Hacking the Self is a podcast, blog, and community that explores the emerging convergence of various disciplines, traditions and cultures in their attempts to understand human consciousness and promote human flourishing.
This space dives into the desire to understand The Self, or “atman,” a concept in Indian metaphysics that’s often translated as “consciousness” or “soul.” You will find collection of conversations and written articles that are sometimes esoteric but also aspire to be pragmatic and to help people understand themselves in relation to others.
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Latest Blogs & Podcasts

#42: Living with Right Intention with Roshi Joan Halifax
This week I am honored to speak with Zen Buddhist Priest and social activist Roshi Joan Halifax. Roshi Joan shares the wisdom she has learned through working with people who are terminally ill, and how confronting death honestly has taught her how to live live more fully. She also offers ...
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#41: The Yoga of Living Abroad with Ed Liu
In this conversation I speak at length with Ed Liu, the host of the most popular psychedelic podcast on iTunes: Psychedelic Milk. Ed and I discuss our mutual interests in psychedelics, yoga and meditation, as well as why we both like living in Asia as American expats. Guest Bio: Ed ...
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#40: The Unraveling of the American Left with Carol Horton PhD
This week I sit down with Carol Horton, PhD to discuss the reactivity and outrage defining our current cultural moment and the unraveling of the American Left in the Age of Trump. Carol specializes in the intersection of yoga, politics and culture. We discuss some of the trends in American ...
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#39: Yoga Mind, Yoga Body with Gernot Huber
This week I speak with Gernot Hubert, a yoga teacher and fellow expat in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Gernot goes in depth on yoga anatomy & physiology, along with the following other topics: What draws people to practice yoga How yoga can either disrupt or reinforce habitual patterns Managing stress Alignment ...
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#38: Yoga Synergy with Simon Borg Olivier
This week I speak with Simon Borg Olivier, co-founder of Yoga Synergy in Sydney, Australia. Simon and I discuss the unique approach style of yoga that he and his business partner, Bianca Machliss, have developed: Yoga Synergy, which they describe as an adaptation of traditional hatha yoga for the modern ...
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#37: The Science of Self Mastery with Dr. Judson Brewer
Guest Bio: Judson Brewer MD PhD is a thought leader in the field of habit change and the “science of self-mastery”, combining nearly 20 years of experience with mindfulness training with his scientific research. He is the Director of Research at the Center for Mindfulness and associate professor in Medicine ...
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#36: Radical Dharma with Lama Rod Owens
This week I sit down with Lama Rod Owens to discuss the intersection of Buddhist Dharma and American culture and politics. Lama Rod articulates his vision for Radical Dharma: a call to make the teachings of Buddhism relevant for tending to the suffering in the United States in this day ...
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#35: Revisiting Yoga Philosophy with Jason Birch
This week I speak with Jason Birch, PhD about the history of yoga and yoga philosophy. Jason is a scholar of classical Indian religions and philosophies at the School of Oriental Studies (SOAS), University of London. He is a Sanskritist and a scholar of the yoga tradition. He is also ...
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