Podmasana: Spirituality, Awareness & Enlightenment

Podmasana Media
Podmasana Media
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Spirituality
  • Updated Weekly

Podmasana is your companion for spirituality, awareness, and the path to enlightenment. This wisdom podcast blends mindfulness with deeply human storytelling. Host Brendon Orr explores the thread connecting spirituality and wisdom traditions from around the globe through engaging conversations with remarkable guests. Real stories. Real wisdom. Real transformation for the journey within. Subscribe to awaken.

  1. 1d ago

    Awareness & Seeking the Infinite Within You | Yakub Mathew

    Welcome to the wisdom podcast exploring spirituality and awareness. Discover enlightenment and mindfulness with author Yakub Mathew. Yakub Mathew spent 35 years in global finance, but a severe near-death experience at age 58 radically shifted his perspective. To mark his 60th birthday, he took his wife and 17 friends to the Mahakumbha Mela in Prayagraj—a sacred, once-in-144-years gathering of 660 million seekers. What began as a birthday celebration evolved into a profound exploration of the infinite. Drawing from his book Seeking the Infinite: Mahakumbha 2025, Yakub shares how childhood encounters with Mother Teresa and Archbishop Gregorios shaped his worldview, and how facing mortality in a Delhi ICU taught him the true meaning of detachment and service. He explores the unifying message of Ek Onkar (oneness of divinity), the difference between religion and spirituality, and why the infinite is not a destination to reach, but an inward journey where "within you lies a horizon without end." Recording date: April 2, 2026 In this episode, we explore: How a near-death experience reshapes our understanding of enlightenment and presence The unifying power of spirituality and India's multi-faith diversity Why mindfulness and selfless service (seva) are the ultimate expressions of faith Finding awareness and wisdom through the philosophy of "zero" (Shunya) and cosmic consciousness The difference between religion and spirituality, and why "God is love" Thanks to Yakub Mathew for sharing the music sources that were used during parts of this episode. Chapters (00:00:00) - The Secret to Seeking the Infinite Maha Kumbha(00:01:23) - Seeking The Infinite(00:09:04) - Turning 60: The Kumbh Mela(00:12:28) - Participants in the Kumbh(00:13:28) - After suffering a pancreatic attack,(00:18:40) - Seeking the Infinite(00:24:00) - The Book of Kumbh(00:31:16) - Philip Gregorius(00:34:26) - Padmasana: Interfaith Dialogue and Spiritual Inquiry(00:40:10) - Mahakumbha(00:49:22) - Understanding the tenets of religions(00:51:35) - Religion is not bad(00:59:06) - Maha Kumbh: Leadership, Legacy and the Infinite Within(01:06:41) - Dying of pancreatitis(01:12:02) - Three role models(01:14:05) - A message from the book(01:16:24) - A message from the book(01:18:14) - Pushing My Child's Quest for PurposeFollow Podmasana wherever you get your podcasts. Get early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive group chat, live Q&As and more by becoming a Podmasana+ member at podmasana.com/plus. Follow and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others on their own spiritual journey.  Support the show: > Join Podmasana+ for extra benefits, content and perks > Say Thank You and Donate to the Show > Shop the Podmasana Store Thank you for listening and thank you for your support!  Connect With Podmasana: Website: podmasana.com Past Episodes: podmasana.com/archive Submit Guest Ideas: ideas@podmasana.com Submit Feedback: feedback@podmasana.com Social Media: YouTube | Bluesky | Mastodon | Instagram Check out Podmasana Media’s other show’s: YogaScussion and My Mindful Moment.

    Awareness & Seeking the Infinite Within You | Yakub Mathew

  2. Aug 12

    Spirituality, Mahakumbh & 660 Million Seekers | Yakub Mathew

    Welcome to the wisdom podcast exploring spirituality and awareness. Discover how 55 global thought leaders define the infinite and the path to true enlightenment with Yakub Mathew. In this clip, Yakub unpacks the cosmic significance of the Mahakumbh Mela—a sacred gathering occurring only once every 144 years—and shares the surprising common thread he discovered across Hindu, Islamic, Christian, and Judaic traditions. Drawing from his book Seeking the Infinite: Mahakumbh 2025, he reveals that the infinite is not an external destination, but an inward journey where "within you lies a horizon without end." Whether you are deepening your mindfulness practice or seeking wisdom across global faith traditions, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that true spirituality points to the same inner truth. In this preview episode: The cosmic mathematics behind the Mahakumbh's 144-year cycle How 55 multi-faith thought leaders define the nature of the infinite Why enlightenment is an inward journey, not an external destination The universal thread connecting global faith traditions Finding awareness and mindfulness through the power of faith and seekership Follow Podmasana wherever you get your podcasts. Get early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive group chat, live Q&As and more by becoming a Podmasana+ member at podmasana.com/plus. Follow and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others on their own spiritual journey.  Support the show: > Join Podmasana+ for extra benefits, content and perks > Say Thank You and Donate to the Show > Shop the Podmasana Store Thank you for listening and thank you for your support!  Connect With Podmasana: Website: podmasana.com Past Episodes: podmasana.com/archive Submit Guest Ideas: ideas@podmasana.com Submit Feedback: feedback@podmasana.com Social Media: YouTube | Bluesky | Mastodon | Instagram Check out Podmasana Media’s other show’s: YogaScussion and My Mindful Moment.

    Spirituality, Mahakumbh & 660 Million Seekers | Yakub Mathew

  3. Aug 5

    Spirituality, Faith & The Birthplace of Blessings | Hadassah Treu

    What if spiritual awakening begins in our deepest pain? Today, we explore the wisdom of suffering and finding enlightenment with Hadassah Treu... Hadassah Treu is an award-winning bilingual author and faith blogger from Bulgaria whose book, Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings, offers a profound roadmap for navigating life's trials. From the platform of her own greatest pains—including the loss of her husband and seasons of intense anxiety—Hadassah delivers a powerful message of comfort, showing how adversity is not an interruption to spiritual growth, but its primary training tool. In this deeply moving conversation, we explore the power of biblical lament, the "ministry of presence," and how to cultivate spiritual awareness when prayer feels impossible. Hadassah shares how drawing near to the divine during our darkest moments transforms our grief into resilience, and why honest expression is the first step toward true healing. Whether you are in the midst of acute loss, walking alongside someone who is struggling, or simply seeking a deeper spirituality in your daily life, this episode offers a compassionate framework for transformation. In this episode, we explore: How painful experiences become birthplaces of blessings and spiritual maturity. The vital role of biblical lament and why honest struggle is essential for healing. How to cultivate self-awareness and peace when anxiety and grief feel overwhelming. The difference between "fearing" God and being afraid of God, and how it leads to true peace. Practical spiritual disciplines for the "absolute bottom" of depression and loss. Recording date: April 1, 2026 Chapters (00:00:00) - Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of(00:02:28) - Draw Near: The Personal and Universal Journey Through Suffering(00:07:10) - What brought you to Write Your Pain(00:10:58) - Draw Near: A Christian Memoir(00:13:42) - How to grieve in a Bulgarian society(00:15:35) - How To Write About Suffering in a Multicultural World(00:18:10) - How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings(00:21:04) - Primary Instrument of Suffering in the Bible(00:27:07) - Holding Both Realities(00:30:19) - The Bible's Stories of Suffering(00:38:41) - What is the Christian faith regarding suffering?(00:39:53) - Lament for Grief and Hope(00:44:39) - How to Talk Spiritual Growth after Grief(00:50:35) - Spiritual Practice for People in Pain(00:53:26) - Understanding Fear of the Lord(00:57:16) - How to Balance Real Hopes and Dreams(01:00:52) - What Do We Say to People in Pain?(01:04:22) - What Keeps You Spiritual?(01:07:00) - What Would You Do For Someone Who's Suffering?Follow Podmasana wherever you get your podcasts. Get early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive group chat, live Q&As and more by becoming a Podmasana+ member at podmasana.com/plus. Follow and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others on their own spiritual journey.  Support the show: > Join Podmasana+ for extra benefits, content and perks > Say Thank You and Donate to the Show > Shop the Podmasana Store Thank you for listening and thank you for your support!  Connect With Podmasana: Website: podmasana.com Past Episodes: podmasana.com/archive Submit Guest Ideas: ideas@podmasana.com Submit Feedback: feedback@podmasana.com Social Media: YouTube | Bluesky | Mastodon | Instagram Check out Podmasana Media’s other show’s: YogaScussion and My Mindful Moment.

    Spirituality, Faith & The Birthplace of Blessings | Hadassah Treu

  4. Jul 29

    The Spirituality & Wisdom of Suffering | Hadassah Treu

    In the next episode of Podmasana, explore the Draw Near book and biblical suffering with author Hadassah Treu. Discover spiritual maturity and faith in adversity through Christian hope. This Podmasana conversation reveals how painful experiences become birthplace of blessings through lament, surrender, and drawing near to God. Learn practical spiritual disciplines for grief, anxiety and fear of the Lord, unmet expectations spiritual growth, and how Joseph Paul Jeremiah suffering stories guide transformation through trials. Key Topics Hadassah's journey through infertility, anxiety, and loss that shaped her biblical understanding of suffering as spiritual training The transformative power of biblical lament—honest expression of grief to God while holding hope for healing and restoration How painful experiences like rejection, loneliness, and unmet expectations create specific spiritual gains when we draw near rather than pull away Practical spiritual disciplines for navigating acute pain: journaling, prayer with thanksgiving, renewing the mind, forgiveness, and cultivating joy Why the fear of the Lord brings peace rather than anxiety, and how trusting God's sovereignty redirects hope from earthly desires to eternal satisfaction Follow Podmasana wherever you get your podcasts. Get early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive group chat, live Q&As and more by becoming a Podmasana+ member at podmasana.com/plus. Follow and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others on their own spiritual journey.  Support the show: > Join Podmasana+ for extra benefits, content and perks > Say Thank You and Donate to the Show > Shop the Podmasana Store Thank you for listening and thank you for your support!  Connect With Podmasana: Website: podmasana.com Past Episodes: podmasana.com/archive Submit Guest Ideas: ideas@podmasana.com Submit Feedback: feedback@podmasana.com Social Media: YouTube | Bluesky | Mastodon | Instagram Check out Podmasana Media’s other show’s: YogaScussion and My Mindful Moment.

    The Spirituality & Wisdom of Suffering | Hadassah Treu

  5. Jul 22

    How Spirituality Helps Navigate Darkness | Gina Cavalier

    What if spiritual awakening begins by healing the soul? Today we explore the wisdom of energy healing and deep awareness with Gina Cavalier... Gina Cavalier is a former Hollywood studio executive, wellness program director at Sedona Mago Retreat Center, and author of Planet Walking: A Handbook for the Living. Behind her successful exterior in the entertainment industry, Gina battled chronic illness and persistent suicidal ideation that conventional approaches couldn't fully resolve. Her breakthrough came through spiritual and energy healing practices, leading her to reframe suicidal ideation not as a wish to die, but as the soul's desperate call for the death of an unhealthy identity. In this deeply compassionate conversation, we explore how understanding yourself as energy can bridge the gap between surviving and truly living. Gina shares practical, life-saving tools from her six-week program, including grounding cords, chakra reading, and the "protection rose," to help listeners clean, protect, and strengthen their personal energy fields. Whether you are navigating your own mental health challenges, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking a deeper spiritual perspective on suffering, this episode offers profound hope and actionable wisdom. In this episode, we explore: How energy work and spiritual awareness complement traditional mental health care. Why suicidal ideation is often a call for the death of an unhealthy identity, not the physical body. Practical energy tools like grounding cords and the "protection rose" to build inner resilience. The spiritual perspective on soul blueprints, shadow work, and finding your true life purpose. How understanding yourself as energy shifts your relationship with suffering and unlocks deep compassion. Episode recorded March 24, 2026 Chapters (00:00:14) - How to Heal Suicidal Ideation(00:06:33) - How to Heal Suicidal Ideation(00:09:16) - Gina's Energy Healing Process(00:11:31) - How to Get Out of the Dark Pit(00:14:48) - Why Suicidal People Don't Die(00:17:27) - The Desperate Thoughts of Harry Potter(00:20:31) - Gina on the Hollywood Drama(00:26:03) - The New Monk: Energy Protection and Grounding(00:29:14) - The Protection Rose(00:31:36) - Asking the Questions of Depression(00:37:39) - How to Get Clear With Yourself(00:38:39) - The Power of Divination for Mental Health(00:40:39) - Ideas for a More Human World(00:43:02) - Soul Blueprints: How to Live Your Life(00:46:27) - How to Stop Accepting Dark Energy(00:51:42) - The Wellness Program Director at Sedona Mago(00:55:37) - Gina on From The Edge Of LifeFollow Podmasana wherever you get your podcasts. Get early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive group chat, live Q&As and more by becoming a Podmasana+ member at podmasana.com/plus. Follow and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others on their own spiritual journey.  Support the show: > Join Podmasana+ for extra benefits, content and perks > Say Thank You and Donate to the Show > Shop the Podmasana Store Thank you for listening and thank you for your support!  Connect With Podmasana: Website: podmasana.com Past Episodes: podmasana.com/archive Submit Guest Ideas: ideas@podmasana.com Submit Feedback: feedback@podmasana.com Social Media: YouTube | Bluesky | Mastodon | Instagram Check out Podmasana Media’s other show’s: YogaScussion and My Mindful Moment.

    How Spirituality Helps Navigate Darkness | Gina Cavalier

  6. Jul 15

    Soul Awareness, Wisdom & Life Purpose | Gina Cavalier

    In the next episode of Podmasana, navigate suicidal ideation healing and energy work with author Gina Cavalier. Discover spiritual healing, protection rose practices, and grounding techniques in this transformative Podmasana conversation about Planet Walking: A Handbook for the Living. Learn soul blueprint guidance, chakra reading basics, shadow work for mental health, and how understanding yourself as energy bridges surviving to truly living. Find hope through six week energy healing program, finding life purpose, and reframing suicidal thoughts. Key Topics: Gina's journey from Hollywood executive to energy healing advocate after healing her own suicidal ideation through spiritual practices The protection rose practice: visualizing a rose around your aura to block negative energies and set clear boundaries Reframing suicidal thoughts as the soul's call for transformation of unhealthy identity, not the body's end Six-week Planet Walking program anchored by spirit animals for guided energy healing and soul discovery Understanding soul blueprints, contracts, and karma as practical tools for finding purpose and healing at the soul level Follow Podmasana wherever you get your podcasts. To access ad-free episodes five days early, bonus content, exclusive group chat, live Q&As and more, become a Podmasana+ member at podmasana.com/plus. About Podmasana: More than a podcast, Podmasana is a global journey through the landscape of human spirituality. We weave together transformative personal stories with scholarly depth, exploring how ancient practices illuminate life’s challenges—from grief and illness to aging and adversity. Through carefully curated conversations and compelling narratives, we bridge timeless wisdom with contemporary understanding, offering listeners authentic pathways to consciousness, healing, and the universal threads that bind human experience across cultures and generations. Support the show: ➡️ Join Podmasana+ for extra benefits, content and perks ➡️ Say Thank You and Donate to the Show ➡️ Shop the Podmasana Store Connect With Podmasana: Website: podmasana.com Submit Guest Ideas: ideas@podmasana.com Submit Feedback: feedback@podmasana.com Social Media: YouTube | Bluesky | Mastodon | Instagram Chapters (00:00:00) - The Idea That We Choose Our Life Experiences(00:03:05) - From Shadow Work to Life ReviewFollow Podmasana wherever you get your podcasts. Get early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive group chat, live Q&As and more by becoming a Podmasana+ member at podmasana.com/plus. Follow and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others on their own spiritual journey.  Support the show: > Join Podmasana+ for extra benefits, content and perks > Say Thank You and Donate to the Show > Shop the Podmasana Store Thank you for listening and thank you for your support!  Connect With Podmasana: Website: podmasana.com Past Episodes: podmasana.com/archive Submit Guest Ideas: ideas@podmasana.com Submit Feedback: feedback@podmasana.com Social Media: YouTube | Bluesky | Mastodon | Instagram Check out Podmasana Media’s other show’s: YogaScussion and My Mindful Moment.

    Soul Awareness, Wisdom & Life Purpose | Gina Cavalier

  7. Jul 8

    Stoic Wisdom for Modern Chaos | Aaron Poochigian

    In this episode of Podmasana, explore Marcus Aurelius Meditations and Stoic philosophy with translator Aaron Poochigian. Discover ancient wisdom for modern living, cognitive reframing roots, and mindfulness practice through literary translation. This Podmasana conversation reveals how Marcus wrote in multiple voices during war and plague, offering timeless guidance on kindness, justice, mortality, and building your inner mental fortress amid modern chaos and distraction. Key Topics: Translating Meditations with three voices (instructor, aspirant, skeptic)—bringing ancient personality to modern readers through literary translation and poetic "charge" Koinonia (universal human commonwealth)—Stoics' vision that rational animals are designed to serve each other, not pursue individualistic self-improvement Cognitive reframing and therapeutic practice—Marcus's radical Stoic principle that happiness depends entirely on our judgments, not external circumstances Daily Stoic practices—morning preparation for difficult people, stripping method for desires, focusing on what's in control, anachoresis (inward vacation) Hegemonicon (ruling power) as inner fortress—cultivating divine logos portion in each human to escape modern information overload and distraction Episode recorded March 31, 2026 Audio resources for this episod include: Antiquity Rome 1 & 2- Announcement music - Brass by FK_Prod -- https://freesound.org/s/190029/ -- License: Attribution 3.0 Roman Horn - Announcing sound by deleted_user_6109353 -- https://freesound.org/s/342364/ -- License: Attribution 3.0 The Ancient Empire.wav by LilMati -- https://freesound.org/s/520606/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Chapters (00:00:00) - Marcus Aurelius: Meditations Review(00:05:02) - Podcast(00:06:44) - Padmasana Podcast: Bringing Ancient Voices to Life(00:07:16) - Translating The Meditations: A Poetic Translation(00:10:28) - Meditations: The Translations(00:12:32) - Marcus's Meditations: The Literary Power of Poetry(00:15:43) - The Meditations: Multi-Voiced Drama(00:21:34) - Translations of Poems and Philosophy(00:24:42) - translation of medit my Meditations(00:26:24) - Stoicism: The Philosopher Emperor in War and Meditation(00:28:06) - The Meditations from Marcus(00:32:02) - The Meditations, An Autobiographical Work(00:37:07) - Meditations: A Book of Personal Practice(00:43:56) - Stoic philosophy of universal human duty(00:47:04) - Ideas for Political Practice and Meditation(00:50:04) - Stoicism Therapy and Timeless Practice(00:58:07) - What Makes The Meditations Different from Other Self-Help Books?(01:04:48) - Marcus AureliusFollow Podmasana wherever you get your podcasts. Get early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive group chat, live Q&As and more by becoming a Podmasana+ member at podmasana.com/plus. Follow and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others on their own spiritual journey.  Support the show: > Join Podmasana+ for extra benefits, content and perks > Say Thank You and Donate to the Show > Shop the Podmasana Store Thank you for listening and thank you for your support!  Connect With Podmasana: Website: podmasana.com Past Episodes: podmasana.com/archive Submit Guest Ideas: ideas@podmasana.com Submit Feedback: feedback@podmasana.com Social Media: YouTube | Bluesky | Mastodon | Instagram Check out Podmasana Media’s other show’s: YogaScussion and My Mindful Moment.

    Stoic Wisdom for Modern Chaos | Aaron Poochigian

  8. Jul 1

    Mindfulness, Wisdom & Compassion in Stoicism | Aaron Poochigian

    In the next episode of Podmasana, explore Marcus Aurelius Meditations and Stoic philosophy with translator Aaron Poochigian. Discover ancient wisdom for modern living, cognitive reframing roots, and mindfulness practice through literary translation. This Podmasana conversation reveals how Marcus wrote in multiple voices during war and plague, offering timeless guidance on kindness, justice, mortality, and building your inner mental fortress amid modern chaos and distraction. Key Topics: Translating Meditations with three voices (instructor, aspirant, skeptic)—bringing ancient personality to modern readers through literary translation and poetic "charge" Koinonia (universal human commonwealth)—Stoics' vision that rational animals are designed to serve each other, not pursue individualistic self-improvement Cognitive reframing and therapeutic practice—Marcus's radical Stoic principle that happiness depends entirely on our judgments, not external circumstances Daily Stoic practices—morning preparation for difficult people, stripping method for desires, focusing on what's in control, anachoresis (inward vacation) Hegemonicon (ruling power) as inner fortress—cultivating divine logos portion in each human to escape modern information overload and distraction Chapters (00:00:00) - How does the Stoic vision of universal human duty connect to whatFollow Podmasana wherever you get your podcasts. Get early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive group chat, live Q&As and more by becoming a Podmasana+ member at podmasana.com/plus. Follow and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others on their own spiritual journey.  Support the show: > Join Podmasana+ for extra benefits, content and perks > Say Thank You and Donate to the Show > Shop the Podmasana Store Thank you for listening and thank you for your support!  Connect With Podmasana: Website: podmasana.com Past Episodes: podmasana.com/archive Submit Guest Ideas: ideas@podmasana.com Submit Feedback: feedback@podmasana.com Social Media: YouTube | Bluesky | Mastodon | Instagram Check out Podmasana Media’s other show’s: YogaScussion and My Mindful Moment.

    Mindfulness, Wisdom & Compassion in Stoicism | Aaron Poochigian
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2 Ratings

About

Podmasana is your companion for spirituality, awareness, and the path to enlightenment. This wisdom podcast blends mindfulness with deeply human storytelling. Host Brendon Orr explores the thread connecting spirituality and wisdom traditions from around the globe through engaging conversations with remarkable guests. Real stories. Real wisdom. Real transformation for the journey within. Subscribe to awaken.

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