Chris Grosso The Indie Spiritualist

Professor Robert Thurman, author of” Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet,” joins Chris to talk about the Dalai Lama and the continuing crisis in Tibet. 

Author, Steve Taylor, joins the show to talk about the science behind the awakening experience found in his newest book “The Leap.”Steve Taylor is a lecturer in psychology who has drawn on his years of research to study the psychology of awakening. Chris and Steve have a conversation around the awakening experience and remind us that journey is available to anyone, anywhere.

Sandra Marinella joins Chris for a conversation about the transformative power of telling our personal story.

On this episode of the Indie Spiritualist, Chris is joined by Sharon Salzberg to talk about her newest book "Real Love." Chris shares some of his favorite excerpts from "Real Love" and discusses with Sharon the different ways we can cultivate real love in our own lives.

Chris sits down with Matt Belair for a conversation on fulfilling our potential and integrating the mind, body and spirit. Living a life dedicated to acquiring the skills and knowledge to help others on their paths to greatness, has brought Matt Belair to a level of expertise attained by few. A one of a kind author, speaker and conscious thought leader and podcast host, Matt believes in potential. His own, yours, everyone’s. Seeing the possibilities in someone’s life is his greatest gift.

Lily Cushman joins Chris to share her inspiring journey and talk about how spiritual practice transforms lives. Lily Cushman is the co-founder and director of the Brooklyn Yoga School, a donation-based yoga center voted "Best of New York" by New York Magazine in 2011. She has been teaching yoga for 10+ years and practicing daily since her teens. In 2014, Lily created the Vanaras Music record label to facilitates kirtan and spiritual music recordings and live events. She currently serves as the Executive Assistant to meditation teacher and NY Times bestselling author, Sharon Salzberg.

Philosopher, Ken Wilber, joins Chris Grosso for a conversation on finding truth, understanding our identity and finding freedom from the shadows of the soul.Ken Wilber is considered to be one of the most important philosophers in the world today. He is the most widely translated academic writer in America, with 25 books translated into nearly 30 foreign languages. Influenced by Madhyamaka Buddhism, Wilber's philosophy attempts at integrating psychology and spirituality. Learn more about Ken and his offerings at integrallife.com.

This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris sits down with Nancy Colier to talk about addiction to technology and the "Power of Off." Nancy Colier is a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, author, mindfulness teacher and public speaker. She is also a longtime student and practitioner of Eastern spirituality. Chris and Nancy Colier talk about the nature of addiction and learning to break our abusive relationship to technology.

Chris is joined by Michael W. Taft, author of "Mindful Geek," to talk about mindfulness in the modern age. Michael W. Taft is a meditation teacher, bestselling author, and neuroscience junkie. As a mindfulness coach, he specializes in secular, science-based mindfulness training in groups, corporate settings, and one-on-one sessions. Michael is the author of several books, including the bestselling The Mindful Geek and Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept.

Author, Cheryl Abram, joins the show to talk about her books, spiritual journey and the importance of telling the truth. Cheryl Abram is a mother of four, a writer and a public speaker. She lives in Northern Virginia and when not working at her full-time job, she blogs and hosts meetings on applying the non-dual and diunital perspectives to your everyday life.

This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Colette Baron-Reid joins Chris to talk about her newest book, Uncharted, and her upcoming Oracle school. Colette Baron-Reid is an internationally acclaimed intuitive counselor, Psychic Medium, Spiritual Teacher and host of the TV shows Messages From Spirit and The Adventures of the Motorcycle Medium. She and Chris explore how we manifest our reality, concepts of the soul, and tuning into our inner oracle.

Chris sits down with author Samantha Bennett to talk about being in the moment, focusing on changes that are doable, and realizing that everything is perfect just the way it is. Samantha Bennett is a writer, speaker, actor, teacher and creativity/productivity specialist and author of the bestselling, “Get It Done: From Procrastination to Creative Genius in 15 Minutes a Day." Samantha Bennett is the creator of the Organized Artist Company which is dedicated to helping creative people get unstuck, especially by helping them focus and move forward on their goals.

Chris interviews scientist and mindfulness teacher, Shinzen Young, about the power of mindfulness practice and bringing it into the modern world. Shinzen Young is an American mindfulness teacher and neuroscience research consultant. His systematic approach to categorizing, adapting and teaching meditation has resulted in collaborations with Harvard Medical School, Carnegie-Mellon University and the University of Vermont in the burgeoning field of contemplative neuroscience. Shinzen Young is known for his interactive, algorithmic approach to mindfulness, and often uses mathematical metaphors to illustrate meditative phenomena. He is the author of The Science of Enlightenment, Natural Pain Relief and numerous audio offerings. Shinzen leads residential retreats throughout North America. In 2006, he created the Home Practice Program. These phone-based mini-retreats are designed to make deep meditation practice accessible to anyone in the world regardless of their location, health situation, and time or financia

On this episode of The Indie Spiritualist, Chris chats with Ilona Ciunaite about fear, truth, and helping each other along the spiritual path. Ilona’s search for truth started in 2002, when for the first time she “experienced the silence of the thinking mind, a sweet sense of being, contentment, peace,” and “feeling at home.” In 2010 she discovered Jed McKenna’s books, which were a shock to her belief system and catapulted her “out of hypnosis” and toward the realization that all she believed was not truth. It wasn’t until the initial deconstruction was done, after months of painful self-inquiry, that Ciunaite felt at peace: there was an emptiness, a not knowing, a not believing anything about anything. Then the last step was taken and the separate self was seen to be an illusion. Together Ciunaite and Nezhinsky published a book, Gateless Gatecrashers, that consists of conversations leading to self-realization, and which can be downloaded for free at Liberation Unleashed. Liberation Unleashed is a global m

Chris sits down with author Matthew Fox to talk about spirituality, activism, and mystic Thomas Merton. Matthew Fox is the author of over 30 books including Meister Eckhart, The Hidden Spirituality of Men, Christian Mystics, and most recently A Way to God. A preeminent scholar and popularizer of Western mysticism, he became an Episcopal priest after being expelled from the Dominican Order by Cardinal Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI. You can visit him at http://www.matthewfox.org.

This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris talks to Kelvin Young from Advocacy Unlimited. Kelvin Young is the Assistant Executive Director of Advocacy Unlimited/Toivo Director and believes that healing begins from within. After many years of battling with drug addiction, anxiety, and depression, he began his healing process in prison. While incarcerated, Kelvin learned about the transformative powers of meditation, which helped him look within to find inner peace in a very hostile and restrictive environment. Chris and Kevin talk about the struggles along the path to recovery and what Toivo is doing to help others heal.

Chris speaks with Dr. David Berceli about his innovative approach to therapy for patients suffering from trauma and addiction.  

Chris sits down with Brad Warner to share his wisdom and experiences as a Soto Zen priest as well as his new book, “Don’t Be a Jerk: And Other Practical Advice from Dogen, Japan’s Greatest Zen Master.” Brad Warner is the author of Don’t Be a Jerk and numerous other titles including Sit Down & Shut Up, Hardcore Zen, and Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate. A Soto Zen priest, he is a punk bassist, filmmaker, Japanese-monster-movie marketer, and popular blogger based in Los Angeles.  

Chris sits down with spiritual teacher Sally Kempton to discuss the divine feminine, compassion and bouncing back from hard times. Sally Kempton is a powerful teacher of applied spiritual wisdom, known for her capacity to kindle meditative states in others and to help students work with meditative experience as a framework for practical life-change. She teaches teleclasses, retreats, and workshops, and is on the faculty at Esalen and Kripalu.