167 | Jonathan Leland on Ram Dass, Spirituality, Creativity, Death & Change vs Loving What Is

Full show notes here.


I'm excited to introduce you to another one of my friends from the Ram Dass retreat. If you haven't heard about the retreat or Ram Dass yet we talk all about both in this episode. My guest today Jonathan Leland gives a great background of Ram Dass and how he started following his work. Jon, much like Ram Dass is one of the smartest, most fascinating people I've ever met. I've been excited to have him on the podcast since meeting him. He has such a creative, unique and inquisitive approach to life which comes through in our conversation. Some of you may remember the animal meditations I shared in my past newsletter. These are just one small example of the innovative and inspirational things Jonathan does. We explore topics like community, psychedelics, death, and the inevitable changes of life and learning to re-love every new and changed moment and situation. He beautifully describes this as the 'dance between change and love' in life. The whole conversation is so rich and nourishing for the soul. I hope you love it as much as I do.

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Notes from the show:

-THIS WEEKEND come hang with me and other past pod guests at The Good Festival in Philadelphia AND/OR come hang at the Listener Meet-up on April 22nd!

-Jon's Kickstarter Page | Twitter

-I met Jon at the Ram Dass Retreat which we talk about

-Animal Meditations Project — his favorite is the three toed sloth

-Jeff Bridges sleeping tapes is what inspired his Animal Meditations project— specifically the one about Temescal Canyon

-Thanda -- South African non-profit Jon co-founded

-Werner Herzog's work — specifically his work on ecstatic truth and his documentary Encounters at the End of the World

-VICE's Creator's Interview article

-Non Karoli Baba and Ram Dass's experience sharing psychedelics with him

-Locanda in NYC — restaurant, excellent Negronis (cocktail)

-Favorite places:: New Zealand and Sierra Nevada John Muir Trail,

-Books he mentions/loves:: Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, The Art of Communication, Poetry by Yeats, Be Here Now (book that introduced him to Ram Das), State of Wonder (his favorite that he recommends)

-Article on loss:: Elizabeth Bishop's Art of Losing

-Movies he is into now:: — Arrival & 13th

-Music:: Krishna Das, Run the Jewels, The National, Justin Bieber and Robyn

-Podcasts:: You Made It Weird & Hardcode History

Cool Things to Check-Out:

-In June I'll be hanging with the Wanderlust Fam in Vermont -- come hang with us!

-Sign-up for my newsletter to get updates on where I'll be and what I'm loving!

-Join the listener Facebook Group

-Get my book Let It Out: A Journey Through Journaling or leave a review if you have read it.