Inquire Within Podcast

Shahla Ettefagh has committed her life to assisting underprivileged children in India. she gave up her careers in USA and permanently relocated to India in 2002 to create Mother Miracle's Programs in slums of Rishikesh free of charge.Shahla Ettefagh has a master's degree in Architecture and a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Psychology with an emphasis in child development. In 1984, she started a successful commercial interior art design firm, as well as an adult community art school, in San  Francisco, California, USA. During repeated visits to India since 1995, Shahla was heartbroken after witnessing the desperation of Indian children in slum areas. Her life was not the same thereafter, and she became inspired to help children in India. In 2002, Shahla decided to give up her career and planned to permanently relocate to India. www.mothermiracle.org Email - shahla@mothermiracle.org

Stacie-Saraswati Dooreck is a Certified Gentle Integral Yoga Instructor, Certified Sivananda Hatha Yoga Instructor Since 1995, and  a Certified Kundalini teacher.  Stacie used chair yoga while healing from an illness and continues to share with others the benefits of chair yoga. In 2011 she was featured on CBS Ch. 4 News Healthwatch teaching "Yoga for Seniors".  She created and leads SunLight Chair Yoga Teacher Trainings in the US and Bahamas ashrams and yoga studios, and teaches weekly Chair Yoga bay area Senior and Alzheimer homes and for companies.Resourceshttp://www.sunlightyoga.com/

John L. Martin has served as Airport Director of SFO since 1995. Prior to becoming Director, he served as the Airport’s Deputy Director for Business and Finance and has worked for the Airport Commission since 1981. He received a Masters Degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lawrence University. During his tenure as Airport Director, Mr. Martin oversaw one of the largest public works projects in the country at the time – the $2.4 billion SFO Master Plan, which included the construction of the now iconic International Terminal, a BART station linking the Airport to the Bay Area and a light-rail system connecting all terminals. Recent SFO accomplishments include the completion of Terminal 2, the first and only LEED Gold terminal in the United States, being designated by the San Francisco Business Times as the healthiest places to work among large companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and being named one of the best airports in North America by t

In this podcast Shayla Mihaly discussed her system to detox and cleanse without annoying shakes, powders, hunger or side effects.  Her system is affordable and will not interupt your daily life/routine.  To sign up for the cleanse go here:  http://CleanseEasy.com/summaryEnter the code "ilovedarren" and enjoy your cleanse for 1/2 price!To watch the free educational videos on cleansing, go here: http://CleanseEasy.comYou sign up, and receive a free video right away, and then another video every 2-3 days, for a total of 4 videos.For you podcast fans, the code is "darren12" and they will save $100 on the cleanse! Other resourse: www.abundanthealthsf.com

Listen to an inspiring interview on how yoga teacher Janessa Wells survived sexual assault through yoga and ultimately found her own voice through forgiveness.  Her traumatic experience and journey of healing has shaped her teaching and the sharing of yoga with her students. Email: j@janessawells.com Website: janessawells.com Organizations: SF Women Against Rape  353 18th St. #7, San Francisco, CA 94110 www.sfwar.org Impact Bay Area www.impactbayarea.com

History has demonstrated over and over again that humanity finds ways to utterly miss the punch line in God’s cosmic joke.  But every now and then an author comes along who finds humor in the divine and in doing so unveils profound truths that are easily hidden under layers of fundamentalism.  In this podcast, Tosha Silver reflects on her new book Outrageous Openness: Letting the Divine Take the Lead.     Resources  Tosha Silver’s website Purchase Outrageous Openness: Letting the Divine Take the Lead  

Most people think of the ancient practice of yoga as a purely physical one, but anyone who has maintained a deep practice for any length of time knows that the practice is even more intense on the psychological and emotional level.  In this podcast psychologist Marc Rappaport, MFT talks about the experience of becoming a yoga teacher and the profound yet intense psychological and emotional cleansing that so often occurs as a result of such rigorous training.   About Marc Marc is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Francisco, CA and has been licensed since 2007.  Having worked for the past 11 years in the Community Mental Health system, Marc has seen a diverse population of clients, from children and adolescents, to families and groups, as well as individuals.  This has been a dedication of Marc’s:  helping people to find their strengths and build on them, assisting them in managing their feelings and thoughts, guiding them to resolve crisis and challenges, steering them around pitfalls, and witn

Since the 1960's incidents of eating disorders have more than doubled as people the world over struggle with weight, diet and body image.    In this interview, Sue Louiseau shares her struggles with food addiction that trace back more than sixty years to her early childhood.    At her heaviest, Sue weighted over 300 pounds and suffered many health consequences as a result.    While she still struggles with food, she is currently at a much more manageable 175 pounds Resources Email Sue Overeaters Anonymous

Since adopting my son, I have had many people approach me with questions.  How did you do it?  Was it hard to do?  Did anyone care that you were single, gay or HIV+? Why did you choose a local adoption over a foreign adoption?  Family Builders is the agency that I worked with to fulfill my longtime dream of becoming a father. In this podcast I interview Jill Jacobs, Executive Director of Family Builders about the process of adopting children who are stuck in the foster care system. In the interview Jill talks about the process of adopting a child and shares some shocking statics about just how many children are in need of a loving home right here in the United States.    Resources Family Builders websiteDocumentary: Daddy & Pappa

All of us have a body and a gender identity, but few of us are forced to confront the depth of personal and cultural meaning these things hold. Author Nick Krieger shares his powerful story of self-discovery, growth, and empowerment.  Born Nina Krieger, Nick first identified as a lesbian only to realize that coming out sexually was only part of the journey.  Nina Here Nor There is not simply a memoir about gender awakening—It is a potent metaphor for the transformation that all of us must undertake to become fully actualized human beings. In this podcast Nick shares some of his journey and talks about the powerful role yoga played in his finding the courage and body acceptance to face the twists and turns that emerged on his path.Resources Nicks WebsiteWatch the Video Trailer for the BookBuy Nina Here Nor There: My Journey Beyond Gender PaperbackKindle eBook

Amrit Desai was one of the original gurus to come to the United States from India in the 1960s.  He founded the Kripalu Yoga Ashram in Massachusetts—the largest ashram in the West.   He, like most gurus, is not without controversy.  Yet in spite of the controversy, he has made an invaluable contribution to modern yoga and to the massive growth of yoga here in the West and he is considered one of the leading authorities on yoga in the world.  He is the author of numerous books on yoga, is a renown musician, lectures worldwide, and is featured in the documentary, Yoga Today: 100 Years of Yoga in America.   In this episode, Desai speaks about how to use the technique of yoga nidra, a yogic state of superconsciousness, to reduce stress and achieve profound changes in one’s life. Resources Amrit's Website

Judith Hanson Lasater has been teaching yoga since 1971.  She has studied directly with B.K.S Iyengar, is a physical therapist and holds a Ph.D. in East-West psychology.    She has taught and lectured the world over and is one of the original founders of Yoga Journal.   In this podcast, Judith talks about the physiological difference between rest and sleep and how restorative yoga allows us to tap into the physiological process of rest.  Through regular rest and relaxation, we can ultimately connect with our highest values and bring them into the world. Resources Judith's Website Restorative Yoga Teachers Directory Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times Living Your Yoga What We Say Matters

Les Leventhal is a popular San Francisco based yoga instructor who offers retreats and workshops around the world.  In this episode, Darren and Les talk about his upcoming retreat in Indonesia where he and his students will help Bumi Sehat, a natural birthing clinic which helps the poor families of the community who were being taken advantage of by the medical system.  By helping those in need, Les hopes to teach that yoga is more than perfecting one’s poses and that through internal and external work yoga shows its true benefits to the world. Resources Bumi Sehat Les' Website

Eric Maisel is a former novelist and psychological counselor turned creative coach with over 30 published books.  In this episode Darren and Eric discuss Mastering Creative Anxiety: 24 Lessons for Writers, Painters, Musicians, and Actors from America's Foremost Creativity Coach.  Through Eric’s 22 anxiety management techniques, we can help ours open up to the creative anxiety  that all creative workers will eventually face and manage it.  Through practice of self-awareness we can recognize when anxiety arises, causing roadblocks for ourselves.  By being in the present moment with the anxiety, and utilizing Eric’s techniques, we can expand into greater openness throughout the creative process. Resources Eric's Website Mastering Creative Anxiety: 24 Lessons for Writers, Painters, Musicians, and Actors from America's Foremost Creativity Coach

Dan Millman is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor.  After an intensive, twenty-year spiritual quest, Dan’s teaching found its form as the Peaceful Warrior’s Way, expressed fully in his books and lectures. His work continues to evolve over time, to meet the needs of a changing world.  Dan’s thirteen books, including Way of the Peaceful Warrior, have inspired and informed millions of readers in 29 languages worldwide. The feature film, “Peaceful Warrior,” starring Nick Nolte, was adapted from Dan’s first book, based upon incidents from his life.   In this episode, Dan and Darren talk about Dan’s new book The Four Purposes of Life. Dan talks about the life lessons that daily life teaches us and how immersing ourselves in the moment can bring the most fruitful lessons to those who practice this.  Drawing upon many traditions, Dan believes that finding your calling in life is part of necessary experimentation that we all need to do.  Beneath all of the

Sam Jackson is a renowned musician who’s pioneering work with the crystal singing bowls has become the sound track in hundreds of yoga classes and massage therapy offices.  The tones vibrate the listener to the core and frequently move people to deep states of meditation and evoke powerful emotions.  In this podcast Sam talks about his new CD Initiate: Crystal Bowls and Bamboo Flutes.   ResourcesSam’s Website Yoga on the Labyrinth at Grace CathedralExperience Sam’s Music LivePurchase Sam’s Music*Initiate: Crystal Bowls and Bamboo Flutes (iTunes • Compact Disc) Dropping into Stillness (iTunes • Compact Disc)* The bowls are best enjoyed in a CD quality recording

Jeffrey Small, Jr. is the author of the mystical thriller, The Breath of God, a popular blogger on Huffington Post, and an acclaimed speaker on religious and spirituality topics.  A student of world religions, Jeffrey has studied at Harvard and Yale and traveled the globe to study various religions.  In addition he is a successful real estate developer and champion amateur ballroom dancer along with his wife Alison.  He is also active in the Episcopal Church and board member of the General Theological Seminary in New York. Breath of God is a novel of suspense and spirituality.   It is the story of a graduate student who travels to the Himalayas to try to find linkages in the world religions and the antagonist zealots who try to protect their belief systems.  Throughout their journeys, the characters experience their own spiritual journeys. Jeffrey and Darren talk about St. Issa and the legend that Jesus traveled through the Middle East and India where he underwent his spiritual awakening and around which the

Kamini Desai is an author and teacher with an exciting and versatile body of teachings combining western psychology and eastern philosophy. In addition to assisting individuals towards higher levels of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, she delivers corporate training and conducts teacher trainings for the Amrita Yoga Institute. Kamini talks about growing up in an ashram, in the shadow of her famous yogi father as well as the life and love lessons she experienced beyond those years.  In recounting some of her lessons learned, she talks about opening our hearts to all experiences, painful and blissful, through unconditional love.  By working from within, we develop our capacity to bring peace and love to others.   Resources Kamini's Website Life Lessons Love Lessons: A Guru's Daughter Discovers Knowledge is Only Half the Journey  

Amrit Desai was one of the original gurus to come to the United States from India in the 1960s.  He founded the Kripalu Yoga Ashram in Massachusetts—the largest ashram in the West. He, like most gurus, is not without controversy.  Yet in spite of the controversy, he has made an invaluable contribution to modern yoga and to the massive growth of yoga here in the West and he is considered one of the leading authorities on yoga in the world.  He is the author of numerous books on yoga, is a renown musician, lectures worldwide, and is featured in the documentary, Yoga Today: 100 Years of Yoga in America. In this episode, Desai speaks about the guru-disciple relationship, the imperfection of the guru, kundalini awakening and the transformative shifts possible through the giving of shaktipat.     Resources Amrit Desai's Website

For thousands of years yoga masters have understood the connection between the breath and ones physical, emotional and mental health.  But because retraining old breathing patterns can be a difficult task, these powerful techniques were generally reserved for advanced yogis.  Nagabhushanam "Bobby" Peddi believes it is time to change that and he is using the iPhone and iPod to make the ancient art of breath regulation fun, easy and accessible.  Although he graduated from Edinburgh University with a degree in medicine and went on to become a surgeon, he left Western medicine to pursue his passion for preventative health. He is the co-Founder and CEO of Saagara, a “digital health” company that develops applications for mobile devices that help modern people live more balanced, healthful lives.   Resources SaagaraDownload the Lite iPhone App (free) Download the Full iPhone App (4.99)