326 episodes

This is a podcast for people who are curious about the world and themselves featuring talks and conversations presented by the Public Programs department of California Institute of Integral Studies, a non-profit university in San Francisco. Listen here or on your favorite podcast app to a diverse array of visionaries, artists, and scholars sharing compelling experiences, offering new perspectives, and expanding creative horizons.

CIIS Public Programs CIIS Public Programs

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.6 • 109 Ratings

This is a podcast for people who are curious about the world and themselves featuring talks and conversations presented by the Public Programs department of California Institute of Integral Studies, a non-profit university in San Francisco. Listen here or on your favorite podcast app to a diverse array of visionaries, artists, and scholars sharing compelling experiences, offering new perspectives, and expanding creative horizons.

    Rae Johnson: On Embodied Activism

    Rae Johnson: On Embodied Activism

    Some podcast apps may not display links from our show notes (see below) properly, so we have included a list of links at the end of this description.
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    How do ordinary people with busy lives leverage our actions in support of liberation, justice, and authentic connection? How can activists and social change-makers avoid burning out? How does the body factor into what our social movements might miss? 
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    Drawing on the somatic arts, trauma-informed psychology, and anti-oppressive movements, scholar/activist Rae Johnson helps us explore and transform the political realities of our everyday lives in a new way: by harnessing the felt experience of our bodies as the sites of our activism. In this episode, vocalist, sacred scholar, and artivist Amber McZeal talks with Rae about their latest book, Embodied Activism, and their perspectives on changing the world, one body at a time.
    *
    This episode was recorded during a live online event on August 23rd, 2023. You can also watch it on the CIIS Public Programs YouTube channel. A transcript is available at ciispod.com. To find out more about CIIS and public programs like this one, visit our website ciis.edu and connect with us on social media @ciispubprograms.
    *
    We hope that each episode of our podcast provides opportunities for growth, and that our listeners will use them as a starting point for further introspection. Many of the topics discussed on our podcast have the potential to bring up feelings and emotional responses. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health care and support, here are some resources to find immediate help and future healing:
    *
    -Visit 988lifeline.org or text, call, or chat with The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 from anywhere in the U.S. to be connected immediately with a trained counselor. Please note that 988 staff are required to take all action necessary to secure the safety of a caller and initiate emergency response with or without the caller’s consent if they are unwilling or unable to take action on their own behalf.
    *
    -Visit thrivelifeline.org or text “THRIVE” to begin a conversation with a THRIVE Lifeline crisis responder 24/7/365, from anywhere: +1.313.662.8209. This confidential text line is available for individuals 18+ and is staffed by people in STEMM with marginalized identities.
    *
    -Visit translifeline.org or call (877) 565-8860 in the U.S. or (877) 330-6366 in Canada to learn more and contact Trans Lifeline, who provides trans peer support divested from police.
    *
    -Visit ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics to learn more and schedule counseling sessions at one of our centers.
    *
    -Find information about additional global helplines at befrienders.org.
    *
    LINKS
    *
    Podcast Transcripts: www.ciispod.com/
    *
    California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Website: www.ciis.edu/
    *
    CIIS Public Programs YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/ciispublicprograms
    *
    CIIS Public Programs Instagram: www.instagram.com/ciispubprograms/
    *
    Mental Health Care and Support Resources:
    988lifeline.org/
    thrivelifeline.org/
    translifeline.org/
    www.ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics
    befrienders.org/

    • 53 min
    Sharon Blackie: On Mythology, Land, and Life

    Sharon Blackie: On Mythology, Land, and Life

    Some podcast apps may not display links from our show notes (see below) properly, so we have included a list of links at the end of this description.
    *
    Today we are excited to announce that we are returning to a weekly episode release schedule, so please make sure to subscribe and look for a new release from us each week starting with the next one featuring a conversation with Rae Johnson on embodied activism on May 30th!
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    Sharon Blackie is an award-winning writer and internationally recognized teacher whose work sits at the intersection of psychology, mythology, and ecology. Her best-selling book, If Women Rose Rooted is an inspiring exploration of femininity and relationship with landscape, and her latest, Hagitude, unearths the stories of elder women in European myth and folklore to highlight the different ways women can flourish throughout all stages of life. Her renowned writings invite us to explore how developing a relationship with myth and the land we live on can both enchant our lives and lead to a greater sense of meaning and belonging in the world.
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    In this episode, Sharon is joined by CIIS Integral Counseling Psychology Associate Professor Rachael Vaughan for a transformative conversation on the importance of myth and land in our lives.
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    This episode was recorded during a live online event on June 28th, 2023.You can also watch it on the CIIS Public Programs YouTube channel. A transcript is available at ciispod.com. To find out more about CIIS and public programs like this one, visit our website ciis.edu and connect with us on social media @ciispubprograms.
    *
    We hope that each episode of our podcast provides opportunities for growth, and that our listeners will use them as a starting point for further introspection. Many of the topics discussed on our podcast have the potential to bring up feelings and emotional responses. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health care and support, here are some resources to find immediate help and future healing:
    *
    -Visit 988lifeline.org or text, call, or chat with The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 from anywhere in the U.S. to be connected immediately with a trained counselor. Please note that 988 staff are required to take all action necessary to secure the safety of a caller and initiate emergency response with or without the caller’s consent if they are unwilling or unable to take action on their own behalf.
    *
    -Visit thrivelifeline.org or text “THRIVE” to begin a conversation with a THRIVE Lifeline crisis responder 24/7/365, from anywhere: +1.313.662.8209. This confidential text line is available for individuals 18+ and is staffed by people in STEMM with marginalized identities.
    *
    -Visit translifeline.org or call (877) 565-8860 in the U.S. or (877) 330-6366 in Canada to learn more and contact Trans Lifeline, who provides trans peer support divested from police.
    *
    -Visit ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics to learn more and schedule counseling sessions at one of our centers.
    *
    -Find information about additional global helplines at befrienders.org.
    *
    LINKS
    *
    Podcast Transcripts: https://www.ciispod.com/
    *
    California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Website: https://www.ciis.edu/
    *
    CIIS Public Programs YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ciispublicprograms
    *
    CIIS Public Programs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciispubprograms/
    *
    Mental Health Care and Support Resources:
    https://988lifeline.org/
    https://thrivelifeline.org/
    https://translifeline.org/
    https://www.ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics
    https://befrienders.org/

    • 1 hr
    Chenxing Han: Buddhist Perspectives on Grief and Renewal

    Chenxing Han: Buddhist Perspectives on Grief and Renewal

    Some podcast apps may not display links from our show notes (see below) properly, so we have included a list of links at the end of this description.
    *
    How do we grieve our losses? How can we care for our spirits? Immigrant daughter, novice chaplain, bereaved friend, and author Chenxing Han explores these searing questions in her latest book One Long Listening. One of American Buddhism’s most vital new voices, Chenxing illuminates and reexamines Buddhism with new perspectives and invites us to dive into unknowingness.
    *
    In this episode, Chenxing is joined by Associate Professor and CIIS core faculty of Asian Contemplative and Transcultural Studies Jun Wang for a transformative conversation as they explore Chenxing’s journey through the wilds of grief and laughter, pain and impermanence. Drawing upon her Buddhist practice, experiences with a dying friend, bedside chaplaincy visits, and memories of a migratory childhood, Chenxing reconnects us to both the heartache and inexplicable brightness of being human.
    *
    This episode was recorded during an in-person and live streamed event at California Institute of Integral Studies on June 8th, 2023.
    You can also watch it on the CIIS Public Programs YouTube channel. A transcript is available at ciispod.com. To find out more about CIIS and public programs like this one, visit our website ciis.edu and connect with us on social media @ciispubprograms.
    *
    We hope that each episode of our podcast provides opportunities for growth, and that our listeners will use them as a starting point for further introspection. Many of the topics discussed on our podcast have the potential to bring up feelings and emotional responses. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health care and support, here are some resources to find immediate help and future healing:
    *
    -Visit 988lifeline.org or text, call, or chat with The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 from anywhere in the U.S. to be connected immediately with a trained counselor. Please note that 988 staff are required to take all action necessary to secure the safety of a caller and initiate emergency response with or without the caller’s consent if they are unwilling or unable to take action on their own behalf.
    *
    -Visit thrivelifeline.org or text “THRIVE” to begin a conversation with a THRIVE Lifeline crisis responder 24/7/365, from anywhere: +1.313.662.8209. This confidential text line is available for individuals 18+ and is staffed by people in STEMM with marginalized identities.
    *
    -Visit translifeline.org or call (877) 565-8860 in the U.S. or (877) 330-6366 in Canada to learn more and contact Trans Lifeline, who provides trans peer support divested from police.
    *
    -Visit ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics to learn more and schedule counseling sessions at one of our centers.
    *
    -Find information about additional global helplines at befrienders.org.
    *
    LINKS
    *
    Podcast Transcripts: https://www.ciispod.com/
    *
    California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Website: https://www.ciis.edu/
    *
    CIIS Public Programs YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ciispublicprograms
    *
    CIIS Public Programs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciispubprograms/
    *
    Mental Health Care and Support Resources:
    https://988lifeline.org/
    https://thrivelifeline.org/
    https://translifeline.org/
    https://www.ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics
    https://befrienders.org/

    • 57 min
    Rae McDaniel: On Gender Magic

    Rae McDaniel: On Gender Magic

    Some podcast apps may not display links from our show notes (see below) properly, so we have included a list of links at the end of this description.
    *
    Non-binary therapist, certified sex therapist, and transgender diversity and inclusion educator Rae McDaniel has spent decades exploring gender. Their recent book, Gender Magic, is a first-of-its-kind practical guide to achieving gender freedom with joy, curiosity, and pleasure for transgender and non-binary individuals, gender explorers, and those who love them.
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    In this episode, Rae is joined by Poarch Creek Two-Spirit Indigequeer soma-cultural sex therapist and sexuality educator Roger Kuhn for an empowering conversation about stepping into our fullest selves and imagining a life beyond gender binaries.
    *
    This episode was recorded during a live online event on June 28th, 2023.You can also watch it on the CIIS Public Programs YouTube channel. A transcript is available at ciispod.com. To find out more about CIIS and public programs like this one, visit our website ciis.edu and connect with us on social media @ciispubprograms.
    *
    We hope that each episode of our podcast provides opportunities for growth, and that our listeners will use them as a starting point for further introspection. Many of the topics discussed on our podcast have the potential to bring up feelings and emotional responses. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health care and support, here are some resources to find immediate help and future healing:
    *
    -Visit 988lifeline.org or text, call, or chat with The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 from anywhere in the U.S. to be connected immediately with a trained counselor. Please note that 988 staff are required to take all action necessary to secure the safety of a caller and initiate emergency response with or without the caller’s consent if they are unwilling or unable to take action on their own behalf.
    *
    -Visit thrivelifeline.org or text “THRIVE” to begin a conversation with a THRIVE Lifeline crisis responder 24/7/365, from anywhere: +1.313.662.8209. This confidential text line is available for individuals 18+ and is staffed by people in STEMM with marginalized identities.
    *
    -Visit translifeline.org or call (877) 565-8860 in the U.S. or (877) 330-6366 in Canada to learn more and contact Trans Lifeline, who provides trans peer support divested from police.
    *
    -Visit ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics to learn more and schedule counseling sessions at one of our centers.
    *
    -Find information about additional global helplines at befrienders.org.
    *
    LINKS
    *
    Podcast Transcripts: https://www.ciispod.com/
    *
    California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Website: https://www.ciis.edu/
    *
    CIIS Public Programs YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ciispublicprograms
    *
    CIIS Public Programs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciispubprograms/
    *
    Mental Health Care and Support Resources:
    https://988lifeline.org/
    https://thrivelifeline.org/
    https://translifeline.org/
    https://www.ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics
    https://befrienders.org/

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Stan Tatkin: On Being in Each Other's Care

    Stan Tatkin: On Being in Each Other's Care

    Some podcast apps may not display links from our show notes (see below) properly, so we have included a list of links at the end of this description.
    *
    At the heart of every healthy, fulfilling relationship lies the unshakable knowledge that we can trust another person with the care of our whole well-being. Yet most of us arrive at our relationships with triggers, traumas, and old patterning that can make this kind of intimacy challenging.
    *
    Renowned psychotherapist and couples therapy expert Stan Tatkin explores all the common complaints and conflicts we encounter in our relationships and provides key insights on how to navigate even the most contentious topics with understanding and respect in his latest book, In Each Other’s Care.
    *
    In this episode, Dr. Tatkin is joined by licensed psychologist and CIIS Associate Professor of Community Mental Health Elizabeth Markle for a conversation offering insights for therapists and couples alike about repairing relationships and reigniting love.
    *
    This episode was recorded during a live online event on June 1st, 2023. You can also watch it on the CIIS Public Programs YouTube channel. A transcript is available at ciispod.com. To find out more about CIIS and public programs like this one, visit our website ciis.edu and connect with us on social media @ciispubprograms.
    *
    We hope that each episode of our podcast provides opportunities for growth, and that our listeners will use them as a starting point for further introspection. Many of the topics discussed on our podcast have the potential to bring up feelings and emotional responses. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health care and support, here are some resources to find immediate help and future healing:
    *
    -Visit 988lifeline.org or text, call, or chat with The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 from anywhere in the U.S. to be connected immediately with a trained counselor. Please note that 988 staff are required to take all action necessary to secure the safety of a caller and initiate emergency response with or without the caller’s consent if they are unwilling or unable to take action on their own behalf.
    *
    -Visit thrivelifeline.org or text “THRIVE” to begin a conversation with a THRIVE Lifeline crisis responder 24/7/365, from anywhere: +1.313.662.8209. This confidential text line is available for individuals 18+ and is staffed by people in STEMM with marginalized identities.
    *
    -Visit translifeline.org or call (877) 565-8860 in the U.S. or (877) 330-6366 in Canada to learn more and contact Trans Lifeline, who provides trans peer support divested from police.
    *
    -Visit ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics to learn more and schedule counseling sessions at one of our centers.
    *
    -Find information about additional global helplines at befrienders.org.
    *
    LINKS
    *
    Podcast Transcripts: https://www.ciispod.com/
    *
    California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Website: https://www.ciis.edu/
    *
    CIIS Public Programs YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ciispublicprograms
    *
    CIIS Public Programs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciispubprograms/
    *
    Mental Health Care and Support Resources:
    https://988lifeline.org/
    https://thrivelifeline.org/
    https://translifeline.org/
    https://www.ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics
    https://befrienders.org/

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Sara Elise: On the Ingredients for Everyday Abundance and Ease

    Sara Elise: On the Ingredients for Everyday Abundance and Ease

    Some podcast apps may not display links from our show notes (see below) properly, so we have included a list of links at the end of this description.
    *
    Author, creative, host, and self-proclaimed "pleasure doula" Sara Elise is on a quest to examine the ingredients of our lives—those essential components that make up our days—in support of systemic transformation and radical change. Sara’s work, and latest book, A Recipe for More, offer a profound and challenging inquiry into the forces that keep us in a state of survival and limitation, asking us to consider a new way to live. 
    *
    In this episode, Sara is joined in conversation with Meckell Milburn, founder of the holistic wellness organization, Revolutionary Healing, and an Integrative Health Practitioner. Sara and Meckell explore the ideas of abundance, pleasure, and self-expansion by examining our connection to concepts like self-inflicted suffering, toxic positivity, rest, rage, visibility, and agency and share ways of bringing the ingredients of abundance to our own lives.
    *
    This episode was recorded during a live online event on May 11th, 2023. You can also watch it on the CIIS Public Programs YouTube channel. A transcript is available at ciispod.com. To find out more about CIIS and public programs like this one, visit our website ciis.edu and connect with us on social media @ciispubprograms.
    *
    We hope that each episode of our podcast provides opportunities for growth, and that our listeners will use them as a starting point for further introspection. Many of the topics discussed on our podcast have the potential to bring up feelings and emotional responses. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health care and support, here are some resources to find immediate help and future healing:
    *
    -Visit 988lifeline.org or text, call, or chat with The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 from anywhere in the U.S. to be connected immediately with a trained counselor. Please note that 988 staff are required to take all action necessary to secure the safety of a caller and initiate emergency response with or without the caller’s consent if they are unwilling or unable to take action on their own behalf.
    *
    -Visit thrivelifeline.org or text “THRIVE” to begin a conversation with a THRIVE Lifeline crisis responder 24/7/365, from anywhere: +1.313.662.8209. This confidential text line is available for individuals 18+ and is staffed by people in STEMM with marginalized identities.
    *
    -Visit translifeline.org or call (877) 565-8860 in the U.S. or (877) 330-6366 in Canada to learn more and contact Trans Lifeline, who provides trans peer support divested from police.
    *
    -Visit ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics to learn more and schedule counseling sessions at one of our centers.
    *
    -Find information about additional global helplines at befrienders.org.
    *
    LINKS
    *
    Podcast Transcripts: https://www.ciispod.com/
    *
    California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Website: https://www.ciis.edu/
    *
    CIIS Public Programs YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ciispublicprograms
    *
    CIIS Public Programs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciispubprograms/
    *
    Mental Health Care and Support Resources:
    https://988lifeline.org/
    https://thrivelifeline.org/
    https://translifeline.org/
    https://www.ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics
    https://befrienders.org/

    • 1 hr 3 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
109 Ratings

109 Ratings

nicknamemaven ,

Fantastic

Food for my soul

MelHowey ,

Always inspiring

Consistently impressed and inspired by the speakers and quality of the content CIIS shares. I’m so happy these are made public for everyone to experience the magic of this institution.

bigsur19 ,

Amazing content

I am inspired and delighted by every episode. Some guests I know, some I don’t, but I enjoy them all.

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