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The Mystical Positivist

The Mystical Positivist

By: Stuart Goodnick and Robert Schmidt
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 The Mystical Positivist, with hosts Stuart Goodnick and Dr. Robert Schmidt, is dedicated to the application of reason in the pursuit of spiritual practice and development. It consists of commentary, book reviews, interviews, and discussion in and around the local and larger spiritual community. The thesis of the show is that rationality is in no way the antithesis of deep mystical experience, in fact, we assert that it is a necessary ally.© 2025 Tayu Meditation Order, Inc. Spirituality
Episodes
  • The Mystical Positivist - Radio Show #442 - 18APR26

    The Mystical Positivist - Radio Show #442 - 18APR26
    Apr 19 2026
    • Podcast:
    This week on the show, we present a pre-recorded conversation with author, Peter Russell, about his latest book, How to Meditate Without Even Trying (An Eckhart Tolle Edition), just released from New World Library. The refreshingly simple approach that Peter unfolds in his book replaces effort with ease and reminds readers that true peace of mind is closer than they might imagine. His techniques include the practice of allowing – releasing effort, relaxing the mind, and gently returning to the present moment – to make meditation more enjoyable and effective. In this extended conversation we go deep with Peter to foundations of his approach and how the methods he describes can enrich a variety of spiritual practices.

    Peter Russell is the author of eleven other books including, Letting Go of Nothing and From Science to God. A teacher of meditation for more than fifty years, he believes the critical challenge today is freeing human thinking from the limited beliefs and attitudes that lie behind many of our problems – personal, social, and global. He has inspired thousands through his talks, teachings, retreats, and popular online courses.

    More information about Peter Russell's work can be found at:
    Peter Russell's Website: www.peterrussell.com,
    How to Meditate Without Even Trying page: newworldlibrary.com,
    Online course on Meditation: How to Meditate - Without Even Trying,
    Peter Russell on The Mystical Positivist MP388-04SEP21,
    Peter Russell on The Mystical Positivist MP189-27JUN15.
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  • The Mystical Positivist - Radio Show #441 - 13DEC25

    The Mystical Positivist - Radio Show #441 - 13DEC25
    Dec 14 2025
    • Podcast:

    This week on The Mystical Positivist, we feature a pre-recorded conversation with Red Hawk, acclaimed poet and the author of 13 books, including Self Observation, Self Remembering, The Way of the Wise Woman, Return to the Mother, and Book of Lamentations. Of Self-Observation and Self-Remembering, he writes, “Every living thing is surrounded by a vibratory atmosphere, a vibratory energetic field which surrounds the body and in humans is the ground in which the second, or etheric, body is formed. But in order for that to happen, we must learn to "eat impressions," which are the food by which this second body is created.” In this conversation, we go deep on the process by which we can metabolize the false self and give birth to genuine Being.

    Red Hawk (aka Robert Moore) is Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He is the author of 11 books of poetry and two books on spiritual practice. He is a student and devotee of the Spiritual Teacher Lee Lozowick and of Lozowick's Master, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, the Godchild of Tiruvanamali, India. He is also a long-time student of the Spiritual Teacher George Gurdjieff. His root-Guru was Osho Rajneesh. He is the winner of numerous national honors, among which are the 1992 Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University, the 1992 Cleveland State University poetry book prize, the 2008 Bright Hill Press poetry book award, one winner of the xlvi Pushcart Prize, and the 2023 Bitter Oleander Library of Poetry book prize-all using his Earth name Red Hawk.

    More information about Red Hawk’s work can be found at:


    Self-Observation at HOHM Press: Self-Observation,
    Self-Remembering at HOHM Press: Self-Remembering,
    Book of Lamentations: Book of Lamentations.
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  • The Mystical Positivist - Radio Show #440 - 29NOV25

    The Mystical Positivist - Radio Show #440 - 29NOV25
    Nov 30 2025
    • Podcast:

    This week on The Mystical Positivist, we feature a pre-recorded conversation with Abby Havermann, speaker and podcaster, on the challenges of going through life in a waking dream and how practices like Self-Observation and Self-Remembering can metabolize the dream and restore our lost sense of presence. Abby Havermann is a psychotherapist, coach, and speaker who focuses on the illumination of the unconscious self-betrayals that drive our everyday challenges. A lifelong learner, Abby’s singularity resides in combining her psychology, neuroscience, spiritual, and coaching experience with her ability to transform difficult life experiences into a gratitude-worthy self-evolutionary tool — awareness done right can breed transformation. She teaches mission-driven, insight-oriented people to unlearn what no longer serves them through 1:1 and group coaching, speaking, training, and online courses. Abby’s direct signature style challenges clients to up-level while witnessing and holding compassion for the complexity of their multifaceted inner and outer worlds.

    More information about Abby Havermann’s work can be found at:

    Abby Havermann’s website: www.abbyhavermann.com,
    Abby Havermann on Facebook: www.facebook.com.

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