In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Aaron Stryker, co-founder and executive director of Dharma Gates, a nonprofit making deep meditation retreats accessible to young adults. Aaron shares how his journey—from discovering Ashtanga Yoga at 18 to practicing at a Zen monastery—inspired him to create spaces for young people to explore meditation as a tool for resilience and self-discovery. He reflects on his unexpected path to leadership, lessons learned while building Dharma Gates, and how Buddhist values like wisdom and compassion guide his approach. Aaron also offers advice on navigating life with intention, the importance of adaptability, and what it means to lead from the heart. Learn more about Dharma Gates at dharma-gates.org. You can also check out their Instagram page @dharma.gates.
Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram.
Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.
Popular Podcasts
United States of Kennedy
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com