Best Maya Arthur Podcasts (2025)

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10 Lessons from the ancient Maya - revelations by Arthur Demarest 1:02:09

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10d ago1:02:09

1:02:09

“Be worried about extreme success,” says Arthur Demarest,world-renowned Maya expert, professor, and archaeologist. What can we learn from the ancient Maya civilization? By studying ancient civilizations and their collapses, Dr.Demarest has identified key symptoms of decline and developed a theory on apogee. In this second episode of a two-part seri…

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Cole Arthur Riley: embodiment and memory 50:21

4h ago50:21

50:21

Episode 94 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with author and poet Cole Arthur Riley. They explore embodiment, resisting meritocracy, story, collective memory, letter writing, resistance, the tension between practice and belief, interiority, and mu…

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Calming the mind and body for sleep, by Rohan Gunatillake 12:10

3d ago12:10

12:10

Having trouble quieting your mind at night? Join Rohan for this soothing, nighttime meditation designed to ease your body and mind into a restful sleep. Drawing on the close connection between mindfulness and relaxation, Rohan takes you step by step through the process of turning down your senses until all that remains is the quiet calm of rest. Se…

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Trusting love’s infinite possibilities, by Morgan Saylor 37:43

11d ago37:43

37:43

Morgan Saylor is an actor of stage and screen, best known for her portrayal of the teenage Dana Brody in the series “Homeland.” But, before acting, her first passion was mathematics. Morgan unfolds how math has given her a way to approach the unknown with trust and openness, accepting that each moment and every relationship contains infinite possib…

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Diana Nyad: Giving life everything we’ve got 31:55

18d ago31:55

31:55

By the 1980s, Diana Nyad had left competitive swimming behind, embarking on a successful career as a sports broadcaster. But after a meeting with “Superman” actor Christopher Reeve — whose throw from a horse left him paralyzed from the shoulders down — she is reminded of a challenge that fueled her early athletic ambitions, and re-commits to living…

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9 The Maya Mystery - uncovered by the real Indiana Jones 1:44:01

21d ago1:44:01

1:44:01

Who were the ancient Maya, what did they achieve, and why did their great civilization eventually collapse? In this episode, world-renowned Maya expert and archaeologist Arthur Demarest shares his deep knowledge of the Maya civilization – and reflects on its relevance to today’s world. He takes us on an adventure through the jungles in search of lo…

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Reaching our full potential is not a solo act, by Terence Blanchard 35:58

25d ago35:58

35:58

As a legendary Jazz trumpeter, winner of 5 Grammy Awards, and composer of over 60 films including the works of director Spike Lee, it’s easy to assume Terence Blanchard is someone with a lot of confidence. But growing up in New Orleans, he’s just a shy kid with glasses and a lot of uncertainty. In this week’s episode, Terence tells the story of how…

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Asking for what we need, by Kathryn Nicolai 35:17

1M ago35:17

35:17

Kathryn Nicolai, creator of the Nothing Much Happens podcast, learns at an early age to diminish her own needs. She never wants to become a problem for other people, so she pretends like she’s always okay. When she gets an opportunity to study abroad in Italy, a difficult experience with her host family causes her to retreat further into herself. I…

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Building trust in ourselves, by Rohan Gunatillake 17:39

1M ago17:39

17:39

Today’s meditation features a special guest, Rohan’s 7 year-old son, Arne. Letting go can come in stages, or so Rohan experiences on a recent holiday with his family. As his 7 year-old son Arne builds his swimming skills, Rohan realizes he’s gone from an active, hands-on support role, to one of a patient observer. It’s in this letting go that both …

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Loving our living world, by Carl Safina 30:38

2M ago30:38

30:38

We all need to love and be loved, we all want to feel not alone in this world. And this is true for all of the living world, says ecologist and author Carl Safina. Carl has spent his whole life interacting with the wild, from raising pigeons on a Brooklyn rooftop to trekking through the frozen landscape of Antarctica and the vast African savanna. A…

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Discovering the path to honor, by Ghuan Featherstone 31:28

2M ago31:28

31:28

Ghuan Featherstone is determined to go his own way – to live with courage, kindness, and faith in justice. To be a cowboy. But growing up in a neighborhood rife with gang violence, the forces marshaled against him feel beyond his control. After visiting a little-known horse stable in South Central LA, Ghuan discovers a path to honor on the back of …

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Let your body be the guide, by Andrea Gibson 37:49

2M ago37:49

37:49

What do you do when your own body feels like the enemy? Spoken word artist and activist Andrea Gibson (You Better Be Lightning) spends years struggling with chronic illness, feeling as if their body is at odds with their anxious mind. It’s only when they learn to surrender control and embrace their physical sensations that they allow their body to …

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Stay open to find belonging, by Tami Simon 35:10

2M ago35:10

35:10

Tami Simon, founder of the spiritual wisdom publishing house Sounds True, goes through much of her life feeling like an alien. Often misunderstood, Tami yearns to discover where she fits in. In today’s episode, she shares the story of how an otherworldly experience teaches her that she can tune into the frequency of finding belonging. Each episode …

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Creative potential is everywhere, by Jon Foreman 35:23

2M ago35:23

35:23

Jon Foreman is a land artist who uses the raw materials of the environment to create breathtaking ephemeral pieces. His ability to see creative potential all around him is his superpower, but when his life presents him with the unexpected, he has to become more narrowly focused on his responsibilities. In today’s episode, Jon tells the story of how…

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What kindness means to us 10:18

3M ago10:18

10:18

At a time when it feels like the world needs kindness more than ever, Rohan and the Meditative Story team share a unique, immersive exploration of the ways kindness can show up in all of our lives, featuring contributions from the Meditative Story community. This purposefully crafted pause from the rigors of daily life is an invitation to cultivate…

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There’s nobody like you, by Eddie Huang 33:07

3M ago33:07

33:07

In 2009, Eddie Huang, author of the acclaimed memoir Fresh Off the Boat, opens Baohaus, his first Taiwanese restaurant on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. It’s a wild, chaotic gamble that exemplifies Eddie’s spirit. But as the restaurant’s success grows, Eddie is faced with the challenge of either sticking to his principles or living someone else’s dre…

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Letting go of the need to do it all, by Meredith Goldstein 37:18

3M ago37:18

37:18

Meredith Goldstein writes the wildly popular Love Letters column in the Boston Globe, but for much of her life, she’s viewed romantic relationships as a trap. Meredith grows up seeing the limitations of her mom’s insular life, and knows she wants more for herself. It’s only when the pandemic forces her to slow down that she realizes the beauty in g…

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Experiencing the world through my senses, by Fred Minnick 38:54

3M ago38:54

38:54

When Fred Minnick returns from his military service as a photographer documenting the war in Iraq, he finds himself haunted by what he saw through the lens of his camera. Trauma, as a result of the battlefield and his childhood, holds a grip on him until a bag of barbecue potato chips unlocks something in his brain. An untapped talent — he was born…

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8 Two Hands, one Legacy - behind the scenes with Lorenzo Quinn 37:38

4M ago37:38

37:38

The largest artwork in the Didrichsen Art Museum’s collection is a monumental sculpture by Lorenzo Quinn, commissioned for the museum’s 60th anniversary 2025. In this episode, we go behind the scenes to learn why it was commissioned, how the artist was chosen, and what inspired its design and meaning. Hear directly from Quinn in an intimate intervi…

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Standing in my own truth, by Moj Mahdara 26:40

4M ago26:40

26:40

No boys. No dresses. As a teen, Moj Mahdara, founder of the fashion media company Beautycon, knows she’s different. And growing up in a traditional Iranian household, she struggles to reveal her own true identity. When two long-term houseguests descend — her grandmothers — Moj is shocked to learn that each woman has a surprising story of identity o…

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Show up for yourself to show up for others, by Jefferson Fisher 38:03

4M ago38:03

38:03

Lawyer and master communicator Jefferson Fisher loves taking care of other people. You can feel this in the supportive videos he posts on his wildly popular social media channels. Again and again he puts the wants and needs of others ahead of his own. In his story this week, Jefferson discovers the power of showing up for himself, and when he does,…

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Giving birth to a wiser self, by Elizabeth Lesser 31:45

4M ago31:45

31:45

One icy morning on a Vermont farm, Elizabeth Lesser is witness to a miraculous thing: the birth of a bleary, bleating baby lamb. Years later, as a midwife, she is still filled with this sense of awe and wonder at every birth. It’s through that process of coaching new life into the world, she learns how to sit through the difficult – even the painfu…

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Three love stories, by Rohan Gunatillake 15:42

4M ago15:42

15:42

Love sneaks up on us. It’s a sudden awakening from the mundane. It’s divinity in the everyday. In this special episode, Rohan shares a trio of stories about his love, Lucy. The childlike purity and sweeping hold of love will wash over you in this intimate listening experience from Meditative Story’s very own Rohan. Each episode of Meditative Story …

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The joy of being an unwilling traveler through life, by Maya Shankar 30:51

5M ago30:51

30:51

Maya Shankar is a cognitive neuroscientist and host of the award-winning podcast A Slight Change of Plans. As a girl, she struggles with taking things too seriously: herself, the sufferings of others, the hypothetical misfortunes she imagines for the future. She turns to her father for perspective — and he takes her on a memorable walk, one that he…

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Courtney Martin and Golda Arthur wrap season 2 34:38

5M ago34:38

34:38

Courtney and producer Golda talk about how the series was created and look back at some memorable moments from our guests.By The Wise Unknown

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Mary Kay McDermott: The Spirit and Song and Dance 41:30

5M ago41:30

41:30

Episode 93 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.Thanks for listening to Messy Jesus Business! We're taking our summer break after this episode. Look for new interviews in your podcast feed starting in late September 2025.In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Mary Kay McDermott about…

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Mud, sweat, and tears, by Shani Tran 33:49

5M ago33:49

33:49

Midway through a grueling, muddy obstacle course, Shani Tran is so grateful for the support of her father, her teammate, who cheers her on and pulls her through. But in other parts of life, she knows, he’s just not there for her in the same way. And that’s ... okay. She shares three stories — with humor, and with honesty — that build to a lifelong …

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"Transformative intimacy" 3:41

5M ago3:41

3:41

Minisode: Listen to Courtney's ever so brief audio essay on the thing she can't forget from her conversation with Leah Solomon.By The Wise Unknown

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Learning to heal by learning to feel, by Niall Breslin 39:53

5M ago39:53

39:53

From the outside, Niall Breslin — known by legions of Irish fans as Bressie — appears to have led a charmed life. He’s had a professional Rugby career, achieved national stardom as a musician, and been a coach on The Voice of Ireland. But behind all those achievements lies Niall’s struggle with repressed emotions and generations of unresolved pain.…

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Rabbi Sharon Brous and Leah Solomon 33:10

5M ago33:10

33:10

Rabbi Sharon Brous and Leah SolomonBy The Wise Unknown

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Sr. Dr. Chero Chuma: Discomfort and Radical Hospitality 40:06

5M ago40:06

40:06

Episode 92 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Sr. Dr. Chero Chuma about privilege, racism, surrender, discomfort, mental health and homelessness, human dignity, radical hospitality, burnout, therapy, and messiness.Podcast: Play in new window |…

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Rewrite your inner monologue, by Kim Fields 21:58

5M ago21:58

21:58

When the way we talk about our own bodies becomes negative and self-deprecating, it’s time to rewrite that inner monologue. Actress and director Kim Fields, star of The Facts of Life, Living Single, and the Netflix series The Upshaws, leads us through a process of reevaluating the words we say to ourselves. It’s an invitation to send love to every …

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Joseph Goldstein: It's ok not to know 39:53

6M ago39:53

39:53

Co-founder of Insight Meditation Society (IMS) and author of several popular books on Buddhism, Joseph Goldstein has been a legend in the world of mindfulness for nearly half a century. But when he returned to US from India in the early ‘70s, penniless and without a job prospect, he had no way of knowing what his future held. This week, Joseph tell…

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Living at Odds - Two Partisans, One Corner 40:07

6M ago40:07

40:07

Wise Unknown listeners, we're bringing you the first episode of a new series from our friends over at Slate. Living at Odds is a new How To! series about what’s holding us together when so much threatens to break us apart. Host Courtney Martin talks with two street vendors who operated rivaling merch tents at the same busy intersection during the 2…

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Michael Poffenberger: Contemplation and Transformation 45:32

6M ago45:32

45:32

Episode 91 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Michael Poffenberger about activism, contemplation, interiority, right relationships and the true self, vulnerability and control, transformation, wholeness, and much more.Podcast: Play in new wind…

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Finding possibility in life’s forced pauses, by AD 34:38

6M ago34:38

34:38

As a WNBA player, AD is used to saying, “I’m good” as an automatic response, no matter the injury. It’s what allows them to be a successful athlete, and to wrap their whole self around that identity. But when basketball is fully stripped away from them, they have to look inward to explore who they are — and the full range of identity available to t…

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"Old Souls" 7:54

6M ago7:54

7:54

Minisode: listen to Courtney's ever so brief audio essay reflecting on the theme of being an 'old soul', and the wisdom of children, featuring a previous guest, Isabel Allende's wise unknown, Lori Barra.By The Wise Unknown

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Staying insightful, playful, and alert, by Rohan Gunatillake 16:06

6M ago16:06

16:06

This April Fool’s Day, Rohan embraces the sense of play that exists in all of us, designing a unique meditation to foster a feeling of alertness on this day of pranks. He then invites you to take on the mantle of the wise fool, that all-seeing court jester who upends convention and ensures that we all see the world through a brighter lens. If this …

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W.Kamau Bell and Dwayne Kennedy 39:09

6M ago39:09

39:09

W. Kamau Bell introduces Courtney to Dwayne Kennedy, a favorite comedian of people like Marc Maron and Chris Rock - so why hasn’t Dwayne ever “made it big?” This episode is from Wise Unknown's first season - listen for more quiet wisdom here: https://thewiseunknown.com/ Who’s YOUR Wise Unknown? Tell us about them - write to us at thewiseunknown7@gm…

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Elena Segura: Immigration Reform and the Radicalness of Christianity 35:06

6M ago35:06

35:06

Episode 90 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.(We had some issues with Elena's microphone during recording, our apologies! -Colin)In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Elena Segura about Evangelicalism, conversion, social justice, the radicalness of Mass, immigration reform, silen…

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To swim in a sea of stars, by Eric Whitacre 33:38

6M ago33:38

33:38

Choral music composer and conductor Eric Whitacre directs choirs around the globe, but as a kid in northern Nevada, he feels like the black sheep. He doesn’t know how to channel his endless energy to create meaningful connections or find his place in the world. His remarkable experiences with outer space, multi-part harmonies, and a (literal) leap …

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"Listening for the unsaid" 4:12

6M ago4:12

4:12

Listen to Courtney's ever so brief audio essay on the thing she can't forget from her conversation with Maya Millett.By The Wise Unknown

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Mini Interviews from RE Congress 16:29

6M ago16:29

16:29

A Special Episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Email | RSS | MoreAfter chatting with Lisa Hendey at RE Congress, Sister Julia had impromptu short interviews with some Congress attendees who passed by the FSPA booth. We heard a few of these voices last week, and this mini s…

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My monkey teacher, by Dr. Laurie Santos 29:48

6M ago29:48

29:48

Psychology professor Dr. Laurie Santos is the host of The Happiness Lab podcast – and of Yale’s most popular course ever. (More than 3 million people have taken her "Science of Wellbeing" course online.) In this story, journey with Laurie to an island in Puerto Rico where she is one of only a few humans among thousands of monkeys. The company of no…

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Hanif Abdurraqib and Maya Millett 36:58

6M ago36:58

36:58

Bestselling author and poet Hanif Abdurraqib introduces Courtney to editor and producer Maya Millett.By The Wise Unknown

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Lisa M. Hendey Live from RE Congress 41:37

7M ago41:37

41:37

Episode 89 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.This special episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast was recorded live at RE Congress 2025. In this episode, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Lisa M. Hendey about CatholicMom.com, blogging and podcasting, unconditional love, the importance of questions, the Chime Travelers, belo…

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I focus on sensations that ground me, by Dallas Taylor 37:28

7M ago37:28

37:28

Today, Dallas Taylor is a creative director and creator of the beloved podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz. But before this, he had another life – one that brought immense pressure. He shares the story of how he comes to realize that feeling the weight of anxiety and fear doesn’t mean he’s broken. It means he’s human. Each episode of Meditative Story com…

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"Be present like a dog" 3:00

7M ago3:00

3:00

Minisode: Listen to Courtney's ever so brief audio essay on the thing she can't forget from her conversation with Allison Cordona. Who’s YOUR Wise Unknown? Tell us about them - write to us at [email protected] or send us a short voice note, and we might use it in our next episode.By The Wise Unknown

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Belonging can be found far from home, by Morgan Harper Nichols 37:07

7M ago37:07

37:07

Morgan Harper Nichols is a songwriter, poet, artist, and musician who was diagnosed with autism as an adult. Growing up, she yearns to see the wider world outside her rural home, and to embark on adventures like Bilbo Baggins. When she spends a semester studying abroad, she finds herself surrounded by the unfamiliar — and feeling rejected and lonel…

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Sarah Jones & Allison Cardona 21:53

7M ago21:53

21:53

Tony Award-winning visionary and solo-performer Sarah introduces Courtney to animal and human rights advocate, Allison. Who’s YOUR Wise Unknown? Tell us about them - write to us at [email protected] or send us a short voice note, and we might use it in our next episode.By The Wise Unknown