Freedom beyond awakening, how it unfolds, maps and stages of the path, and finding freedom right in the middle of difficulty: working with hard emotions, painful patterns, and the places where practice and life get rough.
A Conversation with Joe Hudson June 20, 2026 - Host Michael Taft and guest Joe Hudson explore the crucial difference between awakening and liberation: why insight on the cushion does not automatically free us in relationship, shame, self-talk, or… Read More »A Conversation with Joe Hudson
Stay with the Grief February 13, 2026 - There are important opportunities coming up. Midterm elections, marches, strikes, school board meetings, conversations with neighbors. It’s going to be sad, and enraging, and terrifying—even disgusting at times—but our practice… Read More »Stay with the Grief 
Awakening, Cessation, and Vulnerability, with Stephen Snyder February 12, 2025 - Host Michael Taft speaks with Stephen Snyder Sensei about practicing the Pa Auk jhanas, the importance of vulnerability in finding authentic strength, his two paths for awakening: the Theravada cessation… Read More »Awakening, Cessation, and Vulnerability, with Stephen Snyder
Reverse Meditation with Andrew Holecek August 23, 2023 - Join host Michael Taft as he speaks with meditation teacher and author Andrew Holecek about "reverse meditation," the practice of using difficult experiences as the focus of our meditation, how… Read More »Reverse Meditation with Andrew Holecek
Tantric Fearlessness Challenge March 29, 2023 - Dig into the stuff you're really trying to avoid with this guided nondual meditation. Read More »Tantric Fearlessness Challenge
A Conversation with Rosa Lewis September 6, 2022 - In this episode, host Michael Taft talks with Rosa Lewis about spirituality, creativity, working with trauma, embracing the darkness, the power of meditation, and more. Read More »A Conversation with Rosa Lewis
Can People Really Change?, with Tina Rasmussen January 19, 2022 - Host Michael Taft talks with meditation teacher and author Tina Rasmussen about how psychology and meditation practice can work together to help people heal, working with trauma, the importance of… Read More »Can People Really Change?, with Tina Rasmussen
Spiritual Bypassing and the Spiritual Friend May 17, 2021 - Host Michael Taft talks about the phenomenon of spiritual bypassing, what it is, what it means for our practice, and whether it is as big of an issue as many… Read More »Spiritual Bypassing and the Spiritual Friend
Meditation and Healing Trauma with Thomas Hübl March 31, 2021 - Host Michael Taft speaks with spiritual teacher and author Thomas Hübl about trauma and healing, aspects of collective and cultural trauma, meditation, spirituality, and much more. Thomas Hübl is a… Read More »Meditation and Healing Trauma with Thomas Hübl
A Conversation with Spring Washam March 12, 2021 - Host Michael Taft speaks with meditation teacher and shamanic practitioner Spring Washam about the "dharma of Harriet Tubman," the inner vs. the outer journey of finding liberation, how the "meditation… Read More »A Conversation with Spring Washam
Healing the Exile in Nondual Awareness September 22, 2020 - https://youtu.be/4cN5M_8r3Gc Guided Meditation with Michael Taft There are currently several systems of therapy that teach us to work with various parts of our multiple selves, in order to heal and… Read More »Healing the Exile in Nondual Awareness
A Conversation with Ken McLeod August 3, 2020 - Writer, translator, teacher, and business consultant, Ken McLeod speaks with host Michael Taft about the chaos unleashed by new forms of communication, dedicating your whole life to meditation and spiritual… Read More »A Conversation with Ken McLeod
Awakening and the Path of Liberation—FULL TRANSCRIPT May 28, 2020 - A complete transcript of the interview with Dan Brown on the Deconstructing Yourself podcast Here is the original audio interview Michael: Welcome to Deconstructing Yourself, the podcast for metamodern mutants… Read More »Awakening and the Path of Liberation—FULL TRANSCRIPT
Awakening and the Path of Liberation, with Dan Brown May 20, 2020 - Psychologist, author, translator, and meditation teacher, Dan Brown talks with host Michael Taft about the three levels of practice from a taste of awakening to "full buddhahood," the details of… Read More »Awakening and the Path of Liberation, with Dan Brown
Death Sangha—May 2020 May 16, 2020 - https://youtu.be/aZzSZg2eUws meditation on death Guided meditation on death and dying by Michael Taft. Although the remembrance of death (maranasati) is a traditional practice, this is a non-traditional version. Meditation begins… Read More »Death Sangha—May 2020
Masters of Oblivion — Transcript of an Interview with Kenneth Folk December 15, 2019 - The following is a transcript of this podcast episode: https://deconstructingyourself.com/dy-003-masters-oblivion-guest-kenneth-folk.html Transcript Michael: Hello and welcome to Deconstructing Yourself, the podcast for modern mutants interested in mindfulness, meditation, awakening, and much… Read More »Masters of Oblivion — Transcript of an Interview with Kenneth Folk
The Cosmic Joke Transcript – with Kenneth Folk December 8, 2019 - The following transcript is of this podcast episode. Enjoy! https://deconstructingyourself.com/dy-002-cosmic-joke-guest-kenneth-folk.html Transcript Michael: Welcome to Deconstructing Yourself, the podcast for modern mutants interested in mindfulness, meditation, awakening, and more. My name… Read More »The Cosmic Joke Transcript – with Kenneth Folk
Guest Q&A with Daniel Ingram and Michael Taft October 25, 2019 - https://youtu.be/IgYjLxM4VMc Daniel Ingram and Michael Taft Program begins with a guided nondual mindfulness meditation by Michael Taft lasting 30 minutes. Then Michael introduces special guest Daniel Ingram, and the two… Read More »Guest Q&A with Daniel Ingram and Michael Taft
Deconstructing Sensory Experience, with Michael Taft September 24, 2019 - In this episode, host Michael Taft shares a map of deconstructing sensory experience. This is intended to help orient you to your vipassana meditation practice; helping you to understand where… Read More »Deconstructing Sensory Experience, with Michael Taft
Transcript – Culadasa on Meditation and Therapy June 5, 2019 - Note: you can listen to the original podcast interview here. Michael: Welcome to Deconstructing Yourself, the podcast for modern mutants interested in mindfulness, meditation, awakening, Mahamudra, and much more. My… Read More »Transcript – Culadasa on Meditation and Therapy
Culadasa on Meditation and Therapy June 2, 2019 - In this special episode, Culadasa talks about the domains of meditation and psychotherapy, where their areas of effectiveness overlap and where they don't. He also shares a powerful personal story… Read More »Culadasa on Meditation and Therapy
Meditation for the End of Civilization, with Rick Hanson, Ph.D. April 21, 2019 - Host Michael W. Taft speaks with bestselling author and meditation teacher Rick Hanson about how to maintain resilience in the face of the coming potential collapse of civilization, the problem… Read More »Meditation for the End of Civilization, with Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
Meditation, Madness, and Psychology, with Tucker Peck March 7, 2019 - Tucker Peck, meditation teacher and clinical psychologist, talks with host Michael Taft about how whether awakening (both in the traditional "stream entry" sense or in other definitions) actually "fixes" a… Read More »Meditation, Madness, and Psychology, with Tucker Peck
This Sucks: The Fierce Grace of Chronic Illness February 5, 2019 - by Jessica Graham I’m sitting in my room and it’s getting very boring waiting and waiting and waiting for something exciting to happen...And I am sick. I mean I have… Read More »This Sucks: The Fierce Grace of Chronic Illness
Awakening & Psychological Growth January 12, 2019 - by Michael W. Taft Awakening and psychological growth are largely orthogonal. While one can definitely help the other, they are entirely different things. You can be very awake and still… Read More »Awakening & Psychological Growth
Doubt, Faith, and Fun in Meditation Practice – with Daniel Ingram October 22, 2018 - Daniel Ingram and Michael Taft talk about the Fire Kasina practice, how making mental objects the focus can lead to deep awakening, balancing wisdom and faith, processing trauma with meditation… Read More »Doubt, Faith, and Fun in Meditation Practice – with Daniel Ingram
Engaging with the World as it Is September 28, 2018 - Healthy Contact with the Present Moment by Michael W. Taft These are terrifying and triggering times. Most sane commenters and political analysts, as well as futurists, climate scientists, and visionaries… Read More »Engaging with the World as it Is
Deconstructing Michael – with Erik Newton September 18, 2018 - Turning the tables on the usual show format, host Michael Taft gets interviewed by Erik Newton. They talk about the meaning of awakening, the paradox of suffering, the end of… Read More »Deconstructing Michael – with Erik Newton
Culadasa on Stream Entry September 10, 2018 - (A transcript of Deconstructing Yourself podcast episode DY 022. Please let me know if there are any errors in the text.) Michael Taft: Welcome to Deconstructing Yourself, the podcast for… Read More »Culadasa on Stream Entry
DY 022 – “Are More People Achieving Stream Entry These Days?” – with guest Culadasa June 11, 2018 - In this episode host Michael Taft speaks with meditation teacher, neuroscientist, and author John Yates, also known as Culadasa. Topics covered include: Are more people achieving stream entry these days?,… Read More »DY 022 – “Are More People Achieving Stream Entry These Days?” – with guest Culadasa
Seeing Your Blind Spots – with Kelly Boys April 14, 2018 - Kelly Boys talks with Michael Taft about integral restoration, nondual awakening, the work of Kahneman, spiritual bypassing, gendered aspects of awakening and spiritual teaching, when knowing less is better, engaged… Read More »Seeing Your Blind Spots – with Kelly Boys
Reality Let Loose — with A. H. Almaas December 14, 2017 - In this episode, host Michael Taft speaks with spiritual teacher and author Hameed Ali, more often known by his pen name, A. H. Almaas. Almaas is the creator of the… Read More »Reality Let Loose — with A. H. Almaas
Attention, Awareness, and the Great Adventure, with Culadasa December 4, 2017 - Culadasa talks with Michael W. Taft. After decades of Buddhist practice, Culadasa exploded on the scene a few years ago with his groundbreaking book The Mind Illuminated, an incredibly comprehensive… Read More »Attention, Awareness, and the Great Adventure, with Culadasa
Some Fruits of Meditation: Simple Happiness October 8, 2017 - by Ian Welsh As regular readers of my blog know, I’ve been meditating for some time, with some useful results. A lot of modern meditation teaching and writing emphasizes meditation… Read More »Some Fruits of Meditation: Simple Happiness
Meditation, Magick, and the Fire Kasina, with Daniel Ingram September 27, 2017 - In this session, host Michael W. Taft and radical dharma author and practitioner Daniel Ingram discuss the Fire Kasina practice, meditation and magick, working with archetypal forces and entities, Daniel’s… Read More »Meditation, Magick, and the Fire Kasina, with Daniel Ingram
Enlightenment’s Evil Twin – with Shinzen Young September 7, 2017 - Meditation teacher and neuroscience consultant Shinzen Young and host Michael W. Taft talk about what mindfulness teachers are getting wrong, Shinzen's Periodic Table of Happiness Elements, informed consent for awakening,… Read More »Enlightenment’s Evil Twin – with Shinzen Young
Meditation: The Cosmic Joke August 10, 2017 - by Michael W. Taft God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. The… Read More »Meditation: The Cosmic Joke
Sit, Walk, Don’t Talk June 6, 2017 - Jennifer Howd had been building a mindfulness practice for a few years before taking on the challenge of her first nine-day silent meditation retreat. In this debut memoir,… Read More »Sit, Walk, Don’t Talk
Study Documents Range Of Challenging Meditation Experiences May 26, 2017 - from Brown University Though it has gained popularity in the West as medically and psychologically beneficial, meditation can produce a much wider variety of outcomes, not all of them calm… Read More »Study Documents Range Of Challenging Meditation Experiences
Masters of Oblivion, with Kenneth Folk May 21, 2017 - Pragmatic dharma teacher and host Michael W. Taft feel the power of the dark side, talk about nirvana, deconstruct the concept of nirvana, dive deep into the reality of death,… Read More »Masters of Oblivion, with Kenneth Folk The Cosmic Joke – with Kenneth Folk May 21, 2017 - Pragmatic dharma teacher Kenneth Folk and host Michael W. Taft look at suffering machines, ways to suspend the necessary conditions for suffering, The Terminator, state chasing, and getting the cosmic… Read More »The Cosmic Joke – with Kenneth Folk
The Birth and Death of Monks May 12, 2017 - by Sean Wilson Fargo Thirty years old on the other side of the world, I was hot on the trail for something profoundly meaningful in my life. It was so… Read More »The Birth and Death of Monks
Meditation Will Wreck Your Life November 8, 2016 - by Michael W. Taft During the “Calvin and Hobbes” part of childhood, I had a very clear career goal. My grade school teacher asked us what we wanted to be… Read More »Meditation Will Wreck Your Life
Will Awakening Ruin My Art? July 1, 2016 - by Jessica Graham Awakening will destroy your life. Whatever you think is yours to claim, will fall away. The self that has been driving you to do better, push harder,… Read More »Will Awakening Ruin My Art?
Mindful Awakening: The Cost Is Just Everything April 26, 2016 - by Jessica Graham There are certain defining moments throughout spiritual development. When you first recognize that you are not your thoughts. When you experience physical or emotional pain break up… Read More »Mindful Awakening: The Cost Is Just Everything Coping with Emotions using Mindfulness December 4, 2015 - In this author talk at Google, Michael Taft looks at emotional intelligence -- how we can work with our own emotions much more effectively using evolutionary biology, psychology, and mindfulness… Read More »Coping with Emotions using Mindfulness
Coping with Intense Emotions in Meditation June 24, 2015 - Using Mindfulness to Work with Overwhelming Feelings by Michael W. Taft In the movie Blade Runner, the replicant Roy Batty, played by Rutger Hauer, has a problem. As a genetically-enhanced human-like Nexus… Read More »Coping with Intense Emotions in Meditation
Mindfulness Vs. Writer’s Block June 20, 2015 - by Jessica Graham Today I did the following: Yelled “I hate this! I hate this! I hate this!” like a 14 year old who’s mom told her she couldn’t go… Read More »Mindfulness Vs. Writer’s Block
Never Believe Anything February 10, 2015 - by Michael W. Taft “I don't believe anything, but I have many suspicions.” ~ Robert Anton Wilson [dropcap]I[/dropcap] want to share with you, from my heart, something that I have… Read More »Never Believe Anything
Dying with Dad, Part 7 December 9, 2013 - by Jessica Graham One of the perks of meditation is that it instills compassion in the practitioner. True compassion comes from a place free of expectation, need, or neuroses. It… Read More »Dying with Dad, Part 7