New Dimensions

This program explores a pervasive ailment of our age which is Nature Deficit Disorder. “The more high-tech our lives become, the more nature we need.” Louv also adds, “Conservation is no longer enough. For everything we receive from nature, we need to give back, we need to nurture nature, as much as it nurtures us.” Richard Louv’s writings and books have helped launch an international movement to connect children, families, and communities to nature. He is cofounder and chair emeritus of the nonprofit Children & Nature Network. In 2008 he was awarded the Audubon Medal which he shares with such notables as Rachel Carson, E.O. Wilson, and Sir David Attenborough. Richard Louv is the author of many books including:Last Child in the Woods (Algonquin Books 2008), The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age (Algonquin Books 2012) and Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform Our Lives—and Save Theirs (Algonquin Books 2019) Interview Date: 10/8/2020    

When a realization flashes into our consciousness that we are aging, we tend to tighten up with fear. Negative images of our parents, grandparents, and friends loom before us. Anderson counsels us to move from that gripping fear into curiosity. She shares poignant stories about elders and luminaries such as Marion Woodman. This is a deeply personal and moving conversation. Sherry Ruth Anderson writes and teaches about spiritual development, with a special interest in women's experience and aging as awakening. Her documentary film "A Woman's Descent to the Sacred “ was an official entry in the Mill Valley Film Festival in 2011. She’s the author of The Feminine Face of God (coauthor Patricia Hopkins) (Bantam 1991), The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People are Changing the World (coauthor Paul Ray) (Crown 2001) and Ripening Time: Inside Stories for Aging with Grace (Changemakers Books 2013)Interview Date: 10/3/2013    Tags: Sherry Ruth Anderson, aging, diminishment, death, ripening, life

Since the 1960s Paul Winter has been in the vanguard of musicians who express special appreciation for the natural music of our world, including wolves, whales, birds, wind and water. His inclusivity combines everything from Bach to Bossa Nova, and his albums, Common Ground and Callings, are cultural landmarks, as is his album Missa Gaia/Earth Mass. Our New Dimensions theme music, "Icarus," is performed by the Paul Winter Consort. Paul Winter’s albums include: Common Ground (1989), Wolf Eyes: Retrospective (1989), Callings (1989), Canyon Lullaby (1998), Prayer for the Wild Things (1994), Missa Gaia/Earth Mass (1994), Miho: Journey to the Mountain (2010), Light of the Sun (2020)Interview Date: 10/9/2020   Tags: Paul Winter, improv, jazz, music ensemble, Jackie Kennedy, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Roger Payne, Humpback whale, wolves, orcas, I.M. Pei, Miho Museum, Paul Spong, Mickey Hoolahan, Ralph Towner, David Darling, Grand Canyon, Soviet Space Bridge, Art & Creativity, History

Poet, spiritual thinker and author of Seven Thousand Ways to Listen, Nepo explores the many ways that deep listening is a matter of being changed by leaning into all we don't understand. Intuitive listening requires us to still our minds until the beauty of things older than our minds can find us. He describes this kind of listening as "a process by which what matters moves between us." He is the author of many books including Reduced To Joy (Cleis Press 2013) and More Together Than Alone: Discovering the Power and Spirit of Community in Our Lives and in the World (Atria Books 2018) Interview Date: 12/6/2013     Tags: MP3, Mark Nepo, giving and receiving, deep listening, what matters, personal mythology, web of relationship, friendship, witnessed, trust, paradox, Beethoven, outwaiting the clouds, truth, ocean, eternity, endure and endear, beauty, John Keats, Ode on a Grecian Urn, John Paul Lederach, Personal Transformation, Health & Healing, Self Help 

Moeller describes herself as a former “self help junkie” but when her home and all of her belongings burned in a raging wildfire she realized that she had only dipped her toes into the waters of living the life she longed to be living. After the fire, she was inspired to quit waiting for things to be “perfect” before acting on her passions. In this dialogue we explore the many reasons we wait for our life to begin, such as waiting for enough money, waiting for the right time, waiting to be smart enough, or to have the right relationship. Kristen Moeller is a coach, speaker, workshop leader, author, and radio show host. She is the author of Waiting for Jack: Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie: How to Stop Waiting and Start Living Your Life (co-author Jack Canfield) (Morgan James Publishing 2010) and What Are You Waiting For? Learn How To Rise to the Occasion of Your Life (Viva Editions 2013)Interview Date: 5/3/2014    Tags: Kristen Moeller, wildfire, giving and receiving, letting people help, rec

We are an unruly republic of independent entities, a multiplicity of selves. In this dialogue we explore how we discover, honor, and work with each of these selves. You’ll discover how awareness heals as we become aware of the reality of our own selves and the selves of others. James Fadiman, Ph.D. is a former president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, a Professor of Psychology, and one of the foremost researchers in microdosing studies. He’s the cofounder of the Sofia University, rooted in transforming the transpersonal, and has been researching healthy multiplicity for more than 20 years. He's the author of many books including Your Symphony of Selves: Discover and Understand More of Who We Are (coauthor Jordan Gruber J.D.) (Park Street Press 2020). Jordan Gruber was awarded a J.D., Juris Doctor degree, and has forged and sculpted authoritative volumes in forensic law, financial services and self development. He founded the enlightenment.com website. He is the author of The Bounce: The Complete SuperBou

Hersch Wilson is a volunteer firefighter-EMT who is committed to revealing how first responders can guide us in ways to act more effectively in our own lives. With insightful and practical wisdom he advises, and it is his experience, that it is helpful to approach life’s inevitable emergencies with the intention to remain calm and act creatively. He is the author of: Play to Win!: Choosing Growth Over Fear In Work And Life (coauthor with his late father, Larry Wilson) (Bard Press; Revised Edition 2004) and Firefighter Zen: A Field Guide To Thriving In Tough Times (New World Library 2020)Interview Date: 9/25/2020   Tags: MP3, Hersch Wilson, Talmud, the pandemic, Otis Maxfield, M.D., CISD, critical incident stress debriefing, FOMO, fear of missing out, adrenalized, grief, grieving, courage, pandemic 2020, fear, being useful, King Midas, happiness, Personal Transformation, Health & Healing

Through cannabis medicine, Bonni Goldstein, M.D. has helped thousands of suffering patients find relief from chronic, difficult-to-treat conditions. Here she explains the current state of scientific research and offers actionable advice in using various forms of medical cannabis including information about the combination of TCB and CBD compounds and their effects. Bonni Goldstein is a physician, pediatric ER doctor, and cannabis specialist. She is the medical director of Canna–Centers Wellness & Education, a Los Angeles-based medical practice that helps patients use cannabis for serious and chronic illnesses. She has successfully treated thousands of adult and pediatric patients with cannabis medicine. She is a board member of the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine and is medical advisor to Weedmaps.com. Dr. Goldstein was awarded the 2017 Medical Professional of the Year by Americans for Safe Access. She is the author of Cannabis is Medicine: How Medical Cannabis and CBD are Healing

Finley explores the most effective use of prayer beyond making wishes and petitions to the Divine. He says, “Prayer can help us discover that which is already living in us and is everything that we ever wanted, hoped, or actually imagined was possible.” He also outlines the 5-prayers for self-transformation. Guy Finley is a spiritual teacher and author. He is the Founder and Director of Life of Learning Foundation, a nonprofit center for transcendent self-study located in Merlin, Oregon. He also hosts the Foundation’s Wisdom School — an online self-discovery program for seekers of higher self-knowledge. He offers free online classes open to all every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Each class also includes a Question and Answer session with Guy. Guy Finley is the author of over 45 books including The Secret of Letting Go (Llewellyn Publications 2008) and The Lost Secrets Of Prayer: Practices For Self-Awakening (Llewellyn Publications 1998)Interview Date: 8/22/2020     Tags: Guy Finley, prayer,

This is a most candid and revealing conversation on the subject of systemic racism and culture. Here the two women converse about what we've learned, what continues to scare us, and our hope for the future. When asked how white people can become better allies to people of color, Ronita gives a sweeping list of things that people can do. Ronita Johnson has worked at the intersection of DEI which stands for diversity, equality, inclusion, and has been convening sacred circles for over 30 years. She cut her teeth in the corporate world as a first diversity manager in a large corporate organization in the 80s. Skilled in the practice of dialogue, she creates safe spaces for listening, learning, and self-reflection to bring conscious that which lies in shadow. In 2010, after a successful diversity consulting career, Ronita retired to devote all her energies to convening circles. She hosts online and in person circle gatherings, organic in nature and focused on authentic conversations toward excavating truth around

Kate Marianchild has trained herself as an amateur naturalist watching wildlife, leading nature walks, and giving slide presentations. Here she shares the delight that comes from walking slowly or sitting quietly in nature, including how we might go about discovering our local eco-system. She is a “Citizen Scientist” who shares the delight that comes from walking slowly or sitting quietly in nature. She is the author of:Secrets of The Oak Woodlands: Plants & Animals Among California’s Oaks (Heyday 2014) Interview Date: 2/23/2017 Tags: Kate Marianchild, acorn woodpeckers, western scrub jay, corvids, titmouse, Oak Woodlands, newts, manzanita, keystone species, California ground squirrels, wasps, ants, poison oak, woodrat, Christmas bird count, Ecology/Nature/Environment, Personal Transformation

Van Gelder launched a 12,000 mile trip across America to explore the many dynamic movements taking root around the country. She collected a myriad of stories and examples that give us hope for our future. She observes that the sustainable systems change that is required in these threshold times is now being modeled on local levels across the country. Sarah van Gelder is cofounder and editor-at-large of the award-winning YES!Magazine. She writes and speaks internationally on environmental, social, and economic alternatives and on community-based change. She is the editor of: Sustainable Happiness: Live Simply, Live Well, Make a Difference (Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2015), This Changes Everything: Occupy Wall Street and the 99 Percent Movement (Berrett-Koehler publishers 2011). She is the author of The Revolution Where You Live: Stories from a 12,000-Mile Journey Through a New America. (Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2017) Interview Date: 3/11/2017    Tags: Sarah van Gelder, poverty, wealth, in

From traveling across Russia on the Trans-Siberian railroad to the “Golden Rule” in religion, Fuller takes us on a wide and deep adventure, always returning to the idea that learning to ask better questions is one of the keys to truly improving our lives and improving society. Robert Fuller, Ph.D. is a physicist and former president of Oberlin College. He has consulted with Indira Gandhi, met with Jimmy Carter regarding the President's Commission on World Hunger, and worked to defuse the Cold War in Russia when it was known as the USSR. As Fuller reflected on his career he realized that he had been, at different times in his life, a somebody and a nobody. His periodic sojourns into “Nobodyland” led him to identify rankism - the abuse of the power inherent in rank. His books include Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank (New Society Publishers 2003), Dignity for All: How to Create a World without Rankism (co-author Pamela A. Gerloff) (Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2008), Religion and Science: A Be

Goldberg urges us to look for spiritual practices that fit our personal needs, predilections and circumstances. He advocates bringing the best of ourselves to our life and work by combining our outer work in the world with our inner work of spiritual development. He also encourages us to develop a spiritual routine yet remain flexible. Philip Goldberg has been studying the world's spiritual traditions for more than 50 years. He's a workshop leader, spiritual counselor and meditation teacher, and an ordained interfaith minister. He also co-hosts the Spirit Matters Podcasts. He leads American Veda tours and blogs regularly on Elephant Journal and Spirituality & Health. He is the author of many books, including American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation How Indian Spirituality Changed the West. (Harmony 2013), The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru (Hay House, 2nd Edition 2020) and Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times: Powerful Tools to Cultivate C

Here we delve deeply into the narcissistic personality: What is it and what strategies we might employ to work with the narcissists who are close to us. Campbell describes three types of narcissists: grandiose, vulnerable, and personality disorder. All narcissists have some form of thinking that they are better than other people and deserve special treatment. W. Keith Campbell, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology at the University of Georgia, and is a nationally recognized expert on narcissism, society, and generational change. Both his work and lectures expose the rise of narcissism and individualism more generally, and its influence on every level of society. His books include When You Love A Man Who Loves Himself, How To Deal With A One Way Relationship (Sourcebook 2005) and The New Science Of Narcissism : Understanding One Of The Greatest Psychological Challenges Of Our Time-- and What You Can Do About It. (Sounds True 2020)Interview Date: 8/4/2020    Tags: W. Keith Campbell, Narcissus, narcissis

To keep our car running in good order, we routinely have it serviced. Our relationships deserve no less attention. Dr. Campbell offers practical advice for sustaining our love relationships. Here we learn methods for turning common relationship conflicts into opportunities to foster love, trust, and intimacy. Susan Campbell, Ph.D. trains and coaches therapists and individuals throughout the US and Europe. She works with singles, couples, and work teams to help them communicate responsibly and with respect. She is the author of Getting Real: Ten Truth Skills You Need to Live an Authentic Life (H.J. Kramer 2001), Saying What’s Real: 7 Keys to Authentic Communication and Relationship Success (H.J. Kramer 2005) and Five-Minute Relationship Repair: Quickly Heal Upsets, Deepen Intimacy, and Use Differences to Strengthen Love (with John Gray) (H. J. Kramer 2015)Interview Date: 3/18/2015      Tags: Susan Campbell, healing and repairing relationships, relationship, time-out, relationship vision statemen

Koniver suggests that standing barefoot outside on the ground is the most enjoyable healing modality she knows of. There is a great healing waiting for you through the practice of touching the earth directly. Koniver calls it an Earth Prescription, a formula for living as vital as food and water for our body and soul. Dr. Laura Koniver is an artist, author, holistic physician, and an internationally recognized grounding advocate. She is the author of From the Ground Up (Do Life Right, Incorporated 2012) and The Earth Prescription: Discover The Healing Power Of Nature With Grounding Practices For Every SeasonInterview Date: 7/10/2020     Tags: Laura Koniver, grounding, hospitals, Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula, Schumann frequency, electro hypersensitivity, EMFs, Health & Healing, Personal Transformation

Fungi live their lives largely hidden from view and over 90% of their species remain undocumented. Sheldrake says that the fungal kingdom is more closely related to the animal kingdom. Here he takes us into his research on the ecological significance of fungi and its importance to all life on planet earth. Merlin Sheldrake, Ph.D. is a biologist and writer with a background in plant sciences, microbiology, ecology, and the history of philosophy of science. He received his Ph.D. in tropical ecology from Cambridge University for his work on underground fungal networks in tropical forests in Panama, where he was a pre-doctoral research fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He's also a musician and a keen fermenter. He is the author of Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, & Shape Our Futures (Random House 2020)  Interview Date: 5/19/2020         Tags: Merlin Sheldrake, fungi, photosynthesis, mushrooms, largest terrestrial organism on t

Here Sullivan talks about the power of trees in guiding us in understanding ourselves as well as our ancestral roots. She also shares the power of communal chanting that is a bridge of past and present that moves us deeply on a soul level as it connects us to Spirit. Shannon Sullivan is an interfaith spiritual teacher and teacher of meditation. She has broad experience with many spiritual traditions from around the world as well as her communion with nature. Trees in particular have a deep significance for her and she's developed a series of teachings and meditations using the metaphor of trees. One of her teachings involves healing our ancestral roots. Interview Date: 5/12/2020    Tags: MP3, Shannon Sullivan, Reiki therapy, energy work, chakras, family trees, forgiveness, ofrenda, chanting, Kintsugi, Health & Healing

Rebecca Solnit discusses how all of us are connected to one another as though we are threads woven into the fabric of the world. Storytelling is often our way of tracing these threads, starting with our personal stories and exploring outward. The effects of our stories can be subtle and powerful. Solnit explains how we make our stories and how our stories make us. She is the author of fifteen books about art, landscape, public and collective life, ecology, politics, hope, meandering, reverie, and memory. She is a recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship, a National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Lannan Literary Award. She works with the group 350.org on climate issues and is a contributing editor to Harper’s and regular contributor to the political site Tomdispatch.com. Her books include An Encyclopedia of Trouble and Spaciousness  (Trinity University Press 2014), A Field Guide to Getting Lost (Penguin Books 2006), Men Explain Things To Me (Haymarket Books 2014) and The Faraway Nearby (Penguin 2014) (a l