Smart By Nature: Schooling for Sustainability
"There is a bold new movement underway in school systems across North America and around the world. Educators, parents, and students are remaking K-12 education to prepare students for the environmental challenges of the coming decades. They are discovering that guidance for living abundantly on a finite planet lies, literally, under their feet and all around them -- in living soil, food webs and ... posted on May 21, 15506 reads

Why is the World So Beautiful?
Nobel physicist Frank Wilczek considers whether the deepest realities of the world embody beautiful ideas. He notes, "[[t]here's a very rich history of art objects and music and what people have found beautiful, and literature, and we can compare that to what scientists find in their deep investigation of what the world is, and see not whether those things coincide -- they clearly don't coincide. ... posted on Jul 25, 12049 reads

How Mindfulness Can Defeat Racial Bias
There might be a solution to implicit racial bias, argues Rhonda Magee: cultivating moment-to-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. "In my own work, I identify, develop and examine the efficacy of a set of practices that intentionally link inner and outer work to raise awareness about race and racial experience in our lives, with a focus on personal, interpersonal, and systemic... posted on Jan 5, 11846 reads

Why Play? This Is Serious
While play is fun, it also has serious benefits -- for everyone. "Play and games (with and without rules) enable us to learn about ourselves, who we want to be, and how we see ourselves in the world. Play has huge benefits for people of all ages, including how to solve problems, gain knowledge, learn to be in a group, and develop creativity and imagination." In this article, Sarah Huxley explores ... posted on Mar 28, 12061 reads

Liz Mitten Ryan: One With The Herd
In 1999 Liz Mitten Ryan, award-winning artist, mother of six and founder of a successful fine art publishing company in Vancouver, moved with her architect husband, and a herd of eleven horses, to Gateway 2 Ranch -- a 320-acre slice of paradise nestled in the grasslands of British Columbia. For over a decade now, Liz has facilitated "Equinisity Retreats" on this magnificent land. Coined by her hu... posted on Mar 9, 16746 reads

Awakening Compassion at Work
In their new book, 'Awakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power that Elevates People and Organizations,' Drs. Jane Dutton and Monica Worline discuss the theme of compassion, how employees and organizations can utilize it, and why it's valuable. It is important to recognize that western society often encourages a fear of compassion, particularly fear of being seen as weak or being taken advantage... posted on Jul 15, 11711 reads

Spotlight on Earth Day
Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day marks a global celebration of Earth and the concept of peace. It presents an opportunity to demonstrate support for environmental protection. From lush rain forests to arid deserts, thundering waterfalls to serene ponds, majestic glaciers to craggy mountains and teeming coral reefs, Earth is a complex, interconnected planet, filled with diversity and abundanc... posted on Apr 18, 11618 reads

Choosing Authentic Conversations
Despite being published almost 10 years ago, "Authentic Conversations: Moving from Manipulation to Truth and Commitment" by Jamie and Maren Showkeir is still relevant. It's message is a timely reminder that changing the culture requires changing our conversations. While they are addressing workplace conversations specifically, their strategies can be applied to any situation. An excerpt from the I... posted on Oct 22, 12169 reads

Ken Cloke: There Is No Them. There Is Just Us.
"If chickens are playing on a playground and they're fighting, the very first thing that we tend to do is separate them. Separation works to stop the fighting, but it doesn't work to settle the issues that they're fighting over. So there are relatively primitive and relatively advanced methods for handling any particular type of conflict. And those are endless -- throughout our lives, we have noth... posted on Nov 27, 14804 reads

Hummingbirds: Bubbles Wrapped in Feathers
Their appearance has been described as "glittering fragments of rainbows, flamingo comets, and living gems," but equally fascinating and beautiful is what hummingbirds are physically able to do and how they are able to do it. Their bodies, bones, and feathers are filled with air -- which makes them little more than "bubbles wrapped in feathers" -- yet an adult hummingbird visits an average of 1,50... posted on Feb 19, 1181 reads

The Soul in Depression
We're fluent in the languages of psychology and medication, but the word "depression" does not do justice to this human experience. Depression is also spiritual territory. It is a shadow side of human vitality and as such teaches us about vitality. And what if depression is possible for the same reason that love is possible? Dive into this interview from On Being and hear rare, brave, and helpful ... posted on Jun 19, 14661 reads

Rajni Bakshi: Stories of Modern Day Gandhians
Rajni Bakshi is a Mumbai-based freelance journalist and storyteller who writes about social and political movements in contemporary India. Two of her well-known books include 'Bapu Kuti: Journeys in Rediscovery of Gandhi', chronicling the work and lives of activists engaged in social transformation rooted in the philosophy of Gandhi, and 'Bazaars, Conversations and Freedom: for a market culture be... posted on Aug 23, 4830 reads

Change the Worldview, Change the World
At the heart of every culture is a story of how the world came to be and what that means for us. Look closer and you'll find many more narratives that comprise our collective consciousness. In the case of the Western world, problems like white supremacy, misogyny, and ecological hostility are all disconnected storylines that have been kept alive year after year. In this compelling essay, author Dr... posted on Sep 19, 11925 reads

How Green Is My Forest
"We are the people of this land. We are nature, human and non-human. These are our bodies. Together we are one body, we are creation, and always will be. We matter. Humus, seed, fruit, tooth, organ, blood and bone. We are root, water, mud, alga and stone. We are the snap of bladderwort. We are buttress-rooted trees. Orchid, fern, dragonfly, elephant, monkey; we are larva, worm, cocoon; creeper, li... posted on Oct 14, 4988 reads

What Does It Mean to Live Wisely and Well?
What does it mean to live wisely and well and what does it take? How can we cultivate qualities such as love, wisdom, kindness, and compassion? Dr. Roger Walsh's lifework, addresses these questions. A man with an eclectic past, Roger has explored contemplative life as a professor, physician, therapist, celebrated author, spouse, spiritual practitioner, and inquisitive human being. He is a for... posted on Jan 17, 6340 reads

In An Unspoken Voice: The Changing Face of Trauma
Peter Levine therapist, best selling author and educator has spent over 40 years understanding and developing treatments for trauma. He is the developer of the Somatic Experiencing technique. He shares from his book "In an Unspoken Voice", how our perspectives on trauma and extreme stress have shifted from acceptance as a part of our biology, a part of every life, to something separate and minimiz... posted on Feb 20, 10407 reads

Trailhead
In their award-winning short film Trailhead, documentary filmmakers Emily Fraser and Henry Weiner offer an exploration of the history and heart behind the creation of hundreds of miles of interconnected wildland trails minutes from downtown Oakland, California. Profiling the volunteer network of hikers, bikers, dog walkers, historians and educators who donate their time to help maintain this cheri... posted on May 15, 2143 reads

Gazing Into The Heart of Perfection
"Getting people to receive...to see the gifts they've been given...life itself! Life along the roadside, with the flowers and the weeds, and the pebbles and the trees, and the sounds of birds! And looking up and seeing the clouds, the light and the shadows. We're surrounded! Were in it! And did you know that the Persian word for paradise means "an enclosed garden?" We're in paradise, and we don't... posted on Dec 14, 9891 reads

My Vision Quest
"I must begin by asking myself, 'What do I want?' What do I want, really -- not because of my background and education, self-image and vanity, but what does this 'I' that I am actually want from this short life? Indeed. What, or who am I? And what for? That stops me. And I begin, in silence, to listen - to look up to what I can see and know about the great Universe..."Jim George was a celebrated C... posted on Feb 16, 3586 reads

Left Behind: Surviving Suicide Loss
In the spring of 2017, Nandini Murali, a South Indian journalist and author, returned from an out-of-town assignment to an eerily quiet home. Typically, her husband would greet her at the front door, but that morning he hadn't answered her phone calls. It was Nandini who discovered his body, and confronted an unfathomable reality. T.R. Murali, one of the most prominent urologists in India, and her... posted on Apr 13, 6931 reads

Melting Away: A Conversation with Camille Seaman
Camille Seaman's journey to becoming a pre-eminent photographer and environmental activist is remarkable and inspiring in equal parts. "Why is my picture of an iceberg resonating with you in a way that someone else's picture of an iceberg didn't? I can only answer personally that I think my intention of looking at this thing as a living creature, as a being unto itself, an ancient being, and honor... posted on Apr 21, 2026 reads

Radical Joy For Hard Times
"Radical Joy for Hard Times is a worldwide community of people dedicated to bringing meaning, beauty, and value to places that have been damaged by human or natural acts. Through its online community and annual Global Earth Exchange event, Radical Joy uplifts and inspires values of relationship, community, ARTivism, and presence. Anyone can do the Radical Joy practice, which at its core invites us... posted on Apr 26, 5057 reads

Tapping into the Wisdom of the Gut
"Even though Ive long held a holistic view of life, my scientific career has ultimately taken me full circle, from a reductionistic focus on the biology of brain-gut interactions required for succeeding in my career as a neuroscientist, back to the concept of the interconnectedness of the health of humans and of the environment, and the microbiome, with diet and the mind playing the key role in th... posted on May 12, 5222 reads

Lament for Syria: A Young Poet Looks Back
"I wrote about all my memories: how I woke up in the morning to my grandmother drinking coffee next to the jasmine tree listening to the music of the Lebanese singer Fairuz. I wrote about how my siblings and I walked to school with our neighbors and how we saw a boy smoking and then hiding the cigarette from his older brother.
I didn't want Syria to be known just for its war. I wanted to co... posted on Jun 24, 3558 reads

Indigenous Knowledge and Gift Giving
"In our way we are always told not to ask for anything. We are always told in our community, as a practice, that when we have to start asking for something, that's when we're agreeing that people be irresponsible. Irresponsible in not understanding what we're needing, irresponsible in not seeing what's needed, and irresponsible in not having moved our resources and our actions to make sure that ne... posted on Jul 13, 8781 reads

Rising from the Fire
"How can we reconcile the immensely destructive force of fire with its equally limitless creative potential? Forest managers light intentional blazes to clear overgrowth and begin anew the cycle of life. A fireplace becomes a hearth, offering heat, light, and survival for the homes residents. And fiery volcanic activity can obliterate what stands in its path all the while creating new land in a ma... posted on Aug 10, 2856 reads

Threshold Choir: An Interview with Kate Munger
"In November of 1990 I was invited to spend a day with a friend of mine who was dying of HIV AIDS. He was comatose, but very agitated. There were chores I had to do in the morning, dishwashing and gardening. And he was a quilt maker so I organized his quilts fabric. When the work was done, I sat down by his bedside and didn't know what to do. I waited and waited. All I knew to do, to calm myself, ... posted on Oct 6, 6956 reads

Inhabiting the Ground of Being
"The Realization Process is a way of uncovering an experience of this very subtle consciousness that we actually can experience pervading our whole body. We experience that and we transcend that individuality at the same time. We experience oneness, this ground of being, pervading our own body, and everything around us. So, in other words, our consciousness becomes subtle enough to pervade all of ... posted on Oct 19, 3093 reads

A Portal to Presence
"A 'Portal to Presence' is exactly what it says: a simple doorway or entrance to the field of Consciousness or Presence. It would be stretching the meaning of the word "technique" or "method" to apply it to this idea. One just walks through the portal as one becomes aware of its existence. There is no effort involved such as a decision to remain in the doorway, or to walk through on one's hands an... posted on Nov 9, 4612 reads

Consciousness as the Ground of Being
"I woke in the night and suddenly, to put it very briefly, I experienced myself as love. It felt like an unbelievably strong and powerful love an energy which was both scintillating white and self-knowing -- and it was coming from me. This I found extraordinary, because I didn't know then that such love could emerge from me, or from anybody. And so I was stunned. Then this energy exploded, and I ... posted on Jan 17, 8772 reads

Neurodiversity and Creativity
"If we put neurodiversity with creativity together, what can we get? At the moment, what is dominant is what we call the deficit approach meaning, that we see neurodivergent processes as problems, disorders and abnomality. We have a medical model. There is a process of diagnosis, and various remedies are prescribed such as special equipment and human support, medication, etc. This essentially put... posted on May 16, 1924 reads

Down By the Riverside
What if we as a society could say we were going to live in the Spirit of Love, cooperation and nonviolence and "study war no more"? This song performed by the Playing For Change organization has inspired many people all around the planet to work together for a better world. Playing For Change (PFC) is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music, born from the shared belief th... posted on Jun 17, 1652 reads

Returning to the Whole
"What time is it on the clock of the world?" My mentor Grace Lee Boggs used to ask this question all the time, to anyone who came to visit and learn with her, in any meeting she attended, or speech she gave. She wanted us--her students, comrades, and community-- to keep a wide, long lens about our work. To remember, all of the time, that this moment is not the only moment. Human development moves ... posted on Jun 30, 3648 reads

George Lakoff on Language and Climate Action
"Why is it so difficult to act on climate change? Despite growing public awareness of the current climate crisis, the topic of climate change continues to thwart political and social systems across the globe, as it has for over 30 years. The reasons for this vary, but cognitive linguist and philosopher George Lakoff suggests that an inability to act on climate change may be ingrained into our most... posted on Jul 27, 1949 reads

The World's Hidden Harmony
"We've been blind-sided by our top-down approach. If the body is a bell, resonating to the
world around it, it's as though we have stuffed the bell full of cotton balls that stifle its ringing. The present is whispering to us, "Come and play, come and risk," whatever it may be. But we don't notice. We don't feel the present in that way. We don't feel its presence. We feel it as a collection... posted on Aug 8, 1865 reads

Vanessa Machado de Oliveira : Hospicing Modernity
"Within modernity, we are conditioned to want to cover everything with a heavy blanket of fixed meanings, to index reality in language, to word the world. Carl Mika, a Maori philosopher and friend, suggests that instead of "wording the world," when language manifests as an entity, it "worlds the world" and this opens other possibilities for experiencing existence within the world. There are signif... posted on Dec 22, 1221 reads

Gabor Mate: Healing Into Wholeness in a Toxic Culture
"Celebrated author and physician Dr. Gabor Mat has become one of the worlds foremost voices on the journey of healing from traumain large part because it is a path he walks himself. In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Mat about his new book, The Myth of Normal, sharing breakthrough insights into the nature of trauma and some of the necessary steps for our personal and collective recovery. ... posted on Feb 26, 7298 reads

Food, Earth, Happiness
Everything about modern, industrial farming as a for-profit system is going in the opposite direction of natural farming which is about working in harmony with the earth and the seasons of life. Ultimately, this disconnection from nature leads to much of the unhappiness we find in modern culture. This film offers an alternative viewpoint for social and environmental justice that begins with how we... posted on Jun 30, 1323 reads

Three Black Men: A Journey Into the Magical Otherwise
"We know that we're living in a critical time in human history. We know that we can no longer say, "It's not my responsibility." What is it that this time begs us to see? Tami Simon joins visionary leaders Bayo Akomolafe, Orland Bishop, and Resmaa Menakem for a compelling conversation about the intersection of past, present, and future and the creation of new rituals and pathways for healing, equi... posted on Jul 3, 2143 reads

Maggie Smith: Writing in a Way that is Brave, Real, and True
"Bestselling poet Maggie Smith has a gift for embracing the complexity of our human experienceand for writing about it with piercing intensity, clarity, and beauty. In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with Maggie about her approach to her craft and to life, and how writing can serve as a pathway to self-discovery and release. Featuring a reading of the beloved poem "Good Bones," this insightful epi... posted on Aug 10, 3021 reads

Reconciliation as a Way of Life: White Women & Settler Coloniali
A descendant of White settlers of Indigenous lands, Margaret Jacobs is an award-winning author and professor of history and gender studies who has focused for over two decades on Indigenous child removal and family separation. She studies the history of the American West in a transnational and comparative context with a focus on women, children, and families. Her Bancroft Prize-winning book, White... posted on Nov 28, 1219 reads

Why to Get Published
"Anyone who publishes a book is immediately asked versions of the same question, "How do you get published?"I have been asked by everyone from colleagues and former students to healthcare providers and complete strangers. Behind the question used to be the assumption that the published author has access to some secret, insider knowledge. A former editor of mine spoke occasionally at conferences, a... posted on Nov 29, 2711 reads

How Mindfulness Changes the Emotional Life of our Brains
"Why is it that some people are more vulnerable to life's slings and arrows and others more resilient?" This question has propelled Dr. Richard J. Davidson of University of Wisconsin-Madison along a unique journey that spans hundreds of research articles and multiple books on emotions, mindfulness, and the brain. In 1992, another question directed his trajectory further -- the Dalai Lama asked him... posted on Jan 31, 3581 reads

The Decision to Change
"He looked me in the eyes and said, 'I had that kind of clarity once. I chose to listen to others about what I should do and how I should live my life. I didn't want to go to law school, but I did because of my parents, my scholarship, and a lot of external pressure. It's been ten years, and I am just figuring that out now. Every day that goes by that you don't take a step in the direction of your... posted on Feb 13, 4275 reads

Why Uncertainty Can Lead to Childlike Wonder
Uncertainty is often viewed with uneasiness, yet our capacity to hold this quality can actually lead to remarkable strength and possibility. Neuroscience notes that when you "meet up with something new, you're flooded with neural changes in the brain related to neurotransmitters and stress hormones," explains journalist Maggie Jackson, who's authored an entire book on the topic. "These are stress-... posted on Feb 21, 1671 reads

How Luck and Chance Shape Our Lives
Professor, podcaster, and author Bob McKinnon explores how Mark Robert Rank calls into question some prevalent cultural beliefs. A couple of them are: “the idea of rugged individualism and meritocracy” and the perception that the “world is just, that what we get in life we deserve, either good or bad.” We tend to apply “luck or chance to individuals and randomness to ... posted on May 30, 2451 reads

I Am The Other
Born half Bolivian, half Italian and bred in Switzerland, Denise Zabalaga possesses a unique sensitivity towards "otherness" and an ability to transcend many of the projections of fear and mistrust so commonly associated with strangers. Six months after Septemeber 11, her travels as a photographer and photojournalist took her, a lone woman, to territories of the Middle East and Afghanistan normal... posted on Sep 24, 2527 reads

A Collection Of Free Knowledge
A unique web-based teaching and learning environment is geared to change the way educational materials are developed and used. Connexions is a rapidly growing collection of free scholarly materials and a powerful set of free software tools that helps authors publish and collaborate, instructors rapidly build and share custom courses and learners explore the links among concepts, courses, and disc... posted on Nov 18, 1740 reads

The Bridge-Builder of Hope
He is a man on a mission, building bridges that link places, people and hearts. 62 bridges later, he defines his wealth as the abundant joy and gratitude on the faces of villagers. Girish Bharadwaj and his organization 'Ayasshilpa' construct suspension footbridges over rivers and streams, enabling thousands in remote villages in India to experience a new way of life. Bharadwaj built his first brid... posted on Jan 20, 1001 reads

What Makes Us Laugh & Why?
What does it take to be funny? The question is simple, but the answer is not, as attested to by legions of scientists trying to pinpoint the brain's "laugh zone" and decipher how wit works. Humor research remains a fast-growing area of inquiry, with neurologists mapping areas of the brain that oxygenate to register and respond to puns, slapstick and other forms of wit. The solution potentially car... posted on Jul 15, 2908 reads