.
• Ginny Guzman photography website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
There’s an exciting revolution underway – a revolution in consciousness that begins with…plants! Yep, you read that right. Plants as in Mother Nature’s miraculous culinary offerings that energize and inspire wellness – for body, mind, and soul. There’s an exciting revolution underway – a revolution in consciousness that begins with…plants! Yep, you read that right. Plants as in Mother Nature’s miraculous culinary offerings that energize and inspire wellness – for body, mind, and soul. Julie Piatt sums it up in one powerful sentence, “food is the first portal to discovering who you are.” I couldn’t agree more.<br /> <br /> Potential isn’t found in Slurpees, donuts, and bacon. Plants are where it’s at. Living foods. High vibrational foods. Energizing foods. This is the Plantpower Way.<br /> <br /> The plantpower wayThis week I speak with Julie Piatt about the soon to be released, The Plantpower Way – part cookbook, part lifestyle guide, and a whole lot of inspiration. Co-authored with her powerhouse husband, ultra athlete, Rich Roll, this book is sure to please the toughest crowd. I say this with authority as I savor the design, photography, content, and recipes in my coveted copy of the pre-released book.<br /> <br /> <br /> Julie and I have…a “thing”; a like-minded spiritual connection that defies physical proximity and geographical boundaries. We click. We connect. We open our hearts to inspire a better way of being. If you think that today’s conversation is just about a book, think again. It’s about a way of life that unlocks the limitless potential of who you are – from deep within your heart.<br /> <br /> This week we explore topics such as:<br /> <br /> • What is the Plantpower Way?<br /> • How your health is in your hands.<br /> • Living creatively in alignment with your heart.<br /> • How food is the first portal into discovering who you are.<br /> • What is divine love?<br /> • How eating higher vibrational food aligns with your heart.<br /> • The difference between diet and lifestyle.<br /> • What is extreme faith?<br /> • The warrior path for transformation.<br /> • The “four-month” rule for focusing on what is important for your soul.<br /> • Do you worship the system or what really matters?<br /> • Living your life in alignment with your mission every day.<br /> • What is neutral loving compassion?<br /> • How creative energy is spiritual energy.<br /> • How creativity is the language of the Gods.<br /> <br /> If you haven’t yet heard my conversation with Julie on episode #55, I implore you to check it out. It’s worth it.<br /> <br /> In the meantime, enjoy this enlightening and entertaining conversation. I promise that you will feel uplifted and inspired, ready to embrace The Plantpower Way. Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. 2:04:14
UP #64: A Spiritual Approach to Everyday Life with Sylvie Gouin http://www.debozarko.com/sylviegouin/ Wed, 22 Apr 2015 04:58:02 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=11009 http://www.debozarko.com/sylviegouin/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/sylviegouin/feed/ 0 “Spirituality” is a loaded word that often triggers misconceptions. Many of us associate it with mainstream religion or blissed out folks who levitate their way through life. But neither of these memes accurately define the essence of spirituality. In a nutshell, spirituality is about living the human experience with gusto. Spirituality is about being in your body – really being in your body. It means living with presence, feeling your feelings, and honoring the calling that lives in your heart. Spirituality is about living with kindness, and compassion – for yourself and for others. It’s about living authentically with grace, having solid boundaries, and not being afraid to feel the fullness of both the pain and joy in your life. What does this all boil down to? Quite simply, it’s about living from the heart. A spiritual existence is not about perfection; it’s about being real, transparent, vulnerable, and accepting all that life throws you while knowing that you have the power to grow and expand from every experience. Living you moment by moment truth is living an everyday spiritual life. A few months back, this week’s Unplug podcast guest, Sylvie Gouin, wrote a powerful blog post that sums it all up. She wrote: Would you rather: Live in the present or live with presence? Find your purpose or live with purpose? Operate on auto pilot as a human doing or mindfully experience life as a human being? Talk about your potential or simply express it? Today lets remember that spirituality is not complicated or airy fairy. It’s actually a grounded way of respecting life, right here, right now, exactly as it is, within what we are doing. Simple. That’s the essence of spirituality. Just be who you are. This week we chat about: • What is spirituality? • How can spirituality be an everyday part of our lives. • Breathing life into our “to-do” list. • Seeing the sacredness in every moment of life. • What are you breathing life into through your beliefs? • The practice of discipline without attachment. • Using discipline, non-attachment and devotion to support stress management. • The vibration of language and how it can either expand or contract us. • How gratitude shifts our consciousness. • The importance putting knowledge into action (rather than being a perpetual knowledge collector). • The simple meaning of life. • What is love? Spirituality isn’t hard. It’s who we are. Enjoy this inspiring conversation!

“Spirituality” is a loaded word that often triggers misconceptions. Many of us associate it with mainstream religion or blissed out folks who levitate their way through life. But neither of these memes accurately define the essence of spirituality.

In a nutshell, spirituality is about living the human experience with gusto.

Spirituality is about being in your body – really being in your body. It means living with presence, feeling your feelings, and honoring the calling that lives in your heart.

Spirituality is about living with kindness, and compassion – for yourself and for others. It’s about living authentically with grace, having solid boundaries, and not being afraid to feel the fullness of both the pain and joy in your life.

What does this all boil down to? Quite simply, it’s about living from the heart. A spiritual existence is not about perfection; it’s about being real, transparent, vulnerable, and accepting all that life throws you while knowing that you have the power to grow and expand from every experience.

Living your moment by moment truth is living an everyday spiritual life.

A few months back, this week’s Unplug podcast guest, Sylvie Gouin, wrote a powerful blog post that sums it all up.

She wrote:

Would you rather:
Live in the present or live with presence?
Find your purpose or live with purpose?
Operate on auto pilot as a human doing or mindfully experience life as a human being?
Talk about your potential or simply express it?

Today lets remember that spirituality is not complicated or airy fairy. It’s actually a grounded way of respecting life, right here, right now, exactly as it is, within what we are doing.

Simple. That’s the essence of spirituality. Just be who you are.

This week we chat about:

• What is spirituality?
• How can spirituality be an everyday part of our lives.
• Breathing life into our “to-do” list.
• Seeing the sacredness in every moment of life.
• What are you breathing life into through your beliefs?
• The practice of discipline without attachment.
• Using discipline, non-attachment and devotion to support stress management.
• The vibration of language and how it can either expand or contract us.
• How gratitude shifts our consciousness.
• The importance putting knowledge into action (rather than being a perpetual knowledge collector).
• The simple meaning of life.
• What is love?

Spirituality isn’t hard. It’s who we are. Enjoy this inspiring conversation!

SHOW NOTES:

• A Spiritual Approach: Online Journey’s
• Sylvie Gouin’s website.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
“Spirituality” is a loaded word that often triggers misconceptions. Many of us associate it with mainstream religion or blissed out folks who levitate their way through life. But neither of these memes accurately define the essence of spirituality. “Spirituality” is a loaded word that often triggers misconceptions. Many of us associate it with mainstream religion or blissed out folks who levitate their way through life. But neither of these memes accurately define the essence of spirituality.<br /> <br /> In a nutshell, spirituality is about living the human experience with gusto.<br /> <br /> Spirituality is about being in your body – really being in your body. It means living with presence, feeling your feelings, and honoring the calling that lives in your heart.<br /> <br /> Spirituality is about living with kindness, and compassion – for yourself and for others. It’s about living authentically with grace, having solid boundaries, and not being afraid to feel the fullness of both the pain and joy in your life.<br /> <br /> What does this all boil down to? Quite simply, it’s about living from the heart. A spiritual existence is not about perfection; it’s about being real, transparent, vulnerable, and accepting all that life throws you while knowing that you have the power to grow and expand from every experience.<br /> <br /> Living you moment by moment truth is living an everyday spiritual life.<br /> <br /> A few months back, this week’s Unplug podcast guest, Sylvie Gouin, wrote a powerful blog post that sums it all up.<br /> <br /> She wrote:<br /> <br /> Would you rather:<br /> Live in the present or live with presence?<br /> Find your purpose or live with purpose?<br /> Operate on auto pilot as a human doing or mindfully experience life as a human being?<br /> Talk about your potential or simply express it?<br /> <br /> Today lets remember that spirituality is not complicated or airy fairy. It’s actually a grounded way of respecting life, right here, right now, exactly as it is, within what we are doing.<br /> <br /> Simple. That’s the essence of spirituality. Just be who you are.<br /> <br /> This week we chat about:<br /> <br /> • What is spirituality?<br /> • How can spirituality be an everyday part of our lives.<br /> • Breathing life into our “to-do” list.<br /> • Seeing the sacredness in every moment of life.<br /> • What are you breathing life into through your beliefs?<br /> • The practice of discipline without attachment.<br /> • Using discipline, non-attachment and devotion to support stress management.<br /> • The vibration of language and how it can either expand or contract us.<br /> • How gratitude shifts our consciousness.<br /> • The importance putting knowledge into action (rather than being a perpetual knowledge collector).<br /> • The simple meaning of life.<br /> • What is love?<br /> <br /> Spirituality isn’t hard. It’s who we are. Enjoy this inspiring conversation! Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:32:10
UP #63: Grassroots Compassion in Action with Matt Noble http://www.debozarko.com/mattnoble/ Wed, 08 Apr 2015 01:00:35 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=10840 http://www.debozarko.com/mattnoble/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/mattnoble/feed/ 0 I love meeting people who selflessly do beautiful things to inspire a better world. This week’s Unplug podcast guest is one such person. Matt Noble is a beautiful man with a massive heart. He’s the director of the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank – a progressive food bank model that caters to compassion. The traditional food bank model has few veg options and tends to negate inclusive compassion. Not so with the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank which offers fresh, healthy, and compassionate food choices for vegetarians, vegans, and anyone actively transitioning to a more compassionate lifestyle. Matt and I met a few years back. He’s a man who radiates kindness and hope. I’m grateful to have him in my circle of compassion and honored to bring this conversation to you about compassion, service, selflessness, and how this powerful combination of caring makes for a really awesome of life. This week we chat about: • The gradual unraveling of old beliefs to expand our worldview. • How to be a compassionate activist. • How being open to change is what creates change. • The importance of like-minded community for nurturing transformation. • Inspiring paradigm shifting conversation around food justice. • How giving to others feeds the soul • How global change is emerging from the grassroots level. Matt Noble is proof positive that action from the heart is where its at for paradigm shifting transformation! I love meeting people who selflessly do beautiful things to inspire a better world.

This week’s Unplug podcast guest is one such person.

Matt Noble is a beautiful man with a massive heart. He’s the director of the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank – a progressive food bank model that caters to compassion. The traditional food bank model has few veg options and tends to negate inclusive compassion. Not so with the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank which offers fresh, healthy, and compassionate food choices for vegetarians, vegans, and anyone actively transitioning to a more compassionate lifestyle.

Matt and I met a few years back. He’s a man who radiates kindness and hope. I’m grateful to have him in my circle of compassion and honored to bring this conversation to you about compassion, service, selflessness, and how this powerful combination of caring makes for a really awesome of life.

This week we chat about:

• The gradual unraveling of old beliefs to expand our worldview.
• How to be a compassionate activist.
• How being open to change is what creates change.
• The importance of like-minded community for nurturing transformation.
• Inspiring paradigm shifting conversation around food justice.
• How giving to others feeds the soul
• How global change is emerging from the grassroots level.
Matt Noble is proof positive that action from the heart is where its at for paradigm shifting transformation!

SHOW NOTES:

• Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank website.
• Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank on Facebook and on Twitter.
• Toronto Pig Save website.
• Overturning the Culture of Violence on Amazon.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

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I love meeting people who selflessly do beautiful things to inspire a better world. - This week’s Unplug podcast guest is one such person. - Matt Noble is a beautiful man with a massive heart. He’s the director of the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank – a... This week’s Unplug podcast guest is one such person.
Matt Noble is a beautiful man with a massive heart. He’s the director of the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank – a progressive food bank model that caters to compassion. The traditional food bank model has few veg options and tends to negate inclusive compassion. Not so with the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank which offers fresh, healthy, and compassionate food choices for vegetarians, vegans, and anyone actively transitioning to a more compassionate lifestyle.
Matt and I met a few years back. He’s a man who radiates kindness and hope. I’m grateful to have him in my circle of compassion and honored to bring this conversation to you about compassion, service, selflessness, and how this powerful combination of caring makes for a really awesome of life.
This week we chat about:
• The gradual unraveling of old beliefs to expand our worldview.

• How to be a compassionate activist.

• How being open to change is what creates change.

• The importance of like-minded community for nurturing transformation.

• Inspiring paradigm shifting conversation around food justice.

• How giving to others feeds the soul

• How global change is emerging from the grassroots level.

Matt Noble is proof positive that action from the heart is where its at for paradigm shifting transformation!
SHOW NOTES:
• Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank website.

• Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank on Facebook and on Twitter.

• Toronto Pig Save website.

• Overturning the Culture of Violence on Amazon.
Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:
1. Support the show!
Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!
2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:
Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.
You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.
3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!
As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!
]]>
Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:14:03
UP #62: Life Lessons Learned from Animals with Dr. Marlene Smith DVM http://www.debozarko.com/marlenesmith/ Wed, 25 Mar 2015 03:33:28 +0000 http://www.debozarko.com/?p=10975 http://www.debozarko.com/marlenesmith/#comments_reply http://www.debozarko.com/marlenesmith/feed/ 0 When I was young, I grew up reading James Herriot books. I couldn’t put them down. I dreamed of working as a veterinarian – saving the lives of animals and meeting interesting people along the way. Things changed as I grew older. My affinity for math and science was…absent for lack of a better word. My sensitivity around animal research and euthanasia was intense, which made it very clear that veterinary medicine would not be my calling in life. As a long-time animal mom having rescued many wonderful souls along the way, I have always sought out the best for my furry kids. I grew up with the James Herriot mindset for all healing modalities. It made no difference whether it was for my furry companions, or for myself. I was blessed. I used to love going to our family doctor, dentist, or veterinarian. They were always more like family to me. The depth of caring went well beyond the call of duty. I thought that this is the way it would always be. Sadly, things changed. The world was corporatized. Healing modalities became more competitive, selfish, and impersonal. Integrity went the way of the dinosaur and the heart to heart connection virtually disappeared. The seduction of today’s profit-focused world consumed many “health” care practitioners. In many cases, they became nothing more than legalized pill pushers preying on fear as they moved as many bodies as possible through their clinic doors. How did it ever get this way? Fortunately, there’s a growing movement of people who are fed up with today’s corporatized health care system. This grassroots groundswell of people like you and I are seeking out alternatives that bring compassion, connection, and love back into the forefront of consciousness. The wisdom of those who are gifted with the knowledge and power to heal is being sought after like never before. Energy healing modalities are being integrated with the western medical model for a total whole body/mind/spirit approach to healing. The paradigm of wellness is shifting. Thank goodness is all I have to say with that. I’m always grateful when I find wellness practitioners who choose wisdom, knowledge, integrity, and connection above all else. I’m particularly grateful when I find these practitioners for the animals in my life. The corporate veterinary system disappoints me more than any other “health” care modality. This corrupt model of “wellness” preys not only on those with no voice – our animals – it also preys on the tender emotions of those who love these animals. I am a very unhappy camper when I see what the veterinary world has become – especially since it has always been so close to my heart. So let me just say that when I find the true healers who remain unscathed by the corporate veterinary model, I take notice. This week I have the absolute honor of speaking with a woman who I deeply respect – for her wisdom, her extensive knowledge, her compassion, and, most importantly, her beautiful soul. Dr. Marlene Smith is a healer in the true sense of the word. Graduating from State University in Utrecht, Holland, she went on to expand her veterinary knowledge with extensive studies in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, homeopathy, homotoxicology and veterinary chiropractic care. Not only is her foundation of knowledge expansive, so too is her heart. There is so much I could write about this woman, but instead, I share a powerful conversation this week as Marlene and I speak about the life lessons we can learn from animals. This week we explore such topics as: • How the beauty of life is the journey, not the destination. • Healing the world begins with healing ourselves. • The waves of consciousness throughout our lives. • The power of nature to reconnect us to love. • What is D’aoist medicine and how does it differ from Western medicine? • The difference between yin and yan. • The phases of grief that we experience prior to death. • What animals teach us about life and love.

When I was young, I grew up reading James Herriot books. I couldn’t put them down. I dreamed of working as a veterinarian – saving the lives of animals and meeting interesting people along the way.

Things changed as I grew older. My affinity for math and science was…absent for lack of a better word. My sensitivity around animal research and euthanasia was intense, which made it clear that veterinary medicine would not be my calling in life.

As a long-time animal mom having rescued many wonderful souls along the way, I have always sought out the best for my furry kids. I grew up with the James Herriot mindset for all healing modalities. It made no difference whether it was for my animal companions, or for myself. I used to love going to our family doctor, dentist, or veterinarian. They were like family to me. The depth of caring went well beyond the call of duty. I was blessed. I thought this is how it would always be.

Sadly, things changed. The world became corporatized. Healing modalities became more competitive, selfish, and impersonal. Integrity went the way of the dinosaur and the heart to heart connection virtually disappeared. The seduction of today’s profit-focused world consumed many “health” care practitioners. In many cases, they became nothing more than legalized pill pushers preying on fear as they moved as many bodies as possible through their clinic doors. How did it ever get this way?

Fortunately, there’s a growing movement of people who are fed up with today’s corporatized health care system. This grassroots groundswell of people like you and I are seeking out alternatives that bring compassion, connection, and love back into the forefront of consciousness. The wisdom of those who are gifted with the knowledge and power to heal is being sought after like never before. Energy healing modalities are being integrated with the western medical model for a total whole body/mind/spirit approach to healing. The paradigm of wellness is shifting. Thank goodness is all I have to say with that.

I’m always grateful when I find wellness practitioners who choose wisdom, knowledge, integrity, and connection above all else. I’m particularly grateful when I find these practitioners for the animals in my life. The corporate veterinary system disappoints me more than any other “health” care modality. This corrupt model of “wellness” preys not only on those with no voice – our animals – it also preys on the tender emotions of those who love these animals. I am a very unhappy camper when I see what the veterinary world has become – especially since it has always been so close to my heart.

So let me just say that when I find the true healers who remain unscathed by the corporate veterinary model, I take notice.

This week I have the absolute honor of speaking with a woman who I deeply respect – for her wisdom, her extensive knowledge, her compassion, and, most importantly, her beautiful soul.

Dr. Marlene Smith is a healer in the true sense of the word. Graduating from State University in Utrecht, Holland, she went on to expand her veterinary knowledge with extensive studies in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, homeopathy, homotoxicology and veterinary chiropractic care. Not only is her foundation of knowledge expansive, so too is her heart.

There is so much I could write about this woman, but instead, I share a powerful conversation this week as Marlene and I speak about the life lessons we can learn from animals.

This week we explore such topics as:

• How the beauty of life is the journey, not the destination.
• Healing the world begins with healing ourselves.
• The waves of consciousness throughout our lives.
• The power of nature to reconnect us to love.
• What is D’aoist medicine and how does it differ from Western medicine?
• The difference between yin and yan.
• The phases of grief that we experience prior to death.
• What animals teach us about life and love.
• A powerful conversation about the sacredness of death and dying.
• The wisdom in grief.
• The healing power of gratitude.
• how acupuncture can help with “stuck” emotions.

I am so grateful for people like Marlene Smith in the world. I am deeply honored to share her beautiful light with you this week.

Enjoy this week’s powerful show!

SHOW NOTES:

Phoenix Rising Veterinary Clinic.
Jessie: A Tribute to the Power and Pain of Loving – and Never holding Back. Blog post.
The Beast of Grief blog post.
• The Mutant Message Down Under on Amazon.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards.

3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE!

As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

]]>
When I was young, I grew up reading James Herriot books. I couldn’t put them down. I dreamed of working as a veterinarian – saving the lives of animals and meeting interesting people along the way. - Things changed as I grew older. When I was young, I grew up reading James Herriot books. I couldn’t put them down. I dreamed of working as a veterinarian – saving the lives of animals and meeting interesting people along the way.<br /> <br /> Things changed as I grew older. My affinity for math and science was…absent for lack of a better word. My sensitivity around animal research and euthanasia was intense, which made it very clear that veterinary medicine would not be my calling in life.<br /> <br /> As a long-time animal mom having rescued many wonderful souls along the way, I have always sought out the best for my furry kids. I grew up with the James Herriot mindset for all healing modalities. It made no difference whether it was for my furry companions, or for myself. I was blessed. I used to love going to our family doctor, dentist, or veterinarian. They were always more like family to me. The depth of caring went well beyond the call of duty. I thought that this is the way it would always be.<br /> <br /> Sadly, things changed. The world was corporatized. Healing modalities became more competitive, selfish, and impersonal. Integrity went the way of the dinosaur and the heart to heart connection virtually disappeared. The seduction of today’s profit-focused world consumed many “health” care practitioners. In many cases, they became nothing more than legalized pill pushers preying on fear as they moved as many bodies as possible through their clinic doors. How did it ever get this way?<br /> <br /> Fortunately, there’s a growing movement of people who are fed up with today’s corporatized health care system. This grassroots groundswell of people like you and I are seeking out alternatives that bring compassion, connection, and love back into the forefront of consciousness. The wisdom of those who are gifted with the knowledge and power to heal is being sought after like never before. Energy healing modalities are being integrated with the western medical model for a total whole body/mind/spirit approach to healing. The paradigm of wellness is shifting. Thank goodness is all I have to say with that.<br /> <br /> I’m always grateful when I find wellness practitioners who choose wisdom, knowledge, integrity, and connection above all else. I’m particularly grateful when I find these practitioners for the animals in my life. The corporate veterinary system disappoints me more than any other “health” care modality. This corrupt model of “wellness” preys not only on those with no voice – our animals – it also preys on the tender emotions of those who love these animals. I am a very unhappy camper when I see what the veterinary world has become – especially since it has always been so close to my heart.<br /> <br /> So let me just say that when I find the true healers who remain unscathed by the corporate veterinary model, I take notice.<br /> <br /> This week I have the absolute honor of speaking with a woman who I deeply respect – for her wisdom, her extensive knowledge, her compassion, and, most importantly, her beautiful soul.<br /> <br /> Dr. Marlene Smith is a healer in the true sense of the word. Graduating from State University in Utrecht, Holland, she went on to expand her veterinary knowledge with extensive studies in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, homeopathy, homotoxicology and veterinary chiropractic care. Not only is her foundation of knowledge expansive, so too is her heart.<br /> <br /> There is so much I could write about this woman, but instead, I share a powerful conversation this week as Marlene and I speak about the life lessons we can learn from animals.<br /> <br /> This week we explore such topics as:<br /> <br /> • How the beauty of life is the journey, not the destination.<br /> • Healing the world begins with healing ourselves.<br /> • The waves of consciousness throughout our lives.<br /> • The power of nature to reconnect us to love.<br /> • What is D’aoist medicine and how does it differ from Weste... Deb Ozarko: Cultural revolutionary, author, speaker, and passionate lover of life. clean 1:53:46