The Spiritual Ninja Podcast

Jonathan Hewitt
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

Heart-to-heart conversations with people who blend deep inner work with meaningful outer impact. Exploring how spiritual depth, clarity, calm, and purpose show up in real life.

  1. 3d ago

    How Taoism Helps You Untie the Knots of Stress, Anxiety & Overthinking | Dr. Neale Lundgren

    What if the way out of stress, anxiety, and overthinking isn't to fight them—but to soften? In this episode of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt continues his conversation with Dr. Neale Lundgren about the Tao Te Ching, exploring Chapter 56 and its surprisingly practical approach to finding greater peace and awareness. The passage offers a simple sequence: Close your mouth.Block the door.Quiet your senses.Blunt the sharpness.Untie the tangles.Soften the brightness.Be one with the dust.Enter the primal oneness. Dr. Lundgren explains how these words can become a practice for working with the tangled thoughts, emotions, fears, and tensions we carry within ourselves. Rather than trying to force our minds to become quiet, the practice invites us to soften, breathe, observe, and create the conditions for the knots to loosen naturally. Jonathan and Dr. Lundgren explore: Why trying to control our thoughts can make them louderHow breathing and awareness can quiet the “monkey mind”What it means to “untie the tangles” within usHow stress and emotional tension can become inner knotsThe difference between visualizing change and “actualizing” itWhy we don't need to judge our meditation practiceHow nature can become a teacher of presence and harmonyWhat the Tao Te Ching means by entering the “primal oneness”How becoming more harmonious within ourselves changes our relationships with othersA simple practice you can try throughout the weekOne of the central ideas of this conversation is beautifully simple: We don't have to force ourselves into the Tao. We can soften enough to notice what is already there. At the end of the episode, Jonathan and Dr. Lundgren leave listeners with a practice: notice the knots within you, bring gentle awareness to them, and allow them to soften without judgment. This is part of Season 2 of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, exploring sacred texts, timeless wisdom, consciousness, spirituality, and practical ways to bring these teachings into modern life. Explore More Spiritual Ninja Podcast:https://spiritualninjapodcast.com/ Life Ki-do:https://lifekido.com/ #TaoTeChing #Taoism #SpiritualNinjaPodcast #Stress #Anxiety #Overthinking #InnerPeace #Spirituality #Meditation #Consciousness #PersonalGrowth #Tao #Mindfulness

  2. Sep 3

    How Taoist Meditation Can Change Your Life | Dr. Neale Lundgren

    What can the Tao Te Ching teach us about living with greater peace, harmony, and authenticity?In the first episode of Season 2 of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt sits down with Dr. Neale Lundgren to explore the wisdom of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching, Qigong, nature, and the practice of living in harmony with life.Dr. Lundgren brings decades of experience with spiritual traditions, including Benedictine monasticism, psychology, world religions, and Qigong. Together, Jonathan and Neale explore Chapter 2 of the Tao Te Ching and what its ancient wisdom can reveal about duality, balance, nature, relationships, and our everyday lives.Rather than simply discussing spiritual ideas, this conversation asks a practical question:How do we actually live this wisdom?In this episode, you'll discover:• What the Tao really means and why it is difficult to define• The deeper wisdom of Chapter 2 of the Tao Te Ching• The difference between oppositional duality and harmonious duality• Why nature can teach us how to live more authentically• How Qigong connects the body, breath, and mind• Why being present to the five senses can become a spiritual practice• A simple five-senses practice you can try in nature• How observation without judgment can calm the mind• Why we often become disconnected from our natural state• How Taoist principles can transform our relationships• Why inner harmony comes before creating harmony with others• How to respond to anger and emotional turbulence without becoming reactive• What "wu wei" and non-action can teach us about responding to life• Why spiritual practice matters more than simply understanding spiritual ideasDr. Neale also shares a simple practice based on the five senses: soft sight, listening, smell, touch, and taste, followed by opening awareness to all five together while walking in nature.The goal isn't to escape everyday life. It's to become more present within it.As Jonathan and Neale explore, the Tao points toward a way of living that is natural, authentic, balanced, and connected to the flow of life.This episode begins Spiritual Ninja Podcast Season 2, where each guest explores important teachings and passages from sacred texts and shares how they can help us live from our deepest selves in modern life.Try the practice from this episode and see what you notice.Subscribe to the Spiritual Ninja Podcast for conversations about spirituality, consciousness, meditation, sacred texts, personal growth, purpose, and learning to live with greater presence, love, and connection.Connect with Dr. Neale Lundgrenhttps://nealelundgren.com/Connect with Jonathan and Life Ki-doLearn more about Life Ki-do and Jonathan's work:https://lifekido.com/Explore the Spiritual Ninja Podcasthttps://spiritualninjapodcast.com/#TaoTeChing #Taoism #Qigong #SpiritualAwakening #Meditation #InnerPeace #SpiritualGrowth #Mindfulness #TaoistWisdom #SpiritualNinjaPodcast

  3. Sep 1

    What We Learned in Season 1 | Spiritual Ninja Podcast Season 2

    What happens when you sit down with people from different spiritual traditions and ask how their beliefs actually shape the way they live?After an incredible first season of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt reflects on the conversations and personal stories that stayed with him most. While each guest came from a different background, many of their experiences pointed toward the same deeper qualities: presence, courage, kindness, service, connection, and learning to live from something deeper within ourselves.Jonathan shares some of the biggest insights he took away from these conversations and what they revealed about the spiritual journey.One idea kept coming back: there may be many paths, but they can lead us toward the same deeper source of life, love, and connection.Now, Season 2 takes that exploration in a new direction.Each guest will choose three meaningful lessons or passages from a sacred text that have personally shaped their lives. They'll share what the passage means to them, how it influenced their journey, and how its wisdom can be applied to life today.The traditions may be different, but the question is universal:How can ancient wisdom help us live more fully today?Season 2 begins with Dr. Neil Lundgren.Join us for more conversations about spirituality, sacred texts, consciousness, personal growth, purpose, courage, love, and learning how to navigate both our inner world and everyday life.Explore MoreLearn more about the Spiritual Ninja Podcast:https://spiritualninjapodcast.com/Learn more about Jonathan and Life Ki-do:https://lifekido.com/Subscribe to the Spiritual Ninja Podcast for more conversations about spirituality, awakening, personal growth, meditation, purpose, and living with greater peace, connection, and authenticity.#SpiritualNinjaPodcast #SpiritualAwakening #Spirituality #SpiritualGrowth #SacredTexts #Season2 #PersonalGrowth #Consciousness #InnerPeace #Purpose

  4. Aug 12

    Flying to God: An F-16 Pilot's Journey of Faith, Purpose & Calling | Tom Cedel

    In this episode of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt sits down with Tom Cedel, retired Air Force F-16 pilot, university president, educator, scientist, and lifelong student of faith, to explore one of life's biggest questions: What are we here to do? Tom's remarkable journey takes him from flying F-16s and serving in the military to earning a PhD, leading a university, mentoring future leaders, and navigating cancer. Through all of it, one idea kept returning: vocation is not about what you get. It's about who you serve. Together, Jonathan and Tom explore: • What it really means to find your calling• Why your purpose may be bigger than your career• How faith can provide a foundation during uncertainty• Why disappointment and unexpected detours may be part of your path• The connection between vocation, service, and community• How to listen to your heart instead of living entirely from your head• Why character and competence must grow together• The meaning of an "upright heart and skillful hands"• How relationships can help us stay grounded through difficult seasons• What cancer taught Tom about how he wants to live• Why life may be less about "me" and more about "us"• How kindness, service, and community can become a spiritual practice Tom also shares a powerful perspective on purpose: "It's not about me. It's about community. It's about us." This is a deeply human conversation about faith, purpose, service, leadership, resilience, and learning to trust the path even when life doesn't unfold the way we expected. If you've ever wondered What am I supposed to do with my life?, How do I find my calling?, or What is my purpose?, this conversation offers a grounded and deeply personal perspective. Connect with Tom Cedel 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tom-cedel-b9b5a87/ Explore Spiritual Ninja 🔗 https://spiritualninjapodcast.com/ Subscribe for more conversations about spirituality, personal growth, purpose, consciousness, leadership, and learning how to live with greater clarity, connection, and freedom. #PurposeOfLife #FindingYourCalling #SpiritualGrowth #Faith #LifePurpose #SpiritualNinja #PersonalGrowth #Vocation #Leadership

  5. Aug 7

    Why Your Pain Doesn't Define You | Shanti Kelley on Spiritual Psychology

    What if your greatest struggles weren't meant to break you... but to awaken you? In this deeply meaningful conversation, Jonathan Hewitt sits down with Shanti Kelley, spiritual psychology professor, yoga therapist, and longtime student of Zen, Yoga Nidra, and non-dual philosophy, to explore one of life's biggest questions. How do we truly heal? Rather than trying to fix ourselves, Shanti shares why healing begins when we stop identifying with our pain and start recognizing the wholeness that has always been within us. Together they explore how mindfulness, loving awareness, movement, breath, and spiritual practice can help transform life's hardest experiences into wisdom, compassion, and purpose. • Why your pain does not define who you are • The foundation of Spiritual Psychology • How judgment keeps us stuck • Why healing is about remembering your wholeness • The connection between Yoga Nidra, mindfulness, and emotional healing • How our life experiences become wisdom instead of suffering • Learning to trust your intuition and inner guidance • Why loving awareness transforms everything Whether you're beginning your spiritual journey or have spent years exploring personal growth, this conversation offers practical wisdom for living with greater peace, courage, and authenticity. Connect with Shanti Kelley 🌿 Websitehttps://www.shantiyogapractice.com/ 📸 Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/shantiyogapractice/ Explore more Spiritual Ninja 🌎 Websitehttps://spiritualninjapodcast.com/ If this conversation inspired you, subscribe for more discussions on spirituality, mindfulness, personal growth, leadership, martial arts, and living with greater purpose. #SpiritualPsychology #ShantiKelley #SpiritualGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #Mindfulness #YogaNidra #Healing #NonDuality #SelfAwareness #JonathanHewitt #SpiritualNinjaPodcast

  6. Jul 27

    Why Meditation Alone Isn't Enough for Spiritual Awakening | Andrew Keaveney

    Is meditation enough to heal emotional pain and awaken spiritually? Or is there something deeper?In this episode of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt sits down with meditation teacher Andrew Keaveney to explore the deeper purpose of meditation, breathwork, spiritual practice, and returning home to yourself.Andrew shares how a lifelong search for truth led him through Buddhism, contemplative traditions, and decades of meditation practice. Together, they discuss why spiritual growth is not about collecting experiences or chasing enlightenment, but learning to let go and reconnect with the peace that already exists within us.They also explore how conscious breathing can calm the nervous system, why meditation should become natural rather than forced, and how authentic teachers guide us back to our own inner wisdom instead of creating dependence.In this episode:• Why meditation alone may not be enough• The difference between spiritual knowledge and direct experience• Breath as a doorway to calm, awareness, and presence• Why chasing enlightenment can become another obstacle• Returning home to yourself instead of searching outside• The role of the body, breath, and mind in meditation• Finding authentic spiritual teachers and trusting your intuition• How service naturally grows from spiritual practice• Why true spirituality becomes simple, grounded, and practicalWhether you're beginning meditation or have practiced for years, this conversation offers practical wisdom for finding greater peace, authenticity, and presence in everyday life.Learn more about Andrew:https://srisrischoolofyoga.org/na/amo-team/andrew-keaveney/https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/teacher/andrew-keaveney/Explore more conversations on spirituality, meditation, healing, and conscious living:https://spiritualninjapodcast.com#Meditation #SpiritualAwakening #Breathwork #Mindfulness #Buddhism #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #ConsciousLiving #SpiritualNinjaPodcast

  7. Jul 21

    Can Meditation Heal Emotional Wounds? | Justin Michelson

    Can meditation help us heal emotionally, or does true healing require something more?In this episode of The Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Justin Michelson about the connection between meditation, Buddhism, emotional healing, nature, and spiritual growth.Justin shares how a lifelong connection with nature led him toward meditation and Buddhist practice, and how decades of spiritual exploration eventually revealed something important: spiritual awakening and emotional healing are deeply connected.Together, Jonathan and Justin explore what happens when we stop treating our wounds as something to overcome and begin meeting them with curiosity, compassion, and awareness. They discuss self-compassion, childhood conditioning, somatic healing, authentic living, and why meditation alone may not address every part of our inner experience.The conversation also explores how nature can become a spiritual teacher, why difficult emotions can carry wisdom, and how integrating psychological healing with spiritual practice can help us become more fully ourselves.In this episode:• Meditation, Buddhism, and the path to spiritual growth• Why meditation alone may not heal emotional wounds• Bringing spirituality and psychological healing together• Self-compassion and working with difficult emotions• How childhood experiences shape our inner world• Somatic healing and listening to the body• Nature as a teacher and spiritual practice• Moving beyond spiritual bypassing• Living authentically instead of seeking approval• Finding wholeness by embracing every part of yourselfJustin Michelson is the author of Awakened Living: A Practical Guide to the Spiritual Life, which explores how spiritual practice and personal healing can come together as one integrated path.The Spiritual Ninja Podcast explores awakening, healing, consciousness, meditation, personal growth, and the practices that help us live with greater peace, purpose, authenticity, and connection.Learn more about Justin Michelson:https://www.justinmichelsondharma.com/More about Jonathan Hewitt, Life Ki-do, and Spiritual Ninja:https://lifekido.com/https://spiritualninjapodcast.com/#SpiritualAwakening#Meditation#EmotionalHealing#SpiritualHealing#Buddhism#SelfCompassion#Mindfulness#PersonalGrowth#SomaticHealing#AuthenticLiving#SpiritualNinjaPodcast#JustinMichelson

  8. Jul 14

    What True Spirituality Looks Like Beyond Religion | Shabana Serang

    In this heartfelt Spiritual Ninja Podcast episode, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Shabana Serang, known as The Mercy Queen, about growing up with a father who taught her that spirituality begins with love, mercy, and intention rather than judgment or labels.Shabana shares how conversations with her father shaped her understanding of faith, compassion, and human connection from an early age. She reflects on arriving at UC Berkeley, the pressure to fit into religious identities, and the realization that seeking acceptance from others led her away from her authentic self. Her journey is an honest reminder that true spirituality is not about becoming someone else, but returning to who you have always been.Together, Jonathan and Shabana explore forgiveness, discernment, mental health, trauma, purpose, and the balance between strength and compassion. They discuss how intention shapes our lives, why love should unite rather than divide us, and how healing begins by extending mercy not only to others, but also to ourselves.This is a soul-to-soul conversation about spiritual identity, authenticity, resilience, emotional healing, and the courage to live from the deepest truth within yourself.In this episode:Growing up with stories of Sufi saints and prophetic wisdomHow intention shapes a meaningful spiritual lifeFinding authenticity instead of seeking approvalFaith, identity, and belonging at UC BerkeleyThe balance between forgiveness and healthy boundariesMental health, depression, and learning to ask for helpThe influence of both parents on strength and compassionReligion, spirituality, and finding unity beyond labelsWhy mercy begins with yourself before it can be shared with othersLiving with purpose instead of external validationThe Spiritual Ninja Podcast is about awakening, healing, consciousness, courage, love, wisdom, and the practices that help us live with more peace, purpose, and connection.More about Shabana Serang (The Mercy Queen):YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMercyQueen/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shabanamarkar/Mercy Mindset: https://mercymindset.com/about/Miracles 4 Mercy: https://miracles4mercy.com/Mercy Mediterranean: https://mercymediterranean.com/Luna’s Halal Taqueria: https://www.lunashalaltaqueria.com/More about Jonathan, Life Ki-do, and Spiritual Ninja:https://lifekido.com/family-life-skills/https://spiritualninjapodcast.com/#SpiritualNinjaPodcast#ShabanaSerang#TheMercyQueen#SpiritualJourney#SpiritualIdentity#Authenticity#MentalHealth#EmotionalHealing#Faith#PersonalGrowth#Forgiveness#SelfDiscovery#ConsciousLiving#IntentionalLiving

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5
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3 Ratings

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Heart-to-heart conversations with people who blend deep inner work with meaningful outer impact. Exploring how spiritual depth, clarity, calm, and purpose show up in real life.

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