Embodied Pathways

About Embodied Pathways

Discover how to nurture your connection with nature and your own embodied wisdom. This podcast is part of the Embodied Pathways project (https://embodiedpathways.org/).

Publisher

Adrian Harris

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Feb 2022

Latest episode

24 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Jun 2026

   Chanting Spring: Reconnecting with Indigenous Wisdom and the Sacred

   Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Embodied Pathways, I had the pleasure of speaking with Fernanda Gebara, affectionately known as Fe, a Brazilian scientist, writer, and lecturer with a profound connection to the Amazon rainforest and Indigenous cultures. Fe's extensive experience living and working with the Yawanawá people has deeply informed her work, culminating in her forthcoming book, Chanting Spring: Indigenous Wisdom for Ancestral Futures. This title resonates with Rachel Carson's Sil...

2. 

   11 Feb 2026

   The New Animism: Exploring A Relational Worldview with Graham Harvey

   It has been a great personal pleasure to welcome Graham Harvey to Embodied Pathways. I first met Graham in 1994, when I was one of the organisers of a Magical Conference in London—a fundraising event for the eco-pagan group, Dragon. That magical encounter ultimately led to Graham inviting me to speak at the first-ever academic conference on Paganism later that year. He would go on to become my PhD supervisor and has continued to support my research ever since. Graham has fundamentally reshape...

3. 

   7 Mar 2025

   Reconnecting with Nature: The Power of Deep Ecology with John Seed and Karin Raven Steininger

   In this episode of Embodied Pathways, I had the immense pleasure of welcoming two remarkable guests: John Seed, a pioneering figure in the Deep Ecology movement, and my dear friend, Karin Raven Steininger, an Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker and Deep Ecology facilitator. Together, we explored the profound connections between humanity and the natural world, delving into the themes of activism, grief, and the healing power of nature. We began our conversation by discussing how John and...

4. 

   24 Jan 2025

   Rewilding Our Lives: A Journey Through Nature Connection with Peter Cow

   In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Peter Cow, a passionate advocate for nature connection and community living. Peter's work integrates permaculture design, rewilding, and the wisdom of the Eight Shields model, emphasizing the importance of both human and nature connections in our lives today.We began our conversation by reflecting on our shared experiences during the environmental protests of the 1990s, particularly the successful campaign to save an ancient woodland from d...

5. 

   15 Nov 2024

   Seasonal Alchemy

   At Autumn Equinox I attended the final workshop of a year long process called Seasonal Alchemy. The weekend included nature connection, meditation, ritual, breathwork, dance and teaching about the Wheel of the Year. I was already familiar with most of these aspects but I was struck by how they were woven together. I was also reminded of the richness of the Wheel of the Year. I’ve been working with the seasonal Wheel for many years but had forgotten its depth and power: I’ve found it hard to h...

6. 

   12 Sept 2024

   Sacred Ecology

   Thirty years ago I gave a presentation that would change my life. I was a Pagan environmental activist and had been invited to deliver a talk at an academic conference at Newcastle University. The event, ‘Paganism in Contemporary Britain’, was the first international academic conference on the subject of Pagan studies and they wanted a Pagan perspective on the environmental crisis. My presentation was called ‘Sacred Ecology’, and it led to me doing a PhD. ‘Sacred Ecology’ was subsequently pub...

7. 

   3 Jul 2024

   Indigenous voices from Peru and Brazil: The Willkasara Family and Shaneihu Yawanawa

   In this episode, I’m privileged to speak with three Indigenous spiritual leaders. In the first interview I talk to two members of the Willkasara Medicine Family, who have been leading Plant Medicine Ceremonies and Retreats for 50 years. Wachan Bajiyoperak is from a lineage of Peruvian Medicine People. His partner Martika Gomez is a descendent of the Kogi people. They live with their daughter, Shiqwarkenty, in the Sacred Valley of the Inca in Peru. They work with powerful plants including Grandfather Wachuma, the spirit medicine from the San Pedro cactus. My second interview is with Shaneihu, a member of the Yawanawá tribe, and chief of his village in Brazil. Shaneihu has received teachings from different Yawanawa spiritual leaders is steeped in their traditional knowledge. He spends most of his time at Yawarani village, where he receives small groups for spiritual learning and healing. I was fortunate enough to interview him live during a rare visit to the UK. I've edited out the translation of my questions, but Shaneihu's replies are unedited. Indigenous voices are often silenced and I want you to hear what he says in his own language. The translation was provide by the anthropologist and writer Maria Fernanda Gebara. These two ancient traditions are geographically far apart, but have much in common. Sacred Medicine plants are important in both cultures as is an intimacy with the natural world. Wachan and Shaneihu urge us to wake up from the illusion of disconnection that plagues us. Martika, Wachan and Shaneihu all send us an urgent message: We must find connection and right relationship with each other and the natural world. The Willkasara Medicine Family: https://www.willkasara.org (https://www.willkasara.org/) Learn  about the Yawanawá People: https://ikixara.com/ (https://ikixara.com/) Maria Fernanda Gebara https://fegebara.com/ (https://fegebara.com/)

8. 

   20 Jun 2024

   Interwoven Embodiment: A Passionate Call to Wholeness from Lisa Blackman and Glen Mazis

   This is the third and final episode in a series where I explore embodiment with key thinkers in the field. In this episode, I speak to Lisa Blackman and Glen Mazis, two established and very embodied academics. Professor Lisa Blackman is a researcher in body studies, media, and cultural theory, with a particular interest in subjectivity and embodiment. Lisa is involved in mental health research and was one of the early pioneers of the Hearing Voices movement. Lisa was born with a rare congenital condition that made her different from others, and this experience influenced her work in disability awareness and the implications of living with a non-normative morphology. Her interdisciplinary education, including psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and critical psychiatry, shapes her work. Lisa is interested in challenging normative assumptions about what it means to be human and a subject, rejecting dualistic categories, and embracing radical relationality and interdependence. In her research with a Hearing Voices group, Lisa observed transformational processes that led to changes in the embodied experience of the voices, resulting from shared experiences and a sense of community. She believes that acknowledging interdependency as the starting point is crucial for addressing the multiple crises we face and argues that the individual is porous and interwoven with others. Glen Mazis, an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, brings a unique perspective to the study of embodiment. His work as a Merleau-Ponty scholar and a published poet underscores the significance of embodiment and how our physical presence in the world offers us a distinct experience. His interest in embodiment is rooted in many years of philosophical study and his ongoing challenge to the idea that being embodied is a curse. Glen finds depth and interconnectedness in living through the body, a perspective shaped by the work of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, a philosopher known for his focus on the body and its relation to the world. Glen advocates that the body is our pathway into the world, enabling us to connect with other beings and entities, creating an immersive, interconnected experience of reality. Glen's voice resonates with urgency as he argues for a more embodied understanding of the world.  He expresses concern about the prevalence of a 'disembodied culture' that prioritizes mental manipulation over connections with others and the environment. Glen stresses that feeling the wonder and interconnection with nature is crucial for addressing ecological concerns. He also challenges the perception of individualism, emphasizing that social bonds and interwoven experiences are primarily expressed through embodied interactions. Additionally, Glen asserts that humans need to recognize their animal nature, acknowledging that our exceptional capabilities are rooted in our shared animal bodies. Lisa Blackman: https://www.gold.ac.uk/media-communications/staff/blackman/ (https://www.gold.ac.uk/media-communications/staff/blackman/) The Body. The Key Concepts: https://www.routledge.com/The-Body-The-Key-Concepts/Blackman/p/book/9781350109414 (https://www.routledge.com/The-Body-The-Key-Concepts/Blackman/p/book/9781350109414) Glen Mazis: http://glenmazis.com/ (http://glenmazis.com/) Earthbodies. Rediscovering Our Planetary Senses: https://sunypress.edu/Books/E/Earthbodies2 (https://sunypress.edu/Books/E/Earthbodies2) Glen Mazis & David Abram discuss embodied ecology: https://adrianharris.org/blog/2019/06/21/glen-mazis-david-abram-discuss-embodied-ecology/ (https://adrianharris.org/blog/2019/06/21/glen-mazis-david-abram-discuss-embodied-ecology/)

9. 

   7 Jun 2024

   Exploring Embodiment: Insights from Philip Shepherd and Claire Dale

   In this episode, I continue my exploration of embodiment by interviewing two prominent figures in the field. First, Philip Shepherd, an actor and creator of the Embodied Present Process, shares his views on how embodiment involves joining the world through feeling and bringing the whole of one's intelligence into coherence with the present. Philip discusses how modern culture fosters disembodiment and offers insights into re-embodying through practices that enhance fluidity, groundedness, spaciousness, centeredness, and attunement. Next, Claire Dale, a former dance company leader and co-author of Physical Intelligence, explains how she developed the concept of Physical Intelligence. Claire emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing the body's chemistry - hormones like oxytocin and serotonin - to achieve flexibility and resilience. She provides practical techniques such as the 'serotonin twist' to help listeners reduce anxiety and improve their Physical Intelligence. The episode delves deep into how embodiment and Physical Intelligence can transform our experience and interactions with the world. Philip Shepherd: https://embodiedpresent.com/pages/philip-shepherd (https://embodiedpresent.com/pages/philip-shepherd) The Physical Intelligence Institute: https://physicalintelligenceinstitute.com/ (https://physicalintelligenceinstitute.com/) Books by Philip Shepherd (https://embodiedpresent.com/pages/books) Physical Intelligence. Harness your body's untapped intelligence to achieve more, stress less and live more happily (https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/Physical-Intelligence/Claire-Dale/9781471170904)

10. 

    9 May 2024

    Exploring the Power of Embodiment: Awareness, Activism and Interrelatedness

    Join me on a transformative journey as we explore the multifaceted realm of embodiment with insights from thought leaders in the field. Mark Walsh opens the discussion with his nuanced definitions of embodiment, illuminating its role in our identity and relationships. Mark explores various definitions of embodiment, from the subjective study of the body to an intelligence that encompasses awareness, choice, self, and the other. He touches on embodiment as an umbrella term for body-mind arts, including yoga, martial arts, and somatic practices, emphasizing the distinction between physical activities and those genuinely embodied through awareness and self-development. Mark conveys the richness of embodiment, moving beyond seeing the body merely as a 'brain taxi' to appreciating it in its lived, experiential wholeness. The conversation shifts as I welcome Rae Johnson, who offers an enriching dialogue on interoception and intercorporeality. Rae brings a queer-identified scholar's lens to the discussion. Rae explores interoception, proprioception, exteroception, and intercorporeality, showing how each offers unique insights into our relationship with our bodies and the world around us. They unpack the integral relationship between embodiment and activism, highlighting the significance of nonverbal communication in conveying messages that may not align with our spoken words. Rae examines the concept of implicit bias, how it leaks through our body language, and how it can impact trust and perception in interpersonal interactions. Next, I introduce Olu Taiwo, a storyteller and scholar who masterfully weaves together personal anecdotes and academic knowledge. He draws parallels between the ancient wisdom of Tai Chi and modern neuroscience. Olu defines embodiment as the agency of being and knowing within one's body, which he illustrates with the idea of 'engrams' - habituated bodily knowledge. He explains how engrams can be beneficial for learning techniques but also responsible for negative patterns like poor posture or unhealthy habits. Olu also shares the wisdom he gained from his encounter with a life-threatening illness, underscoring the importance of gratitude and presence. He presents embodiment as a continual process, a journey rather than a destination. The conversation concludes with Charlene Spretnak, who introduces dynamic interrelatedness, revealing how contemporary biology reveals our deep interconnectivity. She unpacks how recent discoveries in human biology challenge the mechanistic view of the human organism that has prevailed for centuries. Dynamic interrelatedness offers a radical understanding of the body-mind connection, human relationships, and our interaction with nature. The implications of recognizing our relational nature are vast, affecting personal growth, healthcare, education, and our response to the climate emergency. She considers how this knowledge could transform our approach to community preparedness, healthcare practices, and support for climate refugees, ultimately reimagining public policy and societal structures in harmony with our interrelated existence. Featuring: Mark Walsh https://embodimentunlimited.com/mark-walsh-bio/ (https://embodimentunlimited.com/mark-walsh-bio/) Olu Taiwo https://www.winchester.ac.uk/about-us/leadership-and-governance/staff-directory/staff-profiles/taiwo.php (https://www.winchester.ac.uk/about-us/leadership-and-governance/staff-directory/staff-profiles/taiwo.php) Rae Johnson https://raejohnsonsomatic.com/ Charlene Spretnak https://www.charlenespretnak.com/

11. 

    27 Sept 2023

    Integral, Transpersonal and Somatic Psychology: An interview with Don Hanlon Johnson

    In this episode, we step back and take a wider overview of what I call the embodied pathways: What connects diverse practices like Focusing, Rolfing, Authentic movement and meditation? Our guide on this exploration is Don Hanlon Johnson, who has spent over half a century studying how transformative body practices can enhance personal and social change. Don’s work takes cutting-edge theory and develops it through experiential practice. What emerges is a remarkable body of work on embodied consciousness and spirituality. Don is the author of numerous books and articles and is a Professor of Integral, Transpersonal, and Somatic Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Don weaves together warm personal stories of his extraordinary life and profound insights into what it means to be fully human. He spent years at Esalen and has known many of the key figures in the world of embodied awareness, including Carl Rogers, Ida Rolf and Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. Don has also had personal experience with many of the somatic practices that inspire people worldwide. Join us on a journey of discovery into the rich world of somatics. https://donhanlonjohnson.com/

12. 

    22 Aug 2023

    Focusing and psychedelic experience: An interview with João da Fonseca

    Focusing is a powerful way to access the wisdom of the body. It was identified by Eugene Gendlin in the 1950s and is widely used in therapy.  In 2009 Alicia Danforth suggested that Focusing could be a valuable tool in psychedelic-assisted therapy, but João da Fonseca is one of the few people in the world who have explored this possibility. João is a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist with 20 years of clinical experience. He’s qualified in a wide range of approaches, including Transpersonal, Existential, EMDR and Focusing-Oriented Therapy. João is at the forefront of psychedelic-assisted therapy and currently works at the ‘Liminal Minds (https://www.liminalminds.pt/en/)’ ketamine clinic in Portugal. He is a contributor to the first book in Portuguese on psychedelic-assisted therapy, Psicadélicos em Saúde Mental (2023). Episode outline: João describes his work at  Liminal Minds and sets out the principles of psychedelic-assisted therapy. He then explains what Focusing is, unpacking the way that it enables us to access the implicit wisdom of the body. We then turn to the question of how Focusing can be used to support psychedelic-assisted therapy. We consider the role of Focusing in the preparation stage, during dosing and in integration sessions. We then consider the importance of the inner healing guide and how Focusing relates to this fundamental aspect of psychedelic-assisted therapy.  Focusing can also support the therapist or psychedelic guide: João explains how he uses Focusing during dosing sessions as a way of being fully with the participant. The insights he gains from this can be valuable in subsequent integration sessions, helping to bring more clarity to the participant's process. It becomes apparent from our conversion that there are fundamental parallels between Focusing and psychedelic experience. That opens further questions about the nature of the embodied human psyche. We conclude that this is just the beginning of a much bigger conversation: Both Focusing and psychedelics " are openers of the mystery". Join us on our journey of exploration! References: Danforth, A., 2009. 'Focusing-oriented psychotherapy as a supplement to preparation for psychedelic therapy'. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, Vol. 41, No. 2. Gendlin. E. 1981. Focusing. Bantam, New York. Liminal Minds psychedelic-assisted therapy clinic: https://www.liminalminds.pt/en/

13. 

    27 Jul 2023

    Listening Through the Body: Exploring Interoception and the Power of Authentic Movement with Jennifer Tantia

    In this fascinating discussion, I have the pleasure of chatting with Jennifer Tantia, a Somatic Psychotherapist and Dance Movement therapist based in New York City. Jennifer shares her unique journey from being a professional dancer to becoming a therapist. She discusses her time in the East Village, working in gyms as a personal trainer, and her deep dive into somatic psychology and embodied research. Jennifer also enlightens us about the sixth sense -  interoception. We explore interoception and how it intersects with somatic psychology, psychotherapy and Focusing. We explore the extraordinary power of Authentic Movement, and Jennifer offers some valuable insights into helping clients become more present. Listen in as we explore an example of how to help a client access their emotions through physical sensations and the importance of trusting one’s intuition and gut sense of safety in relationships. The episode concludes with an exploration of how we can weave together presence, interoception and Authentic Movement. We delve into how movement can open us up to unexpected insights and how we can use these moments to help us process our emotions and experiences. We also discuss how to stay present with our felt senses and how trust and curiosity can help us open up to unexpected experiences. Jennifer Frank Tantia, PhD, LCAT, BC-DMT is a Somatic Psychotherapist and Dance/movement Therapist in New York City, practicing for the past 18 years. She has been teaching somatic psychology and embodied research at universities and training programs in the US and internationally for the past decade.  Dr. Tantia co-edited  The Routledge International Handbook on Embodied Perspectives in Psychotherapy: Approaches from Dance Movement and Body Psychotherapy (2019) and received a Marian Chace Foundation grant for her latest book,  The Art and Science of Embodied Research Design: Concepts, Methods and Cases (2020). Website: www.soma-psyche.com

14. 

    15 Jun 2023

    Exploring psychedelics and nature connectedness with Sam Gandy

    Dr Sam Gandy is involved with cutting-edge research into psychedelics and nature connectedness. He's worked with the Beckley Foundation, Onaya Science and the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London. In this conversation, Sam explores the capacity of psychedelics to influence human relationships with nature. The research suggests that the psychedelic experience can enhance nature connectedness: We consider the evidence and the factors that might underpin this phenomenon. We explore connectedness, mysticism, ego dissolution and how we might use ecotherapy to enhance psychedelic-assisted therapy.

15. 

    17 May 2022

    Mindfulness of Nature: An interview with Claire Thompson

    Claire Thompson is the author of Mindfulness and the Natural World and The Art of Mindful Birdwatching. She takes mindfulness practice back to where it works best - the natural world. In this very personal interview, Claire considers the power of awe, enlightenment and the way that nature can be both deeply holding and liberating. Hear tales of mystical enchantment, spiritual insights and alternative routes to awakening ecological awareness. Move beyond labels, learn to manage the controlling mind and find embodied connection to the natural being that you truly are. Find out more at Claire's website: Mindfulness of Nature (https://mindfulness-of-nature.com/)

16. 

    2 Feb 2022

    Embodying Nature: A conversation with improvisational movement artist Stephanie Gottlob

    Stephanie Gottlob is an improvisational movement artist who takes her work into the wild. Stephanie has spent extended periods living and dancing in different biomes across North America: rainforest, swamp, freshwater lake, arctic tundra and many more. Stephanie talks about the profound nature connection that emerges from this kind of deep engagement with place. We explore art, embodiment, relationship, activism, spirituality and the mysterious ways that these are all connected. You’ll hear why we need ancient forests to be fully human and how you can touch the wild wherever you live.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

4.7 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

6

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

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