104 episodes

As the birthplace of the mindfulness movement in the United States, Naropa University has a unique perspective when it comes to higher education in the West. Founded in 1974 by renowned Tibetan Buddhist scholar and lineage holder Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Naropa was intended to be a place where students could study Eastern and Western religions, writing, psychology, science, and the arts, while also receiving contemplative and meditation training.
Forty-three years later, Naropa is a leader in ‘contemplative education’, a pedagogical approach that blends rigorous academics, contemplative practice, and experiential learning. Naropa President Chuck Lief explains, “Mindfulness here is not a class. Mindfulness is basically the underpinning of what we do in all of our classes. That said, the flavor or the color of mindfulness from class to class is really completely up to the individual faculty member to work on—on their own. So, what happens in a poetry class is going to look very different from what happens in a research psychology class. But, one way or another the contemplative practices are brought into the mix.”
This podcast is for those with an interest in mindfulness and a curiosity about its place in both higher education and the world at large. Hosted by Naropa alumnus and Multimedia Manager David DeVine, episodes feature Naropa faculty, alumni, and special guests on a wide variety of topics including compassion, permaculture, social justice, herbal healing, and green architecture—to name a few. Listen to explore the transformative possibilities of mindfulness, both in the classroom and beyond!

Mindful U at Naropa University Naropa University

    • Education
    • 4.3 • 45 Ratings

As the birthplace of the mindfulness movement in the United States, Naropa University has a unique perspective when it comes to higher education in the West. Founded in 1974 by renowned Tibetan Buddhist scholar and lineage holder Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Naropa was intended to be a place where students could study Eastern and Western religions, writing, psychology, science, and the arts, while also receiving contemplative and meditation training.
Forty-three years later, Naropa is a leader in ‘contemplative education’, a pedagogical approach that blends rigorous academics, contemplative practice, and experiential learning. Naropa President Chuck Lief explains, “Mindfulness here is not a class. Mindfulness is basically the underpinning of what we do in all of our classes. That said, the flavor or the color of mindfulness from class to class is really completely up to the individual faculty member to work on—on their own. So, what happens in a poetry class is going to look very different from what happens in a research psychology class. But, one way or another the contemplative practices are brought into the mix.”
This podcast is for those with an interest in mindfulness and a curiosity about its place in both higher education and the world at large. Hosted by Naropa alumnus and Multimedia Manager David DeVine, episodes feature Naropa faculty, alumni, and special guests on a wide variety of topics including compassion, permaculture, social justice, herbal healing, and green architecture—to name a few. Listen to explore the transformative possibilities of mindfulness, both in the classroom and beyond!

    104. The Essential Relationship of Mindfulness and Activism

    104. The Essential Relationship of Mindfulness and Activism

    Reggie Hubbard is a yogi, political campaigner and activist, speaker, and meditation instructor.


    On this episode he speaks to working with grief and how to heal, he tells his story of how he aligned his professional and spiritual life into an integrated path of purpose, and he explains why he believes mindfulness is essential to political activism.
    Special Guest: Reggie Hubbard.
    Support Mindful U at Naropa University

    • 1 hr
    103. Reexamining Imposter Syndrome and the Inner Critic

    103. Reexamining Imposter Syndrome and the Inner Critic

    Artist, author, and leadership development trainer, Rosi Greenberg, breaks down the concept of the inner critic and redefines imposter syndrome.


    Our inner critic isn’t going anywhere, but it can become an ally when we come into relationship with the wisdom that underlies it. She also examines imposter syndrome as something that is often a product of systems of oppression and in recognizing this, how can we look at systems change while also applying compassion to ourselves and our current experience.
    Special Guest: Rosi Greenberg.
    Support Mindful U at Naropa University

    • 57 min
    102. Healing the Whole Person with Gestalt Therapy

    102. Healing the Whole Person with Gestalt Therapy

    Hear from Harmony Kwiker on the magic that is gestalt therapy.


    Harmony is a visiting professor of Naropa’s master's program in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling. She shares about how the gestalt therapy model has helped her bridge her spiritual path with a practical way to help others and provides a framework to treat patients as equals who are empowered in their own healing journey to come into contact with the deepest parts of themselves.
    Special Guest: Harmony Kwiker.
    Support Mindful U at Naropa University

    • 57 min
    101. Midlife Emergence: Free Your Inner Fire

    101. Midlife Emergence: Free Your Inner Fire

    Our latest podcast with Jen Berlingo, MA, LPC, ATR is out today!


    Jen is a Naropa Alumnx of the MA Transpersonal Therapy program, a practicing coach, licensed therapist and author of her new book Midlife Emergence: Free Your Inner Fire.


    In this episode you’ll hear about her Naropa experience and how getting a degree in counseling served her true calling of art, therapy and coaching after leaving the corporate world. She also shares her journey of coming out as queer in midlife and what it looked like to alchemize her midlife transition into a Midlife Emergence of true authentic living.
    Special Guest: Jen Berlingo .
    Support Mindful U at Naropa University

    • 54 min
    100. Holistic Life Foundation: Let Your Light Shine

    100. Holistic Life Foundation: Let Your Light Shine

    Ali Smith, Atman Smith, and Andres Gonzalez are inspiring examples of what it looks like to build a successful non-profit that utilizes yoga and mindfulness to empower communities. They are the founders of The Holistic Life Foundation, a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to nurturing the wellness of underserved communities—whether that’s in schools, detention centers, drug treatment centers, mental illness facilities, recreation centers, group homes, colleges, senior centers, and more. HLF is run by BiPOC and demonstrates a deep commitment to learning, community, and stewardship of the environment.


    In this episode, they talk about the programs they run, the inspiration that fuels them, and their new book, Let Your Light Shine, that goes into their personal practices that led them to this work and inspires their own lives.


    Check out this episode to get inspired about the possibilities that mindfulness and socially engaged entrepreneurship have in store for our world.
    Special Guests: Ali Smith, Andres Gonzalez, and Atman Smith.
    Support Mindful U at Naropa University

    • 42 min
    99. Nova Han: Creating Immersive Spaces

    99. Nova Han: Creating Immersive Spaces

    In this episode we’re diving into the world of creative entrepreneurship with Nova Han. Nova is the Creative Director for Electric Forest Festival, String Cheese Incident, and much much more.


    She discusses how she got started in the space, what her work looks to today, and how her creative vision keeps evolving.


    Check out this episode to hear an inspiring conversation of what it looks like to follow your passions and gifts, even as you’re creating it as you go.
    Special Guest: Nova Han.
    Support Mindful U at Naropa University

    • 40 min

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5
45 Ratings

45 Ratings

krose55 ,

So happy to have found this podcast!

Although I've never attended Naropa, I definitely have admired the school from afar. I was looking for more mindfulness-related content and very happy that this podcast cropped up with such recent, relevant, and high-quality content. Thank you!

J Vitkus ,

Yes, please, stop interrupting the speaker!

It’s already been said! Listeners are much more interested in what your guest has to say than in hearing your reactions. Please, just hold back and let the speaker come through!

Lunarjane ,

Stop interrupting the speaker

I can’t follow when I keep hearing the host constantly saying uh huh, yeah, oh yeah, right while the guest speaker is talking. It feels artificial and not in the moment of awareness. I’m disappointed. I expected a lot more from this podcast. Obviously some people are okay with this. The ratings are high. 😬

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