Living the Tao-A Spiritual Podcast

Mikel Steenrod
  • 4.3 (9)
  • Spirituality
  • Updated Biweekly

Living the Tao with Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod. Discover how ancient Taoist training can improve modern life. Living the Tao is a spiritual podcast hosted by Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod, lineage holder of the Four Ascendant Tradition. Through long-form teachings, practical discussions, and occasional conversations with Morgan and other guests, the show explores Taoist doctrine, spiritual cultivation, and the challenges of living skillfully in the modern world. Each episode blends classical Taoist teachings with practical instruction, clear explanation, and real-world examples. Topics include meditation, qi cultivation, emotional resilience, self-awareness, intuition, karma, personal transformation, wellness, martial arts, and the philosophy behind living in harmony with reality. Rather than focusing on abstract theory alone, Living the Tao explores how Taoist training can help listeners reduce stress, develop clarity, strengthen character, and cultivate a mind that sees the world as it truly is. 🎧 New full episodes release on the first Friday of each month. ⚡ Living the Tao Shorts arrive biweekly, offering concise conversations and practical insights designed to help listeners reconnect with what matters most. 🔒 Subscribers receive additional episodes, deeper doctrinal discussions, commentary tracks, and exclusive content through the Living the Tao Supercast membership community. Living the Tao is part of a broader educational ecosystem that includes The Taoism for Modern World, Water Mountain Virtual, online courses, articles, videos, and study resources developed by Mikel Steenrod and the Four Ascendant Tradition. 🌐 Taoist articles, explanations, and study materials: https://www.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com 🥋 Qi Gong training, martial arts, and wellness resources: https://www.watermountainvirtual.com 🎙 Public podcast feed: https://podcast.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com/feed.xml 🔒 Subscriber community and premium episodes: https://living-the-tao.supercast.com Want captions? Use the Podbean player. All new episodes are captioned, and the back catalog is continually being updated.

  1. 6h ago ·  Bonus

    Shorts | What are You Without the Voice in Your Head?

    What are you without the voice talking inside your head? In this episode of Living the Tao Shorts (2-30), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod and Morgan explore one of the most basic—and surprisingly difficult—questions we can ask: What is the self? Is the self the internal narrator commenting on your life? Your memories? Your experiences? And if that familiar voice falls silent, have you actually lost anything at all? From there, the conversation moves into mortality, Daoist immortality, and the human desire for permanence. Why do we assume that something must last forever in order to have value? Why would creatures who have never experienced permanence make permanence the measure of importance? Along the way, there are ancient immortals, geological spans of time, and even the realization that after a few hundred years of serious spiritual cultivation, immortals apparently spend quite a bit of time going to parties. But beneath the humor is a distinctly Daoist question: perhaps the truth of who you are is not an idea called the “self,” but the experience of actually living. And perhaps the long spiritual journey ends somewhere unexpected—with becoming what you already are. 🌐 Explore more Taoist teachings: https://www.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com 🎧 Listen to more Living the Tao Shorts & full episodes: https://podcast.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com -From Beginner to Expert, examine our collection of free videos and articles on qi gong: https://www.watermountainvirtual.com/qi-gong-collection/ Premium Episodes, Full Catalog (4x the content), AMA, and episode commentary: https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

    Shorts | What are You Without the Voice in Your Head?

  2. Trailer

    Trailer | The Fractured Self

    What if the reason you cannot make yourself do something is not a lack of discipline—but a divided self? In this trailer for Living the Tao Episode 1-198, The Fractured Self, Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explores the gap between what we say we want and what deeper parts of us may actually be doing. The episode begins with three simple possibilities: unwilling, unable, or uneducated. From there, it moves into a deeper Taoist problem—how the socially conditioned self becomes fragmented, how that fragmentation interferes with choice and capability, and why spiritual development requires more than outward compliance. The goal is not simply greater control. It is greater internal coherence. Listen to the full episode on Supercast. Premium Episodes, Full Catalog (4x the content), AMA and episode commentary: https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

    Trailer | The Fractured Self

  3. Trailer

    Trailer | Watching, Blessing, Living

    What if the future is already visible in the present? In this trailer for Living the Tao Episode 1-197, Master Mikel Steenrod introduces one of the simplest—and most demanding—skills in Taoist training: observation. He explains why his teacher could often predict what was about to happen simply by watching carefully, how judgment interferes with perception, and why learning to see what is actually there can become a form of Taoist practice. The episode then moves into advanced Qigong training and the practice of blessing, where thousands of repetitions can expose an uncomfortable question: is what you believe about yourself actually true? Watching, Blessing, Living explores observation, wu-wei, symbolic truth, qi, and the difference between reality and the stories we tell ourselves. This full episode is available to Living the Tao subscribers on Supercast.  Premium Episodes, Full Catalog (4x the content), and episode commentary: https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

    Trailer | Watching, Blessing, Living

  4. Sep 8 ·  Bonus

    Shorts | Karma: No Consequence, No Power

    What if karma isn’t a cosmic system of reward and punishment? In this Living the Tao Short (2-30), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod and Morgan unpack the idea of the karmic nursery—a condition in which actions may have social consequences without accumulating the kind of karmic weight that produces lasting power. That protection comes with a tradeoff: no consequence also means no power. Steenrod explains why karma, in this framework, is not the universe handing out justice. Instead, karmic accumulation depends on consistency. A person may act positively, negatively, or neutrally—but without consistency, little accumulates. Leave the nursery, and actions begin to add up. They can build power, diminish it, move you toward what you seek, or move you away. The conversation also explores why someone might choose to return to the nursery, why doing so can mean living a “much smaller life,” and why the karmic nursery is not simply a product of the social mind. A short discussion about consequence, responsibility, ling, and what it means for your actions to truly matter.   hat if the future already exists—and your choices still matter? In this Living the Tao Short, Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod and Morgan explore the Taoist concept of nonlinear time: a model in which past, present, and future are not simply points moving along a single line. The conversation moves from memory and our ordinary experience of time into much stranger territory. If every moment remains part of existence, does that mean everything is predetermined? Steenrod argues that it does not. Change, in the Taoist model he describes, does not necessarily depend upon linear time. Along the way, they examine why our sense of the past may be tied to fading memory, why every action may remain part of existence, why Taoism resists placing the individual at the center of creation, and why nonlinear time was traditionally a subject reserved for more advanced practice. The future has already happened. And somehow, you may still be writing it.   Prefer the video format?  That's here: https://youtu.be/gI1MFRJGASs 🌐 Explore more Taoist teachings: https://www.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com 🎧 Listen to more Living the Tao Shorts & full episodes: https://podcast.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com -From Beginner to Expert, examine our collection of free videos and articles on qi gong: https://www.watermountainvirtual.com/qi-gong-collection/ Premium Episodes, Full Catalog (4x the content), AMA, and episode commentary: https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

    Shorts | Karma: No Consequence, No Power

  5. Sep 4

    The 4 Spheres, Camelot and an Old Shirt

    Can Qi stop a bullet? That question opens a much larger discussion about the Four Spheres and a common human mistake: trying to solve a problem with the wrong kind of tool. In this episode (1-196), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explores why physical force, social influence, intelligence, Qi practice, and other approaches each belong to different kinds of problems. The issue is not simply whether one sphere is “stronger” than another, but whether the method being used actually fits the situation. Along the way, Steenrod and Morgan look at Taoist martial skill, surgeons and swordsmen, negotiation, asymmetric warfare, intelligence networks, revolution, and why force often becomes most useful only after better options have already disappeared. And then there is Camelot: Arthur, the Round Table, Merlin, the dream of the perfect kingdom—and Steenrod's observation that he owns shirts that have apparently lasted longer. A practical discussion about timing, strategy, Qi, and why lasting change usually begins before the crisis does. Prefer to watch rather than listen? https://youtu.be/-6_6SYmIn8Q 🎧 Listen to more Living the Tao Shorts & full episodes: https://podcast.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com The supercast version of this episode has extensive commentary: https://living-the-tao.supercast.com Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Source: incompetech.com

    The 4 Spheres, Camelot and an Old Shirt

  6. Trailer

    Trailer | AMA- What Makes Something Real?

    What happens when your questions become part of the show? The Living the Tao AMA gives Supercast subscribers a place to ask about Taoist practice, the I Ching, spiritual development, unusual experiences, and the questions that do not always fit neatly into a regular episode. In the August AMA, Taoist Master Michael Steenrod takes up questions about changing interpretations of the I Ching, choosing among too many possible paths, becoming the complete human, and how we decide whether something is real. Some questions get a brief answer. Others open a much larger door—and can become the basis for future episodes. This AMA episode is available exclusively to Living the Tao subscribers on Supercast. Bring your questions. Premium Episodes, Full Catalog (4x the content), and episode commentary: https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

    Trailer | AMA- What Makes Something Real?

  7. Aug 25 ·  Bonus

    Shorts | The Future Has Already Happened

    What if the future already exists—and your choices still matter? In this Living the Tao Short, Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod and Morgan explore the Taoist concept of nonlinear time: a model in which past, present, and future are not simply points moving along a single line. The conversation moves from memory and our ordinary experience of time into much stranger territory. If every moment remains part of existence, does that mean everything is predetermined? Steenrod argues that it does not. Change, in the Taoist model he describes, does not necessarily depend upon linear time. Along the way, they examine why our sense of the past may be tied to fading memory, why every action may remain part of existence, why Taoism resists placing the individual at the center of creation, and why nonlinear time was traditionally a subject reserved for more advanced practice. The future has already happened. And somehow, you may still be writing it.   Prefer the video format?  That's here: https://youtu.be/4KQ6FH6UNZc 🌐 Explore more Taoist teachings: https://www.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com 🎧 Listen to more Living the Tao Shorts & full episodes: https://podcast.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com -From Beginner to Expert, examine our collection of free videos and articles on qi gong: https://www.watermountainvirtual.com/qi-gong-collection/ Premium Episodes, Full Catalog (4x the content), and episode commentary: https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

    Shorts | The Future Has Already Happened

  8. Trailer

    Trailer | Method of Happy Living

    What if happiness is not found in pushing life to its limits? In Living the Tao, Episode 1-194 — The Method of Happy Living, Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod introduces the ancient idea that a good life is built through balance, adaptability, and the preservation of your ability to act upon the future. Drawing from the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic and the Taoist Art of Living, the episode explores why health, relationships, resources, and moderation are not merely practical concerns—they form the foundation from which deeper spiritual development becomes possible. Life will have extremes. The question is whether you can return from them. “Extremes are a nice place to visit, but you don’t want to live there.” Full episode with commentary is now avaialble on supercast. Subscribe now at  https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

    Trailer | Method of Happy Living
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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Living the Tao with Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod. Discover how ancient Taoist training can improve modern life. Living the Tao is a spiritual podcast hosted by Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod, lineage holder of the Four Ascendant Tradition. Through long-form teachings, practical discussions, and occasional conversations with Morgan and other guests, the show explores Taoist doctrine, spiritual cultivation, and the challenges of living skillfully in the modern world. Each episode blends classical Taoist teachings with practical instruction, clear explanation, and real-world examples. Topics include meditation, qi cultivation, emotional resilience, self-awareness, intuition, karma, personal transformation, wellness, martial arts, and the philosophy behind living in harmony with reality. Rather than focusing on abstract theory alone, Living the Tao explores how Taoist training can help listeners reduce stress, develop clarity, strengthen character, and cultivate a mind that sees the world as it truly is. 🎧 New full episodes release on the first Friday of each month. ⚡ Living the Tao Shorts arrive biweekly, offering concise conversations and practical insights designed to help listeners reconnect with what matters most. 🔒 Subscribers receive additional episodes, deeper doctrinal discussions, commentary tracks, and exclusive content through the Living the Tao Supercast membership community. Living the Tao is part of a broader educational ecosystem that includes The Taoism for Modern World, Water Mountain Virtual, online courses, articles, videos, and study resources developed by Mikel Steenrod and the Four Ascendant Tradition. 🌐 Taoist articles, explanations, and study materials: https://www.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com 🥋 Qi Gong training, martial arts, and wellness resources: https://www.watermountainvirtual.com 🎙 Public podcast feed: https://podcast.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com/feed.xml 🔒 Subscriber community and premium episodes: https://living-the-tao.supercast.com Want captions? Use the Podbean player. All new episodes are captioned, and the back catalog is continually being updated.

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