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080 We live in the most prosperous and technologically advanced society in human history, yet for so many people happiness feels as elusive as a daytime star.  The many comforts and conveniences we take for granted in the West often come at a hidden cost to our connection to the human family and the greater web of life. From the loneliness epidemic to the opioid crisis to endless foreign wars, many of the urgent issues of the day flow from a fundamental breakdown of once sacred relationships. In this conversation I speak with Adam Guzman-Poole, a relationship coach, logotherapist, and author of Lessons in Love, about the stark contrast between Occidental ways of knowing and being in relationship and the heart-based worldview of Indigenous and Eastern spiritual traditions.  As a resident of Bali, Adam also shares his experience of the Balinese secret to a love filled life, known as Tri Hita Karana, or the three causes of happiness. Music by Pixy323 from Pixabay Illustration by WILLIAN REIS on Unsplash Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

079 The roots of inequality and exploitation run far deeper than the machinations of privileged elites and would be dictators.  Behind the insatiable quest for power and control hides an unexamined primal fear that defies a political solution. Death is the great equalizer.  History is defined by world leaders and political activists consumed by the struggle to defy the truth of impermanence by any means, including engaging in horrendous acts of violence.  When the world is literally on fire spending time on the meditation cushion facing our existential issues can seem indulgent. However, without cultural rituals and ways of relating to death we risk becoming a version of the oppressor or tyrant we claim to be fighting. In this conversation with Dr James Rowe, author of Radical Mindfulness: Why transforming the fear of death is politically vital, we discuss the enduring will to supremacy and why the fear of death is the ultimate upstream cause of so many personal and political conflicts.  We also discuss how mind/body practices like meditation can help us metabolize existential fear, making us more effective and compassionate change makers. Photo by Photo by Chris on Unsplash Music used in this episode by atlasaudio on Pixabay Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

078 The birth of artificial super intelligence has been compared to the invention of fire and it is fundamentally reshaping our work, relationships and ontological reality. This technological revolution is also happening at a potent time at the intersection of the climate crisis, historic wealth inequality and shifting global politics. The dawn of AI is forcing us to confront profound questions around what it means to be human and who or what is in control of our collective destiny? In this episode of Awake In Relationship I speak with John J Wisdom, a technologist turned speculative fiction writer and author of G.A.I.A: The World on the Brink in the Age of AI about the power of stories and the known unknowns of a future shaped by a technology that few of us fully understand. In this chat we also explore some of the the moral and philosophical grey zones that AI presents and the possible emergence of a ‘conscious’ and benevolent super intelligence that can help humanity navigate the complexity and peril of this evolutionary bottleneck.  Photo by Galina Nelyubova on Unsplash Music used in this episode by mfcc-space on Pixabay Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

077 Regardless if you believe we are entering a technological golden age of productivity and growth or the dystopian world of the Terminator, AI is poised to disrupt virtually every aspect of life and work in wildly unpredictable ways.  Many heart based entrepreneurs, service providers and content creators are challenged to balance the utility and convenience of AI tools with the risks of outsourcing essential cognitive and creative labours and even relationship building to machines to stay competitive.  This is a time of profound soul searching on how to stay human and thrive as  Ai transforms our world. In this episode of Awake in Relationship I speak with returning guest Bradley T Morris, business coach and CEO of the educational app Majik Kids, about staying true to your core mission, protecting the muse,  and pivoting in the age of super intelligent machines. We also discuss timeless relationship based marketing strategies and tapping into the deep well of human creativity and spirit to rise above the coming tsunami of Ai slop. image credit: Igor-omilaev on Unsplash Music credit: The_Mountain on Pixabay Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

076 From celebrities like Sting boasting about their sexual prowess to heretical gurus in white robes sleeping with students, the topic of tantra is shrouded in mystery and sometimes scandal. Working with sexual energy is only a part of the sacred outlook of tantric spirituality. Rather than withdrawing from the world of sense pleasures to cultivate awareness, tantra embraces the messy and illuminating aspects of life and relationships equally as fuel for realizing our true nature. Tantra is a transformative approach to waking up, but also comes with inherent risk. Like licking honey from a razors edge, without basic mindfulness and compassion the medicine of great bliss can turn into the poison of self deception. In this episode of Awake in Relationship I speak with Irini Rockwell, Buddhist teacher and author of several books including The Five Wisdom Energies about the tantric journey of awakening in the modern world. In this conversation we explore the role of passion and sexuality in spiritual growth. We also discuss the yogic approach of working directly with the energetic quality of our conflicting emotions to turn confusion into unshakable wisdom. Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

075 When war and rumours of war are everywhere in the news how we personally relate to uncertainty and show up for others matters more than ever. The temptation to harden our hearts and join the chorus of polarizing voices is difficult to resist. However, it doesn’t matter what side of a conflict we identify with or the opinions we hold. Toxic certainty, hatred and fear are contagious and the real enemies of peace. Spiritual warriorship has existed in eastern and western traditions for thousands of years to show the way of bravery. In times of crisis the spiritual warrior rises above aggression and looks within to transform a fearful mind in the cradle of compassion. In this episode of Awake In Relationship I speak with returning guest Susan Gillis Chapman, Buddhist teacher and author of The 5 Keys of Mindful Communication and a new book, Which Way Is Up?: Finding Heart in the Hardest of Times, due to be published in June 2024. In this conversation we discuss the transformative power of compassion and qualities of a modern spiritual warrior living in times of great change and fear. We also discuss contemplative practices for invoking the heart of bravery and leading with love. Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

074 Since the time of Socrates people have been opining and pearl clutching about the wayward state of the youth. For better or worse, Millennials and Gen Z have received a tremendous amount of attention and public scrutiny from professionals and social media influencers. With labels like ‘the anxious generation'  more young people find themselves defined through a mental health lens and aggressively treated for conditions that previously may have been considered adaptive challenges of adolescence. Rather than focusing on a perceived fragility of young people or finger pointing at over protective parenting, the origins of the youth mental health crisis might be sourced in common issues we all struggle with in the digital age and the anxieties of professionals and policy makers. In this episode of Awake In Relationship I speak with Dr Nevin Harper, nature based clinical therapist and coauthor of Kids These Days: Understanding and supporting youth mental health. In this conversation we talk about the societal and cultural origins of our current thinking around the youth mental health and 3 common disruptors in modern life that negatively effect the developmental process. We also discuss how to shift focus from an interventionist approach to returning to the basics of mental health, including healthy attachments, connection to the natural world and encouraging risk tolerance to create the conditions for young people to thrive. Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

073 Only recently have both women and men been able to liberate themselves from the yoke of patriarchal norms.  The transition to a more egalitarian, post modern society in the last 50 years also meant a rejection of historical narratives about manhood, including what some mythological traditions call the masculine spirit.  In the absence of this archetypal energy, many men languish and struggle with a deep insecurity about their place in a fast changing world. While the media focuses on caricatures of alpha males and examples of ‘toxic masculinity’, the shadow side of men, especially well intentioned and conscious men, more often appears in the form of the ‘nice guy’.  Dr Robert Glover first coined the term ‘nice guy syndrome’ to describe a complex of self defeating traits, including passivity, excessive people pleasing, covert manipulation and weak personal boundaries. Paradoxically, nice guys rarely get what they truly want from relationships or life by being nice. In this episode of Awake In Relationship I speak with Jason Lange, men’s embodiment coach, group leader and podcaster, about men’s shadow work to recover the generative power of the masculine spirit.  In this conversation we discuss the origins of nice guy syndrome, it presentation in intimate relationships and creating transformative spaces for men to be seen and supported to rise to the challenge of modern masculinity. Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

072 The age of connectivity was supposed to give everyone a voice and spread liberal values around the world, but instead public discourse in the digital town square has been reduced to 280 characters and cynical memes shared with strangers.  In contrast to the dumpster fire of social media is the rich tradition of a salon culture that thrived during the age of enlightenment.  From the ferment of these social gatherings flowed a new world of reason and possibility, including egalitarian systems of self governance and the inalienable rights that have come to define the West, but are now under threat. Innate to the experience of salons is the pursuit of meaning, connection and beauty.  As more of life is lived online there are fewer spaces in the real world where diverse people and perspectives can engage in healthy and spirited exchange about things that truly matter.  In this episode of Awake In Relationship I speak with Justine Kolata, a philosopher, salonnière and author of In Pursuit of the Beautiful Soul about reviving the art of conversation as an antidote to online toxicity and restoring hope in a brighter future through holding space for beauty and heartfelt dialogue. If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

071 As we transition to fall and celebrate thanksgiving (In Canada) it seems like a natural time to focus on the hearth, the place of warmth, family and community. The constellation of people we share our world with, especially our chosen family, are always reflecting something back to us, some important feedback. In this short monologue Silas Rose explores the mirror like quality of our close relationships, known in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as the Mandala Principle. Like a Buddha in the centre of a colourful sacred circle by bringing awareness to every conversation we can transform our habitual patterns and reactivity.  When we change, the image in the mirror also changes. In this way our circle of relationships expands and we can experience greater openness and joy.  If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

070 The road to original and impactful work can be long and lonely. The digital age has enabled more freedom, creativity and opportunity, but also epidemic levels of disconnection and distraction. It is estimated that 20 percent of North Americas are involved in some early stage enterprise or work online.  Even more are opting for remote or hybrid work. When we are literally switching screens every 3 minutes new strategies and tools are needed to help us access our potential and do deep work. In this episode of Awake In Relationship I speak with Steve Puri, CEO of The Sukha, a productivity app and community of remote workers to discuss hacks for getting into flow, the creative process and building healthy relationships and teams online and off. Steven draws on insights from a long career as a producer and studio executive at DreamWorks and 20th Century Fox for being more productive and getting to the real work that feeds your soul. If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected] Credit: Music used in this episode intro by Grand_Project

069 The heart is not just a pump, it is also the tender center of our being we most often guard and long to liberate.  As young children we got to experience the wonders of life through an open heart, but also the pain of separation and in some cases, betrayal. The process of adulting in a materialistic culture necessitates constructing elaborate strategies and conceptual shells to navigate the chaos of life and keep us safe.  However, the more we identify with our thoughts and live life from head, the more disconnected we become from our true nature and sense of aliveness. The desire for wholeness demands an inner journey into the deep heart. In this episode of Awake In Relationship I speak with Dr John J Prendergast, non dual spiritual teacher, psychotherapist and author of The Deep Heart: Your Portal into Presence and Your Deepest Ground about the archetypal spiritual journey of restoring connection with the subtle and profound wisdom of the heart. In this conversation we also discuss the intersection of psychotherapy and a grounded approach to spirituality in working through trauma and internal blocks to loving more fully. Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected] Credit: Music used in this episode intro by Orangery

068  The spiritual journey is not all love and light. The more one commits to waking up, the more life is punctuated by times of intense loneliness and a longing to be liberated from the sense of separateness. The nature of love is expansive and free flowing. Only when we fixate and try to constrain it does it become transactional and begin to sour. Without warning the transcendent joy of a passionate love affair can turn to self doubt and neediness. According to the Buddhist tantric tradition, love is a vast storehouse of energy that exists beyond the dualistic barrier of ego clinging or relationship status and is available to all who are brave enough to seek its truth. By becoming familiar with the open nature of love we can dance and communicate with others with greater delight and ease. In this episode of Awake In Relationship I speak with Buddhist author, teacher and returning guest, Susan Gillis Chapman on the non dual, indestructible nature of love and cutting through ego’s obsessive strategy to possess it. Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected] Credit: Music used in this episode intro by Grand_Project

067 Every rose has its thorn... so too, there is no intimacy without first facing the Shadow. In the background of our quest to be known and held deeply in relationship is a murky and sometimes dangerous territory. The Shadow contains a lifetime of unmet needs and raw emotion that can resurface abruptly in situations involving power, money and sex. It also holds a vast treasure trove of latent gifts and the potential of love waiting to be expressed if we are brave enough to look. In a time when 50 percent of marriages end in divorce and1/3 of us live alone shadow work may be the secret to transforming old wounds and self defeating patterns and realizing our deepest desires in conscious intimacy and connection.  In this episode of Awake In Relationship we welcome back Dr Connie Zweig, retired Jungian and author of Romancing the Shadow to discuss the path of shadow work and waking up in our relationships.  Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]

066 After an extended hiatus Awake In Relationship is back on the AIR with season 3!  In this short episode Silas discusses the origins of the loneliness epidemic and the evolution of his mission in the brave new world of super intelligent machines to help people reclaim time and attention from devices to invest in conscious relationships and deep work in the real world.  Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and Linkedin If you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events. Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at [email protected]