Chris Grosso The Indie Spiritualist

Be Here Now Network

Chris Grosso is a public speaker, writer, musician, recovery coach, and author of several books, including Indie Spiritualist, Everything Mind, Dead Set On Living, and Necessary Death. His work blends raw honesty with deep spiritual insight, offering readers and listeners a down-to-earth approach to healing and growth. Chris has contributed to Revolver Magazine, FANGORIA, and Huffington Post, and has spoken at major events like Wanderlust Festival, Yoga Journal Conference, Kripalu, Sun Valley Wellness Festival, the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, and more. Chris’s passion for helping others extends beyond writing and speaking—he’s also a recovery coach with Make It Mean Something Coaching, a service offered through Action Creates Change LLC. He works with teens and adults navigating mental health struggles, addiction, and life transitions, offering personalized guidance that empowers clients to find meaning in their challenges and reclaim their lives. From leading groups in detox centers and rehabs to youth centers and yoga studios, Chris has spent years on the front lines of healing, helping individuals move beyond suffering and into transformation. His dedication to fostering connection and resilience earned him a place as a member of the Evolutionary Leaders. The Indie Spiritualist podcast brings raw truth and real talk, featuring interviews with musicians, artists, spiritual teachers, skateboarders, and actors. It’s an open invitation to explore life’s messiness and meaning—no pretense, no fluff, just real conversations with real people. Stay connected with Chris Grosso on Instagram and Facebook for more updates, insights, and ragged truth-telling.

  1. May 29

    Ep. 146 – Mystical Atheism and Existential Bravery with Britt Hartley

    Atheist spiritual director Britt Hartley explores climbing out of the void and building a life that is worth experiencing rather than focusing on what comes next.  This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Britt explore:  Deconstructing truth claims and focusing on momentary experienceHow Sufism reopened Britt to spirituality The brain’s struggle to make choices without a direction or faithExistential bravery and challenging the religions we inherited The beauty of living in deep honestyLiving a life that is worth living, even if nothing comes after we are goneAmerica’s movement from theological religion to political religionNot claiming an “ism” and putting all options on the table Imagination and overapplying agency outside of ourselves Looking into the connection between Autism and Nihilism  “I would rather suffer and see than accept some story and never question it and live and die according to some story that I inherited.”–Britt Hartley About Britt Hartley: Britt Hartley is an Atheist spiritual director and secular spirituality content creator. She holds a masters degree in theology and considers herself a nihilism survivor and Sufi mystic. She is also a published author, religious deconstruction coach, and program director for Spiritual Direction Training. Check out her book No Nonsense Spirituality and keep up with her on Instagram. “Mysticism, what still allowed that to take root in me even with all my skepticism, is mysticism is the focus on the experience of what people have called God without having to put specific language around it or a box around it or put it into a manual. That has been really helpful for me to focus on experience as a place you can build even in the void, even in existential crisis. The one thing we can know is that there is something to be experienced.” –Britt Hartley See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 25m

  2. May 1

    Ep. 145 – Trauma-Informed Wellness with Lissa Rankin, MD

    Exploring the vital role of boundaries, Dr. Lissa Rankin calls on the medical and wellness fields to confront power imbalances and deepen their understanding of trauma. Check out Dr. Rankin’s numerous books on trauma, medicine, healing, and more HERE This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Lissa explore  Moral injury and Lissa’s transition out of the medical worldWhat the medical world misunderstands about traumaCult-type dynamics within the wellness community Naive compassion and recognizing that sometimes we are responsible for our own harmWaking up to spiritual bypassing and developing a trauma-informed awarenessHow medical training forces you to dehumanize in order to detach and perform in surgeries etc.Going through a reckoning of power imbalance Internal Family Systems as a wonderful healing modality for traumaStanding up for ourselves and asking for what we needAbout Lissa Rankin, MD: Lissa Rankin, MD, is an OB/GYN physician, author of 7 books, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute and the non-profit Heal At Last, and an encaustic artist who researches radical remission, trauma-informed medicine, and spiritual healing. She teaches memoir writing for therapeutic purposes, in addition to being an educator of Internal Family Systems (IFS). Her TEDx talks have been viewed over 6 million times, and she starred in two National Public Television specials. Lissa is currently co-writing her eighth book with Harvard psychiatrist Jeffrey Rediger, MD, MDiv about the link between relational trauma and medical illness, focusing on how healthy boundaries and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can help reverse diseases related to nervous system dysregulation caused by traumatizing relationships. Lissa lives with her partner Jeff Rediger and her housemate April Sweazy in the Bay Area, now that her daughter has flown the nest. She thrives on daily hikes in nature, dancing with her Bay Area dance community, singing, writing, DJ’ing music whenever she can, and healthy gourmet cooking. Check out Lissa’s website HERE. “I was using my naive compassion to enable and tolerate some of the most narcissistic people on the planet without good boundaries and consequences to that behavior. It was shattering to realize that I was responsible for my own harm, I was continuing to keep the door wide open. I was a porous, boundaryless, gap. That was part of the ecstatic part, it was ‘it’s all one, we’re all connected.’ I wasn’t seeing the boundarylessness of that and the boundary wounding that came from my boundaryless mother.” –Lissa Rankin, MD See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 8m

  3. Apr 3

    Ep. 144 – The Future of Integrative Mental Health With Dr. Robert Krause and Vicki Marnin

    Blending together the clinical and the beautiful, Dr. Robert Krause and Vicki Marnin discuss mental health, psychedelic therapy, and integrative healing. Check out Centered, a pioneering mental health center offering affordable, multidisciplinary care designed to empower individuals on their path to healing. From traditional therapy to advanced psychiatric care and ketamine-assisted therapy, they provide a full spectrum of services to meet diverse needs.   This time on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris, Robert, and Vicki discuss: Bringing together different healing perspectives rather than being strictly clinical Considering what it means to be centered Ketamine as a therapeutic modality and how treatment changed Chris’s lifeConsidering set & setting in mental health spacesThinking of ketamine-assisted therapy as a gradual tool for change (not a cure-all or quick fix)The psychological benefit of creating sharp contrast between everyday life and the psychedelic experience Surrendering into ego dissolution for emotional healingHolistic care, trauma-work, and setting boundariesAbout Dr. Robert Krause: Robert Krause DNP APRN-BC is the Director of Clinical Services & Co-Founder of Centered, a unique mental health center for integrative healing. Dr. Krause pursues his work through various schools of philosophy, psychotherapy and pharmacology, as well as meditation, yoga, tantra, sex therapy and psychedelic therapy. Dr. Krause holds a BA in Philosophy from WCSU, a certificate in Nursing and a Master of Science degree from the Yale School of Nursing, and a doctoral degree in nursing practice from Quinnipiac University. His doctoral research work was focused on using a program of yoga and meditation to decrease incidents of aggression in an inpatient psychiatric unit. He also holds certifications in Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery from Harvard University, and certificates in both Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Research and Sex Therapy from the California Institute for Integral Studies. Robert has been a faculty member of the Yale School of Nursing and the Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry. At Western Connecticut State University and Quinnipiac University he has lectured in their philosophy programs; and at the Graduate Institute, he has lectured in Holistic Health and also in the Consciousness Studies Department.  “When I started studying psychedelic therapy about ten years ago, one of the things that was really front and center was the importance of set and setting. The setting for psychiatric work should be as important, but the setting for psychedelic work is very important because if we’re going to give people medicine that’s going to really open them up, in order to do that, they have to feel like they’re in a safe environment.” –Robert Krause About Vicki Marnin: Vicki Marnin, RN, CNM, APRN-BC, is a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner.  She has been assisting with ketamine assisted therapies for the past two years at Centered. Vicki has developed her skills for holding space for journeys in her practice as a midwife for the past 27 Years. Her path has turned toward helping people with personal growth, and mental health concerns.  “The day before your ketamine session, I want you to clean up your space so that when you come home it’s beautiful for you. I want you to make some food so you don’t have to struggle. You’re greeting this new, vulnerable, potential self. Put some flowers in your room, make sure your sheets are clean. I want it to signify a beginning that people may hold onto as a sign post, as a commitment to themselves.” –Vicki Marnin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 13m

  4. Mar 11

    Ep. 143 – Rethinking Recovery: Root Causes & Harm Reduction with Ryan Hampton

    Author, speaker, and harm reduction advocate Ryan Hampton discusses the importance of addressing the social needs of individuals struggling with addiction. Learn more about Ryan’s perspective on the overdose epidemic in America through his 2024 book, Fentanyl Nation. This time on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Ryan chat about: The state of the world and the ongoing opioid and overdose epidemic Harm reduction and how recovery has changed throughout the generationsThe peer support model and the critical role of community in addiction recoveryPromoting harm reduction initiatives as a life-saving alternative to punitive approachesPsychedelic therapy and integration sessions Balancing clinical addiction treatment with addressing social determinants like poverty and homelessnessShort-term solutions to addiction versus long-term sustainable strategies for recoveryTackling the root causes of addiction instead of focusing solely on substance useReleasing the identities we cling to pre-recoveryFreedom of thought and freedom of choiceAbout Ryan Hampton: Ryan Hampton is a national addiction recovery advocate, author, media commentator, and person in long-term recovery. He has worked with multiple non-profits nationwide to end overdose and served in leadership capacities for various community organizing initiatives. Hampton is in recovery from a decade of active opioid use and is a leading voice in America's rising recovery movement. He is the author of Unsettled, American Fix, and Fentanyl Nation. Ryan lives in Nevada with his husband, Sean, and their two boxer dogs. Connect with Ryan through his website and check out his work with Mobilize Recovery. “The act of reducing harm in any fashion should never be under political assault...I believe in bodily autonomy. If somebody is consciously making those decisions, then let's help them make better decisions so they are not harming other people and themselves, or reducing harm to themselves. We can support harm reduction, or, we can support death.” –Ryan Hampton See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    38 min

  5. 12/03/2025

    Ep. 142 - Living in Service to All with Environmental Activist Robin Greenfield

    Environmental activist Robin Greenfield explores why separation is the biggest threat to humanity and how to become a servant to all. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. Check out Robin’s newest book, Food Freedom, and learn more about sustainable living In this episode, Chris and Robin have a vulnerable conversation about: Living a life of sustainability and protecting the earthThe illusion of separation as a core threat to humanity Healing our relationship with ourselves and others Truth as Robin’s ultimate inspiration and considering what the world could look like if we were all transparent The need for healing, taking responsibility, and righting any previous wrongs Celebrating progress in all forms, from small steps to major breakthroughsNon-violent communication and practicing from both the heart and mindBeing born into chaos, giving ourselves grace, and learning along the way“My objective since the beginning of my awakening has been to bring my life into alignment—to live my beliefs to the deepest level that I can: simply living on this earth in a way that doesn’t destroy the very home that we have, plants, animals, my fellow humanity.” –Robin Greenfield  About Robin Greenfield: Robin Greenfield is a truth seeker, activist, social reformer, author, and servant to Earth, humanity, and our plant and animal relatives. Robin Greenfield lives simply and sustainably to be the change he wishes to see in the world and in active resistance to destructive and exploitative systems. His life is an experiment with truth and integrity. He is dedicated to liberation and basic rights for all. Check out Robin’s website to learn more about his many projects. You can also pick up one of Robin’s numerous books HERE. “If we don’t have wholeness and completeness within, we’re going to create a shattered society around us.” –Robin Greenfield  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    58 min
  6. Ep. 141 - Follow Your Bliss: Creativity and Community with Musical Innovator Joel Korte

    11/04/2025

    Ep. 141 - Follow Your Bliss: Creativity and Community with Musical Innovator Joel Korte

    Guitar innovator Joel Korte joins Chris to share how loss, creativity, and community shaped his journey, from founding Chase Bliss and redefining analog-digital sound to discovering freedom by following his bliss. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. [sc name="youtube"]nBfzpCv0ggg[/sc] In this episode, Chris and Joel have a heart-to-heart about: Joel’s profound experience of losing his brother to a drunk driving accident Living each moment with the inner knowing that it could be our last Joel’s guitar pedal and gear company, Chase Bliss Following your bliss and seeing doors open in front of you Mixing together analog technology with digital control in the guitar industry Parallels between the process of creating guitar pedals and the process of music creation Working through introversion and finding comfort in community Holding onto a positive outlook for the future “We’ve gotta get out of these echo chambers and see the humanity in one another. After you share space with someone and you’re reflecting on it, you feel this goodness that is indescribable about that connection and community amongst humans. We just need to be around other humans.” –Joel Korte About Joel Korte: Joel Korte is the founder of Chase Bliss, one of the most creative, cutting-edge guitar gear companies. As a builder and innovator, Joel Korte is changing the way musicians shape sound from deep textured effects to the intersection of analog and digital creativity. More Be Here Now Network Podcasts: [div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"][div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-column is-layout-flow"]Lama Rod Owens covers the dharma of freedom, loving ourselves, ancestral work, and the power of meditation: Dedication to Liberation Through bearing witness, love & service, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee shares how we can collectively heal the crisis of disconnection & ecological devastation: Love & Service [/div][div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-column is-layout-flow"]JoAnna Hardy shares a guided meditation all around the first foundation of mindfulness – mindfulness of the body: First Foundation Guided Meditation Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh explores how we can joyfully bring mindfulness into everyday activities like phone calls, driving, and walking: The Ojai Foundation Presents: Under the Teaching Tree with Thich Nhat Hanh [/div][/div] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 2m

  7. 09/29/2025

    Ep. 140 - Journey Into The Body With Somatic Singer Marisa Michelson

    Somatic singer and teacher Marisa Michelson shares information on the powerful work of connecting to the body through song and uninhibited self-expression. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. In this episode of The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Marisa have a conversation about: Vocal ‘de-armoring’: working with voice, the body, and the psyche to release blocksBringing somatic relationship and embodiment into the classical music worldHow Marisa discovered that singing could bring her into transcendent blissNavigating information overload in our fast-paced, tech-driven ageA roadmap to reconnect with the body and relearn the language of direct experienceLetting spontaneity flow through the liberating practice of somatic singingA jaw-focused practice for releasing tension and unlocking full expressionTrust and vulnerability to open up our bodies, hearts, and mindsSimple somatic practices to weave into day-to-day lifeAbout Marisa Michelson: In addition to being a sought-after somatic singing teacher, Marisa is an award-winning composer of music-theatre, experimental musicals, oratorios and choral works, and was the founding director of the psychedelic singing ensemble Constellation Chor | an immersion in voice, movement, and spirit. Marisa has written four full-length musicals, two of which were produced off-Broadway by Prospect Theater Company. Her most personal composition project to date was her Desire|Divinity Project, a three part music-theater piece exploring the connection between sexuality and spirituality through an exegesis of the Song of Songs and a musicalization of Sappho’s poetry fragments.  She currently travels around singing with the vocal quartet, Agrol Agra, which performs Hungarian folk songs and Bartok arrangements of said folk songs. Marisa is beyond grateful to live and work and teach on acres of land in Upstate New York (Ancram/unceded Mohican land).  Marisa gives her gratitude to the trees, red-winged blackbirds, deer, hares, water and wind, dirt, bees, and non-human life for the profound support. Connect with Marisa on her website. “It’s been such a gift for me to work with processes, particular exercises, and practices that are developing my understanding of how energies are moving through my body, how muscles are moving in coordination with each other, and how emotions are coordinating with the physical body, the nervous system, the energy body. Getting to go deeper into this is like learning a language that can then allow us to have more and more clarity in our own direct experience.” – Marisa Michelson See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 8m

  8. 08/25/2025

    Ep. 139 - Meditation & Music with Craig Wedren

    Musician Craig Wedren reflects on his rise to fame in the D.C. hardcore scene, blending together punk rock, spirituality, and healing.  In this episode, Chris and Craig converse about: From punk rock roots to a spiritual path: how Craig’s musical journey shaped his creative and personal lifeCraig’s first exposure to meditation in his 20sThe origins of music, sound, and vibration How music transcends language, culture, and generations to connect all peopleTranscendental Meditation and inspirational tricksters Searching for deeper meaning and spirituality in modern, often soulless societyCraig’s improvisational practices: free writing & free-form guitar playingCraig’s work creating original music for a therapeutic ketamine clinic called Kanopy Ketamine treatment for addiction recovery Craig’s rise to fame in the D.C. punk scene with his band Shudder to ThinkThe synergy between performer and audience How Craig’s cancer diagnosis brought him back down to earth and showed him what truly mattered“I found a lot of punk rockers or hardcore people are particularly drawn to eastern religions. A friend of a friend said once, ‘the search for something deeper in a world increasingly devoid of it’. It makes perfect sense that I am meeting people that later on get drawn to different paths, traditions, and teachings.” – Chris Grosso  About Craig Wedren: Craig Wedren first gained notice as the dynamic, multi-octave-wielding frontman of Shudder to Think – one of the first Washington, D.C. bands to make the transition from the revered Dischord punk label to the majors during the grunge era. Wedren has released a series of solo albums and related collaborative projects. At the same time, Wedren’s music has become an essential part of some of film and television’s most popular and lauded shows. In recent years, Wedren’s endlessly creative spirit has also seen him release Adult Desire 360--a VR app comprised of 360° panoramic music videos featuring songs from his album Adult Desire; share the limited edition hard-bound book My '90s, featuring photos he took on his Polaroid Spectra in the 1990s and early 2000s that documented his late nights and early mornings on the road with Shudder to Think and time with friends including Fugazi, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, members of The State and more; and Sabbath Sessions, his multi-episode podcast featuring musical meditations that represent his first explorations of ambient choral music, where Wedren’s technique of sampling and looping his famously elastic voice results in a unique kind of sound bath. Check out Craig’s website.  “In general, the playground of my work, the sandbox of it, is pretty regulating I would say. I’ve been programming playlists and now I am starting to write original music for some friends of mine who have a ketamine therapy clinic.” – Craig Wedren See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 8m
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4.8
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

Chris Grosso is a public speaker, writer, musician, recovery coach, and author of several books, including Indie Spiritualist, Everything Mind, Dead Set On Living, and Necessary Death. His work blends raw honesty with deep spiritual insight, offering readers and listeners a down-to-earth approach to healing and growth. Chris has contributed to Revolver Magazine, FANGORIA, and Huffington Post, and has spoken at major events like Wanderlust Festival, Yoga Journal Conference, Kripalu, Sun Valley Wellness Festival, the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, and more. Chris’s passion for helping others extends beyond writing and speaking—he’s also a recovery coach with Make It Mean Something Coaching, a service offered through Action Creates Change LLC. He works with teens and adults navigating mental health struggles, addiction, and life transitions, offering personalized guidance that empowers clients to find meaning in their challenges and reclaim their lives. From leading groups in detox centers and rehabs to youth centers and yoga studios, Chris has spent years on the front lines of healing, helping individuals move beyond suffering and into transformation. His dedication to fostering connection and resilience earned him a place as a member of the Evolutionary Leaders. The Indie Spiritualist podcast brings raw truth and real talk, featuring interviews with musicians, artists, spiritual teachers, skateboarders, and actors. It’s an open invitation to explore life’s messiness and meaning—no pretense, no fluff, just real conversations with real people. Stay connected with Chris Grosso on Instagram and Facebook for more updates, insights, and ragged truth-telling.

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