The Spiritual Ninja Podcast

00:16:10

Justin Michelson on Finding Freedom in Awareness |...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/10/06

What happens when you stop identifying with everything happening in your mind and simply rest in awareness?In the third and final conversation with Buddhist teacher Justin Michelson, Jonathan Hewitt explores the fourth foundation of mindfulness from the Satipatthana Sutta and the deeper freedom that can emerge through sustained mindfulness practice.After exploring the body in Episode 1 and feelings and mind states in Episode 2, Justin takes the conversation one step further: What happens when we

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00:26:10

You Are Not Your Emotions: Buddhist Wisdom for...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/09/29

You are not your emotions. In this second conversation with Buddhist teacher Justin Michelson, Jonathan Hewitt explores how Buddhist mindfulness can help us relate to difficult emotions without becoming consumed by them.Drawing from the Satipatthana Sutta, Justin introduces the second and third foundations of mindfulness: noticing pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral feeling tones, and becoming aware of mind states such as anger, fear, sadness, anxiety, and depression.Rather than trying to get rid of

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00:26:10

Justin Michelson on How Mindfulness Brings You Back...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/09/22

What if the way to become more present isn't to think harder, but to come back to your body?In this episode of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt sits down with Buddhist teacher Justin Michelson to explore the Satipatthana Sutta, one of the foundational Buddhist teachings on mindfulness.Justin explains how sati—often translated as mindfulness—can also be understood as remembering: remembering to come back to what is already happening instead of constantly living in our thoughts, trying

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00:09:27

The Human Moral Code: A Simple Way to Live Better

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/09/18

How should we live? Throughout history, people across cultures, religions, and philosophies have asked this fundamental question. In this episode, Jonathan Hewitt explores a simple human moral code built around three principles: kindness toward yourself, kindness toward others, and kindness toward the environment.But kindness isn't simply about being nice. It can require courage, responsibility, respect, boundaries, awareness, and accountability.Jonathan explores how this simple framework can

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00:39:44

What the Tao Te Ching Teaches About Living Naturally...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/09/15

What does it mean to truly live naturally?In this episode of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt continues his conversation with Dr. Neale Lundgren about the Tao Te Ching and explores one of Taoism's deepest ideas: Ziran — living naturally, spontaneously, and in harmony with the way of life.Dr. Lundgren shares how his years as a Benedictine monk and his experiences in nature eventually led him toward Taoism, Qigong, and a deeper understanding of the Tao.Together, Jonathan and Dr

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00:28:31

How Taoism Helps You Untie the Knots of Stress,...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/09/09

What if the way out of stress, anxiety, and overthinking isn't to fight them—but to soften?In this episode of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt continues his conversation with Dr. Neale Lundgren about the Tao Te Ching, exploring Chapter 56 and its surprisingly practical approach to finding greater peace and awareness.The passage offers a simple sequence:Close your mouth.Block the door.Quiet your senses.Blunt the sharpness.Untie the tangles.Soften the brightness.Be one with the

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00:34:06

How Taoist Meditation Can Change Your Life | Dr....

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/09/03

What can the Tao Te Ching teach us about living with greater peace, harmony, and authenticity?In the first episode of Season 2 of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt sits down with Dr. Neale Lundgren to explore the wisdom of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching, Qigong, nature, and the practice of living in harmony with life.Dr. Lundgren brings decades of experience with spiritual traditions, including Benedictine monasticism, psychology, world religions, and Qigong. Together, Jonathan and Neale

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00:16:01

What We Learned in Season 1 | Spiritual Ninja Podcast...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/09/01

What happens when you sit down with people from different spiritual traditions and ask how their beliefs actually shape the way they live?After an incredible first season of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt reflects on the conversations and personal stories that stayed with him most. While each guest came from a different background, many of their experiences pointed toward the same deeper qualities: presence, courage, kindness, service, connection, and learning to live from something

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01:00:26

Flying to God: An F-16 Pilot's Journey of Faith,...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/08/12

In this episode of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt sits down with Tom Cedel, retired Air Force F-16 pilot, university president, educator, scientist, and lifelong student of faith, to explore one of life's biggest questions: What are we here to do?Tom's remarkable journey takes him from flying F-16s and serving in the military to earning a PhD, leading a university, mentoring future leaders, and navigating cancer. Through all of it, one idea kept returning: vocation is not about

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01:01:19

Why Your Pain Doesn't Define You | Shanti Kelley on...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/08/07

What if your greatest struggles weren't meant to break you... but to awaken you?In this deeply meaningful conversation, Jonathan Hewitt sits down with Shanti Kelley, spiritual psychology professor, yoga therapist, and longtime student of Zen, Yoga Nidra, and non-dual philosophy, to explore one of life's biggest questions.How do we truly heal?Rather than trying to fix ourselves, Shanti shares why healing begins when we stop identifying with our pain and start recognizing the wholeness that

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00:47:33

Why Meditation Alone Isn't Enough for Spiritual...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/07/27

Is meditation enough to heal emotional pain and awaken spiritually? Or is there something deeper?In this episode of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt sits down with meditation teacher Andrew Keaveney to explore the deeper purpose of meditation, breathwork, spiritual practice, and returning home to yourself.Andrew shares how a lifelong search for truth led him through Buddhism, contemplative traditions, and decades of meditation practice. Together, they discuss why spiritual growth is not

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00:47:30

Can Meditation Heal Emotional Wounds? | Justin Michelson

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/07/21

Can meditation help us heal emotionally, or does true healing require something more?In this episode of The Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Justin Michelson about the connection between meditation, Buddhism, emotional healing, nature, and spiritual growth.Justin shares how a lifelong connection with nature led him toward meditation and Buddhist practice, and how decades of spiritual exploration eventually revealed something important: spiritual awakening and emotional healing

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01:14:26

What True Spirituality Looks Like Beyond Religion |...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/07/14

In this heartfelt Spiritual Ninja Podcast episode, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Shabana Serang, known as The Mercy Queen, about growing up with a father who taught her that spirituality begins with love, mercy, and intention rather than judgment or labels.Shabana shares how conversations with her father shaped her understanding of faith, compassion, and human connection from an early age. She reflects on arriving at UC Berkeley, the pressure to fit into religious identities, and the realization that

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01:00:55

From PTSD to Spiritual Bodybuilder: A Veteran’s...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/07/07

In this powerful Spiritual Ninja Podcast episode, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Vahum about his deeply personal journey from military service, combat trauma, PTSD, and emotional shutdown into bodywork, bodybuilding, spiritual awakening, surrender, and heart-centered healing.Vahum shares how serving in Iraq as part of the military bomb squad forced him to face death, fear, moral injury, and the deeper wounds he had carried long before combat. He opens up about medication, bodybuilding, somatic release,

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00:08:02

True Freedom Begins Within | Spiritual Ninja...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/06/30

As America approaches its 250th anniversary of freedom, Jonathan reflects on the deeper spiritual meaning of freedom and the natural human impulse to be free.True freedom is not simply having unlimited choices on the outside. Without wisdom, freedom can easily become chaos. We can become controlled by every thought, emotion, reaction, fear, habit, or outside pressure.The Spiritual Ninja path begins from the inside out.In this solo reflection, Jonathan explores freedom through the body, breath,

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00:47:30

Nursing from Love & Wisdom l Winston Miekle on...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/06/23

In this episode of The Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Winston Meikle about his spiritual journey, his lifelong work in nursing, and his vision for bringing more love, presence, and wisdom into healthcare.Winston shares how early experiences with meditation opened him to a deeper reality beyond the five senses, and how decades of nursing revealed moments of connection, healing, and transformation that could not be explained by technique alone.Together, Jonathan and Winston

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01:00:27

Rabbi Dan Ain: Modern Judaism, God & the Freedom to...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/06/16

Rabbi Dan joins Jonathan Hewitt on The Spiritual Ninja Podcast for a deep heart-to-heart conversation about Judaism, God, love, creativity, service, and the courage to live your unique spiritual path.Rabbi Dan shares how early childhood questions about death and existence opened a lifelong spiritual search. He reflects on growing up in Jewish tradition, studying philosophy, experiencing 9/11 in Manhattan, and feeling called to become a rabbi so he could serve others in moments of deep need.Together,

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00:54:02

From Prison to Spiritual Freedom: Timothy Harper on...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/06/08

In this powerful episode of The Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan sits down with Timothy Harper, who spent 37 years and 4 months in prison before being released on September 25, 2025.Timothy shares his deeply personal spiritual journey from abuse, anger, pain, survival, and darkness to surrender, forgiveness, meditation, service, and a profound relationship with God. He speaks about becoming spiritually free even while physically incarcerated, learning to watch his thoughts and emotions through

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01:07:48

You Are Enough: Meditation, Prison Dharma & Awakening...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/05/31

In this deeply moving episode of The Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Buddhist practitioner, artist, chaplain, and longtime prison meditation teacher Terry Conrad about meditation, awakening, love, compassion, and the simple but profound truth that we are already enough.Terry shares how his spiritual path began through childhood experiences in nature, exposure to Japanese art and Buddhist teachings, and later deepened through practice with Lama Surya Das, Vipassana retreats, and

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01:16:55

When Success Isn’t Enough: Faith, Surrender & Finding...

The Spiritual Ninja Podcast ·

2026/05/25

In this powerful episode of The Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Adam Roach, founder of ILoveCoachingCo, about the journey from outward success to deeper significance.Adam shares his story of :professional tennisbusiness success real estatecoachingfatherhoodfaithand the inner wake-up moments that led him to ask deeper questions: Who am I beyond performance? What does true success really mean? And how do we learn to listen to God, surrender control, and live from a deeper

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