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September 2016

It's All Happening Podcast

IAH – Episode 61 – Conner Habib

Episode 61 features the wise, funny, bitchy, enigmatic, thoughtful and subtle genius that is Conner Habib. I stopped by Conner’s mid-city lair to do this podcast in the middle of a hot and sweaty Los Angeles afternoon. Conner occupies a very unique place in the world in that he is a Renaissance Man for modern times. Part porn star, part post modern philosophy intellectual, part writing coach and part activist. Our conversation ranges from me trying to understand his focus in the world to philosophical applications to living in the world around us. Conner is living on an edge that dreams of new living conditions and dimensions – one that I’d sure like to keep in touch with.

From Connerhabib.com:

I’m an author, a lecturer, a porn performer, and a sex workers’ rights advocate.  I serve as Vice President of the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee and am a member of PEN America.

My essays have appeared in dozens of print and online publications, including The StrangerVice, SalonSlate, and more.  I give lectures around the country about sexuality, spirituality, pornography, science, and art.  I teach writing one-on-one and in groups. For seven years, I was an award-winning gay adult performer, and continue, occasionally, to perform in adult film.  I’m the only person who has ever won awards for writing, teaching AND porn.

@ConnerHabib

On October 30th be sure to check out Conners “Banishing The World: Postmodern Philosophy and The Occult” online workshop. Find details here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's All Happening Podcast

IAH – Episode 60 – Philip Goldberg

When Philip Goldberg’s now seminal book “American Veda” came out sometime in 2010 I was immediately drawn to it in a way that I’m not drawn to most books. Finally there was something out there that put this entire scene I find myself a part of into a historical context. Phil stopped by the kitchen table to talk about this, the history of yoga in America, Emerson and Thoreau, taking a look at cultural appropriation, the evolution of yogic methodologies and so much more. If you practice yoga in America I highly recommend that you listen to this podcast. Phil’s wisdom, humor and straight ahead thoughtfulness will enlighten your worldview on not just your own practice but also to the practice as a whole.

Be sure to visit Phil’s site for a bunch of upcoming events including The Beatles Musical Journey to India and many other talks and programs.

Also, be sure to check out Phil’s amazing podcast Spirit Matters!

Philip Goldberg is the author or co-author of numerous books; a public speaker and workshop leader; a spiritual counselor, meditation teacher and ordained Interfaith Minister.  He lives in Los Angeles and blogs regularly on Huffington Post and Elephant Journal.

To pick up a copy of American Veda click here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog - Politics

Prop 64 and the Awkward Silence

Once again in this upcoming California election Marijuana is up for legalization. Last time around there was Prop 19 and it failed for a variety of reasons – some policy and some perception. Policy aside it did turn out that many voters were confused on the wording of the initiative and thus made the wrong choice in the polling booth. Policy wise, the bill didn’t do nearly enough for a state tax windfall or criminal justice reform. So in a way it’s good that it failed.

This time we have Prop 64 (or AUMA0 – a hefty 62 page bill who’s origins started under the stewardship of Lt. Gov Gavin Newsom. Right away this brings up much tension among the ultra libertarian stoner crowd who doesn’t want their government interfering with their pot. The very suggestion of government regulation hints at an Orwellian table setting that can only aim to bring “the man” even deeper into our lives and now even into our drugs.

There are several problems with this way of thinking. One, the tax revenue from the sale of pot is the only way that this will find mainstream support. And no matter who you look at that, it takes a pretty big bureaucracy to make that work. Two, if drugs have any hope of being legal they do need some regulation for safety, purity and the legitimacy of the sales channels. Three, the medical marijuana boom in California has been a disaster. Most people don’t like to admit that – but it’s not a good thing to walk down the Venice boardwalk and to come across men dressed in green jump suits that will give you a “pot” card for $40 if you say that you have anxiety. That is not a good thing – that undermines the entire integrity of the movement.

Maybe I’ve sold out or maybe I’m just a pragmatist but since we failed with the integrity of Prop 215.  I’m all for setting up a government endorsed structure that allows for pot to be harvested, distributed, sold and consumed in a way that is closer to alcohol than anarchy. Yes, 215 helped countless patients suffering obtain their medicine in an easy and cost effective way but Prop 64 allows for that to stay put while we fix the rest.

Again, there’s a lot of major liberal conspiracy mis information out there about how it’s over regulative by essentially just being a product of big brother thus it’s passing will only pave the way for Monsanto to get its hands on cannabis, as an example. Additionally there’s some fear that AUMA will destroy the medical supply chain already created by Prop 215. Both of these are not true.

Small farmers also seem to be uneasy about it because it sets provisions for local governments to still ban cultivation and sales as they see fit within their local communities.

None of this is explicitly true – dots can be connected on theory because AUMA does in fact completely re-arrange the Prop 215 eco-system mainly because it’s completely broken and needs re-arranging.

There is no question that AUMA is an overly complicated document that is extremely difficult for even a lawyer to get through (A GREAT RESOURCE) – even the DPA admits that. I admit, that’s not a good thing. It’s possibly an over burdening government web that will only create more Sacramento red tape for something that may be very simple.

What we have to work through and with is the idea that it’s a great place to start. Period. And from this we can build and refine as we go along. The time is now to stop the madness, to free thousands of inmates (if it passes) to put money back into the troubled communities from sales, to stop racial profiling of black and brown people because they may or may not have grass on them and to finally allow a 21 year old adult to think for themselves by making their own decision on whether or not they can walk into a store and buy a joint.

It’s 2016 – the federal political system is a mess, Trump may win, climate change is a real devastating erosion for our species, natural resources are in short supply, there is a global tension amongst Islam and non-Islam and there is an economic disparity that is threatening to create two classes of people for the entire planet that are very far apart from each other. And we’re still worrying about a fucking plant. Stop. Legalize it. Let’s move on and focus on what really needs focussing.

The SF Chronicle says “Prop. 64 would bring discipline and oversight to an industry that is operating in the shadows, to the detriment of public health, the environment and public safety. Vote yes on 64.”

It's All Happening Podcast

IAH – Episode 59 – David Nichtern

The insanely wise and beautifully and talented David Nichtern comes to the podcast to discuss his new book “Awakening from The Daydream: Reimagining The Buddhas Wheel of Life.” Our conversation took place at Bhakti Fest out on a little patio surrounded by trees where the sound of mantras being sung is heard in the back ground. We spent about an hour talking about the wheel of life, why none of it is permanent, bhakti and buddhism and their relationship and so much more. David is truly a wise soul who has spent over 40 years traversing the landscapes of buddhism, meditation and rock and roll. Yes, he played with Jerry Garcia back in the 70’s too!

David Nichtern is a senior teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. This tradition combines a contemporary, secular approach to meditation with the ancient practices and philosophies of Tibetan Buddhism. David was one of the initial American students of renowned meditation master Trungpa Rinpoche and studied closely with him soon after his arrival in the United States in 1970.

To purchase Awakening from The Daydream: Reimagining The Buddhas Wheel of Life – click here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog - God Me

Dispatch from the Post Bhakti Fest Life In the Material World Gazette!

Dispatch from Life in the Material World Gazette!

Sunday night – Driving home from Joshua Tree I was chased and harassed by another car for over 20 miles. Originating from a gas station in Pomona, he followed me and chased me on the freeway, he even slammed on his breaks at 80 mph and tried to run me off the road. I called 911 and made a highway 10 exit that got me out of harms way.

Monday night – upon returning from kirtan at BYS I parked my car on my street in SM, got out of my car and was nearly attacked by an unstable homeless man dressed in drag (yes really). He was a pretty big guy and got about 1 inch from my face screaming and yelling that he was going to kill me. Turns out he’s the son of a neighbor on my street and they have been worried about him for 20 years. Again, I called 911 and ended up ok.

I’ve called 911 maybe maybe 3 times (?) in my life prior to this. So this happens twice in two days immediately following 4 days of good association with fellow travelers on the spiritual plane…hmm, what to do? If that isn’t the juxtaposition of love, acceptance, destruction and maya I don’t know what is.

It's All Happening Podcast

IAH – Episode 58 – Karen Greenberg

Karen returns to the IAH podcast and continues to expand, challenge and educate my world view around national security, terrorism, the roots of the Middle East conflict and what to do about it. Our conversation was vast and wide ranging and brought out must of what I wanted to dig into after reading her new book “Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State.” Karen is truly one of the nations leading experts on these issues and having her back a second time is truly an honor.

Karen J. Greenberg, a noted expert on national security, terrorism, and civil liberties, is Director of the Center on National Security. She is the author of The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo’s First 100 Days (Oxford University Press, 2009), which was selected as one of the best books of 2009 by The Washington Post and Slate.com.

To purchase Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State click here:

Her newest book, Rogue Justice:The Making of the Security State (Crown, 2016), explores the War on Terror’s impact on justice and law in America. She is co-editor with Joshua L. Dratel of The Enemy Combatant Papers: American Justice, the Courts, and the War on Terror (Cambridge University Press, 2008) and The Torture Papers: The Road to Abu Ghraib (Cambridge University Press, 2005); editor of the books The Torture Debate in America (Cambridge University Press, 2006) and Al Qaeda Now (Cambridge University Press, 2005); and editor of the Terrorist Trial Report Card, 2001–2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's All Happening Podcast

IAH – Episode 57 – David Jay Brown

The mysterious, wondrous, fastidious and prolific David Jay Brown stops by the IAH podcast to discuss his new book “Dreaming Wide Awake” which deals with the very real phenomena of lucid dreaming. In the true spirit of Davids long standing role as one of the great psychedelic gnostic wunderkinds we cover much more than that. I’ve known David for the better part of 30 years and our conversation took on many twists and turns starting with a sort of nostalgic but necessary recap of the modern expansion of consciousness movement and all it’s players since the 60’s. We talked about all the great notables that we had the honor of knowing and why looking deeper is just as important in 2016 as ever before. Also, David’s new book helped shine much needed light on a lot of the floatation tank work that I’ve been doing as of late. This was truly a pleasure and I hope there will be more in the future.

INTRO RANT – (long) a trip down memory lane in LA and a look at the new anti-intellectualism movement that is unfortunately gaining steam

David Jay Brown (born 1961) is an American writer, interviewer and consciousness researcher. Brown has studied parapsychology, and the effects of psychoactive drugs. With parapsychologist Rupert Sheldrake, he studied pets and people who apparently anticipate events. Brown has served as a guest editor for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and he has published many interviews of prominent thinkers.

Get your copy of Dreaming Wide Awake by clicking on the image:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's All Happening Podcast

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It’s All Happening T-Shirts

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