Voices of Esalen

Apr 09 2025 199 ep. 49 mins 370
Voices of Esalen Podcast artwork

"Voices of Esalen" features provocative, in-depth interviews with the dynamic leaders, teachers, and thinkers who reflect the mission of the Esalen Institute. For more about the Esalen Institute, head to esalen.org Follow Esalen on Facebook and Twitter

  Religion & Spirituality
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You Were Never Just One Thing: Ramzi Fawaz and the Queer Potential of Now

Apr 09 2025 48 mins  
Ramzi Fawaz is an award-winning queer cultural critic, public speaker, and educator. He is the author of two books, including "The New Mutants: Superheroes and the Radical Imagination of American Comics" (2016), and "Queer Forms." (2022). In 2019-2020, Fawaz was a Stanford Humanities Center fellow. He is currently a Romnes Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin, Madiso

Ida Rolf in Her Own Words: Lecture & Demo at Esalen (1967 Recording)

Mar 30 2025 80 mins  
Today, we're opening the vaults to share a rare and remarkable recording from Esalen’s rich historical archive: a 1967 lecture and live demonstration by none other than Dr. Ida Rolf, the pioneering founder of Structural Integration—more commonly known today as Rolfing. But what is Rolfing? Often described as intense (and sometimes even painful), Rolfing is a powerful form of b

Esselen Tribe of Monterey County in Dialogue with Esalen Institute (Encore Presentation)

Mar 23 2025 58 mins  
Today we’re sharing a conversation that took place in October 2022, between members of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County and the Esalen Institute. Representing the Esselen tribe are Jana Nason and Stephen Vicente Arevalo. Jana Nason is an Esselen and Rumsen descendant, and an enrolled tribal member of the ETMC. She is the nonprofit secretary, and serves on the Tribal Council

Cosmic Frequencies: Doug McKechnie's Avant-Garde Moog Performance at Esalen (late 1960s)

Mar 16 2025 58 mins  
Once again, we’re diving deep into the Esalen archives to share a fascinating historical recording - this one featuring electronic music pioneer Doug McKechnie. In the late 1960s and early '70s, Doug McKechnie was at the cutting edge of musical innovation, harnessing the revolutionary Moog synthesizer to create mesmerizing sounds. McKechnie was a contemporary of iconic figures l

Roots of Esalen: Richard Horan on Esalen's Garden Origins, Jade Carving, Psychedelics, and the Legendary Art Barn

Mar 09 2025 25 mins  
Richard Horan first arrived at Esalen in the mid 1960s, traveling from Los Angeles to Big Sur at the height of a cultural renaissance. He was an early member of the Esalen massage crew and played a pivotal role in founding the Esalen Garden, a space that continues to nourish the land and community today. He was also deeply involved in the psychedelic inquiry of the time. Over the

The Esalen Check In: Part 2

Feb 23 2025 29 mins  
A few months ago we brought you a real Esalen check-in (episode one). This practice, rooted in the Gestalt therapy that evolved at Esalen over the years is an authentic cornerstone of the Esalen experience. It's often described as a catalyst for self-awareness, connection, and personal growth. Today's episode is a continuation - Episode 2. Our check-in features Alex Shepherd, P

Frederic Spiegelberg's 1968 Talk at Esalen: "India and the Saints"

Feb 10 2025 62 mins  
Today we're opening up the vault to share an extraordinary archival recording from one of the most influential figures in Esalen's history, Frederic Spiegelberg — and while that name might not be as immediately recognizable as some of the luminaries who graced Esalen's grounds, like Joseph Campbell, Alan Watts, or Gabrielle Roth, understanding Frederic Spiegelberg and his place i

Music From the Big Sur Mountains (Archival recording, late 1960s/early 70s)

Feb 01 2025 57 mins  
For the past several years, I’ve been lucky enough to work closely with the famed and slightly disorganized Esalen archives, diving deep into the history of this extraordinary place. I’ve fashioned several multimedia talks out of the material that I’ve uncovered, one on the history of altered states at Esalen, another on the 1970s and 80s. And recently, I had one of those rar

Shannon Algeo: Smartphone Addiction, Digital Detox, and Healing the Self

Jan 16 2025 59 mins  
Shannon Algeo is a psychotherapist, author, and teacher. He is also a Soul Coach, Yoga Nidra teacher, and the founder of Soulumination Meditation. Shannon works with clients to heal patterns of trauma so they can show up in the world with presence, purpose, and peace. His work has been featured in Rolling Stone, ABC news, and Yoga Journal. Shannon came to Esalen in December of 2024

Resilience in the Storm: Deborah Eden Tull on Loss, Community, and Renewal

Dec 18 2024 44 mins  
Deborah Eden Tull is a leading Buddhist and EcoDharma teacher whose wisdom has touched countless lives. Recently, Eden and her husband, Mark, faced a life-altering tragedy when Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, destroying their home as well as all their belongings, and very nearly claiming their lives. Eden has long been a powerful voice urging humanity to fa