The Free Radical Podcast

The Free Radical Podcast is a creative encounter among like-minded and like-hearted spirits, regardless of their background or affiliation—or even non-affiliation. Following the call of our 21st Century spirituality, we embrace a trans-institutional commitment to spirituality rather than an institutionalized version of it. It is not so much about the demarkation of buildings but the exploration of hearts, not so much about fitting in but about deeply belonging—not so much about mere holiness but about wholeness as well. And it is the freedom born in the fire of these shared hearts who deeply belong to a process of becoming fully whole, fully persons, that creates the sacred space to step into new ways of being, deeper ways of being, radical—to the core—ways of being….and being what?….Being fully integrated individuals, whose humanity contextualizes their spirituality.Swami Padmanabha is an author, monk, and spiritual mentor who has just published his second book, called "Radical Personalism: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion." The format of the podcast is not an interview as much as spontaneous exploration in dialogue, encouraging a multi-trait interdisciplinary method of approaching how we understand something—of looking at it from different angles and perspectives. We don’t expect to agree on everything with each person, but we do expect to use our differences as a way to approach each other, rather than an excuse for further distancing. The time has come to let down the draw bridges and learn how to deeply relate with ourselves, each other, and the world in meaningful ways. This experience of mutual enlightenment can be also called “Collective Introspection.” This joint reflection is probably “the highest form of worship and communion. Restricted to the individual, this power of reflection remains limited and rudimentary. It is only in connection to kindred spirits that we can discover our own depth and wholeness. In other words, the deepest form of reflection can be developed only in communion with others. It is essentially a social phenomenon.” (excerpt from Radical Personalism: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion”). The Free Radical Podcast attempts to invoke sacred space and sacred conversation through deep expressive exchanges with like-minded souls with whom we share one same purpose in mind and heart, that purpose being to align our lives with the loving will of the Sweet Absolute, and to compassionately point to those things that need to be addressed for that miracle to continue happening in each of us. Please join the conversation. It won’t be the same without you.

  1. Jul 15

    SIMPLICITY AFTER COMPLEXITY: The Maturation of Bhakti—Free Radical Podcast 74–Vraja Kishor 7/15/26

    Join us on The Free Radical Podcast for a reflective and deeply human conversation with artist, author, Vaishnava scholar, and astrologer Vraja Kishor. Having joined ISKCON in 1990, Vraja Kishor pursued formal studies at the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education and spent several years immersed in devotional life and study. His path has also taken unexpected turns—most notably through his time with the Krishna punk band 108, where he helped integrate devotional themes into alternative music culture. Alongside his spiritual and artistic work, he has built a diverse professional background spanning software development and language teaching, before dedicating himself fully to Vedic astrology. He is also a translator of key Vaishnava texts, including work on the Bhagavad-gita, four cantos of the Srimad Bhagavatam, and ongoing translation of the fifth canto as well as the Yoga Sutras. In this episode, we explore themes drawn from his memoir Train Wrecks and Transcendence—including the arc of spiritual life, relationships, early enthusiasm and later grounding, and the challenge of integrating depth with simplicity. The conversation moves through questions of responsibility, devotion, friendship, family, and the evolving relationship between rigidity and maturity on the spiritual path—arriving at a vision of wholeness that finds the profound within the ordinary. Tune in for a thoughtful and open exchange that traces a life lived at the intersection of devotion, creativity, and lived experience. 👉 Connect Further with Vraja Kishor IG: https://www.instagram.com/vic_dicara/ YT: https://youtube.com/@VicDiCaraAstrology https://youtu.be/7KgvFFD_ma8 ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook . ~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

    SIMPLICITY AFTER COMPLEXITY: The Maturation of Bhakti—Free Radical Podcast 74–Vraja Kishor  7/15/26
  2. Jul 1

    FROM CONTROL TO RELATIONSHIP: A New Vision of God | Free Radical Podcast ep73 | Sheri Kling 7/1/26

    In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Sheri Kling—Christian author, theologian, artist, musician, public speaker, and spiritual guide—for a deeply penetrating exploration of the intersections of faith, theology, psychology, science, and the arts. Drawing from her work as the author of A Processed Spirituality and her passion for helping others move from disconnection and doubt into deeper purpose, passion, and spiritual vitality, Dr. Kling offers profound insights into some of life's most challenging questions. Through her writing, teaching, speaking, and retreat ministry, she helps others engage transformative pathways toward a more vibrant and meaningful faith. Together, we explore the nature of faith and belief, the reality of crisis, evil and suffering, and what it means to understand these experiences in the context of an all-alluring God. The conversation also touches on music, creativity, spiritual transformation, and the possibility of finding deeper meaning amid life's uncertainties. This conversation is an abundant feast of wisdom, reflection, and hope—inviting listeners into a deeper and more transformative vision of spirituality. Join us for a conversation that will challenge, inspire, and nourish both heart and mind. 👉 Connect Further with Sheri IG: instagram.com/sherikling YT: https://www.youtube.com/@drsherikling FB: facebook.com/SheriDKling WWW: sherikling.com https://youtu.be/CR02lwsI63o ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook . ~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

    FROM CONTROL TO RELATIONSHIP: A New Vision of God | Free Radical Podcast ep73 | Sheri Kling  7/1/26
  3. Jun 17

    WHEN MUSIC BECOMES PRAYER | Free Radical Podcast ep72 | Havi 6/17/26

    We are delighted to welcome to the The Free Radical Podcast renowned musician, author, and spiritual seeker Havi Prabhu—also known by his artistic name Ilan Chester. Widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary Spanish-language music, Havi’s life and work span more than four decades of international artistry. Born in Israel to European parents and raised in Venezuela, his musical world was formed at the crossroads of cultures. A gifted pianist from early childhood, he developed a deeply expressive and stylistically open musical language that has resonated across genres and generations. With nearly 30 albums, hundreds of performances worldwide, a Latin Grammy Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy, his artistic legacy is both prolific and enduring. Alongside his musical journey, Havi has also walked a profound spiritual path. Initiated in 1973 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and given the name Havi Das, he spent five years living as a monk dedicated to bhakti yoga, serving and teaching in Venezuela and Colombia. Today, he continues to embody a life woven together through music, devotion, and lived experience—now also as a father of seven and grandfather of eight. In this deeply human and wide-ranging conversation, we explore music, kirtan, prayer, community, and the healing power of being truly seen and affirmed. We reflect on fame and how to hold it with integrity, the lived experience of spiritual practice, and the formative encounters with Srila Prabhupada that shaped Havi’s journey. At its heart, this dialogue opens a space for honest reflection on trauma, creativity, devotion, and the search for wholeness through relationship and expression. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOtq82rYPnk 👉 Connect Further with Havi IG: h / ilanchesteroficial YT: / @ilanchester6784 FB: / ilan.chester.2025 WWW: https://ilanchesteroficial.com/ ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook . ~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

    WHEN MUSIC BECOMES PRAYER | Free Radical Podcast ep72 | Havi 6/17/26
  4. Jun 3

    SOUL FRIENDSHIP & THE CONTEMPLATIVE PATH | Free Radical Podcast ep71 | Carl McColman 6/3/26

    Join us for an adventurous episode of the Free Radical Podcast, featuring spiritual director, teacher, retreat leader, and author Carl McColman. Carl McColman is a lay practitioner under formal spiritual guidance from sisters and monks associated with the Trappist Monastery of the Holy Spirit. His formation in Christian contemplative spirituality and contemplative leadership was shaped through the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, and he also received training in the practice of spiritual direction through the Institute of Pastoral Studies. He is also the author of more than a dozen books, alongside contributions to publications such as Huffington Post and Evie of the Arts, and he continues to travel widely leading retreats and speaking on contemplative spirituality. Alongside this deep grounding in the Christian contemplative tradition, Carl’s path has moved through the luminous terrain of goddess spirituality, nature-centered practice, and interfaith encounter. His early studies in comparative spirituality, along with a lasting engagement with the Christian mystics, have shaped a sensibility attuned to the hidden depths running beneath all religious forms—the presence that is both beyond and within what can be named. In this conversation, we enter into a contemplative space where language begins to loosen its edges: where the divine feminine is not only discussed but sensed as a living current; where duality and non-duality are held in creative tension; and where awe, imagination, and wonder become ways of seeing rather than ideas to be held. We reflect on the sacredness that pulses through the natural world, and on scripture as a field of encounter rather than explanation. 👉 Connect Further with Carl IG: h / ilanchesteroficial YT: / @carl-mccolman FB: facebook.com/carlmccolman WWW: christianmysticism.wordpress.com https://youtu.be/5SOIePac494 ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook . ~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

    SOUL FRIENDSHIP & THE CONTEMPLATIVE PATH | Free Radical Podcast ep71 | Carl McColman 6/3/26
  5. May 20

    Response-Ability & The Architecture of Safety | Free Radical Podcast #70 | Madhava 5/20/26

    IIn this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, we’re joined by psychologist, philosopher, and trauma-informed facilitator Madhava, whose work sits at the intersection of nervous system awareness, attachment, and relational inquiry. As the founder of the Neurobody Method and a teacher at the Learning Love Institute, Madhava explores what truly makes connection possible—beginning with a nervous system that feels safe enough to stay present. Together, we dive into a rich and expansive conversation on interrelatedness, communication as the fabric of reality, and the subtle dynamics that shape how we meet one another. Rather than focusing on analysis or emotional processing alone, this dialogue points toward the conditions that support genuine safety, dignity, and life-affirming connection. We explore themes of vulnerability, the difference between false and authentic safety, and what it means to belong while continually evolving into our potential. This episode invites you into a deeper inquiry of relationship—not just with others, but with life itself. Join us for a thoughtful and open-ended conversation that continues well beyond the episode. 👉 Connect Further with Madhava IG: / micha.madhava YT: / @micha-madhava FB: / micha.madhava https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNheYrD8L1I ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook . ~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

    Response-Ability & The Architecture of Safety | Free Radical Podcast #70 | Madhava  5/20/26
  6. May 6

    DRUMMING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD | Free Radical Podcast #69 | Fr. Hyacinth Cordell | 5/6/26

    In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, we’re joined by Catholic priest, pastor, and acclaimed drummer Father Hyacinth Cordell—a man where philosophy meets pulse, and theology meets rhythm. With training in philosophy, theology, and pastoral ministry, Father Hyacinth carries a rare integration of intellectual depth and lived spirituality. Alongside his priestly vocation, he has also cultivated a global following as a drummer, where rhythm itself becomes prayer—an embodied offering, a language beyond words, a direct line to the sacred. Our conversation moves fluidly through music, spirituality, and the many surprising ways art can become devotion. We explore drumming, poetry, and embodied expression as portals into something larger than language—spaces where celebration, transcendence, and intimacy with the divine naturally arise. We also enter into his personal journey: the unexpected call to priesthood, the shaping force of discipline and devotion, and the everyday practices—running, veganism, contemplative living—that quietly structure a life oriented toward meaning. Along the way, we touch questions of vocation, celibacy, longing, and what it means to live a life sincerely given over to something greater than oneself. This is a rich, human, and often surprising dialogue—where rhythm and reverence meet, and where spirituality is not just believed, but lived, breathed, and played. 👉 Connect Further with Fr Hyacinth Cordell IG:  / @BenedictusEsDomine  YT:  / @BenedictusEsDomine  https://youtu.be/mwoQwzs7WYc ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook . ~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

    DRUMMING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD | Free Radical Podcast #69 | Fr. Hyacinth Cordell | 5/6/26
  7. Apr 15

    THE SOUND OF A LIFE | Free Radical Podcast #68 | Gaura Vani | 4/15/26

    In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, we sit down with world-renowned musician, artist, and storyteller Gaura Vani for a rich and heartfelt conversation. Gaura Vani’s journey is anything but ordinary. Raised in temples in India and trained in monastic life from a young age, he later found himself immersed in the energy of Hollywood’s rock and roll scene during his teenage years. Today, his music is a unique fusion of these worlds—blending devotion, rhythm, storytelling, and performance into an experience that captivates audiences across the globe. Having spent over two decades traveling internationally, Gaura Vani has witnessed firsthand the power of music to transcend boundaries of culture, nationality, and belief. Wherever he goes, he builds community and inspires others toward a deeper, more meaningful engagement with life. In this episode, we go far beyond music. Together, we explore profound and universal themes—death and illness, fear and love, friendship and poetry, existential crisis and renewal. This is a conversation rooted in authenticity and shared humanity, offering a space for reflection, connection, and inspiration. It was a true privilege to sit together in this spirit of openness and brotherhood—and now, we invite you to join us at the table. Listen in, reflect deeply, and be part of the ongoing dialogue. If you are inspired to learn more about Gaura Vani, please be sure to visit his website. If you would like to participate in his journey back to radiant health, click the DONATE button on his site for more information. https://www.gauravani.com/ 👉 Connect Further with Gauravani IG:  / gauravani   YT:  / @gauravanimusic   FB: / gauravani   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8cu_Q4e_sw ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook . ~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

    THE SOUND OF A LIFE | Free Radical Podcast #68 | Gaura Vani | 4/15/26
  8. Apr 1

    POETRY, PRAISE & THE ALCHEMY OF GRIEF | Free Radical Podcast #67 | Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer April 1, 2026

    🌿 This episode holds some very tender terrain, including the loss of a child to suicide. If this is close to your heart, we invite you to listen at your own pace, honoring whatever arises within you. If needed, you might set it down and return when the time feels right.🌿 With that in mind, we invite you into a deeply moving and quietly evocative conversation on the Free Radical Podcast with award-winning poet, teacher, and speaker Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. A lifelong writer and co-host of "Emerging Form", Rosemerry has been devoted to the daily practice of poetry since 2006—a steady ritual that became a lifeline following the loss of her teenage son in 2021. In this intimate and expansive episode, Rosemerry opens a doorway into her creative path, her daily poems from "A Hundred Falling Veils," and her audio series "The Poetic Path." Drawing from her celebrated collections "All the Honey" and "The Unfolding," and her work as Poet Laureate for Evermore, she invites us into the subtle terrain where grief softens into wonder, where language becomes a bridge, and where the ordinary shimmers with quiet revelation. Together, we wander through questions of how to live and create in the face of the unknown—how to listen more deeply, to trust what unfolds, and to meet life with a courageous, open heart. This is a conversation that moves like a current beneath the surface, weaving loss and beauty, vulnerability and presence, into something both tender and enduring. Tune in, take a breath, and step into a space where poetry becomes a way of being—and where each moment holds the possibility of meaning, connection, and quiet transformation. 👉 Connect Further with Bhakti Lalita devi YT: https://www.youtube.com/user/BhaktiLalitaDD FB: https://www.facebook.com/BLalitaDD IG: https://www.instagram.com/bhakti_lalita_devi https://youtu.be/hmNwjgIAjSQ ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook . ~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE

    POETRY, PRAISE & THE ALCHEMY OF GRIEF | Free Radical Podcast #67 | Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer  April 1, 2026

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Free Radical Podcast is a creative encounter among like-minded and like-hearted spirits, regardless of their background or affiliation—or even non-affiliation. Following the call of our 21st Century spirituality, we embrace a trans-institutional commitment to spirituality rather than an institutionalized version of it. It is not so much about the demarkation of buildings but the exploration of hearts, not so much about fitting in but about deeply belonging—not so much about mere holiness but about wholeness as well. And it is the freedom born in the fire of these shared hearts who deeply belong to a process of becoming fully whole, fully persons, that creates the sacred space to step into new ways of being, deeper ways of being, radical—to the core—ways of being….and being what?….Being fully integrated individuals, whose humanity contextualizes their spirituality.Swami Padmanabha is an author, monk, and spiritual mentor who has just published his second book, called "Radical Personalism: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion." The format of the podcast is not an interview as much as spontaneous exploration in dialogue, encouraging a multi-trait interdisciplinary method of approaching how we understand something—of looking at it from different angles and perspectives. We don’t expect to agree on everything with each person, but we do expect to use our differences as a way to approach each other, rather than an excuse for further distancing. The time has come to let down the draw bridges and learn how to deeply relate with ourselves, each other, and the world in meaningful ways. This experience of mutual enlightenment can be also called “Collective Introspection.” This joint reflection is probably “the highest form of worship and communion. Restricted to the individual, this power of reflection remains limited and rudimentary. It is only in connection to kindred spirits that we can discover our own depth and wholeness. In other words, the deepest form of reflection can be developed only in communion with others. It is essentially a social phenomenon.” (excerpt from Radical Personalism: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion”). The Free Radical Podcast attempts to invoke sacred space and sacred conversation through deep expressive exchanges with like-minded souls with whom we share one same purpose in mind and heart, that purpose being to align our lives with the loving will of the Sweet Absolute, and to compassionately point to those things that need to be addressed for that miracle to continue happening in each of us. Please join the conversation. It won’t be the same without you.

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