Sacred Stream Radio

On this episode, Dena Merriam, Founder of the Global Peace Initiative for Women (GPIW), joins Laura Chandler for an engaging conversation on diverse topics such as climate crisis, the Me Too movement, past lives, and the significance of the sacred feminine in the world today. Dena is the author of two books, including her latest, The Untold Story of Sita: An Empowering Tale for Our Time, a retelling of the Ramayana texts of Classic Indian Literature from the perspective of the primary female character, Sita. The book delivers an important message for our times, offering a new understanding of feminine wisdom and the intelligence of the natural world. In addition to her work with the GPIW, Dena served as Vice Chair of the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders held at the United Nations in New York in the year 2000. She has been a devotee of the spiritual master Yogananda for over 40 years, and is a long time practitioner of Kriya Yoga meditation. Dena received her master’s degree fro

This episode is a retrospective of some of the highlights of the past year. You’ll hear excerpts from Laura Chandler’s interviews with bestselling authors Dawson Church and Christina Rasmussen, Grammy nominee Barbara Higbie, and renowned channel and author Paul Selig. Our featured music includes songs from Barbara Higbie, Dan Walters, and master sarod player Rajeev Taranath, as well as Sacred Stream’s very own Katie Rudman and her duo, Heddwen. The episode begins with Dawson Church, the bestselling author of The Genie in Your Genes: Epigenetic Medicine and the New Biology of Intention and Mind to Matter: The Astonishing Science of How Your Brain Creates Material Reality. Dawson and Laura discuss Quantum physics, the science behind manifestation, and Dawson’s contagious enthusiasm for meditation. Celebrated grief educator and founder of The Life Reentry Institute, Christina Rasmussen, met with Laura in April to discuss her second book, Where Did You Go?: A Life-Changing Journey to Connect with Those We’ve Lost

This episode features a talk by Isa Gucciardi on the Oracle Traditions found in Buddhism and Shamanism. In this talk, originally given at the Science and Nonduality Conference in San Jose, CA, Isa gives an overview of some of the remarkable lineages found in Buddhism and Shamanism and the methods of accessing wisdom through channeling as described in these traditions. Isa Gucciardi is the Founding Director and Primary Teacher at the Foundation of the Sacred Stream, and the author of Coming to Peace and Return to the Great Mother. She holds degrees in cultural and linguistic anthropology, comparative religion, and transpersonal psychology, and is the creator of the highly-effective therapeutic model, Depth Hypnosis. Isa teaches and speaks nationally and internationally. She maintains a private practice with institutions and individuals in Depth Hypnosis and Coming to Peace processes. Isa speaks five languages and has lived in eleven countries. She is the mother of two children and lives with her partner in San

On this episode, Laura Chandler interviews Rajeev Taranath, one of India’s foremost classical musicians and a master of the sarod. At 87 years old, his career has spanned over four decades and drawn accolades from critics and audiences throughout the world. Rajeev is a distinguished disciple of the late legendary maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and was part of Khan’s musical family that included the great sitarists Ravi Shankar and Shrimati Annapurna Devi. Laura and Rajeev talk about Rajeev’s expansive career, perspectives on music and creativity, and his call to Indian Classical Music. Rajeev has received many honors, including India’s highest government award in the arts, the esteemed Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2000. He has written music for several films and received critical acclaim for his deep introspective style. Edward Rothstein of The New York Times states, “Rajeev Taranath’s sarod improvisations mixed the spiritual and the spirited…and proceeded into an exuberant rhythmic celebration.” A noted lin

On this episode, Laura Chandler is joined by researcher and author, Dawson Church. Dawson is the author of the bestselling book and breakthrough in epigenetics, The Genie in Your Genes. His latest release, Mind to Matter: The Astonishing Science of How Your Brain Creates Material Reality, explores the cultivation of peak brain states in daily life. In this lively interview, Laura and Dawson discuss the astonishing science behind how our minds create matter. Dawson points to numerous examples of studies demonstrating this, and offers ways of harnessing the power of our minds through meditation, EFT, and cultivating positive thoughts. He also shares some inspiring stories of people profoundly changing their lives by adopting the simple practices in his book. Dawson founded the National Institute for Integrative Healthcare to study promising evidence-based psychological and medical techniques. He is the editor of Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, and Treatment, and a blogger for HuffPost. For more information

On today's episode, Laura Chandler is joined by writer, empath, and one of the foremost spiritual channels of our time, Paul Selig. Paul has just released his latest channeled book, Beyond the Known: Realization, which is the 6th in a series described as a "program for personal and planetary evolution as humankind awakens to its own divine nature." In this episode, Paul explains his relationship to the guides, the process of channeling, and shares insights from the guides about the new book. Paul received his Master's Degree from Yale and served on the faculty of NYU for over 25 years. A spiritual experience in 1987 left him clairvoyant. Deepak Chopra describes his work as, "authentic, straightforward truth straight from the source field." His breakthrough works of channeled literature – including I Am the Word, The Book of Mastery, and The Book of Truth – have quickly become the most important and celebrated expression of channeling since A Course in Miracles rose to prominence in the 1970s. For more informa

Today's guest is Grammy-nominated, Bammy award-winning musician, Barbara Higbie. A composer, pianist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Barbara has performed on more than 100 albums, including Carlos Santana's 2007 release. She has 14 solo recordings to her credit as well as contributions to 10 compilations that have sold in the millions. A master collaborator and successful solo recording artist, Barbara was the first woman signed to Windham Hill Records, and had major commercial success with her chart-topping band, Montreux. She has also released music with Olivia Records and her own Slow Baby Records, and after nearly 40 years in the industry, she shows no signs of slowing down. In this episode, we take a look back over her career, and talk about what it was like being a woman in the music industry then and now. We also discuss her time growing up in Indiana and West Africa, and what inspires her. Selections from her latest album, Resonance, are featured throughout this episode. To learn more a

In this episode, guest host Isa Gucciardi, interviews the venerable Tibetan Buddhist monk and teacher, Geshe Pema Dorjee. Geshe Pema Dorjee is a tireless advocate of the poor and disenfranchised in Nepal and India, especially children. He has dedicated his life to helping stop human trafficking and travels the world to raise funds for his many altruistic projects and often brings those funds to remote villages, which sometimes requires days of walking to the final destination. Geshe Pema Dorje was the Director of the Tibetan Children’s Village School in Dharamsala for many years and has helped thousands of displaced children gain an education and find their way. In 1995, he became the first Principal of the College for Higher Tibetan Studies and in 2001, His Holiness the Dalai Lama asked him to revive and promote the Bodong tradition of Tibet, and he became the founder and Director of the Bodong Research and Publication Center. In the first segment Isa talks to Geshe Pema Dorjee about his work with the childr

On this episode, Laura speaks with Christina Rasmussen, acclaimed grief educator, and the author of Second Firsts and Where Did You Go? She is the founder of The Life Reentry Institute and has helped countless people break out of what she has coined the “waiting room” of grief to rebuild their lives through her Life Reentry Model. She describes grief as a catalyst for redefining identity and introduces a new model of grief based on the science of neuroplasticity. Her institute’s mission is to bring forth a new way of speaking about and embracing loss within the medical, corporate, and social environments. Her work has been featured on ABC News, Washington Post, Maria Shriver, and the White House Blog. Christina describes to Laura the processes she has discovered for connecting with loved ones that have passed and the science that supports these experiences. They also discuss the personal tragedy that was the catalyst for Christina’s latest book, Where Did You Go?, and the joy that comes from this ability to c

On this episode, hear the conclusion of Laura Chandler’s interview with scholar and bestselling author, Robert Thurman, who talks about the importance of the Sacred Feminine, the ways he sees humankind progressing, and why there is reason for hope. And in the second half, Laura is joined by author and teacher, Isa Gucciardi, who regularly co-teaches workshops with Bob on the subjects of Buddhism, shamanism, and the Divine Feminine. Isa discusses her workshops with Bob and the importance of bringing the masculine and feminine aspects in each of us into balance in order to create a more peaceful, productive, and harmonious world. To learn more about Bob or to listen to his podcast, visit bobthurman.com. For more on his classes and retreats, visit his retreat center website, menla.us, or Tibet House’s website, tibethouse.us. To learn more about Isa Gucciardi, visit her websites, isagucciardi.com and depthhypnosis.com. Our featured music is from Lisa Lynne and the Elfin Love Tribe, Instrumental Songs of Good Chee

On this episode, Laura Chandler speaks with bestselling author and scholar, Robert Thurman, who was in town for the Science and Non-Duality Conference in San Jose (SAND). Bob is a recognized worldwide authority on religion and spirituality, Asian history, and Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. He is the co-founder of Tibet House and the author of many books, including Infinite Life and Why the Dalai Lama Matters. In this interview, Bob and Laura talk about the conference, his latest book – a graphic novel about the Dalai Lama, Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life History of the Dalai Lama of Tibet – and some of Bob’s favorite subjects, like the dogma of materialism, the absurd belief that nothing exists, and how Buddha actually discovered relativity. To learn more about Bob or to listen to his podcast, visit bobthurman.com. For more on his classes and retreats, visit his retreat center website, menla.us, or Tibet House’s website, tibethouse.us. Our featured music in this episode is from Dan Walters’ latest release, Imagina

In this episode, Laura Chandler takes a look back over the past year of interviews, revisiting key moments with inspiring guests that include renowned channel Paul Selig, activist and former nun Margarita Melville, and the exquisite electric cellist Jami Sieber. And you’ll also hear some new conversations with Robert Thurman and Lama Tsultrim Allione. It features music from some of the great musicians that have been on the show, including Grammy nominee and future guest Barbara Higbie, world music vocalist Lisa Kelman, the monks of Gaden Shartse Dokhang, Jami Sieber (featuring the elephants of the Thai Elephant Orchestra), and NuJazz artists The Allure (with guest vocalist Isa Gucciardi). This episode begins with eighty-eight-year-old activist and former nun Margarita Melville, who in the 1960s, left the Maryknoll sisters to join the Guatemalan resistance, and was dubbed “The Guerrilla Nun.” After barely escaping with her life, she and her husband, former Maryknoll priest Tom Melville, joined a group of activ

On this episode, Laura Chandler is joined by author and Tibetan Buddhist teacher, Lama Tsultrim Allione. Lama Tsultrim is currently on a European book tour to support her latest book, Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine. In this conversation, Lama Tsultrim talks about the mandala practices in her book and her focus on making certain practices of Tibetan Buddhism relevant and impactful for contemporary practitioners. She also addresses many current political and spiritual topics, including sexual misconduct by spiritual teachers, the #metoo movement, and the role of women spiritual teachers in Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Tsultrim is one of the preeminent American teachers of Tibetan Buddhism. Her interest in Buddhism began as a teenager, and in the early 1970s, she visited Nepal and backpacked across India, befriending Ram Dass and eventually becoming Allen Ginsburg’s meditation teacher for a time. At age 22, she became the first American ordained by H.H. the 16th Karmapa, and has stud

In the conclusion of this two-part interview, Laura Chandler continues her conversation with Buddhist teacher and the founder of Nangten Menlang Buddhist Medical Center, Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche. Tulku Lobsang is the recognized reincarnation of the great Tibetan Buddhist master Tulku Nyentse. At age 17, he escaped Tibet, was caught, and after spending time in a Chinese prison, successfully escaped to Nepal. In this episode, Tulku Lobsang explains how discovering true happiness within yourself is the wisdom of Buddhism, and offers an important teaching from Machig Labdrön, Tibetan Buddhism’s great female yogini. He also shares his thoughts on the future of Buddhism and his upcoming teachings in Europe and the U.S. To learn more about Tulku Lobsang you can visit his website, tulkulobsang.org. This episode of the Sacred Stream Radio Podcast features music from the Monks of Gaden Shartse Dokhang and their Sacred Chants of Tibet album, released on Red Cow Records.

On this episode, Laura Chandler speaks with Tibetan Buddhist teacher and founder of Nangten Menlang Buddhist Medical Center, Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche. Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche was born to a farming family in Tibet in 1976. He entered the Sowa Monastery at age six, and at age eleven, he went to the Nangzi Bön Monastery, where he studied Dzogchen. Tulku Lobsang was identified by the oracle of Tibet as the incarnation of the master teacher, Tulku Nyentse, and at age thirteen he was enthroned as the eighth incarnation of this master teacher. Tulku Lobsang has received teachings in all of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, and teaches and lectures throughout the world on the subjects of Tibetan Medicine, Buddhism, and Astrology. In part one of this two-part episode, Tulku Lobsang discusses his childhood, his imprisonment by the Chinese, and his daring escape from Tibet. He explains what it means to be a Tulku, or reincarnated master, and how he was enthroned at the age of thirteen. Also discussed are the benefits of Tib

This episode features a talk by Isa Gucciardi, Finding Meaning in Loss, which she gave at the Reimagine End of Life Conference in Berkeley, CA. In this thoughtful and uplifting talk, Isa encourages us to create the spaciousness required to truly be with the experience of loss, grief, and even death. She examines ways of navigating loss, and explores Buddhist perspectives on theme, while also offering practices that will help us approach death, our own and those we love, with awareness and grace. Reimagine is an organization dedicated to expanding the conversation on death to include new ways of thinking about dying and preparing for death. This is an annual conference that takes place each spring throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. It brings more than 100 different presenters to over 50 locations offering thoughtful discussions on topics ranging from existential questions, practical estate planning options, and ways of offering tribute to those who have gone before us. The Reimagine Conference takes place

In part two of this two-part interview, Laura Chandler is joined by the multi-talented composer, singer, and electric cellist, Jami Sieber. Jami creates lush soundscapes using her voice and the cello through a process called “looping.” She tours national and internationally, and her compositions have appeared in film, television and the critically acclaimed video game, Braid. On this episode, Jami discusses her spiritual path, working with sound healing, and the tours she leads to elephant sanctuaries in Thailand. We feature music from Jami’s album, Hidden Sky, inspired by her work with The Thai Elephant Orchestra.

On this episode, Laura Chandler is joined by the multi-talented composer, singer, and electric cellist, Jami Sieber. Jami creates lush soundscapes using her voice and the cello through a process called “looping” that turns her solo instrument into an orchestra of heart-opening sound. Since launching her solo career in 1994, she has performed throughout the Europe, Asia, and North America to rave reviews. Her compositions have appeared in film and television and the critically acclaimed video game, Braid. In part one of this two-part interview with Jami, we discuss her early work in the award-winning pop-rock band, Rumors of the Big Wave, a socially conscious band that came of age during the aids epidemic in the 1980s. She also talks about her solo career, as well as her dedication to social activism, the environment, and her relationship to music, spirit, and the creative process. We are featuring music from Jami’s album, Hidden Sky, inspired by her invitation to meet and play music with The Thai Elephant Orc

This episode features international bestselling author and pioneer of the Enneagram, Helen Palmer, in conversation with Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D., creator of Depth Hypnosis and the author of Coming to Peace. Moderated by The Net and the Butterfly author Judah Pollack, this discussion takes place in front of a live audience at the Sacred Stream Center in Berkeley, CA. Topics covered in this talk include intuition, somatic processes, the early origins of the Enneagram, Buddhism, and how Helen came to be one of the early pioneers of this fascinating model. The Enneagram is a model of the human psyche that describes nine interconnected personality types. The Enneagram of Personality has been widely promoted in business management as a way to gain insights into workplace dynamics and spirituality as a path to higher states of being, essence, and enlightenment. In 1988, Helen co-founded the Narrative Enneagram School with David Daniels, MD, of Stanford University, Helen’s book, The Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and

This bonus episode of the Sacred Stream Radio Podcast contains a preview of the newest podcast from Wondery called American Innovations. American Innovations isn’t your typical science podcast – because you’ll not only hear about the science behind some of the greatest innovations of the last century, you’ll also be immersed in the dramatic moments behind the people, places, and time that lead to those “ah ha” moments. You can hear the first 3 episodes right now by searching for American Innovations on Apple Podcasts, or by visiting wondery.fm/sacred.