Rephonic
Artwork for Deconstructing Yourself

Deconstructing Yourself

Michael W. Taft
Meditation
Buddhism
Tara
Compassion
Tantra
Mindfulness
Women Empowerment
Vajrayana
Artificial Intelligence
Feminism
Inner Peace
Jhanas
Ayurveda
Non-Dual Love
Imagination
Psychedelics
Aghora
Death
Shadow Work
Social Media

Dedicated to liberation in all its forms, Deconstructing Yourself is passionate about fearlessly investigating, attempting, and questioning all things to do with awakening, meditation, mindfulness, brain hacking, consciousness, neurofeedback, and more.

Your host Michael W. Taft interviews some of the most interesting thinkers, authors, and teachers around, as well as other offerings. In this hard-... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes107Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureReligion & Spirituality

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Deconstructing Yourself

Latest Episodes

Host Michael Taft talks with Jake Orthwein about the self as a construction, the distinction between no-self and emptiness, the crucial difference between having a functional ego and being identified with it, psychedelics and meditation and ego disso... more

Host Michael Taft talks with meditation coach Peter McEwen about devotion in meditation practice, the need for stability in groundlessness, the ontological status of deities, common failure modes of practice, how to handle formless panic, the magical... more

Host Michael Taft continues his conversation with with Andrew Holecek about the transformative practice of Dark Retreat; the reasons behind the recent surge of interest in darkness practices; its relationship to the feminine principle and as an antid... more

Host Michael Taft talks with author David Godman about the sage Ramana Maharshi and his nondual view of the world, whether he considered taking sannyasa (renunciation) to be necessary to achieve awakening, the power of the physical presence of the gu... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Wisdom Podcast
The Wisdom PodcastThe Wisdom Podcast
Tricycle Talks
Tricycle TalksTricycle: The Buddhist Review

Recent Guests

Jake Orthwein
Filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York, and a Dharma student of Michael Taft.
The Waking Up App
Episode: Nonduality and the Ego with Jake Orthwein
David Godman
A scholar and author known for his extensive studies of Ramana Maharshi and his teachings.
Episode: A Conversation with David Godman
Andrew Holecek
Interdisciplinary scholar practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism, resident contemplative scholar.
Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies
Episode: Talking about Dark Retreat, with Andrew Holecek
Dr. Tucker Peck
A meditation teacher, clinical psychologist, author, and the founding director of the Open Dharma Foundation.
Open Dharma Foundation
Episode: Sanity and Sainthood, with Dr. Tucker Peck
Stephen Snyder
Buddhist teacher with extensive experience in meditation practices
Awakening Dharma
Episode: Awakening, Cessation, and Vulnerability, with Stephen Snyder
Dr. Robert Svoboda
American author and Ayurvedic doctor known for his teachings on Ayurveda, Jyotish, Tantra, and Eastern religion.
Episode: Tantra, Aghora, and Death, with Dr. Robert Svoboda
Anthony Metivier
Founder of the Magnetic Memory Method, known for his work on memory improvement.
Episode: Meditation and Memory with Anthony Metivier
Henry Shukman
Founder of the Original Love Meditation Program, spiritual director emeritus at Mountain Cloud Zen Center, author of several award-winning books.
Mountain Cloud Zen Center
Episode: Original Love with Henry Shukman
Peter McEwen
Meditation coach and founder of The Field
The Field
Episode: Practicing Tummo with Peter McEwen

Host

Michael Taft
Host and an experienced practitioner, focusing on the intersection of meditation and neuroscience. Engages with a variety of thinkers to explore contemporary spiritual practices.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 884 ratings
  • Excellent podcast

    Michael is a total legend. Down to earth, funny and relatable, unlike many other people in the deconstruction of self sphere. Thank you and keep up the great work. Peace and love x

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sethy B
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Understanding

    I don’t know of any other podcast like this!

    Really helps you to go a bit deeper into your spiritual and meditation journey!

    Look up Michael’s meditations as well

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DomWay!78
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • True, Authentic Depth

    I really enjoy this podcast because it covers one of the most fascinating aspects of the human experience (Buddhist meditation) in exquisite depth and from a place of obviously real personal experience, but it does so without any unnecessary obscurantism, mystifying religiosity, or new age hippie nonsense.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brett W. A.
    United States2 years ago
  • This podcast brought the dharma to life for me!

    I’ve listened to every episode and sometimes revisit them. An intellectual and heart-felt experience.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Moda108
    United States2 years ago
  • Wonderful!

    Michael's experience, hosting style, and guests have taught me so much about consciousness, the human mind, and spiritual practice. I love Michael's selection of topics and also the depth of the discussions. Wonderful pod!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gltaif
    Netherlands3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

There's a positive emphasis on the variety of guests, enhancing the breadth of topics discussed, which keeps the content fresh and relevant.
Listeners appreciate the deep and authentic discussions facilitated by the host, often highlighting his engaging interviewing style.
The explorative nature of the topics covered is frequently noted, making it appealing for those seeking authentic spiritual conversations.
Many reviews commend the blend of personal experience with expert opinions, offering insights that resonate well with personal journeys in meditation.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Talking about Dark Retreat, with Andrew Holecek
Q: What are some ways to get going with Dark Retreat?
Start with curiosity and small doses of darkness at home, using eye masks or dark spaces, and engage in complete stillness.
Talking about Dark Retreat, with Andrew Holecek
Q: What is the relationship between going into the dark like this and the alaya-vijnana?
The alaya-vijnana is the reduction base of samsara, and darkness facilitates a deeper understanding of self-construction and the nature of the mind.
Awakening, Cessation, and Vulnerability, with Stephen Snyder
Q: What is your overall view of challenging emotion?
Challenging emotions are important to recognize as they can lead to deeper understanding and awakening; it's beneficial to engage with them rather than avoiding them.
Tantra, Aghora, and Death, with Dr. Robert Svoboda
Q: Was there a particular recommendation for how to deal with these binding karmas?
He recommended working with ancestors and understanding runanubandhanas very carefully, emphasizing the importance of managing relationships wisely.
Tantra, Aghora, and Death, with Dr. Robert Svoboda
Q: What do you think was the most important thing Vimalananda transmitted to you?
The most important lesson was the reality and inevitability of death, and the need to align oneself with it in life.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Deconstructing Yourself

What is Deconstructing Yourself about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the exploration of liberation, a strong emphasis is placed on meditation, mindfulness, and consciousness. Engaging discussions often involve contemporary interpretations of ancient practices, including various forms of Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as topics like neurofeedback and consciousness hacking. Listeners can expect vibrant, authentic conversations with a diverse array of guests, fostering insights that challenge traditional perspectives on spirituality and self-awareness. By addressing both modern existential concerns and ancient wisdom, the content encourages individuals to reflect on their paths to understanding the self and the challenges of the contemporary spiritual landscape.

Where can I find podcast stats for Deconstructing Yourself?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Deconstructing Yourself. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Deconstructing Yourself and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Deconstructing Yourself get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Deconstructing Yourself, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Deconstructing Yourself?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Deconstructing Yourself, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Deconstructing Yourself have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Deconstructing Yourself has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Deconstructing Yourself?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Deconstructing Yourself:

1. The Wisdom Podcast
2. Buddha at the Gas Pump
3. Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein
4. Tricycle Talks
5. Rupert Spira Podcast

How many episodes of Deconstructing Yourself are there?

Deconstructing Yourself launched 8 years ago and published 107 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Deconstructing Yourself?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Deconstructing Yourself?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Deconstructing Yourself from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Deconstructing Yourself?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Deconstructing Yourself. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Deconstructing Yourself?

Recent guests on Deconstructing Yourself include:

1. Jake Orthwein
2. David Godman
3. Andrew Holecek
4. Dr. Tucker Peck
5. Stephen Snyder
6. Dr. Robert Svoboda
7. Anthony Metivier
8. Henry Shukman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days