Banyen Books ~ Branches of Wisdom

Sah D'Simone, author of Spiritually Sassy, joins Banyen Books for a conversation on his book Spiritually, We. Sah D’Simone is a spiritual revolutionary, artist, and the internationally bestselling author of Spiritually Sassy. He's known for hosting the top-rated Spiritually Sassy Show podcast and for creating the Somatic Activated Healing (SAH) Method™. Sah works in the Spiritual Care Department at Cedars-Sinai Hospital and is a guest lecturer at Columbia University. His remarkable contributions to homeless youth in Venice Beach, California earned him the CARE award from the city and county of Los Angeles.

#1 bestselling author Dr. Jen Gunter discusses her galvanizing book Blood, dispelling the shame, mythology, and misinformation around menstruation with scientific facts, medical expertise, and a fierce feminist perspective.

Dr. Jen Gunter is board certified in OB/GYN and pain medicine. She writes about the intersection of women's health, sex, science, and pop culture for The New York Times. She has been called a fierce advocate for women's health, Twitter's gynecologist, and "strangely confident" by GOOP.com. She believes an empowered patient requires facts and she is here to fix the medical Internet and smash the patriarchy. She is the author of The Menopause Manifesto, The Vagina Bible, The Preemie Primer, and Blood.

Daniel Goleman, world renowned psychologist and international bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence, joins Banyen Books for a conversation on his book Optimal: How to Sustain Excellence Every Day.

Daniel Goleman is an internationally esteemed psychologist and author. His book Emotional Intelligence was on The New York Times bestseller list for a year-and-a-half, and has been a bestseller in many countries with over 5 million copies in print. Emotional Intelligence was named one of the 25 “Most Influential Business Management Books” by TIME Magazine. The Financial Times and Wall Street Journal have listed Goleman among the most influential business thinkers. As a science journalist Goleman reported on the brain and behavioural sciences for The New York Times for many years. He is a co-founder of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, at the University of Illinois Chicago. He currently co-directs the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations at Rutgers University. He is a board member of the Mind & Life Institute, which fosters dialogues and research collaborations among contemplative practitioners and scientists. Goleman has organized a series of intensive conversations between the Dalai Lama and scientists, which resulted in the books Healing Emotions and Destructive Emotions.

John Holland, world-renowned psychic medium, speaks with Banyen Books on Psychic Mediumship.

John Holland, world-renowned psychic medium, has been helping people connect with their loved ones in the Spirit World for decades, bringing closure and healing, and has taught thousands of people how to develop and enhance their own natural psychic abilities. He is famous for his public psychic demonstrations and has starred in several TV specials, including A&E’s Mediums: We See Dead People and his own pilot, Psychic History, for the History Channel. He is the author of the best-selling books The Spirit Whisperer, Psychic Navigator, Power of the Soul, 101 Ways to Jump Start Your Intuition, and Born Knowing, as well as the oracle decks The Psychic Tarot, The Psychic Tarot for the Heart, and The Spirit Messages.

World-renowned meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg joins Banyen in conversation on her book, Love Your Enemies: How to Break the Anger Habit & Be a Whole Lot Happier.

Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer and industry leader, a world-renowned teacher and New York Times bestselling author. As one of the first to bring meditation and mindfulness into mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, her relatable, demystifying approach has inspired generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of eleven books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Sharon’s secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings is sought after at schools, conferences and retreat centers around the world.

Renowned Jungian analyst James Hollis, PhD, joins Banyen for a deep conversation on the qualities that bring meaning to our human journey, and his new book A Life of Meaning.

James Hollis, PhD, is a Zurich-trained Jungian Analyst practicing in Washington, D.C., and the bestselling author of 20 books including Living an Examined Life: Wisdom for the Second Half of the Journey, Hauntings: Dispelling the Ghosts Who Run Our Lives, What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life, and Why Good People Do Bad Things: Understanding Our Darker Selves. He has served as Executive Director of the Jung Educational Center in Houston, Executive Director of the Jung Society of Washington, Senior Training Analyst for the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, Director of Training of the Philadelphia Jung Institute, Vice-President of the Philemon Foundation, and Professor of Jungian Studies for Saybrook University of San Francisco/Houston.

Internationally renowned singer/songwriter Tara MacLean joins Banyen for a discussion on her powerful memoir Song of the Sparrow.

Tara MacLean, Canadian singer/songwriter, has been an internationally renowned and award-winning recording and touring artist for over 25 years. She released her first album with the Nettwerk Music Group and Sony Music Publishing Canada in 1996. Since then, she has been signed with Capitol Records and EMI Canada with her JUNO-nominated band Shaye. She has written and recorded six solo albums and two with the band. Her first book, Song of the Sparrow, hit the Best Seller list the week it was released, and Tara quickly followed it up with “Sparrow” - the soundtrack for the book.

Bill Arnott discusses 'Gone Viking' and 'Gone Viking II', guiding us on an epic literary odyssey following history’s most feared and misunderstood voyageurs: the Vikings. Prepare yourself for an armchair adventure like no other!

Bill Arnott is a songwriter, poet, and author of the bestselling travelogue 'Gone Viking: A Travel Saga' (Whistler Independent Book Awards Finalist and American Book Fest International Book Awards Finalist),' Gone Viking II: Beyond Boundaries', 'Dromomania', and 'Wonderful Magical Words'. His work has been published in literary journals in Canada, the US and UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and his column “Bill Arnott’s Beat” is a feature in several magazines. Bill has received awards for prose, poetry, and songwriting and is the creator of “Bill’s Artist Showcase.” For his eight-year Gone Viking expedition he was awarded a fellowship in London’s Royal Geographical Society. When not trekking the globe with a small pack and his journal, or showing off cooking skills as a culinary-school dropout, Bill can be found on Canada’s west coast, making friends and misbehaving.

Richard Rosen, renowned yoga teacher and author, discusses Yoga by the Numbers: The Sacred and Symbolic in Yoga Philosophy and Practice.

Richard Rosen, one of America's most influential authors on yoga practice and philosohy, began his training in yoga in 1980 and graduated from the B.K.S Iyengar Institute in 1983. In 1987, together with Rodney Yee, he opened the Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, CA, which operated until 2012. Richard is a contributing editor at Yoga Journal magazine, to which he has contributed countless articles and columns over the pst quarter century. He serves as the President of the board of directors fo the Yoga Dana Foundation. He is the author of five influential books, four of them published by Shambhala: The Yoga of Breath, Pranayama: Beyond the Fundamentals, Original Yoga, Yoga FAQ, and Yoga by the Numbers

Neale Donald Walsch, bestselling author of the Conversations with God series, discusses his book The God Solution: The Power of Pure Love.

Neale Donald Walsch has written 39 books on contemporary spirituality and its practical application in everyday life. Seven of the nine books in his Conversations with God series have made the New York Times Bestseller list, with Book One remaining on that list for 134 weeks. His titles have been translated into 37 languages. He is the creator of CWG Connect, a global online platform connecting people who wish to more deeply explore the messages in the CWG body of work. His latest book is The God Solution.

Dr. Deborah MacNamara discusses her new book, Nourished, which shines a light on the relationship between food and developmental attachment. Dr. MacNamara is joined in conversation with Maria LeRose.

Dr. Deborah MacNamara is a clinical counsellor and educator with more than 25 years experience. She is on faculty at the Neufeld Institute, operates a counselling practice, and speaks regularly about child and adolescent development to parents, childcare providers, educators, and mental health professionals. She is the author of the bestselling book, Rest, Play, Grow, the children’s picture book The Sorry Plane, and the forthcoming book, Nourished.

Maria LeRose is an award-winning television producer and interviewer, and an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. She received her Masters of Education from UBC in the Department of Education and Counseling Psychology - with an emphasis on social and emotional development. Before embarking on a career in Journalism, Maria coordinated the first Child Abuse Prevention Program in BC. She is a long-time advisor to the Dalai Lama Center and Moderator of the DLC’s Heart-Mind Conferences. She has moderated events featuring Gordon Neufeld, the Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Gabor Maté, Sir Ken Robinson, and other luminaries.

David Hinton, one of the world's foremost translators of ancient Chinese poetry and philosophy, presents The Way of Ch'an: Essential Texts of the Original Tradition. David is in conversation with renowned Zen teacher/author/poet, Zoketsu Norman Fischer.

David Hinton has published numerous books of poetry and essays, and many translations of ancient Chinese poetry and philosophy—all informed by an abiding interest in deep ecological thinking. This widely-acclaimed work has earned Hinton a Guggenheim Fellowship, numerous fellowships from NEA and NEH, and both of the major awards given for poetry translation in the United States: the Landon Translation Award (Academy of American Poets) and the PEN American Translation Award. Most recently, Hinton received a lifetime achievement award by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Norman Fischer is a Zen teacher, poet, translator, and director of the Everyday Zen Foundation. A beloved figure in the Buddhist world, he is also well-known for his efforts at interreligious dialogue. His numerous books include The World Could Be Otherwise: Imagination and the Bodhisattva Path, What Is Zen?: Plain Talk for a Beginner’s Mind, and Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on the Practice of Lojong.

Satish Kumar discusses his new book, Radical Love: From Separation to Connection with the Earth, Each Other, and Ourselves.

Satish Kumar, peace-pilgrim, life-long activist, and former monk, has been inspiring global change for over 50 years. Aged 9, Satish renounced the world and became a wandering Jain monk. Then in his 20s, he undertook a pilgrimage for peace, walking for two years without money from India to America for the cause of nuclear disarmament. Now in his 80s, Satish has devoted his life to campaigning for ecological regeneration, social justice, and spiritual fulfillment. In 2022 he received the Goi Peace Award.

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, one of the foremost living Buddhist nuns known for having lived twelve years in a remote Himalayan cave, discusses Reflections on a Mountain Lake: Teachings on Practical Buddhism.

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo is a bhikṣuṇī in the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. At the age of twenty she traveled to India, becoming one of the first Westerners to be ordained as a Buddhist nun. The international bestseller Cave in the Snow chronicles her twelve years of seclusion in a remote cave. Deeply concerned with the plight of Buddhist nuns, she established Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in India. In 2008 His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa, head of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage, gave her the rare title of Jetsunma (Venerable Master).

Angela Sterritt discusses her book, Unbroken: My Fight for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Women and Girls.

Angela Sterritt is an award-winning journalist, writer, and artist. Sterritt has worked as a journalist for close to twenty years and has been with the CBC since 2003 as a host and television, radio, and digital reporter. She is a proud member of the Gitxsan Nation and lives on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh territories, Vancouver, Canada.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Nepo is joined in conversation with Joel Fotinos on his new book, Falling Down and Getting Up.

Mark Nepo is a poet and philosopher who has taught in the fields of poetry and spirituality for over 50 years. A New York Times #1 bestselling author, he has published over 25 books, including The Book of Awakening, Surviving Storms, and Finding Inner Courage, and has recorded more than a dozen audio projects. Mark has been interviewed several times by Oprah Winfrey as part of her Super Soul Sunday TV show, and was interviewed by Robin Roberts on Good Morning America. As a cancer survivor, Mark devotes his writing and teaching to the journey of inner transformation and the life of relationship. His work has been translated into more than 20 languages.

Joel Fotinos is the Founder, Vice-President, and Editorial Director of St. Martin’s Essentials, the successful new body/mind/spirit imprint of the St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Prior to that, Joel was a Vice-President and Publisher of the TarcherPerigee imprint at Penguin Random House, and a Marketing Manager at the San Francisco office of HarperCollins. He is the author of several books, including The Prosperity Principles, which have been published in more than 14 languages. He is a recipient of Science of Mind magazine’s “Spiritual Hero of the Year” award.

Join Radhule Weininger, PhD, MD, and Michael Kearney, MD, as they share teachings from Radhule's new book, 'Heart Medicine: How to Stop Painful Patterns and Find Peace and Freedom–at Last'.

Radhule Weininger, MD, PHD, is a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, and meditation teacher. She leads weekly and monthly meditation groups in Santa Barbara and leads retreats in both the United States and internationally at La Casa de Maria Retreat Center, Spirit Rock, Insight LA, the Esalen Institute, the Garrison Institute, and she is the author of Heartwork: The Path of Self-Compassion. Michael Kearney is a physician specializing in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, with over 35 years experience. He lived in Ireland, England, France, and Canada before moving to the United States in 2001. He currently lives in Santa Barbara, California, where he is a founding partner of Palliative Care Consultants of Santa Barbara. Michael Kearney is married to psychologist, meditation teacher, and author Radhule Weininger, PhD. They teach and write together and share six adult children between them.

David Richo, bestselling author of How to Be an Adult in Relationships, joins Banyen for a conversation on his book To Thine Own Self Be True: Shakespeare as Therapist and Spiritual Guide.

David Richo, PhD, is a psychotherapist, teacher, writer, and workshop leader whose work emphasizes the benefits of mindfulness and loving-kindness in personal growth and emotional well-being. He combines Jungian, poetic, and mythic perspectives in his work with the intention of integrating the psychological and the spiritual. He is the author of numerous bestselling books including How to Be an Adult in Relationships and The Five Things We Cannot Change.

Renowned Zen teacher Roshi Joan Halifax joins Banyen for a discussion of In a Moment, in a Breath.

Joan Halifax, PhD, is a Buddhist teacher, anthropologist, and writer. Her books include The Human Encounter with Death (with Stanislav Grof), Being with Dying, and Standing at the Edge. She is a Founding Teacher in the Zen Peacemaker Order of Roshi Bernie Glassman and the late Sensei Jishu Holmes, and is a Soto priest and teacher. She founded The Ojai Foundation, an educational center, in 1979, and Upaya (a Buddhist study center) in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1990. She has been on the faculties of Columbia University, the University of Miami School of Medicine, the New School for Social Research, The Naropa Institute, and the California Institute for Integral Studies. Halifax is a distinguished invited scholar of the U.S. Library of Congress, and the only woman and Buddhist on the Tony Blair Foundation’s Advisory Council. Joan Halifax has worked with dying people since 1970. In 1994, she created the Project on Being with Dying as a way to train healthcare professionals in contemplative care of the dying.

Jeff Brown, author of Soulshaping, discusses his new book Humanifestations: On Trauma, Truth, and Transformation.

Jeff Brown is the author of 8 popular books: Soulshaping, Ascending with Both Feet on the Ground, Love It Forward, An Uncommon Bond, Spiritual Graffiti, Grounded Spirituality, Hearticulations, and Humanifestations. He is the producer of the award-winning spiritual documentary Karmageddon, which features Ram Dass, Seane Corn, Deva Premal and Miten. Jeff’s short writings have touched millions of souls worldwide and have been shared on social media by the likes of LeAnn Rimes, Alanis Morrissette, Fergie, Chrissy Metz, Jason Silva, and Amanda De Cadenet. Jeff is the founder of Soulshaping Institute and Enrealment Press. He lives in Canada with his wife, poet Susan Frybort.

Amit Goswami, PhD, and Valentina Onisor, MD, join Banyen for a conversation on Quantum Integrative Medicine: A New Paradigm for Health, Disease Prevention and Healing.

Dr. Amit Goswami, celebrated Theoretical Quantum Physicist, is a revolutionary amongst a growing body of scientists who have ventured into the domain of the spiritual in an attempt both to interpret the seemingly inexplicable findings of curious experiments and to validate intuitions about the existence of a spiritual dimension of life. A prolific writer, teacher, and visionary, Dr. Goswami has appeared in the movies What the Bleep do we know!?, Dalai Lama Renaissance, and the award winning documentary, The Quantum Activist. He is the author of several bestselling books, including The Quantum Doctor and The Self-Aware Universe.

Valentina Onisor, MD, is a practicing physician specializing in family medicine, who integrates various systems of alternative medicine (acupuncture, Ayurveda, naturopathy, and aromatherapy) into her medical practice. She is a co-author (along with Dr. Amit Goswami) of the recently released books, Quantum Spirituality and The Quantum Brain as well as of the upcoming books, The Awakening of Intelligence, Quantum Integrative Medicine, and The Quantum Science of Love and Relationships.

Thomas Moore, bestselling author of Care of the Soul, joins Banyen for a conversation with Q&A on his book The Eloquence of Silence.

Thomas Moore, PhD, is the author of over 30 books, including the number one bestseller Care of the Soul. He holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Syracuse University and degrees in music composition. Thomas Moore is a teacher and sought after international lecturer. He has been a psychotherapist for over 40 years. His work brings together spirituality, mythology, depth psychology, and the arts, emphasizing the importance of images and imagination.

Lon Milo DuQuette joins Banyen for an engaging conversation on his book, The Magick of Aleister Crowley.

Lon Milo DuQuette is a bestselling author and lecturer whose books on Magick, Tarot, and the Western Mystery Traditions have been translated into ten languages. He is currently the US Deputy Grand Master of Ordo Templi Orientis and is on the faculty of the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, and the Maybe Logic Academy. Among his many books are My Life with the Spirits, Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot, and Tarot of Ceremonial Magick. He lives in Sacramento, California, with his wife Constance.

Paul-Gordon Chandler discusses his book, In Search of a Prophet: A Spiritual Journey with Kahlil Gibran.

Paul-Gordon Chandler is the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Wyoming. He grew up in Senegal, West Africa, and has lived and worked extensively around the world. An author, art curator, social entrepreneur and an authority on the Middle East and Africa, he is passionate about using the arts to further our global quest for a more harmonious future, both with each other and with the earth. He is the author of several books including the acclaimed book on Muslim-Christian relations titled Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road.

Kabir Helminski, renowned Sufi teacher and one of the foremost Rumi translators of our time, joins Banyen for an illuminating conversation on The Mysterion: Rumi and the Secret of Becoming Fully Human.

Kabir Helminski is the author of the classic book Living Presence and a renowned translator of Rumi and other Sufi literature. Shaikh Kabir Helminski was the first westerner recognized as a Shaikh, or elder in the Mevlevi Order of Sufism, which dates back to the Thirteenth Century, and is based on the works of the great poet and philosopher, Rumi. He is the co-director of the Threshold Society, a nonprofit Sufi organization, and was the publisher of Threshold Books for twenty years. He is also a producer and writer of Sufi music.

Neil Douglas-Klotz—teacher, author, musician, and scholar of Middle Eastern tradition—joins Banyen in conversation on his new book, Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus: The Hidden Teachings on Life and Death.

Neil Douglas-Klotz, PhD, is an internationally known scholar in the fields connecting religious studies (comparative Semitic hermeneutics) and psychology as well as a poet and musician. He is the author of Prayers of the Cosmos, Desert Wisdom, The Hidden Gospel, The Little Book of Sufi Stories, Kahlil Gibran’s Little Book of Wisdom, and The Genesis Meditations, and coauthor of The Tent of Abraham with Sr. Joan Chittister and Rabbi Arthur Waskow. He is the past chair of the Mysticism Group of the American Academy of Religion and is active in various international colloquia and conferences dedicated to peace and spirituality.

A. H. Almaas, renowned author and spiritual teacher, speaks with Banyen Books on Nondual Love: Awakening to the Loving Nature of Reality.

A. H. Almaas is the pen name of A. Hameed Ali, founder of the Diamond Approach to Self-Realization, a contemporary teaching that developed within the context of both ancient spiritual teachings and modern depth psychology theories. Almaas has authored 20 books about spiritual realization, including the Diamond Heart series, The Pearl Beyond Price, The Void, and The Alchemy of Freedom. Watkin’s Review cites him as one of the world’s 100 most spiritually influential people. He is the founder of the Ridhwan School for Spiritual Development, an inner work school devoted to the realization of True Nature.

@BanyenBooks converses with acclaimed author and activist Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg on 'Mend the World' and 'On Repentance and Repair'.

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg serves as scholar in residence at National Council of Jewish Women. She is the award-winning author of seven books, including 'Surprised by God' and 'Nurture the Wow'. She was named by Newsweek and the Daily Beast as one of ten “rabbis to watch,” by Forward as one of the top 50 most influential women rabbis, and called a “wunderkind of Jewish feminism” by Publishers Weekly. Rabbi Danya has been a Washington Post Sunday crossword clue (83 down), and her most recent book 'On Repentance and Repair' has been hailed by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley as "A must read for anyone navigating the work of justice and healing” and by the author Rebecca Solnit as “brilliant.”

@BanyenBooks joins Gabor Maté for a conversation on his new book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, & Healing in a Toxic Culture.

A renowned speaker and bestselling author, Dr. Gabor Maté is highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics including addiction, stress, and childhood development. Dr. Maté has written several bestselling books, including the New York Times bestseller The Myth of Normal, the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection, and Scattered Minds: How Attention Deficit Disorder Originates and What You Can Do About It, and has coauthored Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers. His works have been published internationally in nearly thirty languages.
Daniel Maté is a Brooklyn-based composer-lyricist who has received the Kleban Prize, Cole Porter Award, and Jonathan Larson Grant. His musicals include The Trouble With Doug and The Longing and the Short of It. Other shows in development include Hansel & Gretl & Heidi & Günter, Middle School Mysteries, and an adaptation of the Russell Banks novel The Sweet Hereafter. He is the host of the YouTube program Lyrics To Go and runs a "mental chiropractic" service called Walk With Daniel.

@BanyenBooksSound hosts Kendra Allen sharing exercises and advice from The Breakup Workbook to heal from your heartbreak and create your best life.

KENDRA ALLEN is a breakup coach, blogger, host of the Heal Your Heartbreak Podcast, and founder of Break Up Bestie. In 2017, she launched her Instagram account @YourBreakupBestie and began talking with thousands of people all over the world about what struggles they were going through post-breakup. Kendra launched her blog in 2018, online courses in 2019, and her popular podcast in 2020. Kendra has been featured in Cosmopolitan, Elite Daily, New York Post, Mind Body Green, and dozens of popular podcasts.

Dr. Rick Hanson speaks with @BanyenBooksSound on his new book Making Great Relationships—neuroscience, psychology, and the contemplative wisdom.

Rick Hanson, PhD, is a psychologist, senior fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times bestselling author. His books have been published in 30 languages and include Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain, and Mother Nurture. A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA, he has been an invited speaker at NASA, Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and other major universities, and he has taught in meditation centers worldwide. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on the CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom.

Pico Iyer, bestselling author and TED speaker, converses with @BanyenBooksSound on his new book, The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise.

Pico Iyer is the acclaimed and bestselling author of fifteen books, translated into twenty-three languages, including The Art of Stillness. He has been a constant contributor for more than thirty years to Time, The New York Times, Harper’s Magazine, and more than 250 other periodicals worldwide. His four recent talks for TED have received more than eleven million views. He has written the liner notes for Leonard Cohen albums, and his in depth conversations with the Dalai Lama have been published in the book, The Open Road.

Karen Casey shares life lessons and wisdom from her beloved classic Each Day a New Beginning, and celebrates the release its new 40th anniversary edition. Each Day a New Beginning defined a genre as the first daily meditation book for women, filled with encouraging meditations and  practices to lift readers up. With over 3 million copies sold and a  dedicated readership spanning over four decades, Karen Casey has cemented herself as a leading voice in the reflection and recovery space. Karen Casey is the author of several bestsellers including The Promise of a New Day, 52 Ways to Live the Course in Miracles, Let Go Now, and Codependence and the Power of Detachment.

Julia Cameron, author of 'The Artist's Way', shares wisdom and practices from her new book, 'Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer'. 

Julia Cameron, hailed by the New York Times as “The Queen of Change,” is credited with starting a movement in 1992 that has brought creativity into the mainstream conversation—in the arts, in business, and in everyday life. She is the best-selling author of more than fourty books, fiction and nonfiction; a poet, songwriter, filmmaker and playwright. Commonly referred to as “The Godmother” or “High Priestess” of creativity, her tools are based in practice, not theory, and she considers herself “the floor sample of her own toolkit.” 'The Artist’s Way' has been translated into fourty languages and sold over five million copies to date.  

Joel Fotinos has been a publishing professional for many years, as well as a minister and author. After 21 years as a Vice-President and Publisher at Penguin Random House, Joel joined Macmillan to start a new mind/body/spirit imprint called St. Martin's Essentials. He and Julia have worked together for 26 years so far, and hope for many years to come.

​@BanyenBooksSound hosts Melody Beattie in conversation about her revised and updated #1 bestselling, modern classic, Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself. 

Melody Beattie is one of America’s most beloved self-help authors and a household name in addiction and recovery circles. Millions of readers have trusted Melody’s words of wisdom and guidance because she knows firsthand what they’re going through. Her international bestselling book, Codependent No More, introduced the world to the term ’codependency’ in 1986. She is the author of many bestselling books—including The Language of Letting Go, Playing It by Heart, The Grief Club, Beyond Codependency, and The Codependent No More Workbook. She lives in Southern California and is at work on an inspirational memoir.

Join Danielle Blackwood, Archetypal Astrologer, for the @BanyenBooksSoundVancouver launch of her book 'A Lantern in The Dark'. 

Danielle Blackwood is a professional astrologer with more than 30 years of experience and is certified in the principles and practice of Contemporary Psychological Astrology through world renowned astrologer and author, Erin Sullivan. Danielle is also a Registered Counseling Therapist (RCT) in private practice. Her therapeutic approach is transpersonal, archetypal, and person centered, and she holds a certificate in Jungian and Post Jungian Clinical Concepts through The Center of Applied Jungian Studies. Danielle has been a priestess and educator since 1994, facilitating workshops, retreats, classes and public ritual. She is the author of 'The Twelve Faces of The Goddess'. Danielle is a passionate lifelong student of folklore, mythology, and depth psychology, and helping others through their rites of passage when they find themselves in a dark wood, is at the heart of her work.

@BanyenBooksSoundVancouver  hosts Mahnaz Afkhami, leading women's rights advocate who served in the pre-1978 Cabinet of Iran, in conversation with CBC radio host Samira Mohyeddin in conversation on exile, protests, Iran, and the women's movement.

Mahnaz Afkhami is the founder, president, and CEO of Women’s Learning Partnership and former Minister for Women’s Affairs in Iran (1976-1978) . Afkhami has been a leading advocate of women's rights for more than four decades, having founded and served as director and president of several international non-governmental organizations that focus on advancing women's status. Afkhami also serves on advisory boards and steering committees of a number of national and international organizations including the Freer/Sackler Galleries of The Smithsonian Institution, the Foundation for Iranian Studies, The Global Fund for Women, Women’s Learning Partnership, Women's Rights Division of Human Rights Watch, and the World Movement for Democracy. She is the author of several books that have been translated into numerous languages, and has appeared on the BBC, CNN, and PBS and in numerous television and radio interviews on NPR, BBC Persian, VOA Persian and other international outlets.  

Samira Mohyeddin is a multi-award-winning journalist, documentary maker, and producer at CBC Radio One’s The Current. She is the host of CBC's Unforked, a national radio program that picks apart the food we eat to reveal the culture and politics baked into it. Samira has a Master of Arts in Gender and modern Middle Eastern history from the University of Toronto. She is a trained Shakespearean actor and graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. She also did genocide studies at the Zoryan Institute and is a graduate of Centennial College’s post graduate advanced journalism program. For more than 16 years, Samira has co-owned and operated Banu, a restaurant and market in Toronto's Queen West neighbourhood.

@BanyenBooks joins Valerie Mason-John (Vimalasara) for a conversation on her book, 'Afrikan Wisdom' — spiritual, political, and interdisciplinary anthology of wisdom stories from Black liberation leaders and teachers.

Vimalasara is an accredited Life Coach and Addictions Coach. They are also one of the founding facilitators of Dr Gabor Mate’s Compassionate Inquiry CI course. They are trained in both CI and Internal Family Systems IFS, and work as a Mindfulness Coach to help liberate people from the prison of their minds. They are ordained into the Triratna Community, and have been practising Buddhism for over 30 years.

Join Dodie Graham McKay for a presentation of practices and wisdom from her new book, 'Earth Magic: Elements of Witchcraft'. 

Dodie Graham McKay (Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg, Canada) is an initiated Witch and independent filmmaker. Since the 1980s, she has been involved in magic, music, and other forms of media. Dodie is the founder of Moongazey Films Inc, has written for The Wild Hunt, and is active in her local art and magic communities.

Dr. Sue Johnson speaks on her new book, The Hold Me Tight Workbook. Dr. Johnson shares tools for couples to strengthen bonds and deepen intimacy. 

Dr. Sue Johnson is a leading innovator in the fields of couple therapy and adult attachment. She is the primary developer of Emotionally Focused Couples and Family Therapy (EFT), which has demonstrated its effectiveness in over 30 years of peer-reviewed clinical research. She has received numerous awards acknowledging her development of EFT, including the APA’s “Family Psychologist of the Year” in 2016 and the Order of Canada in 2017.

Join Banyen Books for an illuminating panel discussion with Dennis McKenna, Belinda Eriacho, Stephen Gray, and Christopher Bache on 'How Psychedelics Can Help Save the World: Visionary and Indigenous Voices Speak Out'.  

Carmen Spagnola, Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef and trauma recovery practitioner, shares recipes and rituals for the Pagan Wheel of the Year. Carmen's work cross-pollinates themes of attachment, animism, myth and justice, supported by extensive training, certification, supervision and mentorship. Each month, she leads dozens of classes and somatic practice sessions in her membership community, The Numinous Network. Carmen has led workshops in Canada, the US, Sweden and Finland, and hosted The Numinous Podcast since 2014.

David Fenton shares lessons learned as one of the world's leading progressive media activists. 

David Fenton has been the driving force behind some of the most important and history-making campaigns of the last 50 years. In his extraordinary career as a visionary activist, he has learned first-hand what to do—and not to do—to propel progressive causes into the public eye and create real, impactful, lasting change. In his new book The Activist's Media Handbook, Fenton provides an essential toolkit for today’s activists: how to tell your story, captivate audiences, and inspire them to join the cause.

Join host and cocreator of PBS’s 'Journey of the Universe' for a fresh look at how the rich collision between science and spirituality has influenced contemporary consciousness. Brian Swimme will be discussing his new book 'Cosmogenesis: An Unveiling of the Expanding Universe'. 

Dr. Swimme is the author of 'The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos' and 'The Universe is a Green Dragon'. He is co-author of 'The Universe Story', which is the result of a ten year collaboration with cultural historian, Thomas Berry. Dr. Swimme is also the creator of three educational video series: Canticle to the Cosmos, The Earth’s Imagination, and The Powers of the Universe. Most recently he co-wrote and hosted the 60 minute film Journey of the Universe, broadcast on PBS television stations nationwide.

@BanyenBooksSoundVancouver  joins Bari Tessler, financial therapist, author, and founder of The Art of Money, for a discussion plus insights and practices from the The Art of Money Workbook.

Bari Tessler is a warm, compassionate guide with a Masters Degree in Somatic Psychology—and for over twenty years, her Art of Money methodology has helped thousands of people understand and navigate their financial life. Her gentle encouragement and practical tools will offer you new avenues for creativity and joy with an abundance of support.

​ @BanyenBooksSoundVancouver  converses with Jerry Lynch, one of the world's leaders in the field of human potential through sports, on his new book 'The Competitive Buddha: How to Up Your Game in Sports, Leadership, and Life'. Jerry Lynch first learned about extraordinary performance and excellence as a nationally ranked competitive athlete sponsored by Nike, running world class times from 5,000 meters to the marathon, setting an American record in the half-marathon, winning a National Championship and many other other races against athletes half his age. He took what he learned about himself and life from his competitive days and parlayed it into a dynamic successful career helping athletes and coaches in all sports to use his strategies to up their game and discover the best version of themselves. His approach is deeply informed by Buddhism, Taoism, and other spiritual traditions.

Michelle Cassandra Johnson joins  @Banyen Books & Sound  for a conversation on Finding Refuge: Heart Work for Healing Collective Grief. MICHELLE CASSANDRA JOHNSON is a social justice warrior, author, dismantling racism trainer, empath, yoga teacher and practitioner, and an intuitive healer. With over 20 years of experience leading dismantling racism work and working with clients as a licensed clinical social worker, Johnson has a deep understanding of how trauma impacts the mind, body, spirit, and heart. She has led Dismantling Racism Trainings with large corporations, small nonprofits, and community groups, including the ACLU-WA, Duke University, Google, This American Life, The Center for Equity and Inclusion, Eno River Unitarian Universalist Church, Lululemon, and many others. She published Skill in Action in 2017 and teaches workshops nationwide.

Jennifer Freed, PhD, renowned psychological astrologer, joins  @Banyen Books & Sound in conversation about her new book, A Map to Your Soul: Using the Astrology of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water to Live Deeply and fully. Jennifer Freed, PhD, is a renowned psychological astrologer and social and emotional education trainer. She has spent over thirty-five years consulting clients and businesses worldwide on psychological, spiritual, and educational topics. A regular contributor to goop and Maria Shriver's newsletter The Sunday Paper, Jennifer has penned ten books relating to personal growth, and she has been interviewed for her expertise by the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, People Magazine, and Vogue.

Adriana Barton discusses Wired for Music: A Search for Health & Joy Through the Science of Sound. In this captivating blend of science and memoir, a health journalist and former cellist explores music as a source of health, resilience, connection, and joy. Adriana Barton was a staff reporter at The Globe and Mail and has contributed to Utne, Azure, and the San Francisco Bay Guardian. She studied the cello professionally for seventeen years before becoming a journalist. She lives in Vancouver, BC.

​ @Banyen Books & Sound   joins David Roche for a conversation on his book, The Church of 80% Sincerity. David has transformed the challenges and gifts of living with a facial difference into a compelling message that uplifts and delights audiences around the world. The story of his heroic journey from shame to strength has inspired standing ovations from the White House and Kennedy Center to Olympics Arts Festivals, from New Zealand to Moscow, London to Sydney, and across North America. David presents keynote speeches and entertainment for corporate, association, disability and educational events of all kinds. David has been featured in four films, including Shameless, a feature-length documentary from the National Film Board. He recently received the Order of Canada. http://www.davidroche.com/

Elizabeth Earnshaw joins @Banyen Books & Sound in conversation on her new book, I WANT THIS TO WORK. Earnshaw shares tools and insights for couples to navigate difficult issues. Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT, CGT, is the founder of A Better Life Therapy and influential Instagram therapist behind @lizlistens. She holds a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and is a certified Gottman Method couples therapist. Elizabeth also trains and supervises new therapists seeking their licenses in the counseling field. Learn more at abetterlifetherapy.com.

​@Banyen Books & Sound  converses with Will Storr on his new book, The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It.​ @Will Storr   is an award-winning writer. His work has appeared in the Guardian, Sunday Times, New Yorker and The New York Times. He is the author of five critically acclaimed books, most recently the Sunday Times bestseller, The Science of Storytelling. @willstorrwillstorr.com

​ @Banyen Books & Sound  joins Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, for a discussion of her new book, Seeking Wisdom. Julia Cameron is credited with starting a movement in 1992 that has brought creativity into the mainstream conversation—in the arts, in business, and in everyday life. She is the best-selling author of more than forty books, fiction and nonfiction; a poet, songwriter, filmmaker, and playwright. Commonly referred to as "The Godmother" or "High Priestess" of creativity, her tools are based in practice, not theory, and she considers herself "the floor sample of her own toolkit." The Artist's Way has been translated into fourty languages and sold over five million copies to date.

Martín Prechtel joins Banyen Books & Sound for a rare audio interview (part 3 of 3) on his new book, The Wild Rose. Martín Prechtel is widely recognized as a profound and beloved teacher for our times. Raised in the Tzutujil Maya shamanic tradition, he has dedicated his life to the preservation and promulgation of indigenous spirituality. Sharing his deep shamanic wisdom within a grand overview of human history, Prechtel shows us how we can reconnect with the unique and unsuspected manifestations of our own sacred selves. He is the author of several contemporary classics, including The Smell of Rain on Dust and Secrets of the Talking Jaguar. His work has been highly praised by the likes of Clarissa Pinkola Éstes, Coleman Barks, and Mary Oliver. https://floweringmountain.com/

@Banyen Books & Sound  joins Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo for a special discussion of her book: The Heroic Heart. JETSUNMA TENZIN PALMO was raised in London and became a Buddhist while still in her teens. At the age of twenty she traveled to India, becoming one of the first Westerners to be ordained as a Buddhist nun. The international bestseller Cave in the Snow chronicles her twelve years of seclusion in a remote cave. Deeply concerned with the plight of Buddhist nuns, she established Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in India. In 2008 His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa, head of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage, gave her the rare title of Jetsunma (Venerable Master).

Deepen your awareness through the Tibetan practice of sleep and dream yoga with Bön Buddhist meditation master Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche with this  Banyen Books & Sound  event. Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche is a respected and beloved teacher and meditation master in the Bön Buddhist tradition of Tibet. He is the founder and director of Ligmincha International, an organization dedicated to the study and practice of the teachings of the Bön tradition. With students in more than 25 countries, Rinpoche resides in the US and teaches around the world. He is the author of several highly influential books on Bön, spiritual practice, and manifesting the fruit of awareness and positive qualities in one’s life.

Banyen Books & Sound speaks to activist, nun, and esteemed spiritual voice, Joan Chittister on her new book, The Monastic Heart: 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life. Joan Chittister is one of the most articulate and influential spiritual leaders of our time. The award-winning author of over 60 books, she is an international lecturer who has appeared with the Dalai Lama, on “Now with Bill Moyers”, and on “Super Soul Sunday” with Oprah Winfrey. A founding member of The Global Peace Initiative of Women, a partner organization of the UN, she works to develop a worldwide network of women peace builders. As co-chair of this group she has facilitated gatherings of spiritual leaders throughout the world in an effort to spread an interfaith commitment to peace building, equality, and justice for all peoples. She has received numerous awards for her activism and peace initiatives. A Benedictine Sister of Erie, Pennsylvania, she served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), and as prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie for 12 years. She received her doctorate from Penn State University in Speech Communications Theory, and in 1996 was an elected fellow at St. Edmund's College, Cambridge University.

​Banyen Books & Sound  and Word Vancouver host Naomi Shihab Nye for a conversation on the art of poetry and creativity, with readings from her new inspirational collection, 'Voices in the Air — Poems for Listeners'. Naomi Shihab Nye, Palestinian American, was born in St. Louis, Missouri and grew up there, in Jerusalem, and in San Antonio, Texas. A graduate of Trinity University, Nye is the recipient of numerous honors and awards for her work, and was recently the Young People's Poet Laureate for the United States (Poetry Foundation.) She has received the Ivan Sandrof Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Book Critics Circle, and the Lon Tinkle Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Texas Institute of Letters, along with many other awards, and has served as a Chancellor for the Academy of American Poets, as well as a National Council Member for the National Endowment for the Humanities. She was poetry editor for the New York Times from 2019-2020.

Join Sharon Blackie, renowned mythologist and author of If Women Rose Rooted, for a conversation with Q&A on her new book, Hagitude. Dr. Sharon Blackie is an award-winning writer, psychologist and mythologist. Her highly acclaimed books, courses, lectures and workshops are focused on the development of the mythic imagination, and on the relevance of myth, fairy tales and folk traditions to the personal, cultural and environmental problems we face today.

Banyen Books & Sound joins Phil Cousineau for a conversation about his newly updated bestselling classic The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker's Guide to Making Travel Sacred. Phil Cousineau is an award-winning writer and filmmaker, teacher and editor, lecturer, storyteller and TV host. With more than thirty-five books translated into more than ten languages and 15 scriptwriting credits to his name, Cousineau has also appeared alongside mentors Joseph Campbell and Huston Smith. He is co-writer and host of Global Spirit and has also appeared on CNN, The Discovery Channel, NFL Films, and more. He has been interviewed for stories in Time, Newsweek, and The New York Times . Currently, Cousineau lives with his family in North Beach in San Francisco, California. Learn more about his work at https://www.philcousineau.net.

Banyen Books & Sound converses with Zoketsu Norman Fischer on his new book 'When You Greet Me I Bow: Notes and Reflections from a Life in Zen'. Norman Fischer is a Zen priest, poet, and translator whose writings, teachings, and commitment to interfaith dialogue have supported and inspired Buddhist, Jewish, and other spiritual practitioners for decades. 'When You Greet Me I Bow' spans the entirety of Norman Fischer's career. Broken into four sections--the joy and catastrophe of relationship; thinking, writing, and emptiness; cultural encounters; and social engagement--this book allows us to see the fascinating development of the mind and interests of a gifted writer and profoundly committed practitioner.

Banyen Books & Sound joins Alan Clements and Reverend Bodhi Be in conversation on their new book, Facing Death. Alan Clements is founder of World Dharma and a former Buddhist monk in Burma, where he trained in Buddhist psychology and mindfulness meditation. He is the author of several books, including A Future To Believe In and The Voice of Hope. Alan's work has been endorsed by eight Nobel Peace laureates, including the Dalai Lama, in addition to Dr. Vandana Shiva, Dr. Helen Caldicott, Joanna Macy, Derrick Jensen, former US President Jimmy Carter and numerous others. He been interviewed for Nightline, CBS, CBC, ABC, BBC, Talk to America, the New York Times, Time and Newsweek, Utne Reader, and Yoga Journal.  

Reverend Bodhi Be is an ordained interfaith minister and teacher in the Sufi lineage of Samuel Lewis and Hazrat Inayat Khan. He is the founder and executive director of Doorway Into Light, a nonprofit organization on Maui, which provides conscious and compassionate care for the dying, their families and the grieving. For many years Bodhi collaborated with Ram Dass and is continuing the work Ram Dass helped birth in the fields of conscious dying.

Banyen Books & Sound joins Debbie Frank for a conversation on her new book 'What’s Your Soul Sign?', sharing astrological guidance for personal transformation. Debbie Frank is a world-renowned Master Astrologer with decades of experience in sharing, teaching and providing life-healing to her personal clients, celebrities, CEOs and royalty (she was Princess Diana's personal astrologer from 1989 onwards). Debbie is currently the weekly astrology columnist for Hello magazine, and has also written horoscopes and columns for some of the UK's biggest publications including the Daily Mail online, Sunday Express, Hello, Instyle, Sunday Mirror and Daily Mirror. https://www.debbiefrank.com

Banyen Books & Sound joins Sandor Katz for a discussion on his new book 'Sandor Katz's Fermentation Journeys'. Sandor Ellix Katz is a fermentation revivalist. A self-taught experimentalist who lives in rural Tennessee, his explorations in fermentation developed out of his overlapping interests in cooking, nutrition, and gardening. He is the author of four previous books: Wild Fermentation, The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved, The Art of Fermentation—which won a James Beard Foundation Award in 2013—and Fermentation as Metaphor. The hundreds of fermentation workshops he has taught around the world have helped catalyze a broad revival of the fermentation arts. The New York Times calls Sandor “one of the unlikely rock stars of the American food scene.” For more information, check out his website:  https://www.wildfermentation.com.

@Banyen Books & Sound  joins Robert Mack in conversation on his new book 'Love From the Inside Out': Lessons and Inspiration for Loving Yourself, Your Life, and Each Other. Robert Mack has been many things in his life, including a corporate consultant, a professional model, an actor, and a life coach. After several years as a consultant and executive coach for Deloitte & Touche, he returned to school to earn a master's degree in applied positive psychology (MAPP). He has appeared in numerous television commercials and magazines, as well as MTV's Fashionably Loud, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Balancing Act, CBS Early Show, She Knows, AskHer.com, and countless other local, national, and international media outlets. His work has been featured in GQ, Self, Health, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Forbes, Upscale, and more.

​@Banyen Books & Sound  hosts Peter Coyote in conversation on his new book The Lone Ranger and Tonto Meet Buddha: Masks, Meditation, and Improvised Play to Induce Liberated States. Peter Coyote is an award-winning actor, author, director, screenwriter, and narrator who has worked with some of the world’s most distinguished filmmakers. Recognized for his narration work, he narrated the PBS series The Pacific Century, winning an Emmy award, as well as eight Ken Burns documentaries, including The Roosevelts, for which he won a second Emmy. In 2011 he was ordained as a Zen Buddhist priest and in 2015 received “transmission” from his teacher, making him an independent Zen teacher. The author of several books, he lives in northern California.  

Matt Kahn converses with Banyen Books & Sound on his new book, All for Love. Matt Kahn is a spiritual teacher, highly attuned intuitive healer, speaker, and captivating author. He enriches people’s lives by providing heart-centered solutions that ignite, delight, and unite! Matt wrote the highly acclaimed books Whatever Arises, Love That; Everything Is Here to Help You; and The Universe Always Has a Plan, which have been translated into more than a dozen languages. His newest book is All for Love: The Transformative Power of Holding Space.

Join Banyen Books & Sound in conversation with Stephen Jenkinson and Kimberly Ann Johnson on their forthcoming co-written book, Reckoning. Stephen Jenkinson, MTS, MSW, is a spiritual activist, author, ceremonialist and farmer. Stephen teaches internationally and is the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School, founded in 2010. With Master’s degrees from Harvard University (Theology) and the University of Toronto (Social Work), he is the author of several books including the award-winning Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul, Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble and A Generation's Worth. Stephen is the subject of the National Film Board of Canada feature length film documentary, Griefwalker.  

Kimberly Ann Johnson is a Sexological Bodyworker, Somatic Experiencing trauma resolution practitioner, birth doula, and single mom. She specializes in helping women prepare for birth, recover from birth injuries and birth trauma, and heal from sexual trauma. She is the founder of Magamama.com, an international holistic women’s health care resource for expectant and new mothers. She is the author of The Fourth Trimester and Call of the Wild.

Banyen Books & Sound converses with Judith Hanson Lasater on her new book, Teaching Yoga with Intention. Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D. and physical therapist, has taught yoga internationally since 1971. She helped to found Yoga Journal magazine, the Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco, and The California Yoga Teachers Association. She has coined such paradigm-changing phrases as "yoga off the mat" and "living your yoga". Judith Hanson Lasater is widely recognized as one of the foremost teachers in America, and is the author of 10 books including Yoga Myths and her forthcoming, Teaching Yoga With Intention.

Banyen Books & Sound hosts Joan Borysenko for a conversation on her book Pocketful of Miracles: Prayers, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year. Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., is the author of seventeen books, including the New York Times bestseller Minding the Body, Mending the Mind; It’s not the end of the World: Developing Resilience in Times of Change; and Your Soul’s Compass: What is Spiritual Guidance? She lives with her husband Dr. Gordon Dveirin and their two standard poodles in Santa Fe, New Mexico—the Land of Enchantment.

Banyen Books & Sound converses with Sumbul Ali-Karamali on her new book Demystifying Shariah: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It's Not Taking Over Our Country. Sumbul Ali-Karamali is a Muslim American who grew up in California, answering questions on Islam ever since she can remember. After becoming a corporate lawyer, she earned an additional degree in Islamic law. She specializes in synthesizing academic material for general audiences and is the author of The Muslim Next Door and Growing Up Muslim. A popular speaker on topics related to Islam and Muslims, she hopes to promote intercultural understanding with her work, at least when she’s not watching Star Trek reruns, listening to opera, or (reluctantly) white-water rafting with her husband. Connect with Sumbul on her website: https://www.sumbulalikaramali.com.

Banyen Books & Sound hosts Seth Klein about his roadmap and vision for confronting the climate crisis and his book A Good War. Seth Klein is the Team Lead and Director of Strategy with the Climate Emergency Unit. Prior to that, he served for 22 years as the founding director of the British Columbia office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), Canada’s foremost social justice think tank. He is now a freelance policy consultant, speaker, researcher and writer, and author of A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency. Seth is a columnist with the National Observer, an adjunct professor with Simon Fraser University’s Urban Studies program, and remains a research associate with the CCPA’s BC Office.

Banyen Books & Sound joins Robert Thurman in conversation on his new book Wisdom is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life. Robert Thurman became a Tibetan monk at age 24–the first American to be ordained by the Dalai Lama. Acclaimed translator of The Tibetan Book of the Dead and author of Inner Revolution, Robert Thurman is a Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the department of religion at Columbia University and is the director of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies. He is co-founder of Tibet House U.S., and is one of the most visible and respected Buddhist scholars and thinkers in the world.

Banyen Books & Sound hosts Karen Casey, sharing life wisdom from her book, Each Day A Renewed Beginning: Meditations for a Peaceful Journey. Karen Casey, PhD, is the author of 28 books including the beloved classic, Each Day a New Beginning, which has sold over 3.5 million copies and has been translated into more than 10 languages worldwide. She is a workshop facilitator for 12-step recovery and an inspirational speaker who has helped transform the lives of audiences around the world for over four decades. Some of her influential books of inspiration include Promise of a New Day, Codependence and the Power of Detachment, Change Your Mind and Your Life Will Follow, and 52 Ways to Live the Course in Miracles.

Banyen Books & Sound converses with Maude Barlow on her new book, Still Hopeful: Lessons From a Lifetime of Activism. Maude Barlow is the former Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. She chairs the board of Washington-based Food and Water Watch, is a Councillor with the Hamburg-based World Future Council, and is the Honorary Chancellor of Brescia University. She has also served on the executive of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature.

Brad Warner converses with Banyen Books & Sound on his book, The Other Side of Nothing – a real, relatable guide to Zen Buddhist ethics for modern times. Brad Warner is the author of The Other Side of Nothing and numerous other titles including Letters to a Dead Friend about Zen, Don’t Be a Jerk, and Hardcore Zen. A Soto Zen teacher, he is also a punk bassist, filmmaker, and popular blogger who leads workshops and retreats around the world. In addition to his books, his writing appears in Lion’s Roar, Tricycle, Buddhadharma, and Alternative Press. He lives in Los Angeles where he is the founder and lead teacher of the Angel City Zen Center. Visit him online at https://www.hardcorezen.info.

Maria Tatar converses with Banyen Books & Sound on her book, The Heroine with 1,001 Faces. Maria Tatar is one of the world’s leading folklorists. She is the John L. Loeb Research Professor and a Senior Fellow at Harvard University. The editor of the Norton Critical Edition of The Classic Fairy Tales and The Annotated Brothers Grimm, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Michelle Good joins Banyen Books & Sound in conversation on Five Little Indians – her Governor General's Literary Award and CBC Canada Reads-winning novel. Michelle Good is a Cree writer and a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. After working for Indigenous organizations for twenty-five years she obtained a law degree and advocated for residential school survivors for over fourteen years. Good earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia while still practising law and managing her own law firm. Her poems, short stories, and essays have been published in magazines and anthologies across Canada, and her poetry was included on two lists of the best Canadian poetry in 2016 and 2017. Five Little Indians won this year's winner of CBC's Canada Reads. It has received many honours and awards, including the Governor General's Award for Fiction.

Banyen Books & Sound speaks with Marianne Williamson on her life and work. Marianne Williamson is a bestselling author, political activist, and spiritual thought leader. For over three decades Marianne has been a leader in spiritual and religiously progressive circles. She is the author of 14 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. A quote from the mega-bestseller A Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…” is considered an anthem for a contemporary generation of seekers. Some remarkable accomplishments include: - Author of 14 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times best sellers - Listed on Watkins’ annual list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People since its inception - Founder of Project Angel Food, a non-profit that has delivered more than 14 million meals to ill and dying homebound patients since 1989

Banyen Books & Sound converses with Robert Yelton of the Squamish Nation and Yogacharini Maitreyi who comes from the tantric-yoga culture of South India on Art, Earth, Spirit: Nature & Spirituality in Indigenous & Yogic Culture.

Yogacharini Maitreyi is an international master teacher, practical mystic and founder of Arkaya Awareness Centre and Arkaya Foundation. For the last 25 years she has been dedicated to  sharing and teaching expansive life principles. She was born and raised in India where she was immersed in the yogic life for over four decades, through her grandfather and gurus. She studied in the Shivananda and then the Ananda ashram for many years. Through her guidance, you will experience lightness, restfulness and a deeper connection to self. She shares from her life experience and asks people to do the same - to start where they are. Since 1997 in India,  Maitreyi has been given titles: Yoga Chemmal (expert), Yoga Shiromani (gem), and Yoga Acharini (guide). In 2007 she was one of the youngest to be invited to the Advisory Board of the World Yoga Council, in Europe. She has shared the deeper dimensions of yoga, self management and sattvic tantra worldwide. This includes seeing and shifting within ourselves, deep rooted conditioning that is divisive, exploitative, colonial or disrespectful. A compassionate holistic coach, her sessions include online energy assessments to guide one into one’s own innate balance. Arkaya Coaching & Healing: https://www.arkaya.net/coaching-healingMaitreyi trains teachers in a two-year 500-hour online self-awareness program, mentoring them in the Culture of Yoga: https://www.arkaya.net/teacher-training 

Robert Yelton is a Squamish Nation carver and elder statesman. He carved the first and only Squamish Nation totem in Stanley Park which is on the traditional Squamish territory. He learned to mix paints for his grandmother when he was eight years old and carve when he was eleven years old. Through the many years of trials and tribulations and feeling like an outsider in his own land, it was his carving that became a tool for his spiritual awakening and ongoing connection. He is also a retired drug and alcohol counsellor and one of the founding members of NNADAP. He has supported many youth in moving through their trauma by showing them the way of integrity, kindness, and love. He has also given them a reality check by taking them to prisons to see where they could end up if they don’t course correct at an early age. He is regularly called in as a guest speaker at various organizations, like UBC, to give talks on Indigenous culture, carving, and spirituality. He also speaks about the commonalities and the differences in culture and tradition between the variety of Indigenous nations throughout Turtle Island (North America). On Robert’s totem in Stanley Park, his mother is represented at the base of the totem. The most important person is usually represented at the base of the totem.

Dr. Dean Ornish converses with Banyen Books & Sound on his latest bestseller Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases. Dean Ornish, M.D., is the founder and president of the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute, clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and the author of six books, all national bestsellers. He has received numerous honors, including the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award from the University of Texas, Austin, and the National Public Health Hero Award from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Ornish was recognized as a “Time 100 Innovator”; by Life magazine as “one of the 50 most influential members of his generation”; by People as “one of the most interesting people of the year”; and by Forbes as “one of the world’s seven most powerful teachers".

David Richo, PhD, converses with Banyen Books & Sound on his new book Ready: How to Know When to Go and When to Stay. David Richo is a psychotherapist, teacher, and workshop leader whose work emphasizes the benefits of mindfulness and loving-kindness in personal growth and emotional well-being. He is the author of numerous books, including The Five Things We Cannot Change and When the Past is Present.

Dr. Maria Sagi and Dr. Ervin Laszlo converse with Bnayen Books & Sound on Dr. Sagi's book, Remote Healing: Nonlocal Information Medicine and the Akashic Field. 

Mária Sági, a native of Budapest, began her career as a classical pianist and turned subsequently to the study of medicine and psychology, specializing in personality theory, deep psychology, social psychology and the psychology of music. Maria Sagi holds a Ph.D. in psychology at the Eötvös Loránd University of Budapest. Following seven years of intensive research, she was awarded the C.Sc. degree (Candidate of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences). Dr. Sagi developed the information-medicine protocol pioneered by Austrian scientist Erich Körbler into an encompassing method for diagnosing and treating human health problems. She is the author or co-author of eleven books and over one-hundred and fifty articles and research papers published in Hungarian and translated into English, French, German, Italian and Japanese, on topics as diverse as social and personality psychology, the psychology of music and art, in addition to information medicine, her principal field. She is a leading member of the Club of Budapest since its inception in 1993, and she currently serves as the Science Director of the Club. In 2017, Dr. Sagi, together with Ervin Laszlo and the the Club of Budapest received the prestigious Luxembourg Peace Prize. mariasagidr.com  

Ervin Laszlo, twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, Laureate of the Luxembourg Peace Prize, the Assisi Mandir of Peace Prize, as well as of the Japan Peace Prize, the Goi Award, has been identified by an international jury convened by OOOM Magazine as the 28th among the world’s 100 most inspiring people. He is the editor of the prestigious periodical World Futures: The Journal of New Paradigm Research, founder-president of the international think tank The Club of Budapest, founder-president of The Laszlo Institute of New Paradigm Research, and chairperson of The Wisdom Council of the new internet platform People Together. Laszlo is a holder of the highest degree of the Sorbonne as well as numerous Honorary PhDs. He is the author of over 100 books translated into 24 languages, including The Wisdom Principles, along with nearly 400 studies and articles. He lives in the Tuscan hills of the Mediterranean coast of Italy.

Buddhist teacher, Zenju Earthlyn Manuel joins Banyen Books & Sound in conversation about her book, The Shamanic Bones of Zen. Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, PhD, is an author, poet, ordained Zen priest in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. Her work has been featured in Essence, Buddhadharma, Lion’s Roar, On Being, CNN, CBS News, and more. She holds an MA from UCLA and a PhD in Transformative Learning from CIIS. She is the author of several books, including The Deepest Peace and Tell Me Something About Buddhism, with a forward by Thich Nhat Hanh. zenju.org.

Byron Katie converses with Banyen Books & Sound on her newly released, Loving What Is (Revised Edition): Four Questions That Can Change Your Life. In 1986, at the bottom of a ten-year spiral into depression and self-loathing, Byron Katie woke up one morning in a state of joy. She realized that when she believed her stressful thoughts, she suffered, but that when she questioned them, she didn’t suffer, and that this is true for every human being. Her simple yet powerful process of self-inquiry, which she calls The Work, consists of four questions and the turnaround, which is a way of experiencing the opposite of what you believe. Byron Katie has been bringing The Work to millions of people for more than thirty years. Please join her at athomewithbk.com for At Home with BK on Zoom every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9-10 a.m. Pacific Time.

Celebrated poet, speaker, and educator, Najwa Zebian converses with Banyen Books & Sound on her book Welcome Home: A Guide to Building a Home for Your Soul. Najwa Zebian is a Lebanese-Canadian author, speaker, and educator. Her passion for language was evident from a young age, as she delved into Arabic poetry and novels. Najwa has become an inspiration to millions of people worldwide, and a trailblazing voice for women everywhere. Drawing on her own experiences of displacement, Najwa uses her words to encourage others to build a home within themselves and to live fearlessly. She recently launched the digital school Soul Academy and the podcast Stories of the Soul. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, CBS News, Glamour, Elle Canada, and HuffPost. najwazebian.com

Richard C. Schwartz speaks to Banyen Books & Sound about his new book, No Bad Parts. Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, is the creator of Internal Family Systems, a highly effective, evidence-based therapeutic model that de-pathologizes the multi-part personality. His IFS Institute offers training for professionals and the general public. Formerly an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and later at Northwestern University, he is currently on the faculty of Harvard Medical School. He has published five books and is a sought-after presenter. For more, visit ifs-institute.com.

Renowned Buddhist teacher Stephen Batchelor speaks to Banyen Books & Sound about his latest book, The Art of Solitude. Stephen Batchelor is a contemporary Buddhist teacher and writer. Best known for his secular or agnostic approach to Buddhism, he is one of he most influential voices in Buddhist thought today. Stephen Batchelor has been a contributing editor of Tricyle: The Buddhist Review since 1992, and is the author of several bestselling books, including Buddhism Without Beliefs, Living with the Devil, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist, Secular Buddhism, and After Buddhism.

National bestselling author and artist SARK speaks to Banyen Books & Sound about her book, Succulent Wild Woman. SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) is the bestselling author and artist of eighteen books, including national bestsellers Succulent Wild Woman, Eat Mangoes Naked, and Make Your Creative Dreams Real, which have sold over 2 million copies. Her art, programs, products, and services have been treasured around the world. She is an acclaimed teacher and mentor whose wisdom has touched and transformed the lives of millions. She is also the founder and Creative Fountain of Planet SARK, a thriving business that creates innovative products and services to support empowered living. She lives and creates joyfully in San Francisco with her beloved partner David. PlanetSARK.com

Internationally renowned historian of ideas and Booker Prize finalist Michael Ignatieff speaks to Banyen Books & Sound about his latest book, On Consolation. Michael Ignatieff is former head of Canada’s Liberal Party, director of the Carr Center for Human Rights at Harvard’s Kennedy School, President of Central European University, and current professor of History at CEU in Budapest. He has been named to the Order of Canada, is a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, delivered the Massey Lectures, and holds thirteen honorary degrees. Michael Ignatieff is the author of 20 books of fiction and non-fiction, translated into 20 languages. He is a Booker Prize finalist and winner of the Governor General's Literary Award as well as the British Royal Society of Literature's Heinemann Prize. He has received a Gemini Award for his BBC documentary work. He writes regularly for the New York Times, the New Yorker, the New York Review of Books, and the London Review of Books. michaelignatieff.ca

Respected teacher Dan Millman speaks to Banyen Books & Sound about the fruits of a decades-long spiritual journey that led to his book, Peaceful Heart Warrior Spirit. Dan Millman, a former world champion athlete, gymnastics coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor, has authored 18 books published in 29 languages. Way of the Peaceful Warrior was adapted to film in 2006. Dan also speaks worldwide. To learn more about his books, events, online courses, and free life-purpose calculator: www.PeacefulWarrior.com

Chief Clarence Louie shares to Banyen Books & Sound about the journey which led to his book, Rez Rules. Clarence Louie has been chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band, in the south Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, for over thirty-six years. In 2013, Maclean's named him one of the “Top 50 Canadians to Watch.” In 2003, Louie was chosen by the U.S. Department of State as one of six First Nations leaders to review economic development in American Indian communities. In 2008, he received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of British Columbia and Queen's University. In 2019 he was the first First Nations person ever inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

Celebrated yoga teacher and activist Seane Corn speaks to Banyen Books about her book, Revolution of the Soul. Seane Corn is an internationally acclaimed yoga teacher and public speaker known for her social activism, impassioned style of teaching, and raw, honest and inspired self-expression. Over her 25-year teaching career, Seane has created many instructional DVDs, including her groundbreaking series The Yoga of Awakening with Sounds True. Featured on over 40 magazine covers and countless media outlets, Seane has chosen to use her platform to bring awareness to global issues including social justice, sex trafficking, HIV/AIDS awareness, generational poverty, and animal rights. In 2005, she was named “National Yoga Ambassador” for YouthAIDS, and in 2013 received both the Global Green International Environmental Leadership Award and the Humanitarian Award by the Smithsonian Institute. Since 2007, she has been training leaders of activism through her co-founded organization Off the Mat, Into the World®. Seane also co-founded the Global Seva Challenge, which has raised over $3.5 million by activating communities of yoga and wellness in fund and awareness raising efforts. Revolution of the Soul has been praised by Jack Kornfield, Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Sally Field, Gabrielle Bernstein, Marianne Williamson, Valarie Kaur, Larry David, Stephen Cope, David Geffen, Katherine Woodward Thomas, Jeff Brown, Elizabeth Lesser and many others.

Psyche Unbound is an extraordinary compilation of 22 essays that honour the path-breaking lifework of Stanislav Grof, founder and chief theoretician of transpersonal psychology and the world’s leading researcher in psychedelic-assisted therapy, breathwork, and the exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness.

Martín Prechtel is widely recognized as a profound and beloved teacher for our times. Raised in the Tzutujil Maya shamanic tradition, he has dedicated his life to the preservation and promulgation of indigenous spirituality. Sharing his deep shamanic wisdom within a grand overview of human history, Prechtel shows us how we can reconnect with the unique and unsuspected manifestations of our own sacred selves. He is the author of several contemporary classics, including The Smell of Rain on Dust and Secrets of the Talking Jaguar. His work has been highly praised by the likes of Clarissa Pinkola Éstes, Coleman Barks, and Mary Oliver. In this first of two Banyen interview, Martín discusses his new book, The Mare and the Mouse.

Dr. Robert Svoboda discusses Ayurveda, Tantra, and Jyotish Astrology. Dr. Robert Svoboda is the first Westerner ever to graduate from a college of Ayurveda and be licensed to practice Ayurveda in India. During and after his formal Ayurvedic training he was tutored in Ayurveda, Yoga, Jyotish, Tantra and other forms of classical Indian lore by his mentor, the Aghori Vimalananda. Dr. Svoboda has served as Adjunct Faculty at the Ayurvedic Institute, NM, and Bastyr University, WA. He is the author of several books including Prakriti and the Aghora series. Interview Host: Ross McKeachie Project Manager & Editor: Jacob Steele Music: Samuel Romero

Jungian Analyst and author James Hollis, PhD, speaks with Banyen's podcast host Ross McKeachie on the themes explored in his book, 'Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Times of Change'. Dr. Hollis shares wisdom on finding our inner compass in shifting times, attending to the psyche’s inner guidance, discovering ourselves anew through the different stages of life, and living a life of meaning. James Hollis, Ph.D., is a Zurich-trained Jungian Analyst and the author of numerous books including Living an Examined Life, Middle Passage, The Eden Project, and What Matters Most. www.jameshollis.net IN CONVERSATION is a production of Banyen Books & Sound, Canada’s spiritual and healing resource since 1970. www.banyen.com Podcast Host: Ross McKeachie Project Manager & Sound Editor: Jacob Steele Music: Samuel Romero This conversation was recorded with a live online audience, July 2020.