For Life on Purpose Episode #49, my guest is writer, author, yoga teacher, and traveler Dave Ursillo, who returns for a fourth conversation on my shows. Dave was Guest #1 on my very first podcast (Radio Enso) back in 2011 and his wisdom, tools, and life experience always make for an excellent chat!

Throughout the various threads of his work, he helps creatives, self-starters and everyday yogis use their words to live the stories they want to be telling.

Dave joined me for a great conversation about conscious life evolution, creativity, the freedom of NOT knowing, what he's learned from teaching yoga, habit change, cultivating the right container for personal and creative growth, the notion of "service", the importance of tribe, karma vs. dharma, and much more!

About: Dave Ursillo is a teacher of writing, yoga and self-expression. He helps self-starters use their words, stories and voices to create healing within and share love in our world. In his former life, Dave was an aspiring presidential speechwriter and sought a path of leadership after 9/11/2001 to become a part of positive change in our world. He abandoned his career in 2009 to dedicate his life to his writing, through which he knew he could lead by example.

Today, as a teacher, workshop leader and founder of an online writers' group, The Literati Writers (LiteratiWriters.com), Dave teaches conscientious creatives, self-starters and everyday-yogis how to cultivate their gifts, speak their truth and embody their deepest values. He has brought his teachings to hundreds of thousands of readers and across three continents, and has been seen on CBS News Sunday Morning, Psychology Today, Zen Habits, Inc.com and the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. He lives in Rhode Island.

To learn more about Dave and his work, visit: https://www.daveursillo.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #48, my guest is Zen teacher and author Brad Warner, who is also a punk bassist, filmmaker, Japanese-monster-movie marketer, and popular blogger.

Brad joined me for a great conversation about his new book Don’t Be a Jerk: And Other Practical Advice from Dōgen, Japan’s Greatest Zen Master (New World Library), in which he paraphrases Dōgen’s work for modern times in his trademark style that readers have come to know and love, bringing his wisdom on topics like feminism, reincarnation, and the debate between science and religion to the forefront.

We also discuss Dōgen's great work The Shōbōgenzō, Brad's life story, a brief history of Zen, and philosophical topics such as the notions of "no self", "not knowing", and the question of why we need to practice, if as the Buddha says, "We are all perfect just as we are."

About: Brad Warner is an ordained Zen teacher and author of the books There Is No God And He Is Always With You (2013), Sex Sin and Zen (2010), Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate (2009), Sit Down and Shut Up (2007) and Hardcore Zen (2004).

He’s also a writer for the Suicide Girls website, bass player for the hardcore punk rock group 0DFx (aka Zero Defex), star of the movies “Shoplifting From American Apparel” and “Zombie Bounty Hunter M.D.,” director of the film “Cleveland’s Screaming!” and former vice president of the US branch of the company founded by the man who created Godzilla.

Born in Hamilton, Ohio in 1964, in 1972, Brad’s family relocated to Nairobi, Kenya. When he returned three years later, nothing about rural Ohio seemed quite the same anymore. In 1982, Brad joined 0DFx (Zero Defex), famous for an eighteen-second burst of noise titled “Drop the A-Bomb On Me.” 0DFx recently reunited and has a new CD out.

While still playing hardcore punk, Brad became involved in Zen Buddhism. The realistic, no BS philosophy reminded him of the attitude the punks took towards music. He made it to Japan in 1993 where he began studying the philosophy with an iconoclastic rebel Zen Master named Gudo Nishijima. After a few years, Nishijima decided to make Brad his successor as a teacher of Zen.

To learn more about Brad and his work, visit: http://hardcorezen.info/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #47, my guests are Leah Hynes and Naz Murphie, the Founders of RYPL – Rock Your Purpose Live. They joined me for an inspired conversation about the crucial importance of community for support and guidance as well as connecting with like-minded people as we each find our life purpose and then work to turn our goals into action.

We also discuss each of their life stories, as they've taken the sometime difficult lessons learned creating a life on their own terms and now apply those lessons to helping others do that same.

About: Leah Hynes and Naz Murphie are the Founders of RYPL – Rock Your Purpose Live- a community of more than 10,000 people all around the world crazy enough to believe we can change the world! They both did all the ‘right’ things that others said would make them happy, yet each realized there was something BIG missing.

So in 2012, they joined forces to make a real difference. And now "Whether you are just starting out on your journey to find what positive impact you want to have on the world or you already know and are interested in having your dream put into action, these driven ladies know how to get you there."

To learn more about Leah & Naz and their work, visit: http://rypl.rocks/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #46, my guest is is certified relationship coach, author, blogger, and speaker Kira Asatryan, an expert on loneliness, which she believes is a problem of epidemic proportions in our modern times. In her new book, Stop Being Lonely: Three Simple Steps to Developing Close Friendships and Deep Relationships (just published on New World Library), she says it’s not a lack of people in our lives, it is a lack of feeling that speaks to the heart of this new loneliness.

But there is good news — YOU have the power to create closeness with any willing partner. Closeness is the foundation of all happy and long-lasting relationships, whether romantic, platonic, familial, or business, she writes.

About Kira Asatryan: I'm a certified relationship coach, author, blogger, loneliness expert, and speaker. I love to speak publicly on the topic of loneliness, as it's a problem of epidemic proportions in our modern times. I maintain a private coaching practice in San Francisco where I help business partners, couples, and individuals develop closeness - the antidote to loneliness - in their relationships.

I have a unique passion for those who feel lonely in this world. I understand the unique challenges that lonely people face because I face them as well. I've struggled with loneliness my whole life and have come to find that there are many others out there like me.

We are the people who, despite excellent intentions, find it hard to get to know people and find it hard to believe that anyone cares about us. If you relate to this, I can assure you you're not alone.

I've spent my coaching career researching, pondering, and reflecting upon what specifically makes relationships feel good or bad. The results of my efforts can be found in my book, my articles, my talks, and I believe they will help you immensely.

You can stop being lonely. You've already taken the first step.

To learn more about Kira and her work, visit: http://www.kiraasatryan.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #45, my guest is Dan Millman, a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor whose seventeen books, including Way of the Peaceful Warrior, have inspired and informed millions of readers in 29 languages worldwide and truly changed lives.

Dan joins me for an inspiring and in-depth chat about his latest book, THE FOUR PURPOSES OF LIFE- Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World, his own unique life journey, his classic Way of the Peaceful Warrior, what it MEANS to be a Peaceful Warrior, and much more!

About: Dan Millman is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor. After an intensive, twenty-year spiritual quest, Dan's teaching found its form as the Peaceful Warrior's Way, expressed fully in his books and lectures. His work continues to evolve over time, to meet the needs of a changing world.

bs seventeen books, including Way of the Peaceful Warrior, have inspired and informed millions of readers in 29 languages worldwide. The feature film, "Peaceful Warrior," starring Nick Nolte, was adapted from Dan's first book, based upon incidents from his life.

His latest book, the paperback edition of his book THE FOUR PURPOSES OF LIFE- Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World was recently published by New World Library. Deepak Chopra says it offers "concise and practical guidance for living a meaningful life with a clear sense of purpose, while Marianne Williamson noted "Once again, Dan Millman provides us with keys to a well-lived life."

Much of Dan's time is devoted to writing and speaking. His keynotes, seminars, and workshops span the generations to influence men and women from all walks of life, including leaders in the fields of health, psychology, education, business, politics, sports, entertainment, and the arts.

Dan and his wife Joy live in Brooklyn, New York. They have three grown daughters and two grandsons so far.

To learn more about Dan and his work, visit: http://www.peacefulwarrior.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #44, my guest is internationally recognized stress-management expert, author, and teacher davidji. He's a former COO, apprentice to Deepak Chopra, and the decade-long dean of Chopra Center University plus he's been named one of the top 100 trailblazers in yoga & ayurveda by Spirituality & Health Magazine.

davidji joins me for a fantastic chat about his latest book, the Amazon #1 Bestseller destressifying- The Real-World Guide to Personal Empowerment, Lasting Fulfillment, and Peace of Mind and real-world tools for achieving that, as well as meditation (we do the first ever in-show 16-second meditation!), the latest discoveries of frontier science, his own unique life journey, and much more!

About: davidji is a former COO, apprentice to Deepak Chopra and the decade-long dean of Chopra Center University AND he's been named one of the top 100 trailblazers in yoga & ayurveda by Spirituality & Health Magazine. He's an internationally recognized stress-management expert, corporate trainer, meditation teacher, and Nautilus Book Award-winning author.

He is credited with creating the 21-day meditation process, which spawned hundreds of 21-day meditation experiences & challenges around the world. Often referred to as the Velvet Voice of Stillness, he can be heard on more than 500 guided meditations, available on iTunes, Amazon, HayHouse, GooglePlay, Spotify, Pandora, SoundCloud, Insight Timer & on his own website.

His latest book, the Amazon #1 Bestseller, destressifying- The Real-World Guide to Personal Empowerment, Lasting Fulfillment, and Peace of Mind, is a bleeding edge, new stress-management book for mainstream America. Published last August on Hay House, the book shares the secrets and techniques he has used in training the global business community, US military, Dutch Special Forces, and Law Enforcement throughout the U.S..

destressifying is the first mainstream book to reveal both sides of stress, its damaging emotional aspects and its powerful healing properties. Drawing on decades of the author's experience working with individuals in extreme, high-pressure situations — including business leaders, world-class athletes, members of the military, and those in crisis — destressifying teaches the practical steps we all can take to effectively navigate life to a place beyond stress, and handle any type of stress that life throws at you.

To learn more, visit: http://davidji.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #43, my guest is activist, leadership coach, and wild woman Lea Ann Mallett. Lea Ann has spent nearly 30 years as an activist with a focus on environmental and social justice issues, including sitting a tree for three days in an ancient forest in British Columbia to protest clearcut logging there and fifteen years as a nonprofit leader. She's since embarked on life as a midlife mom, having two children in her early 40s.

Over time, she came to realize that ALL of us are changing the world, every day, through "The Beauty and Power of Small Actions." Her philosophy is that "every interaction we have with another person, the planet, and the other beings is an opportunity to change the world for the better."

About Lea Ann Mallett: I have always been convinced that what we do each day in the world changes the world.

From my years as an activist, sitting in an ancient cedar tree for three days to bring international attention to the clearcutting of old growth forests to leading activist blockades in the forests of northern Canada, to my work with street involved youth and my years as a nonprofit leader, I KNOW I have made a difference and I have seen so many people make a difference too.

I have been an intrepid world traveller, heading off to Kenya and Tanzania on my own to go on safari, backpacking across Central America, exploring the street markets of Beijing and roaming through Canada and the U.S. during months-long road trips in my old car with my belongings in the back seat.

I have been a successful activist, collaborating with other environmental leaders in creating thousands of hectares of new protected parks in Ontario, delivering HIV/AIDS education when the crisis was in its earliest stages, changing policies on the federal, provincial and local levels and raising international media awareness on key environmental and social justice issues.

I have successfully led two nonprofit charities, quadrupling the budget of the most recent organization I led and exponentially increasing its reach and impact.

What I also know is that it is easy to lose track of that creative edge, that feeling of having an incredible purpose, being exactly where you are supposed to be. The grind of daily life, the pressures of leading an organization, the wonderful, crazy challenges of being a parent - we can end up on auto-pilot, not creating our greatest impact or living our lives as fully as is possible. I found myself feeling disconnected from my purpose, my creativity and my purpose after taking on the double challenge of becoming a midlife mom and becoming an entrepreneur.

I went on a quest to find the best sources of inspiration, creativity, passion and energy to fuel my life, my activism and my business. I studied with world famous coaches, visionary thinkers and successful entrepreneurs to understand their magic so I could meld it with my own.

I am more powerful and create more impact in my life now than I ever have! My personal experiences with powerful coaching and my studies revealed that the limitations that I put on myself are choices and I can choose differently.

The more you become YOU, the more comfortable you become with who you are and tap into your unique talents and passions, the happier and more fulfilled you will be, AND the more impact you will make in your family, your community and your world.

To learn more about Lea Ann, visit: http://www.leaannmallett.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #42, author, speaker, and teacher Gregg Krech, one of the leading authorities on Japanese Psychology in North America returns to the show.

Gregg joins me for a very timely and inspirational conversation about New Year's Resolutions and why they often don't work; using dreams as a motivator instead; identifying your purpose vs. using feelings to guide your life; taking action as a way of figuring things out; the urgency of 30,000 — the amount of days the average person has in their lives; the Japanese psychology of Naikan; and much more!

About: Gregg Krech is an author, speaker, teacher, and one of the leading authorities on Japanese Psychology in North America. He's also the founding Director of the TohDoh Institute, an educational center for purposeful living, based in Vermont.

Gregg is the author of the award-winning book: Naikan: Gratitude, Grace & the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection, which has been translated into five languages, and he's the editor of Thirty Thousand Days: A Journal for Purposeful Living. His work has been featured in a wide range of publications including THE SUN magazine, Utne Reader, Fitness, Counseling Today, Cosmopolitan, and Experience Life.

His most recent book, The Art of Taking Action: Lessons from Japanese Psychology brings an eastern perspective to the issue of purpose is currently an Amazon best-seller in the Zen category. It offers an empowering approach to meeting our own personal goals, but also focuses on the impact on our actions (and inactions) on the world..

To learn more about Gregg and his work, visit: http://www.artoftakingaction.com or http://www.todoinstitute.org.

For Life on Purpose Episode #41, my guest is artist, photographer, life coach, and mentor Andrea Scher, the creator of Superhero Life — "where we all learn together to use our voices, share our superpowers and live life in full color."

Andrea joins me for a great conversation about her work as a creative, coach, and healer; her Mondo Beyondo talk at WDS 2011 that helped inspire my first podcast (Radio Enso); her creative practices and classes, and much, much more!

About: I’m Andrea Scher, creator of Superhero Life — where we all learn together to use our voices, share our superpowers and live life in full color. As an artist, photographer, life coach + mentor, I’m redefining what it means to be a SUPERHERO — ‘cause in my world, it’s got nothing to do with capes, spandex or sidekicks and everything to do with tenderness, intuition & baby steps of bravery.

Back in 1995 when I was living in New Orleans, a tarot card reader told me that I was an artist. At the time, I held an oh-so practical degree in Economics, and rarely shared my passion for painting + photography with anyone. (But then, you can’t fool a good psychic.)

She also said that my real work was as a healer — that I would heal people through my art. All of the hairs on my arms pricked up. All I could think was: Yes! Yes! But how? I never forgot that wise woman (she is still my spiritual advisor to this day) or that quiet promise I made to myself — to fulfill my true calling, and be a healing force in the world.

But first, I had to start with myself. I began painting every day.

I began painting . . . to find freedom + flexibility. To find the joy in the mess. To keep myself feeling engaged and alive and curious — not necessarily to save the world, but simply to fully experience it.

But that’s the beauty of doing what we love — we delight ourselves first, and we can’t help but serve others in the process.

To me, a Superhero is someone who invites her wisest, bravest, most alive self to come out and play, every day.

This doesn’t mean having all the answers, being unshakably strong, or performing dramatic feats of heroism.It means being someone like you – and someone like me.

Someone who is anxious and uncertain, oh, say, 50 – 80% of the time. Someone who wants to live a juicy, full, courageous life — but doesn’t always know how. Someone who understands that vulnerability just might be the greatest superpower of all.

“To me, a Superhero is someone who invites her wisest, bravest, most alive self to come out and play, every day."

Superhero Life is a love letter + resourceful playground for all my fellow creative superheroes. Moms who want to paint. Painters who want to write. Writers who want to travel. And travelers who want to come home.

I’ve been writing + teaching online for nearly 10 years — back when the web was a much quieter place. My intention is to make Superhero Life feel like a virtual oasis — a space for unhurried healing, beauty, and joy to unfold.

To learn more about Andrea and her work: http://superherolife.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #40, my guests are SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) an international expert in personal well-being and transformation whose name has become synonymous with transformation, color, healing, movement and fun AND her husband Dr. John Waddell, who has been helping individuals and couples lead happier lives for over 30 years through his clinical psychology practice and metaphysical teachings.

SARK and Dr. John join me for an inspiration conversation about their brand new book, Succulent Wild Love: Six Powerful Habits for Feeling More Love More Often, in which they offer powerful relationship advice including "Joyful Solutions" (where no one needs to compromise or sacrifice), being "Soufully Single", and listening to your Inner Wise Self.

We also discuss their unique life journeys, some unexpected recent news in their life, and much, much more!

About the book: Succulent Wild Love: Six Powerful Habits for Feeling More Love More Often combines SARK's trademark creativity with the more left-brain psychological perspective Dr. John brings to the table. Using real life examples, they offer six simple but profound habits for feeling more love more often that speak to readers at every stage in a relationship — whether they are looking for love, happily partnered, or in the midst of uncoupling.

About SARK: I’m SARK, also known as Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy- which spells SARK. The name was given to me by the author Henry Miller in the early 1980’s. Soon after, I started taking notes as spirit spoke through me. Those notes turned into all the books and art and everything SARKian. I love representing the SARK spirit and I know that that spirit is inside everyone!

Throughout the course of my life and career as an international expert in personal well-being and transformation, my name has become synonymous with transformation, color, healing, movement & FUN.

I’m inviting you to play and connect with me, letting gladness expand into your heart and touch that place deep inside of you- your inner Wise Self- that already knows everything you’ll ever need in this world is within you.

I’ve written countless books and created programs that I offer to provide a powerfull, grounded and practical approach to feeling glad more often, transforming what hurts into what helps and living a life of joyfull creative expression. No matter what!

About Dr. John: Dr. John Waddell has spent over 30 years as a practicing psychologist helping individuals and couples lead more joyful lives.

While a psychologist by training, he also spent many years studying metaphysics. This enables him to integrate the tools from both these fields to help people create richer, more fulfilling lives.

His interest in metaphysics led him to specialize in the practical application of the Law of Attraction. And he wrote two novels showing how the characters are able to consciously change their lives using this approach. (John and Jeanie Fly: Living the Law of Attraction and John and Jeanie Fly: Our World and The Law of Attraction).

In understanding his own life and in working with others, he begins with the attitude that we have the power to change any experience, and we have the ability to rendezvous with more joyful and fulfilling experiences, whether it’s with someone close to us, a physical situation, or a desire for more abundance. John created significant wealth and is exploring the true nature of wealth in all forms.

John was able to transform the painful loss of his wife in 2011, into a marriage where the honeymoon never ended.

His vision was to continue to grow, to be with someone in a relationship that was just as nourishing and would continue to new levels. John kept his vision and in 2012 met Susan Kennedy (SARK). Their lifestyles and spiritual connection are uplifting in more ways than John had even imagined. John and Susan live and create happily together in San Francisco.

To learn more about SARK and her work: http://planetsark.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #39, my guest is intuitive strategist, corporate change-maker, and life-driven business mentorSusan Lustenberger.

Susan joins me for another great "Soul Session" — a powerful conversation on abundance, manifesting the life you want, the power of gratitude, moving past obstacles, mindfulness and meditation, the "laws of the Universe", and much more!

About: Susan Lustenberger is the only master teacher and intuitive strategist that makes activating universal laws a lifestyle for conscious people and businesses who are weary of theory and hungry for results at a time when the hope of abundance is more common than the experience of it.

She was born Clairvoyant and Claircognizant. Through major life transformations, she learned more about her intuitive strengths and realized that she was put here to help. Along with these gifts came the ability to manifest and help others manifest vast prosperity and abundance in their lives through consciousness.

Through this work, she has been lucky enough to work with an array of clients from guiding pro athletes, movie executives, C.E.O’s on various goals and manifestations to working privately with individuals seeking happiness, answers and authenticity in their personal lives.

Susan is a Natural energy 3. What does that mean? Well we each are born with on of nine different natural energy centers and each one indicates a different universal strength. A Natural energy 3 soul-type is able to connect with a person’s soul (their deepest dreams and desires) and directs the energy into the Universe for manifesting. It is her SuperPower!

To learn more about Susan and her work: http://susanlustenberger.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #38, my guest is artist, coach, author, and creative dynamo Cynthia Morris of Original Impulse.

Cynthia joins me for a powerful and timely conversation in the wake of the recent Paris tragedy and other acts of violence around the world.

In "Creative Expression as a Force for Good," we discuss her recent piece "Paris, Oh Paris", which strongly resonated with me and many other creatives, as well as learning to co-exist with uncomfortable circumstances, the need for creativity during tumultuous times, her work helping people getting creatively unstuck, travel as a vehicle for greater understanding in the world, and more!

About Cynthia: A coach since 1999, I've helped thousands of creative people get their ideas out of their heads and into the world. Whether it's a book to be written, an idea brought to market or a quest to find authentic voice and expression, I help people get out of their own way so they can make things that matter.

I lead creativity workshop in Colorado and Europe that facilitate not just insights but life-changing actions. I am available to lead one-five day tours for corporate groups that need to get out of the box and refresh their creativity.

I'm a coach and trainer for Jonathan Fields' Good Life Project Immersion program.

To learn more about Cynthia and her work: http://www.originalimpulse.com.

For Life on Purpose Episode #37, my guest is bestselling author and world-renowned "dream explorer" Robert Moss.

Robert joins me for a fascinating and lively conversation in which we discuss fun ways to bring more magic and play to your life; his new book Sidewalk Oracles: Playing with Signs, Symbols, and Synchronicity in Everyday Life; living with a sense of a larger purpose and story; becoming a kairomancer, and much more!

About: Robert Moss is the author of Sidewalk Oracles and numerous other books about dreaming, shamanism, and imagination. He is a novelist, poet, and independent scholar, and the creator of Active Dreaming, an original synthesis of dreamwork and shamanism. He leads creative and shamanic adventures all over the world.

About Sidewalk Oracles: Playing with Signs, Symbols, and Synchronicity in Everyday Life: Synchronicity is when the universe gets personal. Through this book of games and enchanting stories, you’ll learn how to monitor the play of coincidence and the symbolic resonance of incidents in daily life in order to tap into the deeper logic of events, receive extraordinary counsel, and have wonderful fun.

You will be invited to become a kairomancer: someone who is poised to catch the messages in special moments when synchronicity is in play — and to take action to seize the opportunities those moments present. To be a kairomancer, you need to trust your feelings as you walk the roads of this world, to develop your personal science of shivers, and to recognize in your gut and your skin that you know far more than you hold on the surface of consciousness.

This is a way of real magic, which is the art of bringing gifts from a deeper world into this one. Follow it, and you will put a champagne fizz of enchantment into your everyday life.

To learn more about Robert and his work: http://www.mossdreams.com.

For Life on Purpose Episode #36, my guest is syndicated radio host, bestselling author, and life coach Joel Boggess. Joel is the host of ReLaunch, which was named by John Lee Dumas' Podcasters’ Paradise as the “Most Inspirational” and the “Best Overall” podcast of 2014.

Joel joins me for an impactful "mini-sode" (30 minutes) in which we discuss both nearly dying at a young age and how those events changed each of our lives; along with the importance of his three-Rs: Resources, Relationships, Routines; and tips for ReLaunching your life towards the one you really want to live.

About Joel Boggess:

Joel Boggess is the go-to guy for clarity, confidence and direction. He’s the guy people call when they’re feeling stuck, under-challenged, or overwhelmed.

As a syndicated radio host, bestselling author, and life coach, Joel teaches people how to relaunch their lives and start over with confidence.

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Joel earned his undergraduate degree at Texas Tech University, an MBA from Amberton University, and a Master’s in Counseling.

His latest book, Finding your Voice, hit the #1 spot on Amazon for success, happiness, and in the self esteem categories. And his podcast, ReLaunch, was named by Podcasters’ Paradise as the “Most Inspirational” and “Best Overall” podcast of 2014, and has recently passed the one million listens mark.

Joel and his wife Pei live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and have two Golden Retriever, retired therapy dogs, Bubba and Jake.

To learn more about Joel and ReLaunch visit: http://relaunchshow.com.

What is a life worth living? How do change your behavior and establish lasting habits? Which wolf do you feed?

For Life on Purpose Episode #35, my guest is podcast host/producer Eric Zimmer from The One You Feed, which was named one of the Best Health Podcasts of All Time by The Huffington Post.

Eric has spent the past two years asking these questions of thought leaders, scientists, and teachers such as Simon Sinek, Byron Katie, don Miguel Ruiz, Sharon Salzberg, Bob Proctor, BJ Fogg, Dan Millman, and many more.

He joins me for a great, in-depth conversation about his own life journey (being addicted to drugs and homeless 20 years ago), what he's learned doing the show, tools and tips for self-awareness and behavior change, and much more!

About: Eric Zimmer is the host of a weekly podcast called The One You Feed- Conversations about Creating a Life Worth Living, based on the parable of the Two Wolves. One You Feed was recently named one of the Best Podcasts of 2014 by iTunes.

It was also named one of the Best Health Podcasts of All Time by The Huffington Post and it's been the #1 ranked podcast in the Health, Philosophy. and Spirituality categories, respectively, on iTunes.

He's also been helping to build companies for the past 15 years and has been involved in technology for longer than that. He's led a major software program for a Fortune 20 company and he started a solar energy company called Tipping Point.

Eric is also a musician, a passionate leaner, and loves to meet new people.

To learn more about Eric and The One You Feed visit: http://www.oneyoufeed.net.

What is the feminine soul? And how do women access their deepest source of personal power, inner wisdom, and authentic expression? For Life on Purpose Episode #34, my guest is bestselling author Sara Avant Stover.

Sara joins me for a deep conversation about her new book The Book of SHE: Your Heroine’s Journey into the Heart of Feminine Power, in which she guides both women and men to a powerful new understanding of and appreciation for every aspect of femininity.

About: Sara Avant Stover is a yoga and meditation teacher, bestselling author & founder of The Way of the Happy Woman®.

Sara graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from Columbia University’s all-women’s school, Barnard College.

After a cancer scare in her early twenties, Sara moved to Thailand, where she lived for ten years and embarked on a decade-long healing and spiritual odyssey throughout Asia. She has since gone on to uplift tens of thousands of women worldwide.

A pioneer in contemporary women’s work, she’s the creator of the world’s first Women’s Yoga Teacher Training, Reversing Our “Curse,” and The SHE School. Sara has been featured in Yoga Journal, the Huffington Post, Newsweek, Natural Health, and on ABC, NBC, CBS, and more.

Sara currently lives in Boulder, Colorado with her fiancé, Keith Martin-Smith, and their dog Amia.

Her new book, The Book of SHE: Your Heroine’s Journey into the Heart of Feminine Power, is now available.

To learn more about Sara visit: www.thewayofthehappywoman.com.

Have you ever been psychically-curious? The idea that the deceased can communicate with their loved ones certainly intrigues me! Life on Purpose Episode #33 is a special "Soul" Edition (periodic explorations of such topics); my guest is psychic medium Bill Philipps.

Bill joins me for a fascinating and inspiring conversation about his unique work and how he became one of the world’s most renowned psychic mediums. Plus we discuss his brand new book Expect the Unexpected: Bringing Peace, Healing, and Hope from the Other Side.

About: Bill Philipps is a psychic medium who helps the deceased communicate with their loved ones on earth. Bill’s fresh, upbeat, and direct approach perfectly complements his warm and relatable demeanor, captivating audiences worldwide.

Bill studied opera at the san Francisco conservatory of Music and graduated in 2008. He found that music, in a deeply spiritual way, enabled him to tune in to and further develop his psychic-medium abilities, which dated to his childhood. He gave readings while attending the conservatory and, after graduating, professionally pursued his true calling.

Bill has appeared on such television shows as Dr. Phil, and his clients include numerous celebrities. He conducts individ-ual readings in person, by phone, or via skype. He also offers small-group readings and large-audience readings throughout the united states. He lives in southern california.

His new book Expect the Unexpected: Bringing Peace, Healing, and Hope from the Other Side (New World Library) is a down-to-earth, honest account of how he became one of the world’s most renowned psychic mediums. He explains how spirits communicate with him; why he first denied and then embraced his gift; and how anyone can learn to recognize the signs spirit loved ones use to offer them guidance.

Part memoir, part explanation, and part inspiring testimonies from clients, the book provides the “unexpected”: insight, wisdom, and evidence that there is a life beyond this one and that we are never alone.

To learn more about Bill, visit: http://www.billphilipps.com.

Life on Purpose Episode #32 is the long-promised return of the LoP Round-Table! For RT#2, I was joined by Kyle Wood, Elloa Atkinson, and Toku. Collectively, they are coaches, trainers, and thought leaders in the mindfulness and personal development communities. They each write, podcast, and speak about mindfulness, vulnerability, and living purposeful lives and they each help others do the same.

They joined me for a fantastic deep-dive conversation on the topic of vulnerability — what that really means, how that applies to our lives, holding space for others, and some practical tips for being more vulnerable each and every day.

NOTE: I was incredibly fortunate to meet each of my guests at an amazing gathering that I've attended the past two years called Camp Good LIfe Project. This conversation began as a meet-up there and I thought it would be incredibly valuable to continue the conversation here on my show. I hope you agree!

LoP Round-Table #2 Guests

About Kyle Wood: Hi, my name is Kyle Wood. And this is scary as hell. The last couple of years have been really challenging for me. It seemed like the work I had done over the years before to try and be a better man (think exercise, meditation, gratefulness practice, etc) had come undone. I had put up my shields and walls to protect myself during this time.

When I was ready to make some awesome new friends and grow my business, something was stopping me. It was my walls; while they did a good job protecting me at one time, they were now stopping me from having the kinds of connections I desired. And I had no idea how to tear those walls down.

Until (with the help of a coach, psychologist and friends) it hit me. The only way to start tearing down those walls was to start being a LOT more vulnerable. In fact, every success I’ve had this year has come through a moment of being vulnerable. And I want more of that.

I’m married, to my amazing wife Zoe. I’m from Melbourne, Australia. I was (still am) a personal trainer. During my time as a trainer I worked on a fun side hustle that I call Bootcamp Ideas. This is now my full time income and allows me ‘location independence’. I still like living in one place at a time, but it is nice to be able to visit family and friends on short notice

To learn more about Kyle, visit: http://heartmen.net.

About Elloa Atkinson: I am a wife, a life-changing coach and entrepreneur, a dancer, a writer, a daughter sister and auntie, and a mum to my lovely rescue dog, Molly Miracle the Westie.

I am driven by a vision that stirs the depths of my soul. Through a process of deep coaching, Fearless Expression challenges and my podcast, The Academy of Miracles, I reunite people with their whole self; that I coach + mentor brave people through a process of profound inner and outer transformation.

I do this work because I spent the first 18 years and 6 months of my life heading towards a dark night of the soul, and the last 13+ years learning how to live again with authenticity, vulnerability, bravery and intimacy.

To learn more about Elloa, visit: http://www.elloaatkinson.com.

About Toku: Toku is short for “Gentoku”, which is the name I received while living at a Zen monastery. In my tradition when you take Jukai and become a card carrying Buddhist, your teachers give you a name. The name they gave me was “Gentoku”, which means “manifesting virtue or present sincerity”.

I do my best on my blog and in my training to live up to that name and to help other people embody their best selves as well.

I’m originally from Tennessee, but now I live in Portland, OR. I work as a Mindfulness Based executive coach and have clients in Portland, as well as all over the US and Canada.

I’m a writer and thought leader in the mindfulness community. My writing has been published on sites such as Tiny Buddha, The Change Blog, and Sea Change.

To learn more about Toku, visit: http://unexecutive.com.

For Life on Purpose Episode #31, my guest is veteran journalist, speaker, and author Tess Vigeland, a well-known voice to millions of American radio listeners as the longtime host with public radio’s Marketplace. In the fall of 2012, she quit what she considered her "dream job" without having a Plan B lined up, or even any idea what she wanted to do next. This set the stage for what happened next...

Tess joins me for a great conversation about career, life, vulnerability, her life changing speech at WDS 2013 in Portland, and her brand new book Leap: Leaving a Job with No Plan B to Find the Career and Life You Really Want.

About Tess: Tess Vigeland is a veteran journalist, and a well-known voice to millions of American radio listeners. She is the CEO of Tess Vigeland Productions, a Los Angeles-based multi-media company. Tess spent 11 years as an anchor for public radio’s Marketplace, including six hosting the personal finance show Marketplace Money. Her first book, titled “Leap Without A Net: Leaving A Job With No Plan B,” is due out August 25, 2015, from Random House Harmony. When she’s not locked away writing, Tess can be heard as a backup anchor for NPR’s All Things Considered, as well as KCRW’s To The Point and KPCC’s Take Two in Los Angeles. She also serves as a professional emcee, speaker, panel moderator, and interviewer for conferences and other events. Tess also writes for The New York Times and The Guardian, among numerous other publications.

About Leap: Until recently, Tess Vigeland was a longtime host with public radio’s Marketplace; it was a rewarding, high-status job, and Tess was very good at it—but she’d begun to feel restless. Without any definite, clear sense of what she wanted to do next (but an absolute certainty that what she’d been doing was no longer truly satisfying), she walked away from her dream job and into a vast unknown. Suddenly she was no longer “Marketplace’s Tess Vigeland,” she was just Tess Vigeland.

For the multitude of Americans who change jobs mid-career (by choice or circumstance), the growing legions of freelance workers, and the entrepreneurially-minded who see self-employment as an increasingly more appealing and viable option, Tess Vigeland has created a personal and well-researched account of leaping without a net. With her signature humor, she writes honestly about the fear, uncertainty, and risk involved in leaving the traditional workforce—but also the excitement, resources, and possibilities that are on the other side.

Leap is also about finding a new definition of success. Tess poses the important question – “Who am I without my job?" She shares the accounts of people who struggled with this question before and after they took their own leap of faith, and ended up finding out more about themselves than they’d thought possible. Success doesn’t have to be measured by salary or a traditional career path, as so many of us are conditioned to think, but by your own happiness and fulfillment.

Part memoir and part field guide, this book offers a funny, thoughtful, and provocative look at how to find satisfaction and success when pursuing a career less ordinary.

To learn more about Tess, visit: http://www.tessvigeland.com.

For Life on Purpose Episode #30, my guest is meditation teacher, spiritual teacher, and counselor Diana Lang, the director/owner of LifeWorks - Center for Growth in Los Angeles.

Diana joins me for an inspiring conversation about meditation, consciousness, spirituality, and the updated version of her book Opening to Meditation: A Gentle, Guided Approach. 

For Life on Purpose Episode #29, my guest is Marc Allen, the internationally renowned author and president/publisher/co-founder of New World Library, which has published numerous classics in the personal growth field including Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now, Shakti Gawain’s Creative Visualization, and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra.

Marc joins me for a deep and inspirational conversation about the updated edition of Tantra for the West: A Direct Path to Living the Life of Your Dreams, in which he introduces a brand new way to experience the ancient and yet modern tradition that is called tantra.

About: Marc Allen is an internationally renowned author and president and publisher of New World Library, which he co-founded (with Shakti Gawain) in 1977. He has guided the company from a small start-up with no capital to its current position as one of the leading independent publishers in the country.

Marc is a well-known musician and composer as well, having released five albums of his music for the label he co-founded with Sky Canyon and Robert Powell, Watercourse Media.

His latest book is The Greatest Secret of All. It may be Marc's most important book, because it gives us not only one of the clearest explanations of the "secret" of creating what you want in life, but also the far greater secrets of a life well-lived, a life of happiness, inner peace, ease, and fulfillment, where you contribute to making the world a better place for all.

His previous book, The Type-Z Guide to Success, has been released both in print form and as an innovative multi-media ebook. His most popular book is The Millionaire Course: A Visionary Plan for Creating the Life of Your Dreams. It is an entire course, filled with keys to success.

Over the years, he has written and published several other books, including Visionary Business: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Success, which brought his principles to those in the business world, and A Visionary Life, which remains one of the best books ever written on personal fulfillment. He has also published The Ten Percent Solution: Simple Steps to Improve Our Lives and the World, and produced a popular audio CD, Stress Reduction and Creative Meditations.

His books, audios, and workshops have been highly rewarding — even life-changing — experiences for thousands of people, and he has produced a 12-part audio version of his powerful seminar called The Success with Ease In-Depth Course.

He lives in northern California, with his wife and two children. Marc and his wife Aurilene have founded the Brazil Hope Foundation to help street kids in Brazil.

To learn more about Marc and his work, visit: http://marcallen.com.

For Life on Purpose Episode #28, my guest is Michelle Jones, a former traditional-model college professor who is starting her own college called the Wayfinding Academy in Portland, Oregon. Michelle joins me to discuss higher education re-imagined for the 21st Century, the importance of asking questions, passion-based leadership, and the crucial importance of real-world skills and experience.

Many listeners also know Michelle as "Michelle the Magician", the behind-the-scenes guru at the annual World Domination Summit (WDS), that was the inspiration behind my first podcast Radio Enso. We talk about that experience and how she's applying what she learned there to her new venture.

About: Michelle Jones is a former traditional model college professor who is starting her own college, the Wayfinding Academy. Her 15 years teaching leadership and organizational behavior courses at colleges and universities across the country has prepared her well to re-imagine what higher education can be with this new endeavor. She is also drawing on her experience organizing events and communities with TEDxMtHood and the World Domination Summit and founding non-profit organizations such as SuperThank.

About the Wayfinding Academy: We're a group of professors, students, higher education professionals, non-profit and community leaders, and everyday citizens with over 100 years of experience in higher education who know college can be the incredible experience it promises to be.

Right now too many students can't afford college, drop out, or even finish college without finding direction or purposes in their lives. We believe there is a better way. We are starting our own college. A new model for higher education.

The Wayfinding Academy will be an affordable, 2-year college based in Portland, Oregon focused on what matters most in education: real world experience, community support and individual passion. Students won’t be asked to choose a major from a list, they’ll be supported in discovering their own personal mission. They’ll take core classes building skills that will serve them on any path. And they’ll work with advisors to create handcrafted experiences meaningful to them and build a portfolio through real experiences.

To learn more about the Wayfinding Academy, visit: http://www.wayfindingacademy.org/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #27, my guest is training consultant, coach, writer, and mediator Louisa Rogers, who at 63 has never held a day job and has lived in eight different countries. Louisa joins me to discuss how she built a life living and working on her own terms and saying "yes" to life at any age.

About: Louisa Rogers has been training and facilitating workshops on leadership and management skills for over 30 years. Her clients have included corporations, government agencies and nonprofits throughout the USA and in eight foreign countries from Kansas to Kazakhstan.

In addition to her business trainings, she speaks and writes on wellness, travel and simplicity. She grew up overseas (a diplomat kid) and still loves traveling. She and her husband divide their time between Northern California and Mexico, along with regular visits to Europe--with their folding bikes, naturally.

To learn more about Louisa and her work, visit: http://louisarogers.vpweb.com.

For Life on Purpose Episode #26, my guest is psychotherapist, workshop facilitator, and former journalist Kim Schneiderman. Kim joins me to discuss her brand new book Step Out of Your Story: Writing Exercises to Reframe and Transform Your Life, a self-help writing program designed to help anyone who can compose a simple sentence get a fresh perspective on a familiar story— their own. As a psychotherapist and freelance journalist, Kim utilizes research-inspired methods to help people who are stuck — in a dead-end job, relationship, or stage of life — to imagine themselves as the star of their own stories with the power to reframe and reclaim their personal narratives.

About: Kim Schneiderman, LCSW, MSW, is a psychotherapist, workshop facilitator, former journalist, and spiritual essayist who lives and works in New York City. She counsels adults through her private psychotherapy practice and has facilitated therapeutic writing groups at the 92nd Street Y, the JCC in Manhattan, FEGS Health and Human Services, the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services (JBFCS), Art Studio NY, Limmud New York, and various other venues.

When she’s not seeing clients, Kim writes a psychological advice column for the New York, Boston, and Philadelphia Metro daily newspapers http://www.metro.us/newyork, which have an aggregate circulation of roughly 4,000,000 readers. She has also worked as an adjunct professor for the Long Island University’s School of Social Work and served as a Guest Lecturer for NYU’s Post-Graduate Social Work and Spiritual Care certificate program. She also completed a year-long certification at the Association for Spirituality and Psychotherapy in New York.

Before pursuing her MSW at the University of Maryland, Kim worked as a journalist for a chain of weekly newspapers in the Bay Area. Subsequently, she has written dozens of freelance articles, including cover stories, for major Jewish newspapers, including The Jewish Week, the Baltimore Jewish Times, and the Northern California Jewish Bulletin.

To learn more about Kim and her work, visit: www.stepoutofyourstory.com.

For Life on Purpose Episode #25, my guest is artist, entrepreneur, writer, speaker, and coach Emilie Wapnick. Emilie joins me to discuss what those she calls multipotentialites, people who have many different interests and creative pursuits in life. We also discuss her recent TEDxBend talk entitled Why Some of Us Don’t Have ONE True Calling, overcoming fear and confidence challenges, and how she lives a life on purpose.

About: Emilie Wapnick is an artist, entrepreneur, writer, speaker, and coach. She says she was blessed with so many interests that she was unable to pick just one. She studied music, visual arts, film production and law, and graduated from the Law Faculty at McGill University. After years of feeling anxious about her zigzagging career path and hyphenated credentials, she finally decided to embrace her plural nature and start a movement for others who lean toward being what she calls “multipotentialites.”

Since launching her website, Puttylike, in 2010, Emilie has inspired thousands of multipotentialites to stop trying to fit themselves into boxes, and embrace their plurality. She has been featured in Lifehacker, The Financial Times, and The Huffington Post. Currently, she is working on her forthcoming book, “Multipotentialite.”

This past April, Emilie stood in front of 1,400 people at TEDxBend and gave a talk entitled Why Some of Us Don’t Have ONE True Calling, which encapsulates her findings on multipotentiality in 12 minutes! 

To learn more about Emilie and her work, visit: http://puttylike.com.