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Ancient Futures

Daniel Simpson
Yoga
Buddhism
Bhagavad Gita
Yoga Philosophy
Psychedelics
Philosophy
Meditation
Tantra
Bhagavad Gītā
Dharma Code
Hinduism
Addiction
Politics
Yoga Principles
Colonialism
Therapeutic Use Of Psychedelics
Vedanta Tradition
British Colonialism
Hatha Yoga
Narendra Modi

Timeless wisdom for modern dilemmas, combining yoga philosophy, practical insight and critical thinking. Hosted by Daniel Simpson. ancientfutures.substack.com

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes89Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & CultureReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Ancient Futures

Latest Episodes

How much has yoga changed over the past 2,000 years? 🤔

In one sense, very little – assuming yoga means a state beyond mental activity, as ancient texts teach. However, nowadays, it mostly refers to something else – the regular practice of sequences... more

What if everything we think is a dream? Would nothing be real? Or might it reveal how to live in infinity, untroubled by suffering? 🤯

Tamara Cohen wrote her PhD about the Yogavāsiṣṭha – a text whose original name was the Mokṣopāya, or “means to lib... more

What might we learn about mental resilience from ancient Greek mythology? 💭

Sam Akbar is a clinical psychologist and Oxford-trained classicist. Her new book is The Odyssey Mindset, which explores timeless guidance from Homer’s epic on finding purpo... more

What if yoga meant technology, jihad or sex with multiple partners? 😳

That’s just a sample of the thought-provoking papers presented in Paris at the Yoga Darśana Yoga Sādhana conference last week. This podcast shares a few reflections on what was ... more

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Recent Guests

Tamara Cohen
Long-term Siddha Yoga practitioner and scholar of Yoga Vasistha
Episode: Liberating Insights – Tamara Cohen
Sam Akbar
Clinical psychologist and Oxford-trained classicist
Episode: The Odyssey Mindset – Sam Akbar
David Mazower
Former BBC journalist and author of Yiddish, A Global Culture; curator of the Yiddish Book Center exhibition
Author, Yiddish Book Center exhibition
Episode: Yiddishland – David Mazower
Ian Alexander
Contributor to yoga articles on Wikipedia; author and yoga practitioner
Wikipedia yoga editor
Episode: Propagandananda? – Ian Alexander
Dan Turello
Author of Connection, photographer, cultural historian, yoga and meditation practitioner
Author of Connection
Episode: Human Technology – Dan Turello
Ron Purser
Author of McMindfulness; Professor of Management at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
Episode: Beyond McMindfulness – Ron Purser
Sonia Faleiro
Writer of narrative non-fiction; author of The Robe and the Sword
Author, The Robe and the Sword
Episode: Buddhist Violence – Sonia Faleiro
Valentin Gerlier
Scholar, musician and author; founder of the School of Sophia
School of Sophia
Episode: The Love of Wisdom – Valentin Gerlier
Tova Olsson
Scholar of religion and yoga teacher researching contemporary Tantra in Europe.
Episode: Contemporary Tantra – Tova Olsson

Host

Daniel Simpson
Host of Ancient Futures

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 50 ratings
  • Daniel’s excellent podcast!

    Daniel is always interesting, challenging and thoughtful. I really appreciate all he does in these podcasts - great stuff!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RanjuRoy
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Always a great listen.

    Daniel has such interesting guests and conversations around yoga, and is always very respectful. He asks some great questions, giving them time to respond, and never interrupting their flow. I always look forward to the next podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NakedYogi
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are interesting and the host asks great questions without interrupting the flow.
Daniel's thoughtful and challenging conversations are consistently engaging and insightful.
Always a great listen with respectful, in-depth discussions about yoga and philosophy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Liberating Insights – Tamara Cohen
Q: What is the method of the text, and how does it relate to yoga and self-knowledge?
The guest highlights two yogas—atmajnana (self-knowledge) and prana-samrodha (cessation of prana)—with a bias toward knowledge, and discusses how bhavana (imagining) and replacing false identifications function as techniques toward liberated living.
Liberating Insights – Tamara Cohen
Q: Could you say a little bit about what that text is and how you came to be so immersed in it?
Tamara explains the Moksha Paya (Yoga Vasistha) as a text with multiple layers—advaita-leaning, dharmic framing, and epic-like storytelling—that guides toward liberation through seeing the nature of reality as consciousness, while remaining meaningful for worldly life.
The Odyssey Mindset – Sam Akbar
Q: What role do characters like Penelope play in understanding agency and resilience in difficult circumstances?
Penelope demonstrates that agency can operate in the margins of power and through strategic action, illustrating that resilience includes cunning, patience, and creative problem-solving even when direct leadership seems limited.
The Odyssey Mindset – Sam Akbar
Q: How does the Odyssey relate to modern therapy approaches like ACT and CBt while still drawing from ancient traditions?
Ancient traditions provide a moral and cognitive map, while modern therapies offer structured techniques; together they create a more holistic path for recognizing thoughts and emotions, accepting reality, and taking meaningful action.
The Odyssey Mindset – Sam Akbar
Q: What made you think about writing a book that compared the story of The Odyssey to the work of a psychologist, somebody trying to grapple with the problems people struggle with day to day in the 21st century?
The Odyssey speaks to timeless human experiences and emotions; literature captures psychology in a way that complements clinical approaches, offering a framework to help people understand and work with their own struggles through narrative and metaphor.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ancient Futures

What is Ancient Futures about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program blends yoga philosophy with critical thinking, featuring conversations that connect ancient wisdom to modern dilemmas. Episodes frequently explore consciousness, ethics, and practical applications of spiritual ideas in everyday life, often through scholarly analysis, philosophical context, and public discourse about religion, culture, and society. Notable strengths include thoughtful moderation, a rigorous yet accessible approach to complex topics, and a track record of bringing together scholars, practitioners, and thinkers to illuminate how traditional ideas can inform contemporary personal and professional challenges. The show often stands out for its willingness to challenge assumptions and for presenting nuanced perspectiv... more

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1. Deconstructing Yourself
2. The Emerald
3. The Yogic Studies Podcast
4. Emergence Magazine Podcast
5. Yogaland Podcast

How many episodes of Ancient Futures are there?

Ancient Futures launched 3 years ago and published 89 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Ancient Futures?

Recent guests on Ancient Futures include:

1. Tamara Cohen
2. Sam Akbar
3. David Mazower
4. Ian Alexander
5. Dan Turello
6. Ron Purser
7. Sonia Faleiro
8. Valentin Gerlier

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