Cross posting this episode recorded for Alchemical Dialogues, Henry Cretella hosts Lisa Carley from the podcast The Labyrinth regarding mental health and spirituality and Lisa's lived experience.Avoiding and easing unnecessary suffering is a w

Mobilizing Jewish Outreach, Bringing A Person Closer To Wisdom: A Roundtable Discussion Of Rabbis Exploring Strengthening Jewish Commitment

Apr 12th, 2024 46m 37s

In this panel discussion with four Rabbis from America's West Coast to Israel, Joel guides an exploration of mobilizing Jewish outreach (i.e., or 'inreach' or 'in reach') how to, why, and what Jewish tradition teaches and offers from a wide ran

The Nuts and Bolts Of Zen: 'Seeing Things As They Are' With Reverend Kyoki Roberts, First Zen Priest Of Pittburgh's Deep Spring Temple

Mar 26th, 2024 40m 35s

From the archives, the fourth ever episode recorded of Unraveling Religion, this from June 18th, 2008 is reposted In Memoriam for Reverend Kyoki Roberts of Pittsburgh's Deep Spring Temple.In speaking with Joel, Kyoki explored insights from her

What's It All For?: Inaugural Episode of Unraveling Religion with Northeast Ohio's Poetic Giant Major Ragain

Mar 13th, 2024 39m 6s

This initial epsiode of Unraveling Religion recorded on November 14th, 2007 in Buffalo, New York explores the question 'what's it all for?' in the largest scale we can imagine. Maj Ragain, who passed in 2018, presents in this talk the intersect

Exploring Virtue: Philosophic Discourse Through the Lens of Plato, Plotinus, and Bishop Butler

Mar 11th, 2024 36m 48s

This episode asks the questions:How do we resolve life's Existential Delimma and paradox?What is 'Virtue?'Can 'Virtue' be taught? Joel drops in at Before Your Quiet Eyes Bookstore and finds Ken Kelbaugh, David White, and 'Ted' Estragon i

The Labyrinth, A Trailer

Feb 7th, 2024 3m 7s

In this trailer of The Labyrinth Podcast, Lisa Carley introduces the podcast's orgins, philosophy, topics, and terrain covered in curiosity of life and existence with these conversations, an invitation to join. 2015; 'The Sound of Silenc

Trailer

Seeds Toward A Future, Now: A Talk About 'The Labyrinth' Podcast with Lisa Carley

Jan 17th, 2024 6m 31s

This conversation with Lisa and Joel explores Lisa Carley's new podcast 'The Labyrinth' and its slogan 'Destination Unknown' and its relationship to the 'Unraveling Religion' podcast, whose own slogan 'What You Are Is More Than What You Want.'

Part 1 As A Fly On The Wall: Eavesdropping On Human Musings, Existence, and 'Coming Home'

Jan 4th, 2024 34m 23s

In Part 1 of this three part episode, Joel lassoed Rich Grego and Lisa Carley into a conversation recorded weaving threads through time and space and love, itself.This conversation meanders among these three old, dear friends, and touches on n

Part 3 As A Fly On The Wall: Eavesdropping On Human Musings, Existence, and 'Coming Home'

Jan 4th, 2024 19m 23s

In Part 3 Lisa, Rich, and Joel examine the secret to the existential delimma and how to resolve it.The answer, 'service.'Also, surfing and meditation and the story of Reb Zusha, a Hasidic Master.A Jewish Kabbalistic look at death, judgment,

Part 2 As A Fly On The Wall: Eavesdropping On Human Musings, Existence, and 'Coming Home'

Jan 4th, 2024 34m 2s

In Part 2, Lisa, Rich, and Joel explore knowing the 'why' and knowing the 'big picture' versus being in the flow of life.The talk continues in the examination of life asking 'What is being asked of me? What do I need to learn about this situat

'Spirituality In Everyday Life': Amber Light, Int. and Education Training Center, Inc., A Collaboration

Dec 22nd, 2023 5m 58s

Henry Cretella and Joel discuss collaboration to present a series of four workshops in 2024 from Amber Light, Int. and Education Training Center, Inc.'s Ground and Sky Poetry Series entitled 'Spirituality In Everyday Life.' The topics of the fo

A Jewish Means To Vanquish Darkness, Lighting Shabbas Candles: A Conversation With Torah Scholar Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

Nov 10th, 2023 41m 45s

From The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, to the Ba'al Shem Tov, to Maimonides and Moses this discussion includes topics of the security of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel and how the Jewish people can fortify their exist

Visionary Landscape of Humanity's Potential, A Conversation With Chris Barbera

Jul 13th, 2023 44m 10s

Dusted off as one of Unraveling Religion's original episodes back in 2008, Activist and Poet Chris Barbera joins Joel for a talk exploring the landscape of our collective sorrows and how to address them.The terrain covers the root response to

Part 2 Alchemical Dialogues' Spirituality and Religion: Similarities, Differences, and Implications

Jul 11th, 2023 56m 35s

Part 2, continues the vital disucssion regarding the implications of spirituality, of religion, or neither?Continue listening to this panel discussion with five practitioners who are either involved or have been with both spirituality and reli

Part 1 Alchemical Dialogues' Spirituality and Religion: Similarities, Differences, and Implications

Jul 11th, 2023 51m 45s

Alchemical Dialogues held a panel discussion regarding spirituality and religion.These two practices not the same, but this can be confusing for many.Westerners, in growing numbers, identify as 'spiritual, but not religious.'Likewise, there

Part 2 Three Words On Your Tombstone; Three Counselors Talk On Death, Meditation, Meaning, and Suffering

May 6th, 2023 27m 19s

In Part 2 of this talk, Mike, Mike and Joel continue deconstructing meaning death and spirituality. Joel tells a story of his 'good friend' John Bednarchik who passed in 2012, and John's profound influence on Joel through his living example cul

Part 1 Three Words On Your Tombstone; Three Counselors Talk On Death, Meditation, Meaning, and Suffering

May 6th, 2023 27m 29s

In Part 1 of this episode, at Joel's place, in the midst of new friendship and burning Sage, Mike Morde, Mike Pernot, and Joel Lesses talk about life, spirituality, psychology, meaning, and death. Explored are the importance and practice of med

Part 2 Nothing Wasted, Nothing Lost: Lessons from Lived Experience with Joel Lesses (Recorded for Alchemical Dialogues with Henry Cretella)

Apr 21st, 2023 39m 37s

In Part 2 of the Alchemical Dialogues Podcast with Henry Cretella and Joel Lesses, more discussion surrounding wisdom of lived experience including Joel's personal history exploring mental health distress and an opporunity. Bio:Joel Lesses fo

Part 1 Nothing Wasted, Nothing Lost: Lessons from Lived Experience with Joel Lesses (Recorded for Alchemical Dialogues with Henry Cretella)

Apr 21st, 2023 38m 14s

Henry and Joel discuss lessons from lived experience with mental health distress, including: lessons from trauma, isolation, loneliness, marginalization, existential crisis, and how mental health distress may be a calling to become a healer lea

One People, Earth Breathing, Waters Living, Life's Sanctity, Everywhere: A Talk With Joy Harjo, the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States

Apr 12th, 2023 22m 13s

Joy Harjo and Joel connect in this dusted off, older episode, to open and discuss our shared human experience in its different forms and the pervading spirit found in mountains and rivers, water and air, in people and the Earth. The shared comm

Discourse and Rigors of Analysis of Religious and Political Spectrums and Spirituality: Richard Wicka and Joel Talk

Mar 19th, 2023 1h 1m

On Richard Wicka's I Thou Video Series Richard and Joel, two old friends, talk and deconstruct meaning, trauma, and suffering and its relation to political and religous spectrums and systems of belief. Richard and Joel teach each about their pe

Blessings of Lived Experience with Mental Health Distress, Flourishing: A Conversation With Karl Shallowhorn

Feb 28th, 2023 38m 7s

Karl Shallowhorn and Joel talk about lived experience with mental health distress, the different ways to improve the quality of life for people with mental health distress, Karl's own history and biography, personally and professionally, with l

Trailer

A Short Description Of Alchemical Dialogues and Unraveling Religion, A Collaboration

Jan 27th, 2023 4m 14s

In this brief talk, Henry Cretella, MD and Joel examine the history and relationship between Amber Light's Podcast 'Alchemical Dialogues' and Joel's own podcast 'Unraveling Religion.' Henry and Joel have been friends since 2014, and have cross-

'Where Do I Fit In?' An Examination of The People's Talmud, Judaism, Love and Hate, Antisemitism, and Human Unity: A Conversation with Rabbi Gedaliah Gurfein from Jerusalem

Dec 25th, 2022 50m 14s

Curiosity delving deeply into the Talmud and Rabbi Gedaliah Gurfein's website 'The People's Talmud' https://thepeoplestalmud.com/home (which is all in English). Rabbi Gedaliah Gurfein and Joel discuss a vast terrain of time and topics, in Judai

Part 2 Rabbis and Prophecy, Meditation, Judaism, and Mental Health: A Conversation With Reb Brian Yosef from Torah of Awakening

Dec 4th, 2022 27m 20s

In Part 2 of this talk, Reb Brian Yosef and Joel talk about the second and third Portals of Awareness, as taught by Reb Brian. Feeling the breath, the relation of the many meanings of the Hebrew word 'Ruach:' spirit, wind, breath, and soul. The