End of the Road Podcast (Immanence = Transcendence)

Joseph Schmidt is an author and founding member and former executive director of the New York Insight Meditation Center. This podcast will focus on his new collection of short stories called The Torchbearer which stands at the poignant intersection of literary short stories that double as meditations on big philosophical questions. As Kirkus Reviews writes: "Rod Sterling could have given a Twilight Zone intro to each story in this collection...they tend to focus on the saving grace of redemption and the transformation that comes with achieving true power." Joseph first became a practitioner of meditation while living in an ashram in India for three years in the 1970s before earning a masters degree in Psychology. In addition to his work at the New York Insight mediation center, he also serves as a volunteer chaplain at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ where he provides counseling to patients including end-of-life planning and grief trauma. For more information about this wonderful work, please see: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/joseph-schmidt/the-torchbearer/ This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here:https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-339-joseph-schmidt-the-torchbearerinsight-meditation Have a blessed weekend!

Constance Brenneman is an award-winning filmmaker, actor and producer in studio and independent film. In recent years, she has devoted her work to documentary filmmaking, creating projects that inspire, transform, and uplift. Her feature documentaries include Finding Inner Hero (2022), Built Different (2024), and Afterlife: Beyond the Light (2026--Vision Films). Afterlife was born from Constance's fascination with the culminating factors of phenomenal end-of-life experiences. Partnering with friend and producer Susan Brittain, she set out to explore both the science and the deeply human stories behind near-death experiences (NDEs) and shared-death experiences (SDEs). The film features powerful firsthand accounts alongside compellling interviews with two of the worlds leading experts in the field: Dr. Raymond Moody and William Peters. Both are internationally recognized pioneers whose decades of research and bestselling books have shaped modern understanding of these experiences. Additionally, Constance partnered with the Coming Home Channel to incorporate deeply personal testimonies from individuals who have directly encountered these phenomena, expanding the emotional and spiritual depth of the film. To create a sense of flow and visual poetry, Constance collaborated with a professional modern dance company to develop original movement pieces that align with prose, stories and interviews. The film further weaves in animation to visually interpret NDEs and SDEs as they have been documented across cultures for centuries. The film is available for download later this week on all platforms such as Itunes, Vimeo, and Amazon. Social media links: https://www.instagram.com/afterlifebeyondthelight/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583270437211# This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-338-constance-brenneman-and-susan-brittain-afterlife-beyond-the-light Have a blessed week!

Jeremy David Engels, PhD, is a Liberal Arts Professor of Communications and Ethics at Pennsylvania State University. He is also a longtime teacher of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga, having studied in both India and the United States, and he is certified to teach mindfulness after completing an intensive two-year training program under the direction of Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. Since undertaking a pilgrimage to walk in the footsteps of the Buddha in India and Nepal in 2018, he has been a student of Thich Nhat Hanh. He is dedicated to bringing the practice of mindfulness to democracy, and the practice of democracy to mindfulness. He is an award-winning scholar, and has published numerous books and articles about democracy, community building, deliberation, and peace, including On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World (Parallax, 2026) (which is the subject of this podcast). He is also the author of Living Namaste: A Practical Guide to Mindfulness, Yoga, and Building Community (Living Traditions, 2026); The Ethics of Oneness: Emerson, Whitman, and the Bhavagad Gita (U Chicago Press, 2021), and The Art of Gratitude (SUNY Press 2018). For more information about Professor Engels, see his website: https://jeremydavidengels.com/ or reach out to him directly at: [email protected]. This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-337-jeremy-david-engels-phd-on-mindful-democracy-a-declaration-of-interdependence-to-mend-a-fractured-world Have a blessed weekend!

This is a follow up interview with Dr. Aaron Breidenbach. In our first episode (EOTR 326), we discussed the crystals of Zn-Barlowite and Herbertsmithite that he grew and studied in his PhD at Stanford. These crystal have the potential to be used in applications in future quantum computers. See our first episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YlHkGM3p6nfzSGU4yZjAv These crystals also grow naturally in the Atacama Desert in Chile. Aaron recently returned from an expedition with Chilean Anthopologist Vincente Carrasola Vega. They were successful in finding natural crystals of Herbertsmithite. These crystals are likely to be purer than laboratory synthetics, and this could enable new experiments in quantum physics. Tragically, however, these crystals are currently being destroyed in massive quantities as low-grade copper ore in ecologically damaging mining practices. We discuss the implications of this discovery, and the irony and tragedy of overextraction. We conclude this episode by talking about the relation of this disovery to Ayni, the local indigenous system of animistic reciprocity with the land. Aaron proposes a return expedition to Chile to look for one of the country's most famous lost archeological artifacts; a crystal ball found at the summit of the sacred volcano Licanabur. He believes that the ancient people of the land may have used these spheres to focus sunlight onto mineral samples to learn more about their properties. He hopes to replicate this experiment with the help of indigenous Aymara and Atacamenian collaborators. Aaron can be reached at: https://thequantumarcheologist.org/ This podcast is available on your favorite podcast feed, or here:https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-336-aaron-breidenbach-quantum-physicsanimism-ii Have a blessed weekend!

Ronnnie Pontiac is an author who worked seven years as Manly P. Hall's research assistant, screener, and designated substitute lecturer. He is the author of American Metaphysical Religion (EOTR episode 251) and, along with Tamra, Sacred Music/The Magic of the Orphic Mysteries (EOTR episode 270). Tamra Lucid produced documentary films including the Emmy nominated End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock, and is the author of Making the Ordinary Extraordinary (EOTR episode 208). She is the former writer and art editor for Newtopia Magazine and her work has appeared in Reality Sandwich. She and Ronnnie are also founding members of the experimental (and riotous) rock band Lucid Nation. More information concerning the book can be found at: https://whitecrowbooks.com/book/the-unobstructed-way-a-true-account-of-the-exploration-of-life-after-death/ Check out Tamra and Ronnie at: https://linktr.ee/tamralucid https://linktr.ee/ronniepontiac This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-335-ronnie-pontiac-tamra-lucid-the-unobstructed-waydeathlife Link to Tamra's Celebration of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL2FV4UoxU4 Have a blessed. weekend!

Dr. Reid is a clinical assistant professor at University of Pennsylvania and an associate professor at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. She attended medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed her psychiatry residency at UCLA. This podcast will focus on her new book, Guilt Free: Reclaiming Your Life from Unreasonable Expectations. Dr. Reid also writes and podcasts on Substack at A Mind of Her Own focused on helping individuals nurture a deep and lasting self-trust. She is also a regular contributor to Psychology Today with her blog "Think like a Shrink." Her writing has also been featured on KevinMD and Doximity. For more information, please see: https://www.jenniferreidmd.com/ This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here:https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-334-dr-jennifer-reid-guilt-free-reclaiming-your-life-from-unreasonable-expectations Have a blessed weekend!

Lynn is a clinical psychologist and professor emerita of psychology at the University of Illinois Springfield. She has published work on stress-illness relationships, program evaluation, and bias in treatment and research. Lynn also has a long-standing interest in transpersonal psychology and Buddhist perspectives on personality and human development. Hopefully, Lynn will be gracing future episodes of the podcast as a co-host. This mini episode is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-333-lynn-pardie-phd-mini-chop-woodcarry-water Have a blessed week! P.S. Cover art by the fabulous Wendy Allen.

Judith is an author whose research has focused on the history of alphabets, runes, oghams, Hebrew, and ancient Phoenician as well as its relation to number magic. She is the author of Alphabets and the Mystery Traditions (2024) and Futhark Rune Mysteries: Origins of Magic & Divination in the Primal Alphabet (2026), the latter being the subject of this podcast. In Rune Mysteries, Judith reveals the spiritual and divinatory attributes of each rune by examing the physical characteristics of the objects chosen to represent them. For more information about Judith's academic work, please see: https://berkeley.academia.edu/JudithDillon. You will find she has a wealth of knowledge on these subjects and she welcomes you to contact her at: [email protected] for more information. This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: Artwork is Grave in the form of an A. Yugoslavia circa 6000 BCE. From Gimbutas, The Language of the Goddess, 156.

David L. Kahn is an author, oneironaut, and has been a member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD) since 2006. He is a regular contributor to The Lucid Dreaming Experience magazine and has participated in several lucid dreaming research studies. Much of his published work and many of his presentations focus on trauma dreams, particularly those of genocide survivors and LGBTQ+ youth. He also contributed an entry to the Encyclopedia of Sleep and Dreams on dreams related to the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocides. His books include The Oneironaut's Odyssey: Discovering Ancient Wisdom Through Lucid Dreams and Storms and Rainbows: Trauma Dreams of LGBTQ+ Youth. For more information about Dave and his work, please see Instagram pages: @boundless_dream @thelucidexplorer Or contact him directly at: [email protected] This podcast is available on your favorite platform, or here:https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-331-david-l-kahn-lucid-dreamsthe-oneironauts-odyssey-discovering-ancient-wisdom-through-lucid-dreams Have a blessed week!

Charles Shaw is an author, documentary filmmaker, journalist, activist and psychedelic therapist who saw his focus change in 2025 to trauma informed care/peer support as a public mental health professional on the front lines of Chicago. His previous works are highlighted by Exile Nation (2012); Release Us(2013); Soldiers of the Vine(2017) and The Shadow People, which was highlighted in episode 246. More info at: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673950/exile-nation-by-charles-shaw/ https://www.instagram.com/charlesbshaw/ This podcast is available on your favorite platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-330-charles-shaw2025connecting-to-time-and-place Many blessings to you and yours in 2026.

Banafsheh Sayyad is a master sacred dancer and visionary spiritual embodiment teacher whose forthcoming book, Dance of Oneness (Sounds True, March 2026), offers a revolutionary invitation to embody love through conscious movement. Drawing from her signature Dance of Oneness modality, a Divine Feminine lineage that fuses Taoist wisdom and the mystical traditions with flamenco, Tai Chi, Persian dance, and Sufi whirling, Banafsheh guides readers to awaken their light body, dissolve constriction, and rediscovery vitality and purpose. Dance of Oneness traces Banafsheh's own awakening, from her exile in Iran to her emergence as a world-renown artist and teacher and invites readers to live as channels of love and light, healing both self and planet. Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as a "mesmerizing foray into the body as a trance mechanism," her work has inspired thousands worldwide at centers such as Esalen, Kripalu, Omega, and Hollyhock, and through her acclaimed non-profit company, NAMAH, and her film "In the Fire of Grace", co-created with Andrew Harvey. For more information and to connect with Banafsheh, please see: https://danceofoneness.org/ This podcast is availabe on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-329-banafsheh-sayyad-sufismmysticismdivine-feminine-embodimentdance-of-oneness Have a blessed weekend:-)

Founder of the Fungi Consultant, Oli Genn-Bash is a mycotherapy educator, psychedelic writer and musician exploring the intersections between functional mushrooms, animism, altered states, and human well-being. Though courses, consultancy, and creative work, Oli blends scientific research with traditional wisdom to make mushroom based healing accessible and grounded. He is the creator of Mycomastery: The Functional Mushroom Buyer's Toolkit and is the "Saturnian" saxman of the band Codex Serafini. Check out his many offerings at: https://thefungiconsultant.com/ @oligennbash @codexserafini_band Musical tracks in the podcast are from Codex Serafini's new album "Mother, Give Your Children Sanity." This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-328-oli-genn-bash-animismthe-fungi-consultantcodex-serafini Have a blessed weekend!

Davezilla is an illustrator, artist, and author. His work bridges the mystical and the modern, always with an eye toward what's real, what works, and what just might be trying to get your attention from the other side. In his "Spare" time, he was executive vice-president of Campbell Ewald (2nd oldest ad agency in the US). He is also a Gardnerian witch (initiated 1979), Discordian, Ngangalero (initiated 1993), and Santero (initiated 2006). In this podcast, we focus on his new book Magical AI Grimoire which Peter Carroll writes is a "step-by-step" guide to using artificial intelligence ...for almost any conceivable magical purpose and expressed in any desired literary or artistic style imaginable." Dave is also the creator of the Tarot of the Unexplained and host of the Spirit in the Frame podcast. Check him out at: https://hexsupport.club or https://davezilla.com/ or wherever you find @davezilla. This podcast is available on your favorite platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-327-davezilla-magical-ai-grimoire-a-book-of-shadows-for-contemporary-chaos Have a blessed weekend!

Dr. Aaron Breidenbach recently completed his PhD dissertation in Physics at Stanford. His doctorial studies focused on the growth and magnetic measurement of the crystals Herbertsmithite and Zn-Barlowite. His work went a long way towards proving that these crystals are "quantum spin liquids," a novel state of magnetic matter that has potential applications in quantum computing. These same crystals also grow naturally in the Atacama desert, where the local Atacamenian people hold rich animistic traditions which weave in their mountains and mummified ancestors through spiritual traditions. Sadly, these living mountains are currently being over-mined for Copper and Lithium. This process has led to many ecological issues, including the poisoning of the Atacamenian groundwater with arsenic. The cruelest irony is that Herbertsmithite, a strong candidate to the the silicon of quantum computing, is regularly found in toxic waste tailings from these mines. Aaron now is embarking on a journey to the Atacama to try to help restore these animistic traditions, bring balance to the land, and help advance the future of quantum computing. For more information about Aaron, please see: https://thequantumshaman.wordpress.com/ This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-326-dr-aaron-breidenbach-quantum-computingcrystalsanimismatacama Have a blessed week!

Gary Lachman is an author and lecturer on consciousness, counterculture, and the Western esoteric tradition. His works include Dark Star Rising, Beyond the Robot, and The Secret Teachers of the Western World. A founding member of the rock band "Blondie", he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. This podcast focuses on his new work, Touched by the Presence: From Blondie's Bowery and Rock and Roll to Magic and the Occult (Inner Traditions Nov. 2025) which unveils Gary's life in letters, mysticism, and of course, rock and roll. More information about Gary, his 25 other books, and other writings can be found at: https://www.gary-lachman.com/post/touched-by-the-presence-in-2025. This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-325-gary-lachman-touched-by-presence-from-blondies-bowery-to-magic-and-the-occult Have a blessed week!

Richard Kaczynski, PhD, is an author and lecturer in the fields of social psychology, metaphysical beliefs, and new religious movements. This podcast will focus on his new work Mind over Magick: The Psychology of Ritual Magick (October 2025) which explores the many fascinating connections between the practices of ritual magicians (and seekers) of all traditions with the findings of peer-reviewed research in psychology, neuroscience, and real time brain imaging. Richard is also known for his biography of occultist Aleister Crowley, Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley, described by the Times Literary Supplement as "the major biography to date." Richard's presentation of Crowley's The Sword of Song was featured in episode 317. In other wide ranging academic pursuits, Richard has held positions as assistant professor at Wayne State School of Medicine, research associate and affiliate at Yale Universities' Department of Psychiatry and adjunct faculty at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. He has published dozens of articles in academic peer reviewed journals in areas ranging from national program evaluation of comprehensive work therapy, and multi-site clinical trials of treatment effiacy for bipolar disorder (STEP-BP), schizophenia (CATIE) and Alzheimer's (CATIE) To connect with Richard and his many offerings, please see: https://richard-kaczynski.com/ or follow him on your favorite social media. This podcast is available on your favorite platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-324-richard-kaczynski-phd-mind-over-magick-the-psychology-of-ritual-magick Have a blessed week!