Living the Tao-A Spiritual Podcast

Is Daoism something you’re supposed to feel rather than understand? Does talking about it ruin the experience?

In this Living the Tao Short (2-12), Master Steenrod examines a common modern belief—that authentic Daoism requires no study, no method, and no examination. He explains where this idea comes from, why it doesn’t hold up historically, and how Daoist development has always depended on effort, method, and choice.

Nature can t...

In this subscriber-only episode (1-159) of Living the Tao, Master Steenrod examines a quiet but widespread problem: why clarity, restraint, and spiritual insight seem to disappear when life becomes stressful — even when we understand the teachings.

From a Taoist perspective, the issue is not discipline, belief, or willpower. It’s energy.

This episode explores how higher thought, ethical behavior, and spiritual stability are energy-...

Originally released as Episode 10, Poison of Immortality remains one of the most powerful teachings in the Living the Tao archive.

In this brief trailer, Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod offers a sharp preview of the timeless insights within—on mortality, time, and the path to clarity.

If you missed it the first time, or you're ready to revisit it with fresh ears, now is the time. The updated episode now includes a full transcript and ...

Living the Tao — Winter Tales (Subscriber Episode)

Winter has long been a season for Taoist storytelling — a time when teachers set aside instruction and let stories do the work.

In this short trailer, Master Steenrod introduces a subscriber-only episode(1-158) of Living the Tao built around three traditional winter Taoist tales: a man untouched by cold, a hermit who sits through winter snow, and an immortal who waits calmly as cha...

Why do Taoist masters fly in legends—but not in real life today?

In this Living the Tao Short, Master Mikel Steenrod explores the idea that some extraordinary abilities once attributed to Taoist practitioners depended on conditions that no longer exist. Rather than fantasy, the discussion focuses on history, training, and the Daoist principle of time and place.

This short episode separates cinematic myth from classical Daoist under...

Living the Tao – Episode 1-157 (Subscriber Trailer) I Ching Dyad: Following (17) & Repairing What Has Been Spoiled (18)

There are times when following an established path leads to success—and times when that same path begins to fail.

In this short trailer for a subscriber-only episode of Living the Tao, Taoist Master Michael Steenrod introduces a classical I Ching dyad that frequently appears together: Hexagram 17, Following, a...

Why do some people seem to catch every break while others struggle no matter how hard they try? In this free episode (1-156) of Living the Tao, Master Steenrod explains the Taoist view of luck, prosperity, and synchronicity—and why “good fortune” is far more structured than most people realize.

You’ll learn: • Why luck isn’t random or a moral reward • How prosperity and abundance actually behave in the world • Why luck “pools” in c...

What is Taoist power really—and how do you recognize it in your own life?

In this episode of Living the Tao Shorts (2-10), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explores De, the form of spiritual power described in the Daodejing. Instead of treating De as serendipity or good luck, Master Steenrod explains how true Taoist practice produces alignment, insight, and direct Dao interaction.

Inside this episode:

• What De actually means in cl...

Discover the Taoist meaning behind giving. In this exclusive subscriber-only episode, Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explores a classic teaching story about generosity, sincerity, and the unseen forces that shape the outcome of every act of giving.

In this trailer, you’ll hear a preview of the ideas discussed in the full episode—including why Taoism views gifts as something far deeper than objects exchanged. Whether the offering is g...

Step back into one of the most talked-about episodes in the Living the Tao archive. In “Demons and Ghosts Are Real!”, Master Steenrod explains why the Taoist view of ghosts and demons has little to do with Hollywood—and everything to do with emotional residue, intention, and stability of mind.

This short trailer revisits the key ideas from the full episode:

• Why ghosts are often echoes rather than entities

• How demons operate...

This is a public preview of Episode 1-154, available exclusively to subscribers.

In this short segment, Master Steenrod explains why staying in the wrong situation burns extraordinary amounts of energy. Using the image of “fire under water,” he shows how misalignment drains karmic force, stalls growth, and signals the need for real transformation.

If you’ve ever wondered why holding still can feel harder than moving forward, this p...

Sensory hygiene is one of the least understood but most powerful tools on the Taoist path. In this short conversation (2-9), Master Steenrod explains how half of self-management comes from managing your inputs — what you see, hear, and absorb from the world around you.

You’ll learn how negative events stack to distort perception, why modern life overloads us with emotional variation, and how the Four Ascendant Tradition reframes al...

What if the power to change your life didn’t come from force—but from energy, timing, and awareness?

In this episode (1-152) of Living the Tao, Master Steenrod unpacks the true meaning of Qi as the bridge between the human and the universal. He explains the Four Spheres of Taoism—Social, Martial, Qi, and Tao—and how each reveals a new level of perception and power.

You’ll discover how Qi can dissolve conflict without fighting, why ...

In this short (2-8), Master Steenrod unpacks Taoism’s elusive stance on morality.

What happens when a tradition without heaven or hell meets the moral hierarchies of Confucianism and the rituals of Buddhism?

Discover how early Taoism resisted becoming a system of control, how politics turned ritual into power, and why “the noodle got spicy” when belief met bureaucracy.

It’s a journey through ancient temples, statecraft, and the hum...

Taoism isn’t evangelical — it’s adaptable. In this short, Master Steenrod explains how the tradition has endured for thousands of years by “spicing the noodle”: blending with Buddhism, Confucianism, and even modern science without losing its flavor. Discover why Taoism calls itself a human method, not a divine truth — and how that flexibility keeps it alive in every age.

🎙️ Topics include syncretism, tolerance, resilience, and the...

Long before Daoism became philosophy, it was survival.

In this episode (1-148), Taoist Master Steenrod traces the ancient, shamanic roots of Daoism — a time when humanity faced energetic predators and learned to fight back.

Through humor and history, he reveals how early “supernatural combat” shaped the Daoist path: a tradition built on observation, proof, and endurance.

What began as the defense of life became a way to understand ...

Ever wonder if you’re already a Daoist at heart? In this reflective short (Ep 2-6), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explores the quiet signs that the path has already found you. From the way pain, fear, and desire shape our search for peace, to the strange resonance some feel when reading the Dao De Jing, this episode looks at why Daoism speaks so deeply—or not at all.

Mikel reminds listeners that the journey doesn’t have to be grand....

In this Shorts episode (2-5), Taoist Master Steenrod lifts the veil on what Taoist practice really demands of a student. Beyond simple exercises, it’s a path that asks for endurance, openness, and the courage to face both inner and outer obstacles. A compact but powerful guide for those walking the Taoist road.

Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licen...

What if the most powerful talisman wasn’t on paper, metal, or wood—but within you? In this Shorts episode (2-4), Master Steenrod explores how Daoist talismans work, why external charms are only reflections of the true source, and how recognizing yourself as a living talisman unlocks a deeper strength.

Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https:...