Guru Viking Podcast
The Guru Viking Podcast specializes in in-depth interviews with remarkable figures in the world of meditation, spirituality, and self development. Steve travels internationally teaching somatic practices and meditation, and leads explorations in contemplative, mystic, & relational realms.
Episodes
July 18, 2025 • 151 mins
In this episode I am joined by Alex W, long term practitioner of Zen, Pragmatic Dharma, and Western Occultism.
Alex describes his journey from elite upbringing in Geneva; through NeoPlatonism, Zen practice, and magick; to advanced states of spiritual attainment and insight.
Alex tells stories of his discipleships under pragmatic dharma teacher Kenneth Folk and renowned occultist Alan Chapman and details the lead up to, and attain...
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July 17, 2025 • 81 mins
I was recently interviewed by Jake and Alex from the @mysterycollege about a wide range of topics.
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Mystery College Shownotes:
Join Steve James—host of the acclaimed Guru Viking Podcast and founder of the Movement Koan Method—as he sits down with Jake and Alex Leonhart at the Mystery College Podcast to share his remarkable spiritual journey. Discover Steve’s unique insights gained from years of contemplative study, teachin...
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July 11, 2025 • 105 mins
In this episode I host a dialogue between Dr Caroline van Damme and Lama Justin von Bujdoss.
Dr Caroline Van Damme is an adult psychiatrist and family and systemic psychotherapist specialising in chronic psychotic disorders, and co-teacher of Buddhist guru and Sowa Rigpa doctor Nida Chenagtsang.
Lama Justin von Bujdoss is an American Buddhist teacher, dark retreat yogi, founder and spiritual director of Yangti Yoga Retreat Cente...
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July 4, 2025 • 69 mins
In this episode I am joined by Ani Pema, an American nun in the Tibetan Buddhist religion and former swami in the Siddha Yoga organisation.
Ani Pema recalls her childhood in Boise Idaho, her high flying career in fashion working for Vogue magazine, and how dissatisfaction with the American dream set her on a spiritual search.
Ani Pema details her sixteen years of close discipleship and ordination under the renowned Siddha Yoga gu...
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June 27, 2025 • 101 mins
In this episode I am once again joined by Mary Shutan: author, occultist, and spiritual teacher.
Mary explains her activities as a modern spirit worker, reveals how to form and maintain working relationships with spirits, details the difference between spirit pacts and contracts, and warns about the unintended consequences of making deals with unknown beings.
Mary explores the problems associated with using the word “shaman”, of...
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June 20, 2025 • 98 mins
In this episode I am joined by Johan Hausen, Taoist teacher, translator, Chinese medicine practitioner, and founder of Purple Cloud Press.
Johan shares his life story from years of competitive Tae Kwon Do, through his travels and travails in China in search of a master, and to his eventual training and discipleship in the Wu Dang mountains.
Johan reflects on his years learning Classical and spoken Chinese, considers the challenge...
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June 13, 2025 • 112 mins
This trialogue continues a series of discussion exploring the latest interdisciplinary research into tantric completion stage practices such as yogas of dream, sleep, and death.
Dr Tawni Tidwell is a biocultural anthropologist and doctor of traditional Tibetan medicine.
Dr Michael Sheehy is the Director of Research at the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia.
Dr Julian Schott is an Indologist, Tibetologis...
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June 8, 2025 • 84 mins
I was recently interviewed by @gabikoyenov about a wide range of topics for his podcast.
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Gabi's shownotes:
In this enlightening episode, I'm joined by Steve James, known as Guru Viking, who delves into his unique life experiences and the genesis of his intriguing persona. Steve shares insights from living on a boat, his personal religious exploration, and the profound impact of martial arts on his approach to discipline a...
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June 6, 2025 • 88 mins
In this episode, I am once again joined by Dhammarato: a lineage teacher in the Thai Buddhist tradition.
Dhammarato critiques Western and Asian Buddhist forms, including the Mahasi method, and addresses misconceptions about stream entry.
Dhammarato comments on The Shorter Discourse to Mālunkyāputta, explains why the Buddha refused to teach on certain metaphysical subjects, challenges reincarnation, and questions mettā bhāvanā.
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May 30, 2025 • 80 mins
In this episode, I am once again joined by Lopon Yudron Wangmo, American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and author of several books including her recent “Clearing the Way to Awakening”.
Lopon Yudron Wangmo shares the story of her life, her childhood with a spiritualist mother, anecdotes of childhood psychic explorations in automatic writing and other techniques, and reflects on whether psychic abilities are inherent or cultivated.
L...
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May 28, 2025 • 61 mins
In this episode I host a dialogue between Stephen Snyder, meditation teacher and author, and Mark Mininberg, Zen master and dharma heir to Bernie Glassman.
Stephen and Mark discuss their new podcast interview series, “Anatomy of Awakening”, in which they engage in peer-to-peer trialogue with other teachers of enlightenment.
Stephen and Mark reveal why they chose the teachers they have featured, the degree to which various claim...
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May 23, 2025 • 116 mins
In this episode I host a dialogue between Lama Justin von Bujdoss and Charlie Morley.
Justin and Charlie share their extensive experience as modern teachers of Vajrayana, compare notes on the state of Tantra in the West, and reflect on the responsibility of openly teaching previously restricted, esoteric practices.
Justin and Charlie wrestle with the tension between conserving traditional religious forms and innovating to meet t...
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May 16, 2025 • 78 mins
In this episode I am joined by Professor Mara Einstein, digital marketing critic; author and public speaker on cult brands and influencer scams; and tenured professor of media studies at Queens College (CUNY).
Mara discusses her latest book “Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults”, warns about manipulative marketing techniques used in media and religions, details the 9 steps of cult recruitment, and shares case st...
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This trialogue is the first in a series exploring the latest interdisciplinary research into tantric completion stage practices such as yogas of dream, sleep, and death.
Dr Michael Sheehy is the Director of Research at the Contemplative Sciences Center in the Department of Religious Studies in the University of Virginia.
Dr Tawni Tidwell is a biocultural anthropologist and doctor of traditional Tibetan medicine.
Dr Julian Schot...
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May 2, 2025 • 77 mins
In this episode I am joined by Tulku Sherab Dorje, Buddhist teacher, translator, and author of scholarly and popular books about Tibetan Buddhism.
Tulku Sherdor reflects on the changes in the spiritual journey over a lifetime, whether or not the world is becoming more turbulent, and the effects of ageing on yogic practice and view.
Tulku Sherdor explains why mind training is superior to mystical experiences, emphasises the realit...
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April 25, 2025 • 88 mins
In this episode, I am joined by Lopon Yudron Wangmo, American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and author of several books including her recent “Clearing the Way to Awakening”.
Lopon Yudron Wangmo offers an analysis of the shortcomings of today’s Buddhist literature, details the writing process for “Clearing the Way to Awakening”, and reveals the stylistic and language choices she made to better reach the average reader.
Lopon Yudron ...
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April 18, 2025 • 78 mins
In this episode I am joined by Rebekah Sturgill, mother, school teacher, and convert to Orthodox Christianity.
Rebekah details her upbringing in a Texan evangelical church and how encounters with authoritarianism and questions about her sexuality saw her leave the religion.
Rebekah describes a period of passionate teenage atheism before becoming deeply involved in feminist activism beginning in university. Rebekah explains why sh...
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April 11, 2025 • 58 mins
In this episode I am joined by Lorna Byrne, spiritual teacher and best selling author of “Angels in my Hair”.
Lorna describes her childhood in Ireland when she first began to see and interact with angels and souls of the dead, and recalls how she navigated these visionary experiences.
Lorna discusses the different types of angels that she sees, as well as other beings such as souls of the deceased, land spirits, elementals and ...
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April 2, 2025 • 99 mins
In this episode I am once again joined by Katarina Falkenberg & Tommy Westlund, alchemists, practitioners of Western Esotericism, and authors of ‘Alchemy, The Divine Work’.
Katarina and Tommy detail the stages and methods of the spiritual path of Western alchemy. They explain the movement through four phases, describe the operations employed during each, and reveal the signs of progress that indicate success.
Katarina and Tommy r...
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March 23, 2025 • 69 mins
In this interview I am once again joined by Mordy Levine, serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author of ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Karma’ with Lama Lhanang.
Mordy discusses the Buddhist doctrine of karma, explores its history in Indian thought, and differentiates the various types of karmic actions and their consequences.
Mordy reveals special, esoteric methods to purify bad karma, compares the Tibetan tradition to Zen, an...
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