Podcast
Connection Is The Medicine Podcast
Join Eaden Shantay as he welcomes beautiful souls exploring the art of Connection.
There has never been a more important time to connect and deepen. In connection, we learn, we heal and we nourish. As we nourish ourselves, we then have the capacity to nourish others.
Explore all the shows below in both video and audio formats. If you enjoy, please like, subscribe, comment and share which helps expand our reach.
Watch & Listen
Episode eighteen
[TOMMY ROSEN + EADEN SHANTAY]
In Episode 18 of the Connection Is The Medicine Podcast, Eaden Shantay sits down with Tommy Rosen, founder of Recovery 2.0 and author of Recovery 2.0: Move Beyond Addiction and Upgrade Your Life, for a heartfelt exploration of addiction, recovery, and the path toward greater freedom. Drawing from more than 35 years in recovery, Tommy shares the life-threatening bottom that changed the course of his life and the ongoing practice of living a spiritual life one day at a time. Together, they explore the difference between abstinence, sobriety, and true recovery, the role of desperation and surrender in creating lasting change, and how addiction becomes deeply wired into the nervous system. Tommy expands the conversation beyond drugs and alcohol to explore the many forms addiction can take through food, relationships, technology, money, negative thinking, and other patterns that keep us living “outside-in.” He also shares how Recovery 2.0 integrates traditional 12-step recovery with yoga, breathwork, meditation, community, and embodied practices to support a deeper transformation. This conversation offers a compassionate and empowering invitation to tell the truth, reconnect with ourselves, and discover what becomes possible when we choose a different way of living.
Episode seventeen
[SOLOCAST EADEN SHANTAY]
In his first solo episode of Connection Is The Medicine, Eaden Shantay offers a thoughtful and heartfelt exploration of one of life's most profound questions: how do we find the right spiritual path and teacher? Drawing from his own journey and years of spiritual practice, Eaden reflects on the importance of discernment, living the questions, embracing the unknown, and recognizing that each person's path is deeply personal and ever evolving. He also explores the opportunities and challenges of today's diverse spiritual landscape, the role of teachers as guides rather than idols, and how genuine practice must ultimately be embodied in our daily lives.
At the heart of this conversation is a simple yet profound reminder: we already are that which we seek. A true spiritual path and teacher are not meant to give us something we lack, but to help us uncover our true nature and deepen our connection to Self, Source, and Spirit. Whether you are just beginning your spiritual journey or have been walking the path for years, this episode offers practical wisdom, heartfelt encouragement, and an invitation to return home to what has always been within you.
Episode sixteen
[JOHN BRUNA + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this deeply moving episode of Connection Is The Medicine, Eaden Shantay welcomes dharma teacher, author, and spiritual director John Bruna for an inspiring conversation about resilience, healing, and the transformative power of compassion. John shares his remarkable journey from a childhood shaped by poverty, violence, addiction, and loss to a life of recovery, service, and spiritual awakening. Through raw honesty and heartfelt wisdom, he reflects on the pivotal moments that led him to sobriety, his path to becoming a Buddhist monk, meeting the Dalai Lama, and ultimately dedicating his life to helping others. Together, they explore the importance of meditation, accountability, discernment on the spiritual path, and the shift from asking, "How can I feel okay?" to "How can I be helpful?" John offers practical insights into living with greater purpose, cultivating compassion, and applying timeless wisdom to the challenges of modern life. This conversation is a powerful reminder that even our greatest hardships can become the foundation for profound growth, inner freedom, and a life of meaningful service.
Episode fifteen
[TRACEE STANLEY+ EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay sits down with yogi, teacher, bestselling author, and spiritual guide Tracee Stanley to explore the transformative journey that led her from modeling and Hollywood to a life devoted to yoga, spiritual practice, and self-remembrance. Drawing on more than 28 years of study in Sri Vidya Tantra and the teachings of the Himalayan Masters, Tracee shares how pivotal life experiences and moments of awakening guided her toward teaching yoga nidra, self-inquiry, ritual, and the integration of devotion into everyday life. Together, Eaden and Tracee explore her forthcoming book, Living Ritual: Infuse Each Day with Purpose and Spirit, and the idea that life itself is the practice, with ritual serving as a bridge between the ordinary and the sacred. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, cultivate presence, and rediscover the sacredness woven into the everyday moments of our lives.
Episode fourteen
[STEPHEN BROOKS + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay sits down with pioneering permaculture educator, ethnobotanist, and regenerative community builder Stephen Brooks to explore what it means to live in harmony with the Earth. Drawing on more than three decades of work in Costa Rica, Stephen shares how a formative encounter with the destructive impacts of industrial agriculture sparked his lifelong commitment to regenerative alternatives. Together, Eaden and Stephen explore permaculture, tropical food forests, biodiversity, soil health, sustainable communities, and the profound relationship between people and the living systems that sustain us. From founding Punta Mona and co-founding Envision Festival and Ecoversity to helping develop regenerative communities throughout Costa Rica, Stephen offers a vision of a future rooted in abundance, resilience, education, and reciprocity with nature. This conversation invites us to reimagine how we grow food, build communities, and participate in the healing of the Earth.
Episode thirteen
[BROOK LEVAN + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay welcomes Brook LeVan, artist, rancher, alchemist, biodynamic specialist, and co-founder of Sustainable Settings, for a profound exploration of our relationship with land, food, spirit, and the unseen forces that sustain life. Together, they explore biodynamic agriculture, regenerative land stewardship, indigenous wisdom, dowsing, divination, intention, and the importance of cultivating right relationship with the living world around us. Brook reflects on the legacy of colonization, the energetic history of the land, and the need to move beyond cultural conditioning and materialist ways of understanding reality toward more embodied, relational, and holistic forms of knowing. This conversation invites us to reconsider life as a dynamic, co-created system and to explore what becomes possible when we move from extraction and disconnection toward gratitude, intimacy, listening, and partnership with the Earth.
[KALI BASMAN + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay welcomes Dharma teacher Kali Basman for a rich exploration of the intersections between yoga, Buddhism, Internal Family Systems, somatic healing, and psychology. Kali shares how Buddhist psychology, IFS, and Yin Yoga can work together to support deeper self-understanding, embodied presence, and compassionate inner transformation. Together, Eaden and Kali explore the relationship between the body, mind, and spirit, weaving together anatomy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, trauma resolution, and contemplative practices as pathways toward healing. Drawing on her experience as an IFS coach, global health consultant, and Conscious Dying Coach and Sacred Passage Doula, Kali also offers insights into the profound transitions of life and death, inviting us to approach both inner inquiry and life's most significant passages with greater compassion, awareness, and presence.
Episode twelve
Episode eleven
[RON SPEAKER + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay sits down with Ron Speaker, an accomplished investment specialist, financial mentor, philanthropist, and dedicated father and husband. Drawing on nearly four decades in the financial markets, including 21 years at Janus Capital Group and 15 years as the founder of Equus Private Wealth Management, Ron shares insights from a career shaped by discipline, curiosity, mentorship, and a deep commitment to helping others thrive. Today, through financial education, The Finance Camp for teens, youth entrepreneurship initiatives, and his work with the Michael E. McGoldrick Charitable Foundation, Ron is focused on passing forward the wisdom and opportunities that shaped his own life. Together, Eaden and Ron explore the power of mentorship, the importance of financial literacy, and what it means to use success as a vehicle for creating a more empowered and connected future.
Episode ten
[TYLER STABLEFORD + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay sits down with Tyler Stableford, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, adventure photographer, and licensed psychotherapist specializing in trauma resolution, addiction, depression, and anxiety. Tyler shares the unexpected journey from capturing human resilience through powerful visual storytelling to helping people heal the inner landscapes shaped by trauma and difficult life experiences. Drawing on modalities including Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, AEDP, and Coherence Therapy, he explores the science and practice of healing, the transformative potential of psychedelic medicine, and the importance of making mental health care more accessible. Together, Eaden and Tyler explore the intersections of creativity, trauma, resilience, service, and human connection, offering a powerful perspective on what it means to continually evolve, transform, and find new ways to support the healing of ourselves and others.
Episode nine
[NEVIN ECKERT + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay welcomes Nevin Eckert, founder of TrueSpring Water Quality Solutions and a lifelong student of water, nature, and the systems that sustain life. With nearly three decades dedicated to understanding water’s physical and energetic qualities, Nevin shares how his experiences in forests, organic farming, environmental activism, and a deep study of natural science shaped his mission to reconnect people with the essential element at the foundation of health and vitality. Together, Eaden and Nevin explore the relationship between human health and environmental health, the importance of water quality and hydration, and the ways natural processes can inspire innovative approaches to water purification and transformation. Their conversation invites us to consider water not simply as something we consume, but as a living force that connects our bodies, our communities, and the greater natural world.
[GINA MURDOCK + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay welcomes Gina Murdock, founder of Lead with Love, a nonprofit rooted in the belief that we are all connected and that love is the ultimate intelligence. Gina shares her personal journey toward a deeper sense of community and purpose, including how her experience with motherhood led her to advocate for children through CASA, Court-Appointed Special Advocates, and ultimately inspired her work supporting caregivers through her Care for Caregivers initiative. Together, Eaden and Gina explore mindfulness, sacred activism, the relationship between being and doing, and the importance of bringing greater presence and compassion into the way we serve others. Their conversation weaves together insights from Internal Family Systems Therapy, Byron Katie, the Bwiti tradition of Gabon, and the natural world, offering a rich exploration of love, service, healing, and the many ways we can lead with love in our everyday lives.
Episode eight
Episode five
[ELLEN BRADLEY + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay sits down with Ellen Bradley, a mother, master yoga teacher, author, and visionary guide devoted to helping women and girls reconnect with their innate wisdom. Drawing on her experience worldschooling her three daughters across more than 40 countries, Ellen shares how a life rooted in presence, curiosity, connection, and the courage to step outside convention shaped her work and worldview. Together, Eaden and Ellen explore motherhood, education, liberation, sisterhood, and the power of practices such as yoga, breathwork, journaling, ritual, and self-inquiry to support emotional resilience and authentic self-expression. Through her work with The Ohana Project and her broader vision for a new paradigm of education and living, Ellen invites us to imagine a world rooted in compassion, community, curiosity, and love in action, while remembering that the path home to ourselves often begins with the courage to untether.
Episode six
[ELENA BROWER + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay sits down with Elena Brower, an internationally celebrated yoga and meditation teacher, bestselling author, poet, artist, mentor, and host of the Practice You Podcast. Drawing on decades of teaching and contemplative practice, Elena shares insights into presence, mindfulness, creativity, emotional intelligence, and the lifelong journey of cultivating a deeper relationship with ourselves. Together, Eaden and Elena explore the transformative power of practice, the importance of listening, the stages of studentship and self-discovery, and the ways yoga, meditation, art, and service can help us navigate life’s transitions with greater resilience and openness. Rooted in both ancient wisdom and compassionate engagement with the modern world, their conversation is an invitation to slow down, soften, and practice meeting ourselves and one another with greater awareness and care.
Episode seven
[DR. WILL EVANS + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode of Connection is the Medicine, Eaden Shantay sits down with Dr. Will Evans, a longtime emergency room physician whose exploration of health and wellness led him beyond conventional Western medicine and into the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and Tai Chi. Together, they explore the role of awareness, balance, heart coherence, nature, and connection in supporting a more integrated experience of health and well-being. Will reflects on the fear and overwhelm present in the world today, and how reconnecting with the natural world, the wisdom of the heart, and indigenous ways of understanding relationship can help guide us back toward balance and wholeness. From sacred geometry and the circle as a fundamental blueprint of life to the shift from doing to being, this conversation offers a thoughtful exploration of how we can build deeper alliances with ourselves, one another, and the world around us.
Episode four
[LINDSAY BRANHAM + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode, Eaden Shantay interviews Lindsay Branham, an environmental psychologist and eco-dula, who shares her profound journey of reconnecting with nature and the healing it has brought her.
Lindsay discusses her eco-awakening, the importance of understanding the subject-object relationship with nature, and how historical disconnection has shaped our current relationship with the environment.
She shares her personal healing journey through nature, the exploration of various healing modalities, and the impact of psychedelics on her life.
The conversation also delves into the concept of erotic ecology and the collective responsibility we have towards environmental justice.
Episode one
[ DEVA + EADEN SHANTAY ]
Join the founders as they discuss the importance of connection and how it can enhance our wellbeing.
They also speak about the foundation and the two locations where they offer programming for inspiration, connection and self-discovery: True Nature in Carbondale, CO and Loma Sagrada in Nosara, Costa Rica.
Episode two
[DEVA + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode, host Eaden Shantay sits down with wife Deva Shantay to discuss their transformative experience at an Ayurvedic Panchakarma retreat in Coimbatore, India.
They explore the principles of Ayurveda, the significance of Panchakarma as a cleansing process, and share personal insights and challenges faced during their 28-day journey.
The conversation emphasizes the importance of self-care, holistic health, and the integration of Ayurvedic practices into daily life for improved well-being and longevity.
Episode three
[AKAH JACKSON + EADEN SHANTAY]
In this episode, host Eaden Shantay sits down with Akah Jackson, a natural mystic and incredible storyteller. Akah is a medical Qi Gong instructor, Kundalini yoga teacher, recovery coach, musician and artist.
While Akah grew up in Jersey City, he spent summers running the fence line of his grandparents farm in Alabama. It was there, barefoot on the ground, that he first felt a deep connection with nature that would influence the trajectory of his life. He then studied art, Aikido, Qigong, plant medicine, Native American Spirituality, and the original teachings of Christ.
All these life experiences led him away from traditional western medicine, into the traditional healing practices of his ancestors and a life of service.
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Interested in sharing on the podcast?
Are you an artist, mother, athlete, musician, lover of the outdoors, caregiver… Do you have an inspirational story to share about how connection to self, community, nature or Spirit has positively impacted your life?
Please let us know if you’d like to have a conversation with Eaden Shantay about CONNECTION.