Life is a Festival — Life is a Festival

From Crisis to Coronation

Life is a Festival #60: Charles Eisenstein (Sacred Economics)

How long is the journey from crisis to coronation? It may be very long and will certainly be very difficult, but a more beautiful world is possible.

Is Life Still a Festival?

Life is a Festival #59: World of Wisdom Podcast with Nils von Heijne

This repost from an interview I did on the World of Wisdom podcast is the best articulation I’ve made of the Life is a Festival philosophy and why even though there are no gatherings to attend and the world is filled with grief and anxiety, we should keep the fire of celebration burning.

Turn Isolation into a Spiritual Playground

Life is a Festival #57: Nino Mendes (Nino Yoga - China)

With self-isolation and shelter in place proliferating the globe, here’s some good medicine from a yogi who spent 5 weeks in lockdown in a small apartment in China.

Personal Growth, Mental Wellness, Leadership, Yoga, CommunityEamon ArmstrongMarch 17, 2020Nino Yoga, corona virusComment

My Sacred Morning Ritual

Life is a Festival #56: Solocast

A morning ritual tailored to your personal needs is a wonderful way to pack in all the incremental changes you’d like to see over time, whether that’s in physical health, mental wellness, creativity or new hobbies.

Personal Growth, Mental Wellness, Leadership, Solocast, YogaEamon ArmstrongMarch 16, 2020morning ritual, solocastComment

A Love Letter to Earnestness

Life is a Festival #55: Alex Ebert (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros)

Raging against the gatekeepers of cool and waxing about the importance of being earnest. Fame may seem to be a way to transcend death, but if every life is an epic, we are all already famous.

Personal Growth, Mental Wellness, Art, Leadership, MusicEamon ArmstrongMarch 12, 2020Alex Ebert, Fame, Cool, EarnestnessComment

The Acid Countess and the Art of Consciousness

Life is a Festival #54: Amanda Feilding (Beckley Foundation)

I ask the sphinx of psychedelia all my favorite acid questions, like whether medicalization is the best path to legalization and how to avoid unnecessary emotional downturns (sugar it turns out). We dive deep into her research, the nature of the ego, and the jealousy between different psychedelic compounds.

Wilderness First Responder

Life is a Festival #53: Ryland Gardner (NOLS)

Life can still be a festival when it all goes wrong, but only if we develop our resiliency and practice the skills necessary to keep everyone safe.

Personal Growth, Mental Wellness, Leadership, Harm ReductionEamon ArmstrongFebruary 27, 2020Hygiene Fire StationNOLS, MedicineComment

The Marvelous Mother Shucker of Mardi Gras

Life is a Festival #52: Katrina Brees (The Bearded Oysters)

We go deep into the history of Mardi Gras with fabulous parades and exclusive balls, prideful showings and pubic wigs. We discuss Katrina’s work advocating against gun violence, microdosing for mental health, and throwing a lemonade party when life gave her its sourest lemon.

How to Help Someone Having a “Bad Trip"

Life is a Festival #51: Sara Gael (The Zendo Project)

The key is to keep them safe and trust their inner healer. Sounds simple right? In fact, it’s a profound art, which requires specialized training and can be incredibly personally rewarding.

Serve in the Way that Feeds You Most

Life is a Festival #50: Christopher Breedlove (Burners Without Borders)

How can we weave service into our lives for the betterment of our communities, our friends, and our own mental health?

Party to Escape or Celebrate to Connect?

Life is a Festival #49: Live at Spotify Stockholm with Gustaf Tadaa

Fostering deep connections is one of the core tenets of the festive life.

The Boy Hero Must Die

Life is a Festival #48: The Mythic Masculine Podcast with Ian Mackenzie

It is the humility of the failed hero that allows him to truly connect with his brothers

Community, Mentorship, Gender, Leadership, Mental Wellness, Personal GrowthEamon ArmstrongJanuary 23, 2020Masculinity, The Mythic MasculineComment

Tales of an English Folk Hero

Life is a Festival #46: Jay McAllister (Beans on Toast)

From helping Banksy launch sky lanterns, to extolling the virtues of a bamboo toothbrush, Beans is the paradigm of a festive life that makes a difference.

Personal Growth, Community, Festivals, Leadership, Music, PoliticsEamon ArmstrongJanuary 8, 2020Beans on Toast, Politics, British FestivalsComment

Life is a Festival Top 10 of 2019

Life is a Festival 045: Top 10 of 2019

From psychedelic origin stories, to following your erotic destiny, these were the most popular podcasts of 2019.

Personal GrowthEamon ArmstrongJanuary 1, 2020Comment

The Terrifying Delight of Self-Surpassing

Life is a Festival #44: Michael Murphy (Esalen Institute)

Evolutionary panentheism, the magic of Esalen, and a menagerie of friends who’ve since become legends.

Personal Growth, Burning Man, Community, Fashion, FestivalsEamon ArmstrongDecember 20, 2019Esalen InstituteSpotifyComment

A Brief History of British Festivals

Life is a Festival #43: Live from Spotify London with Marcus Barnes

Britain’s brilliant festival history from country fairs and fêtes, through the goliath of Glastonbury, the acid house revolution, and the explosion of festivals today.