This Epic Life

Have the events of the last few years made you more anxious? If so, you’re not alone. Anxiety + Stress aren’t weaknesses. Rather, they are indicators of some of the important changes we must make. We can work with anxiety using simple, timeless methods that take us back to our breath, and back into our hearts.Our return guest Lodro Rinzler reached out about his new book at exactly the right moment. We are grappling with more uncertainty and anxiety than ever before. Lodro’s gift is to apply the practical simplicity of ancient Buddhist teachings in just about any modern context.In our conversation, you will learn: 1. How to find “compassion in a dumpster fire”2. Simple practices for taking back your mind when it wants to run and hide.3. The series of events that led to writing his latest book.4. Why this is the book that he, and so many of his students and friends needed at this time.5. How the book pays it forward by donating 100% of the proceeds to a great cause supporting young women.In his new book, Take Back Your Mind— Buddhist Advice For Anxious Times, 6-time author, MNDFL founder, and meditation teacher Lodro Rinzler lays out a practical path of working with our anxiety. The book is available everywhere on February 9th, 2021. Read an excerpt of Lodro’s brand new book on Amazon: ABOUT OUR GUEST Lodro Rinzler is a Buddhist meditation practitioner and teacher. He took refuge in the Buddhist tradition around the age of 6, and considered monastic vows as a teenager, before choosing to stick it out in our noisy world as a teacher. After leaving college, he was recruited to lead one of Boston’s largest meditation centers. Around this time he began leading numerous workshops throughout the United States, and to date has taught meditation at locations as diverse as Google, Harvard, and the Obama White House. In 2015, he founded MNDFL (spelled capitol MNDFL), which is NYC’s premier drop-in meditation studio. Over the last couple years MNDFL has expanded into three studios, an online portal of teachings, and a non-profit arm which brings meditation into the education system. It has recently been named the “best place to meditate” by New York Magazine. Lodro is the author of six books including the best-selling “The Buddha Walks into a Bar…”, Walk Like a Buddha, The Buddha Walks into the Office…, Sit Like a Buddha, How to Love Yourself (And Sometimes Other People) and Love Hurts: Buddhist Advice for the Heartbroken. His books translate Buddhist meditation principles for modern times, and have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and on CBS, FOX, and NBC News. Connect with Lodro here: www.LodroRinzler.comwww.mndflmeditation.comwww.facebook.com/LodroRinzlerSpeakstwitter.com/@lodrorinzler SHOW NOTES + RESOURCES NEW BOOK: Take Back Your Mind: Buddhist Advice for Anxious Timesby Lodro Rinzler| AmazonMNDFL Meditation Studio | Class Schedules: New York CityVOGUE article: Introducing Manhattan’s Must-Visit Meditation StudioNY TIMES: So, you think you can meditate? (MNDFL)MNDFL Meditation Teacher Training ProgramSusan Piver Interview: “Trying to Impress Susan Piver” story HEAR MORE, SUBSCRIBE! Incredible leaders + creators, how they live, and how they contribute to the world we deserve. Our show explores 3 powerful permissions with guests and listeners: Permission to Chill, Permission to Feel All the Feels, and Permission to Glow in the Dark. Emceed by yogi, Dad, and executive coach KC (Kristoffer Carter). Learn more: thisepiclife.com Access all of our episodes:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

    What is important?What deepens our lives? What does it mean to be human?   As a teacher and practitioner of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Rachelle Lamb has devoted over 40 years to these questions. I discovered Rachelle’s body of work while doing research for my book, and a was compelled to leave her a message that same morning. It was really inspiring to find someone so committed to creating global change, by working on a very personal level. These themes are ever-present in our lives in 2020, as we navigate issues like a pandemic, political division, and the impact of climate change. Tackling complex and emotionally charged topics often begins in our homes, around our tables. What struck me about Rachelle is her balance between gentle compassion, and unwavering strength. There’s a quote I love from Swami Sri Yukteswar, who was the guru of my teacher, Paramahansa Yogananda: “Gentle as the flower where kindness is concerned. Stronger than the thunder when principles are at stake.”   Our world needs more kindness and strength, and it gives me hope to find a teacher like Rachelle who is so committed to training and embodying both qualities.   At the core of nonviolent communication is the practice of making neutral observations, identifying our feelings, clearly stating our needs, and making a request. Dr. Marshall Rosenberg developed the Nonviolent Communication framework in the 60s. Rachelle studied with, and was certified by Dr. Rosenberg, and continues to carry his work forward in so many cool ways.     About Rachelle Lamb   Rachelle Lamb is a recognized speaker, poet, and “relationship whisperer”. She draws on decades of study of cultural anthropology, history, psychology, mythology, poetry, storytelling and ecology. In the conversation you’re about to hear, pay attention to her ability to look deeply into any area that empowers a more transformational dialogue. If this sounds too intellectual, please remember that all of this is in service of fully seeing and understanding ourselves, and whomever we’re communicating with. My hope is that we can get more committed to practicing nonviolent communication in our homes, within our teams, and in our communities. This is a huge opportunity to learn the basics, and they absolutely work. I remember feeling deeply connected to myself, and to Rachelle’s teaching after this conversation. Rachelle lives in Victoria BC, Canada, where she’s constantly delivering learning experiences her students call “profound, and life-changing.”   Connect with Rachelle Lamb Official Website Free Tools for Nonviolent Communication*Excellent* Resource – KC Rachelle’s Coaching + Workshops LinkedIn Facebook – Breakthrough Conversations Youtube Channel Instagram   . You will learn in this conversation: . The 4 obstacles to Nonviolent Communication, or what Rachelle calls “types of alienating communication” A different approach to helping those we love put down their phones(that may actually work) The essential pieces of Rosenberg’s NVC framework, and how to practice. How our language is connected to the state of our environment, and how we may heal it through practice. About our Host Kristoffer Carter (“KC”) is a coach for founders and executives, and meditation teacher for organizations. He is also the founder of This Epic Life, and creator of the Full-Life Integration Framework.  ​As a meditation teacher, KC has over 33,000 active students on Insight Timer. As a workplace culture consultant, he has designed, or is delivering conscious leadership programs for AT&T, Avery-Dennison, Good Life Project, Litera Microsystems, and more. KC’s Mission + Values-centric programs have been featured in Business Insider, onstage at TEDx (“What if change was FUN?”) and Wisdom 2.0, and in countless conferences and podcast interviews.           HEAR MORE, SUBSCRIBE! Incredible leaders + creators, how they live, and how they contribute to the world we deserve. Our show explores 3 powerful permissions with guests and listeners: Permission to Chill, Permission to Feel All the Feels, and Permission to Glow in the Dark. Emceed by yogi, Dad, and executive coach KC (Kristoffer Carter). Learn more: thisepiclife.com Access all of our episodes:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

> Our lives and well-being are intimately connected to the people we interact with the most. With the leaders I coach, their lives and businesses are held together by relationships. We talk a lot about our families at home, our families at work,

if (window.convertflow == undefined) { var script = document.createElement('script'); script.async = true; script.src = "https://js.convertflow.co/production/websites/7309.js"; document.body.appendChild(script); }; if (window.convertflow == undefined) { var script = document.createElement('script'); script.async = true; script.src = "https://js.convertflow.co/production/websites/7309.js"; document.body.appendChild(script); };         Motivating ourselves, even in “normal” times can be challenging enough. We’re constantly talking ourselves out of doing the harder, brave work, or maybe we start it only to self-sabotage. But what about when the whole world as we knew it hits the pause button? Many of us have been realigning our schedules, figuring out how to stay productive with a houseful of kids, or reexamining our relationship to being productive altogether. Today’s guest is fellow ontological coach, and a best-selling author of 8 books. Jenn Louden and I have been on a collision course for years, since we have so many mutual friends. I’m so grateful it happened now, during COVID-19. Since the world shifted a couple months ago, I’ve found myself asking that Supreme Ruler of all demotivating questions— “Why Bother?” We ask it in subtle ways, like “is this really worth it?” or, “Is this the right time for this thing I want to do?” Jennifer’s latest book reframes that classic question as a gateway back to power, and purpose. In healing her own life since the passing of her Father, Jennifer traveled a painful path creatively, writing more than 500 pages of a memoir her agent and publisher wouldn’t accept. Along the way however, she had to answer the question— Why Bother. In our conversation today we talk about the courage it takes to sit down and write after feeling lost. She shares her joyful curiosity in discovering what life really wants from us, and the many ways we can practice deepening our being during a challenging time. If you’re feeling called to discover What’s Next, and you’ve felt demotivated recently, this interview is for you. Jennifer is a Master at asking brave questions, and then sitting down for as long as necessary— years in this case— to discover a more meaningful path forward. I love her latest book, and we spend time digging into how she knows it’s her best. In fact, she’s not sure at this point she needs to write another one! That’s rather BOSS. Feels like a mic drop.       About Jennifer Louden: Jennifer Louden is a personal growth pioneer who helped launch the concept of self-care with her first bestseller, The Woman’s Comfort Book. Since then, she’s written seven additional books on well-being and whole living, including The Woman’ s Retreat Book and The Life Organizer, with close to a million copies of her books in print in nine languages. She has spoken around the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and has written a national magazine column for Martha Stewart magazine. Jennifer’s work has been profiled or quoted in dozens of magazines; Brené Brown’s books, Daring Greatly and Dare to Lead; and Jennifer has appeared on hundreds of TV, radio shows and podcasts—including The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her newest and most personal book Why Bother? Discover the Desire for What’s Next was released in April to stellar reviews. Jennifer has been teaching workshops and retreats since 1992. She writes weekly to her email list of 20,000, and hosts an online community of over 600 members. She lives in Boulder County, Colorado.   Connect with Jennifer + Her WOrk Official Website Order ‘Why Bother?’ on Amazon ‘Why Bother’ on Barnes + Noble Jennifer Louden on Good Reads Facebook Twitter . You will learn in this conversation: . Who’s in Jennifer’s all-star mastermind group, and what has kept them going for 14 years. The origin of the Why Bother question from a place of demotivation, and answering the question as a breakthrough to personal power How to reconcile ‘desire’ with the path of meditation and reflection. Does it cause suffering? Or is it attachment? How getting her 500-page memoir turned down led to her favorite book that she’s written. How an early appearance on Oprah’s couch wasn’t quite good enough, and where it led her career. About our Host Kristoffer Carter (“KC”) is a coach for founders and executives, and meditation teacher for organizations. He is also the founder of This Epic Life, and creator of the Full-Life Integration Framework.  ​As a meditation teacher, KC has over 33,000 active students on Insight Timer. As a workplace culture consultant, he has designed, or is delivering conscious leadership programs for AT&T, Avery-Dennison, Good Life Project, Litera Microsystems, and more. KC’s Mission + Values-centric programs have been featured in Business Insider, onstage at TEDx (“What if change was FUN?”) and Wisdom 2.0, and in countless conferences and podcast interviews.           HEAR MORE, SUBSCRIBE! Incredible leaders + creators, how they live, and how they contribute to the world we deserve. Our show explores 3 powerful permissions with guests and listeners: Permission to Chill, Permission to Feel All the Feels, and Permission to Glow in the Dark. Emceed by yogi, Dad, and executive coach KC (Kristoffer Carter). Learn more: thisepiclife.com Access all of our episodes:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

As we navigate our current waves of uncertainty, we may confront our need for healing on some level. In more predictable circumstances, we can often get away without having to look in our darkest corners. Today’s guest was on a collision course with ch...