The Other Side of Things

Michael Brant DeMaria, Ph.D.

No one knows everything, but everyone knows something no one else knows. We live in an age of extremes, where certainty is prized and nuance is often lost. Yet life happens mostly in the in-between—in the twilight places where opposites find relationship, where identities soften, difference is honored and where deeper truths emerge organically. On The Other Side of Things is an exploration of these liminal realms. Drawing from psychology, mythology, spirituality, creativity, nature, and lived experience, Michael invites listeners into The Way of Twilight: a path that neither rejects mystery nor abandons reason, but allows both to illuminate one another. Together we explore the thresholds between worlds, perspectives, and ways of knowing, seeking a form of wisdom spacious enough to hold contradiction, complexity, and wonder - particularly on difficult topics like death, madness and intimacy. This is a podcast for curious souls who sense that reality is always larger than our explanations of it—and that the deepest insights are often found on the other side of what we think we know.

  1. Jul 10

    The Other Side of Things (E16) Music for People with Mary Knysh

    00:00 Opening Perspective00:37 Meet Mary Knysh03:33 What Is Music for People06:32 Presence Over Performance10:52 40th Anniversary of Music for People14:40 Music Came Before Language18:46 Sound as the Language of the Soul24:33 Culture vs Nature and Music32:06 Awe and Neuroplasticity36:55 Mary's Listening Tree Framework42:57 Heart Note and Coherence48:40 Invitation to Join Art of Improvisation (AOI)52:34 Healing Through Improvisation59:18 David Darlings Legacy and Where to Find Us Dr. Michael DeMaria welcomes internationally recognized music educator and facilitator Mary Knysh for a heartfelt conversation about Music for People, improvisation, deep listening, creativity, and reconnecting with music as an innate part of being human. Mary shares how her journey with David Darling’s work led to decades of teaching and creating safe, welcoming spaces where anyone—musician or not—can discover their sound. This episode honors the 40th anniversary of Music for People and explores David Darling’s legacy which has deeply impacted Michael and Mary's life, the power of musical play, sound as communication, community-building, neuroplasticity, and the upcoming week long Art of Improvisation (AOI) gathering at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, July 26–31, 2026. More about Mary: Mary E. Knysh is an internationally recognized music educator, author, performer, and facilitator who has spent more than three decades helping people discover that music is not just something we do—it is part of who we are. As Director of the Musicianship and Leadership Program for Music for People and founder of Rhythmic Connections, Mary has inspired educators, musicians, healthcare professionals, and community leaders around the world through the transformative power of improvisation, rhythm, and creative play. An Orff Schulwerk clinician, professional musician, recording artist, and international teaching artist, Mary presents workshops, conference sessions, and facilitator trainings throughout the United States, Europe, and beyond. She is the recipient of the 2022 New Jersey Governor's Award for Excellence in Arts Education and is the author of numerous publications, including Drum Circles 101. Whether working with preschool children, classroom teachers, professional musicians, or people who have never considered themselves "musical," Mary's passion is creating welcoming spaces where every person can experience the joy of making music, building community, and discovering their own creative voice. Learn more about Mary's work: https://music4wellness.comLearn more about Music for People: https://www.musicforpeople.org If this conversation resonates, please like, subscribe, share, and leave a comment about what improvisation means to you. To find out more about Michael's work: https://michaeldemaria.com/

  2. Apr 20

    The Other Side of Things (E15) Rolfing with Sharalee Hoelscher #healing #rolfing #ontogenesis

    00:00 Welcome to the Show00:42 Meet Sharalee Hoelscher02:58 Michael’s Rolfing Journey04:03 What Rolfing Really Is08:32 Gravity as Therapist12:38 Posture Shapes Psyche15:29 Gliding and the Midline22:16 Connective Tissue Explained27:11 Feeling Fascia in Motion29:55 Embryology and Forming Life34:28 Bringing It Back to Practice34:58 Gravity Heals Through Movement35:36 Embryology Movement Creates Form38:11  Unfolding and Unfurling Force Fields43:07 Adult Body Homeostasis And Posture45:27 Walking Experiments With Gravity48:22 Beyond The Machine Model52:58 Awareness Styles And Learning57:24 Movement Paths And Feldenkrais01:03:22 Final Thanks I'm thrilled to have Sharalee on the show today. I've went through a Rolfing series with her and was fortunate to work with her prior to her retiring this year.  Her depth of knowledge and commitment to the true origins of Ida Rolf's work truly impressed me and I have continued to reap benefits from my work with her.   A little more about this episode: In this episode, Dr. Michael DeMaria welcomes retired Rolfer and craniosacral therapist Sharalee Hoelscher for a profound exploration of Rolfing’s deeper mystery — how movement shapes the self. Together they trace the lineage of Ida Rolf’s work, connecting gravity, fascia, and structural integration to emotional and spiritual transformation. Sharalee shares insights from decades of practice, explaining how connective tissue acts as a continuous inner skin that organizes the body’s parts, and how gravity itself becomes the therapist when the body finds balance around its midline. They discuss embryology, ontogenesis, and Erich Blechschmidt’s revolutionary idea that movement precedes structure, revealing how this principle continues throughout life as we evolve through new gestures and forms. Listeners will discover how posture shapes psyche, how trauma transforms through alignment, and how practices like Feldenkrais, yoga, Pilates, dance, and Rolf Movement help sustain the body’s living intelligence. Keywords: Rolfing, Structural Integration, Fascia, Gravity as Therapist, Embryology, Movement Therapy, Somatic Healing, Trauma Transformation, Feldenkrais, Craniosacral Therapy, Ida Rolf, Body Alignment, Ontogenesis, Somatic Awareness, Sharalee Hoelscher, Michael DeMaria Sharalee's Listing on Rolf.org: https://mms.rolf.org/members/directory/ROLF_profile.php?mid=1245928883 Michael's website: https://michaeldemaria.com/

  3. Mar 8

    The Other Side of Things (E14) Sacred 7 with Andrew Ecker #drumming #healing #shamanichealing

    0:00 Welcome to the Show00:36 Meet Andrew Ecker02:03 Ancestry and Roots03:49 Life Assignment and Loss04:58 Gritty Healing Work06:46 Host Tribute and Sacred Seven09:05 Opening Prayer13:19 Relational Spirituality Defined14:00 From Religion to Red Road18:22 Trauma Addiction and Liberation27:15 Energy and Emotional Density28:56 Drumming in Memory Care33:00 Displacement and Manifestation35:29 Trauma Informed Sound Medicine39:06 Spirituality Over Substances39:35 Turning Pain Into Practice40:40 Healthcare Pushback And Support42:15 Scaling Drum Circle Impact43:27 Energy Work With Clinicians45:38 Gong Moment Breakthrough47:31 Why Research Lags50:34 Funding A Drumming Study51:35 Connection Replaces Addiction53:30 March Retreat Details54:35 Congo Square And Inclusion57:22 Transformation Story And Invite01:00:23 Sacred Seven And Grounding01:01:49 Blessing And Closing Prayer The Other Side of Things Podcast A Soulversation with Andrew EckerRecovery • Sacred 7 • Drumming Sounds • Rhythm as Medicine • Living a Prayed Life In this deeply personal and powerful conversation, I sit down with healer, recovery guide, and founder of Drumming Sounds, Andrew Ecker. Andrew shares his journey through addiction and recovery, revealing the deeper spiritual hunger beneath substance use and the sacred discipline that reshaped his life. We explore sobriety not as abstinence alone, but as initiation — as an ordeal that strips away illusion and invites us into prayer, service, and presence. We also dive into Andrew’s Sacred 7 practice, a relational prayer rooted in the seven directions, and how rhythm and intentional drumming restore connection to ancestors, land, body, and spirit. Andrew introduces his ancestry and lived experience with generational incarceration, substance use disorder, and family loss, and describes bringing drumming into memory care, psychiatric units, prisons, and treatment centers as an evidence-based, trauma-informed practice that emphasizes permission, empathy, and connection. The conversation focuses on “relational spirituality,” learning intimacy and boundaries with mental health experiences, and using drumming, breathwork, guided imagery, and sound medicine to displace “energies of sickness” and support healing. Andrew calls for more research funding for group drumming, shares outcomes from clinical and bereavement contexts, and promotes a March 13–16 retreat-style drumming training in Scottsdale plus his book Sacred Seven and coaching. Andrew closes our conversation with a spoken prayer — a reminder that healing is not something we do alone, but something we remember together. If this conversation moves you, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who may need to hear it. Andrew's Resources and Links: Drumming Soundshttps://drummingsounds.com Sacred 7 Community & Traininghttps://thesacredseven.com/ Andrew’s Book – The Sacred 7: A Path to Finding the Wholeness of Self-Identityhttps://www.amazon.com/Sacred-path-finding-wholeness-self-identity/dp/1090133642?ref_=ast_author_dp The Sacred 7 explores relational spirituality, identity, and healing rooted in earth-based traditions and community practice. Michael's resources and links:  Official Websitehttps://michaelbrantdemaria.com Bookshttps://michaeldemaria.com/books/ Music & Albumshttps://michaelbrantdemaria.com/music Filmshttps://michaeldemaria.com/ontos-films/ YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@MichaelBrantDeMaria

  4. 09/14/2025

    The Other Side of Things (E13) Wild Yoga with Rebecca Wildbear

    00:00 Introduction to The Other Side of Things00:40 Welcoming the Guest: Rebecca Wild Bear01:31 Rebecca's Background and Work03:27 The Importance of Wilderness Therapy06:29 Challenges of Modern Culture and Soul Work11:56 Writing and Living Wild Yoga16:45 Personal Stories and Vulnerabilities30:03 The Concept of Wild Yoga35:19 Embracing Vulnerability35:52 The Never-Ending Journey of Healing37:13 Love Warrior vs. Heart Warrior38:02 The Power of Love and Ferocity44:07 Feral Female Ferocity50:04 The Role of Anger and Boundaries01:02:32 The Journey of Braveheart01:05:18 Final Thoughts and Contact Information ✨ The Other Side of Things Podcast | Guest: Rebecca Wildbear ✨ In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend of over a decade, Rebecca Wildbear—author of Wild Yoga: A Practice of Initiation, Veneration, and Advocacy for the Earth. It was such a joy to finally sit down and reconnect with her for this conversation. Rebecca is a nature-based soul guide, vision fast guide with Animas Valley Institute, and former wilderness therapy facilitator with Open Sky. Her life’s work is devoted to helping people listen deeply to the mysteries of the Earth, their dreams, and their souls. Together we explore how Rebecca’s approach to wild yoga—a blend of yoga, deep imagination, and nature connection—offers a paradigm shift in how we understand human development, especially through the lens of nature-based soul initiation. Drawing on our shared apprenticeship with Bill Plotkin and the Animas Valley Institute, we discuss: 🌿 How wild yoga is different from traditional yoga🌿 The role of wilderness in soul initiation and human maturation🌿 Alternative ways of looking at what is often called “mental illness,” addiction, or psychosis🌿 How nature can guide healing, wholeness, and purpose🌿 Why adults who never felt at home in mainstream culture may still find their soul initiation later in life Rebecca’s book Wild Yoga is both a practice and an invitation—a call to live in deeper conversation with the Earth and with the soul’s longing. 🔗 Learn more about Rebecca Wildbear and her work: https://www.rebeccawildbear.com📖 Get Wild Yoga: https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Yoga-Practice-Initiation-Veneration/dp/160868797X If you enjoy this conversation, please like, share, and subscribe for more soulful dialogues on The Other Side of Things. Michael's website:  www.michaeldemaria.com

  5. 07/24/2025

    The Other Side of Things (E12) Jung and Shamanism with C. Michael Smith, Ph.D.

    00:00 Introduction01:15 Who is C. Michael Smith?04:59 What is the Dialogic Method for Jung and Shamanism in Michael's work.08:23 The ancient history behind understanding the world of Spirit09:00 Jung's description of an archetypal possession and the need for exorcism12:39 How Michael was drawn to this deep work of Jung and Shamanism 14:02 Jung's Memories, Dreams and Reflections and Mircea Eliade's work on Shamanism15:14 Michael's person connection to the Spirit World/Collective Unconscious16:28 Michael's encounter with the Numinous 17:04 Michael's Jungian Analyst told him he needed to find a shamanic teacher18:18 His vision quest and finding his Daemon/Guardian Spirit and Guide20:30 His first work with serious mental illness/archetypal possession21:43 Shamanism as an archaic Depth Psychology 22:30 Jung, "If I knew about Shamanism I wouldn't have spent so much time with alchemy."25:30 Core Analysis and Psycho Shamanism in Michael's work.26:12 The Psyche is a porous open system - connected to all reality which is a blessing and curse.27:23 How to stay curious, compassionate, and open to these psychic numinous realities/entities.28:30 The power of relationship, music, presence, symbol, chant, colorful ceremony in this work.30:06 Michael's work with exorcism with severe cases, which he uses very rarely.33:45 When Michael works with Severe Mental Illness uses greater family and psychiatric support.35:00 Example of someone who was archetypally possessed and how he did an exorcism.40:17 How do we help people shamanically swim in these waters instead of psychotically drowning.41:30 "I'm in the business of working with the impossible, what other people say can't be healed."42:30 One particularly powerful case of healing deep trauma through multiple de-possessions. 43:36 Dealing with deep ancestral trauma inter-generationally.  45:16 In Internal Family Systems you can have a Legacy Burden and Unattached Burden.  47:09 Michael's take on Post-Modern Shamanism vs. Traditional Shamanism.50:13 Michael's take on being a reconstructive Post-Modernist.51:48 Michael's powerful use of shamanic work with a cancer patient.56:19 Consciousness is fundamental as a shift from our tradition of materialistic reductionism.58:52 Post-modern shamanism is updating itself with the newest findings in neuroscience and physics.1:01:00 An N of 1 matters.1:02:00 Advaita Vedanta and letting go of any attachment to any objects.1:03:00 Our Avatar Bodies...1:04:27 Eternity is in love with the productions of time.1:06:00 Michael's sharing of Jung's story of the woman who lived on the moon and how he see's his own work with the defenses of the psyche. 1:09:39 A shamanic correction to Jung's work - the extra step of ceremony - soul retrieval - inviting in what was giving up - not just extraction/de-possession/exorcism, but also welcoming back the essence of what was displaced. 1:11:00 Your defense system is like a psychic immune system - those young parts of us. 1:13:00 The being of the shamanic healer must live and respond from your open center. 1:14:30 The center ultimately IS the heart. 1:17:00 Jung was also a phenomenologist - and his sense of the divine was numinous.1:20:00 The most powerful place to stand and for protection and healing is the heart... In this profound episode, I sit down with clinical psychologist, medical anthropologist, and author C. Michael Smith, a world-renowned expert in Jungian psychology and shamanic healing. Together, we explore the fertile intersection of Jung’s depth psychology and indigenous shamanic traditions — both of which view healing as a soul-centered, symbolic, and relational process. We dive into:✨ How Jung's concept of the wounded healer echoes the shamanic initiation✨ The parallels between soul retrieval and Jungian individuation✨ The role of altered states, dreams, and active imagination in accessing inner wisdom✨ The sacred importance of ritual, symbol, and myth in both systems✨ How trauma, possession, and spiritual crisis are addressed in traditional vs. modern cultures✨ And why reconnecting with the soul — personally and culturally — is more vital than ever C. Michael Smith brings a rare integration of scholarship and lived experience. His seminal book Jung and Shamanism in Dialogue has influenced therapists, healers, and seekers worldwide. This is a rich, timely conversation for anyone called to the deeper healing path, whether through psychotherapy, ceremony, or inner exploration. Michael's book on Jung and Shamanism: https://www.amazon.com/Jung-Shamanism-Dialogue-Retrieving-Sacred-ebook/dp/B00I4GL9OI Michael's website:https://crowsnestshamanism.com/blog/Michael DeMaria's website: https://michaeldemaria.com/ #JungAndShamanism #CMichaelSmith #TheOtherSideOfThings #SoulHealing #WoundedHealer #DepthPsychology #ShamanicHealing

  6. 03/26/2025

    The Other Side of Things (E11) Bipolar Awakenings with Sean Blackwell

    00:37 Introduction01:39 Who is Sean Blackwell?03:59 Our mutual connection to Holotropic Breathwork.05:32 Sean's Bipolar Episode and Hospitalization.07:22 Working with his partner's nieces psychotic episodes.07:57 Dr. John Weir Perry and Dr. Loren Moser's influence on Sean.09:38 Sean has done 60-70 retreat with people around the world.13:16 The overlap of spirituality and psychosis in Sean's work.13:40 Two camps: Peer Support vs. Transpersonal psychology16:31 Grof's the Stormy Search for the Self17:21 The 13 basic delusions people experience17:46 When flip into paranoia no healing can happen!18:35 The blissful psychosis vs. the Paranoid psychosis21:35 Trauma and psychosis22:06. Healing the chakra's somatically23:08 What's truly healing is the healing field!24:35 Sean's discovery of surrogate breathwork.32:34 Dealing with intense shadow energies - even what feels like feels demonic36:34 Sean's discovery of distance healing through his work with Family Constellation Therapy43:21 Sean's current understanding of The Healing Field.50:27 Tribal Shamanism, New Age Shamanism vs Quantum Shamanism56:34 A name for every name in the river, but not the river itself.59:23 Developing an Integral Consciousness1:01:23 Accessing the quantum dimension.1:02:31 The most powerful protection.1:07:36 Sean's understanding of soul.1:11:00 Sean's frustration with how little people understand the work he does.1:16:00 How to find Sean's work. Since 2007 Sean Blackwell has been researching and teaching about the spiritual dimension and healing potential of bipolar disorder through his YouTube channel, bipolarORwakingUP. His videos graphically illustrate subjects such as spiritual emergency, transpersonal psychology, and the evolution of consciousness, always demonstrating how these themes relate to transcending the bipolar condition. His book, “Am I Bipolar or Waking Up?”, published in 2011, describes his own bipolar awakening, subsequent hospitalization, and complete recovery, which happened in 1996.  In 2013, Sean started The Bipolar Awakenings Healing Retreat, a pioneering program for people who wanted to heal from their so-called incurable condition. In September of 2016, Sean received his certification as a Holotropic Breathwork facilitator with Grof Transpersonal Training, the official training program of Dr. Stanislav Grof. This education has been fundamental to the development of the healing retreat process, as a modified form of Holotropic Breathwork, Bipolar Breathwork, provides the basis for the bioenergetic healing process which takes place during retreats. Based on his experience facilitating private retreats, Sean developed two new online healing modalities. In 2020, he launched Distance Surrogate Breathwork and Conscious Emotional Clearing, as two very affordable options that could help people begin to heal their bipolar conditions safely, within the comfort of their own home. Sean's website and link to his new book: https://www.bipolarawakenings.com/Michael's Website: https://michaeldemaria.com/Michael's Links: https://michaeldemaria.com/michaels-links/

  7. 02/15/2025

    The Other Side of Things (E10) The Aquarian Shaman with Linda Star Wolf #breathwork #healing #shaman

    00:00 Introduction01:04 Who is Linda Star Wolf, Ph.D.03:35 Star Wolf gives us a beautiful opening blessing06:57 History of Michael and Star's relationship11:50 The Spiral Path - the transformational process that requires change!15:30 The origin of the word Shaman and it's true meaning as Shamaning...19:16 Trusting when things need to end...20:42 We all need the right amount of heartbreak.23:00 My grandmothers who have helped me.26:13 Shamanism and Breakdown/Breakthroughs30:00 Growing up in the woods and forest as an only child.32:57 Growing up highly sensitive.35:48 Breathwork, breakdowns and breakthroughs and precautions42:00 Shadow work, shamanic deaths and rebirths45:36 The blessings of soul friends - who help us embrace our weirdness - that is our uniqueness!48:14 Weird originally meant, 'having a foot in both worlds.'50:30 Authenticity and embracing the shadow55:13 The collective shadow and the pain of being demonized and shamed can drive you crazy58:00 Let's be clear we LIVE on a Shamanic Planet - we've already had huge extinction events!1:00:00 This is an Earth School1:05:00 The AI I'm interested in is Authentic Intelligence - NOT artificial intelligence.1:10:00 Here to get a doctorate degree in the Universe - according to grandmother Twyla. I’m truly honored to welcome a dear friend and longtime collaborator to the show today—Dr. Linda Star Wolf. Star Wolf and I have shared a deep connection for decades, working together on projects rooted in transformation, healing, and the sacred path of shamanic wisdom. As a shamanic breathwork facilitator myself, I’ve been profoundly influenced by her teachings and the visionary work she has brought to the world. Today, we’ll be diving into her latest book, The Aquarian Shaman, exploring the evolution of shamanic consciousness in these changing times. From breathwork to shadow work, the endless spiral path of the soul and the wisdom of our teachers and elders, we’ll journey into what it means to truly follow our hearts and the path of our souls! Get comfortable, take a deep breath, and join us on this soul-centered conversation with the incredible Linda Star Wolf. Linda Star Wolf, Ph.D., has been a shamanic visionary teacher and guide to thousands of people over the last four decades. Star Wolf was a nationally certified alcohol and drug counselor for 30+ years. She studied a variety of breathwork techniques with many teachers. Star Wolf draws much of her wisdom from personal experience of using breath to fortify connection to one’s own life force energy. The author of 13 books, Star Wolf is the creator of Shamanic Breathwork®, the Shamanic Healing Initiatory Process® (S.H.I.P.), the Founder of Venus Rising Association for Transformation (a non-profit organization), and Founding President of Venus Rising University for Shamanic Psychospiritual Studies. Star Wolf is also co-founder of the Shamanic Mystery Tours and guides spiritual seekers to travel as emissaries to sacred shamanic sites worldwide. Dedicating her life to assisting soul seekers to transform and embrace their lives, Star Wolf teaches how to embody the shaman within and step into a life of passionate, soul purpose. Her commitment to sacred activism and visionary leadership led her to create the Shamanic Ministers Global Network and train Shamanic Breathwork Facilitators around the world.  Star Wolf has a deep connection to shamanic earth wisdom teachings originating from Indigenous elders. Twylah Nitsch, beloved Seneca Wolf Clan Grandmother, gave her the spirit name Star Wolf and adopted her as a Spiritual Granddaughter. Website: https://www.shamanicbreathwork.org/Michael's Website:  https://michaeldemaria.com/Order book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Aquarian-Shaman-Walking-Spiral-Transformation/dp/1591435145

  8. 01/15/2025

    The Other Side of Things (Ep 09) - "My Mysterious Son" with Dick Russell

    00:00 Intro01:05 Who is Dick Russell?04:47 What is My Mysterious Son about and why Dick wrote it.06:15 Other ways of looking at Schizophrenia and Otherworldliness .08:44 Michael's soulchosis/spiritual emergency at 18 and how he worked through it.10:55 Dick's first contact with Jung and Hillman12:50 Hillman asks Dick to write his Biography - which turned into 3 large volumes!14:30 Hillman's advice to Dick regarding his son Franklin - "treat him like a regular person"15:15 Relaxing with Franklin, going with the flow and going with it and finding humor!19:46 Who is Malidoma Patrice Some?23:00 Dick received divinations from Malidoma and begins learning about shamanism26:32 Michael's experiences with shamanic and soulcentric practices28:47 The scariest moment of Dick's life with Franklin in Africa32:00 Dick's breakdown/breakthrough with Franklin through a role reversal.34:21 The most powerful protection in the universe - a pure heart!37:16 Shaman's Among Us - book on schizophrenia and shamanism38:54 Dick's current understanding of what he's learned from his journey with Franklin41:54 The power of going through this journey as a family including Franklin's mother Eda.48:57 The importance of the ancestors in this shamanic healing journey.50:10 The slave shackle as part of the healing ritual Dick was asked to do.57:50 Robert Whitaker and Mad in America59:01 Metabolic Therapies for Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Schizoaffective disorders1:01:00 How your devotion and love as a fire for your Mysterious Son touched my heart1:03:30 In The Wound is the Gift1:05:00 It's All About Love! Find out what is true in your heart.1:08:00 Hillman and The Soul's Code1:11:00 How to find out more about Dick's work. Exploring the Borderlands: An Unforgettable Interview with Dick Russell: For as long as I can remember, I've been drawn to the borderland between the personal and transpersonal dimensions of reality. Even before my near-death experience (NDE) at the age of seven, I was a boy who lived between the worlds—where the boundaries between myself, others, nature, and the cosmos ebbed and flowed like the brushstrokes of a Van Gogh painting. Over the past 40 years, I’ve found profound joy in helping those who feel lost between worlds discover a path back—or a way to thrive within that liminal space. My journey has included studying with indigenous healers and teachers, practicing Buddhist meditation under my Zen teacher’s guidance for 45 years, and navigating the heartache of witnessing loved ones struggle with being "lost" between the worlds. When I discovered Dick Russell’s book, 'My Mysterious Son: A Life-Changing Passage Between Schizophrenia and Shamanism', I immediately felt a deep resonance. Little did I know how much I would have in common with Dick, whose journey as a father navigating his son Franklin’s extraordinary life is profoundly moving. Dick’s work goes beyond the personal, connecting to themes of healing, shamanism, and the mysteries of the psyche. As I prepared for this interview, I dove into his incredible body of work, including the monumental three-volume authorized biography of James Hillman, one of the most provocative post-Jungian thinkers of the 20th century. Dick’s connection to Malidoma Somé—someone who has also profoundly influenced my life—adds another rich layer to this dialogue. This is not just an interview; it’s an exploration of mystery, healing, and the courage it takes to live between worlds. Join us for an unforgettable conversation that will leave you inspired and deeply moved. Connect and Join the Conversation:Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more soulful explorations! A bit more about Dick Russell: Dick Russell is the author of sixteen non-fiction books, including a three-volume biography of depth psychologist James Hillman and "My Mysterious Son: A Life-Changing Passage Between Schizophrenia and Shamanism."  Four books co-authored with Jesse Ventura were New York Times best-sellers, and his "Eye of the Whale" in 2001 was name among the Best Books of the Year by three major newspapers.  He was also a recipient of the Chevron Conservation Award for his environmental work. Dick's website:  https://dickrussell.org/My Mysterious Son on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Son-Life-Changing-Schizophrenia-Shamanism/dp/1510729003/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Michael's website:  https://michaeldemaria.com/ #DickRussell #MyMysteriousSon #JamesHillman #SchizophreniaAndShamanism #Shamanism #NDE #VanGogh #Meditation #ZenPractice #IndigenousWisdom #MentalHealth #BetweenTheWorlds #HealingJourney #MysticalExperience #DepthPsychology #MalidomaSome #PodcastInterview #Spirituality #SoulfulConversations #TheOtherSideOfThings

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

No one knows everything, but everyone knows something no one else knows. We live in an age of extremes, where certainty is prized and nuance is often lost. Yet life happens mostly in the in-between—in the twilight places where opposites find relationship, where identities soften, difference is honored and where deeper truths emerge organically. On The Other Side of Things is an exploration of these liminal realms. Drawing from psychology, mythology, spirituality, creativity, nature, and lived experience, Michael invites listeners into The Way of Twilight: a path that neither rejects mystery nor abandons reason, but allows both to illuminate one another. Together we explore the thresholds between worlds, perspectives, and ways of knowing, seeking a form of wisdom spacious enough to hold contradiction, complexity, and wonder - particularly on difficult topics like death, madness and intimacy. This is a podcast for curious souls who sense that reality is always larger than our explanations of it—and that the deepest insights are often found on the other side of what we think we know.